PSA: T-Mobile's new unlimited unthrottled 4G plans have a throttle point at 5-7GB.

[fuzzybabybunny]

At around 5-7GB of data usage I noticed that they seem to throttle you after about 5 minutes of sustained high speed download.

Meaning after 5-7GB, you download a large file or something for the first ~5 minutes at whatever your max speed is. And then after ~5 minutes it drops down to 5KB/s.

I was trying to download ~150MB files from my Amazon S3 server and they would practically die on me after 5 minutes. Just to make sure it wasn't a server issue, I did a SpeedTest after the throttle point and indeed it showed 5KB/s. If you *cancel* the download, wait a little bit, it will go back to around max speed.

I'm on chat with T-Mobile right now and they just said:

Juanpaolo Z: You are using the unlimited 4G service.
Juanpaolo Z: There's no throttle point for that rate plan."
You: So why am I being thottled?
You: Like I said, no matter where I am, what files I download, after the first 5 minutes download speeds drop to 5KB/s.
Juanpaolo Z: I checked your account and it has used 7.83GB of data.
You: Yes.
Juanpaolo Z: Let me double check if it has throttle point.
Juanpaolo Z: I do appreciate you for staying connected.
Juanpaolo Z: There's a 5GB throttle point for the $70 Unlimited 4G, Talk & Text Prepaid plan.
Juanpaolo Z: Once the 5GB is reached, the speed will change to 2G (basic).

So basically, from what the T-Mobile rep has told me, the $70 unlimited talk, text, and 4G data plan is actually unlimited talk and text and 5GB of 4G data and unlimited 2G (less than 5KB/s) afterwards. So unlike the $30 5GB 4G and 100 minutes/unlimited text plan, you pay $40 more a month for unlimited minutes, not more data. That's it.

 

[Red Storm]

My account shows 10,000GB as the throttle point, but I haven't tested that.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

My account shows 10GB as the throttle point, but I haven't tested that.

How do you "see" your throttle point?

 

[Red Storm]

How do you "see" your throttle point?

When you log into your account online.

If that's not my throttle point, then I have no idea what else that could be referring to.

Edit: Sorry not 10GB, meant 10,000GB!

 

[2timer]

My account shows 1 million GB throttle point, so I guess I'm awesome.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

When you log into your account online.

If that's not my throttle point, then I have no idea what else that could be referring to.

Edit: Sorry not 10GB, meant 10,000GB!

We're talking about different plans.

EDIT: Man, I don't know WTF is going on. We both have the same plan. I bought that Simple Choice plan. So WTF is it labeled differently in my account settings?

 

[ElectricD]

At around 5-7GB of data usage I noticed that they seem to throttle you after about 5 minutes of sustained high speed download.

Meaning after 5-7GB, you download a large file or something for the first ~5 minutes at whatever your max speed is. And then after ~5 minutes it drops down to 5KB/s.

I was trying to download ~150MB files from my Amazon S3 server and they would practically die on me after 5 minutes. Just to make sure it wasn't a server issue, I did a SpeedTest after the throttle point and indeed it showed 5KB/s. If you *cancel* the download, wait a little bit, it will go back to around max speed.

I'm on chat with T-Mobile right now and they just said:

Juanpaolo Z: You are using the unlimited 4G service.
Juanpaolo Z: There's no throttle point for that rate plan."
You: So why am I being thottled?
You: Like I said, no matter where I am, what files I download, after the first 5 minutes download speeds drop to 5KB/s.
Juanpaolo Z: I checked your account and it has used 7.83GB of data.
You: Yes.
Juanpaolo Z: Let me double check if it has throttle point.
Juanpaolo Z: I do appreciate you for staying connected.
Juanpaolo Z: There's a 5GB throttle point for the $70 Unlimited 4G, Talk & Text Prepaid plan.
Juanpaolo Z: Once the 5GB is reached, the speed will change to 2G (basic).

So basically, from what the T-Mobile rep has told me, the $70 unlimited talk, text, and 4G data plan is actually unlimited talk and text and 5GB of 4G data and unlimited 2G (less than 5KB/s) afterwards. So unlike the $30 5GB 4G and 100 minutes/unlimited text plan, you pay $40 more a month for unlimited minutes, not more data. That's it.

You should really file a complaint with the FTC if you have time.

It really bugs me to no end that tmobile advertises these plans as "unlimited". Of course, they have a "network management" section in the fine print of the unlimited plan details but they make no mention of a hard and fast cutoff point...

