MTN Nigeria received more than 12,000 complaints over data depletion in the first six months of 2026, according to industry data published by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The disclosure coincides with a continued rise in daily complaints from Nigerian subscribers who say their mobile data is being shortchanged, with the outcry cutting across customers of all the country's mobile network operators.

The industry data shows MTN leading with 12,212 data depletion complaints received during the period under review. Airtel follows closely with 9,806 complaints, Globacom recorded 1,373, and T2mobile (formerly 9mobile) received the fewest with just 5. In total, the top three mobile network operators (MNOs) received more than 23,000 data depletion complaints between January and June 2026. MTN's tally represents roughly 52% of the 23,396 data depletion complaints logged across the four networks, and MTN and Airtel together account for about 94% — proportions consistent with their positions as the country's two largest operators by subscribers.

Operators blame device settings and app behaviour

Nigerian subscribers frequently express frustration over rapid internet data depletion, in which purchased bundles expire much faster than expected. The MNOs and the NCC have maintained that operators are not responsible for arbitrary data deductions, attributing depletion instead to device settings, malware, and modern app designs.

MTN, through its Data on Trial event, denied of data theft and reiterated transparency measures such as daily usage reports, a data calculator, and other monitoring tools.

Explaining why data appears to deplete faster, the operator noted that high-definition video streaming, automatic video playback on feeds, software updates, and cloud backups consume large amounts of data instantly. It added that applications such as social media and email sync data, constantly fetch, and perform updates even when users are not actively using their phones.

Trust deficit drives subscriber concerns

Despite the technical explanations offered by the NCC and telecom operators, internet subscribers continue to perceive rapid data depletion as theft, driven primarily by a severe trust deficit between consumers and telecom operators.

Factors such as the 50% telecom tariff hike have made the cost of data a heavy financial burden on Nigerians. Subscribers are now paying substantially more out of pocket for the exact same data bundles and are correspondingly more concerned about how that data is being exhausted. When data disappears rapidly, it forces a painful choice between staying connected and buying necessities.

Constant drops in network quality — such as dropped calls, slow loading speeds, and fluctuating network signals — have also led users to question how data can deplete faster while they are experiencing poor service.

MTN Nigeria has faced the most backlash, an expected scenario given its position as the leading mobile network operator by subscribers, now at 100 million.

More than 413,000 total complaints in H1 2026

On a broader scale, MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and T2mobile received 413,587 complaints from Nigerians in the first half of 2026, according to the industry data by the NCC.

The NCC noted that complaints are handled and resolved in accordance with the provisions of the Quality of Service Business Rules, 2024, and the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations, 2024, which establish the standards and timelines for complaint resolution within the telecommunications industry.

"The data also provides valuable insights into complaint trends, service quality issues, non-adherence to regulatory obligations, and the responsiveness of service providers," the regulator said, adding that the publication seeks to promote transparency, accountability, and consumer awareness within the sector.

Of the 413,587 complaints received by MNOs between January and June 2026, 98.38% (406,938) were tagged as resolved. The regulator defines "Resolved Complaints" as the total number of complaints successfully addressed and closed by the operator within the reporting month.

The leading issues behind the complaints ranged from quality of service (data and voice) to billing, data depletion, failed payment transactions, top-up issues, portability, value-added services, and other SIM-related issues. Data depletion accounted for roughly 5.7% of the half-year total — a smaller category than quality of service or billing, but one that lands directly on household budgets already stretched by the 50% tariff increase.

In a further breakdown, Airtel received the highest number of complaints overall at 228,992, with a resolution rate of 99.38%. MTN followed with 124,405 complaints received and a resolution rate of 96.57%. Globacom ranked third with 56,810 complaints and a 99.04% resolution rate, while T2mobile (9mobile) saw the fewest complaints at 3,885 and a resolution rate of 88.57%. The NCC publishes these statistics periodically, so its next release will show whether data depletion grievances continue to climb or ease in the second half of 2026.

Market position as of July 2026

As of July 2026, MTN leads the market with 100.9 million subscribers, while Airtel strengthened its second position with 66.76 million. Globacom remained third after ending the month with 23.63 million subscribers, and T2mobile stayed fourth with 3.61 million.

Source: TechNext24