T-Mobile Adds Tiered Data Options to “Home Internet” Business Plans – Consumer Plans Expected To Follow

T-Mobile's Unlimited Home and Small Business internet service is a popular option as an alternative to landline ISP's for fixed-location customers as well as those whose homes are mobile.

But a big caveat with that unlimited service is that T-Mobile restricted sign-up locations to areas where it has excess network capacity to support demand. And as this option has become more popular, the number of areas with excess capacity has shrunk, closing them off to new customers signing up for the plan.

In order to address this and provide a similar service to areas of the T-Mobile network that don't have the excess capacity required to support unlimited data, T-Mobile is now offering tiered data options in addition to the unlimited plan, but only for small businesses. However, we expect tiered-data options for consumers will come on August 16th.

Tiered Plan Details

The Unlimited Option for $50/month remains the same and is only available in select areas with excess capacity.

The new tiered-data options, by contrast, are available anywhere on T-Mobile's network, opening the service up to many more people.

Here is the new plan lineup on the T-Mobile Business website:

 

Update: After speaking to a business sales rep, the above pricing is promotional, although there is no announced or planned end date for the promotion.

Here are some terms for the tiered data plans, based on the fine print:

• The tiered data plans are deprioritized like the unlimited plan.
• Once the data allotment is used up, speeds are reduced to 600Kbps, or customers can pay $2/GB for unthrottled speeds.
• Like the unlimited option, some live TV streaming services are not compatible with the tiered-data plans.
• Also, like the unlimited option, the tiered data plans are intended for fixed locations, and T-Mobile does not consider them to be mobile options.
• The tiered-data plans options, like the unlimited plan, do not include any domestic or international roaming.

Inseego Wavemaker Router

Business customers now have the option for a different device if they request it - the Inseego Wavemaker FX2000. This device uses the same electronics as the Inseego M2000 series of mobile hotspots.  The Wavemaker router comes with a single Ethernet out port and also comes with TS-9 cellular antenna ports.  More information on the FX2000 Wavemaker is in our Gear Center.

The same limitation prohibiting SIM-swapping applies to the Wavemaker devices.  Additionally, if you already have one of the other routers, you cannot switch to the Wavemaker.

Comparison to Other T-Mobile Options

T-Mobile offers other data plans that are also worthy of consideration.

On the consumer side, the T-Mobile Mobile Internet plans are one of our Top Picks. They provide up to 100GB of data in a 5G mobile hotspot device for $50/month. Plans that can be used in any device, including routers, range from 5GB for $20/month to 50GB for $50/month.

While not direct from T-Mobile, the non-profit unlimited plans that T-Mobile inherited from Sprint are also in our Top Picks. These plans are truly unlimited data on an included hotspot device. A key difference is that plans are managed by non-profit providers, and customers receive the plan as a benefit of their membership to the non-profit. Pricing ranges from $12-$50/month depending on the non-profit and if you choose monthly, quarterly, or annual memberships.

Getting The Plans

Like all business plans, signing up for one of the new tiered data options requires a current or new business account.

Small business accounts on T-Mobile are very easy to get using either a business EIN or an SSN for those who are sole proprietors or have side gigs. A business account can be set up at a T-Mobile store or via T-Mobile business sales.

Once a business account is created, customers must go through T-Mobile business sales to sign up for these plans, even if you already have an existing business account.

Concluding Thoughts

Based on press reporting and information from T-Mobile sources, similar or potentially the same tiered data options for consumers should come out on Tuesday, August 16th. CNET and Fierce Wireless have both reported some of the details. The consumer options will reportedly be called "T-Mobile Home Internet Lite."

It is nice to see T-Mobile moving to provide tiered data options considering their unlimited data option is only available in fewer and fewer locations. While we wish T-Mobile could open up its unlimited data plan to signups anywhere on its network, we realize that network capacity is finite and that carriers have to balance their network capacity with their offerings to ensure the majority of its customers have good data performance.

The unlimited data option is currently being used by many RVers and boaters, despite the fixed location terms of service that don’t appear to be enforced. These new tiered options should make it easier to get higher data caps directly with T-Mobile using addresses anywhere they have coverage.

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