MTN 5G network speed is unbelievable, but data depletion is a serious financial drain
I recently upgraded my router to the new MTN 5G broadband device. In terms of raw technological performance, MTN has done a phenomenal job. The internet speed is absolutely mind-blowing. I hit download speeds of over 300Mbps in my living room, allowing me to stream 4K movies on Netflix without a single second of buffering. The coverage in my area is rock solid. However, the rate at which data depletes on the 5G network is terrifying. A 50GB data bundle that usually lasts me two weeks on the 4G network now vanishes in exactly four days on 5G, even when my browsing habits have not changed. The data plans are simply too expensive for the average Nigerian to sustain on a 5G connection. MTN needs to introduce truly unlimited data plans to make this technology viable.
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Log in to Replyjosh
21 hours agoData depletion on 5G is not actually MTN stealing your data; it is basic physics. Because 5G is so fast, YouTube and Instagram automatically switch your videos to 4K resolution. A 10-minute video in 4K consumes 1GB. On 4G, that same video would play in 720p and consume only 200MB.
josh
21 hours agoYou are absolutely right about the cost. Buying the 5G router for over 100k and then spending 30k monthly on data is not sustainable. Fiber optic internet is much cheaper for heavy users.
josh
21 hours agoTo save data on your MTN 5G router, log into your Netflix and YouTube settings on your TV and permanently limit the streaming quality to 1080p. You will hardly notice the difference on a normal TV, but your data will last twice as long.
josh
21 hours agoThe network coverage is still very spotty. I live in Surulere. My router catches full 5G signal in the living room, but if I move it to the bedroom, it drops immediately to 4G LTE. The 5G waves cannot penetrate thick walls easily.
josh
21 hours agoI use the MTN 5G router for my office. It is fantastic during the day, but around 8 PM when everyone gets home from work and starts streaming, the speed drops drastically. The network congestion in Lagos is real.