MTN’s withdrawal of key data plans has sparked immediate concern among users. Discover which bundles are gone, why the old links no longer work, and explore reliable 2025 data plan alternatives designed to meet your browsing, streaming, and communication needs.

MTN Removed Data Plans: What Happened?

MTN Nigeria’s data plan portfolio has seen a major overhaul this year. A number of popular plans, ranging from hourly bundles to yearly “mega” data packages, have been deactivated. As a result, some USSD codes no longer deliver data, and old online links now redirect to error pages or simply fail to load. For affected customers, this has caused confusion and necessitated a quick search for new, cost-effective alternatives.

Below is a table of the MTN data plans that have been removed. If you attempt to activate them through the listed USSD codes or old web links, you will likely encounter an error, zero allocation, or no prompt to finalize your purchase.

In the sections that follow, we’ll explore the top alternatives for each discontinued plan. We’ve drawn upon the most recent official MTN updates as well as our own analysis of available data plans for 2025.

Why Were These Plans Discontinued?

1. Regulatory Changes: MTN regularly revises their offerings in line with market regulations and internal pricing strategies.
2. Profit Margins: Some of the older plans offered extremely generous data allocations at a very low cost per MB, affecting MTN’s bottom line.
3. Migration to New Plans: MTN aims to simplify data bundles, encourage app-based purchases, and promote higher-tier plans with extended validity periods.

The immediate effect is that old shortcodes such as *312*127# or *312*128# no longer work to activate these specific bundles. Customers must now choose from the newly introduced or revised data plans.

Quick Overview of the 2025 MTN Data Plans

MTN’s current data offerings for 2025 focus heavily on monthly and multi-month packages. Hourly or daily “mega” bundles that were once cost-effective have largely disappeared or become drastically smaller in volume. According to MTN’s revised structure:

• Hourly Bundles: Significantly reduced data (e.g., 400MB per hour) compared to older 5GB or 10GB hourly deals.
• Daily Plans: Typically range from 75MB to 2.5GB, with the most cost-effective being a MyMTN App-exclusive 2.5GB plan.
• Weekly Plans: Offer moderate data volumes (1GB to 7GB) at mid-range prices.
• Monthly Plans: Now the primary option for large data allocations, with options going up to 250GB for heavy users.
• Bi-Monthly & Beyond: 2-month and 3-month packages are still in flux, with some introduced but not fully activated. 6-month and 12-month “yearly” bundles appear to have been withdrawn.

You can find a comprehensive breakdown in our reference blog, “Top 10 MTN Data Plans for 2025: Updated Codes & Pricing.” Below, we detail specific alternatives to each removed plan, so you can quickly find a replacement that suits your needs.

Removed Plans vs. Their Best Alternatives

The following sections map each discontinued plan to one or more recommended alternatives from MTN’s updated 2025 offerings. This will help you transition smoothly without overpaying or sacrificing too much data volume.

1. 5GB Hourly Bundle → Recommended Alternative: 400MB Hourly Bundle

• Old Plan: 5GB Hourly Bundle (*312*127#)
• Status: Discontinued
• Previous Appeal: Massive data for just one hour—great for quick downloads/updates.
• New Alternative: 400MB Hourly Bundle
• Code: *312*126#
• Price: ₦100 for 400MB (1 hour)
• Why This Alternative? Although drastically smaller than 5GB, it’s the only remaining hourly plan. If you need a brief internet boost (e.g., emergency software updates), this is your fallback. However, cost per MB is significantly higher than before.

Pro Tip: For heavy downloads or video streaming, hourly bundles are no longer economical. Consider a short-term 2-day or weekly plan if you need large amounts of data quickly.

2. 10GB Hourly Bundle → Recommended Alternative: 400MB Hourly Bundle or 2-Day Plan

• Old Plan: 10GB Hourly Bundle (*312*128#)
• Status: Discontinued
• Previous Appeal: Extremely cheap cost per MB, perfect for large, immediate downloads.
• New Alternatives:

1. 400MB Hourly Bundle (*312*126#) – See details above.
2. 2GB 2-Day Plan (*312*180# for ₦1,000)

• Offers more extended usage (48 hours).
• While not 10GB, it’s significantly more data than 400MB if your downloads need more than an hour.

Recommendation: If your need for data is more than 400MB, the 2-day plan ensures you can spread out usage without the extreme cost of multiple hourly add-ons.

3. 1GB Daily Plan (MoMo Only) → Recommended Alternative: 1GB + 3 Mins Daily Plan

• Old Plan: 1GB Daily Plan, available only via MoMo payments.
• Status: Removed
• Previous Appeal: Convenient one-day plan at a decent rate, especially via MoMo.
• New Alternative: 1GB + 3 Mins Daily Plan
• Code: SMS 155 to 312 or dial *312*155#
• Price: ₦350
• Validity: 24 hours
• Bonus: 3 minutes of voice calls

Why This Alternative?

