T-Mobile Simple Choice Plans Updated With 21 GB Soft Cap on Data Usage

[MacRumors]

T-Mobile recently edited the fine print on its 4G LTE Simple Choice plans to notify customers that there's a 21 GB soft cap on data usage, reports TmoNews. Customers who exceed 21 GB of data usage during a billing period will see their data speeds throttled during periods of high network demand.

Unlimited 4G LTE customers who use more than 21 GB of data in a bill cycle will have their data usage de-prioritized compared to other customers for that bill cycle at locations and times when competing network demands occur, resulting in relatively slower speeds. See t-mobile.com/OpenInternet for details.

Prior to the explicit 21 GB soft cap, T-Mobile's Simple Choice subscribers who used more data than 97 percent of other T-Mobile subscribers were seeing slower data speeds during times of network congestion. According to TmoNews, customers who exceed their data limits see considerably slower speeds in busy areas, sometimes lower than 1Mbps.

This change in fine print makes it clear exactly how much data you have to use in order to feel the pinch. Previously, the 97% marker was ambiguous at best. You have no idea how much data other customers are using, and so you will have no way of knowing if you're in the top 3% of data users, or not. Now there's a much clearer 21GB "soft" cap.

T-Mobile's 21 GB soft cap is rather generous and is likely to affect only a small percentage of T-Mobile customers. Reduction in data speeds is only enacted when there's network congestion, so affected customers will only see throttling during peak usage times.

Customers who use more than 21 GB of data in a billing cycle will be flagged as de-prioritized by T-Mobile and could experience slower speeds at certain times until a new monthly billing cycle begins.

Article Link: T-Mobile Simple Choice Plans Updated With 21 GB Soft Cap on Data Usage

 

[larrylaffer]

Just like AT&T, but so very much not-as-bad.

 

[cariacou]

"Unlimited 4G LTE customers who use more than 21 GB of data"

why not call it a 21GB data plan?

 

[BeSweeet]

The areas I frequent never seem to show any signs of congestion. Hopefully this really is for busy, over-capacity areas.

 

[Xgm541]

"Unlimited 4G LTE customers who use more than 21 GB of data"

why not call it a 21GB data plan?

Maybe because the data doesnt end at 21gb?

 

[BeSweeet]

"Unlimited 4G LTE customers who use more than 21 GB of data"

why not call it a 21GB data plan?

Because it's not a 21GB data plan. It's still unlimited usage no matter how you look at it.

 

[keysofanxiety]

John Legere is the CEO I wish more companies had.

 

[bushido]

if only we had data volumes like in the US in Germany. The most i could get is 5GB a month before i get throttled to 64kb/s. jealous

T-Moblie those bastards shipping all their money to the US even though its a german company

 

[nouveau-apple]

I never notice. :/

 

[tasset]

Maybe because the data doesnt end at 21gb?

Exactly. It's like walking into a business that has a huge advertisement "Unlimited M&M's". After paying and eating a few handfuls the manager stops you and starts hurling them as projectiles one-by-one at your forehead and says "eat as many as you can catch!" Who'd have a problem with that?!

So this in effect is what data throttling is. And everyone knows it is not in the spirit of the advertisement or what the consumer thinks they are buying.

 

[OriginalMacRat]

"Unlimited 4G LTE customers who use more than 21 GB of data"

why not call it a 21GB data plan?

Because it is only relevant when the user is connected to a tower that is maxed out on connected user.

When the user is on a let congested tower, the throttle isn't needed.

 

[iMember]

Recently I heard only good things about this company, if they truly want to be an innovating company, they should start creating content too rather than just selling internet

 

[ad_2001]

If AT&T is being sued for adding a soft cap to their unlimited data plan, T-Mobile should be sued as well!

 

[aajeevlin]

What is then the difference between this "unlimited" and their other lower tier plan? Basically this is now similar to a lower tier plan with higher cap. For example, for their lower tier plan, you get 1, 3, or 5GB of 4G LTE, then after that you are dropped to 3G or whatever lower speed. So instead of "unlimited" they need to say, 21GB, then we will drop you to lower speed. I'm fine with whatever they want to dish out, but don't play word games. Write it as how it REALLY is.

