DPI Deployments (17): Leap Wireless/Cricket New Service Plans

 
3 months ago I reported about Cricket (Leap Wireless' brand name) data plans (see "DPI Deployments - Part8: Cricket - Quota with Traffic Management" - here). Yesterday the operator updated its plans, with a lower cap on its Premium level (7.5GB instead of 10GB) and "all inclusive" service (voice and data).

See "Cricket Launches Industry-First All-Inclusive Mobile Broadband Service Plans" - here.

Cricket, focused on pre-paid customers, does not charge those exceeding the quota (like AT&T -here). Instead, they impose a [non-disclosed] slow-down penalty, described under "Fair Use Policy" (here and below).

Cricket states that in addition to quota limits it also deploys other traffic management policies, and that the promised download speed (1.4 Mbps) "represents a burst download speed. Actual Upload and download speed will vary, and will likely be lower than the burst speed indicated. Speed will also vary during peak hours, or if you exceed your rate plan usage limit"

Cricket implements all this with Sandvine and Openet - See "Sandvine Supports Cricket Broadband Internet" - here, although, as we can see now, the actual implementation has developed compared to the description in the press release ("Cricket is using a Sandvine solution to identify its customers whose service has expired and redirect them to a customer service site where they can conveniently extend their service term").

Al Moschner, Leap Wireless' COO said: "Data is a strong growth area for Cricket, and these new plans will result in a more efficient network that should benefit customers, and based on customer trials, we also expect them to drive ARPU growth and expand margins going forward."

Extracts from Cricket's Fair Use Policy:

"Cricket has recognized that that a small percent of customers account for a disproportionate share of data usage on the Cricket network ...  Cricket sets usage levels on the amount of data a customer can upload and download within stated periods of time. If you exceed your rate plan usage levels, Cricket will temporarily reduce the speed at which you can send and receive data over the Cricket network. You will still be able to use the service but your speed will be slower. Cricket may use other traffic management and prioritization tools to help ensure equitable access to the Cricket network for all customers. Your service speed is not guaranteed and is subject to this Fair Use Policy.

Cricket has set a rolling 30-day data usage level per customer .. Every day, we measure your upload and download data usage to determine if your total Actual Usage, as aggregated over the previous 30 days, exceeds the Usage Level for the rate plan that you selected. Once the rolling 30-day data usage is below your rate plan Usage Level upload and download speeds will be restored ...

You are likely to avoid any limitations imposed by the Fair Use Policy if your use is typical of the majority of Internet users and consists primarily of Web surfing and a reasonable amount of downloading .. Please note that your usage total is far more likely to exceed your rate plan Usage Level if you use peer-to-peer file sharing programs, you use a webcam or you download full length movies excessively, large quantities of music files, full software applications or similar high-bandwidth activities."