If I told you that T Mobile will give you a T-Mobile free hotspot gadget with 100GB of data, wouldn’t that be fantastic? You heard correctly. For me, as a college student, having internet access everywhere was essential. But for someone like me who hails from a low-income family, the cost of internet plans is relatively high and difficult to afford.
Fortunately, I learned about the T-Mobile Project 10Million program from a friend, which provides eligible students with a free hotspot device. My application was approved fairly immediately, and the application process was straightforward.
In this post, I will discuss my own application experience for T-Mobile’s Project 10Million, as well as its eligibility requirements and other pertinent details.
Does T-Mobile Provide Free WiFi?
Many people don’t know that qualified students can get free mobile hotspots through T-Mobile’s Project 10Million program.
These gadgets are part of T-Mobile’s Project 10Million initiative, which, starting in 2020, provides free wireless hotspot devices to low-income households and students nationwide.
In particular, T-Mobile’s free hotspot service offers the following advantages:
- Up to 15 devices can be connected to the free WiFi hotspot.
- 100GB of early data will be provided to students.
- Nationwide availability of T-Mobile’s 5G and LTE networks
- By giving millions of underprivileged families with kids a dependable Internet connection, T-Mobile hopes to close the digital divide.
- You may connect laptops, tablets, and other Wi-Fi-enabled devices to these T-Mobile hotspots without using the data on your smartphone.
- If you fit the qualifications and require an Internet connection, T-Mobile’s free hotspot service is an excellent option.
READ MORE: How to Get Free Government Internet for Low-Income
How to Get a Free Hotspot on T Mobile
Through a simple application process, T-Mobile’s Project 10 Million allows consumers to get free internet access and a mobile hotspot.
The initiative provides a free hotspot each year and 100GB of high-speed broadband to eligible households. To qualify for the program, however, at least one child must be enrolled in the National School Lunch Program.
Go to T-Mobile’s Project 10 Million website and click “Apply Now” to begin receiving a free T-Mobile internet plan. Essential contact and address details must be provided.
Additionally, as proof of eligibility, you must verify your child’s involvement in the NSLP, such as a letter from the school. Acceptable types of evidence include letters confirming enrollment or verifying eligibility for other government aid programs.
T-Mobile will review your information and verify your eligibility for the NSLP after you submit your application. If accepted, a complimentary mobile hotspot will be delivered right to your home.
Through T-Mobile’s cellular network, this hotspot offers up to 100GB of internet access annually, enabling your family to stay online each month. The information can be utilized for streaming, job searches, homework, and other purposes.
READ MORE: Free Government Phone and Tablet Combo
How to Apply for a T-Mobile Free Hotspot for Students
Internet access is essential to students’ success in both their extracurricular and academic endeavors. However, many homes cannot afford high-speed Internet. T-Mobile’s Project 10Million helps narrow this digital divide by giving free wireless connections to qualified students.
If your child is eligible for the National School Lunch Program, you can register online to obtain a free mobile hotspot. Read the steps below to find out how to apply for a free device for your student’s connectivity needs and what paperwork is needed:
Step 1: Compile the necessary paperwork
Collect the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) clearance letter for your child’s eligibility for free or reduced meals. This letter is offered to you by your university. Additionally, you can show that you are enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, or other qualified programs.
Step 2: Launch the Online Application
You must select between I am a parent/guardian and I am a school administration when you visit the Project 10Million website. It will gain access to the online application.
Step 3: Enter the student’s information
Kindly supply the name, school district, and student ID number of your child. Don’t forget to include your street address and email address.
Step 4: Provide Documentation of Eligibility
Upload a picture or a scan of your NSLP letter or other eligible documentation as asked. It will verify your eligibility.
Step 5: Send in your application
After checking all of the data, click “Submit.” T-Mobile will examine and confirm eligibility.
Step 6: Receive the hotspot
If allowed, T-Mobile will give you a free wireless hotspot at the address you provide. To activate it, follow the provided steps.
You can sign up for a free T-Mobile mobile hotspot through Project 10 Million by following these instructions.
READ MORE: Get a Free Government Tablets in Texas – See If You Qualify & How to Apply Today
Can I get five years of free T-Mobile hotspot service?
Offering free hotspot devices and internet connections for a maximum of five years is a significant advantage of T-Mobile’s Project 10Million initiative.
In May 2020, Project 10Million was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. T-Mobile subsequently decided to extend this initiative for five years in order to give all qualified students access to the Internet by 2025.
A 100GB data allocation will be accessible for five years under this. It assures internet stability and cost savings, allowing recipients to use the T-Mobile hotspot for long-term access.
Applying and getting authorized every year is no longer a problem when you get a free T-Mobile hotspot for five years. You can keep bringing a free smartphone and unlimited data for the length of the program, provided that neither your household income nor your children’s eligibility for school lunches changes.
This pledge from T-Mobile significantly contributes to bridging the digital gap.
How Is Student Data Protected by T-Mobile?
T-Mobile takes many measures to protect student data through the Project 10 Million program. To protect data privacy when users submit personal information and request a T-Mobile free hotspot, T-Mobile uses administrative, technical, and physical measures.
For instance, while phoning T-Mobile, student information is only accessible to approved account holders. T-Mobile staff members follow protocols to confirm customers’ identities in retail settings before speaking with them or making changes to their accounts.
T-Mobile also advises families and students to use strong, unique passwords and, if possible, to enable multi-factor authentication.
It adds a layer of protection. Even though no data protection technique is 100% reliable, T-Mobile uses industry best practices for firewalls, encryption, account security, and more. Parents and students should feel secure knowing that the Project 10 Million initiative protects the personal information they contribute.
