Move follows MTN’s transparency push as Airtel unveils tool to help users estimate data usage for daily online activities

Airtel Nigeria on Wednesday launched a Web Data Calculator for subscribers nationwide, introducing a digital tool designed to help customers estimate their internet usage and better understand how much data common online activities consume. The announcement was made by Femi Adeniran, Director of Corporate Communications and CSR at Airtel Nigeria, and comes weeks after rival operator MTN introduced its own data transparency initiative in response to persistent complaints from users about unexplained data depletion.

According to Airtel, the free calculator is available on the company’s official website and allows users to select typical activities—such as video streaming, social media browsing, Zoom or WhatsApp calls—and input the amount of time spent on each daily or weekly. The tool then estimates total data consumption in megabytes or gigabytes, giving subscribers a clearer view of their actual usage patterns.

For years, Nigerian telecoms subscribers have reported that their mobile data finishes faster than expected, with many calling for greater transparency from network operators. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has previously attributed rapid data consumption to background app activity, automatic updates, cloud syncing, and high-definition video streaming. However, these explanations have not fully addressed subscriber concerns.

Oladokun Oye, Customer Experience Director at Airtel Nigeria, stated that the new calculator is intended to build trust by giving customers access to detailed information about their usage. “We believe that trust grows when customers have access to clear information,” Oye said in an official statement. Chief Executive Officer Dinesh Balsingh added that empowering customers with such tools is key to the future direction of the telecoms sector.

Recent figures show that Nigeria recorded over 13 million terabytes of internet consumption in 2025—a reflection of how integral mobile broadband has become for work, education, entertainment and financial transactions. With both Airtel and MTN now offering data estimation tools, analysts say Nigerian telecoms are moving towards greater accountability as subscribers demand more control over their digital lives.

To use Airtel’s calculator, customers are advised to visit the company’s website, select the relevant activities from a provided list, enter their estimated daily or weekly usage time for each activity—information which can also be found via smartphone screen time settings—and receive an instant estimate of expected monthly data consumption.

Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/airtel-data-calculator-how-to-use-2026061015500740435