AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) announced Tuesday that U-verse customers will have the chance to use more data on their residential connections before they hit data caps. Starting in May, home broadband subscribers will be able to use from 300 GB a month to as much as 1 TB a month, depending on their speed tiers.
The company said that those who use both U-verse broadband and TV service, or even DirecTV subscribers, will be exempted from the new limits. AT&T will otherwise apply a monthly $30-charge for unlimited internet. Customers who aren’t on the unlimited plan and exceed their cap will get increments of 50 GB of extra data $10 each, according to PC Mag.
Customers get to choose the unlimited option whenever they want, since the carrier won’t automatically enroll them in such a plan if they exceed their limits. Still, AT&T will cap overage charges at $100 per month.
The move comes after Comcast’s new unlimited data option went into effect last fall in select markets. That company also charges additional $30 a month for unlimited data.
Customers are offered online tools to monitor their data usage
AT&T’s changes start rolling out on May 23 and the carrier is encouraging its customers to use its online tool to find out how much data they currently consume so they can make the right decision based on their actual needs. Roughly 4 percent of its subscribers use more data than the new limits allow, according to the company.
“We offer a variety of free online tools at att.com/InternetUsage to help you manage your data usage,” AT&T said in a press release. “Also starting May 23, you’ll be able to check your current usage online anytime you want.”
The Dallas-based carrier has been experimenting with data caps for its broadband subscribers since 2008, when it announced a monthly 150 GB limit that was extended to all DSL customers three years later. The 2008 move was also a step behind Comcast.
Earlier this year, the company allowed its DirecTV and U-verse customers to select a subscription to unlimited wireless data for $100 a month.
Source: PC Mag