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Verizon Wireless Throttling Unlimited 4G Data Hogs

By - Source: Verizon Wireless | B 31 comments

On Friday, Verizon Wireless stated that beginning October 1, it plans to throttle the speed of a specific group of 4G LTE customers with unlimited data plans. The move is part of the company's Network Optimization policy that launched three years ago, which limits the bandwidth of the company's top 5 percent 3G customers.

"We understand that our customers rely on their smartphones and tablets every day. Our network optimization policy provides the best path to ensure a continued great wireless experience for all of our customers on the best and largest wireless network in the U.S.," said Mike Haberman, vice president – technology, for Verizon Wireless.

According to the company, it uses "network intelligence" to slow the speeds of its top 5 percent data gulpers still on the legacy unlimited data plans. These customers will experience a data slowdown if they're connected to a cell cite that's experiencing peak usage. Once that heavy traffic has subsided, or the user moves to a different cell site, then Verizon will sling the floodgates back open.

As for the new group of 4G LTE customers, users who will see the throttling on Verizon's network will (1) be in the top 5 percent of data gulpers (aka more than 4.7 GB in a single billing period), (2) have fulfilled their minimum contractual commitment, (3) are on unlimited plans using a 4G LTE device, and (4) are connected to a congested cell tower.

"They may experience slower data speeds when using certain high bandwidth applications, such as streaming high-definition video or during real-time, online gaming, and only when connecting to a cell site when it is experiencing heavy demand," stated the press release.

Verizon stopped selling unlimited data plans back in 2012, and switched to a Share Everything Plan that pushes customers into paying for pools of data that can be shared with other members of the same plan. Those on the Share Everything plans will not be affected by the Network Optimization throttling.

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Top Comments
  • 12 Hide
    squirrelboy , July 28, 2014 1:59 PM
    Quote:
    How exactly does one use so much data, outside of, say, watching YouTube or Netflix off of WiFi or something?

    Porn.
Other Comments
  • -3 Hide
    dstarr3 , July 28, 2014 1:45 PM
    How exactly does one use so much data, outside of, say, watching YouTube or Netflix off of WiFi or something?
  • 12 Hide
    squirrelboy , July 28, 2014 1:59 PM
    Quote:
    How exactly does one use so much data, outside of, say, watching YouTube or Netflix off of WiFi or something?

    Porn.
  • Display all 31 comments.
  • 6 Hide
    Steve Simons , July 28, 2014 2:36 PM
    I'm at 11.8 GB this cycle. I use my iphone on my runs and have mapmyrun and pandora running for the entire hour plus I run or bike. It adds up quick. I don't have verizon though. Not having unlimited data is why I won't switch to them. It's just to costly to get 10+GB of data through them.
  • -6 Hide
    agentbb007 , July 28, 2014 2:48 PM
    I'm with Verizon and I pay by the GB so this seems fair to me. Wish I would have been with Verizon and signed up for the unlimited plan back then...
  • 6 Hide
    razor512 , July 28, 2014 3:13 PM
    With that policy, there will always be a top 5%. it is just their way to eventually throttle all users on the unlimited data package.
  • 0 Hide
    jdog2pt0 , July 28, 2014 6:08 PM
    I'm one of the few still holding on to my unlimited. This is just another way to make more money, plain and simple. Rather than invest into their network, they'd rather cut your service, charge you more, and make it seem like they're doing you a favor. It's absolutely ridiculous that we're letting the service providers get away with this. It's not just the phone providers either, comcast and the likes putting datacaps in place. What a joke.
  • 1 Hide
    jonathan1683 , July 28, 2014 6:31 PM
    just wait for net neutrality to go away, it's funny that the 5% is what bring their network to its knees and they just happen to be the ones not paying enough. I bet you can pay for 1Tb of bandwith no problems so long you are paying.
  • 0 Hide
    itchyisvegeta , July 28, 2014 11:59 PM
    I go through 8 GB in a month easilly, just from Pandora, Netflix, and Hulu when I am jogging and/or at the gym.
  • 0 Hide
    ryguystye , July 29, 2014 12:02 AM
    So how is this new policy different from the old one? If there's limited bandwidth in a given area, did Unlimited users get priority over Tiered users if the network was congested?
  • 1 Hide
    thundervore , July 29, 2014 1:47 AM
    Wow, its like these cellphone carriers are competing to see who could piss off their customers the fastest just to see who would remain loyal.

    First they make us pay for data on a smartphone even if we do not use their data. (free WIFI at work, your own WIFI at home and if your a Cable subscriber there are free WIFI hotspots throughout the cities.)

    Now they want to throttle those with unlimited data?

