What is Mobile Data?
Mobile data is internet content accessed by or delivered to your phone over a wireless/cellular (i.e. mobile) connection. When you purchase mobile data plans from networks like MTN, Airtel, Glo or 9mobile in Nigeria, you are entitled to a certain amount of data over a fixed period. While you can also access the internet through Wi-Fi connections (if you have access to that particular Wi-Fi network), mobile data allows you to use the internet anywhere your phone can detect your network's data signals, provided you have an active data plan on that network. Simply put, mobile data is what enables your phone to get online when you are away from Wi-Fi.
What Causes Data Consumption/Usage/Depletion?
Your data is used whenever your phone connects to the internet. The following activities are the most common uses that reduce your data:
Sending and receiving emails
Downloading and uploading files (pictures, documents, videos, etc.) – the larger the file, the more the data consumption
Browsing the internet – the more pictures, videos or graphics on the websites visited, the more data is used
Instant Messaging – like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, etc.
Streaming music/videos on YouTube, Hulu, Netflix and other channels
Games – games use a lot more data than most people imagine, due to the intense graphics and algorithms that power them
Social media applications such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Video-chatting and conferencing applications like Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp Video, etc.
Automatic update of applications installed on the device or device Operating system (OS)
Automatic file upload to the cloud (iCloud, Google Photos, Microsoft Cloud, Amazon etc.)
Using devices as Hotspots for other digital devices (TV, Games etc.)
See Also
How do Internet Service Providers (ISPs) Estimate Data Usage?
Your data consumption depends on a large number of factors. The nature of technology (2G, 3G, 4G or 5G), the quality of the network, the speed of the download, the type of websites you visit, the specifications of your handset, and many other factors contribute to your data consumption.
Interestingly, two handsets can use different amounts of data to download or stream the same video on YouTube! This is why many Nigerians experience varying data consumption rates even when using similar services.
The following approximations give an estimation of data usage. Please note that these are mere estimations provided by operators based on typical/average file sizes:
1 Hour of social media = 200MB
1 Hour of Browsing = 60MB
1 Hour of Instant Messaging with video calls = 140MB
1 Hour of streaming music = 60MB
1 Hour of Streaming Videos = 350 MB (Non-HD) and 1GB (HD)
1 Email sent or received with attachments = 500kb
1 minute of connected gameplay = 60MB
What Activities Use Up the Most Data?
Based on the estimations above, the most common activities (inclusive of uploads and downloads) that use large amounts of data are as follows:
Downloading and watching videos online, especially on sites like Netflix and YouTube
Sending and receiving emails with large attachments
Application updates, Operating system (OS) updates and virus definition updates
Going on Social Media sites such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok etc.
Playing Games on a website or via a downloaded app
Remote security cameras
Data sent between sites on a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Mobile App online Notifications from social media, social marketing sites etc.
Automatic Cloud upload/download such as iCloud, Amazon Cloud, Google Photos etc.
Understanding these data consumption patterns can help you manage your data bundle more effectively, especially with the rising costs of data plans in Nigeria.
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