Your guide to the cheapest data bundles in Ghana

Everyone loves a fast internet connection, but the average data user in Ghana, we know is not happy due to speed and cost. Could that mean that, of the five major network providers in Ghana, there’s none that offers great value for money when it comes to 3G internet data bundles? Join me as we cover some of the cheapest data bundles one can find in Ghana.

THE ULTIMATE DATA BUNDLES IN GHANA

This is for power users who are willing to take things overboard and maybe overkill via all angles. If you’re looking to get bored downloading and uploading, this section is yours.

If you want up to 500GB of data, Airtel Ghana’s XXL bundles have got you covered! Think of what you want to do with 500GB within 30 days! What could you possibly do? Let’s say you have 30GB of personal home videos to upload? Maybe some are in 4K. Done! 470GB left. Perhaps you want to download the Android Source code too. Done! You still have 400GB left!

What will you do with it?

They say Visual Studio is cool so you want the entire suite of programs that make up the studio. We’re still left with even more to play with. Mass Effect 3, FIFA 2016, Windows 10 ISO , Microsoft Office 2016 and BluRay versions of Captain America: Civil War, Batman vs Superman, Suicide Squad, Ghostbusters, and the entire nine seasons of ‘The Big Theory’ in 720p file format will still not be enough to exhaust 400GB.

With the above tariff, you’re sure to get 1GB for GHS1 (GHS1 = $0.25). It doesn’t get better and cheaper than this, does it?

I know what you’re thinking, ‘What good is all of this if I can’t get to open a page fast enough?’

Actually, it is good (provided you’re not at Tantra Hill), so good there’s no better way to put into perspective than to show an example. The example below refers to non-peak hours. But be assured of at least 8Mbit/s during peak hours.

For a 3G data bundle, I am open to any rival of such an amazing deal anywhere else in Africa or beyond.

An office of 30 workers could still make use of this gigantic bundle each month with a surplus, I believe. Although more users connected might mean a bit of stress on the network, if your office doesn’t use it for streaming video content or upload / download of multimedia content, simply using this to open webpages and maybe write blogs will work very well for you. Plus the subscription is flexible and you’re good to adjust from XXL to perhaps XL whenever you want after you’ve exhausted your current bundle. The 30 days starts counting from the day of subscription.

How to subscribe

• Dial *125# and select “Other bundles”
• Select “XXL Bundles” and follow the onscreen instructions.

AIRTEL SIKA KOKOO

If you’re looking for some 20GB of data at GHS30 for your monthly use, then look no further than the Airtel Sika Kokoo Promotion. This is different from the Ultimate Data Bundle discussed above.

As it stands now, it is the best data bundle in Ghana for average users on a 3G network I can think of. I stand to be corrected, thus if you come across or know any data bundle from another network in Ghana that trumps the Airtel Sika Kokoo, do well to draw my attention to.

Let’s look at this way. 750 MB everyday for 30 days amounts to more than 22GB of data for just GHS30 ($7). Tell me, where in the world can I get this on a 3G network?

The average user is unlikely to pull GHS500 out of the pocket each month for the ultimate data bundle. Consider the Airtel Sika Kokoo as an alternative for mid-power users, who want to get more done for relatively less price.

You might not have heard of it yet. Airtel Sika Kokoo is one of the promotional campaigns the company hardly talks about, because of how awesome it is! This promotion allows users to subscribe for 750MB of data for just GHS1 ($0.26)!

How to subscribe

To enjoy Airtel Sika Kokoo, follow steps below:

• Make sure you’re unsubscribed to the Browse Chaw Service. Do so via dialing *520#and selecting ‘Unsubscribe’ from the options
• Now, the Siki Kokoo part, dial *477# and follow the prompts.

Let’s look at this way. 750 MB everyday for 30 days amounts to more than 22GB of data for just GHS30($7). Tell me, where in the world can I get this on a 3G network?

Troubleshooting

There’s so much obscurity about how to subscribe to Airtel Sika Kokoo and what works for one here might not for the next neighbor. That being said, let’s look at these workarounds.

“I can’t Subscribe”
Trust me, you can! Airtel has placed restrictions on the service (it is only available in the northern regions, Brong Ahafo, Eastern and the Volta region of Ghana), thus depending on the region you find yourself in at the point of subscribing, you might be refused. No worries.
If you’re not able to, wait until the next day, or try subscribing again after midnight.

“I’m subscribed, but no 750 Mb when I check bundle”
Yes. If you don’t have more than GHS1 credits, Sika Kokoo won’t complain; you’ll still get the confirmation you’ve subscribed, but it actually won’t subscribe so make sure you have more than GHS1 cedi.

