The Cell Phone Junkie

Multiple reports this week surfaced of AT&T now throttling unlimited data plan customers who exceed just 2GB of data.  Both iMore and MacRumors had posts about recent writers who had been effected by the change.   John Cozen says he received his top 5% data usage warning after reaching only 2.1GB of data for January.

I received a message during my last billing cycle, warning I was in the top 5% of my region and would experience reduced data speeds next time I reach that level of data use. I immediately checked my data usage on the AT&T iOS app. 

2.1 GB. Less than I expected considering AT&T offers a 3GB plan for $30 a month. The same amount I’ve paid for the unlimited data plan since signing up with them many years ago. AT&T no longer offers an unlimited data plan, anyone still on it has been grandfathered in.

Cozen reached out to AT&T, whose representatives confirmed the message was not sent by mistake, and that 2.1GB did fall in the 5% range for his area.  The only way to get around the limitation is to upgrade to either the $30 per month plan offering 3GB of data, or the $50 per month plan with 5GB plus tethering.

I think we can expect to see more of these types of reports surface over the next few months, as a soft cap of 2GB becomes the limit for those on the legacy unlimited data plans.  While it may not be a favorable decision for customers, AT&T is still offering these users unlimited amounts of data, just throttled at a certain point.  I think T-Mobile’s philosophy is much better in this case, where they inform you that you have a certain amount of 4G data, and any additional usage will be at lowered speeds.  The 5% mark is arbitrary, and unknown in nearly all cases.