We provide qualified schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations with affordable, unlimited mobile broadband internet access at a dramatically reduced rate of $10/month paid annually in advance ($120/year) for 4G service and $20/month paid annually in advance ($240/year) for 5G service.

Mobile Beacon’s 4G and 5G Unlimited Data Plans provide uncapped, unthrottled data. Our service is currently provided over the T-Mobile network and is therefore subject to T-Mobile’s network management policies and practices. See our Open Internet Disclosures for further details.

5G is the fifth generation of wireless  network technology, which is designed to meet today's growing data needs. 5G will also allow for the expansion of mobile technology and the Internet of Things, which exceeds the capabilities of 4G LTE. 5G will easily transmit large amounts of data, providing you faster speeds and less buffering on multiple devices. Mobile Beacon is proud to provide our customers with affordable, unlimited access to America's largest and fastest 5G network.* While T-Mobile's 5G network buildout is underway and while 5G is not available in all areas, our 5G service is available in nearly twice the areas of AT&T and nearly five times that of Verizon.

5G isn't replacing 4G anytime soon. In fact, they will co-exist and work together. All of our 5G service plans include 4G access and your device is configured to seamlessly connect to either technology depending on coverage and availability.

Our 4G service provides a larger coverage footprint than ever before. Our 4G service can handle fast speeds and strong connections between multiple devices. The service is available in most markets across the country, including rural areas and major metropolitan cities. Visit our coverage page for more information.

*5G capable device required; 5G coverage not available in some areas. T-Mobile has America's largest 5G network with more 5G bars in more places. Fastest: Based on median, overall combined 5G speeds according to analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 5G download speeds for Q4 2021.

5G is the fifth generation of wireless network technology, which is designed to meet today's growing data needs. 5G will also allow for the expansion of mobile technology and the Internet of Things, which exceeds the capabilities of 4G LTE. 5G will easily transmit large amounts of data, providing you faster speeds and less buffering on multiple devices.

Our service is available to qualified schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations in our coverage area. For a detailed list of types of organizations that qualify for our service, visit our eligibility page.

No. Mobile Beacon’s service plans provide unlimited dataplan subject to T-Mobile’s network management policies for the unlimited plan it offers its retail customers. While there is no preset data cap or automatic reduction in throughput when a user consumes a certain amount of data, the Fair Use Threshold (FUT) for these plans is 100 GB per month. After this threshold is reached, users will be deprioritized during times and places where the T-Mobile network is experiencing congestion. The practice of deprioritizing certain users after the FUT is reached during periods of network congestion is a network management practice called Quality of Service (QoS), which all network operators utilize, including T-Mobile. If a user is deprioritized, they may experience a temporary slowdown for a few seconds, a few minutes, a few hours, or not at all. This deprioritization will cease as soon as network resources are freed up (which is re-evaluated every nanosecond). This is very different from throttling where users are subject to dramatically reduced speeds (e.g. 128 Kbps) for the remainder of their billing cycle. See our Open Internet Disclosures for further details.

Quality of Service (QoS) is different from throttling in several ways. First, it is not automatically triggered by reaching a certain data level. With throttling, speeds will automatically be dramatically reduced to 128-256 Kbps as soon as a certain data allotment is reached, regardless of network capacity. QoS is the act of prioritization of network data where reduced speeds only occur during periods of network congestion.

If a Mobile Beacon customer reaches their Fair Use Threshold (currently 100 GB/month for devices with a T-Mobile SIM card or 50 GB/month for devices with a Sprint SIM card), it is only after that point that they would experience any deprioritization and only at times in and in areas where the Provider's network is constrained. If this occurs, customers may experience a temporary slowdown for a few seconds, a few minutes, a few hours, or not at all. This slowdown will cease as soon as network resources are freed up (which is re-evaluated every nanosecond).

QoS is a network management technique that is used by all telecommunications operators, including T-Mobile and Sprint. See our Open Internet Disclosures for further details.

