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Sprint confirms it will cap mobile hotspot data for smartphones beginning October 2nd

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 7:29PM EST
BGR

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Sprint on Thursday confirmed that it will soon introduce a data cap tied to its mobile hotspot add-on for smartphone users. Currently, Sprint subscribers with compatible smartphones can pay an extra $29.99 per month for unlimited Wi-Fi tethering, which allows other devices to connect via Wi-Fi in order to utilize a Sprint phone’s 3G or 4G data connection. Beginning October 2nd, the mobile hotspot add-on will be capped at 5GB of data per month. Read on for more.

“Sprint continues to offer unlimited data for phones in its Everything Data and Simply Everything plans,” a Sprint spokesperson told BGR in an emailed statement. “Mobile Hotspot data usage is calculated independent of a customer’s phone data usage. The mobile hotspot functionality on a phone enables other Wi-Fi enabled devices to connect to the Sprint network. Effective Oct. 2, Sprint is changing the optional $29.99 Mobile Hotspot add-on for phones. The new add-on has a monthly 5GB on-network data allowance for 3G or combined 3G/4G usage.”

The spokesperson did not clarify what happens once the 5GB cap is reached, however an earlier report indicated that customers will be billed $0.05 per megabyte over 5GB if their usage goes over the cap in a single billing period. Sprint’s tablets will reportedly not be affected by the policy change, and standard data tied to the carrier’s “Everything” plans will remain unlimited.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.