Throttling refers to the intentional slowing of your internet speeds by your carrier—often for specific types of traffic like video streaming. While your plan might offer unlimited data, streaming services (like YouTube, Netflix, or TikTok) may be capped at lower video quality or subjected to speed restrictions to conserve bandwidth.
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Video Resolution Limits
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Some plans cap streaming quality at 480p (SD) or 720p (HD) regardless of your network speed.
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For example, a carrier might state: “Unlimited data with video streaming at DVD quality (480p).”
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Streaming-Specific Caps
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You may have full-speed data for genera l special database use, but streaming traffic is routed differently and restricted via separate limits or shaping rules.
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Network Congestion Management
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Carriers often prioritize essential traffic (like browsing and messaging) and deprioritize video streaming during busy times, especially if you’ve already used a lot of data that month.
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Examples from Popular Carriers (2025 trends)
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Verizon: Most mid-tier unlimited plans cap streaming at 480p, unless you upgrade or pay for a premium add-on.
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AT&T: Their basic plans may limit video to SD, while premium plans allow HD or 4K.
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T-Mobile: Uses “Video Optimization” to reduce the primary draw of free phone number lists resolution on certain plans; full HD or UHD often requires Magenta MAX or similar.
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Visible (by Verizon): Unlimited data phone number list plans might include 480p video limits, even though hotspot and general data are unrestricted. How to Check or Improve It
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Check Your Plan Details: Look for terms like “video resolution limit,” “streaming optimization,” or “data deprioritization.”
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Use a VPN (with caution): Some users use VPNs to bypass traffic shaping, but results vary and it’s not foolproof.
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Upgrade Your Plan: Some premium tiers remove throttling for video or offer HD/4K streaming as a feature.
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Adjust App Settings: YouTube, Netflix, and other apps often allow you to manually set the playback quality—just note this may not bypass carrier-imposed limits.