If you notice that your mobile internet speed has suddenly dropped and doesn’t recover over time, even though you haven’t changed location, it may mean that your provider is deliberately slowing down your connection. This is a common practice both with unlimited plans (which follow a Fair Use Policy) and with limited data packages. With eSIMs it depends on the carrier’s policy. For example, one of the advantages of the TooSIM eSIM is that we don’t throttle your mobile internet. Below, we explain how data throttling works, when you might encounter it, and why it happens.
What Does It Mean?
To manage internet usage, reduce network congestion, and encourage users to switch to larger data plans some carriers purposely slow down the connection. This generally takes place:
- With unlimited plans: after using the first 30-55 GB;
- With limited data packages: once the set limit is exceeded.
Important: Throttling does not cut off access to high-speed 5G networks. You may still see 5G or 4G on your phone, but your speeds will be significantly lower.
What Are the Consequences of Mobile Data Throttling?
Speeds can drop significantly, often by 5-10 times. For example, if your connection was previously 100-150 Mbps, it may fall to 8-20 Mbps. At the same time, default video playback quality will also decrease noticeably, usually dropping from 1080p or 4K to 360-720p.
How to Avoid Throttling
First, carefully review the terms of your eSIM before purchasing. Pay special attention to any mention of a Fair Use Policy (FUP), which is often applied to unlimited plans to limit excessive usage. This means your speed will be reduced after you’ve used a certain amount of data.
It’s usually better to choose prepaid packages with a specific amount of GB, such as 5 GB, 15 GB, or 20 GB. If you need a large amount of data, TooSIM offers packages of 50 GB or more for 200+ countries.
Even with limited packages it’s important to review the terms. Some carriers let you continue using extra after your plan is finished, but the speed will usually be reduced and additional access may cost more.
Another option is packages that stop providing extras once the plan ends, while still allowing you to purchase a new eSIM. At TooSIM we follow this policy and ensure you always have stable, high-speed internet.
Conclusion
The only way to increase your internet speed if your provider has throttled it is to purchase a new plan with a larger data allowance. However, to avoid this it’s better to choose TooSIM prepaid packages with the exact amount of GB you need from the start, so you always enjoy stable, high-speed internet.