Both Virgin and Boost Mobile have begun sending messages to current customers warning that both brands will enact stricter throttling policies beginning on May 6th. While no specific reason was given for the policy changes other than quality of service maintenance, both brands are and have been at the mercy of parent Sprint in terms of network performance, which has led to many complaints over the past 2 years. Below, the statement being sent out:
Effective 5/6/14, if you reach 2.5GB of combined 3G/4G data during your monthly plan cycle, your data speeds will be reduced to 2G speeds for the rest of that monthly plan. During this time, you may experience slower page loads and file downloads, and lags in streaming media. Data speeds will return to normal as soon as your next monthly plan starts. If you’d rather not wait for your new month to start, you can restart your plan immediately through My Account.How will I know if my data speeds have been reduced?If you are close to reaching 2.5GB of data in a month, you will receive a text message alerting you. Once you reach the 2.5GB limit, you will receive a text message letting you know your data speeds will be reduced for the rest of your plan month. You can check how much data you’ve used at any time during the month by logging into My Account and checking Data & Web history.By putting this data speed reduction in place, we’re making sure we can deliver the same quality of service to all of our nationwide customers – we appreciate your understanding at this time.
Sprint defines 2G speeds as below 3G EVDO, or less than the 256Kbps speeds that throttled customers were previously subjected to under the old rules. Sprint, Boost and Virgin Mobile have yet to officially comment on the changes.
Update: Since this article, Sprint has released the following statement to the wider media about the changes –
“This change comes about because of the enormous data usage driven by the increasingly sophisticated smartphones we make available, and the more extensive uses customers are finding for these devices. We want to be able to serve customers who use our unlimited plans for their daily activity.”
The changes will now go into effect on the 16th of May and not the 6th, as originally written in the notice and speeds will now be throttled to 128Kbps, or around the maximum for the older 1xRTT service.
[…] http://www.phonenews.com/virgin-and-boost-mobile-to-enact-stricter-throttling-on-may-6th-26679/ Virgin And Boost Mobile To Enact Stricter Throttling On May 6th […]
**** WARNING YOUR PHONE IS A PAPER WEIGHT DONT GET BOOST OR VIRGIN*******
Thanks Humberto Saabedra for sounding the Alarm!!! I Sent out a warning 2-3 days ago to to other media. Your the 1st to pick up the ball and run with it. As far as Boost waiting till 5/16 not true Boost! I live here in Dallas TX and both 3G and 4G are LOCKED at 60k – 72k Now this moment typing this comment at 9:30 PM! 60k on both networks. I want to warn you and anyone else your phones will now become worthless! Try using Google Voice to search at 60k AOL Dial up speed! Try using Navigation to get somewhere it doesn’t work! I started when Boost offered me unthrottle 3g and unlimited data… They took that away… Then Boost said:Hey Buy The S2 and we’ll give you unthrottled unlimited 4g.. They Took That away 2.5 Cap then 256k. Now my Mobile Hot spot is reduce to 60-72k as well and the phone.
IF you guys want to Push back there’s a few options.
1. Cancel there’s Republic Wireless 5GB 3/4G before throttle unlimited Call/Text and its 40.00 no waiting months. MetroPCS, Cricket Etc….
2. File a Complaint with The FTC/FCC on line! If a Boost Rep Promised you more and you feel Boost Lied File an Online complaint… THEY (BOOST/VIRGIN) HATE HAVING TO DEAL WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS… Why? Because they cant ignore them like they do to us when we complain.
How big of a deal is it to complain? Enough that when AT&T denied me DSL and my neighbor had it. I filed a online complaint and 2 1/2 months later the Vice President of AT&t was call me offering me FIOS HIGH speed for the same $pecial. I was denied for DSL. As for me I’m Leaving Boost the phones Worthless ….
att does not have fios…
lying ****… no real change here santa maria typical speed is up all the way to 40kbs was under 20. repair interruptions frequent. lost 3 days in jan. really outs a crimp in what ican do.
U-Verse my mistake.
56k dailup would be faster then this sh@t that Boost is pulling. You want to watch youtube? Forget about that. I’m gone screw you sprint.
Someone should sue Sprint and have them take off the unlimited data shit they push. 2.5gb then 40k internet is NOT unlimited.
just when you thought the boost mobile service couldn’t get any WORST! Boost is going to lose more customers than GM repairing cars from a recall.
First of all, we already have 1gbps speeds through optic fiber, so I don’t see why they should even do shit like this since we already have much better technology.
Sprint wants to deliver us back to the year 2k. Fuck them.