MTN Explains Why Nigerians’ Data Finishes Fast, Reveals Phone Settings to Change

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Among the apps flagged were TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp. Ndukwe noted that a single 15-second TikTok clip could consume anywhere between two and 20 megabytes depending on its resolution.

He added that while WhatsApp text messages use minimal data, group media, status updates and auto-downloads can quietly drain a bundle without the user noticing.

Ndukwe also revealed that data consumption across the network had grown by roughly 43 per cent year-on-year, a figure he attributed to rising digital activity among Nigerians.

He cited measurement methods, background traffic, session timing and rounding practices as contributing factors, with discrepancies potentially reaching up to 12 per cent in some cases.

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Ogunsola also clarified that network technologies such as 3G and 4G primarily affect connection speed rather than dictating how much data a given activity uses.

Faster connections, however, can encourage higher-quality streaming, which in turn increases consumption.

MTN Nigeria's Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, separately addressed rising internet service costs, pointing to electricity and infrastructure expenses as key drivers.

He noted that Nigerian operators often fund their own power and transport logistics for network facilities, costs that counterparts in Europe and the United States typically do not bear.

Xiaomi Nigeria's Northwest Sales Manager, Kevin Kojode, joined the conversation by highlighting automatic software updates, cloud backups and unrestricted hotspot connections as further sources of hidden data use.

1. Disable automatic media downloads on WhatsApp and other messaging apps.

2. Lower video streaming quality on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.

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3. Restrict software updates and cloud backups to Wi-Fi connections only.

4. Limit background data usage and identify which apps are consuming the most.

5. Monitor hotspot connections and track data balances through smartphone settings or the MyMTN application.

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Jessie Ola-Morris (Human Interest Editor) Jessie Ola-Morris is a Human Interest editor at YEN.com.gh. She has over three years of experience in journalism. She graduated from the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. Her journalism career started with myjoyonline.com, a subsidiary of The Multimedia Group Limited, where she worked as a writer. Jessie also previously served as a multimedia journalist for The Independent Ghana. In 2024, Jessie completed Google News Initiative News Lab courses in Advanced Digital Reporting and Fighting Misinformation. Email: jessie.ola-morris@yen.com.gh