Does Sprint throttle their unlimited data?
By
HuutiMoney
This blog post will provide detailed information about the throttling of unlimited data by Sprint. We will cover topics like key features of Sprint, Key points of the T-mobile and Sprint merger, Sprint’s unlimited plans and data throttling
Does Sprint throttle their unlimited data?
The Sprint throttles your data once you cross the 50 GB data limit. The Sprint offers unlimited data, talk, and text plans. But these unlimited plans are not practically unlimited. This is because every unlimited data plan has a monthly data cap. If you cross it, then data throttling starts.
What is a Sprint mobile?
The Sprint Corporation was an American telecommunication industry. Before the merging Sprint was the fourth-largest cell phone network operator in the United States. The Boost mobile and Open mobile were subsidiaries of the Sprint mobile network. The Sprint brand has officially been discontinued and is successfully acquired by T-Mobile as of August 3, 2020.
Is Sprint GSM or CDMA?
The older network of Sprint uses CDMA technology. The Sprint brand has officially been discontinued and is successfully acquired by T-Mobile in April 2020. If you have network-capable phones then it can take advantage of both CDMA and GSM services. This is possible because of the roaming agreements between T -mobile and Sprint.
Key points of T-mobile and Sprint merger
- If you have an older Sprint phone which supports only CDMA networks then it will not work properly with T-Mobile’s GSM services. In this case, you need to upgrade the phone device.
- CDMA (older 3G network) will be retired as of 31st March 2022.
- The LTE network of Sprint will be retired as of 3oth March 2022.
- You need to replace the Sprint sim card with a T-mobile sim card.
- For the voice calls, ensure that VoLTE( Voice over LTE) is enabled.
- The customers who hold older Sprint devices will not be able to access the CDMA network after 1st January 2022.
- If you have a Sprint mobile plan, you can continue your service without any change. You can switch to T-mobile, but it will not be considered as a new account.
- If you transfer to T-mobile, you are not eligible for added benefits for new T-mobile customers.
Are Sprint and T-mobile the same?
Yes, the Sprint brand has officially been discontinued and is successfully acquired by T-Mobile. If you have network-capable phones then it can take advantage of both CDMA and GSM services. This is possible because of the roaming agreements between T -mobile and Sprint.
Sprint phone plans
The major unlimited Sprint mobile plans are summarized in the following table.
| PLAN | PRICE | DATA CAP | HOTSPOT | PERKS |
| Unlimited basic | $60 | 50 GB | 500 MB | NA |
| Unlimited plus | $70 | 50 GB | 50 GB | Hulu and Tidal |
| Unlimited premium | $80 | 100 GB | 100 GB | Hulu, Tidal, Amazon prime membership, Lookout |
As far as deprioritization is concerned, T- mobile has an edge. The prices are almost similar But if you want more perks then Sprint will be a better option.
Network coverage
Due to the merging of Sprint and T-mobile, Sprint customers can avail the benefits of T- mobile network coverage. The 4G network of T-Mobile covers 59% of the country. T-mobile network carrier provides good coverage in city areas and suburbs. The T mobile network average speed is only about 31 Mbps. On average, the T-Mobile network provides much faster 5G speeds compared to its major competitors. If you have a 5G mobile with a T mobile network, you can expect internet speeds of about 85 Mbps.
The 3G network coverage of T-Mobile is only 21%. The coverage is spotty in some areas. In certain areas, you need to have a handset that will support both CDMA and GSM services. Sprint also has spotty coverage. Historically, Sprint is supposed to be having the worst network coverage.T- mobile network coverage is better than Sprint network.
3G and 4G download speed
The 3G and 4G download speeds of T-mobile are much faster than the Sprint. These speeds are equivalent to the download speeds of the Verizon network. The following table shows the download speed of T-mobile and Sprint.
| PARAMETER | T-MOBILE | SPRINT |
| 3G download speed | 3.46 Mbps | 1.46 Mbps |
| 4G download speed | 19.42 Mbps | 12.02 Mbps |
What is Data Throttling?
Even if you have an unlimited data plan, there is an upper cap. If you cross it then the data gets throttled. It will slow down the data speed on your cell phone and other devices which are using the hotspot. During busy hours, priority is given to cell phone users and the data speed of hotspot devices is slowed down.
