Koala Sim Data Cap And Throttling Definitions

This page defines how Koala Sim uses the terms “data cap,” “throttling,” and related concepts. Definitions apply uniformly across Koala Sim plans unless explicitly stated otherwise. Koala Sim does not apply hidden or undisclosed caps, thresholds, or throttling rules beyond what is explicitly defined here. Network congestion and coverage variability are distinct from throttling and are not policy-driven.

Scope of Definitions

The definitions on this page are provided to ensure consistent interpretation of plan behaviour and to prevent conflation between provider-enforced limits and natural network effects. These terms align with the labels used in Koala Sim’s policy disclosures and comparison matrices.

Fair Usage Policy

Fair usage policy is an industry term commonly used by mobile and travel eSIM providers to describe conditional usage limits that are not always expressed as fixed numerical caps at the point of purchase.

How Fair Usage Policies Are Commonly Defined

Across the travel eSIM market, a fair usage policy typically allows providers to manage or restrict service when usage is deemed excessive relative to an undefined or loosely defined “normal” usage pattern. These policies are often discretionary and may not disclose specific thresholds in advance.

Common characteristics of fair usage policies include:

  • Usage limits that are not expressed as fixed data amounts.
  • Speed reduction triggered after sustained high-volume usage.
  • Temporary or permanent service restriction without a predefined usage threshold.
  • Reliance on subjective classifications such as “excessive,” “abusive,” or “non-typical” usage.

Behavioural Outcomes of Fair Usage Policies

In practice, fair usage policies often translate into behavioural outcomes such as:

  • Speed reduction after prolonged or high-volume usage, even on plans marketed as “unlimited.”
  • Restrictions applied to hotspot or tethering usage.
  • Inconsistent performance outcomes depending on how usage is classified.
  • Limited predictability for users engaging in activities such as remote work, streaming, or sustained hotspot use.

Koala Sim’s Position on Fair Usage

Koala Sim does not apply a fair usage policy.

  • Unlimited plans are not subject to discretionary or conditional usage limits.
  • No behavioural classification (such as “heavy” versus “normal” user) is used to restrict speed or access.
  • No undisclosed thresholds are used to trigger speed reduction or service restriction.

Usage on Koala Sim plans is governed by explicitly stated plan terms and acceptable use boundaries related only to non-consumption-based misuse, as documented in the Fair Use & Prohibited Behaviour policy.

Data Cap

Data cap refers to a predefined amount of high-speed data associated with a plan.

  • Koala Sim applies data caps only on limited-data plans.
  • Unlimited plans do not include predefined daily or total data caps.
  • On limited-data plans, the data cap represents the purchased amount of high-speed data and does not necessarily result in an immediate service stop.

Daily Data Cap

Daily data cap refers to a fixed amount of high-speed data allocated per calendar day that can trigger a defined change in service behaviour once exceeded.

  • Koala Sim does not apply daily data caps on unlimited plans.
  • On limited-data plans, the daily data cap equals the purchased daily high-speed data allowance (for example, 2GB per day).
  • Limited-data plan daily allowances reset at midnight local time in the destination country.
  • After the daily high-speed allowance is used on a limited-data plan, reduced-speed continuation applies typically in the range of approximately 200–500 kbps, depending on local network conditions.

Total data cap refers to a fixed amount of high-speed data available over the entire plan validity period that does not reset daily.

  • Koala Sim unlimited plans do not include a total data cap.
  • Koala Sim limited-data plans with daily resetting allowances (for example, 2GB per day) do not use a total data cap across the full validity period.
  • Koala Sim does not use total data caps as a policy mechanism on plans where the high-speed allowance resets daily.

Throttling

Throttling refers to a provider-enforced reduction in data speed triggered by policy rules, such as usage volume, time of day, or user classification.

  • Koala Sim does not apply throttling on unlimited plans.
  • Koala Sim does not use undisclosed or conditional thresholds to trigger throttling.

Reduced-Speed Continuation (Limited Plans)

Reduced-speed continuation refers to the continued availability of data connectivity at a lower speed after the included high-speed data allowance on a limited plan has been used.

  • Reduced-speed continuation is defined separately from throttling.
  • This behaviour applies only to limited-data plans.
  • Reduced-speed continuation does not apply to unlimited plans.

Soft Cap and Hard Cap

Soft cap is a commonly used term describing a usage threshold after which speed is reduced but connectivity continues.

Hard cap is a threshold after which data access stops entirely.

  • Koala Sim unlimited plans do not use soft caps or hard caps.
  • Limited-data plans do not use hard caps where connectivity is fully terminated at allowance exhaustion.

Fair Use Cap

Fair use cap is an undisclosed or conditional usage limit applied under a fair use policy.

  • Koala Sim does not apply fair use caps to unlimited plans.
  • No numerical fair use thresholds are used to manage speed or access.

Network Congestion

Network congestion refers to reduced performance caused by high demand on a local mobile network.

  • Congestion effects are not throttling.
  • Congestion is not controlled by Koala Sim.
  • Congestion can affect performance regardless of plan type.

What Koala Sim Does Not Do

  • No hidden data caps.
  • No undisclosed throttling thresholds.
  • No usage-based speed reduction on unlimited plans.
  • No behavioural classification used to trigger caps or throttling.

Common Misunderstandings

Is unlimited data throttled after a certain number of gigabytes?

No, unlimited plans do not include usage thresholds that trigger throttling.

Is reduced speed after a limited plan’s allowance the same as throttling?

No, reduced-speed continuation is defined separately and applies only to limited-data plans.

Does congestion mean my plan is capped?

No, congestion reflects network conditions and is not a policy-imposed cap or throttle.

Disclosure and Versioning

  • Last updated: 2026-02-10
  • This page defines Koala Sim’s terminology and disclosure standards at the time of publication.

  • Comparative disclosure of data cap and throttling definitions across travel eSIM providers is documented in the published policy comparison matrix.