Nigerians Consume 80 Terabytes of Data Monthly – Danbatta

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Danbatta has disclosed Nigerians now consumed 80 Terabytes of data monthly.

The NCC Boss stated that the commission have noticed this trend, an increase in data usage which is commonly associated with an increase in online activities in Nigeria which peradventure has led to an increase in demand for data by the subscribers.

Information obtained by Business Remarks revealed by internet subscription in Nigeria reached 154 million as mobile internet users hit about 153.8 million in Dec 2020.

Statistics from the telecoms regulator website revealed that there are over 200 million active mobile lines by the end of 2020 positioning Nigeria as the largest in terms of subscribers number in Africa and the fastest growing telecoms market in the world.

READ ALSO: Internet Users Hit 4.95Bn Globally as Africa Records 46.7% Internet Penetration Rate

It should be noted that issues around data depletion have remained a huge challenge in the Nigerian telecommunication sector as consumers have continuously decried the fast depletion of data.

Recall, Business Remarks reported that within a 15-month period, spanning January 2019 to April 2020, NCC received 26,169 complaints from telecoms subscribers majorly bordering on poor services and data consumption. 

Reacting to this, Danbatta noted that the commission is aware of the difficulties experienced by telecoms consumers as they have received multiple complaints on the fast depletion of data.

To resolve this, he said NCC started investigating the determinant of fast depletion of data experienced by the consumers.

“We checked if the dataconsumption crisis is caused  by the usage on part of the consumers or whether the telcos are shortchanging the consumers.”

“NCC will continue to defend consumers from sharp practices in the industry”, he pledged.

He emphasised the commission’s commitment to taking several steps, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to continuously improve the quality of service (QoS) for both voice and data services.

Speaking with a subscriber named Adekunle Emmanuel, he urged Mobile Network Subscribers (MNOs) on the reduction of data prices.

According to him, following digital transformation in Nigeria and the increase in online activities for businesses and schools; data usage will continue to spur high as a result leading to more consumption.

“Remote working and e-Learning has been widely accepted which has to lead to more demand and consumption of data. Even church services these days have gone online. Data prices in Nigeria should be reviewed”, he told Business Remarks.

He noted that the reduction in prices and increase in quality of service will encourage subscribers to embrace the Digital Nigeria move without having to burn their fingers due to the poor standard of living of the majority in the country.