The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has advised mobile subscribers on practical ways to manage their internet data as complaints of quick depletion continue to dominate discussions among telecom users.
While many subscribers believe service providers are deliberately siphoning their data, both the Commission and operators have consistently dismissed the claims. According to the NCC, the rapid pace of technological advancement has introduced features on smartphones that many consumers do not fully understand, leading to unintentional high data consumption.
The Commission explained that this knowledge gap often fuels frustration and mistrust among subscribers. To address this, the NCC released what it described as “Smart Data Management Tips” to help consumers extend the life of their data bundles.
The tips include monitoring data usage with inbuilt phone trackers or apps, connecting to Wi-Fi whenever possible, disabling automatic app updates, restricting background data for certain apps, and downloading content while on Wi-Fi for offline use. Others are turning off GPS and location services when not needed, activating data-saving modes on devices, taking advantage of data caching, and rolling over unused data to the next billing cycle where available.
Beyond consumer education, the Commission said it is actively working to improve transparency in data usage and fairness in billing. The Director of the Consumer Affairs Bureau at NCC said the regulator has sponsored studies on the recurring issue of data depletion, enforced fair usage policies, and continues to engage with operators to improve overall service quality.
She added that several factors influence how quickly data is consumed, pointing to the automatic streaming of videos by most browsers even when users only open websites to read text. Streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify were also highlighted as some of the biggest drivers of high data usage.
Recent figures from the NCC show that complaints about data depletion remain among the most common concerns raised by Nigerian telecom subscribers, underscoring the need for both consumer awareness and industry-wide efforts to ensure a better mobile experience.
