Confused by MTN’s rollover rules? Learn grace windows, auto-renew tricks and the hidden wallets that never carry forward. Covers Pulse data & Points, every XtraValue bundle, post-paid data, plus a 1–2 % SmartSMSSolutions discount to rescue expired MBs.
When bundle prices climbed with the new 30 k/s floor, losing even 100 MB felt like burning cash. MTN didn’t change its rollover mechanics—but the cost of ignoring them doubled. Knowing each plan’s grace period and “same-bundle” requirement now translates into real naira saved.
Snapshot Table – What Rolls Over And How
|
Plan / Wallet |
Rolls Over? |
Grace Period |
Requirement |
|
Pulse standard data bundles |
Yes |
7 days |
Auto-renew ON or buy same bundle inside 7 days |
|
Pulse Nightlife & Social (IG/TikTok/YT) |
No |
— |
Expires 6 a.m. same day or end of 3-day social term |
|
Pulse Points |
Yes |
365 days |
Remain on Pulse; migration wipes points |
|
XtraTalk / XtraData / Value Data |
Yes |
1 day |
Buy same bundle within 24 h after expiry |
|
XtraValue minutes & SMS |
Follow data rule |
1 day |
Same-bundle renewal |
|
XtraSpecial Post-paid main-data bundles |
Yes |
7 days |
Renew same category (e.g., Monthly) before grace ends |
|
XtraSpecial credit limit (₦) |
No |
— |
Clears each 1st of month |
|
BetaGist get-back minutes |
No |
— |
48-hour fixed expiry |
|
IDB international minutes |
No |
— |
Bundle expires or minutes used |
|
mPulse education data |
No |
— |
Expires at 7 or 30 days fixed |
Deep-Dive By Plan
Pulse – 7-Day Safety Net
- How it works: Standard daily, weekly and monthly bundles roll over automatically if you either (a) leave auto-renew ON or (b) repurchase the identical bundle within seven days of expiry.
- What never rolls: Nightlife 500 MB @ ₦75, the 1 GB IG/TikTok/YouTube bundle, and promotional freebies.
- Point tip: Pulse Points survive a bundle lapse but vanish instantly if you migrate away—burn them first.
USSD check: 3121# → Data Plans → Manage Auto-Renew.
XtraValue – The Relentless 24-Hour Clock
XtraTalk, XtraData and Value Data bundles all share a rigid one-day grace . Miss it, and unused MBs/minutes/SMS disappear.
Example: Buy V 1500 9 May 10 a.m., it expires 8 June 10 a.m.; re-buy the same V 1500 by 9 June 10 a.m. and everything rolls.
Switching bundle tiers (V 1500 → V 3000) counts as a new bundle—old units wipe.
Quick renewal SMS: send R + code (e.g., RV1500) to 312 while bundle is active.
XtraSpecial Post-Paid – Grace With A Bill
- Post-paid data bundles (6.75 GB, 14.5 GB, 35 GB, 40 GB) roll into the next cycle if you renew within seven days after expiry or before bill generation.
- Credit limit and unused airtime reset at 00:01 on the 1st; there is no rollover or refund.
- Bill must be cleared by the 5th to avoid suspension—use SmartSMSSolutions wallet to pay 1–2 % less and keep service live.
Rollover Hacks & Mistakes To Avoid
|
Hack |
Benefit |
|
Calendar Reminder – set phone alarm one day before bundle expiry |
Never miss grace window |
|
Dual-Bundle Strategy – on XtraValue, stack two identical bundles back-to-back; second one inherits leftover units |
Perfect for exams or promo season |
|
Auto-Renew OFF + Manual Re-Buy on Pulse |
Lets you control spend and still roll over, as long as re-buy is within 7 days |
|
SmartSMSSolutions Timed Top-Ups |
Schedule discounted airtime to drop minutes before auto-renew fires; ensures renewal succeeds |
Common errors
- Re-buying a different XtraData tier—old MBs flush.
- Toggling Pulse auto-renew OFF then forgetting to re-buy within 7 days.
- Migrating away from XtraValue before unused units roll—instant loss + potential ₦102 fee to return.
Real-World Rollover Savings
|
User |
Plan |
Units Saved |
Value Retained |
|
Sarah, undergrad |
Pulse 2 GB Monthly |
512 MB rolled |
Saves ₦1 120 (half-gig top-up) |
|
Dele, e-commerce seller |
XtraData 5 500 |
2 GB rolled |
Saves ₦880 of equivalent PAYG |
|
Mr. Kay, Consultant |
XtraSpecial Post-paid 40 GB |
6 GB rolled |
Saves extra ₦1 350 work data next cycle |