Airtel 5G ODU Review: Is It Worth the Installation Hassle? (30-Day Test)

In my previous article, I did a review of the Airtel ODU, touching on the basics like how to order the ODU unit, the installation process, the method of payment, and many more. You can go read that review after you are done reading this one.

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The main reason why I bought it was because of the affordable price tag, starting at KES 1,999 for 15Mbps, to me, that is way too affordable. For those installing it for the first time, you will only pay KES 3,000 for the installation + 15Mbps package.

I also compared it to the Safaricom 5G router, and the findings will shock you. Now it’s been 30 plus days since I started using the Airtel 5G router, and boy, do I have a ton of info and data to share from the downtimes to performing really well without disconnecting.

The 30-Day Stability Test

On the first day of installation, the internet worked really well, and the ping was good. I connected multiple devices, including my TV, smrtphone and laptop, those devices ran well without any issues.

Fast forward after one week, and one night, I started experiencing disconnects. I tried relocating the ODU in different places, but the issue persisted. I just called it a night and went to bed. Keep in mind my ODU is inside the house due to insecurity.

The breakthrough actually came from an unexpected place: TikTok. The next day, I stumbled upon a video explaining a workaround for the ODU’s stability issues. The creator suggested logging into the router’s admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 for Airtel) and manually toggling the network mode. The theory is simple: if your 5G signal is jittery, forcing the router to 4G can paradoxically make it faster and more stable. I gave it a shot, and the difference was immediate

Read Also: Why Your Airtel ODU Isn’t Hitting Promised Speeds — And How to Fix It

Also, I stay at a place with an Airtel tower nearby, and placing the ODU near the window and switching networks might have helped me get a stronger signal.

Speed & Latency

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 One thing  I noticed is that the speeds are very consistent during the day, maintaining a stable 15Mbps, which is the package that I paid for, and the ping is good as well, as you can see from the test below.

However durig the night is where you might seeing difference in variation. During the night, the Airtel ODU maintained a stable 15Mbps on both the uploads and the downloads. The ping on the upload might hit 800ms, which is way too high, but the ping for downloads is good and very consistent.

Speed test comparison showing 4G network performance at 4:00 PM (left) versus 5G network performance at 4:00 PM (right).

The WI-FI is really good. I live in a four-bedroom house, and each room has internet. There is no need for an extender, even when I go outside the house to the compound, I can still connect to the Airtel internet, no issues with the coverage.

The "Gotchas"

 The AIrtel ODU comes with a 5000mAh battery that is supposed to keep you online in case of a power blackout, and that has come in really handy because where I stay, a blackout can happen anytime without notice from KPLC.

The 5000mAh power backup can last between 6 and 8 hours, which is a lot of time before power is restored.

After using the router for 2 months, I could average well over 250 GB. I know some people can max out the 1TB, but I am not a heavy user personally. 

The good thing is that you can increase the FUP. I have increased my FUP from 1TB all the way to 300 TB, which is basically unlimited.

I use a VPN a lot, Kaspersky to be specific, and I have no issue connecting to the VPN, as the network is very stable.

Verdict & Who Should Buy It

The Airtel ODU is suitable for remote workers, those who live in fringe 5G areas, and those who want an alternative to Fibre, and for people living in thick walls.

Comparing it to a standard MI-FI, the ODU is better because you get better reception since you have to put the ODU outside, and you get more data at a lower price.