Like we reported in our last report, there were no price changes in cost of internet access in Nigeria in the fourth quarter of 2010. The same however cannot be said of the first quarter of 2011 as network operators introduced new internet packages and revamped others to remain competitive in the market place.
Airtel and Etisalat were the most impressive in the quarter, introducing some very impressive internet bundles that will strengthen their positions in the market. Glo also introduced some new internet access bundles for high data users offering some of the best deals as far as internet access in Nigeria is concerned.
Another interesting development in the quarter was that fierce competition between operators especially MTN and Glo has seen price of internet modems drop from N8,000 to N5,000 within this period. As usual most of the movements are led by GSM operators while their CDMA counterparts watch.
Cheap Internet Access
The biggest change in the cheap internet category was introduced by Airtel. The new Airtel Smartphone internet plan offers 30 day 24/7 internet access limited to 1GB for N3,000. Airtel Smartphone internet plan is now our pick for best deal for cheap internet browsing in Nigeria; knocking off Etisalat 500MB Internet browsing bundle from the top spot.
The reason is simple Airtel Smartphone internet access plan offers 100% more data allowance as the Etisalat 500MB at the same price.
All GSM operators still offer a monthly internet access bundles priced at N1,000. While MTN, Airtel (former Zain), and Etisalat offer 100MB internet bundles at N1,000, Glo mobile is offering a 150MB internet bundle at N1,000 (50% more value than industry standard).
For value for money, Glo 150MB is still our recommendation if your monthly internet access needs is below 300MB in 30 days, above 300MB, you should consider the Airtel 1GB and Etisalat 500MB internet access packages.
Read our overview of cheap internet access plans in Nigeria.
Read More: Cost of Internet Access July 2011 | Cost of Internet Access January 2012 | Cost of Internet Access July 2012 | Cost of Internet Access October 2011
High data, Value for money Internet Access
Etisalat and Airtel introduced some great internet access bundles during the quarter, joining the likes of Glo mobile, MTN, and MultiLinks to offer some of the best value internet bundles in Nigeria. Glo Always Max, a 6GB 30-day internet access bundle priced at N7,500 used to be the best value for money internet bundle in Nigeria with a score of N1.25/MB. But Glo set new records introducing three new internet access bundles with even better value.
Glo Platinum with its offering of 20GB for N18,000 is now the best value internet access bundle with a score of N0.90/MB (90 kobo/MB). Glo Silver offering 10GB for N10,000 and Glo Gold offering 15GB for N15,000 both have a score of N1.00/MB. So Glo now has the four top best deals for high data users. However, Glo 6GB (Always Max) is still our best pick for high data users, especially if you are under Glo 3.5G coverage area.
After the Glo top four comes the New Etisalat 6GB internet access bundle, which is priced at N8,000 (N1.33/MB). MultiLinks 6GB internet at a price of N9,900 and Airtel 10GB priced at N15,000 then follows both with a score of N1.50/MB.
The new Airtel 5GB shares the next position with the MTN 5GB internet access plan. Both are priced at N8,000 with a score of N1.60/MB. Other internet access plans to consider, especially for mid-range users, are 3GB internet access packages from Airtel and Etisalat and 1.5GB internet access packages from Etisalat and Glo.
Read our overview of value for money internet access plans in Nigeria.
This report is aimed at providing all the information about internet access cost in Nigeria in one place so that consumers can make better choices. If you currently access internet at a cheaper cost or at a higher value for money, feel free to contact us about it so that we can add it during our next report. However, the internet access package must be legal.
We are interested in 30-day internet packages only. It is our hope that recent launches of fibre optic cable landing by MainOne and Glo will begin to bring down prices as well as increase speed. It is also our hope that network operators will deploy high speed internet in other cities in Nigeria, rather than just limiting them to Lagos, Abuja, and PH. Our next report will be in July, 2011. Hope a lot would have changed by then. See you then.
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Related Topics:
- Cost of Internet Access in Nigeria January, 2011
- Cost of Internet Access in Nigeria November 2010
- Glo Data Plan
- MTN Data Plan
- 9Mobile Data Plan
- Airtel Data Plan
- Internet Browsing Access Codes
- Cheap Internet Browsing bundles in Nigeria
- Value for Money Internet browsing bundles in Nigeria
- MTN 100MB internet Access bundle
- Glo 150MB internet Access bundle
- MultiLinks internet Access bundles
- Etisalat 500MB internet Access bundle
- Glo 3G plus: pre-paid internet Access packages
- Breaking free from MTN free internet cheats
- MTN Night Internet access bundle
- Glo 3G plus: HSDPA high speed internet access
