T-Mobile is slashing its data usage rates by up to 83% from next month.
Under new fair usage terms, which start in February, data usage rates will be slashed to 500MB, which for some T-Mobile customers with Android contracts means an 83% drop from 3GB to 500MB. For most other T-Mobile customers it will mean a 50% cut from the current fair usage cap of 1GB.
T-Mobile argues that, as most of its mobile data customers use around 200MB a month, few customers will be affected.
Announcing the changes on its website, the company said: ‘Our mobile broadband and internet on your phone service is best used for browsing, which means looking at your favourite websites like Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, BBC News and more, checking your email and looking for information, but not watching videos or downloading files.’
It added: ‘If you want to download, stream and watch video clips, save that stuff for your home broadband.’
In a statement the company said: ‘T-Mobile will not charge its customers additional rates for exceeding these data limits, and those who do will still be able to access important services such as email and website browsing, but will have file downloading restricted.
‘Customers who have a need for higher volumes of data will be encouraged to take up a separate mobile broadband plan.’
Editor: Carol Millett