Verizon Clamps Down on Heaviest 5% of Users
Sep 17, 2011, 12:43 PM by Eric M. Zeman
Verizon Wireless has finally started to enforce a network optimization plan announced earlier this year. Moving forward Verizon will throttle the mobile broadband speeds of the top 5% of users on its CDMA 3G network. The throttling will only occur when the local cell site being used is congested with other network traffic. Verizon also said that the throttling may be put into effect for up to two billing cycles, depending on the severity of the data consumption. Verizon defines the heaviest 5% users as those who consume more than 2GB of data in a single billing cycle. They will be warned when they are approaching the throttling threshold, and can also check usage via their online account controls. Verizon didn't say what the throttled speeds will be. This change does not apply to customers using Verizon's Long Term Evolution 4G network. Verizon said the new policy enforcement is necessary to ensure that all its customers have equal access to its voice and data services.
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Comments
Greedy authoritarians
Always looking for a way to crack down on people's fun while bleeding us of money! 👿
OmegaWolf747 said:
Always looking for a way to crack down on people's fun while bleeding us of money! 👿
You've got to be a heavy data user and in an area where the network is already congested, so at least they...
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ungratefull customer. data hogs. get a life, intead of "wired" to the phone 24/7. US consumers are spoiled, ungratefull with what they have. abuse the system, now company figting back with regulation. customer deserve it. Greedy Customers.
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Everyone has an equal right to access the service that they paid for....if one person is using so much that there isn't enough left for anyone else it is entirely reasonable for them to step in and put a stop to it.
On one tower there may be hundre...
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On one tower there may be hundre...
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I didn't sign up for this!!!
Fair is fair...I want what I paid for when I signed my contract,no more no less...Seems like there should be a lawsuit against all carriers who "throttle" their customer's data speed.So I suppose I will now have to start to throttle my monthly payments back to them,based on how much money I have at the time my payment is due...I know that this is not in my original contract but neither is the "bull manure" they are trying to pull on all of us!!!
If you had bothered to read your contract you would know that you DID INDEED 'sign up for this'...
Or perhaps I will let Gene Wilder explain it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSQNl4V_R88 »
Or perhaps I will let Gene Wilder explain it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSQNl4V_R88 »
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its affects 4G LTE too! just not the 2gb limit
Posted on their 4g LTE Site:
"Speeds may be reduced for top 5% of users for up to 60 days when in congested network areas."
In the fine print on the bottom:
http://network4g.verizonwireless.com/#/4g-network-ve ... »
"Speeds may be reduced for top 5% of users for up to 60 days when in congested network areas."
In the fine print on the bottom:
http://network4g.verizonwireless.com/#/4g-network-ve ... »
techman01 said:...
Posted on their 4g LTE Site:
"Speeds may be reduced for top 5% of users for up to 60 days when in congested network areas."
In the fine print on the bottom:
http://network4g.verizonwireless.com/#/4g-netwo »
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Let me shed some light on this for you. The Network Optimization only applies for those customers on 3G devices on unlimited data plans using more than 2GB of data a month. It will ONLY slow their data speeds while they are in congested areas for th...
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I don't think a lot of you understand....
I read one comment that said " i use a lot of data stream all day.....only use 500mb a month"..... are you kidding me? LOL - I've used 130gbs in a month on Sprint... I probably use 80gbs a month on average... that's a Power User... now I'm tethering a laptop too, but if said user uses 500mb a month, this isn't even gonna affect you... stay out of it LOL...
another guy said iPhone uses more data... Hello an iPhone isn't capable of using anymore data than most android devices (low processor in low and midgrade devices does limit apps and abilities).... Android can stream just as much, download just as much, tether just as much as an iPhone anyday.. like I said above, I use 80gbs easy, that's on a Touch Pro 1 even LOL.. Go WinMo! iPhone isn'...
