Introduction 

Mobile gaming is serious business in the Philippines. We have recently won gold at the SEA Games, have consistently dominated the esports world cup, and even have training schools to nurture future gamers. If you’re one of the people who want to level up and stand on the same playing field as our recent victors, you need to play more games, and that means subscribing to more mobile data plans.

Fortunately, you can do so without breaking the bank, thanks to affordable prepaid plans designed to cater to gaming needs. That said, what you really need to ask is: what is the best mobile data plan for your gaming goals, and which network carrier can continue offering the best promos for your usage habits? Read the rest of this article by DITO Telecommunity to find out the answers.

What Makes a Mobile Data Plan the “Best” for Gaming? 

What exactly makes a mobile data plan the “best” for gaming? In summary, the plan should offer high speeds, low latency, real-time responsiveness, and gamer-specific perks. We break down these factors below to help you find your ideal gaming plan.

Network Coverage 

You can subscribe to all the mobile data plans for gaming you want, but you can’t use any of them if you don’t have a signal. Before committing to a plan, or, much better, to a network carrier, you should ensure that there is network coverage in the places you often play your games in. Does your network cover your school, workplace, or favorite tambayan? Until you can confirm that, you can’t really say that you’re making the most of your plan purchase.

Another consideration is if you’re connecting to 5G networks. Unlike 4G, the next-generation cellular network is not as widespread, and because 5G cell towers must be located closer together, coverage areas are pretty limited. Expanding 5G connectivity is in the works, fortunately, and you should check whether your location is already covered from time to time.

Budget Match 

The best prepaid internet for gaming is the one that exactly fits your budget. Training to become better at mobile games does not have to come at the expense of your finances. Thankfully, many plans that are exclusive to gaming data are not that pricey and still offer a smooth mobile gaming experience, albeit limited by capped plans.

Your budget should also align with your time. For instance, if you can only allot an hour a day to Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, a DITO data sachet with 2 GB should be enough for a few matches. Afterward, you can always reload a much higher-tiered plan when you have more time to play. 

Easy Subscription

It can be a real bummer if you suddenly get interrupted during a game because your data runs out. But it happens; either because you’re too absorbed or you simply forgot to top up. When disruptions occur, you want to be able to reload quickly so you can return to the game as soon as possible. With that said, you should opt for mobile data plans bought online, like DITO’s promos, which are purchased via the DITO App.

Aside from easy subscriptions, a dedicated app from your network carrier is useful when tracking data usage and monitoring your load balance. You can use this information to learn the exact consumption for each game — helpful when adjusting your prepaid plan choices.

5G Capabilities 

Your mobile data plan should support 5G capabilities. Without it, you will suffer lag, delays, and interruptions, which won’t help if you’re training to make it big in esports. When choosing a promo, ensure that it offers high-speed internet, low latency, stability, and high bandwidth, as these factors directly impact your game performance. We further explain them below: 

High-Speed Internet 

You need fast download and upload speeds so that your game will load and update quickly. This requirement is crucial for graphics-intensive games such as first-person shooter (FPS) and massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). When your internet speed is slow, this can result in lag and buffering, which can then affect how you fare with missions and matches. Slow loading time may also affect your momentum.

5G networks and data plans that connect to the frequency can deliver speeds of up to 500 Mbps in ideal scenarios. That speed reduces waiting time to mere milliseconds, helping you maximize your gaming time.

Low Latency 

Latency or “ping” refers to the slight delay between your input and the server’s response. If you’re on your lane in a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, it’s the time difference between your command and your game character enacting it. That means the lower the latency, the more “real-time” your game actions become. 

If you are on 5G, you can rest assured you can execute split-second decisions and surprise attacks the way you intended. Provided, of course, that your signal is strong and there are no present issues with your game’s servers. 

Stability 

While speed and latency are crucial, some gamers overlook mobile data stability. And you shouldn’t, because if your signal is intermittent, loading and response times are affected, ruining your gaming experience. The frequent drops and lag spikes that result from unstable internet can cause disruptions that may impact your ranks or sabotage team strategies.

Since you are training, it’s a given that you will play for extended periods. That means you need to look for a data plan from a network carrier that provides reliable 5G connectivity, which can handle traffic loads more efficiently. 

High Bandwidth

If you’re sharing your unlimited data plan for gaming via hotspot, you'll need a promo with high bandwidth to ensure all the devices connected to you enjoy a smooth online gaming experience. Sharing data is mostly helpful when you’re playing as a team, and a member has insufficient mobile load.

Meanwhile, solo players also benefit from 5G’s high bandwidth, as it allows you to use in-game chat or stream your gameplay. If you want to go down the track of content creator-slash-gamer, a reliable bandwidth capacity is essential to succeed.

Conclusion 

What is the best mobile data plan for gaming? It’s the one that can help you pull off your top gaming performance. You can begin choosing by considering factors such as network coverage, pricing, subscription process, and 5G capabilities. Be sure to align each plan feature with specific game requirements to avoid long wait times, disruptions, and losses. 

For 5G-ready mobile data plans, DITO has a wide range of options for you to choose from. We have Level-Up Packs, Data Sachets, App Combos, and Unli 5G plans, among others, that are affordable, accessible, and support 5G. Choose one from these choices to start your training today!