
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:
You can check plans from carriers big and small via WhistleOut's search tool, and instantly check coverage at the same time!
Chris Holmes
Staff Writer