This page provides information about T-Mobile's Broadband Internet Access Services. "Broadband Internet Access Services" refers to services that provide the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all Internet endpoints. The network practices and performance characteristics (...) applicable to T-Mobile's Broadband Internet Access Services over our 2G, 3G, and 4G networks are described below. (...).
This information applies to postpaid and prepaid services (...)
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T-Mobile offers mobile Broadband Internet Access Services for smartphones, basic phones, tablets, netbooks, USB modems, mobile hotspots and other wireless devices over our 2G, 3G and 4G broadband networks. Your data plan may feature a designated allotment of high-speed data, after which your data speed may be reduced or your data access may be suspended for the remainder of the billing cycle. If your data plan features a designated allotment of high-speed data, certain uses of the network may not count against that allotment.
Many of our plans include video optimization features which, when connected to the cellular network, deliver a DVD quality (typically 480p or better) video experience at up to 1.5Mbps with minimal buffering while streaming. Customers may choose a plan where this feature is always enabled (T-Mobile ONE), with the option to add on a native-resolution video feature for an additional charge, disabling optimization on device ("HD Day Pass") or on device and via tethering (T-Mobile ONE Plus). Customers may also choose plans that offer video optimization as a customer-controlled feature that can be disabled or enabled at any time ("Binge On"), so that when enabled, their high-speed data lasts longer. Some qualifying video providers may choose to self-optimize their video content or opt-out of the Binge On program, (...). The Binge On optimization technology is not applied to the video services of these providers; video from these services will stream at native resolution, and high-speed data consumption will continue as if Binge On were not enabled. (...).
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Many factors affect the speed and performance that customers experience, including the programs running on the device, proximity to a cell site, the capacity of the cell site, the surrounding terrain, use inside a building or moving vehicle, radio frequency interference, how many other customers are attempting to use the same spectrum resources, the high-speed data allotment and other features of your data plan, or data use that is more than what is used by 97% of what all customers use in a month. In addition, many of our plans use video streaming optimization when connected to the cellular network to deliver a DVD quality (typically 480p or better) video experience at up to 1.5Mbps with minimal buffering while streaming. Customers may choose a plan where this feature is always enabled (T-Mobile ONE), with the option to add on a native-resolution video feature for an additional charge, disabling optimization. Customers may also choose plans that offer video optimization as a customer-controlled feature that can be disabled or enabled at any time ("Binge On"). Some qualifying video providers may choose to opt-out of the Binge On program, (...). The Binge On optimization technology is not applied to the video services of these providers; video from their services will stream at native resolution, and high-speed data consumption will continue as if Binge On were not enabled. Also, as discussed below, as a feature differentiating T-Mobile-branded service and plans from non-T-Mobile-branded service such as MetroPCS, we also give data of customers who choose T-Mobile-branded service plans precedence over data of customers who choose certain non-T-Mobile-branded service plans when the network is presented with competing demands. (...).
Customer devices also have varying speed capabilities and may connect to different networks depending on technology. Even within coverage areas and with broadband-capable devices, network changes, traffic volume, outages, technical limitations, signal strength, obstructions, weather, and other conditions may impact speeds and service availability.
The term "speed" is commonly used as a shorthand way to describe the rate at which a particular broadband Internet access service can transmit data. This rate (or speed) is typically measured in the number of kilobits or megabits transmitted in one second (Kbps or Mbps). Some applications like email or basic web browsing do not require a high-data speed to function very well, while other activities like video streaming or transferring large data files are better experienced with higher data speeds.
Based on analysis of third-party, crowd-sourced data and subject to the notes below, T-Mobile expects T-Mobile-branded customers with broadband-capable devices and qualifying service will experience the following speeds on our 4G LTE network. These ranges are projections based on roughly the 25th and 75th percentiles of speed tests, while the peak represents the 99th percentile:
i. Download speeds: Typically between 7 - 40 Mbps, with peaks up to 90 Mbps.
ii. Upload speeds: Typically between 4 - 20 Mbps, with peaks up to 35 Mbps.
iii. Download Speed: Typically between 3 - 25 Mbps, with peaks up to 90 Mbps
iv. Upload Speed: Typically between 2 - 10 Mbps, with peaks up to 35 Mbps
Based on our internal testing and testing from third-parties, we've also made projections regarding the anticipated on-device experience on our remaining non-LTE network. Subject to the notes below, T-Mobile expects T-Mobile-branded customers with broadband-capable devices and qualifying service will experience the following speeds on those portions of our network:
v. Download speeds: Typically between 2 - 6 Mbps
vi. Upload speeds: Typically between 0.5 - 1.8 Mbps
vii. Download speeds: Typically between 400 - 700 kbps
viii. Upload speeds: Typically between 100 - 250 kbps
ix. Download speeds: Typically between 40 - 200 kbps
x. Upload speeds: Typically between 20 - 80 kbps
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Notes: Your 4G speed range will depend on your device as well as the factors described above. (...). Subject to your data plan, customers using a 4G device within the 4G coverage area can expect to get 4G speeds. Customers using a 3G device within the 3G coverage area can expect to get 3G speeds. Customers with 4G devices will access the 3G network where it's available outside the 4G coverage area.
