T-Mobile Ups De-Prioritization Threshold to 50GB

Chris Holmes Staff Writer

Updated 19 September 2017

Tomorrow, T-Mobile will up its data de-prioritization threshold to 50GB, the highest in the industry.

De-prioritization happens when a user has consumed an outsized amount of data in a month. Once the user hits a certain threshold--in this case 50GB--they're sent to the back of the line in congested areas in favor of users who have consumed less data. The purpose is to keep data speeds from slowing down too much across the network, for everyone.

T-Mobile's 50GB de-prioritization threshold is more than twice as generous as Verizon's (22GB), AT&T's (22GB) and Sprint's (23GB):

Data De-Prioritization Thresholds

Carrier	GB
AT&T	22
Verizon	22
Sprint	23
T-Mobile	50

T-Mobile is able to do things like this because they have fewer subscribers on their network than the likes of AT&T and Verizon. Verizon recently split its popular $80 unlimited plan into two new ones (one costing $75 and another costing $85), widely seen as a move to free up space and lessen across-the-board slowdowns on its network.

T-Mobile's announcement could be interpreted as something of a redirect after some embarrassing news last week. It was revealed that their newest 600 MHz spectrum--which T-Mobile declared would provide the "best coverage yet"--would not support the iPhone 8 or iPhone X. T-Mobile acquired the network in April of 2017, when the hardware for the two new devices was likely already in place.

Regardless, there's no denying the impressiveness of the 50GB threshold, especially if you're someone like me who consistently hits de-prioritization each month (I'm with AT&T).

Interested in jumping aboard T-Mobile? Here are a few of the company's unlimited data plans, which happen to be among our favorites out there:

#1	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Essentials \| Eligible First Responders ONLY Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with 50GB of Premium Data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 3GB mobile hotspot data $45.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included View Plan	$45.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included	View Plan
#2	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Essentials \| Eligible Military ONLY Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with 50GB of Premium Data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 3GB mobile hotspot data $45.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included View Plan	$45.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included	View Plan
#3	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Prepaid Unlimited Plan Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with 50GB of Premium Data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $45.00 Per 1 Month Refill with AutoPay - Taxes & Fees NOT included + $10 Upfront View Plan	$45.00 Per 1 Month Refill with AutoPay - Taxes & Fees NOT included + $10 Upfront	View Plan
#4	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Essentials Saver Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with 50GB of Premium Data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data Deal: Get up to $800 via virtual prepaid MasterCard when you bring an eligible phone, activate a new line on select plans and port-in your number and switch from select carriers $50.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included View Plan	$50.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included	View Plan
#5	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Essentials Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with 50GB of Premium Data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 3GB mobile hotspot data Deal: Get up to $800 via virtual prepaid MasterCard when you bring an eligible phone, activate a new line on select plans and port-in your number and switch from select carriers $60.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included View Plan	$60.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included	View Plan
#6	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Go5G \| Eligible First Responders ONLY Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with 100GB of Premium Data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data Deal: FREE Two-Day Shipping & waived activation fee online $60.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included. (50% off family lines) View Plan	$60.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included. (50% off family lines)	View Plan
#7	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Go5G \| Eligible Military ONLY Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with 100GB of Premium Data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data Deal: FREE Two-Day Shipping & waived activation fee online $60.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included. (50% off family lines) View Plan	$60.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees included. (50% off family lines)	View Plan
#8	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Prepaid Unlimited Plus Plan Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with 50GB of Premium Data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 5GB mobile hotspot data $60.00 Per 1 Month Refill with AutoPay - Taxes & Fees NOT included + $10 Upfront View Plan	$60.00 Per 1 Month Refill with AutoPay - Taxes & Fees NOT included + $10 Upfront	View Plan
#9	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Experience More \| Eligible First Responders ONLY Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with Unlimited Premium Data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $70.00/mo with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees View Plan	$70.00/mo with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees	View Plan
#10	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Experience More \| Eligible Military ONLY Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with Unlimited Premium Data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $70.00/mo with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees View Plan	$70.00/mo with Auto-Pay + Taxes and fees	View Plan

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Chris Holmes

Staff Writer

Chris Holmes is a Contributing Writer for WhistleOut, where he covers the cell phone and internet industries. His work has been cited in publications like The Verge, The New York Times, and WIRED.

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