Network Optimization: Throttling unlimited data LTE users (October 2014)

[Mooncatt]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

When you pay off the phone (assuming you stay with it for 24 months), you own the phone and you are not obligated to continue on.

They changed it. Originally it was a 24 month payment plan and 50% minimum paid to be able to trade in a phone purchased via Edge. Now it's 20 month payment plan (meaning higher monthly payments), and the 60% minimum. If you only do the minimums, you still hit the 60% mark at 1 year, same as under the original plan at 50%.

What I didn't like is you can't make a down payment to lower the monthly Edge charges (similar to financing a car). You can make a down payment, but all it does is get you to the 60% mark earlier.

 

[dpham00]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

Not sure I understand.

With the plan we signed up for (2 year contract, no Edge), we own the phone at the end of the time period. We paid 99 for it, so it is subsidized.

On Edge, you pay off the FULL value of the phone ($600 for most phones) over the course of two years or less. On Edge, the phone can be traded in after 60% of the phone is paid off, so it becomes more like a lease.

Very different arrangements.

R

If it were a lease then you would have to make a huge balloon payment to keep the phone at the end of the edge contract to keep the phone, and this isn't the case. This is more of like buying a car on monthly payments then trading it in before the payments are up.

Sent from my LG G Pad 8.3

 

[alxarambula]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

If it's throttling for a whole billing cycle I'll jump ship to t-mobile unlimited.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[JnEricsonx]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

I know that within the last month running youtube on Verizon has gone COMPLETELY to hell, on wifi, or some areas by me are fine, but the rest of the area, literally every single time, it takes a year to load a video, then it runs a few seconds, buffers for like 20, runs a few seconds, and so on. And I had done nothing new to my phone. Then I keep hearing everyone else is having the same issue. WTF.

 

[UDPGuy]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

If it's throttling for a whole billing cycle I'll jump ship to t-mobile unlimited.

Posted via Android Central App

It's not. It's only throttling when they "have to"

Posted via Galaxy S5

 

[Mooncatt]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

It's not. It's only throttling when they "have to"

According to the article update, there's the potential to be throttled on that tower not just for the remainder of the current cycle, but also for the next one. If I had to guess, there's probably an algorithm for what happens. If you rarely go over 4.7 GB and the tower in question doesn't usually see much congestion, then they may only throttle when necessary. If you're in the terabyte club and the tower is congested more often than not, then I'd expect to see the max throttle enforced. But that's not based on anything I've actually read.

 

[anon(394005)]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

Regarding length of throttling, excerpt below from Verizon's FAQ here: Network Optimization Practices for Customers with Unlimited Data Plans | Verizon Wireless

"Once my data speed is reduced, am I going to be under Network Optimization forever?
No. You will be subject to Network Optimization for that billing cycle and the following cycle. When subject to Network Optimization you will only be affected when connected to a cell site experiencing high demand. Otherwise, your data will operate as normal.

Can my data speed be reduced more than once? Can it be done consecutively?
Yes, if you are consistently in the top 5% on an unlimited data plan, you will continue to be subject to Network Optimization when connected to a cell site experiencing high demand."

 

[UDPGuy]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

According to the article update, there's the potential to be throttled on that tower not just for the remainder of the current cycle, but also for the next one. If I had to guess, there's probably an algorithm for what happens. If you rarely go over 4.7 GB and the tower in question doesn't usually see much congestion, then they may only throttle when necessary. If you're in the terabyte club and the tower is congested more often than not, then I'd expect to see the max throttle enforced. But that's not based on anything I've actually read.

Well I guess if you're always on a congested tower they would continue to throttle you. But if you're not you'll be fine

Posted via Galaxy S5

 

[HawaiiD]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

I'd be very interested if you would tell us how it goes for you. I would think you certainly would not be on any congested cell location under those conditions.

But I also have a feeling Verizon will just ignore that part of the criteria and cut speed for anyone off contract once they hit the magic 4.7 GB average use per month. If 95% of their users aren't using over 4.7 GB, cutting back users who do go over isn't going to help 95% of their network congestion.

I've a feeling this is being done for show. Verizon is going to say "Dear FCC — Look at the lengths we have to go to to manage our network. We need more spectrum that you don't want us or AT&T to be able to buy! OH THE HORROR!"

Jerry, it is really hard for me to think 95% of the Unlimited Data plan subscribers are using less than 5GB?
But then again? Could someone who uses up to 5TB of data each month? Actually, account for the data(virtually) used by say 1000 UDP subscribers? What I mean to say is? What if that 5TB user is the only person going over 5GB in his area(tower). Would he render that area(tower) as a congested site because of high usage?

