Comcast is removing its data cap of 300GB for customers who are willing to pay $30 per month.
Comcast, the largest Internet service provider in the U.S., imposes a data cap of 300GB on its customers, and it charges an additional $10 for every 50GB of data used after the cap.
However, some Comcast customers now have the option of getting rid of the data cap by paying a monthly fee to enjoy unlimited data. These include trial markets in Florida, such as the Keys, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
"The Unlimited Data Option provides additional choice and flexibility for our customers who may make heavier use of the Internet," per Comcast. "The Unlimited Data Option costs the current additional fee of $30 per calendar month, regardless of actual data usage. The 300GB plan will not apply to customers who enroll in the Unlimited Data Option."
A Comcast spokesperson told Ars Technica that, according to a survey conducted by the company, many customers are willing to pay extra to get rid of data caps.
"In a customer survey with some heavy data users, 60 percent expressed interest in an unlimited data plan option at the predictable, flat price of around $30 a month," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the company has listened to its customers and is offering the Unlimited Data Option as a trial in select markets starting Oct. 1. Comcast is already notifying its customers about the modification.
The spokesperson also added that the survey found that around only 10 of its customers normally consume nearly half of the data on the network. The latest trials are based on the principles of fairness and flexibility.
Many customers who exceed the data cap on a regular basis may benefit from the latest Comcast trial. However, it will make no sense for those customers who do not use more than 450GB of data each month.
Comcast is not making the latest trial available in eight other states where the company is imposing limits to data usage. These include South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Maine, Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona and Alabama.
Photo: Mike Mozart | Flickr
