MTN Nigeria has denied charges of data “theft” from its users, blaming complaints of rapid data depletion on user conduct, application settings and the ever-increasing needs of today’s internet services.
The telecommunications operator made the explanation at an engagement with journalists and content creators in Lagos where the technical team described how data consumption works throughout the business’s network.
The session which had engineers and network specialists, went down the processes involved in data usage, billing and measurement, amid increased customer concerns over perceived quick depletion of data bundles.
Speaking at the occasion, Senior Manager for Core Network Implementation, MTN Nigeria, Michael Ndukwe said misconceptions typically come from customers not completely understanding how data is utilized on high-speed networks like 4G and 5G.
“We hear the concern that MTN is always stealing my data. “I’m here to take you through step by step how your data is being used,” he stated.
“Data isn’t used up just because it’s connected to the internet,” Ndukwe noted. “It’s only used up when you actually request content – like streaming videos, downloading files or browsing social media.”
“Modern apps are designed to ingest more data because of better quality and speed,” he added.
“A 15-second video on TikTok can be as little as 2 to 3 megabytes in standard definition, but as much as 15 megabytes in high definition,” he noted, stressing that higher quality content greatly boosts usage.
He also cited auto-play features on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels for rapidly draining data, noting that many apps pre-load films in the background to avoid buffering.
“Even before you click, the content is already downloading in the background so there is no buffering,” he claimed.
Higher consumption rates were also attributed to hotspot sharing, cloud backups, automatic upgrades and several connected devices, Ndukwe said.
“Faster networks are like drinking water through a wider straw, and improved speed naturally leads to faster use,” he said.
“If you have a cup of water and you drink it through a little straw, it lasts longer. With a bigger straw you get it done faster,” he said.
David Ogunshola, another MTN technology expert, said it is expected that the figures the user sees on his device and what is recorded on the network may differ due to discrepancies in measurement techniques.
Typically, smartphones record app-specific data usage, whereas network systems measure aggregate data sessions, including the background functions that keep you connected.
“Modern smartphones, smart TVs, gaming consoles and other connected devices are built to deliver a high-quality performance, which often means higher data consumption if the settings are not adjusted,” said Ogunshola.
The more advanced the equipment, the more it is tuned for quality. “Always best experience if you don’t change the settings,” he stated. “But then you use more data as well.”
He said inconsistencies between device readings and network data are normally minor but more pronounced with higher consumption.
MTN authorities also encouraged customers to use the MyMTN app, data warnings and native controls to manage usage by limiting background activity and setting consumption limits.
Ndukwe said the company is committed to increasing transparency and customer experience and investing in network infrastructure to handle increased demand.
“We promise to keep investing in the quality of the network so that every megabyte delivers the experience our customers expect,” he said.
MTN said the rapid depletion of data was mostly due to the user behaviors and modern day digital consumption patterns and not any abnormality on their network.
About the Author
