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Verizon LTE: Blow Through Your 5GB Cap In 32 Minutes
Are Verizon's 5-10 GB LTE caps high enough for a next-gen service?

Yesterday Verizon finally unveiled their LTE pricing and caps, which were fairly underwhelming: $50 for 5GB of usage and $80 for 10GB of usage -- and a whopping $10 per additional gigabyte. Sascha Segan at PC Magazine has been giving the service an early run, and notes that speeds on the network with nobody on it are quite impressive at 21 Mbps. Segan also notes that were you so inclined, you could burn through your 5GB cap in around 32 minutes under impractical sustained use, or a few hours with just one long HD film viewing:

quote:
Click for full size
My tests maxed out at an impressive 21Mbps. If you were downloading 5GB at that speed, it would only take you 32 minutes. Since the LTE network currently has almost nobody on it, I got average speeds around 15Mbps; Verizon estimates you'll be able to get around 8.5Mbps with a loaded network.

But very few applications actually use those speeds consistently, so I also checked out some more common uses. Downloading some files via BitTorrent, I registered 5.6Mbps, which could use up the cap in about two hours. Standard-definition Netflix video is kinder to your data cap; according to Netflix, they encode at 1500 kbps, so it'll take you 7.4 hours to burn through your monthly allotment. That's fewer than four movies.
While we've posted leaked screenshots highlighting how Verizon may be testing a residential home LTE hybrid solution, their initial LTE service clearly isn't aimed at residential, video-hungry users -- it's initially aimed at business users whose companies won't blink at higher prices. Still, since Verizon appears dedicated toward marketing LTE service as a premium service, it makes sense to ask whether Verizon's 5-10GB caps are reasonable given the improvements LTE brings to the mobile broadband table. We'll turn your attention to something long-time industry analyst Dave Burstein noted earlier this year, after talking with network engineers about how LTE advancements should impact caps:
quote:
Two of the best engineers in the U.S. tell me wireless congestion (on 3G networks) can be almost eliminated except at Katrina type emergencies with 5 and 10 gigabyte caps. Models from Adtran suggest 20-30 gig caps (or higher) are practical in the LTE generation. There's nothing wrong with caps if they are economically sensible.
So, do you think Verizon's cap and overages are economically sensible?
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jbsharpeii
AMD
join:2001-12-22
Chesterfield, VA

jbsharpeii

Member

lol

Verizon's high prices are going to be their downfall, but you have to give it to them, their services are the best money can buy....at least in my area

Need BB
join:2001-12-21
New York, NY

Need BB

Member

Re: lol


Ops
Big Dawg 23
join:2002-03-27
Northfield, MN

Big Dawg 23 to jbsharpeii

Member

to jbsharpeii
People said that about there Cell Plans. However, they continue to grow and be number one. Look at the success of Droid, Droid 2, Droid X, and Droid Incredible. Not to mention all the other Android phones.

I personally just left them for T-Mobile. I get the similar speeds they offer on LTE on my G2 which is fine for me.
decifal7
join:2007-03-10
Bon Aqua, TN

decifal7

Member

Re: lol

said by Big Dawg 23:

People said that about there Cell Plans. However, they continue to grow and be number one. Look at the success of Droid, Droid 2, Droid X, and Droid Incredible. Not to mention all the other Android phones.

I personally just left them for T-Mobile. I get the similar speeds they offer on LTE on my G2 which is fine for me.

The thing is, alotta people that have cell phones etc tend to have broadband options, and alotta people who want to experience broadband for the first time will simply either blow this limit up thous making them scared of it, or they will be smart enough to sit out on this so called "new technology".. New technology should deliver more for less.. Not deliver more for a HUGE fine... I knew this would happen.

Fail
ssavoy
Premium Member
join:2007-08-16
Dallas, PA

ssavoy to jbsharpeii

Premium Member

to jbsharpeii
No, I can't give it to them. Their 3G network sucks in my area. AT&T easily gets 3+ mbps and Verizon barely hits 1.5. I'm not a fanboy of AT&T by any means, but people around here think Verizon is king when in reality AT&T is the company that put up a tower that covers ~100 people in a rural area with 3G and doesn't have any coverage gaps within 5 miles of me like Verizon does.

