Ultimately, T-Mobile is doing the same occasional throttling of heavy users that other carriers do. We do manage infrequent network congestion issues through prioritization of customer traffic." Like Verizon, T-Mobile seems to be claiming that slowing traffic down isn't "throttling" if it only happens occasionally. UPDATE: A T-Mobile spokesperson told Ars, "we do not throttle our Unlimited customers. We asked T-Mobile this morning for more detail on how its throttling policy applies to unlimited 4G plans, but we haven't heard back yet. "Why is my unlimited 4G throttled?" one T-Mobile user asked in a customer support forum last year after seeing speeds drop while uploading large files.Īn AnandTech forum user ran into a similar problem last year, detailed in a thread titled "PSA: T-Mobile's new unlimited, unthrottled 4G plans have a throttle point at 5-7GB." Other T-Mobile users said they weren't being throttled even after going well over those amounts, but that isn't a surprise since T-Mobile says throttling is limited to "times and places of congestion." T-Mobile customers expecting to get unlimited high-speed data out of that plan have been in for a surprise. While this plan isn't automatically throttled after a user hits a pre-determined limit, the T-Mobile policy indicates that it may still be throttled "during times and places of congestion" if you're in the top five percent of users. ![]() ![]() Advertisementīut T-Mobile also sells an "Unlimited 4G LTE Data" plan for $80 a month. Customers can purchase more high-speed data or use the slower data with no limits or overage charges. "If total usage exceeds 5GB or the amount specified in your data plan during a billing cycle, we may reduce your data speed for the remainder of that billing cycle," T-Mobile says. If you buy a plan with 1GB, 3GB, or 5GB of 4G LTE data, T-Mobile states that you'll be throttled to 2G speeds (up to 128Kbps) if you go over that allotment. It's well known that T-Mobile throttles users who go over their 4G data limits. Well, before you switch, take a look at T-Mobile's policy:Ĭustomers who use more data than 95% of customers on the same rate plan typically use in a month may, during times and places of congestion, have their data usage prioritized below other customers. Ugh, that's awful! I'm switching to T-Mobile! They may experience slower data speeds when using certain high bandwidth applications, such as streaming high-definition video or during real-time, online gaming, and only when connecting to a cell site when it is experiencing heavy demand. Starting in October 2014, Verizon Wireless will extend its network optimization policy to the data users who: fall within the top 5 percent of data users on our network, have fulfilled their minimum contractual commitment, and are on unlimited plans using a 4G LTE device. We'll start with the Verizon Wireless announcement last week: ![]() Let's take a look at the relevant passages in each carrier's terms and conditions. Unfortunately, switching to T-Mobile, AT&T, or Sprint won't protect you from getting throttled, even if the carrier is claiming to sell you "unlimited" data. One of the most common reactions to Verizon's announcement that it will throttle the heaviest users of its "unlimited" 4G plans went something like this: "That's the last straw-I'm switching to T-Mobile!"
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