Throttling of unlimited 4g

[schadenfroh]

So, as many of you likely know, Verizon will start throttling top 5% LTE data users in October that have unlimited plans:

Starting October 1, Verizon Will Include Unlimited 4G LTE Customers in “Network Optimization” | Droi...

While I applaud the marketing staff's efforts to deny that slowing the speed of LTE customers is throttling, and that the lawyers have made a very loose interpretation of what is considered "reasonable network management" to dodge FCC Block C spectrum rules (reasonable would be slowing down the folks that are, at the time of tower congestion, using the most bandwidth, rather than punishing top 5% unlimited data users who may not be using much bandwidth at the time of congestion, but have done so in the past during said billing cycle) , I figure I should prepare for the worst, since I do enjoy watching HD Netflix while traveling.

Is there anyway to sign a new 2-year contract with Verizon such that my unlimited data plan will not get throttled?  I don't want a new phone or upgrade, just a contract to ensure price stability, current plan, and no throttling.

Given I live in DC, there is plenty of congestion and I'm likely in the top 1% of data users given I push upwards of 40gb a month watching netflix (no TV, so phone gets it).

[sprmankalel]

Unfortunately there is no way to guarantee no slowing of speeds. VZW can throttle you at anytime. They really don't want people on unlimited anyway. I guess the only way to guarantee not being slowed is to actually pay for what you use.

[schadenfroh]

I pay quite a bit to Verizon every month for unlimited data...  I am paying for what I use.

Unfortunately, VZ doesn't seem to offer a "more everything" plan with a data cap that suits my data needs, which is rather disappointing.

[sprmankalel]

So you're saying that the 5 smartphones I have on a 12GB ME plan isn't as valuable to VZW as your Unlimited plan? If you're using 40GB and want to pay for 40GB you won't get throttled. This is just another way to get people off of unlimited. Even the other carriers who advertise and offer unlimited throttle it.

VZW offers ME plans with up to 100GB of data.

[LRVassar]

According to another website, which I won't mention, using more than 4.7 GB's of data monthly would make you a top 5% user and you should expect to be throttled.

I don't feel so bad for getting rid of my unlimited line when I did, because their value just dropped dramatically.

[sprmankalel]

I think it's great. For one, I use more data on a capped plan than I did on an unlimited plan. Also, I think with so many data devices out in the world now that it's high time we pay for what we use. Even if there was still unlimited for everyone, why is fair that we all pay one blanket price while some consume as much as 40GB and some are less than 1GB. One of my lines uses less than 500MB a month. I wouldn't want to pay the same as someone using so much data.

[M9]

I think it sucks. I have been a customer for 5 years. I pay 39.99 for voice that I don't even want or use, 29.99 for UNLIMITED!!!! DATA & 30.00 for UNLIMITED!!! Hotspot. I just spent close to 1000.00 bucks for a new HTC one max & accessories. I think I have paid for my UNLIMTED!!! data not for limited data called unlimited.

[M9]

Oh yeah forgot about the 3 bucks for roadside assistance that I've never used & the 5 or 10 bucks of BS fees.

[wirelessman]

I feel the same way. I paid over $700 for my Samsung Galaxy Note 3  just so I could keep my Unlimited Data and My Hot spot ! I use heavy about 3 to 5 months out of the year, some months I barely use 2 or 3 gb. Most I ever used was 91gb one month. Yes that's a lot but I pay $192 per month for my phone and plan, once my phone is paid off , my bill drops to $125. per month.  I don't like that are taking it from us...not at all.  Spin it however you want. We paid for a plan they offered us. Now they want to say "Oh we gave you too much....we are taking some away from you now !"  I'm gonna fight tooth and nail to keep mine ! They will have to pry it from my cold dead fingers ! 😉

[rcschnoor]

Except Verizon has said nothing about taking away your unlimited. Anyone saying that is simply speculating.

[sprmankalel]

They're still offering you unlimited data. It's not like you'll pay through the nose for using 91GB. They are just saying that if you want to keep the unlimited and not pay overages we will slow you down when necessary to provide access for others. When congestion has been stopped you will get the faster speeds back. Also, if you read back in the comments, it's not like TMO or Sprint does when they slow you down. They'll slow you for the rest of your billing cycle. Where does it say that they have to off you unlimited data at top speeds? If you pay for unlimited you're still getting it.

I keep saying it, and will say it again, if you don't want to be slowed then pay for what you use. If you don't want to pay for you 100GB at top speeds then you just suffer the times that you may be slowed. It's called putting on our big people pants and dealing with it.

[jtown]

sprmankalel, stop telling people that the throttling will be short.  You don't know that.  In fact, not only can it extend to the end of the billing period, Verizon has stated that it could extend into the next billing period.  It will stay in effect until Verizon decides to stop.  They won't give specific information about when it will start or when it will end.  The customer has no way to know when it will start or how long it will last.  Verizon has conveniently linked the "abuser" level to a variable which will be driven downward until there's nobody left.  They haven't (and won't) define what constitutes a "congested" cell site.  And they're also not going to tie the throttling to data transferred during congestion but to historical data usage which has nothing whatsoever to do with activity at the time of throttling.