    How about fair data rates!!! Why is it a company can charge $30 for a 3GB monthly data plan but at the same time charge $20 for 300MB a month data plan. If you convert the numbers, its 3072MB for $30 or 300MB for $20. An extra $10 should not give you 2772MB of extra data!!!
  • 1 Hide
    qlum , July 29, 2014 2:56 AM
    If I had a unlimited data plan I would probably use it a lot, I would download all kinds of stuff, I would stream. However since my plan is only 500mb I just use it for browsing and chatting. Which really is plenty especially if you go from wifi to wifi. Because of my low data usage I only pay € 8 a month on sim only which really is not that bad.
  • 0 Hide
    rpmrush , July 29, 2014 5:06 AM
    I still have unlimited. On my Nexus I'd pull about 5gig monthly. I upgraded my other line to a G3 and transferred it to my unlimited line. Holy crap. With XLTE giving me 50M down in my house and 20 + out and about..I burn through data. I've used 5gig this week alone.
  • 2 Hide
    maxiim , July 29, 2014 5:58 AM
    You'd be surprised how much data can be used, I've seen many easily exceed 20gb of data usage, and p much every cell carrier does this.
  • -3 Hide
    Doug Lord , July 29, 2014 7:01 AM
    We need more competition in the space. Tmobile and Sprint need to merge to have the size to fight ATT and Verizon. Google and/or foreign providers should be let in. Etc...
  • 0 Hide
    td854 , July 29, 2014 10:14 AM
    I pull 12-16GB monthly on my Galaxy Note 3 on legacy unlimited plan. I'm in IT and pull data from numerous medical company FTPs as well as our own FTP in addition to carrying around periodic copies of our own FTP. Most of the offices I go to have internet speed that is significantly slower than my phone (5-7mbps average versus 40-75mbps on my phone) and it's faster to pull the data through there, copy it to a flash drive via OTG cable and plug it in.

    I have a seperate business iPhone and I don't use it for anything but calls because we have 12 users on a 10GB limit which is the highest they will go for us.
  • 0 Hide
    bildo123 , July 29, 2014 11:25 AM
    "Heavy traffic". How the heck can anyone load up a tower to the point of needing to throttle when you can hit your whopping, overpriced, $40, 4GB monthly data cap in less than an hour at 4G LTE speeds? The whole data-cap/throttling is non-sense to squeeze out overpriced underwhelming data packages. Sorry kids, we used up all the Internet today.
  • 1 Hide
    vipboy28 , July 29, 2014 12:10 PM
    How is this not illegal? Its bias, discriminatory and unjust. Verizon is literally discriminating against unlimited data users. SUPER ILLEGAL!

    Verizon is claiming that they don't have to wire NJ with a Fiber solution because their Wireless network is an alternative to DSL and Cable. How can they justify any of the following statements. A teired data plan with a THROTTLE CAP to replace a cable or dsl installment??

    This should be a Class action lawsuit. This is just another ploy by verizon to dupe customers and get the upper hand. They make RECORD Profits year after year and we are talking like 30+Billion a year in profits.

    Yet they dont upgrade their networks, takes them half a year and makes netflix pay for hardware into their servers. Its like how, HOW is this company still around with all the SHADY business practices and deception! Let me guess, too big to fail, right?
  • 3 Hide
    zfreak280 , July 29, 2014 3:14 PM
    Quote:
    I'm one of the few still holding on to my unlimited. This is just another way to make more money, plain and simple. Rather than invest into their network, they'd rather cut your service, charge you more, and make it seem like they're doing you a favor. It's absolutely ridiculous that we're letting the service providers get away with this. It's not just the phone providers either, comcast and the likes putting datacaps in place. What a joke.


    Why would they invest in their infrastructure when the infrastructure is more than sufficient if data hogs are throttled? You do realize that data is not free and network towers do not grow on trees. Every byte of data uses a quantifiable amount of energy and energy cost money. So are you saying they should just continue to give people more bandwidth and lose money?
  • 1 Hide
    zfreak280 , July 29, 2014 3:18 PM
    Quote:
    just wait for net neutrality to go away, it's funny that the 5% is what bring their network to its knees and they just happen to be the ones not paying enough. I bet you can pay for 1Tb of bandwith no problems so long you are paying.


    Net neutrality and throttling bandwidth hogs are two unrelated topics.
  • 2 Hide
    zfreak280 , July 29, 2014 3:41 PM
    Quotes and responses for all!

    Quote:
    I go through 8 GB in a month easilly, just from Pandora, Netflix, and Hulu when I am jogging and/or at the gym.


    Why are you jogging and watching movies at the same time? If it is a visual pleasure problem, then please consider jogging outside.


    Quote:
    Wow, its like these cellphone carriers are competing to see who could piss off their customers the fastest just to see who would remain loyal.

    First they make us pay for data on a smartphone even if we do not use their data. (free WIFI at work, your own WIFI at home and if your a Cable subscriber there are free WIFI hotspots throughout the cities.)

    Now they want to throttle those with unlimited data?

    How about fair data rates!!! Why is it a company can charge $30 for a 3GB monthly data plan but at the same time charge $20 for 300MB a month data plan. If you convert the numbers, its 3072MB for $30 or 300MB for $20. An extra $10 should not give you 2772MB of extra data!!!


    I do not see a problem with charging per gigabyte. As I said earlier, data uses a quantifiable amount of energy and energy cost money. Do you think paying per kW/h at your home is unfair? Do you think paying per gallon of gas for your car is unfair? Do you think paying per gallon of water you use at home is unfair? Why should bandwidth be any different? It uses energy, so you should pay per unit of energy used.

    I do agree that their data rate prices are ridiculous. However, have you ever considered that their prices are ridiculous because you are footing the bill for high bandwidth users?
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