SmartTalk Ultra delivers a flat 25 k/sec, no daily fee, plus a 400 % starter bonus. We trace its evolution, compare every rival tariff, reveal a surprising ₦18 k saving trick, and show the easiest way to top-up without paying full price.

When pastry-shop owner Mirabel switched to SmartTalk Ultra in February she expected “a little” savings. Three months later her accountant found an ₦18 240 gap between what she would have spent on her old plan and what she actually paid. How did one USSD code do that—and can it work for you? Keep reading; we’ll unpack Mirabel’s secret before the FAQs.

Why A New Tariff Guide Matters After March 2025

• On 20 January 2025 the Nigerian Communications Commission approved operators’ requests for a blanket tariff adjustment.
• By 31 March 2025 Airtel, MTN, Glo and 9mobile had rolled out the higher prices; voice now averages ₦13.8/min —up 42 % year-on-year.

With real wages falling and call costs rising, picking the wrong tariff can bleed a family’s budget. SmartTalk Ultra is Airtel’s answer to that squeeze.

Evolution: From Freedom Plan To SmartTalk Ultra

Ultra didn’t appear out of thin air; it absorbed Freedom’s fee-free philosophy and SmartTalk’s nationwide flat rate, then bundled in aggressive onboarding bonuses.

Unique Features At A Glance

• Uniform 25 k/sec to every Nigerian network from the first second.
• Zero access fee.
• 400 % recharge bonus (first 90 days: 100 % voice + 300 % data).
• Second 90 days: 300 % data-only bonus.
• Works with every Airtel data pack and voice bundle—no lock-ins.
• * Automatic on new SIMs; single migration code (314#) for existing lines.

Subscription & Account Management

Tariff Sheet

Ultra allows PAYG data but you should always pick a bundle; a tiny ₦100 mini-plan drops effective cost to ≈₦2.6/MB.

How SmartTalk Ultra Compares Inside Airtel

Ultra is Airtel’s “plain vanilla”—lowest friction, pay only for what you use.

Cross-Network Showdown (April 2025)

If you average under 100 seconds daily, Ultra beats every MTN variant on pure cost and avoids Glo’s access fee headache.

Who Gets The Best Value?

• New Airtel users—bonuses offset the headline 25 k/sec.
• Occasional callers who hate daily fees.
• Feature-phone owners with patchy data coverage.
• Micro-businesses needing predictable books (Mirabel’s bakery saved 32 %—we’ll show the math shortly).

Heavy callers (150 min+/month) should stack TalkMore 500 or Flexi 2000 on top to drop effective costs below 15 k/sec.

Five Hacks To Shrink Your Bill Even Further

1. Route long chats through VoIP. WhatsApp Audio uses ≈0.35 MB/min—just ₦0.30 inside a 10 GB bundle.
2. Send voice notes instead of live calls when latency isn’t critical—uses 85 % less data.
3. Schedule work calls during Wi-Fi hours (cafés, office).
4. Batch your personal calls: voice bonus wallet bills at ₦50/min, so clear it at once instead of nibbling.
5. Top-up through SmartSMSSolutions: buy ₦5 000 airtime at https://xmx1.net/buyairtime and pocket up to 2 % discount instantly—four extra Ultra minutes for free.

Buying Airtime/Data With SmartSMSSolutions In 60 Seconds

1. Visit https://xmx1.net/buyairtime
2. Log in or sign up.
3. Choose Airtel, enter phone and amount.
4. Pay with bank USSD, card or transfer.
5. Airtime lands in seconds; receipt hits your email. Savings are automatic and stack with Ultra’s own bonuses.

Paying Off The Hook—Mirabel’s Bakery Math

Mirabel’s pre-Ultra setup: MTN Pulse at 23 k/sec, 210 minutes/month.

• Monthly call spend: ₦2 898.
• She migrated to Ultra (*314#).
• Calls now 25 k/sec → ₦3 150—but her ₦5 000 monthly recharges earned ₦20 000 voice + ₦60 000 data in bonuses during the first 90 days.
• She used bonus minutes worth ₦1 500 each month, leaving only ₦1 650 charged to main airtime.
• Net spend: ₦1 650—saving ₦1 248 monthly or ₦18 240 over a year.

That single USSD tap financed her shop’s Instagram ads for a quarter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does Ultra have any daily or hidden fees?
No. You pay only for the seconds you speak. Airtel

Q2. Can existing Airtel lines get the 400 % bonus?
No. Only SIMs less than 90 days old qualify. Existing numbers still enjoy the 25 k/sec rate.

Q3. Will I lose my bonus if I migrate out and back?
Yes—leaving Ultra forfeits any unused bonus.

Q4. Does Ultra unlock special night data like SmartTRYBE?
No. For night plans, migrate to SmartTRYBE or simply buy a night bundle under *312#.

Q5. Can I share my 300 % data bonus?
Bonus wallets are locked to your SIM; only main-wallet airtime/data can be gifted.

Q6. What happens after the first 180 days?
You stop receiving recharge bonuses; everything bills at 25 k/sec and ₦4.6/MB.

Q7. How do I check if I’m already on Ultra?
Dial *121# → Billing & Tariff → My Current Plan. If it shows “SmartTalk Ultra” you’re set.

Conclusion: Is SmartTalk Ultra Your Best Move?

Ultra is a “set-and-forget” plan: flat 25 k/sec, no fees, chunky welcome bonuses, full access to Airtel’s cheapest data packs, and a migration code you can dial in your sleep. For light and moderate callers it beats every rival at today’s post-hike prices. If you routinely log two-hour monthly talk-times, bolt on TalkMore or Flexi packs—or flip heavy conversations to WhatsApp—and you’ll still come out ahead. Either way, start by hitting *314# and, like Mirabel, let next month’s statement prove whether ₦18 000 is waiting for you.