Once this policy goes into effect, if I move 20 gigs on a cell tower with 5 customers, then move to a new city the next day and try to run Windows Update on a "congested" tower, I'll get smacked down the instant I start to move data even tho I've done nothing to contribute to the congestion.  I move a lot of data on an underutilized segment of their network then move to another area and suddenly I'm a bad guy because the new area's saturated.  That's not my fault.

Also, Verizon gives us no way to prioritize our data.  If I'm uploading a photo set overnight, I don't care if it goes slowly.  But I don't have the option to set my connection to "low priority" and let Verizon give priority to other traffic.  Or I buy a new 20 gigabyte game and start the download when I go to bed, I don't care if it takes 10 hours.  If I could set bulk transfers to low priority and interactive activity to high priority, I'd gladly do that.  But I can't.

[M9]

I think it is a moot point now. I don't think VZW will buck the FCC on this one. I've said it before & I'll say it again. I do pay 4 my unlimited data. Through the nose.

Sent from my HTC One max on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network

[#14]

M9 wrote:

I think it is a moot point now. I don't think VZW will buck the FCC on this one. I've said it before & I'll say it again. I do pay 4 my unlimited data. Through the nose.

Sent from my HTC One max on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network

The FCC has no grounds to stop Verizon. If Verizon can't "throttle" unlimited data then neither can the others. At&t straight up throttle after 5 GB whether a tower is congested or not and their throttling only applies to unlimited data users. So where is the FCC on that? Fact is Verizon already "throttles" unlimited data on 3G and has for years. The FCC never worried that it only applied to unlimited data before. Also even if you want to say the 700 MHz rules prevents Verizon from "throttling" that, those rules do NOT apply to their AWS spectrum. They CAN "throttle" that. I assume XLTE devices default to AWS spectrum anyway.

[M9]

Correct, I say the 700 Mhz rules make VZW's throttling a different scenario than the other carriers. Also correct that the XLTE band is not subject to these limitations. Problem with that is there r so few devices at this point in time that use XLTE that VZW doesn't have the excuse of congestion. There is no congestion on this band. Probably won't be for a few years. By that time they probrably will have to offer unlimited again to  remain competitive.

[#16]

It's can only take a couple of dozen devices streaming HD video to congest a tower. Even on XLTE the max bandwidth is 150 Mbps. just 25 devices streaming super HD Netflix at 6 Mbps is 150 Mbps.

Also T-Mobile has 700 MHz spectrum throttles unlimited data. At&t has 700 MHz spectrum can throttle unlimited data. What's going to happen when everyone has a slice of 600 MHz? Is Verizon going to be under these stupid rules for the less valuable 700 MHz still?

[M9]

I don't know 4 sure, but I've been told by a VZW rep that the new

throttling won't apply to XLTE devices. Kinda like it didn't used to apply

to 4G. My guess is they will wait untill a lot of devices r on it before

throttling it.

[#18]

M9 wrote:

I don't know 4 sure, but I've been told by a VZW rep that the new

throttling won't apply to XLTE devices. Kinda like it didn't used to apply

to 4G. My guess is they will wait untill a lot of devices r on it before

throttling it.

A) I would take anything said by a rep with a huge grain of salt. I'll need to see written proof or a statement form a Verizon official before I believe that.

B) If that is true then unlimited data users have even less of a case to whine about this. All new phones sold since the first of the year have to be XLTE capable. So eventually all phones will be XTLE capable.

[M9]

True, but it sucks 4 the millions of people with older devices. Which I'm sure outnumber those with XLTE devices. And remember they have to pay full price. I've gotten up close to a grand in my one max & accessories.

Sent from my HTC One max on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network

[#20]

M9 wrote:

True, but it sucks 4 the millions of people with older devices. Which I'm sure outnumber those with XLTE devices. And remember they have to pay full price. I've gotten up close to a grand in my one max & accessories.

Sent from my HTC One max on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network

People with unlimited data on 3G phones have been throttled for over 2 1/2 years now. This new policy changes nothing for them. As of the end of the 2nd quarter 35% of all phones on Verizon's network at XLTE capable. This will only increase. So maybe half the people on unlimited have 4G 700 MHz only phones. So what maybe 2 1/2 percent will be affected? And even then only for a small period of time.

So what if they have to pay full price? That's they way it's going anyway. T-Mobile does't offer subsidies AT ALL. So if you want unlimited data from T-Mobile you pay full price and that's OK, but Verizon has the same policy and they are the devil? In 5 years no one will offer subsidies.

[M9]

There is full price & there is highway robbery. I think u know which category VZW's "full price" fits in.

Sent from my HTC One max on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network