T-Mobile backtracks on data cap after Ofcom pressure

T-Mobile has said the 500MB data cap it introduced this week will now only apply to new and upgrading customers.

A source close to the situation told IT PRO T-Mobile's move to ensure its current customers were not affected came after pressure was applied by regulators at Ofcom.

The provider's decision to introduce the cap from 1 February caused uproar amongst both customers and commentators alike.

Now it appears T-Mobile has backtracked a little to ease the criticism being levelled at the firm.

"Following a further review of our policy, these changes will now be introduced from 1 February to new and upgrading customers only - not existing customers," said Lysa Hardy, vice president of T-Mobile UK.

"There will be no change to the data packages for existing customers for the duration of their contract and we apologise for any confusion caused."

The change to the T-Mobile Fair Use Policy "is designed to ensure an improved quality of service for all mobile internet users," Hardy added.

Those customers who want more data from T-Mobile will need to purchase a Mobile Broadband Booster to get up to 1GB a month.

Anyone pushing the limit of their 500MB limit will still be able to browse the web and view email, but downloading and streaming services will be restricted, T-Mobile said.

Ofcom had said earlier today any communications provider planning on making changes to contracts needed to consider whether this would cause customers "material detriment."

"Communications providers must, under General Condition 9.3, provide them with one month's notice of the change and inform them that they are entitled to terminate their contract without penalty if the change is not acceptable to them," a spokesperson for the regulator added.