Forum Discussion

Sco's avatar
Sco
Newbie Caller
8 months ago

5G Internet throttling

Just got this email stating users who consume more than 1.2 TB per month (which we just do) will have “lower priority” than other users.  

“Thanks for being a T‑Mobile Home Internet customer! To ensure the best network experience for all customers, we have updated our fair use policy. During times of congestion, customers using more than 1.2TB in a month (more than 2.5x the average user) may notice lower priority among other internet customers.”

So I assume if my internet starts to lag during peak usage times I will need to look elsewhere for Internet service providers. Love my T-Mobile 5G but never would have switched service if I knew this. 

TIA, Sco

 

  • Sco's avatar
    Sco
    Newbie Caller
    formercanuck wrote:

    Those just started being ‘added’ in the past month or so on newer TMo Home Internet accounts

    I can’t say that I’m a fan of it … but if I look to the other providers in my area:

    AT&T:  xDSL, 55/month for ‘Air’ or 60/month for Uverse with 1TB Cap with ‘overage’ fees.

    Yeah I can go back to unlimited Spectrum internet and then I’d drop to a lower level of phone service as well so I’m not sure T-Mobile has thought this out very well.  

  • Palumbo's avatar
    Palumbo
    Newbie Caller

    Me to.

    So, the average user does 0.5 TB. I doubt it in mid-2024.

  • DexterR's avatar
    DexterR
    Newbie Caller

    When I first received the email, I contacted T-Mobile immediately.  I was told flat out that I was Unlimited and would never be subject to this and that the email was just an automated update.

    The day after I received another email that said we would be subject to the throttling. I called and was told we would absolutely be limited. 

    I've enjoyed the service, but we cannot afford any throttling....sorry, they hate that term.  I was told it was absolutely not throttling.  It was 'data deprioritization related slowdown."

    We've been away from Spectrum long enough, I was able to sign up for a 1 Gig line for the same price as I was paying for T-Mobile.  I have to sign up for two years... Maybe T-Mobile will work out the bugs by that time.  

    To their credit T-Mobile is refunding several months of the last few payments.

    I'm still with their mobile service. But I'm checking options there as well.

  • YankFan's avatar
    YankFan
    Roaming Rookie

    I wonder if the 1.2 TB policy will disproportionately affect senior citizens -- i.e., people on the 55+ plans. We're home more and therefore use our TVs/devices more on wifi. We average nearly 1.5 TB/month. 

  • formercanuck's avatar
    formercanuck
    Spectrum Specialist

    Those just started being ‘added’ in the past month or so on newer TMo Home Internet accounts

    I can’t say that I’m a fan of it … but if I look to the other providers in my area:

    AT&T:  xDSL, 55/month for ‘Air’ or 60/month for Uverse with 1TB Cap with ‘overage’ fees.

  • formercanuck's avatar
    formercanuck
    Spectrum Specialist

    I currently have ‘both’ (need to migrate email off spectrum)

    Spectrum  $60/month for 100/10Mbps

    T-Mobile $25/month for 500-700Mbps/40-90Mbps. 

    My general usage has been ~350-500GB.

  • formercanuck's avatar
    formercanuck
    Spectrum Specialist

    I’m doubtful.  Many seniors would have to leave their 4K TVs running quite a bit to hit +1.2TB

    I work remotely from home, and run streaming + zoom (4-6 hours/day) + VPN + TVs and download quite a bit.~300GB is kinda normal.  Could I hit 1.2TB … sure, it isn’t hard to do, but doesn’t just happen randomly.

      Sure, If I left my TV streaming unattended, it’ll hit 1.2TB in less than a week if on standard Netflx HD.

    1.2TB ≈ 1200GB.  1 month ≈ 720 hours

    At 3GB/hour, one would hit 2.16TB.  So you ‘could’ hit 1.2TB watching TV for 12 hours / day, or 2 TV’s watching for 6 hours…. 7 days/ week.