ComboBasic gives you 12 k/sec voice and PAYG data, ComboBlack slashes voice to 11 k/sec and throws in 7 GB. We benchmark both against MTN, Airtel and Glo SME bundles, add dual‑SIM tactics, migration codes and real‑world ROI maths so you can pick—and save—confidently.

By 31 March 2025 every Nigerian network—under the Nigerian Communications Commission’s directive—implemented a 50 % price adjustment . The default 9mobile prepaid call now bills at 42 kobo per second , closely mirroring MTN’s new ₦13.8 per minute headline on Pulse (23 k/sec).

For small‑to‑medium businesses, that hike translates into thousands of naira bled monthly unless you jump onto a voice‑optimised bundle. 9mobile’s Combopak suite is tailor‑made for that rescue mission:

Although ComboValue and Premier sit in the middle, the most common decision SMEs face is **“entry level” (ComboBasic) versus “all‑in” (ComboBlack) . This deep dive focuses on those two extremes, because picking wrong can swing your annual telecom spend by double‑digit percentages.

Why ComboBasic & ComboBlack Survived The 50 % Hike Unscathed

Unlike 9Konfam—which nudged its main‑account rate to 31 k/sec—Combopak kept its 11–12 k/sec sweet spot to stay attractive for voice‑centric teams. 9mobile instead trimmed profit on PAYG data (raising it to 60 k/MB in ComboBasic) and introduced a 100 % data‑bonus on repurchase to lock users in. That is why data‑heavy teams naturally gravitate toward ComboBlack.

Combopak Mechanics Refresher

• Calls inside bundle are billed first at plan rate (12 k/sec for Basic, 11 k/sec for Black) until minute quota is exhausted.
• Out‑of‑bundle calls continue at the same rate—no nasty jump to default tariff.
• Data counts down from your pack or bills PAYG (60 k/MB) if you pick Basic.
• Closed User Group (CUG) activation (₦1 000 one‑off per line) makes on‑net calls among staff zero‑rated—huge for internal comms.
• 100 % data bonus on repurchase within 30 days applies to ComboValue, Premier and Black—but not Basic.

• MTN Nigeria Call Tariffs 2025: The Definitive Post-Hike Guide For Every Type Of User
• Airtel SmartTRYBE 2025: The Youth-First Tariff That Still Outsmarts Nigeria’s New Prices
• Airtel Flexi Bundles 2025: The All-In-One Pack That Outsmarts Nigeria’s New Tariffs

Cost‑Per‑Second Showdown

Effective Economics (VAT‑Inclusive)

Observation: ComboBasic is voice‑only value; its PAYG data is pricey. ComboBlack, after one repurchase, halves its cost per MB, rivalling Glo’s SME Flexi bundles.

Break‑Even Voice Usage

How many seconds must your team talk before Basic’s cheaper entry fee is outweighed by Black’s lower per‑second cost?

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CopyEdit

Let: CB = ComboBasic  rate   (12. 9k), CK = ComboBlack  rate   (11. 8k), Δ =  1. 1k/sec

Savings  on   voice   =  Δ × seconds spoken.

Extra  cash   upfront   =  ₦ 4   000. 

Break‑even seconds ≈  4   000  /  0.011  =  363   636  sec ≈  6   060  min per  30 ‑day cycle.

So if your team spends > 6 000 minutes/month (≈ 200 min/day), ComboBlack becomes cheaper overall —before you even count its data value.

Where Dual‑SIM Strategy Fits

Over 74 % of Nigerian smartphone users carry dual‑SIM devices (industry survey, Q2 2025). Dual‑slot flexibility lets SMEs:

1. Load voice‑heavy SIM with low kobo/sec (e.g., ComboBlack).
2. Load data‑heavy SIM on another network offering bigger megabytes (e.g., Glo Biz Class, Airtel Flexi).

Popular Pairings

Cross‑Network Comparison (Voice‑Centric Bundles, May 2025)

Competing data drawn from network product pages & recent tariff round‑ups.

