Data Optimization by Verizon Throttles Data to Heavy Abusers

verizon data network.JPGVerizon Wireless has changed the way it offers data to its customers on the launch day of the most super-data consuming smartphone that requires an unlimited data plan.  New data optimization starts today, and the top 5% of data users may be throttled when they consume too much data.  The system will also optimize video for handset screens.

A document on the Verizon Wireless website informs customers that Verizon has changed its data management polices for optimization and efficiency.  The optimization includes less data caching, using less capacity and sizing video.  Users should not notice a difference.  However, heavy data users in the top 5% of data use throughput may be throttled until the end of their billing period.
The notice refers readers to an Optimization page that starts:

Verizon Wireless is deploying optimization technology in parts of its
3G mobile broadband network.  This network management technology is
designed to transmit data more efficiently, ease capacity burdens on the
network, primarily from video files, and improve the user experience
with faster downloads and decreased Internet latency.

Important Information about Verizon Wireless Data Plans and Features

As part of our continuing efforts to provide the best experience to our
more than 94 million customers, Verizon Wireless is introducing two new
network management practices.

We are implementing optimization and transcoding technologies in our
network to transmit data files in a more efficient manner to allow
available network capacity to benefit the greatest number of users. 
These techniques include caching less data, using less capacity, and
sizing the video more appropriately for the device.  The optimization
process is agnostic to the content itself and to the website that
provides it.  While we invest much effort to avoid changing text, image,
and video files in the compression process and while any change to the
file is likely to be indiscernible, the optimization process may
minimally impact the appearance of the file as displayed on your device. 
For a further, more detailed explanation of these techniques, please
visit www.verizonwireless.com/vzwoptimization

If you subscribe to a Data Plan or Feature on February 3, 2011 or after, the following applies:
Verizon Wireless strives to provide customers the best experience when
using our network, a shared resource among tens of millions of
customers.  To help achieve this, if you use an extraordinary amount of
data and fall within the top 5% of Verizon Wireless data users we may
reduce your data throughput speeds periodically for the remainder of
your then current and immediately following billing cycle to ensure high
quality network performance for other users at locations and times of
peak demand.  Our proactive management of the Verizon Wireless network is
designed to ensure that the remaining 95% of data customers aren't
negatively affected by the inordinate data consumption of just a few
users

Read Verizon iPhone 4 Review.