T-Mobile’s new Binge On data plan is making waves by throttling video streaming services whether the service is on board or not. Recent tests from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), however, suggest Binge On is actually throttling all video-related data, including downloads.


The EFF decided to look into T-Mobiles Binge On “optimization” technology after hearing about customer complaints. Their tests indicated that T-Mobile’s network actually throttles all HTML5 video streams and video downloads for later viewing to around 1.5Mbps when Binge On is enabled (including tethered connections), no matter if the phone has the capability of downloading at higher speeds. Even if there is nothing to indicate that a video file is a video file (non-video file extension, non-video HTTP headers, etc.), the download is still being throttled. Bottom line, if you have Binge On enabled, your data gets throttled, especially if it’s video.




Furthermore, the EFF found that T-Mobile’s “optimization” doesn’t actually alter or enhance the video stream to make it’s delivery over a mobile network any more efficient; T-Mobile is simply throttling video streams down to 1.5Mbps. The EFF contacted T-Mobile to get clarification and they confirmed that their “optimization” is merely reducing bandwidth allocated to the customer. Jeremy Gillula at the EFF explains:

T-Mobile has claimed that this practice isn’t really “throttling,” but we disagree. It’s clearly not “optimization,” since T-Mobile doesn’t alter the actual content of the video streams in any way. Even the term “downgrading” is inaccurate, because that would mean video streams are simply being given a lower priority than other traffic.

This presents an aggravating problem for T-Mobile customers. You have to choose between having your data throttled and streaming crappy video, or you can disable Binge On every time you want some decent download speed or video quality. Still, that solution presents another problem itself. While T-Mobile doesn’t have traditional “hard” data caps, your data speed will get downgraded to 2G once you exceed a certain amount. If you’re not careful with your data while Binge On is disabled, you run the risk of having your data throttled across the board. As the EFF explains, T-Mobile’s Binge On throttling, while novel, is exactly the type of thing that net neutrality is supposed to prevent. You can learn more about the tests at the link below.

Update: A T-Mobile representative reached out to us to say Binge On isn’t throttling, and they don’t reduce download speed when Binge On is active. They also pointed out that customers are free to enable or disable it whenever they choose, and their CEO has explained how the Binge On service works in a blog post here.


EFF Confirms: T-Mobile’s Binge On Optimization is Just Throttling, Applies Indiscriminately to All Video | Electronic Frontier Foundation