MTN Nigeria has blamed the failure to optimise cell phone settings and handle data consumption for the pointless depletion of many Nigerians’ data bundles.
The firm referred to as for optimising phone settings throughout its Data on Trial expertise, organised by MTN Nigeria on Monday in Abuja and attended by Nairametrics.
Nairametrics reviews that business statistics launched by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and up to date as of October 12, 2026, confirmed that whole cell subscriptions throughout the 4 networks, together with Airtel, Globacom and T2, stood at 197,416,694 in August up from 195,108,814 in July 2026.
MTN highlights operational prices
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, highlighted a number of components contributing to data pricing in Nigeria, together with the operational prices confronted by cell telecommunications operators.
He burdened that operators incur important bills in offering electrical energy, transportation and different infrastructure required to keep up telecommunications websites.
According to him, MTN spent about N4.05 trillion on energy within the previous yr.
- “Even throughout the context of data being perceived as dearer in Nigeria, the UK is the instance I used to be giving.
- “Please, perceive that on this nation, in addition to another African nations, we’re offering energy and transportation to all our websites.
- “The cost of electricity, for instance, is higher here than in the UK,” he mentioned.
For his half, the General Manager of Network Performance and Quality Assurance at MTN Nigeria, Mr Mike Ndukwe, mentioned video streaming, social media actions and automated downloads have been among the many components contributing to fast data depletion.
He suggested subscribers to disable automated media downloads of their phone settings, prohibit background data utilization and configure purposes to obtain giant information solely when related to Wi-Fi.
The official argued that data depletion usually outcomes from alleged customers’ on-line actions or phone settings slightly than unexplained deductions.
He urged subscribers to grasp how their gadgets and purposes devour data.
There is room for enchancment — Reps
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Communications, Mr Peter Akpatason, mentioned that regardless of MTN’s important funding within the telecommunications sector, there was room for additional funding aimed toward enhancing service high quality.
He described initiatives aimed toward enhancing public understanding of data administration and addressing misconceptions concerning the telecommunications business as worthwhile.
What you must know
Nairametrics reviews that the expansion in subscriptions and rising data consumption in Nigeria are placing stress on telecommunications operators to take a position extra in increasing their infrastructure capability.
- In response to this problem, the NCC disclosed that telecommunications operators had dedicated to upgrading 12,000 websites in 2026 to enhance service high quality throughout the nation.
- According to the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, operators carried out simply over 3,000 website upgrades for protection and capability in 2025. However, with a dedication to improve 12,000 websites in 2026, they’re ramping up infrastructure investments and community enlargement.
He defined that the upgrades embody further spectrum deployment on 4G websites, in addition to the conversion of older 2G and 3G websites to 4G and 5G infrastructure.
Maida famous that the present tempo of deployment reveals that the business is already forward of final yr’s efficiency.
