The Lure of Unlimited Wireless Data -- Is It Necessary?

[Commentary] Many believe that unlimited data is about the ability to do whatever you want on a mobile device while enjoying the freedom of not being required to pay extra charges. Nobody likes to think that they are restricted when they access the Internet, and we have grown accustomed to wired Internet access from home or work that doesn’t impose limits. However, wireless connectivity is different than wired connections and more susceptible to “traffic jams” that slow down the networks for everyone. This is usually the result of too many people trying to do too much over their connections at the same time. The bottom line is: users agree that degrading the networks is something that they don’t want to happen.

Carriers are continuously investing to improve their networks, but concentrating on overall quality improvements is ultimately in the best interest of all users, unlike simply adding capacity to accommodate those who use the most data. The additional expense required for the latter would be passed on to normal users, who would have to pay for something they don’t need. Even if we combined mobile and Wi-Fi data usage, we’d find that the vast majority of users would still be within the allotments of data plans available from the carriers at a reasonable cost, particularly if it’s a multi-device shared family plan. In most cases, users are very well served by current wireless data plans, and really don’t require more. So, while unlimited data may sound attractive, there is no practical effect of data limits on the majority of users. Understanding this should bring rationality to a discussion that is often held on a “gut feeling” level. Keeping adequate speed and performance while allowing all users to share the limited commodity we call wireless data is the fair way to deal with wireless connectivity. And ultimately, that is what is beneficial for wireless consumers.

[Jack E. Gold is Founder and President at J.Gold Associates, LLC., a technology industry analyst firm]