 

[recDNA]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

My data already sucks. Ever since the announcement of faster lte mine is slower if I am lucky enough to have data at all

Sent from my Hyperdriven Note 3

 

[Ry]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

Regarding length of throttling, excerpt below from Verizon's FAQ here: Network Optimization Practices for Customers with Unlimited Data Plans | Verizon Wireless

"Once my data speed is reduced, am I going to be under Network Optimization forever?
No. You will be subject to Network Optimization for that billing cycle and the following cycle. When subject to Network Optimization you will only be affected when connected to a cell site experiencing high demand. Otherwise, your data will operate as normal.

Can my data speed be reduced more than once? Can it be done consecutively?
Yes, if you are consistently in the top 5% on an unlimited data plan, you will continue to be subject to Network Optimization when connected to a cell site experiencing high demand."

I'm not that concerned.

 

[Mooncatt]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

Jerry, it is really hard for me to think 95% of the Unlimited Data plan subscribers are using less than 5GB?

I think they mean the top 5% of the entire general customer base are using over 4.7 GB. I'd still question that, though, because it doesn't take much to eat up that much data. I would have expected it to be more than 5% going over 4.7 GB

 

[HawaiiD]

I think they mean the top 5% of the entire general customer base are using over 4.7 GB. I'd still question that, though, because it doesn't take much to eat up that much data. I would have expected it to be more than 5% going over 4.7 GB

Mooncatt,
Point taken. However, why is it that only unlimited customers will be affected? They are saying UDP customers make up roughly 20% of vzw subscription base. I know people who are on tiered plans are aware of their data allotment. Which I suppose is the other 80%? My point is... if there is a tiered customer who say pays for his so called "example" 20GB (more extra data for 150.00).
This data allotment is already accounted for. That right there should have no bearing on this 4.7GB number. All UDP subscriber(s)
Should not be equated into the same general 95% pool.
IMO, only the top 5% in the 20% of the UDP subscription base should be in the equation because they are the one that will be affected. And at same time, I am sure that this theoretical so called data cap would be way higher considering there are a handful of power data consumers with UDP's

This is almost like telling to a person eating at a buffet(20%) to only eat this much amount of food, because the (majority 80%) average person will get to eat a set amount of food at a regular paying restaurant.

 

[HawaiiD]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

I'm not that concerned.

Meaning that you will not go over the cap? Or that you are already on a tiered plan?
My co-workers who said the same thing when AT&T announced that they will throttle UDP? And being throttled now and then. I always hear from them (I am almost at my cap)and that is a pain in the rear for them to always looking for a wifi to connect to.

 

[cnotes2019]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

Mooncatt,
Point taken. However, why is it that only unlimited customers will be affected? They are saying UDP customers make up roughly 20% of vzw subscription base. I know people who are on tiered plans are aware of their data allotment. Which I suppose is the other 80%? My point is... if there is a tiered customer who say pays for his so called "example" 20GB (more extra data for 150.00).
This data allotment is already accounted for. That right there should have no bearing on this 4.7GB number. All UDP subscriber(s)
Should not be equated into the same general 95% pool.
IMO, only the top 5% in the 20% of the UDP subscription base should be in the equation because they are the one that will be affected. And at same time, I am sure that this theoretical so called data cap would be way higher considering there are a handful of power data consumers with UDP's

This is almost like telling to a person eating at a buffet(20%) to only eat this much amount of food, because the (majority 80%) average person will get to eat a set amount of food at a regular paying restaurant.

Seems FCC may agree with you


http://mashable.com/2014/07/30/fcc-...data-customers/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ry]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

Meaning that you will not go over the cap? Or that you are already on a tiered plan?
My co-workers who said the same thing when AT&T announced that they will throttle UDP? And being throttled now and then. I always hear from them (I am almost at my cap)and that is a pain in the rear for them to always looking for a wifi to connect to.

Meaning that I expect my connection to be slower if more people are on the same tower as my anyway.

 

[Almeuit]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

Seems FCC may agree with you


http://mashable.com/2014/07/30/fcc-...data-customers/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Very odd the FCC would send a letter to them about this when AT&T has been throttling unlimited customers for awhile now.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

 

[UDPGuy]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

Very odd the FCC would send a letter to them about this when AT&T has been throttling unlimited customers for awhile now.

Sent from my T-Mobile Note 3 using AC Forums.

It's because verizon has special rules they have to follow under the 700 mhz block c spectrum.

Posted via Galaxy S5

 

[HawaiiD]

It's because verizon has special rules they have to follow under the 700 mhz block c spectrum.

Posted via Galaxy S5

With that said... All Verizon would have to do now is eliminate UDP and go strictly tiered plans. if they wanted to curb data usage, which to me is what they wanted to do anyway. Hopefully, this C-block rule stops the big red

 

[Rhyalus]

Re: Damn you verizon (possible throttling of future LTE for off contract unlimited uber-users)

Seems FCC may agree with you


http://mashable.com/2014/07/30/fcc-...data-customers/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow...and Verizon is tucking their tails between their legs on this... Their meek response (indicating they will respond further) surprised me.

All they have to do is just terminate unlimited data. That is their business decision...even if a bunch of folks would jump to another service, it would still be their decision to make.

R