MTN Nigeria has recommended that users turn off automated downloads, limit background data consumption, and lower video quality on their phones to avoid quickly running out of data bundles
At MTN Nigeria’s “Data on Trial” event in Abuja on Monday, Mike Ndukwe, general manager of network performance and quality assurance, gave a speech.
According to Ndukwe, social media use, video streaming, and automatic downloads are some of the causes of excessive data usage.
He clarified that, depending on its resolution, a 15-second TikTok video might use anywhere from two gigabytes (MB) to twenty MB.
According to the MTN official, high-definition videos generally consume more data than standard-definition content, while 4G and 5G networks can enable higher-quality streaming that increases data usage when applications automatically select higher resolutions.
“Requesting a video on TikTok requires relatively little data, while downloading and streaming the content consumes significantly more, depending on its resolution and duration,” he said.
Ndukwe said WhatsApp users could also experience rapid data depletion through automatic media downloads, status updates, files shared in groups and chat backups.
He advised subscribers to disable automatic media downloads, restrict background data usage and configure applications to download large files only when connected to Wi-Fi.
He also recommended enabling data-saving features on TikTok and other social media platforms, reducing video resolution and disabling automatic playback where possible.
The MTN official further said the company’s MyMTN app allows customers to monitor their data usage and receive alerts.
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He said MTN offers FiberX, an unlimited data service for customers with high data requirements, subject to applicable terms.
Ndukwe said data depletion generally results from subscribers’ online activities and phone settings, urging consumers to understand how their devices and applications use data.
Karl Toriola, chief executive officer (CEO) of MTN Nigeria, said the cost of operating telecommunications infrastructure is one of the factors influencing data prices.
He said operators incurred significant expenses on electricity, transportation, and other infrastructure needed to maintain telecommunications sites.
Toriola said MTN spent about N4.05 trillion on power in the preceding year, highlighting the cost pressures facing telecommunications operators.
“Please, understand that in this country, as well as some other African countries, we are providing power and transportation to all our sites,” he said.
“The cost of electricity, for instance, is higher here than in the UK.”
He said Nigerian operators deploy telecommunications equipment and technologies similar to those used in Europe and the United States, including fourth-generation (4G) and fifth-generation (5G) networks.
Toriola said the ‘Data on Trial’ initiative was designed to address public concerns about data consumption and pricing by demonstrating how phone settings, online activities, and application preferences influence usage.
Peter Akpatason, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Communications, said the initiative could improve public understanding of data management and address misconceptions about the telecommunications industry.
Akpatason acknowledged the significant investments made in the sector but called for more investment to improve service quality.
