MTN Nigeria blames phone settings for fast data depletion

MTN Nigeria has blamed poor phone settings and unmanaged data consumption for the rapid depletion of subscribers’ data bundles. The company spoke at its Data on Trial experience in Abuja on Monday, where executives urged users to check how their devices and apps use data.

What MTN says is draining data

MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of Network Performance and Quality Assurance, Mr Mike Ndukwe, said video streaming, social media activity and automatic downloads were among the main causes of fast data depletion. He advised subscribers to disable automatic media downloads, restrict background data usage and set apps to download large files only when connected to Wi-Fi.

Ndukwe argued that data depletion generally comes from users’ online activities or phone settings, not unexplained deductions. He urged subscribers to understand how their devices and applications consume data.

Power costs and pricing pressure

MTN Nigeria CEO Mr Karl Toriola linked data pricing to the operational costs telecom operators face. He said operators spend heavily on electricity, transportation and other infrastructure needed to keep telecom sites running. Toriola said MTN spent about N4.05 trillion on power in the preceding year.

He pushed back against the view that data is always more expensive in Nigeria. “Even within the context of data being perceived as more expensive in Nigeria, the UK is the example I was giving,” Toriola said. “Please, understand that in this country, as well as some other African countries, we are providing power and transportation to all our sites. The cost of electricity, for instance, is higher here than in the UK.”

Subscriptions rise as operators pledge upgrades

Industry statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission, updated as of October 12, 2026, showed total mobile subscriptions across the four networks, including Airtel, Globacom and T2, stood at 197,416,694 in August, up from 195,108,814 in July 2026.

The House of Representatives Committee on Communications Chairman, Mr Peter Akpatason, said MTN had made significant investment in the telecom sector but there was room for more investment to improve service quality. He described efforts to improve public understanding of data management and correct misconceptions about the telecom industry as worthwhile.

The NCC said operators had committed to upgrading 12,000 sites in 2026 to improve service quality. Its Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, said operators carried out just over 3,000 site upgrades for coverage and capacity in 2025. The 2026 plan includes additional spectrum deployment on 4G sites and the conversion of older 2G and 3G sites to 4G and 5G infrastructure. Maida said the current pace of deployment shows the industry is already ahead of last year’s performance.

For subscribers, the message is to check phone settings and background data use. For operators, rising subscriptions and data consumption are increasing pressure to expand network capacity.