MTN Nigeria has denied allegations that telecom operators deliberately steal subscribers’ data, explaining that high-resolution video streaming, auto-downloads, background apps and cloud backups are the real reasons data finishes fast.
Speaking at a forum tagged *”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, said many subscribers unknowingly burn data through phone settings.
> “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 said.
– *TikTok:* A 15-second video can consume 2 to 20MB depending on quality
– *YouTube, Instagram:* HD streaming uses far more than standard definition
– *WhatsApp:* Chats use little data, but status updates, videos, group messages and auto-downloads exhaust bundles fast
– *Background activities:* Software updates, cloud sync, hotspot sharing, OS activities
> “If your WhatsApp is set on auto-download, straight away it hits your data bundle,” he said, adding that WhatsApp has 45 million users in Nigeria.
Ndukwe disclosed data consumption has increased by about *43% year-on-year* because “users don’t just go online, they stay online.”
MTN advised subscribers to:
– Disable auto-downloads on WhatsApp
– Reduce streaming resolution on TikTok/YouTube
– Activate data-saving features
– Restrict updates to Wi-Fi only
– Monitor usage via MyMTN App
MTN’s GM IT Operations, David Ogunsola, explained that device measurement and network measurement can differ by 2-12% due to rounding and background traffic.
CEO Karl Toriola defended internet costs, citing huge power expenses: “We are providing power and transportation to all of our sites… We deploy same equipment as Europe and US but face higher costs.”
Xiaomi Nigeria’s Northwest Sales Manager, Kevin Kojode, also blamed automatic updates and unrestricted hotspots.
