diff --git a/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/telemetry/TelemetryUploadService.java b/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/telemetry/TelemetryUploadService.java
index d969f465c70f..67afcb413442 100644
--- a/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/telemetry/TelemetryUploadService.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/telemetry/TelemetryUploadService.java
@@ -149,6 +149,11 @@ public class TelemetryUploadService extends IntentService {
             return false;
         }
 
+        if (!NetworkUtils.isConnected(context)) {
+            Log.w(LOGTAG, "Network is not connected; returning");
+            return false;
+        }
+
         if (!isIntentValid(intent)) {
             Log.w(LOGTAG, "Received invalid Intent; returning");
             return false;
@@ -167,6 +172,8 @@ public class TelemetryUploadService extends IntentService {
      * {@link #isUploadEnabledByProfileConfig(Context, GeckoProfile)} if the profile is available as it takes into
      * account more information.
      *
+     * You may wish to also check if the network is connected when calling this method.
+     *
      * Note that this method logs debug statements when upload is disabled.
      */
     public static boolean isUploadEnabledByAppConfig(final Context context) {
@@ -180,11 +187,6 @@ public class TelemetryUploadService extends IntentService {
             return false;
         }
 
-        if (!NetworkUtils.isBackgroundDataEnabled(context)) {
-            Log.d(LOGTAG, "Background data is disabled");
-            return false;
-        }
-
         return true;
     }
 
@@ -192,6 +194,8 @@ public class TelemetryUploadService extends IntentService {
      * Determines if the telemetry upload feature is enabled via profile & application level configurations. This is the
      * preferred method.
      *
+     * You may wish to also check if the network is connected when calling this method.
+     *
      * Note that this method logs debug statements when upload is disabled.
      */
     public static boolean isUploadEnabledByProfileConfig(final Context context, final GeckoProfile profile) {
diff --git a/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/util/NetworkUtils.java b/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/util/NetworkUtils.java
index ebc79752f7c2..2210e43edfaf 100644
--- a/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/util/NetworkUtils.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/util/NetworkUtils.java
@@ -66,22 +66,6 @@ public class NetworkUtils {
         }
     }
 
-    public static boolean isBackgroundDataEnabled(final Context context) {
-        final NetworkInfo networkInfo = getActiveNetworkInfo(context);
-        return networkInfo != null &&
-                networkInfo.isAvailable() &&
-                networkInfo.isConnectedOrConnecting();
-    }
-
-    @Nullable
-    private static NetworkInfo getActiveNetworkInfo(final Context context) {
-        final ConnectivityManager connectivity = (ConnectivityManager) context.getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE);
-        if (connectivity == null) {
-            return null;
-        }
-        return connectivity.getActiveNetworkInfo(); // can return null.
-    }
-
     /**
      * Indicates whether network connectivity exists and it is possible to establish connections and pass data.
      */