T-Mobile and Microsoft are giving Surface Pro 9 with 5G users a gift as the holidays approach: 30GB of free 5G data. T-Mobile says that the new promotional offer announced on Thursday, is available to anyone who doesn’t already have its 5G service active on their Surface.
This isn’t the first time T-Mobile has offered free tablet data. Back in 2013 it was giving iPad users free 200MB of cellular data per month “for life.” It ended the program for new users, however, in 2017.
With this deal, T-Mobile is upping the data to a much more usable 30GB, but it should be noted you will only have 90 days to use it. If the 90-day window closes (or you use up the 30GB) you will need to start paying for a connected device plan to continue accessing T-Mobile’s network. Under T-Mobile’s tablet plans, 2GB of high-speed data is $10 per month while unlimited data (with 50GB at high-speed) starts at $20 per month.
Surface Pro 9 with 5G users can activate the T-Mobile eSIM by heading to “Network,” choosing the “connect with a data plan” option and selecting T-Mobile followed by “get connected.” According to T-Mobile’s website outlining the instructions you will need to enter in payment information.
The extended free data trial on the Surface is similar to what T-Mobile offers prospective phone switchers with its Network Pass. That program allows unlocked phone users a similar ability to sample T-Mobile’s network for free over 90 days, though you won’t need to give the company a credit card for that trial.
It is unclear if T-Mobile plans to bring this offer to other connected Surfaces or devices. CNET has reached out to the carrier for additional details and will update if they respond.