AT&T Begins Throttling Unlimited Data Plan Users

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Posted September 30, 2011 at 1:04am by iClarified

As planned, AT&T has started to throttle users on the unlimited plans who place in the top 5% of data usage for that month.

Although originally planned to start October 1, many users are reporting that their data usage is already being throttled. No word on the exact speeds yet.

Starting October 1, smartphone customers with unlimited data plans may experience reduced speeds once their usage in a billing cycle reaches the level that puts them among the top 5 percent of heaviest data users. These customers can still use unlimited data and their speeds will be restored with the start of the next billing cycle. Before you are affected, we will provide multiple notices, including a grace period.

Verizon has too been throttling data for unlimited customers starting a few weeks back.

Remember that this only applies to unlimited data customers using a smartphone. Users reported that they received the message on throttling at or around 10GB.

via Reddit

AT&T Begins Throttling Unlimited Data Plan Users

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Omar - October 1, 2011 at 5:33am

(It'll just come slower) that crazy like I sell u car and if u speed with I remove one piston of ur car !Like that do u understand ?!! If any operator need serve data to all costumers the same speed he need BUY a new SERVERS but that cost a lot of money of us. It's clear for all. Mr that mean Kill two birds with one stone.

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m_thoroughbred - October 2, 2011 at 10:31pm

It's more like you buy a car that does 160mph but you have to drive at a lower speed to maintain speed limit. Lol

Omar - September 30, 2011 at 9:42am

This it's illegal because we singe contract with this operator in 2010 (UNLIMITED DATA PLAN) because the iPhone 3G it's time it's not popular and slow processor./ Unlimited = wherever GB used it's ok for all the operators in this world just with this AT&T and Verizon.

Tjp - September 30, 2011 at 4:42am

Great timing. Just in time for people to cancel AT&T and switch carriers to Sprint with a real unlimited data plan. And cheaper service to boot. And if the iPhone 5 is universal, no issue with international travelers. AT&T will drop a few customers because of this! And it is a change in your contract, if you previously had real unlimited data. So penalty free cancelation! They'll argue, but AT&T will lose that one by their own contract terms. Wee Haa!!!

M_thoroughbred - October 2, 2011 at 3:44am

You're argument is mute cause even though you sign a contract for unlimited data (which you still would have) doesn't guarantee connection speeds. If you read the fine print in your contract it states data speed can vary. And in the case of Sprint if and when they get the iPhone IMO will eventually follow suit as far as throttling data. We heard this same song when Verizon was getting the iPhone. We just have to wait and see. But I think again my opinion that throttling data will be come a norm for all carriers. Sure that sprint will keep their unlimited data for while but eventually will do what the others have done.

Alexx - September 30, 2011 at 3:20am

I am grandfathered into the unlimited data for iPhone with AT&T and what I am wondering is if the new iPhone is 4g and I decide to purchase it, how will my plan be affected? No more unlimited?

rick - September 30, 2011 at 3:22am

when you upgrade your phone to a new one, the plan stays the same.

Omar - December 28, 2011 at 6:45am

But AT&T kill ur speed data from 600ko/s to 6 or 12ko/s u know that!

Omar - December 28, 2011 at 6:49am

Reduce speed that mean if u have speed data ex 600k/s AT&T punish u with reducing ur speed data to 300k/s but not kill ur data from 600k/s to 6 or 12k/s. for load one page on Safari u need to wait 4 to 5 minutes that crazy.