AT&T Now Throttling Speeds for Top Data Users; No More Unofficial Tethering?

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If you’re a heavy smartphone data plan user, you might want to keep your usage in check. AT&T has already started throttling down connection speeds of the top 5% of users, to ensure fair usage among its unlimited subscribers.

AT&T has earlier warned hardcore mobile internet users against abusing their data plans. The warning involved those in the top 5% in terms of bandwidth use, and AT&T is now making good on their promise to limit speeds for folks who are heavy users. Some may have already received a warning from AT&T via text messaging as follows:

Your data usage is among the top 5 percent of users. Data speeds for the rest of your current bill cycle may be reduced.

Users who have reported receiving the message are now getting 2G data speeds — not even EDGE. TipB readers have reported getting only 150 Kbps from their unlimited AT&T accounts, due to the throttling.

However, it has been unclear what exactly constitutes 5% for AT&T, as the carrier does not specify the amount of bandwidth that one has to consume before the company throttles down the service. AT&T has likewise been mum on just how much speed will be assigned to over-reaching users. Some view the throttled speed to be too severe, sometimes jumping straight from a 14 Mbps connection to 150 Kbps, altogether skipping in-between speeds.

AT&T has made it clear that the most likely users to be affected are those who have jailbroken their iPhones in order to use unofficial tethering tools along with AT&T’s unlimited plan. Users on AT&T’s official tethering plan are not likely to be affected.

Meanwhile, there is also concern on whether other carriers will follow suit. Verizon has also announced plans to throttle speeds for subscribers who over-use their unlimited accounts. T-Mobile might also charge extra fees. For heavy usage, AT&T recommends switching to a throttling plan, to ensure speed and quality of service.