Telecommunications giant MTN Nigeria has pushed back against growing public complaints over fast-vanishing data bundles, maintaining that service providers do not execute unauthorized balance deductions from subscribers.
Addressing consumers during a specialized session themed “Data on Trial,” held in Abuja on Monday on the sidelines of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of Network Performance, Mike Ndukwe, clarified that mobile bandwidth consumption is governed entirely by user choices and background smartphone operations.
”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,” Ndukwe stated.
Ndukwe explained that popular social applications like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp consume varying volumes of data depending on stream resolution, automated video playback settings, and file download frequencies.
Illustrating the heavy traffic generated by popular digital platforms, he revealed that WhatsApp currently commands approximately 45 million active users across Nigeria, while TikTok continues to generate massive network traffic volumes nationwide.
Detailing specific consumption metrics, Ndukwe noted that a brief 15-second video on TikTok can consume between two and 20 megabytes depending on visual quality, whereas high-definition streaming demands significantly more bandwidth than standard-definition alternatives.
The network executive added that although basic text messaging on WhatsApp drains minimal data, viewing status updates, exchanging video clips, participating in group chats, and leaving automatic download functions enabled exhaust active bundles far quicker than subscribers anticipate.
Highlighting a sharp rise in digital activity, Ndukwe disclosed figures demonstrating that overall subscriber data consumption across the country has surged by roughly 43 percent year-on-year.
To assist subscribers in managing their mobile allowances, Ndukwe urged users to deactivate automatic media downloads, lower streaming playback resolution, enable device data-saver modes, and monitor their real-time consumption via the MyMTN mobile application.
Also offering technical clarity at the forum, MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of IT Operations, David Ogunsola, explained that discrepancies between data counters built into mobile phones and actual network billing records arise from differing measurement methodologies, background traffic, and session logging protocols.
”The data that you measure on your devices is slightly different from what traverses over the network and what’s on the charge,” Ogunsola stated.
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