COMMENTS: The US’s fourth biggest carrier is set to educate customers who abuse their unlimited data plans.
T-Mobile has warned that customers who misuse their unlimited data could see their data speeds start dipping dramatically over the next few weeks.
If you’re fond of using T-Mobile’s network to torrent all six seasons of Lost or constantly broadcasting online using your unlimited plan, now would be a good time to stop. According to a leaked internal memo (which T-Mobile has substantiated) data draining customers with one of the carrier’s Unlimited 4G LTE plans such as the new $80 Simple Choice plan or the old $70 unlimited plan will see their speeds throttled starting on August 17 if they don’t change their network hammering ways. The memo reads:
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). 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.
In a confirmation email sent to Engadget T-Mobile confirmed that defaulting customers will be contacted and briefed on how the Unlimited 4G LTE plans works. Customers who fail to comply with the service terms after the briefing could have their data speeds reduced for the remainder of their billing cycle.
As America’s Un-carrier, we have broken the wireless industry rules to abolish numerous customer pain points and provide our customers with the fastest nationwide 4G LTE network. A very small number of our customers are misusing their Simple Choice Unlimited data service in violation of their rate plan and terms and conditions by bypassing the default tethering feature or engaging in peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing.
This type of usage can negatively impact our ability to offer affordable unlimited data. In order to protect all T-Mobile customers, we will be reaching out to these people to educate them on our terms and conditions of service, but if the misuse continues, they could have their data speeds reduced for the remainder of their billing cycle.
As previously stated, these measures will be put in place from August 17th. It’s likely that the number of people engaged in this is relatively small. And yet, it’s clearly a big enough problem to warrant a special “dedicated team” to address it.
Originally posted on Engadgets via TmoNews. Image copyright belongs to Engadgets.