EE Unlimited Fair Usage Policy - Device Limit

Hi All

I'm due to move in to a new property and unfortunately it's looking likely that the most viable option for us to get a reasonable speed is to take out a 4G unlimited plan and run this through a 4G capable router.

EE is my preference and I understand that their unlimited plan has a fair usage limit of 1TB, which is fine, but I'm slightly hesitant to go with them over another network due to their 12 device limit.

Like a lot of these fair usage policies, this isn't particularly transparent - there will be 3 of us living there, so we will be riding pretty close to the limit in terms of devices overall, but is this 12 active devices being used at once? Or 12 total over a period of time? As I don't particuarly understand how they could argue the latter given people get new devices all the time.

I'd be very surprised if we ever have 12 devices simultaneously running/utilising the network at once, but we'd definitely hit that number in terms of total devices in the house, but a number of these would be inactive - hope that makes sense

Just hoping if anyone has any experience with this and could spell any concerns?

Thanks in advance

Looking at the actual EE wording it reads to me very much as twelve devices simultaneously.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Looking at the actual EE wording it reads to me very much as twelve devices simultaneously.

Could also be a limitation of the WiFi router they're providing.

It would be worth tweeting EE for clarity, or calling them.

They don't do an unlimited Router+SIM. Only unlimited phone SIMs with the 12-device tethering "limit".

I know they can't stop people putting such a SIM into a suitable router, but I'm not sure to what extent they can detect the number of devices connected to a router.

Given any ISP can see into any router they supply for support reasons (I’m thinking BT, and Virgin and Vodafone) I am assuming EE can do the same.

That's true.

I swapped to using an EE 4G SIM a month ago - I use it to provide broadband for my business (to replace ADSL) and the restrictions on the number of devices was something I specifically asked about. I was told it was the number supported using WiFi by the router they provide, and that there was no limit for SIM only other than the 1TB(ish) cap. I have been using it for just over a month, and I have a lot more than 12 devices attached (using my own MikroTik router and Ubiquiti APs).
No problems at all so far - it is is the best broadband connection I've ever had and the only downside is the variable latency.

Unlimited Plans.
EE SIM PLAN TERMS AND PRICE GUIDE EE 12 MONTH, 24 MONTH AND 30 DAY SIM PLANS

Available from 1st May 2019
Updated 20th January 2020

Uncapped and Unlimited data - 50GB fair use policy applies outside UK. Personal, non-commercial use only. If you regularly tether 12 or more devices, we will consider this non-personal use and have the right to move you to a more suitable plan. We will consider usage above 1000GB/month to be commercial use and have the right to move you to a business plan. You can choose from 3 swappables (Amazon Prime Video, BT Sport or the Roam Further Pass). You can gift up to 100GB. Data usage on an unlimited plan will decrement from giftable allowance. Any data boost allowance will be added to the giftable allowance.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

If you regularly tether 12 or more devices, we will consider this non-personal use and have the right to move you to a more suitable plan.

That seems clear - but I remember a landline ISP (was it Vodafone?) whom said over 15 devices wasn't supported. Also I wonder if that is 'tethering' as many mobile devices and MiFi units have a 5 device limit on their thethering.

Personally I would just do it and not worry about it

I am sure I read recently it was not legal for them to claim "unlimited" and then slap fair usage caps on it??

"Poster: jchamier
Subject: Re: EE Unlimited Fair Usage Policy - Device Limit
Given any ISP can see into any router they supply for support reasons (I’m thinking BT, and Virgin and Vodafone) I am assuming EE can do the same. "

Wonder what the GDPR implications of such a thing are............

In reply to a post by buggerlugs:

"Poster: jchamier
Subject: Re: EE Unlimited Fair Usage Policy - Device Limit
Given any ISP can see into any router they supply for support reasons (I’m thinking BT, and Virgin and Vodafone) I am assuming EE can do the same. "

Wonder what the GDPR implications of such a thing are............

None, they are the supplier and have a right to manage their own equipment. They wouldn't be able to do this if your own router was being used. The ability to connect to their router is used to update firmware, and make other changes such as re-boot the router if needed and such like.

They cannot use this service to spy on your traffic.

In reply to a post by gary333:

They cannot use this service to spy on your traffic.

Agreed. They often use TR-069 which is described here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TR-069

Well I am on an unlimited SIM only business plan and it is actually cheaper than the headline price for the personal unlimited SIM only deal. So I don't think the threat of being moved to a business plan is very much to be worried about.

In reply to a post by Ewok:

I am sure I read recently it was not legal for them to claim "unlimited" and then slap fair usage caps on it??

It isn't a usage cap. It is part of a statement on non-business SIMs that usage above 1TBpm could be taken as commercial use, which is excluded by the T & Cs. That they reserve the right to transfer you to a business plan or let you leave.

Seems fair enough to me, and presumably to Ofcom and the ASA.

In reply to a post by sheephouse:

Well I am on an unlimited SIM only business plan and it is actually cheaper than the headline price for the personal unlimited SIM only deal. So I don't think the threat of being moved to a business plan is very much to be worried about.

A quick look at EE Mobile broadband for business leads to being asked if it's Small (up to 100 employees) or Large (over 100).

Presumably they have different products and T & Cs so I can't go any further without knowing which. It would have saved wasted effort to have known in the first place .

It's a micro-business (two person partnership). I couldn't answer my questions from the online info, so I phoned them - that was before the Corvid-19 lockdown, so it might not be so easy to speak to someone now. I told them that I wanted to replace my broadband with 4G, and I explicitly asked about the number of devices, and sharing the connection with multiple people (e.g. customers). I was told that the only restriction was if I went over ~1TB and caused problems for other users. They said that as I have my own router the best solution was to put the standard unlimited phone SIM in it. So I have done!

Unlimited can have a fair use clause. Fairness testing being that the fup has to be well above the average usage level.

Totally Unlimited cannot.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Unlimited can have a fair use clause. Fairness testing being that the fup has to be well above the average usage level.

Totally Unlimited cannot.

Basically they have repurposed the word "unlimited" to mean something other than unlimited. Good old ASA/OFCOM.