 

[Red Storm]

We're talking about different plans.

That's the plan I have. They somehow screwed up my order when I first made it, but it was adjusted after the first day and fixed. I have the unlimited calls, text, and data for ~$70/month plan.

Edit: Looking further into my account, it appears the way I'm currently setup is that I have the Simple Choice "Plan" with just unlimited talk and text, and then the unlimited data is added on as a service, separate from the plan itself. It still comes out to the same ~$70 month, but I don't appear to have any realistic throttling limit...

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

More confusion. I got to this by clicking the "change your plan" link in my control panel.

There are two $70 a month plans, both have unlimited talk, text, 4G data, only one is in ALL CAPS and the other doesn't have tethering.

 

[Red Storm]

Yeah that's weird. If possible I'd head into a T-Mobile store and talk to someone there. I find their over the phone customer service just plain sucks.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I assumed all of T-Mobile's new "unlimited" plans have 5GB throttle caps. Pretty much everyone does this now. They can call it "unlimited" because you still get 2G data (as lame as that is).

Though I wouldn't mind seeing the FCC or someone crack some skulls over the use of the word "unlimited" to described throttled plans.

 

[Red Storm]

I assumed all of T-Mobile's new "unlimited" plans have 5GB throttle caps. Pretty much everyone does this now. They can call it "unlimited" because you still get 2G data (as lame as that is).

Though I wouldn't mind seeing the FCC or someone crack some skulls over the use of the word "unlimited" to described throttled plans.

Well I can tell you I don't have the 5GB throttle.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Well I can tell you I don't have the 5GB throttle.

I'm sure everyone doesn't. I'm guessing people with more probably have older plans that are grandfathered? I'm just guessing though.

 

[lupi]

That would suck for someone living out of their car.

 

[Red Storm]

I'm sure everyone doesn't. I'm guessing people with more probably have older plans that are grandfathered? I'm just guessing though.

Maybe, or judging by the photo posted by fuzzy, perhaps T-Mobile is having issues with their new plans.

 

[SunnyD]

Oh look, another ignorant fuzzy/fuzzy hates T-Mo thread.

In case you were under a rock for the last decade, unlimited hasn't meant unlimited for wireless service providers in just about forever.

Also, since it's apparently rocket surgery: http://www.t-mobile.com/Templates/P...ermsAndConditions&print=true#SeeDataPlanTerms

11. * Data Plans and Other Features. You will be charged for data usage on a pay per use basis unless you are required to maintain a data plan ("Data Plan") as part of your Service, or as otherwise provided by your Rate Plan or prepaid data pass. Permissible and Prohibited Uses: Your Data Plan is intended for Web browsing, messaging, and similar activities on your Device and not on any other equipment. Unless explicitly permitted by your Data Plan, other uses, including for example, using your Device as a modem or tethering your Device to a personal computer or other hardware, are not permitted. Other examples of prohibited uses can be found in Section 18. Protective Measures: To provide a good experience for the majority of our customers and minimize capacity issues and degradation in network performance, we may take measures including temporarily reducing data throughput for a subset of customers who use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth. In addition, if your total usage exceeds 5GB (amount is subject to change without notice; please check T-Mobile's T&Cs on www.T-Mobile.com for updates) during a billing cycle, we may reduce your data speed for the remainder of that billing cycle. If you use your Data Plan in a manner that could interfere with other customers' service, affect our ability to allocate network capacity among customers, or degrade service quality for other customers, we may suspend, terminate, or restrict your data session, or switch you to a more appropriate Data Plan. We also manage our network to facilitate the proper functioning of services that require consistent high speeds, such as video calling, which may, particularly at times and in areas of network congestion, result in reduced speeds for other services. Additionally, we may implement other network management practices, such as caching less data, using less capacity, and sizing video more appropriately for a Device to transmit data files more efficiently. These practices are agnostic to the content itself and to the websites that provide it. While we avoid changing text, image, and video files in the compression process when practical, the process may impact the appearance of files as displayed on your Device. Downloadable Content and Applications: Content or Applications (e.g., downloadable or networked applications, wallpapers, ringtones, games, and productivity tools) ("Content & Apps") that you can purchase with your Device may not be sold by T-Mobile. For some third party purchases, although the charges may appear on your T-Mobile bill, T-Mobile is not responsible for the Content & Apps, including download, installation, use, transmission failure, interruption, or delay, or any content or website you may be able to access through the Content & Apps. Unless otherwise stated, any support questions for these Content & Apps may be directed to the third party seller. You may be able to restrict access and certain services by implementing controls available at www.T-Mobile.com or by calling T-Mobile. When you use, download or install Content & Apps sold by a third party seller, you may be subject to license terms between you and third parties. When you use, download, or install Content & Apps that you purchase from T-Mobile, the Content & Apps are licensed to you by T-Mobile and may be subject to additional license terms between you and third parties. Whether purchased from T-Mobile or a third party, any Content & Apps you purchase are licensed for personal, lawful, non-commercial use on your Device only. You may not transfer, copy, or reverse engineer any Content & Apps, or alter, disable or circumvent any digital rights management security features embedded in the Content & Apps. Content & Apps may not be transferable from one Device to another Device. Some Devices or Content & Apps may continue to have contact with our network without your knowledge, which may result in additional Charges, for example, while roaming internationally. Software on your Device may automatically shut down or limit the use of Content & Apps or other features or Services without warning. T-Mobile is not responsible for any third party content, advertisements, or websites you may be able to access using your Device. Use of Information: T-Mobile may retain, use, and share information collected when you download, use, or install some Content & Apps, may update your Content & Apps remotely, or may disable or remove any Content & Apps at any time. Refer to T-Mobile's Privacy Policy, as well as the Content & Apps creator/owner's privacy policy for information regarding their use of information collected when you download, install, or use any third party Content & Apps. We are not responsible for any transmission failure, interruption, or delay related to Content & Apps, or any content or website you may be able to access through the Content & Apps. Wi-Fi Calling: You acknowledge and agree that your use of any Wi-Fi network is permissible and that you (and not T-Mobile) are responsible for your use. Cell Broadcasts (alerts that go to certain customers), Emergency Alerts and Wireless Priority Service (WPS) may not be available with Wi-Fi Calling.