Your speed range will also depend on the high-speed data allotments associated with the data plan you have selected. (...)
Latency, also known as delay, is the amount of time from when a data packet is sent to when it is received. For Broadband Internet Access Services, latency is usually expressed as the round-trip time in milliseconds ("s") that it takes for a data packet to travel between two end points on the Internet (from point A to point B and then back to point A). Some applications, such as email, can tolerate a substantial amount of latency without any noticeable impact on the application's performance, while other applications, such as real-time video conferencing, require lower latency to function properly.
With respect to latency for use of real-time data applications, for T-Mobile-branded customers, T-Mobile expects round trip network to device latency to be approximately 35-90 ms on its 4G LTE network, 60-180 ms on its 4G network, 100-450 ms on its 3G network and 400-900 ms on its 2G network.
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For Simple Choice customers, if your data plan features a designated allotment of high-speed data, data used by certain speed measurement applications will not count against that high-speed data allotment. (...). If your data plan includes data use at reduced speed after you have used your plan's monthly allotment of high-speed data, your data speed will be limited to 64 kbps or 128 kbps for the remainder of your billing cycle once you have used your allotted high-speed data. The results from some speed measuring applications may show current network speeds, rather than the reduced speed that is currently available to you. (...)
We engineer our network to provide consistent high-speed data service, but at times and at locations where the number of customers using the network exceeds available network resources, customers will experience reduced data speeds. To provide the best possible experience for the most possible customers, we implement network management practices on a content-agnostic basis, such as caching less data and prioritizing data usage.
These practices do not discriminate against offerings that might compete against those offered by T-Mobile or any T-Mobile affiliate on the basis of such competition.
T-Mobile utilizes streaming video optimization technology throughout its network. Streaming video optimization improves overall data usage management of the network, resulting in greater network speeds and throughput for other customers using data because less network payload is dedicated to video. For customers on limited high-speed plans, optimization also helps customers stretch their high-speed data while streaming video. We optimize data by adjusting the delivery rate for streaming video to up to 1.5Mbps, which causes the video to lower resolutions and use less data.
Video optimization occurs only to data streams that are identified by our packet-core network as video. Some videos, like those consumed via VPN, may not be optimized. Some video consumed while tethering may be difficult to identify as video and therefore cannot be optimized. The streaming video optimization process is agnostic as to the streaming video content itself and to the website that provides it. While many changes to streaming video files are likely to be indiscernible, the optimization process may impact the appearance of the streaming video as displayed on a user's device. It may also affect the speed of video downloads.
Video streaming optimization, when connected to the cellular network, delivers a DVD quality (typically 480p or better) video experience instead of a higher resolution version (e.g. HD), which is better suited for larger screens. Video optimization is not applied when a device is on WiFi and therefore all video on WiFi will be delivered at the native resolution.
Customers on our T-Mobile ONE plan, where video optimization is always enabled, may choose to add on a native-resolution video feature for an additional charge.
Many of our data plans include the enabled Binge On feature, which customers may choose to disable and re-enable at any time. Some video providers may choose to opt-out of the Binge On program, see listing. The Binge On optimization technology is not applied to the video services of these providers; video from these services will stream at native resolution, and high-speed data consumption will continue as if Binge On were not enabled.
Binge On allows customers to control their video viewing experience and high speed data consumption but it does not apply to services of providers who have chosen to opt out (none have opted-out of Binge On at this time). Video from these providers will be delivered at native resolution, and high-speed data consumption will continue as if Binge On were not enabled.
Most of our plan options feature a customer-chosen high-speed data allotment with reduced speeds on our network after the high-speed allotment is exhausted, so customers can choose the combination of high-speed data and price that is right for their needs. Unlimited high-speed data customers do not have a specific high-speed data allotment, however, and customers on limited high-speed plans may have extremely high data usage under certain circumstances, including if they access significant amounts of data that does not count against their high-speed data allotment. Some network management for these scenarios is required, because very heavy data usage by even a few customers at times and places of competing network demands can affect the network performance for all customers.
To provide the best possible experience for the most possible customers, and to minimize capacity issues and degradation in network performance, we manage significant high-speed data usage through prioritization. Specifically, customers who use more data than what 97% of all customers use in a month, based on recent historical averages (updated quarterly), will have their data usage prioritized below the data usage (including tethering) of other customers at times and at locations where there are competing customer demands for network resources, which may result in slower data speeds. Customers who use data in violation of their Rate Plan terms or T-Mobile's Terms and Conditions may be excluded from this calculation. Data features that may not count against the high-speed data allotment for some plans, such as certain data associated with Music Freedom, or Binge On, still counts towards all customers' usage for this calculation. Data used for customer service applications such as the T-Mobile My Account app and the T-Mobile Tuesdays app do not count towards customers' usage for this calculation. Smartphone Mobile HotSpot (tethering) data is also included in this calculation. Based on network statistics for the most recent quarter, customers who use more than 26GB of data during a billing cycle will have their data usage prioritized below other customers' data usage for the remainder of the billing cycle in times and at locations where there are competing customer demands for network resources. At the start of the next bill cycle, the customer's usage status is reset, and this data traffic is no longer prioritized below other traffic.
