Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile

Rumor: AT&T to turn to throttling rather than data caps?

By
iphone-5
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A new report has mobile operator AT&T apparently getting ready to steal a page from acquisition target T-Mobile: instead of charging mobile users extra for going over their monthly data allowances, 9to5Mac reports that AT&T is planning to shift to a throttling model, where the heaviest data users who go over their monthly limit won’t be charged more money, but will see the bandwidth available to them sharply curtailed. 9to5Mac speculates the change will roll out the first week of October, which falls roughly in line with the currently-rumored mdi-September launch date for Apple’s next iPhone.

AT&T currently charges users $25 per month for up to 2 GB of data service, and the company says the majority of its mobile data users stay well within that limit. However, heavy data users who exceed the 2GB threshold get charges an additional $10 per gigabyte during the billing cycle.

Recommended Videos

Switching to a throttled plan could, like T-Mobile, enable the company to advertise unlimited mobile data service, with the fine print indicating that if users exceed a certain threshold in a billing cycle, the bandwidth available to them will be reduced until the start of the next billing cycle. T-Mobile currently throttles heavy data users to 256Kbps once they exceed their threshold: that’s enough bandwidth to enable basic connectivity, email, and Web browsing, but not enough for serious streaming media or other data-intensive applications.

Some mobile users prefer the throttling method because they don’t inadvertently incur additional charges on their bill if someone sends them an enormous attachment, they inadvertently get pulled into the infinite vortex of silly pet videos, or they play an online game for hours without realizing they’re connected via mobile data rather than Wi-Fi. On the other hand, mobile users whose lives revolve around having high-bandwidth capabilities at any time may prefer just to pay for more bandwidth if they need it.

Virgin Mobile plans to switch to a throttling model in October.

AT&T is currently in the process of attempting to acquire T-Mobile; if the merger is approved, the combined company will be the largest mobile operator in the United States.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Geoff Duncan
Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
Best iPhone deals: Save on iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro Max and more
iPhone 13 Pro in blue.

With the popularity of Apple’s iPhone lineup it get be a little difficult to find iPhone deals. Right now, however, iPhone deals make for some of the best phone deals and best Apple deals to shop, as we’re seeing discounts on nearly every iPhone model. That includes the newest iPhone generation with iPhone 15 deals. It also includes iPhone 14 deals and iPhone SE deals. So if you’re looking for some savings on a new iPhone, all of the best iPhone deals worth taking a look at can be found below. You can add to your Apple savings by shopping AirPods deals or iPad deals, and if you’re looking for an entirely different software ecosystem in your next phone be sure to check out what’s going on among the best Samsung Galaxy S24 deals, the best Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra deals, and the best Google Pixel 8 deals.
iPhone 15 128GB (AT&T) — $730, was $830 (plus up to $700 trade-in savings)

The Apple iPhone 15 finally brings with it Dynamic Island which we’ve only previously seen on the Pro range. It’s a real game changer at times and is very convenient. Alongside that, the Apple iPhone 15 has the Ceramic Shield front to keep it more protected while its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display promises to be up to two times brighter than the iPhone 14 in the sun. There’s also a 48MP main camera with 2x telephoto lens to help you take great shots. The A16 Bionic chip has plenty of processing power to aid with software adjustments.

Read more
Your next T-Mobile bill might be a lot more expensive
The T-Mobile logo on a smartphone.

We have bad news for you if you have an older T-Mobile wireless plan. According to internal company documents obtained by The Mobile Report, rates for your plan are going up by $2 to $5 per month.

Customers with a legacy Simple Choice, ONE, or Magenta plan will likely experience price increases. The increased price applies to each line, meaning that if you have four lines, you could potentially see a monthly increase of up to $20 per lmonth. CNET also corroborated the report with its own sources.

Read more
iOS 17.5 just launched with a huge security feature for your iPhone
Apple iPhone 15 Plus and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max seen from the back.

Apple iPhone 15 Plus (left) and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Apple has just released the iOS 17.5 update for iPhones, which brings a host of new features. For European Union residents, it enables Web Distribution, which means you can sideload apps from the internet and won’t be limited to the App Store.

Read more