Starting October 16th, T-Mobile Will Begin Throttling Data Speeds for Certain Users
So T-Mobile is initiating a new policy on the 16th that is definitely going to effect this editor… T-Mobile will now be toggling data speeds for users that go over 5GB of data usage in a monthly cycle. Here’s the announcement:
“Data Speed Reduction Threshold
Beginning on October 16, T-Mobile will begin to reduce data speeds when a customer reaches 5GB of usage in a billing cycle, in accordance with T-Mobile terms and conditions. This change should only affect extreme data users (less than 1 percent) and is being made to ensure that all subscribers receive the best Web performance available by limiting the number of extreme data users on our network.
The majority of T-Mobile customers should not be affected by this change. The new 5 GB threshold limit, which is equivalent to approximately 125,000 yahoo.com page visits, is enough bandwidth to satisfy most customers’ Web and data needs.
If a customer happens to reach the 5GB limit, they will receive a free text message informing them their data speed will be reduced. Customers will continue to have Web browsing capabilities but at slower speeds, which will be determined by their device type. Once their new billing cycle begins, data speeds will no longer be restricted.
Customers can track their data usage through My T-Mobile, MyAccount, or the SIVR.”
When I get that text message (and I will), I’ll do a speed test and let you know how much “throttling” T-Mobile has imposed on me.
I have to say though that even though they will be throttling speeds, if you compare that to the other major carriers (Verizon and AT&T), at least T-Mobile let’s me go over 5GBs without charging me for it. T-Mobile and Sprint are still the only two major carriers that offer unlimited data plans since Verizon and AT&T switched to a 5GB/2GB cap as their highest data plan (if a user goes over, they are charged per MB/GB).
That still kinda sux! I don’t tether my g1 anymore, but there was a time when that’s the only way i could have internet service! If there is a cap now, it gives more reason to be on Verizon, at&t or sprint! Two of those carriers have some better phone selections than t mo too!
Ya, but they have 5GB caps already in place (except for Sprint). So when you got to the 5GBs you’d start getting charged overages…
Doesn’t Verizon still offer unlimited data for their phones?
Nope…
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobilebroadband/?page=plans
This is for each phone line right? I average 3-4GB per billing cycle. 5GB isn’t that bad, I wish it was 10GB, but I am not complaining.
Most likely they are going to start introducing tier data, but adding a hotspot/tether feature.
So heres my question. Why doesn’t T-Mobile just get a better system to have better support for the extreme user?
Like today’s extreme users usage is going to be tomorrows average users usage. So by getting better systems, T-Mobile will stay as a preferable carrier, which in the long run means more customers and money for T-Mobile.
For my understanding with the inside of DOD, the military is able to pull GB of info by OTA and each devices that pulls that much uses about a trig or so a month. And for my understanding that technology is going to be transfer to us within 5 years but it takes a company like T-Mobile to have a better system to support this when this technology can be used by commercial industry.
To let everyone know, some of the people that I deal with down at NASA and these other places like at DOD says, within 10 years cell phone towers is going to be replace by satellite. so basically if you can get a GPS signal you will be able to get cell phone signal.
Stupid idea… communications theory dictates that it’s a more efficient utilization of resources to get a user on-off the network as quickly as possible… so if a user’s data speed is reduced, they stay connected longer, thereby using the precious airwaves longer.
The speeds are so slow it forces people to just not use the internet. At least that’s what I do on my webConnect plan. After 5 GB of usage, speeds are throttled to 100 kbps. It’s too slow for me so I end up not using my modem until my next billing cycle.
Well this sucks..I like to use Pandora a lot..I guess Ill just use wifi at home
I will hit the 5gig without tethering. If they throttle me to something below 512 I’ll leave tmobile.
I’ve gotten the message twice alrdy