MTN denies stealing subscribers’ data, explains reasons for rapid depletion

The General Manager, Network Performance and Quality Assurance at MTN Nigeria, Michael Ndukwe, said the company understood customers’ concerns, particularly amid the country’s economic difficulties, where every naira counted.

Ndukwe spoke at “Data on Trial”, an interactive platform MTN launched to engage customers on concerns about data consumption, billing, and their overall experience on the telecommunications network.

He explained that the transition to 4G and 5G technologies had improved internet speed and the quality of online experiences but also enabled applications to deliver higher-resolution content, resulting in increased data consumption.

On WhatsApp, he urged customers to review their settings and adjust automatic downloads and other data-consuming features to reduce unnecessary usage.

Ndukwe said most modern smartphones also have built-in tools that let users monitor how much data individual applications consume, helping them identify apps responsible for high usage.

“We completely understand why it feels that way, especially right now in Nigeria, where every single naira counts. But the honest answer is that we’re not stealing your data,” he said.

He added that the Data on Trial initiative was part of the company’s effort to engage customers directly, explain data consumption and address concerns about their experience on the MTN network.

Ndukwe said MTN Nigeria recorded a 43 per cent year-on-year increase in data consumption in the first half of 2026, reflecting growing demand for internet services and increased adoption of data-driven technologies.

He said Nigeria consumed approximately 13.2 million terabytes of data in the previous year, while consumption in the first half of 2026 alone had reached 8.52 million terabytes.

According to him, the significant increase was driven by migration from older network technologies such as 2G and 3G to more advanced 4G and 5G networks, increased smartphone penetration, and growing use of social media platforms.

Presenting figures on social media usage in 2025, Mike said TikTok accounted for about 28 per cent of the estimated data volume among the platforms highlighted.

The network performance expert observed that TikTok’s popularity had increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that its rapid growth had made the platform increasingly important for businesses seeking to reach customers online.

She said the initiative was designed to take public education on data consumption beyond conventional campaigns by creating an interactive platform where customers could ask questions and receive explanations directly from the telecommunications company.

She said MTN decided earlier in the year to deepen engagement by making the conversation more interactive and giving customers the opportunity to express their concerns while the company provided explanations.

“It is data that is on trial, not individuals or companies,” she said, adding that the discussions gave an opportunity to address customers’ questions and improve their understanding of how data was consumed, billed, and experienced on the network.

He addressed concerns about data measurement, billing accuracy and differences in internet experiences across countries.

Ogunshola dismissed suggestions that data had different values in Nigeria and other countries, insisting that a gigabyte of data represented the same quantity everywhere in the world.

He said telecommunications operators worldwide use the same fundamental technologies and equipment to deliver data services, although differences in infrastructure and operating conditions can affect customers’ experiences and service costs.

According to him, the differences between Nigeria and countries such as the United Kingdom largely stemmed from how telecommunications infrastructure and services were implemented.

He cited the cost of providing electricity, including the use of generators and diesel to power telecommunications infrastructure in Nigeria, as examples of factors that distinguished operating conditions in the country.

Ogunshola explained that data consumption was no longer limited to mobile phones, as several connected devices, including smartwatches, rings and other wearable technologies, also generated information that was transmitted through smartphones to cloud-based services.

He, however, noted that the information displayed on customers’ devices might not capture every technical activity involved in establishing and maintaining internet connections.

He explained that while devices recorded downloaded information and application usage, the network monitored the entire process, including the technical exchanges required to establish and maintain connections.

In her presentation, Glory Adekomi, Product Manager, South-South Region, Xiaomi Nigeria, highlighted the relationship between smartphone capabilities, network performance, and data consumption.

She explained that powerful telecommunications networks require equally capable smart devices to deliver a satisfactory user experience.

She identified faster speeds, stable connectivity, affordable data usage, and seamless experiences across different online activities as expectations for modern smartphone users.

She advised users to configure their devices to synchronise photos, files, emails and other information only when connected to Wi-Fi.

According to her, automatic synchronisation could consume significant amounts of mobile data, particularly when smartphones continuously back up pictures, videos and other files.

She also recommended disabling automatic application updates on the Google Play Store and updating applications manually when connected to Wi-Fi or when sufficient data was available.

She explained that some devices let users set daily data limits and automatically disable mobile data once those limits were reached.

She also urged users to use data-saving settings on streaming apps, including Spotify, to reduce unnecessary consumption.

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