Verizon iPhone users still clinging on to their grandfathered unlimited data plans will shortly face a $20 price hike. The wireless carrier confirmed to CNET that it plans to raise the price of its old unlimited plan, meaning grandfathered customers will face a monthly data plan charge of $49. The price increase will take place once each individual contract expires…

VZW shifted away from unlimited data back in 2011, and since then, virtually all customers have moved on to the limited, tiered data plans as perks were taken away from the older plans. Only a very small number (less than 1%) of its subscriber base are still unlimited. Interestingly, Verizon has commented that some customers on unlimited plans would benefit from going on to a tiered plan, and many don’t stream or download enough content to justify being unlimited. Still, it’ll be a downer for anyone who still streams and browses morning ’til night and likes having a relatively low-cost, fixed-rate bill.

This is the latest in a trend of moves across the industry to restrict how much bandwidth customers are taking up. Keeping 100+ million people connected on LTE isn’t easy, and isn’t cheap for Verizon.

This isn’t the first time the carrier has tried to ‘encourage’ people to move to a tiered plan. In the past, Verizon has attempted to put in place a policy to throttle unlimited data customers who used too much data. It has also stopped unlimited customers from being able to get subsidized phones, or devices on monthly installment plans, forcing them to pay for the phones outright if they wanted one. Raising the bill by $20 is yet another move to make unlimited plan customers a little less comfortable, and crowbarring them on to a limited plan.

Verizon is expected to send out an official press release regarding its data plan changes over the next few hours.

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