The question is not only “How many GB?” Ask what happens at the limit: slower data, a top-up charge or a stop. OFCA’s subscription advice explains why fair-use terms belong in the buying decision. A headline saying unlimited does not establish hotspot rights or full-speed access all month.
Two numbers belong beside the word unlimited
| Published example | Before the allowance ends | After it ends |
|---|---|---|
| 3HK 5G | Selected plan’s 30/50/60/100GB allowance | Maximum 1Mbps under the listed plan terms |
| 1O1O 5G | The selected tier’s local allowance | 30/60GB tiers: up to 1Mbps; 100/150GB tiers: up to 2Mbps |
These are speed ceilings, not guarantees in every location. A busy cell, weak indoor signal, server congestion or a device limit can reduce the actual rate further. Do not treat a speed cap as a measured network ranking.
What 1Mbps means for a large download
A 1GB file contains roughly 8,000 megabits using decimal units. At a sustained 1 megabit per second, the theoretical transfer time is about 133 minutes before overheads. At 10Mbps it is about 13 minutes. Text messages can still feel usable while a software update takes hours; “still connected” is not the same as meeting a work deadline.
Hotspot users need a separate check
Confirm whether the full allowance can be tethered, whether any daily cap applies, and what happens to the hotspot after throttling. If the phone plan is your backup broadband, estimate the data needed for one outage day rather than buying the largest monthly bundle automatically. Test a video call and your actual work connection before relying on it.