Bypass the 800MB Limit of Smart's SurfMax and SurfMaxPlus

Smart Communications has stopped their LTE promos (i.e. LTE50 and Unlisurf) last October 31, 2015. These were replaced with the new SURFMAX and SURFMAXPLUS promos. Same speed, same denominations, BUT with limits. According to their Surfmax guidelines, the promo allows subscribers to enjoy all day surfing up to 800MB/day at optimal speeds and once this is consumed, all day surfing services will still be active but connection quality may vary until 12 midnight. There you go, sounds familiar with Globe's Fair Usage Policy (FUP), eh? So, nothing is unlimited now in the Philippines. We live more with limits? Internet should be a wide universe with no boundaries, we are paying for it so, we should get the best out of it!


Smart offers the following denominations for their new Surfmax promos:

SurfMax Promo denominations, keywords and validity. Click to enlarge.

The Surfmax promo is available for Smart Postpaid, Prepaid and Smart Bro users. Better use the SurfmaxPlus if you are in an LTE-covered area and your internet device is an LTE-capable one to ensure that you have the fastest internet speed.


How to Overcome the 800MB Limit of Smart's SurfMax and SurfMaxPlus?
We are all very disappointed with this new restriction in their internet promo, right? But Smart provided us a solution to get past their 800MB bandwidth limit usage. As stated in their guidelines:

Upon reaching their Smart SurfMax daily limit, subscribers may also switch to any Smart Big Bytes offering to continue enjoying optimal speeds. For a complete list of Smart Big Bytes packages, they may also visit www.smart.com.ph/pages/bigbytes.

So, the number 1 solution to prevent being throttled to slow network speed is to register to Big Bytes. Once you received a text from Smart notifying you that you have already consumed 800MB data, you only need to register to a Big Byte promo to revert your internet network speed to normal. It did not mention the denomination, so we prefer the cheapest one, the Big Byte for PhP5. To do this, send BIG5 to 9999 and wait for the confirmation then restart your modem and voila, your internet speed should be back to normal even if you have consumed the 5MB data from BigBytes and your Surfmax promo is not yet expired.

Number 2 solution is to register to their SurfMaxPLUS promo using a Jump-In SIM card. Do not use SmartBro or KickStart Sim, these two are very strict when it comes to capping. They are so much updated with your internet data usage.

Number 3 solution is to register to their SurfMax promo using a KickStart Data SIM. If ever Smart notified you with the 800MB limit, turn off your modem for 30 mins and reconnect after that 30 mins. But most probably, Smart will not send notification using this SIM and this promo.

Number 4 solution is to restart your modem/broadband stick once you receive the 800MB usage notification. By turning your modem off, you allow it to change its IP connection and thus giving you a chance to get a nonthrottled IP. This works with KickStart Data SIMs.

Number 5 solution is to download more than 1GB files when you are enrolled in the promo and never mind the notification that you have used the 800MB data. If your download speed is maintained after you receive the notification, then say "My SIM is Great!" This works with some Jump-In SIMs but not all the time. So, try at your own risk.

Disclaimer: I cannot guarantee that all these tricks will work to prevent your SIM from being throttled once you have consumed the 800MB data. It's effectiveness is a case-to-case basis. Your location/area is a determinant of its success as well as the SIM you are using. Since Smart is still in the process of upgrading their system, once or twice you will encounter a glitch in their network. You might even use their one day promo for more than a week, or you might end up not being able to connect to the internet even if you have just registered to the promo.

Try at your own discretion. 


Credits to all testers and all the feedbacks of users.