I guess it depends on the area. Verizon sucks in my market.

Killa200
Premium Member
join:2005-12-02
TN

Killa200

Premium Member

Re: lol

And likewise ATT is the one that blows here, with a coverage gap the size of my town and part of the adjoining two as they refuse to put up a tower here after being offered:

Free land leases to put up a tower
Free capable 280ft tower with top ring access in town
Free rent on other towers

Here it is Verizon or nothing. You can also get Sprint or US Cellular, but your hit or miss anywhere directly out of town.

Point is it all depends on the area.

digiblur
Premium Member
join:2002-06-03
Louisiana

digiblur to ssavoy

Premium Member

to ssavoy
said by ssavoy:

No, I can't give it to them. Their 3G network sucks in my area. AT&T easily gets 3+ mbps and Verizon barely hits 1.5. I'm not a fanboy of AT&T by any means, but people around here think Verizon is king when in reality AT&T is the company that put up a tower that covers ~100 people in a rural area with 3G and doesn't have any coverage gaps within 5 miles of me like Verizon does.

I guess it depends on the area. Verizon sucks in my market.

Hell..I would be smiling from ear to ear if I could hit 1.5 on my Sprint 3G service. Most areas the norm is about 0.3 - 0.5 with some areas the norm being 0.05 all day long.

BSD24
Tier 4
Premium Member
join:2008-04-30
Middleboro, MA

BSD24

Premium Member

Re: lol

LOL and in my area Verizon has great coverage seeing as they are about every tower in New England, and where they are the local phone company here. I should mention my Sprint Evo without using 4G - just using 3G I get around 3-5Mbps down and about .5-2.5 Mbps up on a consistant basis depending on my signal being 3 bars to full 5 bars. Sprint 3G let me play games on my PS3 and download movies pretty fast for what I was expecting.

dib22
join:2002-01-27
Kansas City, MO

dib22

Member

Re: lol

said by BSD24:

I should mention my Sprint Evo without using 4G - just using 3G I get around 3-5Mbps down and about .5-2.5 Mbps up on a consistant basis depending on my signal being 3 bars to full 5 bars.

EVDO Rev A top end is 3.1Mbps down.... you might be on 4g and not realize it!

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: lol

or wifi!
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray to jbsharpeii

Member

to jbsharpeii
said by jbsharpeii:

Verizon's high prices are going to be their downfall

No, they won't.

A majority of Americans are willing to pay a premium for perceived or actual quality. Verizon has nothing to fear - and they will adjust their pricing and caps gradually as necessary - in a years' time it will be $80/20GB, $60/10GB and $40/5GB for LTE.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

Re: lol

When has Verizon ever increased their caps? Don't be ridiculous. The only reason they might increase caps is because of pressure from Clear, who will use its unlimited moniker as a huge, huge differentiator.
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray

Member

Re: lol

said by sonicmerlin:

When has Verizon ever increased their caps? Don't be ridiculous. The only reason they might increase caps is because of pressure from Clear, who will use its unlimited moniker as a huge, huge differentiator.

You don't get out much, huh?

Verizon was charging $80/5GB for many years on EVDO. The LTE offering is $80/10GB and $50/5GB. How is that not an increase in the cap, and a discount?

A bargain its not - Virgin 3G prepaid at $40 unlimited-but-not-unreasonable, or potentially Clear's options make more sense - your mileage will vary a lot - in my part of town, there is no reason to pay for VZW or Clear - they're both dismal, at any price.

But that doesn't mean there aren't millions who are willing to pay top dollar. If you're not among them, fine - don't buy it.

Lastly, if you aren't following the Clear threads - it ain't exactly unlimited.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

The results of not enough spectrum

VZW has no choice but to have caps given the limited spectrum, 3-4X less than Sprint/Clear. The cap needs to be more reasonable though for higher speeds, like 20GB.
NeoandGeo
join:2003-05-10
Harrison, TN

NeoandGeo

Member

Re: The results of not enough spectrum

Throttle heavy users. Don't cap

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList

Premium Member

Re: The results of not enough spectrum

+1

iLive4Fusion
Premium Member
join:2006-07-13

iLive4Fusion to NeoandGeo

Premium Member

to NeoandGeo
said by NeoandGeo:

Throttle heavy users. Don't cap

Like Clearwire and their unlimited spectrum?

