Why there shouldn’t be unlimited tariffs in Russia
One could sigh, remembering how great it used to be, when tariffs were unlimited and the grass was green. Unfortunately, unlimited tariffs were a utopia, showing that the operators’ marketing departments, due to their thirst for profit, do not see beyond their noses. And now we have to clean up the consequences of their thoughtless decisions.
Let me explain the idea with numbers. When operators offered unlimited tariffs in 2018, the average traffic consumption per subscriber was 4-5 GB. At the beginning of 2020, this figure had already grown to 10 GB. And by the end of 2024, consumption will be 23-25 GB. According to data from the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, over the past 10 years, Internet traffic in Russia has grown by an average of 26%.
That is, a tariff with unlimited Internet, the economics of which was calculated based on the conditional 5 GB per user per month, cannot work when the user consumes 5 times more.
Here, of course, there is a great temptation to say that this is what the operators deserve. The situation is somewhat similar to the story of those who took out a mortgage in dollars, and then in 2014 the ruble collapsed and the foreign currency mortgage holders went to protest. In the end, they were dispersed by riot police and told that it was their own fault and they should have thought better of it.
Unfortunately, in this case it doesn’t work that way, because if you allow subscribers to consume mobile traffic without control, the network quality will start to drop even faster. It’s better for everyone to have 20-30 GB per person, but the network works more or less, than if the network crashes due to several heavy subscribers, but there will be no limit.
A situation like in Sri Lanka may arise, where during my vacation I took a monthly tariff with some gigantic amount of Internet (more than 100 GB) only to realize that I physically will not be able to consume such a volume, since the mobile network is too slow. The mobile network speed was enough for web pages, to watch a video on YouTube in poor quality. And downloading a movie weighing 15 GB would take 18 hours.
So I wouldn’t be against it if operators united and cut off everyone who is on unlimited tariffs or consumes significantly more than average.
If you want a lot of Internet, then pay, fortunately almost all operators offer some options on how to get many gigabytes of traffic.
“Megaphone”
MegaFon is one of the most profitable options for those who value mobile Internet. The operator is the leader in speed and offers large volumes of traffic, but you will have to fork out. However, all expenses are affordable.
So, if you need a lot of Internet, you need to choose the “Premium” tariff, the package of which includes 60 GB of Internet.
Along the way, the tariff gives the opportunity to connect all “MegaSils”. “MegaSils” are options that allow you to optimize traffic consumption. According to research, 80% of the user’s traffic is spent on social networks, instant messengers and video. So with the help of “MegaSils”, the subscriber will not spend traffic on:
- social networks (on average will save 8 GB)
- messengers WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, IMO, TamTam, Snapchat (will allow you to save an average of 5 GB)
- YouTube and RuTube (where else can you watch all the pirated movies and save an average of 9 GB per month)
- use of the services Yandex.Music, Apple Music, Zvuk, VK Music, IVI, OKKO, START, Kinopoisk, Amediateka, PREMIER and the START online cinema (another saving of an average of 9 GB per month).
Additionally, you need to connect “MegaSila” “Bonus GB”, which will give 20 GB from the 4th month (10 GB in the first 3 months). And you should definitely connect the pre-5G option, which gives priority in busy locations.
And then you need to use the MegaFamily service. On the Premium tariff, when connecting to MegaFamily, the subscriber gets another 120 GB of traffic. It is assumed that he will share it among all family members, but why share if you can not share.
Thus, the total volume of available Internet traffic will be 200 GB starting from the 4th month. Plus unlimited messengers, social networks, music and video streaming. That is, 200 GB is the amount of traffic that can be spent on third-party needs.
And don’t forget about the option to transfer balances. Its peculiarity is that the transferred balances are valid only for the next month, and become unavailable in the third month. That is, the maximum volume of Internet traffic available to a MegaFon subscriber will be up to 400 GB. This is if we imagine that the subscriber did not use the Internet in the previous month or immediately used the “Tariff Restart” option. “Tariff Restart” is an option that allows you to write off the subscription fee and update service packages.
If the Premium tariff for 3,000 rubles per month seems too expensive, you can connect to the VIP tariff. And then the total volume of the Internet package, taking into account the MegaFamily and bonus gigabytes, will be 150 GB per month.