 

[Tubamajuba]

What is then the difference between this "unlimited" and their other lower tier plan? Basically this is now similar to a lower tier plan with higher cap. For example, for their lower tier plan, you get 1, 3, or 5GB of 4G LTE, then after that you are dropped to 3G or whatever lower speed. So instead of "unlimited" they need to say, 21GB, then we will drop you to lower speed. I'm fine with whatever they want to dish out, but don't play word games. Write it as how it REALLY is.

This only affects people that are connected to congested towers. The other plans are throttled no matter where you are.

 

[BeSweeet]

Recently I heard only good things about this company, if they truly want to be an innovating company, they should start creating content too rather than just selling internet

What types of content?

What is then the difference between this "unlimited" and their other lower tier plan? Basically this is now similar to a lower tier plan with higher cap. For example, for their lower tier plan, you get 1, 3, or 5GB of 4G LTE, then after that you are dropped to 3G or whatever lower speed. So instead of "unlimited" they need to say, 21GB, then we will drop you to lower speed. I'm fine with whatever they want to dish out, but don't play word games. Write it as how it REALLY is.

This is a bit different than their lower-tiered plans. There's no guarantee that anything will happen to you once you hit the 21GB.

If I was a big sporting event and just so happened to be past 21GB of usage, my data would probably be really slow (though it would probably be slow for everyone regardless, so who knows).

 

[BeyondtheTech]

Maybe tomorrow's #UncarrierAmped announcement will change it all up again and offer unlimited to all customers, but just at different maximum speed tiers. I know some people who wouldn't mind paying less for unlimited at 2Mbps max speed versus someone who wouldn't mind paying more for unlimited at 20Mbps max speed, etc.

 

[techiegirl]

Is this for new customers or all?

 

[yg17]

So when's the FCC going to fine them $100 million?

 

[BeSweeet]

Maybe tomorrow's #UncarrierAmped announcement will change it all up again and offer unlimited to all customers, but just at different maximum speed tiers. I know some people who wouldn't mind paying less for unlimited at 2Mbps max speed versus someone who wouldn't mind paying more for unlimited at 20Mbps max speed, etc.

I like this. While I love getting 100Mbps download speeds in speed tests, there's no reason I'd need anything that fast. The most I'd like is 10 down and 10 up.

Is this for new customers or all?

I think this only applies to those on the grandfathered $70 unlimited high-speed plan and anyone on the current $80 unlimited high-speed plan.

 

[ronntaylor]

21 GB is a tremendous amount data. I think the most I've ever used in one month was ~6 GB.

 

[BeSweeet]

So when's the FCC going to fine them $100 million?

What they're doing here is no different than what AT&T is doing now, post-fine.

 

[itsthenewdc]

People keep saying "well, it's still unlimited after the 21GB," but are failing to realize the name of the plan is Unlimited 4G LTE Data. With that said, if you get de-prioritized, then you technically aren't getting unlimited 4G LTE. You're getting mostly 4G LTE with unlimited slower speeds.

 

[BeSweeet]

People keep saying "well, it's still unlimited after the 21GB," but are failing to realize the name of the plan is Unlimited 4G LTE Data. With that said, if you get de-prioritized, then you technically aren't getting unlimited 4G LTE. You're getting mostly 4G LTE with unlimited slower speeds.

I think T-Mobile would then say that "you're still technically connected to the 4G LTE network, so yeah," making it still unlimited 4G LTE data. On the bright side, it's not like you'd see these reduced speeds occur and stay that way for the rest of the cycle, unless you're always located in a very busy area.

 

[tuna9720]

Maybe because the data doesnt end at 21gb?

Right, if you think that way then they should sell all of their plans as unlimited and mention "Throttled after 1-3-5-21GB of usage"..
Guess what, they call the other ones 1-3-5GB plans but sell the 21GB as unlimited.. This is deceiving. And this type of acts are the reasons they make fun of the other companies..

And yes you don't get UNLIMITED 4G LTE, you get Unlimited data with only 21GB data with LTE speed, rest is useless, y'all know..
This is a trick, I don't like it.. And I don't like it who ever does that..