₦airaland Forum

𝗠𝗧𝗡 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗢𝗻 '𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗳𝘁' 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: "𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗕𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽"

For years, one complaint has united millions of Nigerians regardless of tribe, religion, or political affiliation:

"MTN is stealing my data."

Now, the telecommunications giant has finally responded.

Speaking during a media engagement in Lagos, MTN Nigeria dismissed allegations that it unfairly deducts customers' data, insisting that rapid data depletion is largely caused by the way modern smartphones, apps, and internet services operate. According to the company, many subscribers are unknowingly consuming far more data than they realize.

MTN's Senior Manager for Core Network Implementation, Michael Ndukwe, explained that data usage only occurs when subscribers actively request or receive online content through activities such as streaming videos, scrolling through social media feeds, downloading files, or sharing internet access.

One of the biggest culprits, according to the company, is video streaming.

MTN revealed that a single 15 second TikTok video may consume just 2 to 3 megabytes in standard definition, but the same clip can use up to 15 megabytes when viewed in high definition. This means a data bundle that once seemed sufficient on older networks can disappear much faster on today's 4G and 5G networks.

The company also pointed fingers at auto play features on TikTok, Facebook Reels, YouTube Shorts, Instagram, and other social media platforms. Many of these applications automatically preload videos in the background before users even click on them, consuming data silently to ensure a smoother viewing experience.

Another surprising factor is what happens when users are not even touching their phones.

According to MTN, many smartphones automatically back up photos, synchronize files to cloud storage, update applications, and download software patches while users are asleep. These background activities can consume significant amounts of data without the owner's immediate awareness.

Hotspot sharing was also identified as a major contributor. Once a phone becomes a hotspot, multiple devices can simultaneously consume data, causing bundles to disappear much faster than expected.

MTN further explained why many customers notice differences between data usage displayed on their devices and figures recorded by the network. The company says smartphones often track only application level usage, while network systems record the entire data session required to maintain connectivity.

Using a simple analogy, Ndukwe compared modern internet consumption to drinking water through a larger straw.

"If you use a bigger straw, you'll finish it faster. You'll enjoy it more, but consumption is higher," he said.

Despite the explanations, many Nigerians are likely to remain skeptical, especially after years of complaints about disappearing data bundles and rising telecom costs.

The debate now shifts from whether data is disappearing to whether subscribers fully

understand what is consuming it.

One thing is certain.

In the era of 4G, 5G, cloud backups, smart TVs, auto play videos, gaming consoles, and connected devices, data consumption is no longer what it was a decade ago.

The real question may no longer be whether your network is eating your data, but whether your phone is.

Source: https://www.thecable.ng/hotspot-sharing-streaming-auto-play-features-mtn-explains-reasons-for-rapid-data-depletion/

Nairalanders do you agree with these explanations?

While mtn is right to cite modern ways that data are consumed by quality files or videos or whatever we do online and on apps working on background



We should not also ignore glitches by severs that happens not often but it does happens. I personally experienced it. Severs are not 100% reliable.

adamkkk:
While mtn is right to cite modern ways that data are consumed by quality files or videos or whatever we do online and on apps working on background



We should not also ignore glitches by severs that happens not often but it does happens. I personally experienced it. Severs are not 100% reliable.

You are having a point there.

The problem could also be them.

Many people are still stuck on the data impression of the 3G era. While MTN's data is mad expensive - naim I dey use - them sha fast and dependable dieeeee.

If you're using a 4G device or even 5G, if you have coverage, then you're certainly going to enjoy mad speed, but that also comes with the big straw analogy.

Many stream YouTube video on phone at 1080p which is waste of data when you can actually get good quality at 480p. I personally stream mine at 144p, unless it's tutorials.

Most people still leave Whatsapp default upload/download on HD, and have not disabled Auto Download.

If you're using a windows PC, the werey dey update every market day.

Video streams (Instagram reels, tiktok, Facebook) are not maimai...either.

MTN you go explain tire, no evidence

Stupid mtn please someone should blow up mtn

My own is that when your data is low, you will not be able to browse again when you have less than 1 GB.
Also, the network is very poor these days.

