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MTN Nigeria Network Performance General Manager, Mike Ndukwe, explained that contrary to the belief of many Nigerians that telecommunications companies in the country siphon data from Nigerians’ mobile phones, this is not the case.
He explained that the rapid depletion of customers’ internet data packages was caused by high-resolution video streaming, automatic downloading, background applications, cloud backups and increased internet activity, some of which customers were not aware of.
Speaking at a forum titled “Data on Trial,” held in Abuja on Monday on the sidelines of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, Ndukwe, said data consumption is largely determined by customer activity and device configuration.
The telecommunications company explained that many customers unknowingly consume large amounts of data through smartphone settings and applications that continue to operate even when the user is not actively browsing.
“We don’t steal your data. However, we fully understand how it feels, especially in these times, where every amount counts. But the honest answer is that data is not taken without action, either your actions or your phone,” he said.
Ndukwe explained that apps like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp consume varying amounts of data depending on video resolution, autoplay and download frequency.
According to him, a 15-second TikTok video can take up between two and 20 megabytes, depending on the quality, while high-definition streaming requires more data than standard-definition viewing.
He said WhatsApp messages generally use little data, but status updates, videos, group messages and automatic media downloads can drain subscriptions faster than users think.
“If your WhatsApp is set to auto download, your data plan will come right in. And that’s where you can optimize some of your settings,” says Ndukwe.
He revealed that WhatsApp has about 45 million users in Nigeria, while TikTok is among the platforms that generate huge data traffic.
Ndukwe also cited figures showing that data consumption increased by around 43 percent year-on-year.
He advised customers to disable automatic downloads, reduce streaming resolution, enable data saver features and monitor consumption via the MyMTN app.
Also speaking, General Manager of IT Operations at MTN Nigeria, David Ogunsola, explained that differences between data recorded on smartphones and telecommunications networks can arise from measurement methods, background traffic and data session times.
“The data you measure on your device is a little different from what travels across the network and what you’re charged for,” he said.
Ogunsola stated that variations in measurements and rounding can result in differences ranging from two percent to about 12 percent in some circumstances.
He added that network technology mainly determines connection speed, while video quality and application settings affect the volume of data consumed.
“The type of network you use, whether it’s 3G or 4G, as Mike explained earlier, will not determine how much data you use, but how quickly you can do what you want to do,” he explained.
MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, defended the cost of providing internet services, citing electricity costs and the responsibility of powering and maintaining telecommunications sites.
“Please understand that in this country, as well as several other African countries, we provide electricity and transportation to all our locations,” he said.
Toriola stated that operators in Nigeria use equipment comparable to that used in Europe and the United States but face higher operational costs, especially for electricity.
He said the company is intensifying consumer education to help customers understand smartphone settings and control their internet usage.
Xiaomi Nigeria Northwest Sales Manager, Kevin Kojode, also attributed the unexpected data depletion to automatic software updates, cloud sync, background apps and unrestricted hotspot connections.
“Today, users don’t just go online, they stay online,” Kojode said.
Using the illustration of a one-gigabyte subscription, he explains how background updates, cloud backups, and operating system activity can consume data without the user intentionally initiating the download.
He advised customers to limit Wi-Fi auto-updates, enable data limits, monitor hotspot connections, and reduce streaming quality.
Kojode also highlighted smartphone features that allow users to monitor consumption and limit data sharing, arguing that a better understanding of device settings can help Nigerians manage their subscriptions more effectively.
