SmartValue is history, but affordable calling isn’t. We recap the retired 15 k/sec tariff, explain why it died, compare 2025 substitutes such as SmartTalk Ultra, TalkMore and Flexi, add airtime-buying hacks and answer the FAQs ex-SmartValue users keep asking.
Back in 2019, a five-minute chat to any network cost just ₦45 on Airtel’s SmartValue—about the price of a chilled sachet water and chin-chin today. Fast-forward to 31 March 2025: the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) authorised a 50 % upward revision of telecom tariffs, sending most call rates above ₦15 per minute . In the same breath, Airtel quietly retired legacy bargains such as SmartValue, Freedom and 6× Bundles.
Why rummage through a discontinued tariff? Because millions of Nigerians built their budgeting habits around SmartValue’s simplicity. Understanding why it disappeared and how its DNA survives in current bundles is crucial to making an informed switch—especially when every naira feels lighter now than this morning.
Hook: We’ll prove before the FAQs that you can still achieve a lower effective call rate than SmartValue’s iconic 15 k/sec—even in 2025’s harsher price climate—if you combine two modern Airtel products the right way.
SmartValue: The Basics, At A Glance
|
Feature |
Historic SmartValue Offer (2017 – 2023) |
|
Local voice |
15 kobo/sec (₦9/min) to all networks, from first second |
|
Local SMS |
₦4/SMS |
|
PAYG Data |
₦3.072/MB |
|
International calls/SMS |
Standard rates |
|
Daily access fee |
None |
|
Migration code |
*314# (repurposed in 2024 to SmartTalk) |
SmartValue’s attraction was its one-price-fits-all maths: no welcome bonuses to track, no daily fee, no time-of-day gimmicks—just 15 kobo every second you talked.
Timeline: Rise And Fall Of SmartValue
|
Year |
Milestone |
Impact |
|
2015 |
SmartValue launched after Airtel withdrew 2Good Premier |
Widest adoption among traders & SMEs |
|
2018 |
Freedom Plan introduced at identical 15 k/sec but new code *152# |
Two parallel “value” tariffs confuse market |
|
2021 |
*314# silently rerouted to SmartTalk promo |
New migrations bypass SmartValue |
|
2023 |
Freedom pushed as primary flat-rate; SmartValue hidden from web |
Existing SV users “grand-fathered” |
|
Dec 2024 |
Internal memo: SmartValue to sunset Q1 2025 |
Auto-migration roadmap prepared |
|
Mar 2025 |
NCC price hike; Airtel retires SmartValue & Freedom; users moved to SmartTalk Ultra |
15 k/sec era ends |
Why Did Airtel Retire SmartValue?
- Profit Squeeze – Diesel, security and FX costs nearly doubled the cost to carry a minute of voice.
- Regulatory Simplification – NCC urged clearer tariff menus; duplicate flat-rate plans were culled.
- Marketing Focus – Airtel pivoted to bonus-driven onboarding (400 % on SmartTalk Ultra) instead of permanent ultra-low rates.
- Code Reassignment – *314# was needed for SmartTalk; keeping two plans on one code risked customer-care chaos.
Where Were SmartValue Users Moved?
|
Old Plan |
Automatic Migration (31 Mar 2025) |
Immediate Change Users Felt |
|
SmartValue |
SmartTalk Ultra |
Call rate rose to 25 k/sec but new SIM-style bonuses credited on next recharge |
|
Freedom |
SmartTalk Ultra |
Same as above |
|
6× Bundles |
N/A (discontinued earlier) |
— |
Airtel also sent SMS explaining that SmartValue’s code now moves customers to SmartTalk and advising them to dial * 121# to explore alternatives.
