A T-Mobile billboard. | Image by newtraditionmedia
In addition to offering Home Internet for users who want to replace their traditional internet connection with 5G internet, T-Mobile also provides a backup option. Meant as a fail-safe for when your default internet connection isn't working, Home Internet Backup ensures you never go offline. T-Mobile has updated how it will account for usage.
Hours, not GBs
Home Internet Backup now gives you 100 hours of uncapped speed. | Image by T-Mobile
Previously, Home Internet Backup provided 130GB every month, which was promoted as enough for 7 days of use. After you used up your data bucket, you were throttled to 3G speeds. The plan also came with 130GB of extra data for up to three times a year, for times when an internet outage lasts for a long time.
T-Mobile is now giving users 100 hours of data instead of a fixed capacity. The same is true for the backup passes, meaning you get 100 hours of extra data during extended outages, three times a year.
Is this an upgrade or a downgrade?
Given that Home Internet Backup is not supposed to be your main internet connection, the changes are unlikely to have a big impact on you either way.
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T-Mobile's previous 7-day estimate translates to 168 hours of activity, making the new 100-hour limit a 40% reduction in uptime.
130GB of data translates to 18.57GB a day, a little below the estimated 22.8GB an average American family of three uses per day.
With an upper limit of 100 hours, there will be no constraints on how you spread out your usage, making it a better option for power users who game heavily or watch high-definition content.
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However, if you typically only use your internet for web browsing, sending emails, and other data-light tasks, you would be better off with the previous terms. Similarly, if have a smart home and rely on always-on, low band-width devices, this is a downgrade.
The new allowance is especially bad for users who want to stay connected at all times, rather than using the internet intermittently.
Which metric for tracking usage do you prefer?
It's also cheaper now
When Home Internet Backup launched in 2024, it cost $30 a month or $20 with a voice line. The standard price has now been reduced to $20/month, and with a voice line, it's just $10. That makes it a better overall value, even if you don't like how T-Mobile accounts for usage now.
Also, previously you were required to manually switch your devices over to Home Internet Backup, but the process is now automatic.
Carrier jostling to play a bigger role in your life
Wireless companies are no longer content with being just your cellular provider. They want to be a one-stop solution for all your needs, even if that means getting you to sign up for a backup plan.
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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