MTN Nigeria says it will hold a public hearing today Saturday, June 6, to address growing concerns among subscribers about mobile data consumption and depletion.
The event, tagged “Data on Trial”, is designed as a courtroom style inquiry where consumers, technology experts and network engineers will examine how mobile data is measured, consumed and billed.
The telecom company said the initiative comes at a time when mobile internet use in Nigeria continues to rise. According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria had more than 153.2 million mobile internet subscriptions in the first quarter of 2026, while data traffic has continued to grow.
MTN said Nigerians will be allowed to nominate and vote for a five member prosecution team through independent media platforms. The selected representatives, expected to include technology creators and consumer advocates, will be tasked with presenting consumer complaints and cross examining technical experts during the hearing.
The defence team will consist of MTN executives, network engineers and external mobile hardware specialists. Both sides will be allowed to present evidence, device data and witnesses.
MTN added that all diagnostic tools and backend demonstrations used during the session will be independently verified by KPMG.
The company said the hearing will be streamed live on television and digital platforms including YouTube, Facebook, X and TikTok.
The announcement follows years of complaints from subscribers who claim their data bundles are depleted faster than expected. Concerns over data usage intensified after the NCC approved a 50 per cent tariff increase in January 2025, leading to higher costs for voice and data services.
In recent months, social media platforms have been flooded with complaints from subscribers questioning how their data is calculated and deducted. Consumer groups and technology users have repeatedly called for greater transparency from telecom operators.
Industry observers say the hearing could provide an opportunity for consumers to better understand how smartphones, applications, software updates and streaming services contribute to data consumption. The exercise is also being seen as a test of public trust between telecom operators and subscribers.
