MTN Zone shut down years ago, but you can still make calls for the modern equivalent of 5 – 12 k/s. We explain why Zone vanished, reveal BetaGist, XtraTalk 5500 and mPulse as the best replacements, and show how a 1–2 % SmartSMSSolutions discount squeezes prices further.
Launched in 2008, MTN Zone used cell-site congestion and time-of-day data to slash local call rates by 30 – 95 %. One Zone flash could show 5 k/s in a sleepy suburb at 11 p.m., turning a ₦180 ten-minute chat into ₦50. Users dialled *135# to see the live discount before placing a call.
Why It Died
- Regulatory pressure: 2013–2015 NCC directives pushed operators toward transparent, flat pricing.
- 4 G roll-out: Dynamic discounting conflicted with VoLTE hand-offs across cells.
- Cost floor: The new 30 k/s floor (March 2025) made sub-10 k/s PAYG impossible without bundles.
MTN silently sunset Zone for new activations in 2017 and closed remaining users by late 2019.
Zone-Style Savings In 2025—Three Best Options
|
Plan / Bundle |
Effective ₦/Min When Used Correctly |
How It Replicates Zone |
Ideal User |
|
BetaGist (talk-6-get-3) |
≈ 20 k/s on 12-min+ calls |
Bonus minutes cut real rate by up to 33 % |
Marathon callers, distance relationships |
|
XtraTalk 5500 |
₦12.6 / min (438 min) |
Pre-pays huge minute bank below old Zone highs |
SMEs, hustlers making 15 min/day+ |
|
mPulse (9–15 yrs) |
20 k/s flat |
Lowest legal PAYG rate; matched Zone’s night lows |
Teens, boarding-school pupils |
Honourable Mention—Pulse Nightlife
Not a voice play, but its 500 MB @ ₦75 (₦0.15/MB) echoes Zone’s wow-factor discount for midnight data.
Head-to-Head Price Table (10-Minute Call, April 2025)
|
Scenario |
PAYG 30 k/s |
BetaGist (bonus) |
XtraTalk 5500 |
Saving vs PAYG |
|
Friend catch-up, 12 min |
₦216 |
₦162 |
— |
25 % |
|
Daily customer-care, 20 min |
₦360 |
₦300 |
₦252 |
17 – 30 % |
|
Teen to parents, 8 min |
₦144 |
₦144* |
₦96 (mPulse 20 k/s) |
33 % |
*Bonus triggers after 6 min, so 8-min call still pays for 6 + 2.
How To Activate The “New Zone” Plans
|
Plan |
Quick Code |
First Migration Fee |
|
BetaGist |
Dial 1232*1# or SMS BG → 312 |
Free first switch in 30 days |
|
XtraTalk 5500 |
Dial 3125500# or SMS V5500 → 312 |
Bundle cost only; auto-migrates to XtraValue |
|
mPulse |
Dial 3441# or SMS mPulse → 344 |
Free (age ≤ 15) |
Remember: a second tariff change inside 30 days costs ₦102.
SmartSMSSolutions Discount—Stretch Savings Further
- Fund wallet (web/app) via transfer/USSD/card.
- Top-up airtime—₦5 500 costs ≈ ₦5 390 – ₦5 445 (1–2 % off).
- Buy V5500 or load BetaGist airtime; discount wipes out 6–11 BetaGist minutes or 45 XtraTalk seconds.
Annual spend ₦66 000 on XtraTalk 5500 saves ₦660–₁ 320—enough for an extra weekly Nightlife bundle.
Frequently Asked Questions
|
Q |
A |
|
Can I re-activate the old MTN Zone code *135#? |
No—Zone is permanently decommissioned. |
|
Does BetaGist bonus work on international calls? |
No, national outgoing only. |
|
Will XtraTalk 5500 minutes roam? |
Yes, in USA, Canada, India, Malaysia, China. |
|
How do I verify minute balance? |
Dial *310# → “1 Bundle Balance”. |
|
Is mPulse limited to 15 yrs? |
Yes—MTN may auto-migrate at 16. |
Conclusion: Zone Is Gone, But The Discounts Aren’t
Nostalgia aside, today’s MTN bundles can still slash call costs to Zone-era levels—₦12 – 20 k/s—if you choose wisely:
- Marathon chatters → BetaGist.
- Voice-heavy SMEs → XtraTalk 5500.
- Teens on allowance → mPulse.
Fund each option through SmartSMSSolutions for an extra 1–2 % knock-off and you’ll talk for almost the same price Grandpa bragged about in 2009—without waiting for a cell-tower happy hour.