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another guy said iPhone uses more data... Hello an iPhone isn't capable of using anymore data than most android devices (low processor in low and midgrade devices does limit apps and abilities).... Android can stream just as much, download just as much, tether just as much as an iPhone anyday.. like I said above, I use 80gbs easy, that's on a Touch Pro 1 even LOL.. Go WinMo! iPhone isn'...
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Both of those comments were by me so, and they were from the exact same post why not call me by name? I'm not 'some guy.'
And you didn't understand the conversation in question because I was talking about data compression.
Blackberries use dat...
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And you didn't understand the conversation in question because I was talking about data compression.
Blackberries use dat...
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Why does VZW Throttle its good paying loyal subscribers?
The same exact reason a dog licks it balls..... BECAUSE HE CAN!
Who cares if towers are congested, calls are dropping like flies and people are being denied service? The only thing that matters is that you get what you want....
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actual data capacity of an EV-DO carrier channel
Many people seem to have an ill formed notion (or just no idea) of the actual data capacity of an EV-DO carrier channel. It is certainly not infinite.
The maximum amount of downlink (i.e. cell site to mobile) data that an EV-DO Rev A carrier channel can deliver during a 30 day billing period is ~949 GB. Now, that assumes that the carrier channel can deliver the ideal maximum DRC Index 14 (3072 kbps) continuously 24 hours per day, seven days per week for an entire month. Real world performance does not even approach that limit.
Instead, in real world usage, most data activity occurs during only 16 out of 24 hours per day. And the carrier channel can never deliver the ideal maximum 3072 kbps all the time, as many mobiles frequently e...
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The maximum amount of downlink (i.e. cell site to mobile) data that an EV-DO Rev A carrier channel can deliver during a 30 day billing period is ~949 GB. Now, that assumes that the carrier channel can deliver the ideal maximum DRC Index 14 (3072 kbps) continuously 24 hours per day, seven days per week for an entire month. Real world performance does not even approach that limit.
Instead, in real world usage, most data activity occurs during only 16 out of 24 hours per day. And the carrier channel can never deliver the ideal maximum 3072 kbps all the time, as many mobiles frequently e...
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I love your posts, very technical...
But, I do have to say, the other solution is to invest in the network to increase capacity.
But, I do have to say, the other solution is to invest in the network to increase capacity.
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So do you think it's feasible to let users get away with more like 5, or 7gb's, before throttling, rather than a measly 2?
So many seem to think 2gb's is so, so, so much data. But people don't stop to think how much video there is now a days. I hav...
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So many seem to think 2gb's is so, so, so much data. But people don't stop to think how much video there is now a days. I hav...
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What's the difference between AT&T and VZW?
Ok I've had AT&T for going on 6 years now and I've honestly never really had any network issues, now my iphone drops calls all the time, but trust me its the iphone my old BB Bold 9700 never ever dropped a single call. I think that's why most people think AT&T sucks, cause the iPhone has terrible call quality, now I've also got unlimited data on my iPhone, and a lot if people got upset when they went to tiered data, however I think its a good thing, I know I just let my phone stream all day cause why not its unlimited. But I don't understand why there isn't this big upset mob when VZW does the almost the exact same policy changes as AT&T, just 6 months to year later and no nearly as many people get upset, I just don't understand the differen...
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I also agree with you about the iPhone. It is nothing more than a glorified iPod. Personally, I prefer phones with great RF and call quality. Who cares what a phone can do if it fails to perform well the basic function for which it was intended?
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That's the difference.
Big Red may be who they are but at least they have the coverage to back it up. AT&T doesn't.
Big Red may be who they are but at least they have the coverage to back it up. AT&T doesn't.
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The key here is that people got upset with AT&T because their change was going to set a precedent for other carriers to follow. In fact, I'd venture to say that a good amount of the pushback was also from VZW customers, because that change would pave ...
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Think I'll start paying "unlimited" amount of money per month?
