If you still have an "unlimited" data plan with AT&T and you're among the top 5% of data users, prepare to be throttled.
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.
This change will never impact the vast majority of our customers, and is designed to create a better service experience for all.
AT&T stresses they're [not the only one doing this](http://www.imore.com/ta, and that most users will never see the throttling, just those heaviest, most video streaming, sneakily tethering, packet clogging, network reputation ruining five-percenters.
[AT&T]
Reader comments
AT&T to throttle top 5% of "unlimited" data users
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I'm not in the top five. Even though I use my iPhones HotSpot to play XboxLive all the time. Haha. My data usage fluctuates all time.
Good. I'm sick of urban networks being clogged and congested due to people gaming the system. Just because you go to an "all you can eat" buffet doesn't mean you can sit there for 8 hours consuming breakfast, lunch and dinner. Be courteous. Be civil.
Actually you can sit at an all you can eat buffet all day. There was even a lawsuit about it at one point. I'm sure this is going to spark some ignorant retorts but if these carriers (mine included: Verizon) wanted to throttle their CONTRACTED clients then then they should've produced SPEED tiers instead of QUANTITY tiers. Unlimited means without limits. Period. Fin.
So they justify being pricks and treating their customers as if we are all evil little bandwidth fiends by saying they aren't the only ones doing it?
Fck AT&T and fck Verizon to boot.
Cell phone companies are nothing more than the mob.
The real travesty here is they've made sure($$$)our congressman have kept it all legal for them.
I had my speed throttled a while back after i went over 50GB. All it took was a phone call and an email to the SEO to get my speed back. So if you have any problems complain to the max and they'll decide not to bother.
AT&T screwing its unlimited (iPad) customers over, again.
They better not freakin throttle me I got a contract with unlimited data, which is exactly what I expect! I'm only using 20GB/month, when under the contract I could be using 1tb/month! They should be thankful I don't use as much as I am entitled to!
If anyone actually read the TERMS OF THE CONTRACT they claim to have, there is an acceptable use clause that states what the carrier can deem as overboard and throttle/discontinue service. Just take it easy so we all can share the network. Using all the bandwidth just makes it harder on everyone.
Doesn't "unlimited" mean unlimited anymore? If I am paying for an unlimited service, then I should actually get unlimited service. Not service that is handicapped because I reach some random number! They have already capped the service as it is for all new subscribers. This just strikes me as an attempt to limit everyone eventually.
I think "gigs" means GB LOL.
personally I usually used to use 150-200 gb every month on 3G tethering before I signed up for broadband at home.
I smell a class action lawsuit. I haven't read the fine print, but i don't believe that throttling was part of the unlimited plan.
Accordingly, AT&T reserves the right to (i) deny, disconnect, modify and/or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone it believes is using the Service in any manner prohibited or whose usage adversely impacts its wireless network or service levels or hinders access to its wireless network, including without limitation, after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive usage and (ii) otherwise protect its wireless network from harm, compromised capacity or degradation in performance, which may impact legitimate data flows.
Average between 5-7 GB. I'm thinking anyone above 5 will get hit.
i'm using usually 70-80 gigs a month on 3G, rarely going over 100 gigs. I wonder if I'm in the top 5%
HOLY HELL, MAN!!!!!
@MV ROB
I am 100% certain you will be in the 95% of users that never notice a thing. On McaRumors there are about 50+ people that said they go well over 10GB/Month.
Anyone have any idea at about what amt of data used that you start to get throttled? How about you don't throttle when I go over because of how terrible you guys are at not dropping my calls and we will call it even eh?
How about you get a service provider that doesn't drop your calls, instead of having a cool phone you can't use, but always complain about?
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would that level be 5GB ???
The amount is variable month to month. It's a curve. Theoretically if 95% of users on the network is only using 1gb that month then the 5% going over that will be throttled. That's the part that's bullshit. Instead of using their profits to rapidly & aggressively expand their networks they'll bend your contract to point of coming close to being in breach.
I am on Edge 95% of the time in a 3G market. So throttle me down to GPRS please AT&T, oh wait you do that when I drive down the road and it switches to GPRS. I would of been nice of them to at least give a number to look out for so I know what to expect. When I am working on the road and traveling I can easily use 5-6 gigs a month using my slingbox. I will be pissed to find out that they consider anything over 2GBs heavy usage.
Maybe you should've gone for a service provider that offered good service where you are, instead of going for a flashy phone that is on a carrier who offers subpar service where you're located.
This is your own fault.
you're a douche... shut up and quit trollin'
I don't troll, I actively participate in the comments. Just because I give an answer that calls out your own flaw does not make me a troll.
No, you're a douche.
yeh u trollin
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3G service where I live is non-existant and where I work but 3G speed tests are usually <300kbps so my unlimited service has always been throttled.
Surely then, if every AT AT user users there unlimited data much, much more. The percentage average will get much higher, so less data will be capped :p
opa fani ego pantos mporo na akoyo moiksui kai na eimai sto net apo to kinito ton spileon opos les (nokia) esi den mporis!!! ego mporo na trabao video esi thes efarmogi giana to kaneis kai alla pola !!!!! kai ean exeis to iphone tis protis genias anafora staminimata exeis ?????? malon oxi . oso gia to ipad exei akoma ama na bgaloun kamia nea ekdosi giana mporis na kaneis 2 pragmata mazi kai meta blepoume . mporei kai an toys katsi na balloune kai ellinika h kamia kamera kai na min kremaei to wifi ante aniperke blaxako xaxaxaxaxaxa