We Are Not Stealing Your Data, MTN Insists

By LOVETH-AZODO CHIJIOKE, Lagos

Telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria, has pushed back against allegations that network service providers deliberately shave off subscribers’ internet subscriptions, attributing the rapid exhaustion of bundles to high-resolution streaming, automated cloud backups, and passive device configurations running in the background.

Executives of the telco, alongside hardware manufacturers, addressed the contentious issue at an interactive stakeholder forum tagged “Data on Trial,” convened on Monday on the sidelines of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES32) in Abuja.

The session served as a technical clarification session addressing persistent public outcry from subscribers regarding perceived “data theft” amid rising living costs across the country.

Debunking the theft narrative, MTN Nigeria’s General Manager of Network Performance, Mr. Mike Ndukwe, explained that mobile network infrastructure does not initiate data deductions without a corresponding trigger originating either directly from the user or indirectly via installed software.

“We are 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 stated.

Dissecting the architecture of data consumption, Ndukwe noted that popular lifestyle and messaging platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp are significant drivers of bandwidth volume, largely dependent on video resolution and automatic media playbacks.

He pointed out that on short-form video platforms like TikTok, a single 15-second clip can pull anywhere between two and 20 megabytes (MB) depending on whether the display streams in standard definition or high definition (HD).

Similarly, on WhatsApp which boasts over 45 million active users in Nigeria features such as automatic media downloads, high-definition status updates, and looped video exchanges significantly accelerate depletion rates without active user awareness.

“If your WhatsApp is configured to auto-download, it immediately hits your data bundle the moment media arrives. That is why optimizing personal device settings is critical,” he noted, adding that nationwide internet consumption on the network has spiked by roughly 43 per cent year-on-year.

Corroborating this perspective, the company’s General Manager of IT Operations, Mr. David Ogunsola, cleared the confusion regarding discrepancies between data counters embedded on smartphones and billing logs maintained by network operators.

According to Ogunsola, variances often stem from different measurement methods, real-time background protocols, and the duration of active data sessions. He clarified that switching between 3G, 4G, or 5G does not alter the actual byte-size of a file, but rather influences the speed at which packets are pulled, which can lead to higher consumption rates through automated playback at higher resolutions.

Providing context on operational overheads, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola, emphasized that despite adopting global standards of telecommunications infrastructure, operators face severe operational headwinds unique to the local operating environment.

Toriola cited the exorbitant cost of diesel, captive power generation, and logistics required to keep thousands of base transceiver stations (BTS) running 24/7 across the country.

“Please understand that in this country, as well as a few other African countries, we are generating power and providing transport to all of our sites,” Toriola noted, stating that the company is redoubling its consumer awareness campaigns to assist subscribers in managing their mobile configurations effectively.

Also contributing from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) perspective, the Northwest Sales Manager of Xiaomi Nigeria, Mr. Kevin Kojode, emphasized that modern smartphones are built to remain continuously synchronized with global servers.

“Today, users do not just go online; they stay online,” Kojode remarked.

Illustrating with a standard one-gigabyte (1GB) bundle, Kojode demonstrated how automated operating system (OS) patches, background app refreshes, photo cloud synchronization, and unmonitored hotspot tethering can quietly burn through an entire data allocation within hours without deliberate web browsing by the owner.

To retain control over internet costs, technical experts at the forum advised consumers to disable auto-downloads on messaging apps, turn off app refresh in background settings, restrict software updates to designated Wi-Fi networks, lower default video resolution on social apps, and regularly track data sessions using network analytics dashboards.