Understanding SME Data and Data Gifting Across MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile
The world of data plans in Nigeria can be confusing, especially with terms like SME Data and Data Gifting thrown around. While both options allow users to share data, they differ in purpose, source, and pricing and knowing these differences helps users and VTU resellers like Inlomax make smarter choices.
SME Data (Small and Medium Enterprise Data) is a special data bundle designed mainly for business resellers. It allows platforms like Inlomax to buy large data volumes at discounted rates directly from telecom partners and then sell smaller portions to customers. SME data is typically cheaper, faster to deliver, and ideal for those running data reselling or bulk-purchase businesses.
On the other hand, Data Gifting is a retail feature meant for personal use. It allows an individual to buy a data plan and share a portion of it with friends or family usually within the same network. Unlike SME data, gifting plans are tied to standard retail prices and are often more expensive because they’re sourced directly from the telecom’s consumer packages.
For MTN, SME data uses a dedicated sharing system where resellers can transfer data from their SME wallet using USSD codes or APIs. Data gifting, however, works through the standard *131# menu or the MyMTN app. The same logic applies to other networks but with different delivery methods and transfer rules.
Airtel’s SME plans allow registered resellers to distribute data through a corporate wallet. The platform gives instant delivery and larger data validity. Data gifting, meanwhile, uses the *141# service, meant for personal sharing and not for reselling.
Glo operates slightly differently, but the core principle remains the same. Its SME data packages are for bulk data resellers and business accounts, while data gifting remains open to all users. Glo’s data gifting tends to have limited transfer frequency compared to SME transfers.
For 9mobile, SME data sharing is done through corporate accounts and reseller APIs, while gifting is managed via the *229# menu or the 9mobile app. Resellers prefer SME bundles because they’re more flexible and can be automated easily through VTU platforms like Inlomax.
The major difference across all networks comes down to pricing and usage. SME data is cheaper, transferable to multiple users, and business-focused. Data gifting is retail-based, slightly more expensive, and ideal for personal sharing. Understanding these differences helps VTU platforms manage pricing and customer expectations better.
In conclusion, both options have their place in Nigeria’s growing data economy. For users, gifting remains a convenient way to help others stay online. But for resellers and VTU operators like Inlomax, SME data remains the smarter, scalable, and more profitable option to serve thousands of customers daily.