Is data throttling the same as data deprioritization?
In the case of both data throttling and data deprioritization, the data speed slows down without any warning. In every unlimited plan, a data threshold is applicable. If you cross it then the data speed slows down. Every Sprint plan has a monthly data cap. But the data throttling is a temporary problem.
Data deprioritization is similar to data throttling, it also slows down the speed without warning. Usually, it happens during network congestion. Your device may show good signal strength but suddenly the signal cuts off.
The main reason behind this phenomenon is that in a particular area your device is using a mobile tower that is not owned by Sprint. Your device might be using AT&T tower. So the priority is given to the AT&T subscribers and due to it, the data speed gets reduced.
How to confirm that data is throttled?
You can run an internet speed test on your device. Then repeat the same test by changing VPN. If you change the VPN then your location will be changed. If you get more data speed by changing the VPN then it indicates that the data is throttled. You can also follow the same procedure by running a speed test on your device.
Sprint’s unlimited plans and data throttling
Sprint offers three unlimited phone plans.
- Unlimited basic
- Unlimited plus
- Unlimited premium
Unlimited basic
There will not be any throttling until you reach the 50 GB limit in a month. It offers a hot spot feature, you can use full-speed LTE data until you reach 500 MB in a month. But the video streaming is limited to a standard definition.
Unlimited plus
There will not be any throttling until you reach the 50 GB limit in a month. It offers a hotspot feature, you can use full-speed LTE data until you reach 50 GB in a month. You can use video streaming with full HD at 1080p.
Unlimited premium
There will not be any throttling until you reach the 100 GB limit in a month. It offers a hotspot feature, you can use full-speed LTE data until you reach 100 GB in a month. This plan is well compatible with 5G cell phones. You will get access to the 5G network of T-mobile.
What can be done in case of data throttling?
To avoid the problem of data throttling, you can use the following remedies.
- Make efficient use of data, keeping in mind your data cap.
- Contact customer care at (888)211-4727. You can also use the live chat option of Sprint.
- You can also use any one of the VPN apps, it will ensure that ISP will not throttle the data.
- Upgrade to the higher plan, if you need more data.
- If you are in a data congested area, make use of open Wi-Fi.
Below are other Sprint articles you may be interested in:
How to get a new sim card with Sprint?
Can I bring my sprint phone to T-Mobile?
Conclusion
This blog post explained how the data is throttled even if you have an unlimited plan. It provided information about Sprint’s unlimited plans and the data cap associated with each plan. It also provided some effective ways to avoid the data throttling problem.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs): Does Sprint throttle their unlimited data?
What’s an unlimited plan?
It is a plan which gives unlimited text and voice for the entire month. It also includes unlimited data.
But after reaching a certain data limit, the speed of data is affected and it is reduced.
Is Sprint T-Mobile now?
Yes, the Sprint brand has officially been discontinued and is successfully acquired by T-Mobile as of August 3, 2020.
Can Sprint give you a new SIM card?
Yes, if you are upgrading your device and your old sprint SIM is not compatible with the new device, Sprint will provide you with a new one.
What do you mean by data throttling?
Even if you have an unlimited data plan, there is an upper cap. If you cross it then the data gets throttled. It will slow down the data speed on your cell phone and other devices which are using the hotspot. During busy hours, priority is given to cell phone users and the data speed of hotspot devices is slowed down.
How can you check that the data is throttled?
You can run an internet speed test on your device. Then repeat the same test by changing VPN. If you change the VPN then your location will be changed. If you get more data speed by changing the VPN then it indicates that the data is throttled. You can also follow the same procedure by running a speed test on your device.
References:
When do carriers start throttling you and what can you do about it?
JERRY HILDENBRAND and SAMUEL CONTRERAS 28 Nov 2019
WHAT TO DO IF SPRINT IS THROTTLING YOUR DATA
Does Sprint Throttled If You Use Vpn?
February 8, 2022 by Cathie
How to Speed Up Torrents & Block Throttling – Step by Step Guide
Best Sprint Unlimited Plans: September 202001 September 2020By Chris Holmes
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