This page provides information about T-Mobile's Broadband Internet Access Services. "Broadband Internet Access Services" refers to services that provide the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all Internet endpoints. The network practices, performance characteristics, and commercial terms applicable to T-Mobile-branded (including Connect by T-Mobile-branded) customers on T-Mobile's Broadband Internet Access Services over our 2G, 4G LTE, and 5G networks are described below. This page does not describe the practices, characteristics, or terms that apply when using roaming partner networks; customers should see their rate plans for roaming details.
This information applies to postpaid and prepaid services, including our government and enterprise services (which may have contractual terms), as well as Broadband Internet Access Services purchased through the Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) program.
T-Mobile and Sprint are now part of the same family. As T-Mobile continues its work to build a combined network, the Sprint RAN has ceased to operate. While the vast majority of former legacy Sprint customers have (or should have) migrated to the T-Mobile network at this point, a handful of legacy Sprint customers who retain their Sprint SIM cards may at times experience network management practices consistent with their original terms and conditions up until they switch over to the T-Mobile network. While affected customers are contacted, you may find additional information regarding T-Mobile’s network evolution at: https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/t-mobile-network-evolution.
For questions or concerns not addressed here, please contact our Customer Care department atwww.T-Mobile.com, through the T-Mobile app, by calling1-800-937-8997or611 from your device, or by writing to: T-Mobile Customer Relations, P.O. Box 37380, Albuquerque, NM 87176-7380. Puerto Rico customers must direct written notices to: T-Mobile Customer Relations, B7 Tabonuco Street, Suite 700, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00968-3349, Attn: Customer Care Manager.
What terms and conditions apply to T-Mobile's Broadband Internet Access Services?
Broadband Internet Access Services are subject to the T-Mobile Terms and Conditions at https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/legal/terms-and-conditions. Customers on Sprint rate plans can review Terms and Conditions athttps://www.sprint.com/en/legal/terms-and-conditions. Specific information about our Broadband Internet Access Services can be found under the heading "Using Our Network." Certain uses of our network are also prohibited as described in our Terms and Conditions under the heading "Examples of Permitted and Prohibited Uses of the Services and Your Device." Features of E-Rate and other government or enterprise customers' use of T-Mobile's Broadband Internet Access Services, including data prioritization, may also be governed by an applicable rate plan terms sheet, government contract, or Major Account Agreement.
What data plans and pricing does T-Mobile offer?
T-Mobile offers mobile Broadband Internet Access Services for smartphones, basic phones, tablets, netbooks, USB modems, mobile hotspot devices and other wireless devices over our 2G, 4G LTE, and 5G broadband networks. Your data plan may feature a designated allotment of high-speed data, after which your data speed may be reduced or your data access may be suspended for the remainder of the billing cycle. If your data plan features a designated allotment of high-speed data, certain uses of the network may not count against that allotment.
Your plan includes access to the technologies, features, and services that were available and that you purchased when you first activated your current rate plan. You may have temporary access to new services while they are being tested or made available for purchase. Temporary access to some new technologies, services, or features (e.g. advanced 5G use cases) may provide noticeable network experience benefits, like significantly increased speeds, lower latency, or other performance improvements. Your temporary access may end at any time, but we may begin offering access for purchase. For example, T-Mobile is leading the industry in introducing new messaging capabilities which allow you to send larger file attachments and have bigger chat groups. T-Mobile initially gave some users access to this new messaging service whether they had a data plan or not; but going forward, you may need to have a data plan or feature to use this new type of messaging and the data used to send and receive them may count towards your data allotments and the prioritization threshold for heavy data users.
Many of our plans include video optimization features which, when connected to the cellular network, deliver a SD-quality (up to 2.5 Mbps) video experience with minimal buffering while streaming. Customers may choose a plan where SD-quality is always enabled (Magenta), with the option to add on a feature where video streams at speeds that provide HD video capability (typically 1080p) on-device (HD Day Pass). We also offer a feature or rate plan with up to Ultra HD video capability (max 4K) both on-device and via tethering (Magenta® MAX). Customers may also have plans that offer HD video capability (typically 1080p), or that have video optimization as a customer-controlled feature that can toggle on or off SD-quality video at any time ("Binge On"), so that when enabled, their high-speed data lasts longer. Some qualifying video providers may choose to self-optimize their video content or opt-out of the Binge On program, see listing. The Binge On optimization technology is not applied to the video services of these providers and high-speed data consumption will continue as if Binge On were not enabled. In some instances, video optimization may also identify and treat downloads of video files as if they were real-time video streams. However, T-Mobile offers content providers a way to opt-in to a protocol to help identify video downloads and ensure they are not treated as streaming video. Additional information, including technical criteria for content provider participation in the Binge On program or video file download protocol, is found here. Customers who have plans that are no longer for sale may have different video features available, and should checkwww.myT-Mobile.comfor more information. Legacy Sprint customers who have yet to switch their SIM may experience optimization at 2.0 Mbps in limited areas.
