MTN Nigeria has announced a public inquest scheduled for June 6, 2026, in which the mechanics of mobile data delivery, a subject that has fuelled persistent consumer frustration and regulatory scrutiny, will be subjected to structured, adversarial examination before a live national audience.

The context matters. Nigeria’s mobile internet subscriber base crossed 153.2 million in Q1 2026, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), operating within an ecosystem where data traffic has grown exponentially. Yet subscriber trust has not kept pace with subscriber numbers.

Complaints about data depletion, speed inconsistencies, and opaque billing have remained a stubborn feature of the consumer experience, a gap between what networks advertise and what users believe they receive.

MTN’s response to that credibility deficit is structurally unusual. Rather than the standard combination of press releases and technical explainers, the operator is staging what it describes as a courtroom-style proceeding, with defined prosecution and defence teams, live evidence, and independent verification.

The design of the prosecution side is particularly notable. MTN is not selecting its questioners. Instead, it is partnering with independent media channels to allow Nigerians to vote for a five-member prosecution team drawn from technology creators and consumer advocates, figures the public, not the company, deems credible.

Those selected will be granted autonomous cross-examination rights over MTN’s technical executives, network engineers, and third-party mobile hardware specialists who will form the defence.

To address the obvious risk of a process that looks independent but isn’t, MTN has brought in KPMG to independently verify every diagnostic tool and backend demonstration utility used during the session. That decision is significant.

KPMG’s involvement raises the accountability stakes considerably and narrows the room for the kind of selective data presentation that has previously undermined corporate-led transparency exercises in the sector.

The entire proceeding will be streamed live across television, YouTube, Facebook, X, and TikTok, a distribution footprint that signals MTN is not treating this as an industry event but as a national public conversation.

What makes the initiative analytically interesting is what it reveals about the current state of the telco-consumer relationship in Nigeria.

The very existence of a format this elaborate, prosecution teams, independent auditors, live streaming, suggests that conventional communication has failed to close the trust gap. Operators have explained, demonstrated, and published. Subscribers remain sceptical.

The inquest format is, in essence, an admission that the burden of proof now requires a different standard of evidence.

Whether the June 6 event delivers on that standard will depend on execution. The selection process for the prosecution team, the quality of evidence tabled by both sides, and the degree to which KPMG’s verification role is genuinely independent rather than ceremonial will determine whether this becomes a replicable model for consumer accountability in African telecoms, or a well-produced exercise that changes little.

The venue is yet to be confirmed. The question it is trying to answer, however, has been on the table for years.

Driven by a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) following a clean billing audit, the goal is to show users exactly how background app activities, automatic updates, and video streaming drain their balances as data consumption across the country skyrockets.

Operators have already started sending customers daily reports showing how much data they used the previous day.

An official at one of the telecom companies in Nigeria said the data depletion issue has become a major concern across the industry.

“An average subscriber believes their service provider steals their data once their data is exhausted before time or depletes faster than they expected, which is not true.

“Over the years, we have tried to enlighten the subscribers on factors that could lead to their data being depleted fast, which include smartphone functionality, among others.

“And now, we are looking at tools that could show the subscribers not just what they have used, but also how they have used it to further promote transparency,” the source said.

He added that operators are also stepping up public awareness campaigns to help subscribers understand why data may finish faster than expected.

The renewed drive for transparency comes as data usage across Nigeria gets more expensive.

Nigerians consumed more than four billion gigabytes of data in the first quarter of 2026, driven by heavy use of video streaming platforms, social media, fintech services and remote work tools.

That growth has also increased pressure on telecom infrastructure, with networks in many parts of the country now struggling during peak hours, leaving subscribers with slower internet speeds and unstable connections.

Many users often interpret those issues as abnormal data depletion.

Telecom operators are also dealing with worsening infrastructure problems. Industry data showed there were 19,384 fibre cuts in 2025, while another 5,934 incidents were recorded in the first quarter of 2026 alone.

At the same time, only about 25% of planned 4G expansion projects for 2026 have been completed, leaving networks overstretched as internet demand grows.

In December 2024, the NCC said it carried out a billing audit across major mobile networks after repeated complaints from subscribers. According to the regulator, the audit did not uncover any major issue linked to unfair data deductions.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the exercise was completed in the third quarter of 2024 using independent auditors.

“We had a hypothesis that it isn’t true that there is a data depletion issue in the industry. It could be perception.

“So the first thing we did was that we immediately conducted a billing audit on the systems of the major MNOs, using reputable auditors. That exercise was completed in Q3 of this year (2024) and surprisingly, we didn’t find any major issues,” he said.

The NCC has repeatedly warned that several smartphone features and apps consume data without users actively using them. According to the commission, background app activity, cloud syncing, automatic updates and location services are some of the biggest causes of unexpected data usage.

The regulator advised subscribers to monitor their usage regularly, turn off background data access for selected apps and disable automatic updates where necessary.

