AT&T Limits Top Wireless Data Users
In the past wireless companies had unlimited data plans that were introduced before the more current tiered plans. Customers who were grandfathered in with their old unlimited data plan usages have been continually allowed to use the unlimited resources. However, all that will change on October 1st. AT&T has announced that they will no longer use the old unlimited terms and will force its top 5% of data usage customers into a limited data plan.
By Rachelle Dragani
AT&T customers with unlimited wireless data plans may want to watch how much they download and upload soon. The company says it’s going to begin throttling the access speeds of its top 5 percent of unlimited data users. It claims a capacity crunch has necessitated the action, suggesting AT&T’s goal of buying up carrier T-Mobile may play a large part in the move.
AT&T (NYSE: T) will begin limiting data speeds for the top 5 percent of wireless data users who currently have unlimited data plans, the company announced Friday.
Many AT&T customers currently operate under a tiered data plan, but customers who had unlimited usage before the tiered plans were initiated about a year ago were able to continue downloading and uploading an unlimited amount of data over the company’s wireless network each month. Starting Oct. 1, however, AT&T will start dialing down the speed on its heaviest users.
Those at risk of being throttled will receive notification and a grace period before AT&T begins implementing the restrictions.
Recently, Verizon Verizon Wireless joined AT&T in offering tiered data plans for users. T-Mobilerecently announced that instead of limiting customers’ data, it would begin throttling after they reach their selected data usage levels. Sprint (NYSE: S) is the only major wireless carrier in the U.S. to provide an unlimited data plan without throttling.
AT&T declined the E-Commerce Times’ request to comment for this story.
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