In Nigeria, the place cell web is dear and important, the declare {that a} telecom supplier “stole my information” has develop into a typical chorus. Scroll by native tech boards or take heed to pissed off customers on the road, and also you’ll hear widespread complaints about vanishing information, even when telephones seem idle. However whereas suspicions usually level at operators like MTN and Airtel, the true perpetrator could also be nearer to dwelling.
The parable of vanishing information
The notion that telcos—particularly MTN, Nigeria’s largest telecom operator—are “stealing” information is widespread. And with Nigeria’s cell information not low cost (₦3 per MB as of 2025), each megabyte counts.
Nevertheless, in line with the Nigerian Communications Fee (NCC), most information depletion complaints stem from person habits and gadget settings, slightly than deliberate sabotage. The regulator stated that the info utilization expertise is a perform of location, community gear, and customers linked in a selected space. Quicker networks, background app exercise, automated downloads, and video streaming habits are the first culprits.
“The upper the info pace, the faster pages load-downlaods and uploads happen, and expectedly, the faster web bundles are exhausted,” the NCC stated in an advisory. “So, as telecom shoppers can use extra units in much less time, some shoppers’ units and community service suppliers make it doable to restrict information pace to assist customers handle information utilization higher.”
How your information will get used
Information consumption doesn’t solely occur while you’re watching movies on YouTube or TikTok. A lot of it occurs quietly.
Background apps sync information, examine for notifications, and obtain updates. In the meantime, platforms like Instagram, Fb, and TikTok autoplay high-definition movies by default. On quick networks, these actions occur in seconds, with out the person noticing.
For instance: a 10-minute WhatsApp video name can use as much as 150MB, costing ₦30.72 per MB. Watching a film in 4K on Netflix on a 55-inch tv can gulp up 17.5GB, consuming a big information bundle in only one sitting.
Apps draining your information
Many Nigerian customers have between 60 and 90 apps put in on their smartphones, but most apps are hardly ever used. Nevertheless, a small group of data-heavy apps is chargeable for most web consumption. YouTube can devour as much as 2.3GB per hour on excessive settings, TikTok as much as 840MB per hour, Instagram over 700MB per hour throughout heavy video use, and Snapchat as a lot as 1.2GB per hour.
Streaming content material on sensible TVs, particularly in 4K decision, is much more data-intensive, utilizing between 7GB and 16GB per hour. For instance, watching a 2 hours half-hour (2.5 hours) film on Netflix utilizing a 55-inch HD tv would use round 3GB of web information. For a 4K (Extremely HD) 55-inch tv, you have to 17.50GB (at 7GB/hour) of web information to look at the identical 2.5-hour film on Netflix. The upper the scale and definition of the tv, the extra information you utilize.
Sport lovers are usually not disregarded. Digital video games primarily devour giant quantities of information throughout downloads or updates, starting from a number of gigabytes to over 100 GB.
For instance, downloading a title like Name of Obligation can exceed 100 GB. Nevertheless, as soon as a sport is totally downloaded and up to date, it will probably usually be performed offline with out utilizing any extra web information. To preserve information, gamers can disable automated updates and select to play in offline modes.
Whereas on-line multiplayer gaming does require an web connection, it sometimes makes use of a modest quantity of information, roughly 40 to 300 MB per hour. Different options, resembling cloud saves (which retailer your sport progress on-line) and trophy syncing (which updates your in-game achievements), devour minimal information. Alternatively, streaming video games may be very data-intensive, utilizing as much as 15 GB per hour. Subsequently, avid gamers involved about information utilization ought to be aware of how they entry and play their video games.
On common, cell customers globally devour 21.6GB/month, with over 75% spent on video and social media apps. Even primary searching on Safari or Chrome can use as much as 700MB/hour.
So, except you’re consistently monitoring what’s operating—and the way it runs—your information plan doesn’t stand an opportunity.
“Why does my information last more on WiFi?”
Right here’s a typical query: if I stream the identical YouTube video on cell and WiFi, why does the info appear to empty quicker on cell?
The quick reply: it doesn’t. It’s the restrict, not the pace.
Most WiFi connections are limitless or include big information caps, so customers don’t discover consumption. Cellular information, nevertheless, is capped. When you burn by your 5GB or 10GB, it’s gone, and the sting of buying one other bundle makes it really feel like your information was stolen.
In actuality, each cell and WiFi devour information on the similar tempo for a similar exercise. However as a result of cell information is treasured, each megabyte hurts.
So, did MTN or Airtel “steal” your information?
The reply isn’t any. However your frustration is legitimate.
Nigeria’s cell information stays expensive relative to incomes—the current tariff will increase have made it worse for subscribers—and the fast tempo of consumption, particularly on quicker networks, makes it really feel like information is evaporating. Add to that auto-downloads, updates, and sensible TVs streaming in full HD, and it’s straightforward to really feel shortchanged.
Nonetheless, customers aren’t solely helpless.
How one can make your information last more
If you wish to keep away from yelling at your display screen in information rage, listed below are sensible steps you may take:
- Flip off auto-play: On apps like Instagram, Fb, and YouTube.
- Disable background information: Go to your cellphone’s information utilization settings and limit background entry for apps you hardly ever use.
- Set app replace limits: Configure your cellphone to replace apps solely over WiFi.
- Decrease streaming high quality: Drop YouTube, TikTok, or Netflix video high quality to SD or 480p whereas on cell information.
- Use data-saver modes: Many Android units include built-in information saver settings; flip them on.
- Uninstall or freeze unused apps: The less apps checking for updates, the much less background information consumed.
- Monitor with information supervisor apps: Apps like GlassWire or your cellphone’s built-in information tracker can assist you see utilization spikes.
- Use WiFi for heavy duties: Obtain podcasts, YouTube movies, or updates whereas linked to WiFi.
Bottomline
The parable of stolen information speaks to one thing deeper: Nigerians are caught on the intersection of rising web costs, smartphone proliferation, and invisible consumption patterns. Quicker networks and richer content material experiences are welcome, however with out instruments to observe utilization and smarter defaults, information will proceed to really feel prefer it’s slipping by your fingers.
Till cell information turns into considerably cheaper—or telecoms provide smarter, extra clear plans—customers ought to defend their megabytes as fiercely as their cash. Whereas the telcos might not be stealing your information, your apps very properly may.
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