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: The results of not enough spectrum

Clearwire doesn't have unlimited spectrum.
Also, Clearwire doesn't have unlimited amount of money either. At this point, its to lure in new customers, especially since 2.4GHz is not all that great indoors.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

Re: The results of not enough spectrum

said by en102:

Clearwire doesn't have unlimited spectrum.
Also, Clearwire doesn't have unlimited amount of money either. At this point, its to lure in new customers, especially since 2.4GHz is not all that great indoors.

With upcoming WiMAX 2 they'll be able to send 1 gbps over 67 MHz of spectrum. They have twice that in many markets. That's 2 gbps per tower.

The only thing hampering Clear is lack of capital, which is a huge disadvantage against the incumbents and why regulation is needed to encourage competition in this industry.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon to en102

Member

to en102
Clearwire's issue isn't spectrum, it's supplying enough backhaul.

Also, 2.4-5 Ghz does work fine indoors, just needs to be closer to tower than lower Hz or pump more power.

NJBoricua75
Born And Raised
join:2000-09-13
Brooklyn, NY

NJBoricua75

Member

Re: The results of not enough spectrum

said by xenophon:

Clearwire's issue isn't spectrum, it's supplying enough backhaul.

Also, 2.4-5 Ghz does work fine indoors, just needs to be closer to tower than lower Hz or pump more power.

Which requires more money which they dont have and you'll never see. So 2.5GHz sucks and always will suck.

tiger72
SexaT duorP
Premium Member
join:2001-03-28
Saint Louis, MO

tiger72

Premium Member

Re: The results of not enough spectrum

said by NJBoricua75:

said by xenophon:

Clearwire's issue isn't spectrum, it's supplying enough backhaul.

Also, 2.4-5 Ghz does work fine indoors, just needs to be closer to tower than lower Hz or pump more power.

Which requires more money which they dont have and you'll never see. So 2.5GHz sucks and always will suck.

That's like saying a ferrari sucks because it gets worse gas mileage than a prius.

2.5ghz is extremely useful when adequately deployed. Higher throughput and smaller cells means in heavily populated areas (like, you know, NYC) higher spectrum is actually ideal.
cramer
Premium Member
join:2007-04-10
Raleigh, NC
Westell 6100
Cisco PIX 501

cramer to xenophon

Premium Member

to xenophon
said by xenophon:

2.4-5 Ghz does work fine indoors

It doesn't work as well through walls. esp. 5GHz. This is why Clear recommends putting the modem near/facing a window.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: The results of not enough spectrum

said by cramer:

said by xenophon:

2.4-5 Ghz does work fine indoors

It doesn't work as well through walls. esp. 5GHz. This is why Clear recommends putting the modem near/facing a window.

Right, 'as well' is they key word, but I do get 4G in my elevator and basement, granted the site is just a few blocks away. The issue with 700Mhz is interference impacting higher speeds, which may result in reducing power to prevent interference. So both have issues for different reasons.
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin to NeoandGeo

Member

to NeoandGeo
said by NeoandGeo:

Throttle heavy users. Don't cap

Even that's not necessary. Wireless is insanely profitable. Just add more towers or use some of that unused spectrum Verizon has warehoused.
Alexpenn88
join:2010-04-23
Crossett, AR

Alexpenn88 to NeoandGeo

Member

to NeoandGeo
I agree.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned) to xenophon

Member

to xenophon
said by xenophon:

VZW has no choice but to have caps given the limited spectrum, 3-4X less than Sprint/Clear. The cap needs to be more reasonable though for higher speeds, like 20GB.

bullshit. they bought a TON of spectrum 2 years ago.
ShellMMG
join:2009-04-16
Grass Lake, MI

ShellMMG

Member

NO SALE.

