Plans with premium network access include allotments of what Verizon calls “premium data.”
When Verizon’s networks gets too busy, data speeds slow down for users on the network. Subscribers with premium data won’t experience as severe of congestion-related speed decreases as other users on the network.
Verizon offers the same high-priority data through it’s low-cost brand, Visible, with the Visible+ plan. Generally, the Visible+ plan is far cheaper than Verizon-branded plans offering premium network access.
Do I Need Premium Data?
Congestion levels are location-dependent. While some people will see large improvements in their speeds with the help of high-priority data, other people may not even notice any perceptible advantages.
Plans With Premium Data
Premium network access comes with a handful of Verizon’s plans, notably:
Current Plans
- Unlimited Plus (postpaid)
- Unlimited Plus (prepaid)
Legacy Plans
- Play More Unlimited
- Do More Unlimited
- Get More Unlimited
- One Unlimited for iPhone
In the weeds
On LTE networks, priority levels are determined using a factor called a QCI value. On some of Verizon’s cheaper plans (e.g., the Start Unlimited plan and Verizon’s prepaid plans), subscribers always have a QCI of 9 for regular data use. Tests I’ve run have found that Verizon’s premium, unlimited plans have a QCI of 8 for regular data use while subscribers have premium data available. When premium data runs out, the QCI value for regular data use on these plans switches to 9.