2025 Plans That Replace SmartValue’s Outcome
|
Plan |
Core Mechanics |
Effective Voice Rate |
Daily Fee |
Extras |
Ideal For |
|
TalkMore 500 |
50 min, 14-day pack |
₦10/min (16.7 k/sec) |
None |
Predictable budgeting |
Ex-SV users with 60-150 min/month |
|
Flexi 1 000 |
20 min + 1.2 GB + 5 SMS |
50 k/min (≈13 k/sec) |
None |
Data + voice in one purchase |
Mixed users |
|
SmartTRYBE |
30 k first 90 s → 13 k/sec |
None |
₦25 night 250 MB |
Students, night owls |
|
|
SmartTalk Ultra |
25 k/sec flat |
None |
400 % welcome bonus |
Very light callers, new SIMs |
Key Observations
- TalkMore beats classic SmartValue on per-minute cost if you always exhaust the pack.
- Flexi 1 000 sacrifices a pricier minute to deliver 1.2 GB of data—something SmartValue never addressed.
- SmartTRYBE undercuts everyone after you hit 90 seconds of daily talk.
The Hook Fulfilled: Beating 15 kobo/Second In 2025
Pair TalkMore 1 500 (150 min @ ₦1 500) with SmartTRYBE night bundles for browsing.
- Voice cost → ₦10/min = 16.7 k/sec.
- Data cost → ₦0.10/MB (₦25/250 MB).
Now layer a 2 % airtime discount from SmartSMSSolutions (steps below). Effective voice drops to ≈16.4 k/sec and midnight data remains 90 % cheaper than SmartValue’s ₦3.072/MB. That’s less cash and far more utility than the beloved old plan.
Buying Airtime For Less With SmartSMSSolutions
- Visit:
https://xmx1.net/buyairtime - Select operator: Airtel → enter number & amount (e.g., ₦1 500).
- Choose payment: USSD, bank transfer or card.
- Pocket instant discount: Up to 2 % back, which TalkMore turns into an extra 3 voice minutes for free.
Keep receipts; business customers can book airtime as communication expense.
Extra Cost-Cutting Tips
|
Scenario |
Recommendation |
Savings |
|
Calls > 10 min |
Use WhatsApp Audio over Wi-Fi |
≈ ₦0.30/min |
|
< 30 s check-ins |
Stick to SmartTalk Ultra PAYG |
Locks cost to ₦7.5/call |
|
High-volume weekends |
Stack TalkMore 100 packs |
Maintain 16 k/sec without big cash outlay |
|
Data-only days |
Buy ₦100 daily mini-plan via 312# |
₦1.5/MB vs ₦4.6 PAYG |
Frequently Asked Questions
|
Question |
Answer |
|
* Can I still dial 314# to get SmartValue? |
No. It migrates you to SmartTalk Ultra. |
|
Was there ever a daily access fee on SmartValue? |
Never—zero fees till retirement. |
|
Why does SmartTalk Ultra look expensive at 25 k/sec? |
New SIMs get 400 % bonus; effective rate drops if you use bonuses first. |
|
Best straight-forward low call cost today? |
TalkMore bundles for upfront minutes; SmartTRYBE after 90 s daily threshold. |
|
Any single plan offering 15 k/sec now? |
No Airtel plan. Glo 11 k offers 15.5 k/sec but adds ₦15 daily fee. |
|
How do I know my current Airtel tariff? |
Dial *121# → Billing & Tariff → My Plan. |
|
Can I combine TalkMore with SmartTRYBE night data? |
Yes. Tariffs govern basic billing; bundles always consume first. |
Conclusion: SmartValue’s Spirit Lives On—Choose Wisely
SmartValue earned its name by stripping voice pricing to bare metal. Economics and regulation killed it, but savvy combinations of today’s Airtel products can reproduce—sometimes beat—its legendary 15-kobo magic. Use TalkMore or SmartTRYBE for calls, lace your midnight browsing with ₦25 night bundles, buy airtime a shade cheaper via SmartSMSSolutions, and keep checking Airtel’s * 121# menu for flash promos. In a post-hike Nigeria where every kobo counts, that layered approach is the true smart value.