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, plus calls and texts to Mexico and Canada. It will also allow customers to stream unlimited HD video, mocking T-Mobile’s controversial practice of reducing video quality for some of its unlimited data customers.
Although Verizon’s new plan promises “fast LTE speeds,” heavy data users may be affected. The company said that after a customer uses 22GB of data on a line during any billing cycle, they “can prioritize usage behind other customers in the event of network congestion.” This 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 eliminated its version of an unlimited usage plan in 2011, following similar decisions by other major wireless carriers.
But companies have been steadily reviving those plans.
Verizon first overhauled its data usage plans last summer when it introduced a new “Safety Mode” plan. Technically, that gave customers access to unlimited data, but they were subjected to slow speeds after reviewing their allotted data.
AT&T also eliminated overage fees for customers in September. Like Verizon, AT&T throttles customers’ speeds once they reach the data limit of their plans. The company brought back 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 (Yes) 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 line 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 additional lines cost just $20, up to eight lines.
CNNMoney (New York) First published February 12, 2017: 7:03 pm ET
