AT&T Will Let Unlimited-Data Customers Pay More To Avoid the Slow Lane

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: On Monday, AT&T announced the end of data slowdowns for smartphone users who purchase 'unlimited' data -- but the perk is only for customers who buy AT&T's most expensive mobile plan. AT&T will continue to sell two other 'unlimited' plans that can be put into a slow lane. AT&T advertises three 'unlimited' plans, each with different limits. The Unlimited Elite plan's advertised price is $85 per month for one line, while AT&T's 'Unlimited Extra' plan is $75, and the 'Unlimited Starter' plan is $65.

None of those plans come with unlimited data of the high-speed variety, but that will change this week. In a press release that says customers will soon be able to 'stay in the fast lane with unlimited high-speed data,' AT&T said that purchasers of the priciest plan 'will now enjoy AT&T's high-speed data regardless of how much data they've used.' AT&T said it will 'start rolling out this enhancement this week and Elite customers everywhere will soon receive a text notifying them when the benefit has been added.' While the change will be made with no extra fees for people who already buy the most expensive plan, other people will have to pay more to get onto the only plan with AT&T's new 'fast lane' perk. AT&T ending its data slowdowns entirely when customers pay more demonstrates, if it wasn't obvious already, that the limits aren't necessary for network-management purposes. Imposing different levels of data slowdowns is one of the methods AT&T and other carriers use to create product differentiation among plans that all nominally offer 'unlimited' data but cost different amounts. Data service may still be fast enough to be usable when the limits are in place, but AT&T does not say what speeds customers should expect during slowdowns.

AT&T is also lifting the video-resolution cap on the Unlimited Elite plan, allowing 4K streaming instead of limiting videos to 480p ('DVD quality') or regular HD. Currently, Unlimited Elite uses what AT&T calls 'Stream Saver' to limit videos to 480p but provides a toggle that lets customers turn off Stream Saver and watch in high definition. AT&T is also increasing mobile-hotspot data from 30GB to 40GB on Unlimited Elite. AT&T also provides a subscription to HBO Max with its Unlimited Elite plan and 5G access on all three unlimited plans.

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