Telecommunications giant Safaricom has explained how mobile data is consumed and why customers may experience what appears to be “fast-draining” bundles.
This follows a complaint from a subscriber who said his data had been “mysteriously evaporating” for months.
The customer, media personality, and language educator Willice Ochieng, questioned why his bundles were depleting faster than expected despite long-term use of Safaricom’s network.
Willice further asked the telecommunications company to address what he described as an ongoing and frustrating issue.
In response, Safaricom said mobile data billing is determined by the volume of content accessed by a user’s device, noting that this includes both active usage and background activity by applications.
“Please note that data billing is based on the volume of content accessed by your device, including background app activity.”
The company also provided links to check their usage and for data-saving tips.
Why do data bundles run out faster
According to Safaricom, many smartphones consume data even when users are not actively browsing. Background processes, automatic app updates, and content synchronization all contribute to mobile data consumption, even when the user is not actively using their phone.
This happens through background data, which allows apps to refresh, sync, update, and upload content automatically while the phone screen is off.
On Android devices, users can check which applications are consuming the most data by navigating to Settings → Data Usage, where both foreground and background usage are displayed per app.
Also Read: How to Check All Numbers Registered With Your ID on Safaricom and Other Telcos
On iPhones, this can be done by going to Settings → Cellular, which displays data usage per app, allowing users to toggle off cellular data for apps that are using more than necessary.
Apps such as social media platforms, cloud storage services, photo backup tools, and messaging apps are among the biggest contributors to hidden data consumption. For example, photo apps may automatically upload images in the background, while social media apps preload videos and images to improve user experience.
Safaricom tips on how to reduce mobile data usage
To help customers make their data last longer, Safaricom provides the following tips for both Android and iPhone users:
Restrict background data
One of the most effective measures is restricting background data for apps that do not need constant internet access.
- Android: Settings → Data Usage → Select App → Restrict Background Data
- iOS: Settings → General → Background App Refresh → Off, or choose specific apps
Update apps over Wi-Fi only
Automatic updates via mobile data can consume large volumes without users realizing it.
- Android: Google Play Store → Settings → Auto-update apps → Over Wi-Fi Only
- iOS: Settings → iTunes & App Store → Use Cellular Data → Off
Monitor and limit data-heavy apps
Customers are encouraged to monitor the use of data-heavy apps, particularly social media platforms that automatically load videos, GIFs, and high-resolution images. Where possible, lighter alternatives such as Facebook Lite or Tweet Caster can reduce data usage while maintaining core functionality.
YouTube quality settings
Video streaming is one of the biggest data consumers. Safaricom notes that watching YouTube videos in standard definition (480p) instead of high definition can save up to 60% of data.
Also Read: How to Reverse Money Sent to Wrong Safaricom Paybill and Till Numbers
Users can manually lower video quality by selecting the settings icon on the video player and choosing the desired quality.
WhatsApp media controls
Turning off automatic media downloads for photos and videos prevents unnecessary data use, especially in busy group chats.
- Settings → Data and Storage Usage → Media Auto-Download → When Using Mobile Data → No Media
Users can also enable Low Data Usage for WhatsApp voice calls.
Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter) Autoplay Settings
Social media apps consume data silently through autoplay videos:
- Instagram: Settings → Cellular Data Use → Use Less Data
- Facebook: Settings → AutoPlay → Never Auto Play Videos
- X (formerly Twitter): Profile Icon → Settings and Privacy → Data Usage → Video Autoplay → Never
The video streaming and social media tips apply to both Android and iOS.
iPhone-specific tips
iPhone users have additional options to reduce data consumption:
- Disable Wi-Fi Assist: Prevent your iPhone from automatically switching to cellular when Wi-Fi is weak. Settings → Cellular → Scroll to bottom → Wi-Fi Assist → Off
- Download music and podcasts over Wi-Fi: Settings → Music/Podcasts → Streaming & Downloads → Use Cellular Data Off
- Fetch email less frequently: Settings → Mail → Accounts → Fetch New Data → Manual or Less Frequent
- Restrict iCloud photo uploads: Settings → Photos → Mobile Data → Off
Checking Personal Data Usage
Safaricom allows customers to view their personal data usage through its online account portal. However, users must be connected to Safaricom mobile data on their devices to access the service.
If customers encounter an error stating that their number cannot be retrieved, Safaricom advises switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data and trying again later.
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