Data or more specifically, mobile data is content delivered to a phone through the internet that is used to load MMS messages, load webpages, stream music or video content, and play online games, among other roles. It is transmitted through data towers and helps you access functions only available through the internet. Every few years, new wireless communication generations are released that determine your data speeds and connection. These are 3G, 4G, 5G, etc.
Multiple networks exist to provide phone users with data they can use to access the internet. This data is packaged in portions with different prices, called data plans. In this article, we look at one such package called an Unlimited Data Only Plan.
What Is an Unlimited Data Plan?
As the name suggests, an unlimited mobile data plan is a data package with no restrictions on the amount of data you can use during a given period. This means that if the plan is one month long, you can go past your data limit because there is none and still pay the same price. Unlimited data plans are excellent for people that tend to exceed their data limits and end up spending more than their budget at the end of the month.
Unlimited mobile data gives you infinite access to the internet as long as you remain within the range of a cell tower. You won’t face any extra costs at the end of your subscription period. Even better, you won’t run out of data in the middle of the month and lose your internet access.
Does Unlimited Data Translate to Low Speeds?
By now, unlimited data plans sound too good to be true, and in some cases, they are. Some users complain that there is a catch to getting unlimited access to the internet for a given period: slower speeds. This is common when the plan has a data threshold that, when you exceed, decreases your download speeds by up to 5 percent of the previous speeds.
While this is true for some networks, it is not always the case, so you have to be picky when choosing an unlimited data plan. Read the fine print and check the size of the threshold, so you don’t go overboard and lose your internet speeds mid-package.
Is an Unlimited Mobile Plan Worth It?
If you are a heavy content consumer and tend to go beyond your data limit, spending more than you had planned to, then an unlimited data plan is the best choice for you. It assures you that you will have data for the entire month and won’t face any extra costs.
That said, if you rarely use more data than your current data plan, you can stick to a limited option. This is also true if you don’t want to risk the slower speeds in case you surpass your data threshold. All in all, you should base this decision on your data needs and lifestyle.
Conclusion
Some people consume a lot of online content (movie streaming, YouTube, etc.) or even work online. Such people can go through limited data plans in no time, leading to extra costs down the road. If this sounds like you, you should consider getting an Unlimited Data Only Plan. Remember to check the threshold size before you sign up, so you don’t end up with slow internet when you exceed it.
