CUG, PAYG, VPN, credit limit—one wrong guess and 2025’s steep tariffs swallow cash. This guide decodes the entire 9mobile glossary, shows real fees, hidden traps, dual‑SIM hacks and USSD shortcuts so you’ll never fear fine‑print again.
The 31 March 2025 NCC price floor pushed default prepaid calls to ≈ ₦13–₦16 /min and SMS to ₦6, forcing subscribers to mine every promo clause for savings. Yet 9mobile’s tariff sheets are littered with abbreviations—CUG, PAYG, VPN, VIP—whose meanings determine whether you save 70 % or lose twice the hike. This reference turns marketing buzzwords into line‑item clarity.
Quick‑Look Glossary Table
|
Term |
Stands For |
TL;DR Definition |
Typical Cost (May 2025) |
Where You’ll See It |
|
CUG |
Closed User Group |
Zero‑rated calls/SMS among pre‑registered 9mobile lines |
₦1 000 one‑off/line |
Classic Postpaid, Combopak, MoreBusiness |
|
PAYG |
Pay‑As‑You‑Go |
Data billed per KB when no bundle exists |
₦70/MB (9Konfam), ₦51/MB (default) |
Bonus wallets, expired bundles |
|
VPN |
Virtual Private Network (Short Code) |
Four‑digit extensions that route calls inside a corporate fleet |
Free (setup via account manager) |
Classic Postpaid, Combopak add‑on |
|
VIP List |
Very Important Person List |
Numbers that bypass whitelist/blacklist rules and DND |
Free (50 numbers) |
Classic Postpaid |
|
Credit Limit |
Postpaid Wallet Ceiling |
Max amount a Hybrid or Postpaid line can owe before receive‑only mode |
₦5 k–₦100 k default tiers |
MoreLife Hybrid, Classic Postpaid |
|
Spend Cap |
Maximum Allowed Usage |
USSD setting that bars calls/data beyond a set amount |
Free |
|
(All costs VAT‑exclusive unless noted.)
Closed User Group (CUG) — “Free” Isn’t Always Free
CUG is 9mobile’s enterprise darling: once activated, every call or SMS between registered numbers costs 0 kobo and doesn’t touch your bundle minutes. Perfect for internal chatter—IF you mind the one‑time ₦1 000 setup fee per line and remember that:
- Calls to numbers outside the CUG bill your normal tariff (11–31 k/sec).
- CUG ends the day your underlying bundle (Combopak or Classic Postpaid) expires; renew late and internal calls suddenly hit 42 k/sec.
- Cross‑network CUG still doesn’t exist in Nigeria; staff on MTN or Airtel can’t join.
Pro Tip: If you run a 10‑line Combopak team, paying ₦10 000 once can save ₦3 000+ every month on internal coordination.
How To Activate CUG (2025)
- Collect 9mobile numbers needing zero‑rated calls.
- Email list to your 9mobile account manager or visit an Experience Centre.
- Pay one‑off fee (can be invoiced on Postpaid).
- Receive SMS confirmation; dial
*200*1*5#to view group members.
Pay‑As‑You‑Go (PAYG) Browsing — ₦70/MB Sneak Attack
PAYG sounds handy—data without a bundle—but at ₦70/MB on bonus wallets (9Konfam) and ₦51/MB on standard prepaid, one hour of Instagram can annihilate ₦2 700.
When Does PAYG Trigger?
|
Scenario |
Result |
|
Bundle exhausted but data toggle on |
PAYG kicks in immediately |
|
Bonus data expired |
PAYG |
|
Phone auto‑updates overnight |
PAYG if no Wi‑Fi |
|
Double‑SIM phone switches data SIM |
Unused SIM may start PAYG |
How To Guard Your Balance
- Dial
*312#to buy at least a 1 GB bundle (₦431 avg) before surfing. - Disable background data on SIM slots carrying bonus wallets at ₦70/MB.
- Use SmartSMSSolutions to top up fast if caught without a bundle abroad.
Break‑Even: A mere 7 MB of PAYG equals 1 GB bundle cost—so never let PAYG exceed that bank‑alert threshold.
VPN Short Codes & Hunt Groups — Desk‑Phone Tricks On Mobile
Forget internet tunnels; in 9mobile lore, VPN means a Virtual Private Number: four‑digit extensions and hunt groups that make your mobile behave like an office PBX.
- Short Codes: Dial colleagues via 4‑digit numbers—faster and brand‑neutral.
- Hunt Groups: Ring multiple mobiles sequentially until someone answers; great for help‑desks.
- Cost: Feature itself is free on Classic Postpaid; calls inside hunt group still bill at 0 k/sec if CUG’d, else at plan’s voice rate.
ROI Example: A 5‑agent support team on Classic Postpaid reduced missed‑call churn by 16 % after enabling hunt groups .
