T-Mobile to Cap 'Mobile Without Borders' Feature at 5GB of LTE Data Per Month Starting November 12

[MacRumors]

T-Mobile this week quietly announced plans to tweak the way its "Mobile Without Borders" feature works, adding a 5GB data cap.

Introduced in 2015 as an Un-carrier initiative, Mobile Without Borders is a T-Mobile feature that's designed to extend LTE coverage and calling to Mexico and Canada at no additional charge. It was designed to use a customer's normal voice, message, and LTE data allotments while roaming in Mexico or Canada.

With an unlimited data plan, customers using Mobile Without Borders had access to "unlimited" 4G LTE data up to the standard cap of 50GB while in Canada or Mexico.

Starting on November 12, T-Mobile is limiting LTE data usage for Mobile Without Borders to a maximum of 5GB. After 5GB of data has been used in Mexico or Canada, or a high-speed data allotment has been reached, data speeds will be downgraded to Simple Global speeds (128kb/s for most T-Mobile plans, or 256kb/s for T-Mobile ONE Plus).

T-Mobile says that less than 1 percent of people who travel to Canada or Mexico use over 5GB in a month, and that the change is being implemented to "prevent usage beyond the intent of the product."

Customers who need more than 5GB of LTE data in Mexico or Canada can sign up for the T-Mobile ONE Plus International plan, which is an additional $25 per month on top of the cost of a T-Mobile ONE plan.

Article Link: T-Mobile to Cap 'Mobile Without Borders' Feature at 5GB of LTE Data Per Month Starting November 12

 

[michael31986]

What about overseas in Europe.

 

[nutmac]

What about overseas in Europe.

After customer uses all 5 GB in Canada or Mexico (less on plans with less than 5GB), the data speed is throttled to 128 Kbps or 256 Kbps (ONE Plus or ONE Plus International).

In Europe and other countries, data is always throttled to 128 Kbps or 256 Kbps, so the limit does not apply.

 

[Westside guy]

That's too bad - it's pretty easy to run up a lot of data when you're away from home. Last time I was at a conference in Canada, I watched a lot of movies on my phone in the evenings.

 

[zahuh]

T-Mobile, if by some miracle you’re reading this, please give us an option to pay for faster and more data when overseas. Please!

Thank you for giving us 256 kpbs, would appreciate the minimum to be 512. There are times I’m just looking at my phone waiting for it to load and not enjoying the view!

 

[itsmilo]

After customer uses all 5 GB in Canada or Mexico (less on plans with less than 5GB), the data speed is throttled to 128 Kbps or 256 Kbps (ONE Plus or ONE Plus International).

In Europe and other countries, data is always throttled to 128 Kbps or 256 Kbps, so the limit does not apply.

How ironic, T-Mobile Germany within Germany throttles to 64kbs lol

 

[unobtainium]

This sucks but I knew it was too good to last. Pretty sure I burned through a ton of data while in Canada for a couple months last summer. I was amazed it was that simple and easy. Oh well.

 

[skellener]

T-Mobile says that less than 1 percent of people who travel to Canada or Mexico use over 5GB in a month, and that the change is being implemented to "prevent usage beyond the intent of the product."

If so few people go over, why bother changing the plan? Just leave it.

 

[nutmac]

If so few people go over, why bother changing the plan? Just leave it.

I am guessing a small percentage of folks are abusing the system. I would've liked to see higher limit for those on ONE plans.

 

[ray737]

How ironic, T-Mobile Germany within Germany throttles to 64kbs lol

64 kbs???? I am in Germany every month. Are u sure. I thought it was 256kbps. If true maybe I should roam on Vodaphone or O2

 

[itsmilo]

64 kbs???? I am in Germany every month. Are u sure. I thought it was 256kbps. If true maybe I should roam on Vodaphone or O2

Well after i reach my data volume they throttle to 64kbs. Vodafone even started to throttle to 32kbs. I think it is only o2 offering sth like 1 mbit on their „free“ plans

 

[mdatwood]

T-Mobile, if by some miracle you’re reading this, please give us an option to pay for faster and more data when overseas. Please!

