MTN Nigeria has explained why many subscribers find their internet data bundles depleting faster than expected, attributing the trend to high-resolution video streaming, automatic downloads, background applications and other smartphone activities.
The telecommunications company also dismissed allegations that operators deliberately deduct customers’ data, saying consumption is largely influenced by users’ online activities and device settings.
The explanation was given at a forum titled Data on Trial, held in Abuja on Monday on the sidelines of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit.
Speaking at the event, MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of Network Performance, Mike Ndukwe, said applications could consume significant amounts of data even when subscribers were unaware of the activity.
“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,” he said.
Ndukwe explained that applications such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp use different amounts of data depending on video quality, automatic playback and the frequency of downloads.
According to him, a 15-second TikTok video could consume between two and 20 megabytes, depending on its resolution and quality.
High-definition streaming generally requires more data than standard-definition viewing.
He noted that while ordinary WhatsApp text messages consume relatively little data, video sharing, status updates, group conversations and automatic media downloads can quickly increase consumption.
Subscribers who leave automatic downloads enabled may use up a substantial portion of their bundles without deliberately opening or downloading every file.
“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 said.
He disclosed that WhatsApp had approximately 45 million users in Nigeria and identified TikTok as one of the platforms generating substantial data traffic.
Ndukwe also cited figures showing that data consumption had increased by approximately 43 per cent year-on-year.
To help subscribers manage their bundles, Ndukwe advised users to disable automatic downloads where possible, lower video-streaming resolution, activate data-saving features and regularly monitor their consumption.
He also recommended the MyMTN application as a tool for tracking data usage.
The company’s explanation suggests that reviewing smartphone settings and application permissions could help users identify activities contributing to unexpected depletion.
MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of IT Operations, David Ogunsola, addressed concerns about differences between data consumption recorded on smartphones and figures reflected in telecommunications networks.
He said the variations could arise from differences 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,” Ogunsola said.
He added that differences in measurement and rounding could account for variations ranging from two per cent to approximately 12 per cent in some circumstances.
Ogunsola also explained that network technology primarily affects connection speed, while application settings and the quality of content being accessed influence how much data is 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 said.
MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer Karl Toriola defended the cost of providing telecommunications services, pointing to the electricity, transportation and maintenance expenses associated with operating network infrastructure across the country.
He said Nigerian operators use equipment comparable to that deployed in Europe and the United States but face higher operating costs, particularly in providing power to telecommunications sites.
“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 MTN was intensifying consumer education to help subscribers understand how their devices operate and manage their internet usage more effectively.
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 that background updates, cloud backups and operating-system activities could consume data without users deliberately initiating downloads.
Kojode advised subscribers to restrict automatic updates to Wi-Fi connections, activate data limits, monitor devices connected to their hotspots and reduce streaming quality where necessary.
He also highlighted smartphone features that allow users to track consumption and control data sharing.
The speakers maintained that understanding application behaviour and adjusting device settings could help Nigerians manage their internet bundles more efficiently, particularly as data consumption continues to grow.
