MTN Nigeria has denied deliberately deducting subscribers’ internet data, attributing the rapid depletion of data bundles to video streaming, automatic downloads, background applications and smartphone settings that can consume data without users realising it.

The telecommunications company said many customers underestimate how much data their devices use, particularly when applications continue running in the background or automatically download videos, photos and software updates.

Speaking at a forum titled Data on Trial in Abuja on Monday, October 26, on the sidelines of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of Network Performance, Mike Ndukwe, said data consumption largely depends on users’ online activities and how their devices are configured.

“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.

He identified platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp as applications that can consume significant amounts of data, depending on video quality, automatic playback and media download settings.

According to him, a 15-second TikTok video could use between two and 20 megabytes, depending on its quality. Streaming high-definition videos also consumes more data than watching the same content at a lower resolution.

Ndukwe explained that WhatsApp text messages generally require relatively little data, but videos, status updates, group conversations and automatic media downloads can increase consumption considerably.

He specifically warned that subscribers who leave WhatsApp’s automatic download feature enabled may find their data bundles reducing as media files are downloaded without them manually requesting each 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,” he said.

Ndukwe also disclosed that WhatsApp had approximately 45 million users in Nigeria, while TikTok was among the platforms generating substantial data traffic.

He cited figures indicating that data consumption had increased by about 43 per cent year-on-year, although the period and underlying measurement details were not provided in the supplied report.

To help customers manage their subscriptions, the MTN executive advised subscribers to disable automatic downloads, reduce video resolution, activate data-saving features and regularly check their usage through the MyMTN application.

MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of IT Operations, David Ogunsola, also addressed complaints about differences between data consumption displayed on smartphones and the amount recorded by telecommunications networks.

Ogunsola explained that the figures may differ because devices and network systems use different measurement methods, while background traffic, session timing and rounding can affect the readings.

“The data that you measure on your devices is slightly different from what traverses over the network and what’s on the charge,” he said.

He added that the differences could range from two per cent to approximately 12 per cent in some circumstances.

Ogunsola also clarified that the network technology a subscriber uses, whether 3G or 4G, primarily affects connection speed and does not, by itself, determine how much data an activity consumes.

Instead, factors such as video resolution, application settings and the type of content being accessed influence the volume of data used.

MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer Karl Toriola defended the cost of providing telecommunications services, pointing to the electricity, transportation and infrastructure expenses involved in operating network sites across the country.

“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 argued that operators in Nigeria deploy equipment comparable to that used in Europe and the United States but face higher operating costs, particularly when supplying electricity to telecommunications infrastructure.

Toriola said the company was stepping up consumer education to help subscribers better understand their smartphone settings and manage their internet usage.

Kevin Kojode, Xiaomi Nigeria’s Northwest Sales Manager, also identified automatic software updates, cloud synchronisation, background applications and unrestricted mobile hotspot connections as possible causes of unexpected data depletion.

“Today, users don’t just go online, they stay online,” Kojode said.

Using a hypothetical one-gigabyte data subscription, he explained how software updates, cloud backups and applications operating in the background could consume a substantial portion of a bundle even when a user was not actively browsing.

He advised smartphone users to restrict automatic updates to Wi-Fi connections, set data limits, monitor connected hotspot devices and lower streaming quality where necessary.

Subscribers can also check which applications consume the most data through their smartphone settings and restrict background mobile data for apps that do not need to remain connected.

Although MTN maintains that subscribers’ complaints can often be explained by their usage patterns and device settings, checking those settings alone does not establish the cause of every disputed deduction. Customers who notice unexplained charges or discrepancies can review their usage records and contact the operator for an itemised explanation.

The discussion comes amid persistent concerns among Nigerian subscribers about the cost of internet access and how quickly mobile data bundles appear to run out. MTN’s position is that greater awareness of application settings and data consumption can help customers reduce unnecessary usage and make their subscriptions last longer.