We already know that unlimited data rates may have some type of small print with restrictions of different types. Today we are going to talk about tethering, the option of sharing data to use our rate to create a WiFi zone where other devices can connect. Do the operators allow it? Do you have any kind of restriction?
Tethering is the service that allows you to use the gigabyte bonus of your rate with your smartphone. Taking into account that it could become a substitute for a standard router, we are going to check how far this practice is allowed.
An unlimited mobile rate is seen by many as an alternative to having fiber at home. However, the operators do not seem willing, for now, to have only one mobile connection for everything.
Vodafone
Vodafone does not mark any hard restrictions, although it is protected that the use of the line must be for personal use (by an individual) of the service and “for purposes of private consumption and for reasonable purposes”. Of course, it prohibits sharing data with some devices.
- The use of the service for surveillance applications with video, photo, voice or web cameras, “machine-to-machine” connections such as in vending machines, for home monitoring or the like.
- The use of the service to carry out a business, professional or economic activity or whose purpose is to resell the service or exploit it for other purposes in any way, obtaining an economic benefit from the use of the service other than that derived from the Contract is prohibited. Specifically, the client may not use the Service to provide telemarketing, telesales, Internet cafes, resale services to third parties, or other commercial services such as website hosting and other services (download portal or similar).
digi
The Romanian operator is one of those that imposes a numerical limit, although it is difficult to know exactly what it is, limiting itself to reasonable use of less than “30 times or more the consumption measurement”.
In the UNLIMITED Rates, which include unlimited GB of mobile Internet, unreasonable use of the Services will be considered to be that which exceeds the personal use of the Client as a consumer, either because it is not intended for the particular consumption expected for each of the Rates. hired. Also, that use that supposes a considerably abnormal use of the contracted Services. By way of example, but not limitation, unreasonable use of the Mobile Internet Services will be considered to be (i) the use of the mobile Internet significantly above the average use of the Services, for example, exceeding 30 times or more the average consumption mobile Internet data; and/or (ii) the use of the Services for the purpose of listening or remote surveillance, as well as any connection, regardless of its duration, surveillance with video, photo, voice or web cameras, “machine-to-machine” connections ”, vending machines, for home monitoring or the like; and/or (iii) any use of the Services that is contrary to Spanish or European regulations, in particular, any breach of the regulations regarding content, intellectual property, security, privacy, which is in force at the time of the Contracting the Services and during the provision of the same.
Movistar
In the case of Movistar, it is the one with the fewest limits. So much so that they even consider their Infinite Contract rate suitable for telecommuting, which suggests that other types of equipment could be connected.
The restrictions, as in Vodafone, seem more aimed at the type of devices and use that is going to be given:
“Nor may the possibilities offered by the service, in any of its benefits and facilities, be used for the purposes of listening or remote surveillance, as well as any connection, regardless of its duration, without the purpose of active communication between individuals. In case of network congestion, traffic corresponding to P2P and direct download portals could be given lower priority than other types of traffic.
Orange
After some time being one of the most restrictive applied to tethering, to the point of monitoring the use that users gave to their unlimited lines, it opted for a less restrictive approach.
Orange imposed the power to share a maximum of 80 GB with devices not directly connected to the mobile network (tethering) in its Premium rate and 30 GB in its standard rate. However, since July 2020 it no longer imposes limitations in this regard.
The limitations of Orange have more to do with the quality of the video after a few gigabytes of consumption, but that is another detail that we are not talking about today.
Yoigo
In its Endless rate, for unlimited data, Yoigo only establishes possible limits for reducing browsing speed in cases of “unreasonable use”, although it does not explicitly refer to tethering.
In order to ensure the quality of the data service, as well as in the event of unreasonable use of the same – in accordance with the criteria contained in clause 3 of the Service contract, which will also be applicable in relation to the use of the data , Yoigo may reduce the browsing speed, in addition to other measures that it may legally and/or contractually implement, until the circumstances that motivate it are clarified.
