By Peace Udugba -The Daily Torch Media
MTN Nigeria is set to take its Data on Trial initiative to Abia State University (ABSU) on Thursday, October 15, 2026, giving students an opportunity to examine mobile data consumption, billing and depletion.
The engagement will extend the initiative beyond its initial public hearing in Lagos to Nigerian universities, where students can ask questions, share their experiences and gain a better understanding of how mobile data is consumed and measured.
MTN launched Data on Trial in Lagos in June in response to recurring concerns among telecom consumers about data usage and the perceived rapid depletion of data bundles.
The four-hour public hearing brought together consumers, technology experts, regulators, independent auditors and other stakeholders in a courtroom-style setting to examine factors influencing data consumption and the systems used to account for it.
The initiative’s first campus edition was held at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in August. Students from the Faculties of Law and Engineering participated as the prosecution, while MTN representatives formed the defence team.
Discussions at the event covered data consumption, network quality, pricing and refunds. Practical demonstrations also highlighted how activities such as video streaming, social media browsing, background applications and automatic updates can affect data usage.
Participants were also introduced to tools, including the MyMTN App and smartphone data-usage features, which can help users monitor and manage their consumption.
At ABSU, students will have a similar opportunity to present their questions and experiences while engaging MTN representatives and technical experts on issues surrounding mobile data usage.
Topics expected to be examined include smartphone settings, network processes, application behaviour, background activity, automatic updates, video quality, cloud synchronisation and hotspot connections, all of which can influence how quickly data bundles are consumed.
The session will also highlight practical tools that users can employ to monitor their data usage and manage their bundles more effectively.
As mobile data becomes increasingly important for education, communication, entertainment and entrepreneurship, the ABSU engagement is expected to provide a platform for dialogue and greater consumer understanding of one of the most frequently discussed issues in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
Through Data on Trial, MTN said it is pursuing broader efforts to improve customers’ understanding of data consumption through open engagement, education and direct interaction with consumers
Tags: MTN Nigeria, Abia State University, Data on Trial, Mobile Data, Telecommunications, Nigeria