Bloody liar! Son of lying Mohammed

It’s true…
People stream a lot and expect faster service.
It comes at a cost proportional to the speed used.

You agree at your own risk. It's a big fat lie

God punish them

Are they different from Airtel?

I could buy 2G from MTN and it won't last me for 2hrs, not on streaming, not download, just web browsering. But same 2G from Airtel would last me for days even when I am streaming and downloading at the same time.

God punish MTN, its board and down to the least of their staffs

Dpsychologist:
Nairalanders do you agree with these explanations?

very flimsy explanation. Why is the situation not the same on GLO data? Mtn na cheat

Dpsychologist:
Nairalanders do you agree with these explanations?

it's a lie,
I know all this and my phone data is switched of to auto updates and downloads

Killallmuslims:
Stupid mtn please someone should blow up mtn

If u go blow them up, anything go do u?? Idiot

Stephen0mozzy:
Most people still leave Whatsapp default upload/download on HD, and have not disabled Auto Download.

😂🤣 Because of your comment, my guys don comot chain. I don laugh tire.

Dpsychologist:
Nairalanders do you agree with these explanations?

Yes.

I've seen it when I watch youtube videos. Changing the definition on videos i watch from 144p to 1080p usually means my data gets chopped

It's also why I have refused to get a Netflix account. And I use my amazon prime sparingly. Just one episode of a tv show can consume 2 GB of data.

I would love an NCC led independent investigation on this issue of data theft. I have used data in other countries, same usage pattern, but I noticed that in Nigeria it finishes faster.

Once your data balance get to 200mb it stop going.



Even when you check data balance yo remain 190mb it won't connect.

Is the way the smart contract of their blockchain is programmed to deplete subscribers data, for instance if data is supposed deplete at 1 kilobyte per second, but in case of this the smart contract is programmed to deplete data at 30 kilobytes per second, the speed at which your data will be exhausted will faster than cheetah 🐆🐆.

"The company also pointed fingers at auto play features on TikTok, Facebook Reels, YouTube Shorts, Instagram, and other social media platforms. Many of these applications automatically preload videos in the background before users even click on them, consuming data silently to ensure a smoother viewing experience."

Any app that does this, I normally go to settings first to disable it before I start using the app.
I dislike that shi

just2endowed:
Once your data balance get to 200mb it stop going.



Even when you check data balance yo remain 190mb it won't connect.

Flight it and resume, it'll go.

Dpsychologist:
Nairalanders do you agree with these explanations?

Lies from the pit of hell

They will defend themselves with selfish interest.
Some investors are like 😈😈😈😈😈😈

I bought 3 gig yesterday.
5 minutes. E don drop to 2.2. I no do anything. Infact i blocked most of my apps from accessing internet.

Mtn you do well ooo.

Stephen0mozzy:
Many people are still stuck on the data impression of the 3G era. While MTN's data is mad expensive - naim I dey use - them sha fast and dependable dieeeee.

If you're using a 4G device or even 5G, if you have coverage, then you're certainly going to enjoy mad speed, but that also comes with the big straw analogy.

Many stream YouTube video on phone at 1080p which is waste of data when you can actually get good quality at 480p. I personally stream mine at 144p, unless it's tutorials.

Most people still leave Whatsapp default upload/download on HD, and have not disabled Auto Download.

If you're using a windows PC, the werey dey update every market day.

Video streams (Instagram reels, tiktok, Facebook) are not maimai...either.

Spot on, that's why unlimited data sub is the best subscription this days!

The more Ghen-Ghen the phone, the more data it will consume.
Keep buying 4K screen phone.
Each of those pixels will consume data to display video.
Oyibo countries did not design these phones for Nigeria with our 5-5 naira internet.
They use unlimited data plans in their countries
They have added unlimited data plans at home.

nothing you fit tell me , you dey steal our data

MTN are defending rubbish, it’s not their fault. The blame is to our government.

It's a great day for data. Let's just have a little fun with the numbers and the algorithms. It's all about keeping things flowing smoothly for our loyal customers. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy, right?