Key Takeaway: Even after the NCC hike, ComboBlack retains the lowest per‑second billing (11 k/sec) among mainstream SME bundles . ComboBasic’s 12 k/sec beats MTN’s BizPlus voice rate but loses ground on data.

• MTN Nigeria Call Tariffs 2025: The Definitive Post-Hike Guide For Every Type Of User
• Airtel SmartTRYBE 2025: The Youth-First Tariff That Still Outsmarts Nigeria’s New Prices
• Airtel Flexi Bundles 2025: The All-In-One Pack That Outsmarts Nigeria’s New Tariffs

Real‑World Use‑Case Modelling

Scenario 1 – Two‑Person Consultancy

• Monthly voice per line: 400 min
• Data: Emails & light browsing (1 GB each)

ComboBlack wins by 34 %.

Scenario 2 – 10‑Line Sales Team

• Monthly voice per line: 300 min
• Data: 500 MB each

CUG zero‑rates on‑net calls, so internal chatter is free. ComboBlack, strategically shared, again beats Basic .

ROI & Breakeven for Mixed Call‑and‑Data Teams

Migration & Management Codes (2025)

USSD codes run on either SIM slot; if dialled from a roaming network, you will incur roaming USSD fees.

Advanced Dual‑SIM Stacking Tips

1. Coverage Fail‑over: 9mobile’s urban‑focused 3G/4G means rural teams may lose bars—keep an MTN or Airtel SIM in the second slot for redundancy.
2. Split Billing: Map voice to ComboBlack and data to Glo SME Flexi or Airtel’s cut‑price weekend bundlesVanguard NewsVanguard News.
3. Time‑of‑Day Optimisation: Use the secondary SIM’s night‑only or weekend packs for heavy downloads; ComboBasic/Black handle daytime voice reliably.
4. CUG Across Networks? Not yet; CUG is intra‑9mobile. For cross‑network internal calls, negotiate “closed user groups” under MTN BizPlus or Glo Business Flexi if several staff already carry those SIMsGlo World.

• MTN Nigeria Call Tariffs 2025: The Definitive Post-Hike Guide For Every Type Of User
• Airtel SmartTRYBE 2025: The Youth-First Tariff That Still Outsmarts Nigeria’s New Prices
• Airtel Flexi Bundles 2025: The All-In-One Pack That Outsmarts Nigeria’s New Tariffs

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does ComboBlack data roll over if I renew late?
Only if you repurchase before expiry—then unused data plus the 100 % bonus carry into the next 30‑day window.

Q2. Can ComboBasic subscribers later upgrade to ComboBlack mid‑cycle?
Yes; dial *246*4*32# . Remaining PAYG voice/data continue to bill at the 11 k/sec in‑bundle rate once the upgrade takes effect.

Q3. How much does CUG activation cost?
₦1 000 once per line. Thereafter, on‑net calls within the group are zero‑rated while your Combopak is active.

Q4. Are international calls discounted in Combopak?
No—standard 9mobile international tariffs apply. Classic Postpaid still offers the lowest 15 k/sec to five top destinations.

Q5. My USSD purchase fails—what next?
Top‑up airtime via SmartSMSSolutions (https://xmx1.net/buyairtime), wait 60 seconds and redial―network congestion, especially after the 2025 price revision, is the usual culprit.

Verdict: When to Choose Each Combopak

• Pick ComboBasic if your micro‑team:
• makes < 200 minutes of external calls a month per line,
• already has an alternative data SIM,
• or needs the lowest upfront cost with no bundle‑tracking.
• Pick ComboBlack if your staff:
• exceed 200 minutes monthly or need 1 GB+ data,
• can exploit the 100 % data bonus on repurchase ,
• want one invoice for voice and data instead of juggling SIMs,
• or intend to activate CUG for free intra‑team calls.

Bandwidth and call patterns change—so audit usage quarterly. And remember: the cheapest plan is the one that matches real behaviour, not headline rates . Pair whichever Combopak you pick with fee‑free airtime from SmartSMSSolutions, and your telecom line‑item will stay lean—even as Nigeria’s tariff landscape keeps shifting.