MTN Nigeria has warned subscribers that applications running in the background of their mobile phones could be silently consuming their data, leading to rapid depletion of their internet bundles.
The telecommunications giant urged Nigerians to regularly check their phone settings, minimise unused applications and disable automatic downloads to avoid unnecessary data consumption.
The warning comes amid growing complaints by subscribers over alleged unexplained data deductions, with many accusing telecom operators of exhausting their bundles without their knowledge.
However, MTN denied stealing or secretly depleting customers’ data, insisting that background applications and changing digital habits were among the major reasons behind the complaints.
The company gave the explanation through its partner firm, Multinz Communications Company, during the launch of an awareness campaign tagged Data Truth at Mile 3 Market in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
An official of Multinz Communications Company, Terry Igho, said the campaign was designed to educate subscribers on how their internet data was consumed and address misconceptions surrounding data depletion.
He explained that many phone users wrongly assume that their data is not being consumed once they stop actively using their devices.
According to him, several applications continue to run in the background and consume data even when subscribers are not browsing or actively operating their phones.
Igho also identified failure to close applications after use as another factor responsible for rapid data depletion.
He said the campaign would be conducted in phases to reach different categories of subscribers, including traders, students and high-value customers.
The MTN partner also blamed the growing popularity of high-quality videos on social media platforms for increased data consumption.
He explained that content creators seeking to attract viewers and generate revenue increasingly upload high-resolution videos, which require more data to stream than lower-quality content.
Igho advised subscribers to reduce the number of videos they stream simultaneously and regularly minimise applications they are no longer using.
He also urged traders and other Nigerians who belong to multiple WhatsApp groups to disable automatic downloads of photographs and videos to prevent their data bundles from being exhausted unnecessarily.
Data depletion has remained one of the major sources of complaints among Nigerian telecom subscribers, particularly following the 2025 tariff adjustments approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission, which increased the cost of calls, SMS and data services.
In June, MTN organised a public hearing in Lagos to address customers’ concerns about data consumption and explain how their internet bundles were being used.
The company has repeatedly denied manipulating subscribers’ data, maintaining that background applications, high-quality video streaming and changing smartphone usage habits contribute significantly to rapid data consumption.
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