How many GB is AT&T unlimited?
Although smartphones and tablets have unlimited data plans provided by AT&T Internet, how much data is usable before the speed is slowed or the connectivity is terminated? In this paper, the author will make an exploration of AT&T’s unlimited data plans and the limits behind this service.
What do You Consider as “Unlimited” with AT&T?
First of all, as was indicated in the beginning, no carrier offering the plan that is promoted as ‘‘unlimited’’, provides customers with truly unlimited high-speed data. This is a standard practice that is common with most carriers including AT&T; they can throttle the speed of data when a user crosses a particular ceiling during busy hours. Therefore, the amount of full-speed data that can be consumed will depend on the number of users that are using the network at a certain time.
That said, AT&T has relatively high limits before they may consider reducing your speeds
- If you are using a Smartphone and looking for unlimited plans then it provides you with 50GB of data at high speed and throttling can occur in heavily used areas.
- For the unlimited tablet data plans it is 40GB monthly allowance before experiencing throttling.
In other words, most people will get unlimited data with no throttling which is considered by most carriers as “unlimited”. Only clients who fall within the category of extreme usage are probably able to go beyond those levels quite often.
However, note that actual speeds will be influenced by your device performance, geographical area, 4G & 5G networks, and many other aspects. Although you have not yet found yourself in the category where you are deprioritized, congestion or weak signals can reduce speed at certain points.
Watching Video Streams Affect Your Data Consumption
There is one important consideration about AT&T's unlimited offering and it concerns video streaming. While streaming all videos by default, AT&T will opt for Standard Definition as opposed to High Definition streaming. This makes it possible for them to balance their client’s network traffic needs for all the users. If you wish to stream HD video on your unlimited plan, you have two options: If you wish to stream HD video on your unlimited plan, you have two options:
1. Allow each line to broadcast video in high definition for an additional $10 per month for each line.
2. Limited streaming is available for free users; therefore, users have to subscribe to an Unlimited Elite plan to get top-notch data performance with HD streaming default. However, the top-tier plan is available for $85/month for one smartphone line.
Thus, before watching a lot of videos, especially on the AT&T unlimited plan, it is crucial to know that, unlike YouTube, it streams videos in standard definition unless one pays for HD streaming. These videos often use up large amounts of data that can lead to you going over your maximum speed allowance if you watch many of them. While streaming HD requires almost 3GB/hour, it is approximately 1 GB/hour for SD videos.
Now let’s take a look at mobile hotspot usage and data allowance offered by major carriers.
Another limitation is that unless you pay more for a mobile hotspot add-on data allotment, AT&T unlimited plans do not let you use the mobile hotspot feature of your phone: Another limitation is that unless you pay extra for a mobile hotspot add-on data allotment, AT&T unlimited plans do not allow use of the mobile hotspot feature of your phone:
- The Unlimited Starter, for $10 more per month, increases mobile hotspot data to 15GB.
- Additional $20/month for 30GB of hotspot usage on the Unlimited Extra plan as well as on the Unlimited Elite plan.
Therefore, your unlimited data is meant to be used for the smartphone or tablet solely, unless you are to purchase an extra mobile hotspot plan. Verizon and T-Mobile unlimited plans, however, allow some Smartphone mobile hotspot usage every month depending on the plan.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, it can be noted that still AT&T offers unlimited talk, text, and smartphone data on all the plans offered by the company. However, there are a few crucial limitations associated with video streaming quality and mobile hotspot usage allowance. The prices begin at $80 per month for an individual phone line with a smartphone when it comes with autopay options.
If you mostly confine yourself to browsing, social media, emails, map/navigation, or GPS functionalities and do not stream high-definition videos all month and do not activate the hotspot/tethering feature for more than a few hours or one or two days, you should not come across AT&T’s unlimited data limits or caps. But for power users, the throttling on the speed or quality of the video might be felt during the congestion period until the usage for the month is reset. It is therefore important to grasp these differences to be in a position to set realistic expectations before enrolling for an AT&T unlimited data plan.
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