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Verizon (VZ) is bringing back an unlimited data plan.
Starting Monday, Verizon customers can get unlimited data, talk and text for $80.
The company says the new introductory plan also includes up to 10GB of mobile hotspot usage, as well as calls and texts to Mexico and Canada. It will also allow customers to stream unlimited HD video, making a mockery of T-Mobile’s controversial practice of lowering video quality for some of its unlimited data customers.
Although Verizon’s new plan promises “fast LTE speeds,” those who use a lot of data may suffer. The company said that after a customer uses 22GB of data on a line during any billing cycle, it “can prioritize usage behind other customers in the event of network congestion.” That has become standard practice on all networks that offer unlimited data plans.
Related: T-Mobile and Sprint Offer New ‘Unlimited’ Data Plans, Sort of
Verizon first dropped its version of an unlimited-use plan in 2011, following similar decisions by other major wireless carriers.
But companies have been constantly reviving such plans.
Verizon first revised its data usage plans last summer when it introduced a new “Safety Mode” plan. That technically gave customers access to unlimited data, but they were subject to molasses-slow speeds after they exceeded their data allotment.
AT&T similarly waived excess fees for customers in September. Like Verizon, AT&T throttles customers once they reach the data limit for their plans. The company brought unlimited plans early last year, but it’s only available to homes with AT&T wireless service and DirecTV or U-Verse TV.
Meanwhile, competitors T Mobile (TMUS) and pique (S) they made their own offers to attract customers looking for “unlimited data” plans.
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Last August, Sprint began offering a plan to give customers unlimited talk, text and high-speed data for $60 for the first line, $40 for the next and $30 for each additional up to 10.
T-Mobile’s plan, announced the same day as Sprint’s, charged $70 a month for the first line, $50 for the second and just $20 for additional lines, up to eight lines.
CNN Money (New York) First published on February 12, 2017: 7:03 pm ET
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