The country has more than 80 million users. Tuesday, The Globalgistzng reported that customers have sent emails and messages to the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, requesting an investigation into unusual data consumption. The operators who spoke about the issue denied using any kind of system to steal data and blamed the increased usage on switching from 3G and 4G networks to 5G networks and streaming more video.
Blewett addressed the widespread belief that data vanishes as a result of deliberate tampering at MTN House in Accra. He added, "I swear to God as my witness: we have no reason to steal your data," reflecting on his lengthy career in the industry, "I’ve heard ‘You’re stealing my data' in every country I’ve worked in—not just at MTN.
" Blewett argued that since his bonus is contingent on declared revenue, there is no financial incentive for such actions. He said, "If I steal data, I can't report it because I'd lose my bonus," attempting to dispel notions of MTN or its competitors manipulating for profit. He said that improved networks, not bad actors, were to blame for the rapid loss of data. He explained, "A better network speeds up data use." On stronger signals, YouTube switches to higher resolution—it's like Pac-Man eating your data. That is beyond our control, "he added.
Blewett emphasized MTN's oversight mechanisms to foster trust. He added, "We’re independently audited—billing errors would fail our financials," and that an internal revenue assurance team checks for discrepancies on a regular basis to ensure compliance and accuracy. He emphasized, "We don't want revenue leaks or incorrect billing," highlighting MTN's commitment to transparency in the face of customer dissatisfaction over lost data.
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