Back in 2015, T-Mobile announced a groundbreaking feature for their customers called Mobile Without Borders. This innovative feature allowed T-Mobile customers to travel to Mexico and Canada from the US without incurring any extra charges, effectively eliminating the need for roaming fees in these neighboring countries. This move was part of T-Mobile’s broader strategy to differentiate itself from other carriers by offering more customer-friendly policies.
Introduction of Data Caps
However, T-Mobile has now announced that they will be placing a cap on LTE data for customers traveling to Canada and Mexico, limiting it to 5GB per billing cycle. This change is set to take effect starting November 12, 2017. According to T-Mobile, customers on T-Mobile ONE, Simple Choice North America, or legacy rate plans with a qualifying feature will still receive unlimited talk, text, and data, but with a maximum of 5GB of 4G LTE data.
Starting November 12, 2017, customers on T-Mobile ONE, Simple Choice North America, or legacy rate plans with a qualifying feature will receive unlimited talk, text, and data with a maximum of 5GB of 4G LTE. After 5GB of high-speed data is used in Mexico and Canada (or your high-speed data allotment is reached, whichever comes first), customers will stay connected with unlimited data at Simple Global speeds (up to 128kbps for most plans or 256kbps with T-Mobile ONE Plus).
This means that after using up the 5GB of high-speed data, customers will still be able to stay connected, but at significantly reduced speeds. For most plans, the speed will drop to up to 128kbps, while for T-Mobile ONE Plus customers, the speed will be up to 256kbps. These speeds are sufficient for basic tasks like checking emails or sending messages but are not ideal for data-intensive activities such as streaming videos or downloading large files.
Impact on Customers
The introduction of this data cap is a significant change for T-Mobile customers who frequently travel to Canada and Mexico. While 5GB of high-speed data may be sufficient for occasional travelers, it may not be enough for those who rely heavily on their mobile data for work or entertainment while abroad. This move could potentially lead to increased costs for customers who need more high-speed data, as they may have to purchase additional data passes or consider other options.
On the other hand, this change could also be seen as a way for T-Mobile to manage network congestion and ensure that all customers have a fair share of network resources. By capping the high-speed data, T-Mobile can prevent a small number of users from consuming a disproportionate amount of bandwidth, which could negatively impact the experience for other customers.
It’s also worth noting that T-Mobile’s competitors, such as AT&T and Verizon, have similar policies in place for international data usage. Therefore, while this change may be disappointing for some T-Mobile customers, it is not entirely out of line with industry standards.
For those who need more high-speed data while traveling, T-Mobile offers various add-ons and data passes that can be purchased to supplement the 5GB cap. Customers can also explore other options, such as using Wi-Fi hotspots or local SIM cards, to stay connected without incurring additional charges.
This new cap comes into place next month, and you can find out more details about it over at T-Mobile at the link below.
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