Activist and African Action Congress (AAC) 2027 presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has challenged claims by the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, that unlimited mobile data plans are virtually non-existent globally unless subscribers pay extremely high fees.
Sowore, in a post on his X handle on Sunday, described the MTN boss’s assertion as false, insisting that millions of consumers across the world have access to unlimited or effectively unlimited mobile and broadband data plans at prices he said are more affordable relative to local incomes than what Nigerians currently pay.
The activist’s reaction came after Toriola made the remarks during a press conference titled: “Data on Trial” held in Lagos where the MTN chief argued that unlimited data plans are not sustainable on mobile networks without compromising service quality.
“The issue of unlimited data on mobile network, it does not exist anywhere in the world, except you are paying $400 a month or whatever. There are high bundles and fair usage policies,” Toriola said.
He added that network capacity constraints make unrestricted data offerings impractical at low prices.
“On mobile networks, it does not really exist. There is a limit, because you can never build enough capacity for everyone to be on an unlimited bundle and you think you will provide quality service that will be decent,” he said.
Responding, Sowore dismissed the claim, insisting it does not reflect global market realities.
“Liars,” Sowore wrote.
He argued that many countries still provide consumers with unlimited or near-unlimited data plans at relatively affordable rates compared to income levels.
“Millions of consumers around the world enjoy truly unlimited or effectively unlimited broadband and mobile data plans at prices that are often cheaper, relative to income, than what Nigerians pay for far less service,” he said.
