MTN Nigeria has denied allegations that it deliberately deducts subscribers’ data, attributing rapid data depletion to smartphone settings, background applications and heavy internet usage. The company’s General Manager of Network Performance, Mike Ndukwe, addressed the complaints on Monday in Abuja on the sidelines of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit.
Ndukwe explained that high-resolution videos, automatic downloads, cloud backups and applications such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp can consume significant amounts of data. He advised subscribers to disable automatic downloads, reduce video quality, activate data-saving features and regularly monitor their usage to avoid unexpected depletion.
Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of IT Operations, David Ogunsola, said differences between device measurements and network billing could result from measurement methods, background traffic and data-session timing. Chief Executive Officer Karl Toriola also highlighted the company’s high operating costs, including electricity and transportation for network sites, as factors affecting telecommunications expenses in Nigeria.