• Comes closest in data volume (1GB) for a daily plan.
• Cost includes additional voice minutes, which could be beneficial for quick calls.

4. 2.5GB Daily Plan (MyMTN NG App Only) → Recommended Alternative: 2.5GB Daily Plan (Currently Available Via App or USSD)

Important Note: MTN originally offered a 2.5GB daily plan exclusively through the MyMTN NG App. That specific plan was withdrawn, but a similarly structured 2.5GB daily plan is now available again—albeit at a slightly updated pricing or USSD code.

• Old Plan: 2.5GB Daily Plan (App-Exclusive)
• Status: Removed from older iteration
• Previous Appeal: Best cost-per-MB for a daily plan, app-based discount.
• New Alternative: 2.5GB Daily Plan
• Code: May vary; Some channels still direct you to the MyMTN NG App or require card payment.
• Price: ~₦750
• Why This Alternative? Essentially the same plan with minor pricing or activation code tweaks.

Action Point: If you can’t find it on the MyMTN NG App, try USSD or online self-service portals for the updated daily plan specifics.

5. 3.5GB 2-Day Plan (MoMo & Card Only) → Recommended Alternative: 3.2GB 2-Day Plan

• Old Plan: 3.5GB 2-Day Plan
• Status: Removed
• Previous Appeal: Versatile short-term option with MoMo or bank card payments.
• New Alternative: 3.2GB 2-Day Plan
• Code: *312*180#
• Price: ₦1,000
• Validity: 2 days
• Data Volume: 3.2GB

Comparison: While 3.5GB was slightly higher than 3.2GB, the difference is marginal. The new 3.2GB plan is the closest match and remains the best 2-day option in the revised lineup.

6. 200MB 3-Day Plan → Recommended Alternative: 2-Day or Weekly Plan

• Old Plan: 200MB 3-Day Plan (*312*113#)
• Status: Discontinued
• Previous Appeal: Low-cost, 3-day validity for very light usage.
• New Alternatives:

1. 2-Day Plan (starting from 2GB @ ₦750 up to 3.2GB @ ₦1,000) – More data but shorter validity.
2. 5GB Weekly Plan (*312*143# @ ₦1,500) – If you can spend a bit more, you get a week-long usage plus significantly more data.

Recommendation: If your usage is extremely light, the 2-Day plan can suffice. But if you require flexibility, the 5GB Weekly plan may be more cost-effective and practical.

7. 350MB + 3 Mins Weekly Plan → Recommended Alternative: 500MB + 3 Mins Weekly Plan

• Old Plan: 350MB + 3 Mins Weekly (*312*102#)
• Status: Removed
• Previous Appeal: Budget-friendly but very small data volume.
• New Alternative: 500MB + 3 Mins Weekly Plan
• Code: *312*103#
• Price: ₦500
• Validity: 7 days

Comparison:

• Offers more data (500MB) with the same voice bonus.
• Price is typically in the same range.
• Still among the smaller weekly bundles, so if your data needs have grown, consider the 1GB or 1.5GB weekly plan with free voice minutes.

8. 750MB Weekly Plan → Recommended Alternative: 1GB + 5 Mins Weekly Plan

• Old Plan: 750MB Weekly (*312*750#)
• Status: Removed
• Previous Appeal: Slightly under 1GB at a lower cost.
• New Alternative: 1GB + 5 Mins Weekly Plan
• Code: *312*142#
• Price: ₦800
• Validity: 7 days
• Bonus: 5 minutes voice + additional YouTube data

For those who need a bit more data within a week, this plan is fairly close in cost while providing extra data and voice minutes.

9. 15GB Weekly Plan (MoMo & Card Only) → Recommended Alternative: 7GB Weekly Plan or Monthly Plans

• Old Plan: 15GB Weekly Plan (card-based)
• Status: Removed
• Previous Appeal: High-volume data for a single week, ideal for short-term heavy usage (e.g., working on large projects).
• New Alternatives:

1. 7GB Weekly Plan

• *312*181# for ₦3,000
• Lower data volume but still among the bigger weekly plans.

2. 75GB Monthly Plan

• *312*150# for ₦20,000
• If you need large chunks of data, monthly may be more practical post-removal of the 15GB weekly.

Recommendation: If you need truly heavy short-term usage, consider multiple recharges of the 7GB plan or switch to a monthly plan for better cost per MB.

