MTN Advises Subscribers On How To Save Data

By Sherif Salau

MTN Nigeria has advised subscribers, including users across Lagos State, to disable automatic downloads, restrict background data usage and lower video streaming quality to reduce rapid data consumption.

The guidance came from Mike Ndukwe, general manager of network performance and quality assurance, during a “Data on Trial” forum held in Abuja on Monday. The session was organised to address widespread frustration over how quickly data allowances disappear, even when users believe they have been careful with their usage.

Ndukwe rejected claims that the network deliberately deducts data. “We’re not stealing your data,” he said. “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.”

He pointed to high-resolution video streaming, automatic downloads and background applications as the main culprits. A 15-second TikTok video, he noted, can consume between two and 20 megabytes depending on its resolution. The same clip in standard definition may use only a fraction of that amount. Platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and WhatsApp behave in similar ways when set to higher picture quality or left to download media automatically.

WhatsApp, used by tens of millions of Nigerians, was singled out for particular attention. Text messages consume little data, but status updates, group media and automatic downloads of photos and videos can drain bundles quickly, often without the user opening the files. Ndukwe advised turning off auto-download settings and restricting large transfers to Wi-Fi.

Other practical steps recommended include enabling data-saving modes on smartphones, limiting background data for apps that run when the screen is off, and ensuring software updates and cloud backups occur only on Wi-Fi. The company also encouraged customers to monitor their consumption through the MyMTN application, which provides usage alerts and detailed breakdowns.

Ndukwe said usage had increased by about 43 per cent year-on-year, reflecting heavier reliance on video content and always-on applications. Differences of a few percentage points can also appear between the data recorded on a handset and the figures measured by the network, owing to how sessions and background traffic are calculated.