We all here at the office have all but given up on Zain mobile internet. We are not particularly excited about Zain’s policy of limiting 3G access to postpaid subscribers only.

We know that many mobile internet users feel the same way too. Anyway, we haven’t touched Zain mobile internet in months, but that shouldn’t stop us from revisiting this subject, and ask current Zain mobile internet users whether or not Zain has reviewed that policy.

We know that Zain has at least one pocket-friendly package that has helped them keep some customers on their mobile internet plans inspite of their restricted 3G policy. But some of us are suckers for speed. Our jobs demand some minimum level of speed. And there was no way on earth that we were going to sign a contract just for that when alternatives were available. So, we dumped Zain mobile internet months ago. But that’s us.

One of the attractions of Zain’s pocket-friendly plan (we are thinking Zain Lite now, which costs N1,000 monthly) is that it is just convenient if all you need is something to use for email and light browsing on your phone. At the moment, only one other operator, Etisalat, offers a matching plan.

The official Zain Mobile Internet page gives the general impression that the restriction on 3G does not exist.

If you are on Zain prepaid, do you have access to 3G yet or are you still restricted to GPRS and EDGE? You tell us.

No; we are not being sensational. We have actually held back from writing about this, but for several weeks now, we have been getting better speeds over Glo’s GPRS/EDGE network than MTN’s 3.5G connection delivers – on the average.

Yes; there are times that the MTN 3.5G network wakes up and delivers, but it has been the exception for weeks. Meanwhile Glo GPRS/EDGE delivers between 20 kbps and 60 kbps, in comparison with the sub 10 kbps speeds we more often get on MTN 3.5G at our end here.

Sad; isn’t it? Isn’t it absurd that a network would spend billions of naira to invest in 3.5G infrastructure without developing the backend capacity to deliver 3.5G speeds?

It is obvious that the bandwidth at the disposal of MTN is not up to scratch to meet the demands of subscribers on the network. We are told by an informed source that the Glo-1 submarine cable went live a few weeks back. Perhaps that accounts for the good experience on the Glo network at the moment.

Any subscribers to Glo 3.5G out there who can comment on the kind of speeds they are getting on Glo 3.5G?

Glo announced its free video messaging some months back, but it didn’t quite fly. It looks like they are giving it another try. Here are the contents of an SMS sent out today:

Glo is at it again! Now you can send and receive a video message for FREE.

Experience one of the advantages of 3G on Glo Video Mailbox. It is an experience you have been waiting for. Simply dial 151 as a video call to activate and 154 as a video call to send a video message.

Call 121 or 200 for any assistance.

It is essentially the same announcement made backin October, but will it fly this time?

In 2007, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) issued 3G licences to four operators – MTN, Glo, Zain, and little-known Alheri. Since the issuance of the licenses, the other three operators have deployed and now offer 3G-based services to millions of subscribers across the country.

But not Alheri. Till date, the Dangote-owned company has nothing to show by way of deploying 3G services. However, Technology Times reports that Etisalat, the fourth GSM operator, is in talks with Alheri to buy the dormant 3G license.

If this pulls through, Etisalat will join the league of GSM networks offering 3G services, and the playing field become a little more level. Etisalat Nigeria currently deploys EDGE as a platform for delivering near-3G speeds. However, a 3G license will allow the youngest GSM operator to deploy HSDPA (3.5G) and HSUPA, delivering true broadband speeds to its fast-growing subscriber base.

Source

MTN has reviewed the cost of their 3G USB modems down to N8,500. All bundle packages still cost the same though, but if you have been wanting an MTN USB modem, this is a good time to get it.

If you want to subscribe to GloMobile’s prepaid internet bundle plans, you need to be well armed so as to have a pleasant experience with the service. Here are a few vital tips. Miss these and you will have issues.

1. Subscribe to the plan of your choice by sending the required SMS
To subscribe to a bundle plan, text “activate” to 127, and follow all instructions till you are successfully subscribed to the plan of your choice. By subscribing, your line should also be automatically provisioned for GPRS/EDGE/3G/3.5G.

Of course, make sure you have more than the required airtime already loaded on your line.

2. It works on both modem and phone
Regardless of what you are told, the service works on both modems and phones. It will work on your phone. But don’t bother arguing with anyone. Just smile and create a connection setting with the following parametres:

APN: gloflat
Username: flat
Password: flat

No proxies or ports required.

The above settings are what you need to use after activating the bundle plan of your choice. If you use any other APN e.g. Glodirect, you will still be billed 15 kobo per kb from your regular airtime balance.