I was looking forward to LTE even though I probably won't see it for a couple of years. Until what appears to be a local police tower started chopping my signal to bits, I was happy with my 3G aircard and grandfathered Alltel account.

But $80? For 10G? Not this not-really-rural dweller. My youngest graduates from high school next spring so our usage will go down, but that price is just too high and the cap too low.

No thanks, VZW.

Geminimind
Premium Member
join:2003-12-20
Sacramento, CA

Geminimind

Premium Member

Re: NO SALE.

I know I can't even see myself giving up 80 bucks for a 10G cap. Thats just sad VZW. 80 bucks plus the overage man what a price rape.

dr3yec
join:2002-12-19
00000

dr3yec

Member

Re: NO SALE.

Why I will never get envolved into wireless data plans. Just a big ripoff like cable tv. Which Neither I have or want.
ShellMMG
join:2009-04-16
Grass Lake, MI

ShellMMG

Member

Re: NO SALE.

Some of us have no choice. It's WISP or nothing.

Geminimind
Premium Member
join:2003-12-20
Sacramento, CA

Geminimind

Premium Member

Yeah

So what if they don't come down on prices people will leave eventually I know I did. I'm with sprint now. I get WiMax and it works fine in my area.

MovieLover76
join:2009-09-11
Cherry Hill, NJ
(Software) pfSense
Asus RT-AC68
Asus RT-AC66

MovieLover76

Member

Hopefully caps will go up

For laptop access like this I don't expect Verizon of all people to ever drop the prices but hopefully this is just a limited cautionary cap as they first roll out their service. Because right not T-mobile's HSPA+ is better than this, just as fast and the same cap, but $10 less

Harddrive
Proud American and Infidel since 1968.
Premium Member
join:2000-09-20
Fort Worth, TX

Harddrive

Premium Member

32 minutes...

to download one standard 4.9 gig DVD rip, then nothing else for the rest of the month unless you want to pay $10 per gig.
no thanks.

••••••••••••••••••••

FutureMon
Dude Whats mine say?

join:2000-10-05
Marina, CA

FutureMon

I wonder if this is a precursor to...

...multi-year consumer contracts with high ETF's to exempt you from overage charges...

"Hey if you sign up on a 5 year contract we'll exempt you from any overage charges on the xyz plan...just don't cancel early or you'll end up paying us $500"...

who knows?

Sure seems like the greed of these companies is going to destroy the internet as a useful tool.

- FM

cowboyro
Premium Member
join:2000-10-11
CT

cowboyro

Premium Member

It is a *mobile* aka "on the road" service...

...and not a replacement for residential connections.
Massive video, downloads and gaming are not the intended use...
Audio/video conference, downloading the 50MB presentation and web browsing are the targets... and they will likely work great while staying well within the limits.
markrogo
join:2009-05-15
Redwood City, CA

markrogo

Member

Sorry, but LOL

The people who think this service is being built to stream HD movies are clueless as Sascha Segan.

This is a mobile service targeted at mobile users who have mobile devices. They will (a) primarily not be streaming movies and (b) when they stream long-form video will not be streaming it in 1080p or anything close.

These caps are entirely reasonable and the service is going to sell by the bucketload.

••••

TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium Member
join:2000-11-08
Da Bronx

TamaraB

Premium Member

It's a useless

Black hole money pit!

pochta
@verizon.net

pochta

Anon

So, do you think Verizon's cap and overages are economically

Really overpriced

Bill Neilson
Premium Member
join:2009-07-08
Alexandria, VA

Bill Neilson

Premium Member

If I don't get unlimited or a very high cap

on the next iPhone (since I have it now), I will NOT get it.

I will give it up rather than be put to this ridiculous cap.

If it means that I downgrade considerably phone-wise to get more data, so be it
Jim_in_VA (banned)
join:2004-07-11
Cobbs Creek, VA

Jim_in_VA (banned)

Member

Verizon's $10 Billion purchase for 700 MHz spectrum ...

Is going to take a helluva long time to recoup. I an't buying into their ridiculous price/cap scheme. Screw'em

GNH
I know my limitations.
Premium Member
join:1999-12-20
Canyon Lake, TX

GNH

Premium Member

Patience is a Virtue

Let the market mature.