We offer a variety of mobile devices to give you access when and where you need it.

View our current list of 4G devices here and 5G devices here.

Mobile Beacon’s shipping and handling fees are calculated based on the number of devices purchased. Our current shipping and handling fees are below. Please note these are subject to change.

• Up to 10 purchased devices will be charged $9.00 per device
• 10-49 purchased devices will be charged $5.00 per device
• 50-99 purchased devices will be charged $2.30 per device
• 100-499 purchased devices will be charged $2.25 per device
• 500 or higher will be charged $1.90 per device

Requests to transfer any remaining months of service between devices should be sent to [email protected]. Include the serial numbers of both devices and specify which device the service will be transferred to. Please note that service can only be transferred to a non-defective device and within the same organization. Libraries can transfer service to devices at different branches.

Mobile Beacon can provide your organization with a monthly data usage report. Reports are made available on the 15th of each month for the previous month and include the data usage in GB per device. Please email [email protected] to request to receive your data usage report monthly.

Mobile Beacon offers unlimited and uncapped mobile broadband service. The data limit display you are seeing is a default displayed by the manufacturer and has no impact on the unlimited service that Mobile Beacon provides to it customers. Your device will NOT stop working or be throttled if you use more than 20 GB of data in a month. We understand this can be confusing, so we have options to update the display of your device below.

To update the display message on your FranklinT9 device:

1. Connect to the hotspot and Access the Mobile Internet Admin Page. http://mobile.hotspot or http://192.168.0.1.
2. Select the Home tab to view data usage.
3. Select Settings > Device > Data Usage to adjust the usage limit

To update the display message on your Alcatel Linkzone:

1. Login to the device as an administrator > Go to http://mobile.hotspot > Enter Admin Login password (May be forced to change password).
2. Go to the “Information” tab
3. Choose the “View Plan Details” tab
4. View or change Monthly data plan limit, set to zero to cancel data limit.

To Change the Display on your M2000 device use the steps below:

1. Go to the Data Usage Page. Click Reset data counter now: Restarts data usage at zero.
2. Reset the data counter on this day of the month by selecting from the drop-down: Specify a day of the month to restart data usage at zero
3. Maximum data limit: Enter a data limit by selecting from the drop-down

^**Leaving the device with its original display or changing the display will not impact your service. If you experience any issues with your service, please contact our Customer Service team at (401) 934-0500 or [email protected].

Typically the Wi-Fi network name and password information is located on a sticker under the battery on the device. Hotspot devices with a screen will display the Wi-Fi Name and Password. Consult your device’s manual for specific instructions.

Mobile Beacon recommends taking a photo of the information before putting the battery in the first time. If you have a large number of devices including the Wi-Fi network, password, PTN and serial number on an excel spreadsheet can be extremely helpful for managing your devices.

Typically the serial number (sometimes called the IMEI) is located on a sticker under the battery on the device.

Mobile Beacon recommends taking a photo of the information before putting the battery in the first time. If you have a large number of devices including the Wi-Fi network, password, PTN and serial number on an excel spreadsheet can be extremely helpful for managing your devices.

"Extended Range 5G" refers to T-Mobile's low-band 600 MHz spectrum that reaches far and wide for nationwide coverage. Low-band spectrum is great for coverage, both indoor and outdoors, but it does not provide the same speed and capacity as higher band spectrum. If your device indicates it is on Extended Range 5G, it means it is only accessing 5G on T-Mobile's low-band spectrum.

"Ultra Capacity 5G" utilizes T-Mobile's mid-band and high-band (mmWave) spectrum, which together deliver a speed and capacity boost above what is experienced on Extended Range 5G. With greater bandwidth and capacity to carry large amounts of data at speeds as fast a Wi-Fi, Ultra Capacity 5G delivers a high performance connection and is available nationwide to 200 million people.

Our service is currently provided on the T-Mobile network. For instructions on how to check coverage, visit our coverage page.

