The unlimited package that people love and hate is going to be cancelled

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The "unlimited data" packages of the three major operators have been launched for several years and have never lacked a market, but they have also attracted a lot of complaints because of the practice of limiting the speed when the data limit is exceeded. However, in the future you may not even have the opportunity to complain, because unlimited data packages may very well become history.

The first to "take action" was China Telecom. Recently, a notice document of China Telecom stopping the sale of the Enjoy Package was circulated on the Internet. The document shows that from now on, all provincial companies will switch the "Enjoy Package with Speed ​​Reduction after Data Capping" to the regular Enjoy Package, and stop selling the original package from September 1. Unlike the original package, which slows down after exceeding the traffic limit, the new traffic package does not slow down after exceeding the limit. Instead, it charges 1GB/3 yuan or 1GB/5 yuan according to the package type. If the out-of-package traffic fee reaches 600 yuan, the Internet service for that month will be suspended.

Soon after, China Mobile and China Unicom also confirmed to the media that their own data-limited and speed-reduced packages will be adjusted in the future. The unlimited packages that were once loved and hated by people seem to have entered the countdown to their exit.

Unlimited traffic development history

The earliest unlimited data package can be traced back to the 20 yuan WAP monthly package launched by China Mobile in the 2G era. Although the average network speed of 100kbps seems to be the same as a network outage now, the 20 yuan/month rate and truly unlimited data were considered luxury more than a decade ago.

In 2006, WAP monthly packages were discontinued, but the real controversy did not arise until the end of 2013, when China Mobile launched 4G services and clearly stated that WAP packages were not applicable to 4G services. The solution given to old users who wanted to use 4G was to upgrade to preferential packages. Although some users were strongly dissatisfied with this, and the report of the 315 Gala also played a role in fueling the flames, China Mobile's attitude remained firm.

After learning from the lessons of the WAP package, China Mobile became more cautious about its 4G unlimited data package, allowing its rival China Unicom to seize the opportunity and take the lead in launching the "Ice Cream 4G Package" which claimed to have unlimited data. China Telecom followed suit and launched the "Hi Unlimited" package.

However, the operators have learned their lesson this time. Although the unlimited data packages of around 100 yuan are much more expensive than WAP packages, they are not truly unlimited. Once the monthly data usage reaches a certain value, the speed will be limited. Take the 99 yuan China Unicom "Little Ice God Card" as an example. After the monthly data usage exceeds 20GB, the speed is limited to a maximum of 1Mbps.

The practice of speed limits based on usage volume has become the biggest complaint about such unlimited data packages. First, operators keep emphasizing "unlimited" during their promotions, and only indicate the speed limit in small print, which seems to be an exaggeration. Second, users cannot break through the speed limit by purchasing ordinary data packages and can only purchase more expensive "acceleration packages."

Consumers' dissatisfaction with operators' unlimited data packages eventually attracted the attention of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which required operators to standardize the promotion of such packages. As a result, various unlimited data packages were renamed, and the promotional language became "use as you like" and "enjoy unlimited use". However, the explanation of "speed reduction after reaching the limit" also means that this is just an adjustment with a new name but the main point remains the same.

Is unlimited speed a real benefit to the people or just a disguised price increase?

So why is it necessary to limit the speed? Can't there be a truly unlimited data package? In fact, it is impossible to achieve truly unlimited data under the current conditions. When we use cellular networks to access the Internet, it is actually achieved through base stations. The number of base stations in a certain area is limited, and their bandwidth, spectrum and other resources are also limited. When the number of people increases, the speed will naturally be affected. If unlimited data packages with no speed limit are opened, it will inevitably lead to an increase in the load on the base stations. At this time, there is no need for operators to actively limit the speed, and I am afraid that the network will have been paralyzed. Therefore, the explanation given by operators to "guarantee fair network use rights for all users" is not entirely unreasonable.

It seems that the unlimited speed after reaching the specified data volume will just meet the urgent needs of some large traffic users. However, as the saying goes, "it is difficult to satisfy everyone". Some users believe that the speed is only limited after exceeding the specified traffic volume, and they do not need to pay for the additional traffic. Now they have to pay additional traffic fees for the excess. The unlimited package is actually a large traffic package, which is a disguised price increase.

However, according to public reports, even if the unlimited data package is discontinued, existing old users will not be affected. However, after the contract expires or after 5G becomes popular, there will be disputes over the WAP monthly packages, such as users of unlimited data packages being unable to access the 5G network. This is a question mark.

As to why the three major operators all chose to cancel the data-capped and speed-limited packages at this point in time, there are different interpretations from the outside world.

Some people believe that after entering 5G, the network speed will be further improved, and the speed of data usage will inevitably increase significantly. The current data usage limit of the package is not suitable for the actual situation of 5G. This is also what the internal documents of China Mobile say: "Meet the diverse needs of users in the 5G era."

However, some experts have questioned that 5G commercial use is still in the initial construction stage, and the reason for canceling the original unlimited packages on the grounds of promoting 5G is untenable. It is more like a means for the three major operators to increase revenue after a decline in revenue.

The buyer is never as smart as the seller. No matter what era it is, the war of routines and anti-routine between operators and consumers will continue.