“Sorry, you’re not eligible”
The reasons might be:

• You’re subscribing with a phone with 3G data enabled. Switch data off or use a ‘yam’
• You are still subscribed to the ‘Browse Chaw’ promotion. Unsubscribe first
• You have unsubscribed but haven’t given Airtel enough time. If after 6 hours still having same issues, try again the following day
• As a last resort, which I recommend when the problems are persistent, grab a new SIM card

VODAFONE X

Although Vodafone X bundles won’t give you 20GB for 30 days, Vodafone X-treme offers pretty attractive data bundles. For instance, GHS35 a month is going to give you some 3.5GB data for any arbitrary data use and 1.5GB purely for social media (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat).

I remember Vodafone coming to my rescue when I visited my brother in Bimbila. The Airtel Sika Kokoo and MTN whatever didn’t mean anything, but Vodafone did.
Keep this data bundle in mind. It might come handy one day when you’re at a remote corner in Ghana.

How to subscribe

• Dial #5888* to subscribe for an Xtreme bundle.
• Follow the onscreen prompts

MTN UNLIMITED NIGHT BUNDLES

One of my favorite data bundles is the MTN Night Bundles. Enjoy 5GB of data from 12 midnight till 5AM for just GHS3! There’s also another package where users can enjoy 3GB of data from 3AM – 5AM for GHS1!

They list the data bundle as ‘Unlimited’, however, the Terms & Conditions conveys a different message — once subscribed, you will be told fair usage policy applies and your data speed will be throttled after exceeding a 5GB (or 3GB) cap.

With the MTN Unlimited Night Bundle, you get the opportunity to consume 5 GB (or 3GB) of data at 4- or 3G speed, and when you exhaust that before the 5 AM, you’re throttled down to 2G speed.

How much data you could use before throttled down to 2G was pegged at 3 Gig for many months previously, however, that changed recently, when I noticed a 5 Gig cap indicated instead.

When the throttle cap was 3 Gig, I remember exhausting that within 20 minutes after midnight. That night, the speed was monstrous, and the download list was enormous!

I exhausted 3 Gig in less than a 20 minutes one night.

I have repeatedly shared amazing speeds I do achieve with the Night Bundles. The MTN Night Bundle is ideal for heavy duty download/upload work during off-peak hours.

How to subscribe

• Dial *138*1*4#
• Follow the onscreen prompts to choose your preferred Unlimited Night Bundle

tiGO TRIBE

Although this kind of data bundle provision doesn’t sound all too good for me, I am more than happy to share. It might be all the social media ninjas might be in need of.
Basically, tiGO Tribe is more on social media and less on data that you could actually use to browse the rest of the internet, aside Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp.
Here’s what you get, specifically tailored to data, when you join the tiGO Tribe:

• Free Social Media every month (Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and IMO) – 1GB
• Free 100MB for internet browsing
• No subscription fee

How to subscribe

• Send ‘START’ to shortcode 5060 to subscribe.
• Done

GLO TWIN BASH

It is kinda hard to determine the reason behind the name choice, but don’t let the ‘twinness’ of this promotion from Globacom, a Nigeria Telco giant which recently entered Ghana’s voice and data arena, fool you.

I remember Globacom (short for Glo) made a scenery entry to Ghana’s market, however, unfortunately, for whatever reasons, many felt disappointed as Glo, they say ‘couldn’t live up to expectation’.

As to what people expected from them, it is hard to tell, however, the Globacom Twin Bash clears the minds of anyone doubting Glo’s data potency.

So, what does Globacom bring to the table with their Glo Twin Bash? A combined total of 12GB at GHS50 for 30 days. A combined total?

In fact, here’s the breakdown: GHS50 Cedis = 8,000MB of data; that is constant. In addition, out of Glo’s generosity and kindness, they top you up with an extra 4,000 MB of data, giving you 12,000MB of data.

Honestly, I think the Glo Twin Bash bundle prices are very reasonable and makes sense.

I find Glo’s approach interesting and worth it.

How to subscribe

• Recharge your Glo SIM using *127*PIN# and you will get the data plan with voice bonus relative to recharges made.
• Check the Glo table below for what you get when you recharge what, with regards to the Glo Twin Bash

Conclusion

Did we miss any amazing data bundle from your favorite network? Share with us in the comments below and we’ll update the post accordingly.

Don’t keep the tips above to yourself alone; Spread the word!

Featured image credit: 365psd.com

Post contributed by Rexford Nkansah. Check out his blog.