NewStats: 3,261,189 , 8,173,336 topics. Date: Wednesday, 28 May 2025 at 01:45 PM 142t71

twosquare:
Welcome to Airtel. I made the right choice, knowing Americans and their expensive piece of shit, Elon Musk being no different.

Better beg your government to bring Safricom of Kenya come. Nigerians will go for it in place of Starlink. At least, na our African brothers get am.

What's the hardware price for this airtel kit.
And the monthly sub.
And their speeds

you can check how much you will be charged on the billing tab.

ask4bk:

I'm on roaming and will switch to residential next week. My only worries is if on 20th, my payment day, they'll charge me 38k or 75k. Since I did a conversion from roam to residential, they may see me as a new sign up and not as an old .

purplekayc:


What's the hardware price for this airtel kit.
And the monthly sub.
And their speeds

hardware price = ₦50k

Speeds are:

₦20k = 20MBPS
₦35k = 40MBPS
₦50k = 60MBPS

twosquare:
hardware price = ₦50k

Speeds are:

₦20k = 20MBPS
₦35k = 40MBPS
₦50k = 60MBPS

Is it really unlimited or their z. A catch?

dustmalik:
I think those with 5G router and with 5G network are mostly those enjoying this Airtel unlimited plan.

I advised two of my guys to get the Airtel 5G router, based on the I saw here, thinking it would perform better on the 5G router, not knowing these guys have no Airtel 5G at their location. Since then, it's been same complain everyday. Some days they're unable to browse at all, no matter the placement of the router or physical location of the router within their house, even multiple restarts of the router doesn't help.

My empathies on the sad experience from your friend. Will they be interested in selling their routers to me?

odimbannamdi:


My empathies on the sad experience from your friend. Will they be interested in selling their routers to me?

Airtel network has been surprisingly good this weekend in my area. I used it to stream matches today with little to no buffering

Chai, see what Starlink people have caused.
Airtel is now dragging market share in this thread. Lol.

I'm optimistic about Black Friday, though.
Maybe there will be a hardware price discount or something.
MTN and Airtel give me high BP every day.

purplekayc:


Is it really unlimited or their z. A catch?

It is unlimited. According to some reports, one said he experienced a throttled speed a bit after crossing 1TB...but as far as it concerned, it is truly unlimited. You still dey browse dey go.

Samxie:
Chai, see what Starlink people have caused.
Airtel is now dragging market share in this thread. Lol.

I'm optimistic about Black Friday, though.
Maybe there will be a hardware price discount or something.
MTN and Airtel give me high BP every day.

Actually, I feel for those who bought this and then the naira devaluation, then now increase in price...that's someone's monthly salary mehnn...it will make it appear elitist. Na person wey belleful dey cough such amount monthly now. Compare it to 20k monthly for the lowest plan.

I had the money then, but I had to calculate yearly and factor in the likelihood of an increase. Hmmm. That's after money for kit o...then factoring in light issue, inverter, etc. so I can use it 24/7...I gave up.

At ₦590k now, that is enough (If Airtel no increase) for me to do 2 years plus plan and some months or cover device and some months.

I have to consider this based on economic realities...you need to have deep pockets now...if naira falls further...gbegeun...

Babatunde360:
you can check how much you will be charged on the billing tab.

Yeah, checked today. Saw 75k.
I'll just leave it at roaming for this month at 50k and next month move to residential of 75k

twosquare:




Actually, I feel for those who bought this and then the naira devaluation, then now increase in price...that's someone's monthly salary mehnn...it will make it appear elitist. Na person wey belleful dey cough such amount monthly now. Compare it to 20k monthly for the lowest plan.

I had the money then, but I had to calculate yearly and factor in the likelihood of an increase. Hmmm. That's after money for kit o...then factoring in light issue, inverter, etc. so I can use it 24/7...I gave up.

At ₦590k now, that is enough (If Airtel no increase) for me to do 2 years plus plan and some months or cover device and some months.

I have to consider this based on economic realities...you need to have deep pockets now...if naira falls further...gbegeun...

I think you summed it up really well.
It's not just about the Starlink unit, it's also the steady AC power supply and other costs that come with that too.
Because without that, you can't even take full advantage of the service.

Also, it's mostly home-based, and so you still need a backup provider for when you're on the move.

I personally think if Starlink isn't generating or enabling someone to generate significant revenue (for example, a stable business or a dollar-based remote role), it's a no-no at the moment, until something changes.

Samxie:


I think you summed it up really well.
It's not just about the Starlink unit, it's also the steady AC power supply and other costs that come with that too.
Because without that, you can't even take full advantage of the service.

Also, it's mostly home-based, and so you still need a backup provider for when you're on the move.

I personally think if Starlink isn't generating or enabling someone to generate significant revenue (for example, a stable business or a dollar-based remote role), it's a no-no at the moment, until something changes.

Good submission!!

Samxie:
Chai, see what Starlink people have caused.
Airtel is now dragging market share in this thread. Lol.

I'm optimistic about Black Friday, though.
Maybe there will be a hardware price discount or something.
MTN and Airtel give me high BP every day.

Let them enjoy the moment until starlink roll out DIRECT TO CELL for Africa market

NCC are just toothless dogs that's only barks at local ISP guys when they want to adjust their prices. 75k is much and the only reason I need Starlink is because it is far better option for me even at that price. If Na only to dey watch YouTube 20mbps don do nau.

Samxie:
I personally think if Starlink isn't generating or enabling someone to generate significant revenue (for example, a stable business or a dollar-based remote role), it's a no-no at the moment, until something changes.

SOLID!

My experience with this Airtel unlimited plan on 5G router is that it is manageable but not reliable. Network is down in the afternoon, on a week day, restarted router but I keep getting "Sign in to Airtel network" message.

