Verizon (VZ) is reintroducing an unlimited data plan.
Starting Monday, Verizon customers can now get unlimited data, talk, and text for $80.
The company states that the new introductory plan also includes up to 10 GB of mobile hotspot usage, as well as calling and texting to Mexico and Canada. Additionally, it will allow customers to stream unlimited HD video, challenging T-Mobile’s practice of reducing video quality for some unlimited data customers.
While the new Verizon plan promises “fast LTE speeds,” heavy data users may experience slower speeds. If a customer uses 22 GB of data on a line during any billing cycle, the company noted that it may prioritize usage behind other customers in case of network congestion. This practice is now common among networks that offer unlimited data plans.
Related: T-Mobile and Sprint offer new ‘unlimited’ data plans — sort of
Verizon initially discontinued its unlimited usage plan in 2011, following the lead of other major wireless carriers.
However, companies have been gradually reintroducing such plans.
Verizon first revamped its data usage plans last summer with the introduction of a new “Safety Mode” plan. This technically gave customers access to unlimited data, but once they exceeded their allocated data, their speeds were considerably reduced.
AT&T followed suit in September when it eliminated overage fees for customers. Like Verizon, AT&T slows down speeds for customers once they reach their data limit. The company reintroduced unlimited plans earlier last year, but it is only available for households with both AT&T’s wireless phone service and either DirecTV or U-Verse TV.
Meanwhile, rivals T-Mobile (TMUS) and Sprint (S) also made their own attempts to attract customers seeking “unlimited data” plans.
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In August, Sprint introduced a plan that offers customers unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data for $60 for the first line, $40 for the next line, and $30 for each additional line up to 10.
T-Mobile, on the same day as Sprint, unveiled a plan for $70 per month for the first line, $50 for the second line, and additional lines for only $20, up to eight lines.
CNNMoney (New York) First published February 12, 2017: 7:03 PM ET
