Why I Use Both Airtel and MTN: A Personal Network Survival Tactic

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Currently, I use both Airtel and MTN, and to be honest, it’s not because I just love using two SIM cards or enjoy switching between them. It’s more of a survival tactic—especially when it comes to dealing with poor network issues in Nigeria. The idea is simple: when one fails, the other might save the day.

In my school, network issues are almost part of the timetable. It’s one of those places where signal bars seem to play hide and seek. You could be on a video call today with no problems, and by the next morning, even sending a WhatsApp message becomes a struggle. But among all the networks, I’ve come to realize that MTN tends to be more reliable. That’s why I personally admire MTN—it has a way of working even in places where you would least expect a network to survive.

For the past few days now, we’ve been going outside school for our I.T. program. The location we’re visiting is honestly not the best when it comes to network coverage. Airtel practically gives up there. It’s like it takes one look at the environment and decides, “Nope, not today.” But somehow, MTN still manages to stay afloat. It might not be working very fas as it should, but then it still gets the job done. That ability to hold a little signal in the middle of nowhere is what makes me stick with MTN.

That said, no network is perfect. I remember a particular period back when I was in 300 level. I still remember it clearly because it was one of the most frustrating network experiences I’ve ever had. We were on campus, and out of nowhere, MTN just stopped working. Completely. It wasn’t a case of “slow” internet. No, this one was more like “ghost mode.” No bars. No service. Nothing. And the worst part? I had data on MTN, but nothing on Airtel at the time. I couldn’t even switch.

To make matters worse, most people around me were also MTN users, so we were all stuck together in that digital blackout. I had planned to do several things online that day.. There were messages I needed to reply to and a few things I was researching. Everything had to be placed on hold just because the network decided to disappear.

That experience taught me something important—never rely on just one network provider in Nigeria. No matter how reliable it may seem, anything can happen. Since then, I’ve made it a rule to always have at least one backup SIM. It may sound like a small thing, but it has saved me a lot of stress.

So yeah, that’s why I walk around with both Airtel and MTN. It’s not even about luxury. It’s about survival in a country where good internet can sometimes feel like a miracle. If one fails, the other might come through—and honestly, in this digital age, that makes all the difference.

Posted Using INLEO