3. Ensure that you have at least 1 kobo left on your line
The Glo system will keep you off GPRS/EDGE/3G/3.5G if you do not have any airtime left on your line after activation of the plan of your choice. If your balance reads zero after activation, you will not be able to browse.

4. You can also deploy the service using your phone as a modem with your PC
Simply enter the configuration settings published above in your phone’s PC Suite and connect. No proxies. No ports. No tweaks.

Related Articles:

1. Glo Introduces Pre-Paid 3G Packages
2. If it works on modem, it works on phones; stupid!

It all started sometime a few weeks ago…

The first issue was that on making a connection to the MTN internet service, it would often take as long as 3-5 minutes before the connection allowed you to browse. Pages simply would not load during this mandatory pause.

That was sorted out after about three weeks of this nagging issue.

Then about two weeks ago, many MTN mobile internet subscribers simply found out that they couldn’t browse at all. Again, this was solved after a number of days.

Almost immediately on the heels of that, I noticed that several mobile applications could no longer connect to the internet, including Gmail mobile, Nokia Ovi Store, and Windows Live. Others are reporting the same with Opera Mini. Perhaps the Opera Mini issue is not a deliberate blockage by MTN but a fallout of a bigger problem? Or perhaps this bigger problem is part of the result of MTN trying to block off illegal free browsing. Who knows?

But this is all becoming unbearable.

Then, it became next-to-impossible to load any secure site on my mobile browser via MTN.

To cap it all, from last Friday, some websites just do not load on MTN’s internet connection any longer – whether directly on mobile or via PC. Those sites are not experiencing server downtime, because they load on some other ISP connections.

These last three problems have remained unsolved till now. Does anyone know what is really going on with MTN mobile internet?

Extracted SMS sent around by GloMobile:

Glo is at it again… Now you can send and receive a video message for FREE. Experience one of the advantages of 3G on Glo VIDEO MAILBOX. It’s an experience you’ve been waiting for. Simply dial 151 to activate and 154 to send a video message. Call 121 for any assistance.

GSM operator, GloMobile has finally joined the train of pre-paid internet bundle plans. Before now, Glo pre-paid subscribers could only enjoy GPRS/EDGE/3G/HSDPA at the rate of 15 kobo per kb.

Now, pre-paid subscribers have access to bundle internet packages on the Glo network.

Here are the new pre-paid packages:

All Day (24-hour) Packages

• Always Day – N500 – 24 hours. Data cap: 50mb
• Always Min – N5, 0000 – 24 hours for 30 days. data cap: 1gb
• Always Max – N10, 000 – 24 hours for 30 days. Data cap: 3gb

I called customer care to source for more information on the above-listed All Day packages, but didn’t get through. For example, I wanted to know if there are any data caps on those plans.Updated, courtesy of brym!

Bundled Hour Packages

• G100 – N6, 000 – 100 hours. 3GB data cap with validity of 1 month
• G300 – N15, 000 – 300 hours. 3GB data cap with validity of 3 months

The Bundled Hour Packages simply limit the user to a cumulative number of hours. It does not seem that there are any data caps on these packages.Updated, courtesy of brym!

Flexi Packs

• G Leisure – N5, 000 – 30 days, 8pm to pam everyday + all day during weekend. 3GB data cap
• G Work – N6, 000 -30 days, 8am to 9pm. 3GB data cap

The Flexi Packs simply limit the user to a cumulative number of hours. It does not seem that there are any data caps on these packages.Updated, courtesy of brym!

Activation

To get started, simply text “activate” to 127 from your Glo line.

Brief Review

I pulled out my Glo SIM this morning, loaded N500 to test out the Always Day package. I received a set of instructions right after texting the required code and successfully subscribed within minutes.

I used it successfully on both my smartphone and on a USB modem connected to a PC. No problems either way, so you can “rule your world” whichever way you want.

I found the Glo 3G internet connection still quite stable and more responsive than MTN’s. This is an excellent move by Glo. The variety of packages is also good, though the fact that some of them cost just about the same sort of spoils the treat.

Hopefully, Glo’s new pre-paid internet bundles will take some pressure off MTN’s over-subscribed 3G network, especially seeing that Zain still limits 3G to postpaid (contract) lines.

I am doing this post from Accra, the capital city of Ghana. One of the uncomfortable things about travelling out of one’s native country is the prospect of being unreachable by your loved ones while on the move.

This used to be the case. Now, with voice and data roaming on mobile networks, it is fast becoming a thing of the past.

