For years, many mobile network customers in Ghana and beyond have voiced a common frustration: “MTN is stealing my data.”
It’s a claim that has echoed in different countries and across different telecom providers.
But MTN Ghana CEO Stephen Blewett is setting the record straight once and for all—there is no data theft, and there is no incentive for MTN to engage in such a practice.
“I have been doing this job for a long time, and every country I’ve ever been to has said, ‘You’re stealing my data.’ Every single country,” Mr Blewett said during an exclusive interview at MTN House in Accra on Wednesday, April 2.
But, he insists, the allegations are simply untrue.
Mr Blewett assured MTN customers, making it clear that neither he nor the company benefits from any form of data theft.
“I’m going to say this very clearly, and I will tell you this on record—so serious, God is my witness—we have no reason to want to steal your data,” he declared.
“My bonus is determined by the revenue. If I steal your data, I can’t declare it. I will never get a bonus, okay? And we have very, very strong systems which get audited. We do not have any desire to steal your data. I promise you.”
His explanation highlights that MTN operates under strict financial regulations, meaning any improper billing of customer data usage would not only be detected but would also hurt the company’s bottom line.
If MTN isn’t “stealing” data, then why do customers often feel like their data is depleting too fast? According to Blewett, the answer lies in the quality of MTN’s network and the way digital platforms adjust to better connectivity.
“Here’s the difficult part of improving our network: guess what? When we improve it, data goes quicker,” he explained.
Mr Blewett pointed out that platforms like YouTube and social media apps automatically adjust their video quality based on the strength of a network.
“A better network means higher video resolution, which in turn consumes more data”, he stated.
“If you have a good network, it will play a higher resolution video. Guess what happens to your data? Remember that old game, Pac-Man? That’s what will happen,” he joked.
And in Ghana, where video streaming is widespread, this effect is even more pronounced.
“In other countries, people use their phones like this (horizontally). But in Ghana, everyone is like this (vertically). Everyone is watching some YouTube video I don’t even know about,” he observed humorously.
Addressing concerns over billing accuracy, Mr Blewett reiterated that MTN’s financials are independently audited, making it impossible for the company to manipulate customer data usage undetected.
“We are independently audited. If there was something wrong with our billing, our auditors would never pass our financials. And we also have a Revenue Assurance Department that is constantly checking our billing and seeing if there are any leakages,” he assured.
This department ensures that MTN’s billing is accurate and compliant with regulatory standards.
“We don’t want any revenue leakages. We don’t want a situation where people’s data is being billed incorrectly because that would mean we’re non-compliant,” he added.
Mr Blewett acknowledged that, despite his explanations, some customers will remain skeptical. However, he stated that he understands their frustrations because he, too, has been a customer.
“I know people may not be happy to hear it, and I believe that. But I can tell you, it’s the truth. And every country I’ve been to has had the same thing. But I know how it feels because I’ve been a customer as well.”
At the heart of the matter, MTN is not “stealing” data—it’s building a faster, more efficient network, which naturally leads to higher data consumption.
Streaming platforms, social media apps, and other digital services are automatically adjusting to better speeds, consuming more data without customers even realizing it.
Mr Blewett’s message to customers is clear: “We do not have any desire to steal your data. We follow strict regulations, undergo independent audits, and ensure billing transparency. Your data consumption is largely determined by how digital services adapt to improved network quality.”
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