Updated April 2025, this guide walks you through every migration route to MTN BetaGist, decodes the “talk-6-get-3” rebate, shares real kobo-per-second savings, and includes airtime-discount tips via SmartSMSSolutions—plus FAQs and pro tricks.

The NCC’s end-March 2025 tariff review pushed Nigeria’s PAYG call floor to 30 kobo per second. In the same week MTN retired BetaTalk and quietly launched BetaGist as its new default prepaid plan. For subscribers who talk long and often, BetaGist’s “talk-6-get-3” mechanic can cut effective call costs to about 20 k/s—without daily access fees or complicated bundles. This guide details every migration method, explains the math behind the bonus, and shows you how to fund your line cheaper so you can squeeze every second out of your airtime.

From BetaTalk To BetaGist: The March 2025 Shake-Up

Date	Event	Impact
22 Mar 2025	NCC raises interconnect & floor price	Operators revise voice tariffs
25 Mar 2025	MTN issues SMS: “BetaTalk ends 31 March”	Users auto-migrated to BetaGist
01 Apr 2025	BetaGist live for new SIMs	30 k/s flat + 50 % bonus minutes

Why the change? BetaTalk’s 11 k/s first 60-sec rate became unsustainable against the new 30 k/s floor. MTN consolidated its call-bonus strategy into a single, simpler plan—BetaGist.

What Exactly Is MTN BetaGist?

Feature	Detail
Flat call rate	30 kobo/sec to all Nigerian networks
Get-back bonus	3 free minutes every time you spend 6 paid minutes (bonus valid 48 h, cap 6 000 min/month)
SMS	₦6 per message
Data PAYG	₦3.07/MB
Micro bundles	Betamix Mini ₦50 (40 MB + 1 min), Betamix Max ₦100 (100 MB + 2 min)
Migration cost	Free first move in 30 days; ₦150 thereafter (inbound)

Bonus Mechanics In Plain English

1. Make or accumulate six minutes (360 s) of paid local calls.
2. The network instantly credits your line with 180 bonus seconds.
3. Bonus minutes sit in a separate wallet, valid for 48 hours.
4. Keep talking—the cycle restarts after every 360 paid seconds.
5. Hard cap: 6 000 bonus minutes in any 30-day window.

Effective rate: On a 12-minute call you pay for 9 minutes and get 3 free → cost ≈ 22.5 k/s. On marathon chats the rate trends toward ~20 k/s.

All Migration Paths, Step-By-Step

Method	USSD / Action	Screens / Notes
Direct USSD	Dial *123*2*1# → “BetaGist” → confirm	Works on any MTN prepaid line
SMS Keyword	Text BG to 312	Free SMS; receive success text
myMTN NG App	Login → “Tariff Plans” → Personal → BetaGist → Confirm	Needs data or Wi-Fi
Zigi Chatbot	WhatsApp 09033000001 → “Hi” → Tariff plan → Personal → BetaGist	OTP required
New SIM	Buy & register SIM after 1 Apr 2025	Defaults to BetaGist out-of-box

Tip: If you are on Pulse or XtraValue and haven’t switched plans this month, migration is free. Otherwise, load at least ₦150 to cover the migration charge.

Cost-Benefit Scenarios

User	Monthly Call Time	Avg Call Length	Cost On Pulse (23 k/s)	Cost On BetaGist (with bonus)
Bola, Customer-Care Agent	10 h (600 min)	12 min	₦8 280	₦5 940 (28 % less)
Segun, Sales Rep	250 min	5 min	₦3 450	₦3 375 (2 % less—short calls gain little)
Ifeoma, Long-Distance Relationship	400 min	20 min	₦5 520	₦3 960 (28 % less)

Savings rise with average call length; users making mostly <2-minute calls may save more on Pulse.

Advanced Tips To Max Out Savings

• Cluster calls: Instead of five 1-minute calls, ring once for 6+ minutes to trigger a bonus cycle.
• Monitor bonus balance: Dial *310*5# anytime to check remaining get-back minutes.
• Pair with Betamix: Need quick data? Betamix Mini (₦50) adds 40 MB without tampering with your bonus cycle.
• Avoid penalty migrations: Plan switches reset your bonus counter; stay put for a full month to reap the 6 000-minute cap.

Buying Airtime For Less With SmartSMSSolutions

1. Open a free SmartSMSSolutions account on the web or Android app.
2. Fund your wallet via bank transfer, USSD or debit-card payment; the credit appears instantly.
3. Click Airtime & Data → Buy Airtime, choose MTN, enter the number and amount.
4. Because SmartSMSSolutions passes on wholesale commissions, you pay about 2 % less: a ₦1 000 recharge costs roughly ₦980.
5. Power-users can hit Bulk Airtime to top-up dozens of staff or family lines in one transaction. Target your BetaGist line and bank the instant saving—enough to fund several bonus minutes every month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
Do international or roaming calls qualify for the 6-for-3 bonus?	No. Only national outgoing calls from your main or XtraTime account earn get-back minutes.
What happens if I migrate out of BetaGist with unused bonus minutes?	They vanish immediately. Use (or gift via Betamix) before switching.
Is there a minimum airtime balance to trigger the bonus?	Any amount works; you just need enough to cover the six paid minutes.
Can I share get-back minutes with MTN Share?	No—bonus minutes are locked to the originating line.
How do I confirm my current tariff?	Dial 1231*2# and the system returns your active plan.

Conclusion: Should You Make The Jump?

Switch if:

• Your typical call lasts longer than six minutes—customer support, distance relationships, traders negotiating big orders.
• You don’t rely heavily on MTN’s Pulse Points or Nightlife data.
• You want a fuss-free flat rate with no daily access fees or bundle management.

Stay on Pulse or XtraValue if:

• Most calls finish in under two minutes.
• You burn through several gigabytes of data every week and cash-in Pulse Points.
• You prefer pre-paying for set voice-data buckets (XtraTalk/XtraData).

For the majority of talk-heavy Nigerians, BetaGist unlocks the lowest real-world kobo-per-second cost available after the March-2025 hike. Pair it with a SmartSMSSolutions 2 % airtime discount, and you claw back roughly ₦1 200 on a ₦5 000 annual spend—the equivalent of 100 extra minutes. Times are tough; your phone bill doesn’t have to be.