10. 600GB 3-Month Plan → Recommended Alternative: 200GB 2-Month or 90-Day Combo Plans

• Old Plan: 600GB 3-Month Plan (*312*134#)
• Status: Removed
• Previous Appeal: Huge data volume for a quarter, suitable for businesses or remote work.
• New Alternative: 200GB 2-Month Plan
• Code: *312*138#
• Price: ₦50,000
• Validity: 60 days
• Data Volume: 200GB

While there are rumors of a 480GB 3-Month Plan at around ₦120,000, this is not fully live or reliably activated yet. The 200GB 2-month plan is currently the safest bet for bulk data.

11. 800GB 6-Month Plan → Recommended Alternative: 150GB–200GB 2-Month Plans (Renew as Needed)

• Old Plan: 800GB 6-Month Plan (*312*115#)
• Status: Removed
• Previous Appeal: Semi-annual plan eliminating frequent renewals.
• New Strategy: Multiple 2-Month Renewals
• Use either 150GB (₦40,000) or 200GB (₦50,000) every 2 months.
• While less convenient than a single purchase, it’s the closest in cost-per-MB without a 6-month bundle in place.

12. 1TB, 2.5TB, 4.5TB - Yearly Plans → Recommended Alternative: High-Volume Monthly or 2-Month Plans

• Old Plans:
• 1TB Yearly (*312*135#)
• 2.5TB Yearly (*312*136#)
• 4.5TB Yearly (*312*137#)
• Status: All Removed
• Previous Appeal: Ultra-long validity for heavy consumers, unbeatable cost per MB in the past.
• New Strategy: Go Monthly or Bi-Monthly
• 250GB Monthly: ₦55,000 each month
• 200GB 2-Month: ₦50,000 every two months
• Adjust your purchases monthly or every two months according to usage.

Observation: These old “mega” yearly deals had some of the lowest cost-per-MB rates. Their removal means you’ll have to piece together your data needs with multiple monthly/bi-monthly bundles—at a higher cumulative cost.

Comprehensive Alternatives Table

Below is a concise table mapping each removed plan to its recommended alternative:

Broader Context: The 2025 MTN Data Price Hikes

As reported in the updated “Top 10 MTN Data Plans for 2025” blog, MTN’s data bundles underwent a sharp price increase, in some cases up to 200% higher than before. The removal of old hourly and yearly mega plans signals a new pricing strategy:

Short-Term Plans Are Less Attractive

• Hourly deals went from 5GB/10GB down to 400MB at higher per-MB costs.

Monthly and Bi-Monthly Plans Dominate

• The best cost-per-MB rates (around ₦0.22–₦0.25) are locked behind expensive 2-month or high-volume monthly bundles.

App and MoMo Exclusives

• MTN often reserves its most appealing daily or weekly offers for MyMTN NG App or MoMo payments, nudging subscribers toward digital platforms.

How to Adapt to the New MTN Data Landscape

1. Plan Ahead: If you’re a heavy user, consider purchasing data in larger volumes (monthly or 2-month). Although the upfront cost is higher, you’ll save on the cost per MB.
2. Stay Updated: MTN is still refining these bundles. Keep an eye on official announcements and reputable blogs to avoid missing new deals.
3. Use the MyMTN NG App: Some daily and weekly bundles have better rates or exclusive perks when you buy via the app.
4. Monitor Your Usage: With some old favorites gone, recalibrate how you consume data. Keep tabs on streaming quality and background data usage to stretch your plan.
5. Compare Plans Before You Buy: Short-term bundles may seem attractive, but often a weekly or monthly plan provides a better overall value if you need consistent connectivity.

Word of Caution: Old Links & Codes

• Deactivated Links: If you have bookmarked old links from MTN’s website or blogs referencing removed plans, they will likely redirect to error pages now.
• Invalid USSD Codes: Using any of the USSD codes listed in the “Removed Data Plan” table will not activate these bundles. You may receive an “Invalid response” or no data allocation at all.

Make sure to rely on updated USSD codes and official channels. This will save you time, money, and the frustration of unfulfilled data purchases.

Final Thoughts

The discontinuation of these 14+ MTN data plans marks a turning point for many subscribers in Nigeria, especially heavy users and those who relied on hourly or yearly “mega” deals. While the immediate effect is higher cost-per-MB, MTN’s new offerings also reflect a push toward digital platforms (MyMTN App, MoMo) and frequent subscription renewals (monthly or bi-monthly) for larger data allocations.

Key Takeaway

If you’ve lost your favorite plan, review the alternatives we’ve listed to find the best short-term or long-term bundle. Although the new structure can feel restrictive, planning your usage and taking advantage of app-exclusive deals will help you navigate MTN’s data landscape effectively in 2025.

 

Thank you for reading! We hope this guide helps you navigate MTN’s newly updated data offers and find the perfect alternative to your discontinued plan. For more details on MTN data bundles, pricing, and activation codes, check out our referenced blog: Top 10 MTN Data Plans for 2025: Updated Codes & Pricing.

Stay connected and happy browsing!