You can easily order more devices through our online order form.

Please contact us immediately if your device is lost or stolen. You can reach us by emailing [email protected], or you can call us at 401-934-0500. We will need the PTN and the serial number of that device to cancel the service and prevent unauthorized access.

New devices purchased from Mobile Beacon come with a One-Year Limited Manufacturer’s Warranty. Additionally, Mobile Beacon offers a 60-day Limited Refund Policy so you can try our service risk-free for 60 days.

If you would like to make any changes to your account, please email our Customer Service Team at [email protected]. Please include the PTN and the serial number of any device you need to update or cancel.

We know how important it is to have a reliable, mobile internet service that works for your organization, and we believe only you can be the judge of whether our service meets your needs. That’s why we offer a 60-Day Limited Refund Policy with any new purchase to give you ample time to evaluate whether our service and device will meet your organization’s needs.

We also understand our non-profit clients work within limited budgets, so we recommend starting by requesting a single device donation through our TechSoup donation program for public libraries and nonprofits, or through our, Digital Wish donation program for schools, colleges, and universities. This will further reduce any upfront costs while you evaluate our service.

Requests to add, delete or update contact information should be provided in writing by the primary contact on the account. Email [email protected] and include the following information: name, title, contact number, and email address. If the primary contact is no longer with the organization, any active contact on the account can provide the information referred above.

Mobile Beacon’s service is only available to eligible community anchor institutions. Organization-based emails are required to help validate your eligibility. If you are associated with more than one organization you must provide an organization email address for each organization. Please contact our Customer Service Team with any questions at [email protected].

If your organization has more than one device, we recommend you create a spreadsheet with all of the pertinent device information to make managing your devices simple. Mobile Beacon created a sample document so you can easily store all of your device information. Click here to download the device tracking spreadsheet.

If you are experiencing any issues with your device or service, please call our Customer Service Team immediately.

Mobile Beacon Customer Support:
(401) 934-0500
[email protected]
Available 8:30 AM – 5 PM EST, Monday – Friday

If you need to call Technical Support outside of Mobile Beacon’s business hours, please have your device available. Record the Interaction ID and name of the representative who assisted you. We need the Interaction ID to coordinate any follow-up that results from this call if your issue has not been fully resolved. We strongly encourage you to proactively ask for an Interaction ID before you end the call. Additionally, please provide any details about the issue you were experiencing.

Technical Support:
(877) 879-5031
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Mobile Beacon's defective device policy can be found here.

If your device is out of warranty you have the option to purchase a replacement device. Click here to order your replacement device directly

Please contact our customer service team at [email protected] including your device serial number and they will verify the warranty status of your device(s).

Mobile Beacon currently offers two grant programs: the Wi-Fly Digital Inclusion Grant and Connect for Success Grant. Choose the right grant for your organization by reviewing the requirements.

It is important that your grant application is as detailed and thoroughly written as possible.

Please include details about your organization, who you will reach, details about your program/project, how this will help your audience, and how will you measure the impact of your project.

• You must fall within Mobile Beacon’s coverage area.
• Grant recipients must also sign and abide by Mobile Beacon’s terms and conditions. *Please review the terms and conditions to ensure you can comply before applying.
• There must be a clear plan, outlined in your application, on how your organization will use the awarded equipment and service.
• Your organization must meet the requirements of the grant you are applying for. Ex: A non-profit organization is ineligible for a Connect for Success Grant, but may apply for the Wi-Fly Digital Inclusion Grant.
• Mobile Beacon requires two feedback and evaluation reports during this one-year grant period. Submitting late or incomplete reports and delays in completing activities will impair project success.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Winter/Spring
Applications accepted from January 1st - May 31st
Grantees receive awarded equipment by September 30th

Summer/Fall
Applications accepted from July 1st - November 30
Grantees receive awarded equipment by January 31st