When using the free hotspot service, Internet safety is equally vital. T-Mobile offers tools to help parents set up parental controls, keep an eye on their kids’ internet use, and make sure they’re safe.
T-Mobile’s clever use strategies and security safeguards work together to protect student data.
Five years of T-Mobile free hotspot
Getting a five-year free hotspot from T-Mobile is one of Project 10 Million’s most significant benefits. Through this initiative, qualified homes can get a free hotspot device that will be connected for five years.
For five years, qualified households have been permitted to use the T-Mobile free hotspot as their primary Internet connection. They don’t have to reapply or get accepted every year.
A five-year T-Mobile hotspot alleviates a substantial financial strain on low-income households. It provides yearly savings of hundreds of dollars that can be used for other purposes, as well as long-term internet stability.
How to obtain a T-Mobile free hotspot EBT
Students can apply for T-Mobile Project 10Million through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) using P-EBT or EBT if they are not enrolled in NSLP.
During the online application procedure, T-Mobile free hotspot EBT candidates can provide an EBT card to confirm their active SNAP participation. To make sure the household keeps receiving food assistance, T-Mobile will check with state organizations to confirm SNAP eligibility.
EBT households will also receive 100GB of high-speed broadband provided annually to the free hotspot device, much as other Project 10 Million participants.
Reset Button for T-Mobile Hotspot | Reset Procedure
You may need to reset your T-Mobile hotspot device to factory default settings occasionally. It might assist in clearing the hotspot and fixing some problems.
To reset a T-Mobile hotspot, follow these steps:
- Find the reset pinhole on the left side of the hotspot, close to the SIM card port.
- For ten seconds, tap and hold the T-Mobile hotspot reset button with a SIM tool or a straightened paperclip.
- The hotspot will immediately restart and return to its factory configuration. Do not power down the device during the reset procedure.
Alternatively, you can reset through the hotspot’s web interface:
- Link a gadget to the T-Mobile hotspot network.
- To access T-Mobile’s 5G Hotspot webpage, enter the admin password for your device’s nameplate.
- From the menu, choose System > System Management > Restart & Reset.
- Select Reset. The T-Mobile hotspot will have to be restarted.
- After restarting, use the hotspot’s default name and password to log in once more.
- Resetting a T-Mobile hotspot restores factory settings, which can rectify connection problems and remove all modifications. Before restarting, be sure that all configurations have been backed up.
Advice for Students Using the Free T-Mobile Hotspot
Here are some guidelines for maximum utilization of the T-Mobile Free Hotspot:
- Use the hotspot exclusively for school-related tasks like homework, research projects, online classes, etc., to prevent going over the 100GB data limit.
- To prevent using cellular data, think about downloading large files and films over WiFi.
- To save data and battery life, turn off the hotspot when not in use.
- Space can be freed up by routinely cleaning the browser’s cache and history.
- Password-protect the hotspot network for authorized devices.
- For hotspot or data issues, get in touch with T-Mobile customer service.
- To make the most of the available data use, share the hotspot with siblings or peers working on group projects.
T-Mobile Free Hotspot FAQ
1. What is Project 10Million and what does it offer?
Answer: Project 10Million provides eligible K–12 students with a free mobile hotspot device and 200 GB of data per year for a period of five years. There are no fees, costs, or annual recertifications required.
2. Who is eligible to apply for it?
Answer: Eligibility includes U.S. residents (including Puerto Rico) with a student in K–12 who participates in programs like NSLP, SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, Head Start, or other qualifying assistance programs. Non-T-Mobile customers and Metro by T-Mobile users can also apply.
3. How do I apply for Project 10Million?
Answer: Parents or guardians apply using proof of program participation (e.g., SNAP, school email, ID, report card in Puerto Rico) along with student and guardian details. Once approved, you’ll receive a hotspot (one per household) with shipping delays possible due to high demand.
4. How do I activate and manage the device?
Answer:
- Use the included start guide to set up your device.
- Create a T-Mobile ID at the welcome portal and sign in to monitor usage, messages, and manage your device.
5. Is there a limit on coverage or re-certification?
Answer:
- You receive 200 GB of mobile data each year, renewable automatically upon activation anniversary.
- No annual re-certification is required.
- Only one free hotspot per household, regardless of number of students.
6. Can I buy more data once the 200 GB is used up?
Answer: Yes—you can purchase additional data passes once the annual 200 GB is exhausted.
7. Does T-Mobile offer truly unlimited hotspot plans outside of this program?
Answer:
- T-Mobile offers hotspot data via phone plans like Go5G Plus, but these are not truly unlimited—after high-speed data is used, speeds are throttled.
- A standalone hotspot data plan (e.g., 2 GB for $10/mo) is also limited.
8. Are there alternative cheap plans for hotspot use?
Answer:
Yes, users on Reddit mention a 30 GB hotspot-only plan for $10/month (often $15 MSRP, discounted with AutoPay). Compatible with BYOD devices—even some phones.
One user explained:
“T-Mobile offers a 30 gig/month for $10/month with autopay. … You need to BYOD, but hotspot devices aren’t expensive.”
9. Can a smartphone be used as a hotspot?
Answer: Absolutely. Many T-Mobile phone plans include tethering or mobile hotspot features, typically allowing up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Once your high-speed allotment is used, speeds will be reduced until the next billing cycle.
10. What if I have a limited-time pass or trial (e.g., 90-day pass)?
Answer: Some users report that hotspot/tethering is restricted or may be disabled during promotional or free passes. For example:
“Hotspot is not allowed on Network Pass.”