Data depletion complaints by phone users worry NCC

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has said the increasing complaints of abnormal data depletion by telecom consumers across country is worrisome and will be tackled soon. 

NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman Prof Umar Garba Danbatta disclosed this at the 91st edition of Telecommunications Consumers Parliament (TCP) held in Abuja on Thursday.

Danbatta said: “We are here today to deliberate on the issue of data depletion, which has become one of the most prevalent complaints received from the telecom consumers in the wake of their recent migration to 4G/LTE technology.

“Consumers have been experiencing depletion of their data either as a result of data usage or consumption, and are constantly informing the Commission of their experience through our various complaints channels.”

Outspan renews MoU with Kano dairy farmers

Merchants of Fake News Have Failed – Buni

According to the NCC boss, the interests of the telecom consumer is of paramount importance to the government and as the telecom regulator, NCC has the responsibility of ensuring that the consumer’s voice is heard and that the relevant authorities address their complaints.

However, he said whereas 4G offers better download speeds, higher bandwidth and voice quality than 3G technology, 5G technology provides the additional benefits of ultra-high speed data, low latency and higher bandwidth over 4G technology, and this may deplete data quickly.

He said it is important to appreciate and understand the issues surrounding data depletion and an upsurge in data consumption vis a vis 4G and 5G.

He said the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was the catalyst for the global explosion of new technologies which opened up an array of services, dynamic business models and new opportunities and markets globally.

This he said might have been responsible for an upsurge in data usage by smartphone users in the country. 

He said: “The Nigerian telecom industry was not left out, going by the documented upsurge in the use of computers, smartphones, smartwatches, and other technology-dependent devices which have given consumers access to multi-functional comfort and utility.”