Skip to main content

AT&T to choke heavy data users with ‘unlimited’ plans

att-simpsons-homer-strangling-bart
Image used with permission by copyright holder

AT&T has confirmed rumors that it will begin throttling users who are grandfathered into ‘Unlimited’ smartphone data plans. In a press release, the wireless carrier pinned Oct. 1, 2011 as the beginning of the new policy, which will slow down the data speeds of the top 5 percent of data users on the carrier’s network each month. AT&T explains this change as necessary to keep its data network running efficiently amid “exploding demand for mobile data.”

Wonder if you’ll be affected by this? The carrier claims that only the biggest data hogs will be affected–those who use 12 times more data than the average user. It will not affect anyone on the newer tiered data plans or 95 percent of users still grandfathered into ‘Unlimited’ data plans. If you meet this criteria use more data than 95 percent of AT&T users in a month, you’re connection speeds will be reduced for the remainder of the billing period. AT&T does not explain how much data speeds will be throttled, nor does it give users any ballpark or limit on how much data they can actually use in a month. Previously, 5GB was the unsaid limit on ‘unlimited’ data plans.

By failing to give users an actual data limit, AT&T allows itself the ability to begin throttling heavy data users at the very beginning of each month, not just at the end of the month, once they have exceeded a set limit. This policy is slightly different than T-Mobile, which recently began throttling its unlimited users after they exceed 2GB of data use.

AT&T also made it a point to get a bit snarky at the end of the release, almost seeming to argue that it will have to continue to punish heavy users unless the Government approves its purchase of T-Mobile.

“The bottom line is our customers have options,” said AT&T. “They can choose to stay on their unlimited plans and use unlimited amounts of data, but may experience reduced speeds at some point if they are an extraordinarily heavy data user. If speed is more important, they may wish to switch to a tiered usage plan, where customers can pay for more data if they need it and will not see reduced speeds. But even as we pursue this additional measure, it will not solve our spectrum shortage and network capacity issues.  Nothing short of completing the T-Mobile merger will provide additional spectrum capacity to address these near term challenges.”

So is this a real problem, or is AT&T simply making its FCC predictions a reality to help its chances? We really don’t know, but we do know that data continues to get more expensive, not less, in the wireless world.

Editors' Recommendations

Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
The best student cell phone plans and deals in 2023
Visible wireless logo on phone that's being held up.

Wireless plans are notoriously expensive, and that's even without including the average cost for a new phone. It means that if you're on a tight budget, like most students and budding professionals entering the workforce who don't have a lot of extra money to play with, you're probably going to have a tough time choosing a provider. Tack on all of those extra taxes, fees, and potential overage charges, and there's a good chance you might empty your wallet before you even have a chance to get started. And let's be honest -- if you want one of the best phones for 2022, you're going to be paying quite a bit for that too. The good news is, if you know where to look, you can find a relatively inexpensive and budget-friendly phone plan, some made specifically for students. Don't forget, there are a ton of great offers available, so you can nab one of the best phone deals too, especially if you want to bring your own phone to the table.

To make sure you're looking in the right places, and to help you save some of that much-needed money, we've assembled the best student cell phone plans available for the year, as well as some excellent deals and offers. Keep reading to see what those are!

Read more
AT&T just made its FirstNet plans a lot more helpful for first responders
AT&T SatCOLT which is a mobile 5G tower platform.

Wireless smartphone plans are historically confusing and complicated — and this can be especially true when trying to mix and match different plan types. Take AT&T as an example. Ever since the carrier launched its FirstNet wireless service for first responders, families with FirstNet and regular/commercial AT&T plans have had to put up with multiple wireless plans, multiple accounts, and multiple bills. However, starting August 9, AT&T is taking big steps to reduce the headaches and make its FirstNet service offerings much easier to digest.

Created in 2001 and contracted to AT&T in 2017, FirstNet is a wireless network "built with AT&T to specifically to meet the needs of first responders." In the event of a natural disaster, terror attack, etc., it's not uncommon for wireless cell signals to become overloaded and disrupted. FirstNet is designed to remain up and running during such events and gives first responders "superior security, truly dedicated coverage and capacity when they need it and unique benefits they can’t get anywhere else." While that aspect of FirstNet is great, how it's traditionally been billed to people has been anything but.

Read more
Does the OnePlus 10T have wireless charging? What you need to know
The side of the OnePlus 10T showing the power key.

OnePlus has launched the OnePlus 10T, marking the return of its T-series lineup after last year’s hiatus. While the new midrange smartphone offers some impressive specs, there’s one crucial thing you may want to keep in mind about the OnePlus 10T before you rush out and hit the buy button.

Although wireless charging is arguably table stakes on midrange and premium smartphones in 2022, the OnePlus 10T is a surprising exception to this rule. Like its predecessor, the 2020 OnePlus 8T, this latest T series smartphone lacks any form of wireless charging.

Read more