What are Data Plans? 5 Best Strategies for your Next Purchase

data plans

Access to the internet is a necessity, and  without a data plan, the internet would be far from reach. The internet seamlessly integrates with over 5 billion devices and users across the globe.

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Securing a reliable and cheap data plan is essential whether you are working from home, watching your favorite shows, or scrolling through your social media accounts.

In one of our previous articles, we described 7 practices that can help prevent overage data charges, along with explaining what takes place before your device can connect to the internet.

This article will explain the different types of data plans available, how to select a plan that fulfills your requirements, and give a full overview of what a data plan is..

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What are Data Plans?

Data plans are subscriptions made available to clients by mobile network operators and ISPs (Internet Service Providers) that facilitate access to the internet and enable the use of applications on mobile devices.

These plans come with a specific allocation of data, often measured in gigabytes (GB) or megabytes (MB), which can be used for web browsing, content streaming, social media interaction, and many other online activities.

Types of Data Plans

The following are the types of data plans available in the telecom market. We will explained each of them with examples.

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  • Prepaid Data Plans
  • Postpaid Data Plans
  • Unlimited Data Plans
  • Family Data Plans

1. Prepaid Data Plans

Service providers allocate pre-determined bundles that users must purchase at a fixed price, these are known as prepaid data bundles. These plans allow one to purchase a fixed amount of data and are very popular because of their flexibility and the lack of long term contracts.

They are ranked at number one as the most purchased Data plans in the market. If a user runs out of data, they can top up at any time which makes these plans great for those looking to save money.

Types of Prepaid Data Plans

Several different kinds of prepaid data plans are offered in the telecom industry but we will discuss 4 types only. Below are the four…

  • Data-only plans
  • Combo plans
  • Social Bundles
  • SME Bundles

Plans That Are Data Only

These plans only cater to data consuming apps, meaning voice and text features are restricted. They are common for tablets, mobile hotspots, and other data-only devices such as Mifi or Router.

The table below provides examples of data only plans for Nigerians, their prices ranging from as low as fifty naira to one hundred thousand. These prices are applicable to all telco companies in Nigeria. Please note that each telco company has its unique data allocation and prices for its customers.

Unlike other Nigerian telecommunication network providers, GLO’s data bundles are divided into two categories: day and night. For example, if you purchase 1.8GB of GLO data for N500, you can browse during the day while 1GB is only available from midnight (12 AM) to 5 AM.

Airtel Bundles for mobile Devices

Validity
(Days)
AmountData Volume
1N5040MB
1N100100MB
1N3001GB
1N5002GB
3N200200MB
7N300750MB
7N5001GB
7N15006GB
14N500750MB
30N10001.5GB
30N12002GB
30N15003GB
30N20004.5GB
30N25006GB
30N300010GB
30N400011GB
30N500020GB
30N800030GB
30N10,00040GB
30N15,00075GB
30N22,000120GB
30N33,000240GB
30N39,600280GB
90N50,000400GB
120N60,000500GB
365N100,0001TB
The table above previews the data-only plans on Airtel Nigeria Network

MTN Mobile Data Bundles

Validity
(Days)
AmountData Volume
1N5040MB
1N100100MB
1N3001GB
2N5002GB
3N200200MB
7N15006GB
30N10001.5GB
30N12002GB
30N15003GB
30N20004.5GB
30N25006GB
30N350012GB
30N500020GB
30N600025GB
30N10,00040GB
30N15,00075GB
30N20,000120GB
30N30,000200GB
60N800030GB
60N22,000109GB
60N33,000160GB
90N50,000400GB
90N75,000600GB
These are the few data-only plans available on the MTN Nigeria Network

9mobile Data Only Bundles

Validity(Days)AmountData Volume
1N5025MB
1N100100MB
2N200200MB
7N15007GB
30N500500MB
30N10001.5GB
30N12002GB
30N20004.5GB
30N400011GB
30N500015GB
30N10,00040GB
30N15,00075GB
60N30,000225GB
90N25,00075GB
90N50,000425GB
180N50,000165GB
100N84,992100GB
365N100,000365GB
A table example of data-only plans on 9mobile Network

