MTN Rejects Data Theft Claims as CEO Blames Usage Patterns for Rapid Depletion
MTN Ghana has strongly denied allegations of siphoning customers’ data, as concerns mount over the rapid depletion of internet bundles among subscribers.
Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Blewett, dismissed the claims, stating that the company has no incentive to engage in practices that could undermine customer trust or weaken its competitive position in the market.
The response follows a surge in complaints from users reporting unusually fast data consumption, with some alleging unexplained losses. The issue has gained traction across social media platforms, intensifying calls for greater transparency from telecom operators.
MTN attributes the development to evolving digital consumption patterns rather than system manipulation. According to the company, increased background activity from mobile applications, automatic software updates and the growing popularity of high-definition video streaming are significantly accelerating data usage, often without users’ direct awareness.
Blewett explained that many applications continue to consume data in the background, while streaming services and app updates have become more data-intensive, contributing to the perception of abnormal depletion. He urged subscribers to actively monitor their data usage and adjust device settings, including video quality preferences, to better manage consumption.
“There’s zero incentive for MTN to steal data… it will just chase people away,” he stated.
The development highlights a broader challenge within Ghana’s digital economy, where rising smartphone adoption and increased demand for data are outpacing consumer awareness of usage patterns.
For telecom operators, the situation underscores the need for enhanced customer education and transparency. For regulators, it raises questions around monitoring frameworks and consumer protection in an increasingly data-driven environment.
As mobile data demand continues to grow, aligning user expectations with actual consumption behaviour is expected to be critical in sustaining trust within Ghana’s telecommunications sector.
