MTN Denies Data Theft and explains Why Your Internet Plan Runs Out So Fast

A subscription that used to last a month now lasts a week or even just days. This trend has led to widespread anger, with many customers openly accusing telecommunications companies of stealing their internet data.

To address these complaints, MTN Nigeria held a meeting. The "Data on Trial" public engagement forum hosted by MTN Nigeria was held on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

The session took place in the morning and afternoon at the MTN Nigeria Corporate Headquarters in Lagos.

The event featured a courtroom-style setup where MTN executives, including CEO Karl Toriola and Chief Technical Officer Yahaya Ibrahim, answered direct questions from journalists, consumer advocates, and digital content creators regarding data depletion and network quality. With journalists and content creators. Company engineers and technology experts spoke directly to the public to explain how data billing works and why internet plans run out faster than ever before.

The message from the company was clear: MTN is not stealing your data. Instead, officials pointed to modern phone settings, faster network speeds, and changes in how we use the internet as the main causes of the rapid drain.

Mr. Michael Ndukwe, a senior network manager at MTN, explained that data usage only starts when a user actively requests content online. Merely leaving a phone connected to the network does not consume your plan.

According to Ndukwe, the move to 4G and 5G technology has changed everything. These newer networks are built to carry richer content, meaning they handle much larger amounts of data at a time. The biggest culprit is video streaming, especially on popular apps.

For instance, watching a 15-second TikTok video in normal quality uses about two to three megabytes of data. However, if that same short clip plays in high definition, it can instantly gulp up to 15 megabytes. Because modern apps automatically play videos one after another, they download content in the background before you even click on them to prevent pausing.

Other hidden drains include background software updates, cloud backups, and sharing your connection with other devices through a hotspot. Phone systems are built to give users the best possible picture and speed, and that premium experience requires a lot of data.

Apart from the data complaints, MTN also addressed poor service quality, such as dropped calls and slow web speeds. The company revealed that bad network signals are heavily tied to severe local infrastructure challenges.

MTN Nigeria’s Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Yahaya Ibrahim, stated that the company deals with 35 to 40 cut fibre-optic cables every single day. These cuts happen because of ongoing road construction, deliberate vandalism, and sabotage.

The damage is widespread. In 2025 alone, thieves attacked 152 MTN sites, stealing generators, solar power equipment, and backup batteries. When a single central station loses power, or a main cable is cut, internet and call services drop for entire communities.

To fight this, the company has started nationwide patrols to monitor its facilities. They also urged local communities to help protect telecom gear, as destroying these sites hurts the local businesses and families who rely on them to stay connected.

For users looking to save their data, tech experts suggest turning off automatic video playback on social media, lowering video streaming quality to standard definition, and using data tracking tools like the MyMTN app to monitor daily usage.