An AT&T Logo is pictured on the side of a building in Pasadena, California, January 26, 2015. (Photo : Reuters)
United States mobile network provider AT&T is increasing the monthly rate of its customers who are still subscribed to the company's grandfathered unlimited data plans.
AT&T is raising the price, a first time in seven years, by only $5 per month. The price increase will take effect in February 2015 and will raise the current $30 plan to $35.
Many market analysts consider the new AT&T price increase as a bit tame compared to some of its competitors. According to PC World, Verizon recently imposed a price increase which raised its unlimited price from $30 to $50 per month, while T-Mobile increased its monthly price plan by $15.
AT&T is expecting that some of its customers who are affected by the price increase will be persuaded to shift to the company's newer plans.
In a statement obtained by Ars Technica, AT&T said, "Should you decide to cancel your wireless service because of the $5/month increase, we will waive the early terminations fees (ETFs)." AT&T added that customers will have to cancel within 60 days after the price increase in order to waive the ETFs.
Should customers decide to terminate their contract with AT&T, they will be required to pay off the entire cost of a device if they are subscribed to a device payment plan. Customers who want to transfer to a different network are also required to contact AT&T in order to unlock their phones. Customers who decide to stay with AT&T and switch to a newer plan will not be able to switch back to their old grandfathered plans.