When my family and I left Nigeria on friday, thanks to seamless roaming on both MTN and Zain networks, we have stayed in touch on our regular GSM lines where each of those networks have coverage. For MTN, we had a signal most of the time and encountered black spots every now and then. This was because MTN has networks active in Benin, and Ghana.

On MTN, I received calls and SMS for free, and made calls at the same rate as subscribers on the host network pay. Unfortunately, data roaming did not work, so I was offline some time after we entered Benin till our arrival and settling down at Accra.

Zain data roaming worked once we got to Ghana, as there were no Zain networks in benin and Togo. My wife received calls for free as well and made calls to loved ones back home. As for data roaming on Zain, while there is GPRS/EDGE/3G/3.5G coverage, her Zain Nigeria line won’t even indicate the presence of that.

PS: The Zain Nigeria website says that data roaming is available in Ghana on “Tigo (Millicom)”. Why not on Zain Ghana?

I purchased a Zain Ghana SIM for mobile internet use. It came pre-activated for internet. All I had to do was load airtime, enter the settings manually, subscribe to a plan, and I was good to go. EDGE coverage is strong at our location, and I am posting this on Zain Ghana internet.

Our holiday spot, Atlantic Resort, has a Wi-fi hotspot. I will be subscribing as soon as I can get my lazy butts off the bed and out of the chalet.

This is Yomi Adegboye reporting live from Ghana for MobilityNigeria.com.

Everyone wants a 3G phone these days. Okay, not everyone. I know a number of people who do not give a chicken leg for such things as 3G, 3.5G, et al.

If and when you do go shopping for a 3G phone, please be sure to note that some 3G phones will not work with our 3G networks here in Nigeria.

It really is simple: the Americans have their own 3G frequency bands – HSDPA 850 / 1900, different from what Europe and the rest of the world generally uses – HSDPA 2100 MHz.

The sad (and outrageous) part is that some importers bring in American-type 3G phones, the ones specified as HSDPA 850 / 1900. These will NOT work with our 3G networks.

The bunch of rogues or ignoramuses (depending on which category the erring retailer may fall under) who sell these devices will attempt to convince you that these specs mean nothing. Do not give in to them, or else you will find yourself stuck with a 3G phone that cannot connect to a 3G network here.

If you are not into a lot of technical jargon, let me help break it down for you.

If you forget anything else, remember this one – if it does not say HSDPA 2100, UMTS 2100 or WCDMA 2100 on the sales box, it isn’t for use here.

HSDPA, UMTS and WCDMA all refer to 3G-based services, so don’t let those acronyms throw you. Simply look out for the figure 2100.

Again, if the phone is not specified as 2100, it isn’t for use here. Repeat after me, “2100 is the number“. Yes; I feel like a primary school teacher.

I held out for as long as possible, hoping against hope that Zain Nigeria would have a re-think about some of their services.

No; I wasn’t asking for too much. I only needed stable mobile internet services. Because this is 2009, I also wanted that internet connection to be high speed. GPRS is good. EDGE is faster. 3G is not bad. But in 2009, anything short of a 3.5G connection does not qualify as high speed.

Recently, a Zain official confirmed to me that 3G and 3.5G are available (officially) only on post-paid SIMs. He spent time trying to convince me to migrate my line to a contract package. But I know better. I’ve had my fingers burnt on contracts a couple of times. I know others who have too.

But I was willing to stay with Zain on their pre-paid platform. You see I have high-speed internet connection at the office and at home, so I could tolerate GPRS or EDGE when out and about.

Then suddenly, Zain internet went bunkers. Tolerating GPRS/EDGE was one thing. Tolerating GPRS/EDGE that was not working was… well… you get the picture.

‘Dayo and others who know me well have been wondering why I have stayed with Zain this long. They know I normally have no qualms changing my line. It baffles them. It sort of baffles me too.

I finally gave in this morning. I just could not bear it any longer. I got myself a SIM from another network. When I popped in the new SIM, 3G/3.5G internet was ready and waiting. My Xperia X1 simply connected on schedule to download my mails. What bliss!

I am sure that Zain works for some people – perhaps people who want nothing than just voice and SMS; people who are not so into mobile internet; and people who do not need a high speed connection.

Mobile internet is primary on my list. SMS follows. Voice comes last. Yes; I’m wierd. Welcome to my world.

No; I am not so naive as to think that I won’t experience any issues with the new network. In Nigeria, that is wishful thinking. But at least, whatever it is I have to tolerate, I now have high-speed internet on the go. At least when it works.