Thank you for giving us 256 kpbs, would appreciate the minimum to be 512. There are times I’m just looking at my phone waiting for it to load and not enjoying the view!

You already can.

 

[ray737]

Well after i reach my data volume they throttle to 64kbs. Vodafone even started to throttle to 32kbs. I think it is only o2 offering sth like 1 mbit on their „free“ plans

Wow. Ok

 

[zahuh]

You already can.

How?

 

[dampfnudel]

T-Mobile, if by some miracle you’re reading this, please give us an option to pay for faster and more data when overseas. Please!

Thank you for giving us 256 kpbs, would appreciate the minimum to be 512. There are times I’m just looking at my phone waiting for it to load and not enjoying the view!

512 Kbps should be the minimum, without having to pay extra. I know some people will say be glad you can just walk off a plane somewhere in Europe and have complimentary service there thanks to your T-Mobile plan, but 128-256 is a little too slow for 2017.

 

[lec0rsaire]

How ironic, T-Mobile Germany within Germany throttles to 64kbs lol

Germany is really behind with LTE. They promote bis zu 50mbps like it’s a very big deal! Some carriers are even like bis zu 20mbps! Welcome to 2011 lol. OTOH German mobile rates are much cheaper. You can get prepaid or postpaid options for 10-20 euros with up to 3GB of data. Not the best coverage wise, but in America it’s really $50 and most of the time $100 with the premium carriers. Same situation with cable tv (Sky in Germany). Lots of people I know find it expensive. They would freak out if they knew I paid Spectrum $150 a month but the quality of programming and sports is much better than anything offered anywhere in Europe. All those licenses cost a lot of money.

 

[R3k]

If so few people go over, why bother changing the plan? Just leave it.

I think it’s more about, say throwing numbers out, 1% or the users taking 10% of the bandwidth. Numbers obviously not correct but it illustrates my point. It’s about the number of bits, not number of users.

 

[4jasontv]

I think it’s more about, say throwing numbers out, 1% or the users taking 10% of the bandwidth. Numbers obviously not correct but it illustrates my point. It’s about the number of bits, not number of users.

What are they doing with the bandwidth? Are they taking it so other people can't use it? Are they reselling it? Or are they just using what they paid for? People who use less data than other people don't deserve the bandwidth more. They have just as much opportunity over the course of the month to use data as everyone else. Lack of bandwidth is entirely on the carrier.

 

[unobtainium]

"A few people abusing it"

More like...a few people using it as advertised: continuing to use data while abroad just like they would at home. That's how the feature was presented, and it was a great thing while it lasted. Maybe the moral of the story is, don't promise something you can't actually afford?

 

[vsuri]

T-Mobile, if by some miracle you’re reading this, please give us an option to pay for faster and more data when overseas. Please!

Thank you for giving us 256 kpbs, would appreciate the minimum to be 512. There are times I’m just looking at my phone waiting for it to load and not enjoying the view!

https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-7261

 

[ferrous]

Introduced in 2015 as an Un-carrier initiative

I actually switched to Tmobile because of this feature and I liked their different take on their offerings to customers. But now?
It’s just another carrier, sadly

 

[bchery21]

I would have to go back to see how much data I used when I was down in Cozumel, MX. Can't imagine it was much but it was nice knowing my wife and I wouldn't get hit w/ additional fees.

 

[zahuh]

https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-7261

Thank you!

Here is my new follow up with the new information you’ve given me...


T-Mobile, $20 for 1gb! You can do better than that! I must say, it’s at least a little better than At&T’s $10 for unlimited at 4g LTE

 

[Xgm541]

What are they doing with the bandwidth? Are they taking it so other people can't use it? Are they reselling it? Or are they just using what they paid for? People who use less data than other people don't deserve the bandwidth more. They have just as much opportunity over the course of the month to use data as everyone else. Lack of bandwidth is entirely on the carrier.

I'm not advocating for carrier limits but what you say simply isn't true. Mobile spectrum has physical limitations which the carrier cannot control.

 

[DipDog3]

Thanks to everyone who abused this perk, because now it is gone.