We call the speed for the slower data plans "3G" which makes sense because it's the rough equivalent of the maximum possible speed when using 3G technology, which is 3 Mbps.
But with the introduction of service with data speeds that are described by PM as "up to 30x faster" (than 3G) & also as "download speeds up to 100 Mbps", the service is still throttled to 4G data speeds which is up to 100 Mbps, which is different from 4G LTE or LTE+.
Full 4G LTE+ service can be data speeds up to 750 Mbps to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps).
And for reference, 5G speeds are supposed to potentially be several Gbps. And then 6G which is currently under development should be even faster.
So with all of these different standards based on technology of the past that PM & other cell service providers use as maximum data transfer (throttled) rates, why are we still seeing PM & others throttle all the way down to 3G level standard of 3 Mbps? That to me would be a lot like selling a phone from years ago like a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (which I still have but largely don't use anymore) - slow as heck, old technology, but it does the job, & it's good enough for many, including me, even though I recently switched to 4G-level service. And if consumers use their data faster, wouldn't they be more likely to upgrade their plans for more data & spend more money? Cell service providers could probably throttle down to any data rate they want - such as 6 Mbps (double 3G), 50 Mbps (half 4G or 3.5G perhaps?), or maybe 250 Mbps (call it super-4G?).
I'll never understand cell providers in Canada. They certainly make a lot of money, but they generate tons of complaints - be it official complaints to the CRTC or informal grumblings on forums & social media, like mine.