GoodBoi1:
My experience with this Airtel unlimited plan on 5G router is that it is manageable but not reliable. Network is down in the afternoon, on a week day, restarted router but I keep getting "Sign in to Airtel network" message.

What I do is to just change the network from 4g to 5g NSA or back multiple times and I'm back.

oluwapoju:


Let them enjoy the moment until starlink roll out DIRECT TO CELL for Africa market

Na free? And you think it won't be expensive too for data and calls? Dey play.

twosquare:
You are speaking to the wrong person, bro. That is what I have been using for 3 months now, despite that network in my compound can be somehow. Check the attached pics of my speed this afternoon. Slightly above 20mbps in the morning (22 to 25). Location is Ile-Ife. I got mine 50k. I only recommend the Airtel's ZLT X25 and not the Nokia-branded own.

Why don't you recommend the Nokia branded router?

Sommyroy10:
Why don't you recommend the Nokia branded router?

Because there are features in the ZLT X25 that are not in it, as reported by s. You can switch network easily. Also, ZLT X25 comes with UPS. The ODU, on the other hand, needs to be plugged in, or you get a standby system for it. If network is somehow in your area, you can go for the Airtel ODU (branded Nokia). It is just a bit like Starlink in that it boosts network well, etc. You can see the image. Just have to be a bit techy.

oluwapoju:


Let them enjoy the moment until starlink roll out DIRECT TO CELL for Africa market

Direct To Cell makes me think about the iPhone's Emergency SOS via satellite, exclusive to iPhone 14 and later.

It might be one of those things that will require phones with special hardware specifications, and so the barrier of entry may be high for the African context.

Imagine buying a flagship device that costs over 1m (plus a monthly sub) to stay connected, versus buying a budget device, throwing in a SIM, and buying tiny amounts of airtime to use as you go.
The choice will be obvious for most people.

Also, it probably wouldn't even work indoors because of the whole "direct clear view of sky" thing. Lol.

There would have to be serious innovation to make Direct to Cell competitive with regular carriers in our context.

https://punchng.com/ncc-to-sanction-elon-musks-starlink-for-unauthorised-price-hike/

NCC to sanction Elon Musk’s Starlink for unauthorised price hike

georgee:
https://punchng.com/ncc-to-sanction-elon-musks-starlink-for-unauthorised-price-hike/

NCC to sanction Elon Musk’s Starlink for unauthorised price hike

The thing is, if FG allows Starlink to get away with this, our local service providers will have no choice than to also increase their own tariff.

dustmalik:

The thing is, if FG allows Starlink to get away with this, our local service providers will have no choice than to also increase their own tariff.

Gbaaam

dustmalik:

The thing is, if FG allows Starlink to get away with this, our local service providers will have no choice than to also increase their own tariff.

Isn't this a joke? They are working with dollar equivalents so if there's a huge increase in exchange rate, will their returns still be the same?

Starlink has been slow in Lagos for quite some time now. At least over the past week I’ve observed a very sharp drop in speeds. Today is worse. Struggling to get 20 mbps .

Samxie:


Direct To Cell makes me think about the iPhone's Emergency SOS via satellite, exclusive to iPhone 14 and later.

It might be one of those things that will require phones with special hardware specifications, and so the barrier of entry may be high for the African context.

Imagine buying a flagship device that costs over 1m (plus a monthly sub) to stay connected, versus buying a budget device, throwing in a SIM, and buying tiny amounts of airtime to use as you go.
The choice will be obvious for most people.

Also, it probably wouldn't even work indoors because of the whole "direct clear view of sky" thing. Lol.

There would have to be serious innovation to make Direct to Cell competitive with regular carriers in our context.

No, it's meant to work with existing phones, but yeah you need to be able to see the sky.

The Verge wrote about it: https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/12/23914081/spacex-starlink-direct-to-cell-satellite-internet-lte-connectivity
And they're even using it right now for hurricane relief efforts (but just SMS): https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/6/24263801/starlink-t-mobile-fcc-satellite-hurricane-helene

georgee:
https://punchng.com/ncc-to-sanction-elon-musks-starlink-for-unauthorised-price-hike/

NCC to sanction Elon Musk’s Starlink for unauthorised price hike

Back to Square one... I see the other Telcos revolting very soon...if this stands..

https://punchng.com/its-an-error-ncc-withdraws-press-statement-on-starlink/

jmaine:


Back to Square one... I see the other Telcos revolting very soon...if this stands..

https://punchng.com/its-an-error-ncc-withdraws-press-statement-on-starlink/

Na wa oooooo

Challspace:
Starlink has been slow in Lagos for quite some time now. At least over the past week I’ve observed a very sharp drop in speeds. Today is worse. Struggling to get 20 mbps .

Yours is still very fast. Here in Abuja, the last 2 days, it's been like 2- 8 Mbps.
Alot of my customers have also reported same. Same on Twitter

PrettyMuchNoOne:


No, it's meant to work with existing phones, but yeah you need to be able to see the sky.

The Verge wrote about it: https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/12/23914081/spacex-starlink-direct-to-cell-satellite-internet-lte-connectivity
And they're even using it right now for hurricane relief efforts (but just SMS): https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/6/24263801/starlink-t-mobile-fcc-satellite-hurricane-helene

Oh, cool. I'll read these articles.
Thanks a lot for sharing.

toluxa1:


Yours is still very fast. Here in Abuja, the last 2 days, it's been like 2- 8 Mbps.
Alot of my customers have also reported same. Same on Twitter

Just when I thought I was the only one having these horrible speeds. Though it's been generally bad for the past few days, but today's own is far worse.