Developer Claims Three Major Carriers Throttle iPhone and iPad Data Speeds

[MacRumors]

According to Joseph Brown, one of the developers behind the iTweakiOS site that provides hacked carrier updates for iOS users, Apple is purposely throttling iPhone data speeds to "even out" the network as Apple's phones consume more data than other smartphones.

Brown states that AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint limit the iPhone's data speeds and provides evidence in the form of snapshots of network settings. For example, AT&T limits the iPhone 5 to Category 10 (14.4Mbps) HSDPA despite the fact that the network is able to support up to Category 14 (21.1Mbps) HSDPA+ and the iPhone supports Category 24 (42.2Mbps) DC-HSDPA+.

Brown goes on to point out similar throttling code present in the LTE and 3G network settings of both Verizon and Sprint, for the iPhone and the iPad. His theory is that Apple (or the carriers themselves) are throttling data speeds in order to cut down on the iPhone's data usage.

- AT&T limits HSPA+ and permanently throttles LTE (unless hack is applied)
- Verizon permanently throttles LTE (unless hack is applied)
- Verizon and Sprint throttle down 3G (unless hack is applied)
- Apple has band preferences set for T-Mobile and AT&T causing signal issues (very much fixable by Apple and the carrier and is currently being looked into, from I've been told)

T-Mobile, the last network to receive the iPhone, is the only carrier that does not appear to throttle iPhone data usage. Though Brown places the blame for the network settings on Apple, it is unclear whether it is Apple or the carriers themselves at fault, and the reasoning behind the alleged throttling is equally unclear. Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon have all historically throttled the data speeds of high volume users.

To thwart the apparent throttling, iTweakiOS offers a number of carrier hacks that are designed to increase data speeds.

Update: AnandTech has debunked this claim and says that neither Apple nor the carriers are throttling data speeds.

Article Link: Developer Claims Three Major Carriers Throttle iPhone and iPad Data Speeds

 

[ZacNicholson]

Thats not surprising

 

[e-coli]

And here come the lawsuits.

 

[charlieegan3]

"...it is unclear whether it is Apple or the carriers themselves at fault"

Not both?

 

[ConCat]

I thought this was obvious... It's the most direct way to bring costs down.

 

[nepalisherpa]

That explains the slowness.

 

[ThatsMeRight]

Not surprising, considering the antitrust lawsuits against Apple in the European Union right now. Carriers claim Apple is deliberately blocking the iPhone 5's LTE acces to LTE networks if the carriers don't sign a contract with Apple.

 

[Walter White]

Even out my ass.

 

[Djtrackie]

Thou shall feel the wrath of ios users

 

[jamesryanbell]

The downloads page on the itweakiios site doesn't have anything on it. Where are the downloads that can make your phone's data download speed faster?

 

[pizzafordinna]

Stuff like this makes me wonder what the major carriers will look like in 20 years.

 

[MattMJB0188]

This is really a good idea because the iPhone does use more and that's not fair to us Android or Windows users.

T-Mobile will catch on soon, once more people hop on their network.

 

[samcraig]

No doubt makes "sense" for a carrier or Apple to do this in conjuction with the carrier for unlimited users. But what sense is there for those that could eat up data faster forcing them to a bigger data plan?

 

[DayOfChaos]

Installed it, but haven't noticed anything speed wise. Oh well, like the "free" feeling I got from install it...I guess.

 

[lcmazza]

Why throttle if there's a quota limit anyway?

Seems dumb.

 

[BornAgainApple]

Stuff like this makes me wonder what the major carriers will look like in 20 years.

Back to dial-up

 

[bushido]

ha go to germany and u will enjoy 64 kb/s after 200-500 mb

 

[Patriot24]

Start the countdown to this being on the front page of reddit and every major news source in the world. They won't understand the technology or the decisions, but any opportunity to paint Apple as the evil empire will be embraced by the anti crowd.

In before "throttle gate" stupidity.

 

[jpmcnown]

This is really a good idea because the iPhone does use more and that's not fair to us Android or Windows users.

T-Mobile will catch on soon, once more people hop on their network.

That was a really pathetic effort to light a fanboy fire.

 

[Skika]

american carriers

Not even surprised.

 

[86939]

Verizon permanently throttles LTE (unless hack is applied)

They do?

 

[whitedragon101]

Bwaa ha ha not on Three network in the UK

iphone 5 gets 21Mbps unlimited data allowance

and thats not even 4G yet

 

[unlimitedx]

They do?

Image

Shelby, NC only has a population of 20k residents, I'd imagine there is plenty of bandwidth to go around in that area so there wouldn't be a need to throttle, compared to a city like NYC

 

[gotluck]

yes, yes - we all know euro cell plans are better

 

[InfoTime]

Funny, guess my AT&T didn't get the memo.

I got 24/23 just today out in the boonies.