The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, emphasised the growing concern over data consumption and billing transparency during his keynote speech at Abuja’s 93rd Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP).
He said with Nigeria boasting 132 million internet connections, a significant portion of the global 5 billion user base, the nation’s digital landscape is rapidly evolving.
“Nigerians, on average, spend 4 hours and 20 minutes daily on social media, significantly exceeding the global average,” he disclosed.
In 2024, Nigeria’s daily data usage surged to 336 gigabytes per second, a 39% increase year-over-year. Despite this surge, many consumers continue to express dissatisfaction with rapid data depletion.
The NCC analysed consumer complaints to address these concerns and identified data depletion and billing issues as primary concerns. While audits of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) revealed no major systemic issues, the regulator acknowledges the impact of two primary factors:
On technological advancements: high-resolution devices, the advent of 4G and 5G technologies, coupled with high-resolution devices, has led to increased data consumption. For instance, viewing a high-resolution photo on Instagram can consume significantly more data than in the past.
Streaming platforms like YouTube have become increasingly popular, contributing to higher data usage.
The complexity of MNO and ISP tariffs can sometimes lead to confusion and perceived unfair billing practices.
The NCC remains committed to working with stakeholders to mitigate these issues and ensure a transparent and fair digital experience for Nigerian consumers.
Source: https://independent.ng/ncc-tackles-data-depletion-billing-transparency-issues/