For more information about our current data plans for our services, including prices, terms and conditions, high-speed data allotments and other features, please see the following:
Wireless Mobile Customer Plans (https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans,http://prepaid.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans,https://prepaid.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans/connect)
Wireless Home Internet Customer Plans (https://www.t-mobile.com/isp)
Rate Card (https://www.t-mobile.com/ratecard)
Business and Government Plans (https://business.t-mobile.com)
Schools and libraries seeking to participate in the E-Rate program may be eligible to purchase Broadband Internet Access Services under existing contracts between T-Mobile and government agencies. Schools and libraries interested in learning about eligibility to purchase under these contracts and the Broadband Internet Access Services available under these contracts should contact their account representative.
What speeds and performance can T-Mobile-branded Broadband Internet Access Services customers expect? Where are these speeds available?
Many factors affect the speed and performance that customers experience, including the programs or services running on the device, proximity to a cell site, the capacity of the cell site, weather, the surrounding terrain, use inside a building or moving vehicle, radio frequency interference, how many other customers are attempting to use the same spectrum resources, any high-speed data allotment, the rate plans or features you select, and uses that affect your network prioritization, such as whether you are using Smartphone Mobile HotSpot (tethering) or if you are a Heavy Data User. For most T-Mobile-branded rate plans (as well as for most legacy Sprint-branded rate plans for customers who have not yet transitioned), a "Heavy Data User" is defined as a customer using more than a set amount of data on a billing cycle (generally 50GB or 100GB). As of January 18, 2024, new T-Mobile Home Internet customers using more than 1.2TB of data in a billing cycle are also considered Heavy Data Users. The threshold number is periodically evaluated across our rate plans and brands to manage network traffic and deliver a good experience to all customers while offering a range of customer choices. You can always check the threshold amount for a rate plan by speaking with a representative, review our rate cards or T-Mobile.com, or by logging in to my.t-mobile.com, or the T-Mobile app. The term "Heavy Data User" does not apply to customers on Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, and Magenta MAX plans, a customer choice we are offering as we explore the expanding capacity of our 5G network, or on a small number of T-Mobile-branded business and government-oriented plans, which are not subject to a threshold.
In addition, many T-Mobile plans use video streaming optimization when connected to the cellular network to deliver a SD-quality (up to 2.5 Mbps) video experience with minimal buffering while streaming. T-Mobile plans optimize data streams that are identified by our packet-core network as video; video providers may also choose to establish protocols to self-optimize their video. As described above, customers may also have selected other video experiences – for example, selecting Ultra HD video qualifying plans – resulting in variation in streaming quality.
Additionally, we prioritize network data by plan and brand to deliver a range of customer choice points at great values. Data for customers on most T-Mobile-branded plans (and for customers on Sprint-branded plans while using the T-Mobile network), is prioritized before the data of customers on Essentials plans and Metro by T-Mobile or Assurance Wireless-branded plans. Mobile internet plans offered after December 12, 2020 with 30GB or more data per month, and Project 10Million and some other education-focused mobile internet plans, are prioritized next. The vast majority of customers on T-Mobile-branded, Sprint-branded, Metro by T-Mobile-branded, and Assurance Wireless-branded plans receive higher priority than Mobile Wireless customers who are Heavy Data Users on their rate plan, who are prioritized with our T-Mobile Home Internet customers after exceeding the relevant threshold for the current billing cycle. In general, T-Mobile Home Internet (available in select locations) customers receive the same network prioritization as Mobile Wireless Heavy Data Users. As of January 18, 2024, new T-Mobile Home Internet customers who exceed 1.2TB of data usage for the current billing cycle will be prioritized last on the network. Because T-Mobile Home Internet equipment is intended to be stationary and is only available in limited areas, these customers should be less likely to notice congestion in general.
What is the impact of network prioritization?
As described in more detail below, customers may notice reduced speeds in comparison to customers with a higher priority during network congestion.
Customer devices also have varying speed capabilities and may connect to different networks depending on technology. Even within coverage areas and with broadband-capable devices, network changes, traffic volume, outages, technical limitations, signal strength, obstructions, weather, and other conditions may impact speeds and service availability. Your network experience and access may also be impacted if you fail to pay amounts you owe T-Mobile.
Additionally, T-Mobile offers other services to its customers that use the same network infrastructure and resources as its broadband internet access services and are given priority over other traffic on the network. These other services currently include calling-related services Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), Voice over LTE (VoLTE), and Video over LTE (ViLTE), and data priority forWireless Priority Service; more may be added, e.g., to serve other public safety needs or organizations designated by the Department of Homeland Security for critical infrastructure. These services may affect the availability of network resources for consumer or enterprise broadband internet access services, which may be noticeable in times of congestion. Similarly,Wireless Priority Servicetraffic may preempt other traffic during times of extreme congestion, which means that in rare cases we may interrupt an active data or voice session to support public safety or critical infrastructure needs.
