The MTN FiberX is one of the few truly unlimited internet data services in Nigeria. Unfortunately, it has one flaw, at least for a country with an unstable power supply. You need a constant power supply to use the MTN FiberX consistently, unlike MTN MiFi and direct phone SIM card internet, which have constant power backup, thanks to their built-in battery.
How Does the MTN FiberX Work?
For the sake of the fixes that we will be recommending in this article, it is essential that you first understand how the MTN FiberX works if you are considering getting one.
The MTN FiberX is a fiber-optic-based internet service that involves connections from a central data center to your home. Not to bore you with too much technical jargon, imagine it like a typical connection to the national grid. You have the electricity distribution company connecting your home to the nearest transformer.
The fiber optic cable is connected to a router device that has both POE and WiFi. Power over Ethernet (POE) is a technology that sends both electrical power and network data through a single Ethernet cable. It requires an electrical power supply to function.
Poor Supply and MTN FiberX
To really enjoy the MTN FiberX and use its unlimited internet as much as you can before the end of the 30-day subscription cycle, you need an uninterrupted power supply. Staying in an area with poor power supply will make you subscribe to a normal data plan as backup despite having an unlimited internet source sitting idle.
So, what do you do?
There are different options to resolve this depending on your overall power needs at the place of use. If you typically power your home for most time of the day on generator, then you have no issue. You can use the service uninterrupted during the time the gen is powered.
Alternatively, you can get a solar-inverter setup or purchase a mini-UPS to solely power the FiberX setup. It is worthy to note that competitor’s Airtel ODU comes with its own mini-UPS unlike the FiberX; but for some reasons, we would recommend the FiberX over it.
MTN FiberX vs Airtel ODU: Data Cap and Power Consumption
- MTN FiberX is truly unlimited with no Fair Usage Policy (FUP), while the Airtel ODU is capped at around 1TB.
- Airtel ODU comes with a mini-UPS that can power it for around 30 minutes to 1 hour, while the MTN FiberX lacks the same.
- Airtel ODU consumes more power than the MTN FiberX. The 7.4V/5000mAh, 37Wh mini-UPS, even though it lasts for about 1 hour with the Airtel ODU, lasts about 4 hours with the FiberX.
How to Power Your MTN FiberX if There Is No Light
Living in Nigeria, interrupted power supply is inevitable even in high-end estates/areas. Here are some things to do if you experience frequent power outages in your area and want to enjoy your unlimited MTN FiberX subscription:
Use Your Typical Power Bank
To use your typical and popular power bank to power the MTN FiberX, you will need a USB charging cable with a DC boost converter to boost the power bank’s 5V to 9V or 12V, depending on your router’s power rating. It costs less than $2 on AliExpress or N2,500 on Jiji, a popular marketplace in Nigeria.
This is the cheapest option, considering many Nigerian smartphone users already have a power bank.
Connecting your MTN FiberX to the power bank can get you up to 6 hours of backup on a 20,000mAh power bank. Use a larger capacity for a longer backup.
Construct a Local Power Bank
You can search Jiji or other marketplaces in Nigeria to find local power bank builders. Meanwhile, it is important to read through reviews, as some of these vendors are dubious, promising more than the setup can really power. I have been a victim where the vendor built a power bank with a promised capacity of 120,000mAh and the ability to power my 40W-rated Surface Book 2 Laptop and my iWorld internet service set-up comfortably. The setup turns out to be subpar and was only used to power the router, after which it developed a critical fault after just one year. I paid over N120,000 to SolarVision for the so-called setup. I found out later that it was overpriced. So, watch out for dishonest vendors.
Buy a Power Tank
This is one of the most reliable backups if you cannot afford to build a proper solar setup. They are designed to be plug-and-play without any need for technical nuance. For as low as N80,000, you can get a 100,000mAh power tank to power the MTN FiberX. They also come with a warranty, and you can be sure you are dealing with a reputable vendor.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is the personal experience of the writer and not a standardized review, which may include tests conducted by professionals and authorised institutions.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be substituted for product recommendations, endorsements, or otherwise. Always do your personal research and conduct appropriate due diligence before committing to any service or product.
Also, the details shared and experiences are as of the time the writer experienced them. Real-time experience may now differ, as some reviewed organizations, agencies, companies, products, or services may have improved or declined after these experiences.
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