It also recommended using Wi-Fi whenever possible and installing ad blockers to reduce unwanted data consumption from online advertisements.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is reviewing its 26-year-old telecom policy as the government looks to address growing pressure on the sector.

Proposed reforms include stronger consumer protection rules, new tariff structures, wider 5G deployment and tougher measures to protect telecom infrastructure from vandalism and fibre cuts.

Authorities say the reforms are aimed at improving digital access, strengthening cybersecurity and encouraging long-term investment in the country’s telecom industry, ultimately reducing data depletion across Nigeria.

Nigerians spend an average of 4 hours and 20 minutes on social media daily, far above the global average, underscoring how deeply embedded digital interaction is in our lives.

In 2024, Nigeria’s daily data usage averaged 336 gigabytes per second, marking a 39% increase from the previous year—a clear indication of the data-driven lifestyle many Nigerians lead.

Despite this, many consumers feel their data depletes faster than expected, echoing a sentiment I hear often.

Nigeria isn’t alone in this; other countries, like Eswatini, are also working to address similar consumer concerns about data usage.

Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) made the above statements while addressing telecom stakeholders who gathered at the 93rd Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP) held in Abuja, last week.

Continuing, the EVC said:

“Earlier this year, NCC analyzed consumer complaints, revealing data depletion and billing issues as top concerns. In response, we directed Mobile Network Operators and ISPs to conduct audits of their billing systems, which reported no major issues. However, perceptions persist due to two main factors:

(1) the impact of high-resolution devices and improved technologies on data use and

(2) the complexity of operator tariffs.

“With the advent of 4G and 5G, as well as devices with ultra-high-definition screens, data consumption has naturally increased. For example, while viewing a photo on Instagram might have required only 100 kilobytes of data five years ago, today, with advanced camera resolutions, a photo can consume between two to four megabytes when opened on Instagram.”

According to Tech Advisor, an online resource that offers tech reviews, spending an hour on Instagram can set you off an average of 600 Megabytes of your data, while streaming platforms like YouTube would set you off by about 3.5 to 5.4 Gigabytes per hour.

To this end, Maida said,

“Improved technologies go beyond their purchase cost to our pockets, they also come at a cost to data. Because they have better screen resolutions, they consume higher quality media that consumes more data.

“This is the same for our increasing digital habits: according to DataReportal, the world’s internet users are spending less time watching television; the average daily television viewing has fallen by over 8% in the past one year.

“These viewers are now spending more time on their telephones, tablets, and smart TVs streaming programmes that they would previously have watched on broadcast television”.

Recognizing these challenges, he said the Commission, in collaboration with major operators, launched a Joint Industry Campaign on Consumer Awareness on Smarter Data Usage.

This media campaign, spanning radio, television, newspapers, and SMS, aims to educate consumers on effective data management.

“I am sure many of you have encountered jingles or graphics offering tips for managing data. Our message emphasizes empowering consumers with the knowledge to optimize their data usage. For example, many smartphone users may not know that their devices can track data usage and allow them to set limits on the amount of data they want to use”, the EVC said. He also asked the audience: “How many of us are aware of this feature?”

“Smartphones, even when idle, often run background applications like automatic updates and location services, which consume data. Additionally, high-definition streaming services like Netflix consume substantial data— about three gigabytes per hour in high definition, or seven gigabytes in ultra-high definition.

“The Commission believes that an informed consumer is a better-equipped consumer, leading to a clearer understanding of data consumption and reducing misconceptions about data depletion.

“In addition, to address tariff complexity, NCC issued Guidance on Tariff Simplification, requiring operators to provide clear, accessible information on data plans and pricing. This transparency will empower consumers to make better-informed decisions about their data usage and billing”.

He assured that in the coming months, operators will implement this guidance, presenting consumers with tables detailing their tariff plans, billing rates on each plan, and all terms and conditions related to the tariff plans they are on.

He stressed that at the heart of the Commission’s Strategic Vision is the commitment to meet the expectations of its stakeholders: the Consumers, the Industry/Licensees, and the Government.

The NCC directive is in response to the increasing number of complaints from consumers who have voiced their dissatisfaction over what they perceive as unfair data consumption rates.

The NCC has mandated an independent audit of the MNOs’ billing systems to ensure transparency and fairness in data usage charges. This audit is expected to shed light on the technicalities behind data consumption and provide insights into how consumers can get the most value out of their data plans.

Again, the commission is launching an educational campaign to provide consumers with knowledge about data management. This initiative will provide valuable tips on how to prevent unwanted data depletion through smartphone settings and data usage monitoring.

Under the guidance of Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the NCC reaffirms its goal to enhance Nigeria’s digital modification. The commission’s actions align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes the importance of a sustainable digital economy as a cornerstone for national development.

The NCC’s directive is a collaboration with MNOs to enhance the quality of service and ensure that the benefits of digitalization are accessible to all Nigerians.