The data is genuinely unlimited — the speed is not. There is no cap on how much you can use across the trip, but there is a daily allowance of full-speed data, and past it the connection slows until the next day
This is called a Fair Usage Policy, and every network that sells unlimited data operates one. It exists because a mobile cell is shared: without it, a handful of heavy users would take the capacity of a whole neighbourhood, and everyone else would get nothing.
What Is and Is Not Limited
Not Limited
- Total data across the whole trip
- Number of days you can use data
- Staying connected after the daily allowance
Limited
- Full-speed data per day
- Speed for the rest of that day once it is used
Full Speed Versus Reduced Speed
- Full speed — video calls, streaming, large downloads, tethering a laptop, everything you do at home
- Reduced speed — messaging, maps, email, web pages, ride-hailing and payment apps all continue to work
For most travellers the daily allowance is never reached. Messaging, navigation, social media and the occasional video call rarely come close; it is streaming video and tethering a working laptop all day that do.
The size of the daily allowance and the reduced speed are set by the local network, so they vary by destination and are shown on the plan itself. There is no single figure that applies everywhere, and we do not publish one, because it would be wrong somewhere.
The allowance resets every twenty-four hours automatically — there is nothing to buy and nothing to switch on. If a slow evening is inconvenient, the same reset arrives the next morning
