Why Nigerians’ Data Finishes Quickly: MTN Explains Hidden Smartphone Consumption
MTN Nigeria has attributed the rapid depletion of mobile data bundles to activities such as high-resolution video streaming, automatic downloads, background applications and cloud backups, saying subscribers may consume data even when they are not actively browsing the internet.
The telecommunications company gave the explanation during its Data on Trial forum held in Abuja on Monday, October 26, where its executives addressed concerns about data consumption, billing transparency and customer trust.
Mike Ndukwe, MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of Network Performance, said smartphone applications and device settings could significantly influence how quickly subscribers exhaust their data allowances.
He explained that applications such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp consume different amounts of data depending on video quality, automatic playback and the frequency of downloads.
Ndukwe said a 15-second TikTok video could consume between two and 20 megabytes, depending on its resolution.
He also warned that automatic downloads on WhatsApp could consume subscribers’ data allowances without their realising how much data was being used.
The company maintained that its network does not deliberately take subscribers’ data, arguing that usage is influenced by activities performed on their devices.
Background Activities Can Consume Data
Several smartphone functions can use mobile data without users deliberately opening an application or downloading a file.
These include automatic application updates, cloud backups, photo synchronisation and applications refreshing their content in the background.
Video streaming can also consume substantial amounts of data, particularly when platforms automatically play successive videos or select higher resolutions.
MTN advises subscribers to review their smartphone settings, disable unnecessary automatic downloads and reduce video quality where appropriate.
The company also recommends monitoring data consumption through the MyMTN NG application and restricting background activities that are not essential.
The Nigerian Communications Commission similarly identifies video streaming, software updates, social media applications and large file transfers among the activities that consume significant amounts of mobile data.
The regulator advises subscribers to use data-saving settings, restrict automatic updates and monitor their usage to reduce unnecessary consumption.
Why Data May Finish Faster on Faster Networks
MTN also explained that network technology affects how quickly devices transfer information.
A faster connection can allow applications to load videos, download files and update content more quickly. If an application responds by delivering higher-resolution videos or additional content, it can increase the amount of data consumed.
However, connection speed alone does not mean that the same file will necessarily consume more data simply because it is downloaded over a faster network. The amount consumed depends largely on the content transferred and how applications and devices are configured.
Subscribers who stream videos frequently, download large files or share their connections with other devices may therefore exhaust their allowances more quickly than those who mainly use their phones for text messages and light browsing.
MTN Explains Differences in Data Measurements
David Ogunsola, MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of IT Operations, said differences could arise between data usage recorded on smartphones and the information measured across the telecommunications network.
He attributed such variations to factors including measurement methods, background traffic and the timing of data sessions.
The explanation addresses one of the concerns raised by subscribers who believe their data balances do not always correspond with their internet activities.
However, differences between device measurements and network records do not automatically establish that every deduction is accurate. Individual complaints still require examination of the relevant usage records and billing information.
Subscribers who notice unexpected deductions should check the applications consuming the most data on their phones and compare their device usage with the records available from their network provider.
Where the discrepancy remains unexplained, they can request assistance from the provider’s customer service team.
What Subscribers Can Do
MTN recommends several steps to help subscribers manage their data allowances.
Users can disable automatic media downloads on messaging applications, reduce video streaming quality, restrict background data and set application updates to use Wi-Fi rather than mobile data.
Subscribers should also switch off their mobile hotspots when they are not needed and check which devices are connected to their connections.
On Android phones, users can generally review consumption under Settings and Data Usage, although the exact menu names vary by device. iPhone users can check individual applications under Settings and Mobile Data.
The NCC also advises consumers to contact their service providers when they experience unexplained deductions and escalate unresolved complaints to the regulator.
While MTN’s explanation highlights how everyday smartphone activities can consume data, subscribers’ concerns about billing accuracy still require transparent usage records and effective complaint resolution.