MTS
Unlike MegaFon, you can’t mess around with MTS. Only on the Ultra tariff for 2900 rubles per month does the operator provide 60 GB of traffic, while on the others – only 30 GB. And if you want more gigabytes on basic tariffs, then you need to connect an MTS Premium subscription, which provides 50 GB of traffic.
And then the dancing with a tambourine begins. Because previously the subscription was not combined with the Internet according to the tariff. That is, if the tariff gave 30 GB, and the subscription – 50 GB, then the subscriber had access to only 50 GB.
Since January 17, 2024, MTS has made changes and indicates that “if the tariff has a subscription fee”, then the subscription traffic of 50 GB is summed up with the traffic for the package, and if the subscription was connected to the tariff with a subscription fee before January 17, then it may not be summed up. To check this point, you need to connect the subscription and check the My MTS application.
While 50 GB is being used up, the services “Unlimited Videos”, “Unlimited Messengers”, “Unlimited Social Networks” do not work.
Thus, MTS’s maximum Internet volume is actually 50 GB, which will also have to be spent on messengers, social networks, videos, etc.
In theory, MTS (if the stars align) can provide 110 GB of traffic, i.e. 50 GB with a subscription and 60 GB with the ULTRA tariff. Please write in the comments whether your Internet package from the tariff can be combined with what the subscription provides.
A more realistic option is the turbo button, which allows you to add 40 GB of traffic to the package for 999 rubles. This way, you can get up to 100 GB under the Ultra tariff. Or 150 GB if you combine this tariff with a Premium subscription.
Or, as an option, you can take one of the basic tariffs, which have up to 30 GB of traffic. And connect “cubes” to it. This is an analogue of MegaFon’s MegaSil. Cubes provide unlimited messengers, video, social networks and allow you to transfer the rest. Some cubes can be included in the tariff, but you will have to pay extra for most. However, a set of a basic tariff with 30 GB, 40 GB of purchased traffic and paid cubes may ultimately be more profitable than the Ultra tariff.
MTS confuses with its complexity. The operator has piled up a multitude of different functions that are difficult to understand. And there is clearly no synergy here: one option can cancel the effect of another.
Beeline
Compared to MTS, Beeline will please you with its conciseness and simplicity. However, relatively recently the operator launched the “Appers give GB” campaign, which slightly complicated the perception.
So, Beeline has a maximum Internet volume in the tariff – 50 GB. So, the UP tariff with 50 GB, 250 minutes and unlimited messengers, music, social networks and video will cost 890 rubles per month. And as part of the promotion with “uppers” as a gift they will give 20 GB.
Beeline has a family option. But additional gigabytes are not given out there. In the summer, 50 GB were given out until July 31, but now the promotion has expired, although the banner has not been removed. If there are readers with a Beeline family subscription, they can try to open the Beeline app, go to the “Family” section and see if they have a banner there. If they do, then you need to click on it, and 50 GB will be added. I don’t have a banner.
Thus, the total amount of Beeline Internet is only 70 GB. Then you will have to buy 1 GB for 100 rubles.
Tele2, or t2
t2 is an operator for those who need not just a lot, but a lot of traffic.
t2 generously gives away gigabytes, allows them to be bought on the exchange, and most importantly, “the rest never burns out.” Thus, one of the subscribers of our telegram channel shared a screenshot like this, showing that he has accumulated 1 TB of traffic.
In the case of t2, you don’t even have to take the most expensive tariff. For example, even the “Everywhere Online” tariff gives 50 GB, plus the operator gives 50 GB every third month.
But the easiest way to replenish the amount of traffic is to go to the t2 market, where other subscribers sell unused gigabytes. The price of one gigabyte is 15 rubles, that is, 10 GB is 150 rubles, and 100 GB is 1,500 rubles.
The value of the operator is that, in essence, it gives the opportunity to get an infinite amount of traffic. Yes, you will have to pay for it, but this is at a “market price”. Beeline sells 1 GB for 100 rubles.
Conclusion
Now the tariffs look generally fair. Most subscribers get the optimal amount of Internet at an adequate price. At the same time, there is an option for those who need a lot of Internet. Of course, there are users who need at least 1 TB of traffic per month, but these are not tasks for 4G networks.
Tell us in the comments how much traffic you need per month. And in general, do you monitor the number of gigabytes in the tariff or just use it without paying attention.
Source: mobile-review.com
