T-Mobile Denies Throttling Unlimited 4G LTE Customers
Is T-Mobile throttling its unlimited customers, too? On Thursday CEO John Legere jumped on Twitter to deny the rumor, saying that there is “no limit on data”.
The denial follows reports of an internal memo obtained by TmoNews that says the company plans to address unauthorized tethering and those sharing files via peer-to-peer networks. Somehow this bit of news turned into accusations that the company is throttling a specific group of customers.
“T-Mobile has identified customers who are heavy data users and are engaged in peer-to-peer file sharing, and tethering outside of T-Mobile’s Terms and Conditions (T&C),” the internal memo said. “This results in a negative data network experience for T-Mobile customers. Beginning August 17, T-Mobile will begin to address customers who are conducting activities outside of T-Mobile’s T&Cs.”
According to the document, customers with the old $70 Unlimited High-Speed Data plan that are violating the company’s T&Cs are the only customers that will be contacted. The company will explain to them the T&C and why the data speed may be reduced until the next billing cycle if they continue their pirating ways.
The document said that when approaching these users, the company will apply a “Misuse Warning SOC” to the account. If the customer stops downloading illegal content, then the label will be removed. If the downloading continues, then the account will be flagged with a “Misuse Throttle SOC” and the data speeds will be reduced.
Here’s a part of the T&C that clearly states what customers cannot do:
“…using the Service in connection with server devices or host computer applications, including continuous Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing applications that are broadcast to multiple servers or recipients, ‘bots’ or similar routines that could disrupt net user groups or email use by others or other applications that denigrate network capacity or functionality,” the T&C states under section 18, Misuse of Service or Device.
Before CEO John Legere used Twitter to defend T-Mobile, Chief Marketing Officer Mike Sievert told Re/code that the memo was misinterpreted, making it seem that T-Mobile was out to throttle heavy data users.
News of T-Mobiles throttling confusion arrives after Verizon Wireless stated that starting October 1, it plans to throttle the speed of a specific group of 4G LTE customers with unlimited data plans. The company is targeting users that consume more than 4.7 GB in a single billing period and who are connected to a congested cell tower. Once the congestion subsides, Verizon indicated that it would then ease back off of the throttling.
News of the throttling didn’t sit well with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Chairman Tom Wheeler said that he was “deeply troubled” about the reports and sent letters to the major wireless carriers asking about how data is being managed.
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Your opinion should have been caught in the interviewing process.... excluding you from employment. "Punish" and "customer" *never occur together in a successful business.
It would be foolish to believe that, for the everyday consumer, a genuinely 24/7 unlimited download plan - with full speed (the critical bit) - could possibly be maintained for any length of time. This simply doesn't exist outside expensive commercial set-up's.
The actual policy will always be no different to all those current ISP's offering 'unlimited' downloads while enforcing 'fair policy usage', normally via time expired throttling.
It would be foolish to believe that, for the everyday consumer, a genuinely 24/7 unlimited download plan - with full speed (the critical bit) - could possibly be maintained for any length of time. This simply doesn't exist outside expensive commercial set-up's.
The actual policy will always be no different to all those current ISP's offering 'unlimited' downloads while enforcing 'fair policy usage', normally via time expired throttling.
There is no false advertising! What are you even talking about. You, bigpinkdragon286 and the rest of the people crying seem to have forgotten or lost the concept of "The Honor System".
Every customer on T-mobile has unlimited access on data all the time as long as you do not abuse the service. T-Mobile clearly is stating what defines this abuse of service.
I am so sorry that you want to download gobs of music attained illegal from the internet or movies. If you are using 300GB of data every month, that is already an abuse of data from T-Mobile. T-Mobile is not an ISP and doesn't advertise itself as one.
God forbid a company put a cap on its customers that download movies and songs illegally. Why we are at it, why don't we cause a revolution and disband the government for prosecuting people that evade their taxes.
Go back to the rock you crawled out of and re-address the issue of what it means to be truly unlimited. And unlike other providers, at least they have to courtesy to tell you you are the culprit than just out right bring your speed down. Show me another Carrier that does that? That is right you can not.
So stop your complaining of... "I can not download my illegal crap."
You seem a bit confused. T-Mobile advertises, and offers, a data plan that has no set limit to the amount of data you can consume. Which is entirely accurate. Nowhere does T-Mobile make the claim that their data plans are free to use for whatever purpose the customer sees fit. There are very clearly defined restrictions on the use of T-Mobile's data plans and every user receives a copy of T-Mobile's terms and conditions when they sign up.
With T-Mobile once you reach your monthly cap they reduce your 4G connection to a 2G connection.
Thanks for assuming that "Unlimited data" and "Saturation" are the same thing. T-Mobile doesn't have a problem with you using data when and where you want. They have a problem if you decide to saturate the connection ie, use every available piece of throughput so you can download your torrents or let your 5 fans see you every minute of every day. Obviously you've never dealt with the public either, at least not with at any real level of significance. Tragedy of the commons, happens all the time. It doesn't matter what you say, unless you attach a huge set of conditions on everything some people will screw everyone else just so they can do something a little shady with a semantic argument. Thankfully T-Mobile is willing to swat these people down so the rest of us can listen to music, or watch a little TV on the way home.
First you state that T-Mobile doesn't have a problem using data when and where you want, then you say they have a problem with saturating the connection. Umm, if you are transferring data, one would assume the connection, unless throttled, will run up to it's saturation point, always, which is the speed they have set your radio to transmit and receive on their network. So which is it? Do they care what you do with your connection and put limits on it, or don't they? Ultimately, they do care when and where you use data, and take actions against those who use more than what T-Mobile has determined to be reasonable. My only issue is with the use of the term unlimited, not with how T-Mobile is managing their network. When a downstream process begins, most ignorant users are never in charge of whether the connection becomes saturated, so why even bring that up? Downloads should take place at the highest rate available to minimize time on the network, but of course, there are always other variables to take into account. Holding the user accountable for things they don't necessarily have control over hardly makes sense.
Here's a valid question though, what makes one's want to view "TV on the way home" or "listen to music" more important or reasonable than the want of another user, (and don't bring up shady activities, as there are plenty of legitimate activities that can saturate a connection)? Are you arguing for, or against the consumption of large amounts of bandwidth by saying one should be able to casually stream video, which happens to be a large consumer of bandwidth?
This is the part I have a problem with.
Should the water company tell me what I can use the water for?
Filling my pool, watering my lawn, bathing vs showering
Should the electricity company tell me what I can use the electricity for?
Should I pay an upcharge if I use a bigger TV?
Filling my pool, watering my lawn, bathing vs showering"
Good try using metered services to make an argument about an unlimited service. Please try again...
This is the part I have a problem with.
Should the water company tell me what I can use the water for?
Filling my pool, watering my lawn, bathing vs showering
Should the electricity company tell me what I can use the electricity for?
Should I pay an upcharge if I use a bigger TV?
You are using metered services to make an argument about an unlimited service offering. Please try again...
But they also have a T&C in place that says what you cant do, and what they CAN do to you if you break the terms.