T-Mobile UK Scrap Mobile Broadband Tethering from Unlimited Data Package

Mobile operator T-Mobile UK (Everything Everywhere) has scrapped tethering support for Mobile Broadband connections on its £36 per month Full Monty Plan, which originally claimed to offer unlimited calls, texts and data usage with “no fair use restrictions“.

Tethering is the method by which a customer can effectively turn their Smartphone into a wireless (wifi) Mobile Broadband modem for use by a computer, although this often results in the customer using a larger amount of data than before and is thus banned on several networks (it’s still quite easy to get around those bans).

Sadly T-Mobile has now chosen to drop support for this feature with new customers, which is quite a u-turn on what they told consumers in January 2012. The operator originally said that Full Monty subscribers “can use their mobile internet for whatever they like – including tethering (using a smartphone as an internet connection for a laptop or tablet), streaming and downloading.” Well not anymore.

T-Mobiles Spokesperson said (TechRadar):

“From 8th August, tethering is not permitted for new customers under the terms and conditions of the Full Monty. We have a range of smartphone and mobile broadband plans that include tethering for customers who want to stay connected on other devices.”

The operator has refused to say why the feature was removed, although it’s likely that they had difficulty managing the extra data use. Sadly most of the other packages with Tethering support come with capped data usage allowances. Rival operator Three UK also offers similar support for Tethering.