Glo Data Bundles

Validity(Days)AmountData Volume
1N5050MB/5MB night plan
1N100150MB/35MB night plan
2N200350MB/110 night plan
14N5001.8GB/1GB night plan
30N10003.9GB/2GB night plan
30N15007.5GB/4GB night plan
30N20009.2GB/4GB night plan
30N250010.8GB/4GB night plan
30N300014GB/4GB night plan
30N400018GB/4GB night plan
30N500024GB/4GB night plan
30N800029.5GB/2GB night plan
30N10,00050GB/4GB night plan
30N15,00093GB/7GN night plan
30N18,000119GB/10GB night plan
30N20,000138GB/12GB night plan
30N30,000225GB
30N36,000300GB
90N50,000425G
120N60,000525GB
120N75,000675GB
364N100,0001TB
globacom data plans

** The table examples above only contain outdated data price tags of the named companies, there have been a recent hike in price of Data bundles.

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Combo Plans

Airtel, 9mobile and Globacom refer to combo or cumulative data plans as data+ or voice + bundles and More Flex or Super Value Pack.

These are mobile telephone plans known for including multiple services, such as voice minutes, data and even a certain number of texts if applicable, in a single plan.

Unlike other plans, these ones are easy to use and economical too since the services don’t have to be acquired individually.

See examples in the table below!

PriceCombo Pack
(Voice)
Combo Pack
(Data)
Days Valid
Airtel₦500₦2500100MB7
GLO₦1000₦20001.25GB30
9mobile₦1000₦20001.5GB14
MTN₦50025minutes1.5GB7
Combo Plans

Some Combo plans are different from the others. For instance, some may have a relatively higher data ceiling than voice or the vice versa.

Social Bundles

Social bundles are data packages created by telecommunications companies for social media applications.

These packages usually include access to the major social media platforms and apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, and even Snapchat for a cheaper rate or as an extension of an already existing mobile plan. Users are able to use these platforms without their data limitations.

NetworkSocial BundlesValidity
(Days)
Price
9mobile500MB30₦400
MTN1GB30₦250
Airtel700MB25₦300
GLO500MB30₦100
An example of a social bundle

Small & Medium Enterprise (SME)

SME bundle is a specific bundle of data categorized and issued by a telecommunications or Internet service provider for the Small and Medium Enterprises sector.

These business bundles are designed to fit the needs of businesses in terms of data, coverage, and price. SME bundles can be purchased via third party VTU apps or directly from your ISP.

2. Postpaid Data Plans

Postpaid plans have a subscription charge that is billed monthly and comes with a specified amount of data. Customers are billed after using their data, which renews on a monthly basis.

Compared to prepaid plans, these plans generally have lower rates for additional data, making them ideal for frequent data users.

3. Unlimited Plans

As the term suggests, unlimited data plans provide unlimited usage of data. This means that there is no limit to how much data a person can use.

However, there may be certain policies that slow down the data speeds after a certain limit is reached. These plans work best for users who need lots of data and a stable connection. 

4. Family Plans

Family plans permit several users from the same household to share a designated data limit. This is convenient for families because several smartphones or devices can be pooled together. 

Factors To Consider Before Getting A Mobile Data Plan

You do not just subscribe to a data bundle without any thought. You first sit down and think of how best to select plans that fit your style. Below are the factors you should consider before getting a data plan

Data Allocation/Allowance: Gauge your data usage. Users that know they do not use the internet much will be more satisfied with small data plans and those who constantly use the internet will be better off with unlimited or high capacity plans.

Contract Type: Figure out if you prefer using a prepaid plan and you do not want to commit to anything long-term or if you would rather have a post-paid plan where you are billed once a month.

Coverage: It is very important to check for Network coverage in area you live in. This is especially useful if you rely on internet for work and other purposes.

Pricing: Compare price plans, including monthly charges, overages, and any add-ons such as international roaming or tethering.

Add-Ons: Add-ons are offered by a few Network providers like free subscription for streaming, or data rollover. Decide these add-ons according to your needs.

Wrapping Up

Data plans are the gateway to the digital world, providing us with access to information, entertainment, and communication. To get the best out of your online experience, it is essential to choose a data plan based on your usage habits and budget.

If you consider the above factors in this article such as data allowance, type of data purchased, network coverage, and the rest, you can get the perfect plan to keep you connected in our data age.

Remember, the perfect data plan not only saves you money but also enhances your digital lifestyle.

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