What drives high data costs: Operators still power many base stations with diesel; Right-of-Way fees and fiber cuts raise backhaul costs; international capacity is cheaper but not free; and spectrum/licensing costs ripple into tariffs. Congestion also burns data faster because devices keep retrying downloads.

How to stretch data without pain: For work-from-home, a 4G router with external antennas is often more efficient than tethering a phone all day. Turn on data saver at OS and app level (disable video auto-play, set cloud backups to Wi-Fi only). Use a modern browser with compression, and schedule large updates overnight when networks are quieter. Buy plans that match your pattern — heavy weekdays vs weekend bundles — and test two networks in your area; radio conditions vary street by street. If several flats share a compound, pool for a fixed wireless/fiber line and split by VLAN or simple quotas. Lastly, place routers high, away from microwaves/metal, and lock to bands that give the best SINR on your street.