VIP Caller Lists — Filter Noise, Protect Deals
Picture closing a million‑naira sale when a spam loan shark steals your screen. Classic Postpaid and MoreLife Hybrid solve this with a VIP List: up to 50 priority numbers that override Do‑Not‑Disturb, time‑of‑day blocks and even local network congestion.
|
Setting |
What It Does |
How to Use |
|
Whitelist |
Always lets calls/SMS through |
Add boss, top clients, spouse |
|
Blacklist |
Silences selected numbers |
Block tele‑marketers |
|
DND Bypass |
Overrides system‑wide quiet hours |
Ensure midnight OTPs arrive |
Cost: free. Edit in real time via the self‑care portal or dial *320*7# (Classic) / *253*7# (Hybrid).
Credit‑Limit Wallets — Postpaid Power Without Paper Chains
A Credit Limit is the ceiling 9mobile lets you owe on Hybrid or Classic lines before switching to receive‑only mode.
|
Tier |
Limit |
Ideal User |
|
Basic |
₦5 000 |
Light freelancers |
|
Standard |
₦20 000 |
Busy consultants |
|
Pro |
₦50 000 |
Small agencies |
|
Enterprise |
₦100 000+ (neg.) |
Corporate fleets |
Tips to leverage credit wisely
- Set auto‑pay via SmartSMSSolutions before day 30—late fee is 1 %/month.
- Dial
*253#to switch to prepaid wallet if you’re near the ceiling. - Monitor with SMS “BAL” to 320—saves nasty invoice surprises.
Spend Caps — Your Safety Net Against Bill Shock
A Spend Cap bars calls or data once a threshold hits.
|
Network Scope |
USSD |
Range |
|
Domestic (Postpaid) |
|
₦1 000 – ₦100 000 |
|
Roaming |
|
₦5 000 – ₦50 000 |
Set ₦25 000 before a two‑week trip—your phone blocks chargeable actions beyond that. Perfect for interns with company SIMs or kids with hand‑me‑down hybrids.
Roaming‑Specific Jargon
|
Term |
Meaning |
Gotcha |
|
Partner Network |
Foreign carrier that honours 9mobile bonuses (e.g., Vodafone UK) |
Wrong auto‑selection = standard ₦98/min |
|
Free Incoming |
0 kobo to answer calls abroad after ₦5 k recharge |
Fair‑use 100 min cap |
|
Super 50 Offer |
UAE voice/data pack @ ₦50/min |
Only Etisalat/du—no refund if you roam on STC Bahrain |
|
Travel Pass (MTN) |
24‑hour roaming bundle competitor |
Expires midnight local time |
Roaming rates influenced by the naira’s 40 % slide against the dollar in Q1 2025.
Tariff Myth‑Busters
|
Myth |
Reality |
|
“Bonus airtime rolls over if I recharge again.” |
No—9Konfam bonus vanishes after 7 days, even if you top‑up on day 6. |
|
“PAYG is disabled when any data bundle exists.” |
False—once bundle depletes, PAYG starts instantly. |
|
“CUG makes all calls free.” |
Only on‑net calls within the registered group are 0 k/sec; other calls bill normally. |
|
“Spend caps block WhatsApp.” |
Caps stop chargeable data; WhatsApp on Wi‑Fi still works. |
|
“Hybrid auto‑pays invoices with prepaid airtime.” |
Wallets are siloed—manual or automatic bank payment required. |
FAQs
Q1. What’s the quickest way to checkall balances—bonus, prepaid and credit?
Dial *310# . Hybrid lines receive a two‑page SMS: prepaid first, then credit wallet.
Q2. Does VAT apply to CUG zero‑rated calls?
No—0 k/sec times 7.5 % is still ₦0.
Q3. Can PAYG be permanently disabled?
Yes. Text STOPDATA to 229; re‑enable with STARTDATA.
Q4. Will a spend cap stop premium‑rated SMS?
No—caps cover voice and data only. Block premium SMS by texting STOP to 2442.
Q5. Is VPN short‑code service available on Hybrid?
Not yet—only Classic Postpaid and corporate Combopak bundles support it (as of May 2025).
Conclusion
Tariff jargon isn’t decoration—it’s the rulebook that decides whether the 50 % price hike hammers or helps your wallet. Master these core terms:
- CUG for free internal calls
- PAYG danger at ₦51–₦70/MB
- Credit Limit & Spend Cap for bill‑shock immunity
- VIP Lists and VPN Short Codes for professional polish
Combine knowledge with the right plan—9Konfam for data‑hungry light talkers, MoreLife Complete for daily callers, Hybrid for credit‑seeking pros, Classic Postpaid for enterprises—and top up through SmartSMSSolutions to bypass USSD bottlenecks. Armed with this glossary, every fine‑print line becomes a lever, not a landmine. Happy saving!