I think I will start paying an unlimited amount of money each month on my bill with this in MY mice type contract agreement with THEM (unlimited amount of money not to exceed $20 monthly for all voice/data service. I will pay only federal/state taxes on my bill, none of carriers made-up BS charges. I reserve the right to pay less than $20 if I don't get 20MB download speeds and/or my dog barks any given day. I may add as many lines to my account as I wish free-of-charge included in my monthly "unlimited" payment not to exceed $20. For each minute while traveling along an interstate I don't have full bars of service I will withdrawl $1USD from my unlimited monthly payment to carrier not to exceed $20. Carrier may not sue me for any reason ...
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Wait a minute, this isn't fair because I included a hard throttle on the payment! I need to amend it to state that once my bill reaches $10, I reserve the right to slow down the charges to .01 cent per day if I am low on funds due to reasons both wit...
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You did make it as one-sided as theirs! Good thing they'll just do the intelligent thing (that you didn't do) and not sign it.
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I Think Its Time To Start Throttling How Much We Pay
I think these carriers need to be reminded that they work for us. They are starting to act like the government. I bet if we quit using smartphones they'd loosen up a little.
they are offering the service, they don't have to bend over backwards for you. They can do whatever they want with THEIR services. Cell phone service is a luxury not a right. If you don't like it, don't sign the contract.
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boggerscbshop said:
I bet if we quit using smartphones they'd loosen up a little.
Of course they would!
You cannot repeal the law of supply and demand.
Stop demanding it, and the prices will drop. It really i...
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Contract
Would this be considered a change in contract which they would have to notify you?
A opt out of contract if you will..?
A opt out of contract if you will..?
There is a provision written in the contract covering these changes.
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The contract does not promise any particular price or rate plan....in fact, there is a provision in the contract which explicitly says that prices may go up at any time, and rate plans can be eliminated at any time, without advance warning.
People ...
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People ...
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Amazing
You know, it's funny to read these post and seeing so many people supporting VZN'a decision to throttle heavy and abusive data users. Yet, when ATT was on of the first to do it, every cried about how greedy they are and should allow people to have unlimited data. People cried about TMO putting similar restrictions on their plans, due to the proposed ATT/TMO merger. Hypocrisy at it's finest. I do understand the other issues that people may have with ATT but, I'm not addressing those issues.
I agree with one post that said, some of us here in the US are selfish and unappreciative. But, on the flip side, this is why the federal government and local internet providers need to do more to have reasonable internet services, that most people can...
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I agree with one post that said, some of us here in the US are selfish and unappreciative. But, on the flip side, this is why the federal government and local internet providers need to do more to have reasonable internet services, that most people can...
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"You know, it's funny to read these post and seeing so many people supporting VZN'a decision to throttle heavy and abusive data users. Yet, when ATT was on of the first to do it, every cried about how greedy they are and should allow people to have un...
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For you sir... one upvote.
Vmac39 said:...
...this is why the federal government and local internet providers need to do more to have reasonable internet services, that most people can afford. When I say most, I mean people who can't really afford the standard
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That last paragraph describes me. I can't afford to pay for internet TWICE!!! Both in my smartphone and @ home, that's just crazy, no less than something like $60-$65/mo for both mobile & home.
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Clarification
They say the definition of the top 5% is people who go over 2 GB. So if they go over 2 GB, they're hit with an overage and then throttled at the same time?? (If the network is 'congested')
I read it again, it's only for people on unlimited.
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Ironic...
Had a conversation earlier this year with my future brother-in-law, who is a supervisor in one of the Verizon tech call centers. I asked him about data throttling and he said, "It doesn't happen, and never will." I asked him about tiered data on Verizon, and he said, "Rumors have been flying around for years. It's not gonna happen."
Hmm.
Hmm.
That's not 'ironic' it is simply 'wrong'....
Some will say it's only a coincidence that Verizon is facing a severe data crunch shortly after introducing the iPhone...I say 'nonsense'
Now Verizon customers know what at&t has been putting up with ...
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Some will say it's only a coincidence that Verizon is facing a severe data crunch shortly after introducing the iPhone...I say 'nonsense'
Now Verizon customers know what at&t has been putting up with ...
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