Absolutely NO carrier in the US will give you the literal definition of "unlimited" anymore. Ever. Regardless of what they advertise. As long as that line is still in their current subscriber terms of service and you're a subscriber, you are bound to it and therefore you will ALWAYS be screwed no matter what they advertise.

 

[Mr.Mischief]

The $70 prepaid plan has always had a 5GB cap(at least, for as long as I can remember).
If you want truly unlimited data, you have to get the $70 uncarrier plan.

 

[s44]

Absolutely NO carrier in the US will give you the literal definition of "unlimited" anymore.

Verizon LTE. The spectrum bid regs prevent them from throttling, and they don't even at 100+gb... Which is why they're trying to get people off of it.

That said, this sounds like a glitch. T-Mo uncarrier should give you unlimited unlimited. OTOH with all his bitching fuzzy should just AOL someone's Verizon LTE line.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Verizon LTE. The spectrum bid regs prevent them from throttling, and they don't even at 100+gb... Which is why they're trying to get people off of it.

Oh, that is good to know. My friend was bitching the other day about losing subsidized phones.

 

[Chrono]

... You guys sure? I've already used up 10.64 GBs of data for this month... still 2 weeks to go until my next month renewal. I used 25GB last month...

I'm on the $70 PREPAID right now.

 

[SunnyD]

Verizon LTE. The spectrum bid regs prevent them from throttling, and they don't even at 100+gb... Which is why they're trying to get people off of it.

That said, this sounds like a glitch. T-Mo uncarrier should give you unlimited unlimited. OTOH with all his bitching fuzzy should just AOL someone's Verizon LTE line.

Yes, but good luck getting someone that KNOWS this to willingly give up their grandfathered unlimited account.

Knowing fuzzy, he'll go sign a 2 year contract with VZW and be back here bitching that he's getting overage bills after 2GB one week into his contract.

 

[Anonemous]

The Tmobile $70 unlimited plan should be UNLIMITED unless you are tethering with the device.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I'm going to try something else today to see if there is a workaround. I noticed that after 5 minutes of transferring at max speed I get throttled. As soon as I stop the transfer and wait a minute, my speeds are back to normal.

My hypothesis is that after a certain amount of data transferred, it will throttle you after the network detects you downloading/uploading above a certain speed *for X amount of continuous time*.

I'm going to see if there is an app for limiting the download or upload speed of all apps on your phone. Perhaps if I set a limit of like 200KB/s I won't get throttled on continuous downloads.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

The Tmobile $70 unlimited plan should be UNLIMITED unless you are tethering with the device.

Oh, it's unlimited, that's for sure. But not unlimited at full speed.

 

[Chrono]

BTW, I have no throttle point listed for mine.