MTN Nigeria Addresses Rapid Data Depletion Issues

MTN Nigeria has identified several factors contributing to the rapid depletion of mobile data bundles among subscribers, including phone settings, background applications, video streaming, and automatic downloads. This information was shared during the Data on Trial experience held in Abuja.

CEO Karl Toriola stated that the high cost of telecommunications services in Nigeria is driven by significant operational expenses, particularly electricity, transportation, and infrastructure maintenance. He revealed that MTN spent approximately N4.05 trillion on power in the previous year.

Toriola compared the costs in Nigeria to those in the UK, noting that Nigerian operators face higher electricity costs. Mike Ndukwe, General Manager of Network Performance and Quality Assurance, advised users to disable automatic media downloads and manage background data consumption.

The event occurred amid growth in Nigeria's telecommunications market, with mobile subscriptions rising to 197,416,694 as of August. Peter Akpatason, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Communications, acknowledged MTN's investments but emphasized the need for further improvements in telecommunications services.