Will mobile carriers charge different rates for data during peak / off-peak times?

by Darren Murph posted Mar 24th 2009 at 11:18AM

Yes friends, your worst nightmare could indeed come true. With companies looking for every last way to nickle and dime their few remaining loyal customers, it's now being suggested that mobile operators could start charging different rates for mobile data depending on the time of day. And, let's face it, it makes total sense in a sick, sadistic way. Reportedly, carriers will soon start having a tough time keeping up with all the data-using cellphone and laptop owners, with the latter crew obviously causing the greatest strain on existing networks. A mocoNews report suggests three main ways of dealing with the uptick in demand: 1) keep building out the network and burning cash, 2) using new technology (read: LTE) with more capacity or 3) create rate plans that discourage usage during peak times. We've always heard that history repeats itself, but we'd be just fine with never hearing the words "peak time" ever again.

Filed under: Misc

Tags: capacity, charging, consumption, cost, data, data consumption, DataConsumption, internet, mobile data, mobile internet, MobileData, MobileInternet, price hike, PriceHike, prices, pricing, rate, rates

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

AmyFan @ Mar 24th 2009 11:57AM

If this happens I'll kill myself

Highest Ranked

Chris @ Mar 24th 2009 12:04PM

You should probably kill yourself anyway!

Neutral

Stephen @ Mar 24th 2009 12:13PM

This is why I can't wait to get a Nokia e63 to just use the free wifi services in the area instead of paying for the data plans.

Neutral

htowngator @ Mar 24th 2009 12:18PM

Pathetic, but as the article suggests it is not something surprising. Telecomm companies always try to charge a ton for service to cover up problems instead of actually revamping their infrastructure.

Neutral

zephxiii @ Mar 24th 2009 12:20PM

Number 1 and 2 sounds great to me.

Neutral

dtzitz @ Mar 24th 2009 12:22PM

Maybe carriers see the way data and voip is going and are considering this as a way to combat that, keep you tied to your 'minutes'?

Neutral

shuref00t @ Mar 24th 2009 1:11PM

This would seriously be the last straw for me.

I already pretty much never talk on my phone before 9:00pm on a weekday.

If this were to happen, I'll be voting with my wallet on this one, and canceling my "unlimited" data plan. Frequently checking my email, RSS feeds, Twitter/Facebook updates, and streaming YouTube and podcasts on my phone is fun and all, but they're all leisurely feature I can easily cut off.

Still disgusted at the thought, however.

Neutral

mingkee @ Mar 24th 2009 1:14PM

carrier can add bulk rate overage, that with customer's consent, charge a few bucks every extra GB
it's win-win for both, customers can keep using more without HUGE surprise, and carrier can get extra money to maintain/develop data networks

Neutral

ace587 @ Mar 24th 2009 1:29PM

thats just not cool

Neutral

Redondo @ Mar 24th 2009 4:49PM

"And, let's face it, it makes total sense in a sick, sadistic way."

Soooo.... they want to sell us devices with incredible data capabilities, tied to (expensive) data plans that are intended to use those capabilities, and then after all of that they don't want us to really use those capabilities?

Sounds reaaaally stupid to me.

Don't want your network to be used? Then don't sell me something with the capability to use your network in ways you don't want it used! Don't sell me a smartphone if you think it's going to break your fragile little network!