MTN Nigeria has attributed the rapid depletion of subscribers’ data bundles to high-resolution video streaming, automatic downloads, background applications and smartphone settings, urging users to take practical steps to manage their internet consumption.
Speaking at the “Data on Trial” experience organised by MTN Nigeria in Abuja on Monday, the company’s General Manager of Network Performance and Quality Assurance, Mike Ndukwe, said data consumption largely depended on users’ online activities and how their devices and applications were configured.
The event, held on the sidelines of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, was organised to address public concerns about data consumption, pricing and allegations of unexplained deductions by telecommunications operators.
“We’re not stealing your data. However, we completely understand how it feels, especially right now, where every amount counts. But the honest answer is that data is not taken without an action, either your action or your phone,” Ndukwe said.
TikTok, WhatsApp Contribute to Data Consumption
Ndukwe explained that applications such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp could consume significant amounts of data, depending on video quality, automatic playback and download settings.
According to him, a 15-second TikTok video can consume between 2 megabytes (MB) and 20MB, depending on its resolution, while high-definition streaming generally uses more data than standard-definition content.
He said subscribers could also experience rapid data depletion through WhatsApp status updates, videos shared in groups, automatic media downloads and chat backups.
“If your WhatsApp is set on auto-download, straight away it hits your data bundle. And that is where you can optimise some of your settings,” Ndukwe noted.
He disclosed that WhatsApp had approximately 45 million users in Nigeria, while TikTok remained one of the platforms generating substantial data traffic.
Ndukwe also cited figures indicating that data consumption had increased by approximately 43 per cent year-on-year, highlighting the growing demand for internet services.
He advised subscribers to disable automatic downloads, reduce video resolution, activate data-saving features and monitor their consumption through the MyMTN application.
MTN Explains Differences in Data Usage Records
MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of IT Operations, David Ogunsola, explained that differences between data usage recorded on smartphones and telecommunications networks could arise from variations in measurement methods, background traffic and the timing of data sessions.
“The data that you measure on your devices is slightly different from what traverses over the network and what’s on the charge,” he said.
Ogunsola stated that differences in measurement and rounding could result in variations ranging from two per cent to approximately 12 per cent in some circumstances.
He added that network technology primarily determined connection speed, while video quality and application settings influenced the volume of data consumed.
“The network type that you are on, whether it’s 3G or 4G, just like Mike also explained earlier, would determine not how much data you use, but how fast you’re able to do what it is that you want to do,” he explained.
Toriola Defends Nigeria’s Data Pricing
The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, defended the cost of providing internet services, citing electricity, transportation and infrastructure expenses incurred by telecommunications operators.
He said operators in Nigeria and some other African countries had to provide power and transportation to telecommunications sites, increasing their operating costs.
“Please understand that this country, as well as a few other African countries, we are providing power and transportation to all of our sites,” Toriola said.
He added that the cost of electricity in Nigeria was higher than in the United Kingdom, despite Nigerian operators deploying telecommunications equipment and technologies comparable to those used in Europe and the United States.
Toriola also disclosed that MTN spent about ₦4.05 trillion on power in the preceding year, underscoring the financial pressures associated with maintaining telecommunications infrastructure.
He said the “Data on Trial” initiative was designed to help subscribers understand how their smartphone settings, online activities and application preferences affected data consumption.
Xiaomi Advises Users to Control Background Activities
The Northwest Sales Manager of Xiaomi Nigeria, Kevin Kojode, also attributed unexpected data depletion to automatic software updates, cloud synchronisation, background applications and unrestricted hotspot connections.
“Today, users don’t just go online, they stay online,” Kojode said.
Using a one-gigabyte subscription as an illustration, he explained how background updates, cloud backups and operating-system activities could consume data without users deliberately initiating downloads.
He advised subscribers to restrict automatic updates to Wi-Fi connections, activate data limits, monitor hotspot connections and reduce streaming quality.
Kojode also highlighted smartphone features that allow users to track data consumption and limit data sharing, noting that a better understanding of device settings could help Nigerians manage their subscriptions.
Lawmaker Highlights Need for Consumer Education
Earlier, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Communications, Peter Akpatason, described the initiative as an opportunity to improve public understanding of data management and address misconceptions about the telecommunications industry.
Akpatason said the demonstration helped consumers understand how data was consumed and the steps they could take to prevent avoidable depletion.
He also said the event challenged the perception that data prices in Nigeria were higher than in other countries.
While acknowledging the significant investment required to operate telecommunications networks, the lawmaker maintained that there was room for further investment to improve service quality.
MTN said it continued to sensitise subscribers on data-saving measures and provided tools, including the MyMTN app, to help customers monitor their usage and receive alerts.
The company also offers MTN FiberX as an unlimited data option for customers with high data requirements, subject to applicable terms and conditions.
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