WiFi Router vs Mobile Data Bundles: Which is better in Uganda?

WiFi Router vs Mobile Data Bundles - ugtechmag.com
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Wifi Router Vs Mobile Data bundles, which is the best way to access the internet? It’s no secret that mobile data bundles in Uganda are incredibly expensive, and the basic 25mbs offered by MTN Uganda can’t stream an HD 30-minute video on YouTube.

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Unfortunately, Wi-Fi routers are also pretty expensive and their bundles start from high prices. However, there’s a catch! Wi-Fi routers offer abundant internet access. Their bundles are undepletable, because of the huge gigabytes and sometimes terabytes.

In this article, we’re settling the battle, WiFi Router vs Mobile Data Bundles, which one should you stick with?

Contents

Wifi Router Vs Mobile Data Bundles: Differences

Mobile/Cellular data is purchased as a data plan through telecommunication services. WiFi routers can be stand-alone devices used on a local area network or they can be supported by the same telecom companies that provide mobile data plans. These routers support the connectivity of more devices.

Related: Wireless/WiFi routers and their prices in Uganda – Buyer’s Guide

Mobile/Cellular Data (Pros and Cons)

Pros

➨Voice/data services are accessible even while roaming.
➨Works for both fixed and wireless telephone users.
➨Wireless, so doesn’t need cable connections
➨It is affordable to maintain in the short run
➨Upgradable
➨Connects immediately handset is turned on

Cons

➨Fewer data bundles if purchased don’t do much and are easily depleted
➨Macrocells are usually interrupted by multipath signal loss.
➨The potential is lower and depends on channels/multiple access techniques employed to serve subscribers.
➨Mobile data is not exactly private, so it has security vulnerabilities.
➨It is way more expensive over a long period of time.
➨It’s often affected by physical obstructions, especially in remote areas.

Wifi Router (Pros and Cons)

WiFi Router vs Mobile Data Bundles - ugtechmag.com
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Pros

  • Less Interruption – Wifi routers allow one to focus on their productivity instead of the machine itself or the data bundles possibly getting depleted.
  • Easy to Carry around – Wifi routers are quite portable such that one doesn’t have to worry about the transportation of the handy devies.
  • More Reliability – Due to their extreme connection speeds, wifi routers allow their users to get the most of their work done without any interruption.
  • Easy Installation – Installation of wifi routers is way easier as compared to wired internet connections.
  • Team Friendly – Wifi is very flexible in the sense that it allows usage of a single connection by several members of a team.
  • Cheaper in the long run – Compared to Mobile/Cellular data, wifi is cheaper because it doesn’t limit what one should use it for thanks to the abundant internet and fast connection.

Cons

  • Not Secure– While wifi might be very safe, it becomes untrustworthy when one invites several anonymous users to use the connection.
  • Limited Reach– Unlike Mobile/Cellular data, wifi routers are limited to a particular distance, unless you’re willing to carry it wherever you go.
  • Degrading speed with more devices – Yes, wifi routers are very fast until there are too many users. The connection slows down and becomes creepily annoying when there are many users.

Well, for starters, the economy demands that every citizen is working and earning regularly. Secondly, with the drastic improvement in technology, there’s a need for faster and heavier bandwidth. We are going to base on these two points to judge whether data bundles are better than Wi-Fi or vice versa.

Which is the best option?

Mobile/Cellular data bundles in Uganda are more expensive in comparison to the smartphones and computer generations that have emerged. For instance, a lot of phone services like Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Social Media completely depend on the internet. Ugandan data bundles are not sufficient to work with high-internet-consuming smartphones.

Cellular data

Therefore, technically, data bundles are very expensive, yet they have a number of limitations.

Turning to WiFi Router options, however, would be a better option because it offers more and it is more reliable if you are working from home.

A Wi-Fi router in Uganda costs between 120,000 to 350,000. A MiFi costs the same amount on the lower end. However, if you are to compare a WiFi router and a Mi-Fi, there is more you get from the router.

Related: MiFis and their Prices in Uganda – Buyer’s Guide

In conclusion, if you are working hard and putting in your very best and earning, you would be more comfortable switching to Wi-Fi routers in Uganda. However, if you are a middle-income earner, you better get comfortable with the mediocre cellular data bundles a little bit longer.