RARPSL
join:1999-12-08
Suffern, NY

RARPSL

Member

Blowing through 5GB Cap in 32 Minutes

The problem with talking about how fast you can blow through the cap on a High Speed Connection is that it is confusing how much you download with how fast the download is going. So long as you download the same amount of data, your download speed is unimportant (it just takes longer to do it with a lower speed connection). Only if you increase your download VOLUME as you increase your download SPEED can you blow through the cap faster (ie: Exceeding the cap before the end of the period). If I do 4.5GB a month, I will not blow through my 5GB cap no matter what speed I use. At a higher speed, the connection time to download xMB is shorter but that session is still is only xMB worth of download VOLUME.

•••
milkman82
join:2006-06-19
Cleveland, OH

milkman82

Member

Makes me think.....

Is having a smart phone really worth this? It's like when they did a study and found the majority of lower income people use high tech phones. While the majority of wealthy people use "less complatcated" phones. Think I am starting to catch onto the reason why. These prices are no longer showing the advantage of having smart phone convience. Don't get me wrong, having email being sent to my phone is great along with using gps and a web browser. However, when I see the bill.... Man! BTW, I am a small business owner and got the phone for that reason. Not mainly for pleasure.....
ShellMMG
join:2009-04-16
Grass Lake, MI

ShellMMG

Member

Re: Makes me think.....

You're on to something, milkman, but I think it's more related to common sense and personal money-minding than income levels.

We're a very typical family of four. My husband is on the road a lot for work but he has computer access unless he's driving. Our son is in a tech school and our daughter is a high school senior. I'm a stay-home mom. We all have "dumbphones" because VZW is the only carrier that works in our area and the data cost is obscene. The kids and I have texting packages but my husband *hates* the tiny keyboards. He has, however, been drooling over the droid since it came out.

Our internet is just as cost and speed-challenged as most non-urban dwellers. We use a Cradlepoint router with a VZW (grandfathered Alltel so no cap) USB760. For personal data everyone uses computers, especially me. I have a beefy desktop for photoshop artistic applications, a laptop and an iPad.

Data packages on our phones is just plain silly. I'd love a touchscreen phone for one reason -- the big screen. I'd give a lot for a way to use texting on my iPad that links to our dumbphones with keyboards.

Once wifi becomes more widespread and if caps aren't slammed down, data packages could go the way of the dodo or you wouldn't have a split minute/data plan. But it depends on those (#&@ caps.
jgilles
join:2010-10-06
River Falls, WI

jgilles

Member

makes no sense

Their data caps make no sense compared to how they are marketing the service. This is from their own website »network4g.verizonwireles ··· bilities

"Into movies? Stream your favorite director's cut without annoying buffering. Or better yet, download and view full-length HD quality movies."

Given the stated bandwidth usage for Netflix HD, you could only watch 3 2-hour movies a month with the 10GB plan! Why are they marketing it for such purposes and then setting limits that basically prevent you from using it for the purposes they promote? They tout all the things you could use it for now that it's so much faster, but then give 3G-style caps...it nearly defeats the purpose of the extra speed.

Seems to be a disconnect between whoever did the marketing and those who set pricing/caps.

MM
@shawcable.net

MM

Anon

Fast speeds+low cap=pointless

Whats the point? be overcharged for more faster?

Jwigglyx
@comcast.net

Jwigglyx

Anon

RIP OFF

I'll stick with Sprint... 25% student discount + 10$ google io conference discount.

Too bad I don't have 4g coverage, but I just made my PRL on my phone hook to verizon's 3g towers, and Sprint has unlimited roaming
ydoucare
join:2003-03-12
Lafayette, IN

ydoucare

Member

Re: RIP OFF

said by Jwigglyx :

and Sprint has unlimited roaming

Yeah, that's just what you think. They WILL give you a nudge if the majority of your usage is roaming.
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

LTE roll out in Europe

»gadgetsteria.com/2010/12 ··· ing-lte/

quite different from here.