AT&T and throttling: How do other carriers handle data-hungry users?




In today’s Always On column, I round up for print-edition readers the blog posts I wrote last week (here and here) about ATT’s throttling of its grandfathered unlimited wireless data plan customers. The executive summary: ATT is slowing speeds for unlimited customers who fall into the category of top 5 percent of data users. ATT won’t say what that threshold is exactly, but at the moment it appears to be as low as 2.1 gigabytes a month in some markets, including Houston. Unlimited customers pay $30, the same amount its 3-GB-tier users pay, but get less high-speed data, which seems unfair.

attlogoFor the column, I added details about how ATT’s three top competitors manage their networks. Two of them use throttling, while only one does not. Here’s how that breaks down:

• Like ATT, Verizon discontinued a 3G unlimited plan and grandfathered those users. Those customers also face throttling when they hit the top-5-percent category. But unlike ATT, Verizon puts a number on this threshold – according to information on its website, it’s currently 2 GB. And Verizon’s version of throttling doesn’t happen constantly once you hit 5 percent. Instead, it only occurs if your smartphone connects to a congested cell tower. If you move to one that’s less busy, your data speed is restored.

• T-Mobile uses throttling instead of charging for additional data when its users go over the limits they’ve paid for. For example, if you paid for the 2-GB-a-month plan, your data speed is slowed if you exceed that amount for the current billing cycle.

• Sprint is the only carrier that doesn’t throttle. It also is the only carrier that still offers an unlimited plan. However,those customers pay a $10 surcharge on top of a $30 a month fee, making unlimited data effectively $40 a month. If you seriously abuse Sprint’s network, the company will warn you, but may terminate the service of repeat offenders.

If a wireless carrier must throttle, Verizon’s approach seems to be the most humane. It’s possible that a user put in data jail would never notice the consequences, which may explain why there’s not a similar online hue-and-cry about Verizon’s throttling policies. Verizon’s approach actually manages the network; ATT’s punishes the customer.

attdatausageWhy isn’t ATT doing it this way? That’s not clear, though Verizon’s technology may have something to do with it. ATT’s mobile network uses a technology called GSM, while Verizon’s used one called CDMA. It may be easier to throttle per-tower with the latter.

I’ve heard from two throttled ATT customers who have complained to the FCC and/or their local Better business Bureaus about the practice, and then got a call from an ATT representative. One of them was left as a comment:

After filing an FCC complaint and a BBB complaint, I was contacted by a person identifying themselves as an executive manager at ATT in the office of the president of the company. I received nothing but the company line of how they are not limiting the quantity of data but rather the quality of it. She did admit that they are only targeting unlimited users and that they plan on doing nothing to resolve my complaint. They are unwilling to amend my contract to let me out, yet they appear to be more than comfortable amending at least the spirit of my contract by purposefully providing poor service. This company really needs to be sued…again!!

Clearly, ATT is concerned about the filing of these reports, and while they may bring a conciliatory phone call, consolation is all the complainants receive. ATT’s showing no mercy.

The issue is picking up steam. The Associated Press chased the story on Monday, and a host of newspapers, websites and broadcast outlets picked it up. At this point, with the stark contrast of how its biggest competitor handles the same situation, it’s clear that ATT is doing it wrong.

Time to get it right, Ma Bell.

Other articles you might like;

Article source: http://blog.chron.com/techblog/2012/02/att-and-throttling-how-do-other-carriers-handle-data-hungry-users/

Related posts:

  1. Verizon Starts Throttling Top Data Gobblers
  2. Verizon begins choking highest data users
  3. Verizon begins choking highest data users
  4. Verizon initiates ‘network optimization’ to throttle bandwidth of heavy data users
  5. Verizon begins throttling service for remaining unlimited 3G customers