After applying, please allow our Program Team time to review your application. Once reviewed, our Program team will be in contact with your grant administrator about the next steps. Send any questions or concerns to [email protected]

• After receiving your award notification, your grant administrator will send the necessary paperwork. This paperwork should be signed by an authorized representative of your organization with information about your organization (i.e. E.I.N, address, etc.).
• The grant Paperwork must be signed, completed, and returned to us within 30 days of being awarded (unless otherwise discussed with our Programs Team).
• Completed documents can be returned electronically by email ([email protected]) or delivered physically via U.S. mail, UPS, etc. Signatures on paperwork must be physically signed or signed electronically via Docu Sign, Adobe Signature, etc.

The grant period begins on the date the equipment is delivered to your organization and ends twelve (12) months from that delivery date.

Up to 25 mobile hotspots *, up to 25 laptops, and free unlimited Mobile Beacon internet service for 12 months. *Please contact us ([email protected]) if any specific technology requests will benefit the success of your organization's project.

For any questions or concerns regarding your grant, including your equipment, please contact our Programs Team via [email protected]. For any questions or concerns regarding communicating your grant, please email Lauren Yergeau, Marketing & Communications Manager at [email protected].

A CIPA-compliant tool for content filtering is available on the devices. If you are interested in applying this content filtering tool, please email [email protected].

If for any reason you have issues with any of your devices including being lost, stolen, or defective; please contact our Programs Team. To ensure your project is being implemented successfully, it is important that all devices are actively being used throughout the grant term. If any issues with your devices will disrupt device activity, please contact us at [email protected] immediately.

Mobile Beacon wants your program to be successful and for your organization to achieve the goals approved in your grant application. Please note, you must notify Mobile Beacon in advance, if ever there is a proposed change that deviates from what was included in the project proposal.

At the end of your grant term, all awarded equipment will remain in your possession, but the free service period will end. However, the service can be renewed through Mobile Beacon, please contact the programs team at [email protected] to learn more.

Mobile Beacon has an online renewal form that makes renewing your service fast and easy! Approximately 30-45 days before your renewal date you will receive an email with a link to the online renewal site. Within the online renewal system, you will have the option to:

• Review any upcoming renewals for service plans expiring in the next six months. You prepay for upcoming renewals, defer your decision to renew or notify us if you would like to cancel any line(s) of service at the end of your service term.
• View any upcoming cancellations.
• Reactivate any line(s) of service that have expired in the last 60 days (if applicable).

For your convenience, you can pay directly in the renewal system by using any major credit card. Paying by credit card is the fastest method and will ensure that there will be no disruption to your service.

You also have the option to pay for your renewal by check or by purchase order*. Choose either Purchase Order or Check under Payment Information in the renewal form. Please print out your summary email and mail it along with your check to:

Mobile Beacon
2419 Hartford Ave.
Johnston, RI 02919.

*Please note: if your check is not received and processed before the end date of your current service term, you may experience a lapse in service until your payment is received and processed.

No. Mobile Beacon will not cancel any service plan until after the service end date has expired. If your service plan expires you will receive a cancellation notice with a link to the online renewal system where you will have the option to renew any canceled lines of service.

To provide the most affordable unlimited internet service, Mobile Beacon currently only offers a one-year service plan.

We are sorry you are experiencing some difficulty with the online renewal system. To complete your renewal, please clear your browser cache and try the process again with a different browser. If you are still having issues, please contact Mobile Beacon by emailing [email protected], and our customer service team will help you complete your renewal. Thank you!

If your service was canceled less than 60 days ago, you can use the link provided in the cancellation summary email to reinstate your service.

If your service was canceled more than 60 days ago, please email our Customer Service Team at [email protected].

Service canceled over 60 days ago, can no longer be renewed using the online renewal system. Please email our Customer Service Team at [email protected] for assistance.

Mobile Beacon is offering upgrade options for all customers with an ACTIVE service plan. Please visit our Device Eligibility Page to view your eligible devices and review your options.