Not throttling but Optimization

[TauntingBull]

How do you know we can't be throttled?

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I'm guessing its because ideally a 4G device will only down shift to 3G, when there is no 4G available. So VZ cant punish you further by throttling your 3G speeds. This is just my guess, I could be wrong here....

 

[Ed Witles]

Well, here's the thing:

Wave 1 is rolling out LTE to cover the current EV-DO footprint, which is expected to be done by 2013. I highly doubt we will see any 4G throttling during this period.

Wave 2 will be phasing out 1xRTT/PCS CDMA sites. There is currently no timeline for when this is expected to be completed, but many of us expect it to start between 2012-2015. No throttling here.

Wave 3 will be upgrading LTE to LTE Advanced, the true 4G. This is supposed to provide 1 Gbps downlink to a stationary device and 100 Mbps to a mobile device. This also doubles the current LTE bandwidth. I expect this to start somewhere between 2014-2017. New devices will roll out for this, and thus starting a similar situation to what is occurring now. I see about a 30-50% chance legacy LTE devices may get throttled around this time, depending on network congestion.

Wave 4 will be phasing out EV-DO sites, which I think might start around 2020. Converging all Verizon customers onto the existing LTE/LTE Advanced network will increase congestion a lot. I see a 90% chance of legacy LTE device being throttled, and a 30% chance of LTE Advanced devices getting throttled.

So the chance your Thunderbolt of getting throttled any time soon is highly unlikely.

To all you VZW 3G device owners on unlimited data plans that signed up for service anytime before 02/02/11, expect to see some more intensive throttling in highly congested areas starting September 15th.

Xfinity... HBO2GO... utoob... Slacker... Background apps that keep pinging the outside world.

VZW (and others) are acting like 'pushers'. Get us hooked on all the wonderful things and speed then jack up the price.

But then, I never go above 2gb/month on average. And since running CM7, My Verizon no longer works.

 

[Jrocker23]

Nice find Slayer... I will pass this on to my friends... Thanks again

 

[Mortiel]

How do you know we can't be throttled?

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I'm guessing its because ideally a 4G device will only down shift to 3G, when there is no 4G available. So VZ cant punish you further by throttling your 3G speeds. This is just my guess, I could be wrong here....

No, I know that 4G device owners will not fall victim to throttling because the memo I read on stipulations for packet-flow optimization (throttling).

You have to meet ALL of this criteria to be throttled:

1. Have a 3G device.
2. Be on an unlimited data plan, or any promotional plans that ended before 02/02/11.
3. Be in the top 5% of data usage for your market.
4. Connecting primarily to a congested cell site.

Now, the part of that memo that confused me was that they made #2 above clear, but later on in the document they stated that optimization will only apply to those whom activated that line of service after 02/02/11 and are on an unlimited data plan, so it was a little contradictory.

However, most importantly, that memo clearly stated that having a 4G device active exempts that line of service from optimization. Not using data on 4G, but simply having a 4G device active on the account.

That's how I know Thunderbolt owners will never get throttled... at least for the foreseeable future.

 

[TauntingBull]

Thanks a lot for the explanation Mortiel.... Much appreciated....

I was thinking of trying out the Droid X (exchanging phones with my friend - my TB would go to him) for a few days. That would mean, switching my 4G plan to a 3G plan, BUT based on what you have said, I don't think I'm gonna risk tinkering with the data plans at all....
Its only 4G devices for me going forward. I don't wanna loose my grandfathered Unlimited data... Or even give VZ an excuse to...

 

[Mortiel]

Thanks a lot for the explanation Mortiel.... Much appreciated....

I was thinking of trying out the Droid X (exchanging phones with my friend - my TB would go to him) for a few days. That would mean, switching my 4G plan to a 3G plan, BUT based on what you have said, I don't think I'm gonna risk tinkering with the data plans at all....
Its only 4G devices for me going forward. I don't wanna loose my grandfathered Unlimited data... Or even give VZ an excuse to...

There is no difference between 4G and 3G smartphone data plans, so as long as you keep a smartphone on your line, you will not lose unlimited data. For now at least.