What is a phone data plan?

A cellular data plan is a monthly subscription to a wireless carrier that delivers database content. Data plans allow phone owners to access the Internet from anywhere regardless of a lack of Wi-Fi. Getting a data plan requires customers to join a 3G, 4G or LTE network.

Mobile data plans are necessary for web surfing, checking e-mails, downloading apps and other Internet-based cell phone activities. Depending on the carrier and the price, data plans can be either tiered or unlimited. For tiered plans, the amount of data allowed per month is decided by a set rate, with additional charges if that limit is exceeded.