Similarly, while we permit tethering pursuant to the terms, conditions and allotments of your Data Plan, significant Smartphone Mobile HotSpot (tethering) usage can affect on-device network performance for all customers. To ensure the best possible on-device experience for the most possible customers, and to minimize capacity issues and degradation in network performance, we prioritize on-device data (except that of significant data users, as described above) over tethering data at times and at locations where there are competing customer demands for network resources, which may result in slower tethering speeds.
Where the network is lightly loaded in relation to available capacity, a customer whose data is prioritized lower than other traffic will notice little, if any, effect from having lower priority. This will be the case in the vast majority of times and locations. At times and at locations where the network is heavily loaded in relation to available capacity, however, these customers will likely see significant reductions in data speeds, especially if they are engaged in data-intensive activities. Customers on Rate Plans and Devices with 4G capability should, for example, be aware that these practices may occasionally result in speeds below those typically experienced on our 4G LTE and HSPA networks. T-Mobile constantly works to improve network performance and capacity, but there are physical and technical limits on how much capacity is available, and in constrained locations the frequency of heavy loading in relation to available capacity may be greater than in other locations. When network loading goes down or the customer moves to a location that is less heavily loaded in relation to available capacity, the customer's speeds will likely improve.
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Simple Choice customers select how much high-speed data they receive under their service plan. Certain features, such as Music Freedom, some Binge On content, and data used by certain T-Mobile customer service applications, such as the T-Mobile My Account app and the T-Mobile Tuesdays app do not count against your high-speed data allotment. If your total high-speed data usage exceeds your selected high-speed allotment during a billing cycle, we may reduce your data speed to 2G speeds for the remainder of that billing cycle.
Some Unlimited high-speed Smartphone data plans include a data allotment for Smartphone Mobile HotSpot (tethering) then tethering is slowed to up to 2G speeds for the rest of the billing cycle. The T-Mobile ONE plan includes tethering at up to 3G speeds, with the ability to purchase high-speed tethering with optimized video streaming. Depending on the capability of your device, tethering your device to other lawful devices is permitted up to 10 devices pursuant to the terms, conditions and allotments of your Data Plan. Some video consumed while tethering may be difficult to identify as video and therefore cannot be optimized.
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If you use your Data Plan in a manner that could interfere with other customers' service, affect our ability to allocate network capacity among customers, or degrade service quality for other customers, we may suspend, terminate, or restrict your data session, or switch you to a more appropriate Data Plan, or terminate your service.
Finally, certain uses of our network are also prohibited as described in our Terms and Conditions under the heading "Misuse of Service or Device." For example, applications which automatically consume unreasonable amounts of available network capacity or are designed for unattended use are prohibited as they may interfere with our ability to provide a good service experience for the majority of our customers, cause capacity issues, and/or degrade network performance. (...).
To differentiate services we sell under the T-Mobile brand name from services we sell under Metro PCS and other brand names, we give data of customers who choose T-Mobile-branded services precedence over data of customers who choose non-T-Mobile-branded services when our network is presented with competing demands. Where the network is lightly loaded, a customer on those brands will notice little, if any, effect from having lower priority. This will be the case in the vast majority of times and locations. At times and at locations where the network is heavily loaded in relation to available capacity, however, those customers will likely see reductions in data speeds, especially if they are engaged in data-intensive activities. T-Mobile constantly works to improve network performance and capacity, but there are physical and technical limits on how much capacity is available, and at constrained locations, the frequency of heavy loading in relation to available capacity may be greater than at other locations. When network loading goes down or those customers moves to a location that is less heavily loaded in relation to available capacity, those customers' speeds will likely improve.
No. They are treated just like any other data application on the network, and traffic from these applications is subject to the same reasonable network management practices as other data on the network.
We use a variety of physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect our network from events that may negatively impact our customers' ability to use our Broadband Internet Access Services. We monitor our network to protect against security threats, including spam, viruses, automated attacks, worms, distributed denial of service attacks, and other potentially malicious activity. When we detect a threat, we will attempt to prevent it from spreading across our network using a variety of security measures, which may include rerouting or limiting some traffic over our network until the threat is resolved.
Unless part of an opted-in customer service, T-Mobile does not block lawful traffic based on content or subject. Occasionally, cases arise where T-Mobile must make a judgment, determining that the value of protecting our customer base from malicious or other adverse, network-impacting traffic outweighs access issues experienced by a few. Examples include Internet sources or destinations that are major sources of spam and sources that aggressively scan Internet addresses or those that have attempted attacks against T-Mobile infrastructure or customer end-points.
T-Mobile blocks a limited number of Internet addresses that are disruptive or malicious and typically persistent, based on our review of third party industry-wide intelligence. T-Mobile does not block sites based on content or subject, unless the Internet address hosts unlawful content or is blocked as part of an opted-in customer service.
For our Wi-Fi services, which are accessible in a wide range of commercial establishments and public venues, T-Mobile prevents the use of certain ports that are commonly used to spread malware and engage in other malicious activity. (...)
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