MTN Nigeria has committed to investing N1 trillion in network upgrades for 2026, while acknowledging that achieving 100% service quality is not feasible. This was disclosed during a stakeholder forum titled "Data on Trial" held in Lagos on Saturday, where senior executives addressed consumer complaints about network disruptions, high costs, and data depletion.
Investment and Network Challenges
Chief Executive Officer Karl Toriola revealed that MTN spent N900 billion on network expansion in 2025 and will increase this to N1 trillion in 2026. However, he emphasized that no operator can guarantee perfect network quality due to environmental factors such as vandalism, theft, and multiple regulations. Chief Technical Officer Yahaya Ibrahim apologized for poor user experiences but noted that constant upgrades are necessary as usage grows.
Data Transparency Initiatives
Chief Customer Relations Officer Ugonwa Nwoye announced a forthcoming self-service data usage portal on the MTN app, designed to help users track background data consumption. This tool aims to address the common complaint of data bundles expiring prematurely.
Toriola explained that high-speed networks like 4G and 5G automatically stream content at higher resolutions, increasing data usage. He cited examples of executives who discovered their devices were consuming large amounts of data due to automatic backups or streaming.
Operational Hurdles
Ibrahim highlighted that network disruptions often result from local infrastructure damage, such as vandalism or road construction severing fiber optic cables. He called for community policing to protect telecom infrastructure.
Toriola defended recent tariff increases, stating that MTN was facing insolvency before price adjustments. He noted that Nigeria's data tariffs remain among the cheapest globally, though unlimited data is not possible due to spectrum limits. MTN plans to expand its FiberX fixed broadband to offer true unlimited options.
