MTN just dumped its 3‑, 6‑ and 12‑month bundles—only 480 GB/quarter and 800 GB/year remain. We decode the price maths, reveal NCC‑driven motives, highlight rival and fibre options, and share hacks to stretch every megabyte until better deals surface.

Early in 2025 MTN Nigeria quietly shrunk its catalogue of long‑term data plans. The familiar 3‑month, 6‑month and 12‑month tiers that once ran from 60 GB to 4.5 TB have vanished from MyMTN, 312# and SmartSMSSolutions—except for two survivors:

New Line‑up	Data	Validity	USSD / SMS	Price	Cost / MB
480 GB Quarterly	480 GB	90 days	*312*133# / SMS 133	₦90 000	₦0 .19
800 GB Yearly	800 GB	365 days	*312*186# / SMS 186	₦125 000	₦0 .16

Everything else—3‑month 200 GB, 6‑month 1.6 TB, year‑long 1 TB to 4.5 TB—has been retired. MTN has not issued an official statement, but three factors likely explain the cull:

1. Impending NCC price‑band review – Removing discounted mega‑bundles avoids contractual headaches when new tariffs land.
2. Sky‑high operating costs – FX pressure and diesel prices make deep‑discount plans harder to sustain.
3. Shift to fixed broadband – More users now stream on home fibre/Wi‑Fi; demand for huge mobile bundles is softening.

What the Cuts Mean for You

• Fewer renewal‑free options – Power users must either buy the 480 GB or 800 GB tier—or fall back to monthly bundles.
• Higher cash outlay – The entry ticket for a long‑term plan is now ₦90 000, up from ₦30 000 when the old 60 GB 3‑month pack existed.
• Better ₦/MB on paper – The 800 GB yearly bundle still beats any monthly plan at ₦0.16/MB, but you must swallow the upfront fee.

Comparing the New Long‑Term Bundles

Scenario	Best MTN Option	Why
Solo heavy streamer	480 GB / ₦90 000	~160 GB per month for three months; lower risk than paying ₦125 k upfront.
Family router / SME office	800 GB / ₦125 000	Works out to 66 GB per month for a year at the lowest consumer ₦/MB.

Alternatives Outside MTN

Provider	Bundle	Price	Data	Validity	Notes
Airtel	500 GB	₦110 000	500 GB	180 days	Better mid‑term option but slightly higher ₦/MB (₦0.22).
Glo	Always‑ON 1 TB	₦150 000	1 TB	365 days	Cheap ₦/MB but Glo’s 4 G coverage matters.
Fiber ISPs (Tizeti, Spectranet)	Unlimited	₦19 000‑₦25 000 / month	∞	30 days	If fibre/Wi‑Fi is feasible, this crushes mobile costs.
Starlink Roam	Unlimited	₦38 000 / month	∞	30 days	Satellite fallback in remote areas—high upfront hardware.

Data‑Saving Hacks While You Wait for Better Deals

1. Schedule updates overnight on Wi‑Fi.
2. Run video at 720 p (cuts use by ~45 %).
3. Enable “Data Saver” in Chrome, Instagram and YouTube.
4. Cap hotspot users with router quotas.

Will the Big Bundles Come Back?

Insiders say MTN may resurrect 1 TB–4 TB tiers after NCC finalises new pricing, but expect steeper rates. Keep tabs on MyMTN promos and SmartSMSSolutions alerts—flash sales often re‑introduce retired plans for a weekend.

Conclusion

For now, MTN loyalists hunting long‑term value have two choices: 480 GB for three months or 800 GB for a year. Both still deliver better ₦‑per‑MB than stacking monthly 25 GB or 45 GB packs, but they demand far larger upfront payments than before. If that’s a stretch, compare rival networks’ big bundles or shift heavy streaming to home fibre where possible. Data prices are in flux—shop smart, monitor usage, and be ready to pounce if MTN’s mega‑plans make a comeback.