MTN Leads Sub-Saharan Africa in Mobile Speeds as 5G Expands
A recent analysis using Ookla Speedtest Intelligence® data and operators’ reports examined mobile network performance across eight key countries — Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria — covering 55% of SSA’s mobile connections.
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is rapidly adopting 5G technology while continuing to expand 4G networks, as telecom operators aim to improve connectivity, customer experience, and operational efficiency. A recent analysis using Ookla Speedtest Intelligence® data and operators’ reports examined mobile network performance across eight key countries — Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria — covering 55% of SSA’s mobile connections. The study focused on major operators under Airtel Africa, Orange, MTN, and Vodacom.
In Southern Africa, MTN South Africa achieved the fastest median download speed across the region at 74.76 Mbps, followed by Mascom and Orange in Botswana, both exceeding 56 Mbps. Vodacom led in 5G performance in South Africa, achieving 174.9 Mbps median download speed. Southern Africa consistently outperforms other sub-regions due to more advanced infrastructure and earlier adoption of 5G.
In East Africa, MTN Uganda emerged as the top performer, with a 5G median download speed of 235.22 Mbps, ahead of Airtel Uganda at 160.21 Mbps. In Kenya, Safaricom dominated the market, with 4G and 5G speeds more than double those of Airtel. In Tanzania, Airtel led in 5G median speeds (130.35 Mbps download), while Vodacom achieved slightly higher 5G availability (26.4% vs. Airtel’s 2.8%).
In West Africa, Orange led in Côte d’Ivoire with a median download speed of 35.25 Mbps, while MTN Nigeria recorded the fastest 5G download speed at 226.59 Mbps. However, operators in the DRC lagged behind due to limited 4G coverage and absence of 5G services, resulting in median download speeds below 25 Mbps in H1 2025.
Botswana has been a pioneer in 5G in Africa. Mascom and Orange delivered some of the region’s best 5G speeds, with Mascom recording 206.26 Mbps download and 21.45 Mbps upload, slightly outperforming Orange. These results highlight significant regional disparities, with Southern Africa leading in speed and network quality, followed by Eastern and Western Africa.
MTN continues to dominate in multiple countries, leading in median download speeds and demonstrating robust infrastructure investment. Vodacom often leads in subscriber numbers but faces speed performance challenges in regions with limited 5G coverage. Airtel maintains a competitive presence in East and West Africa but trails MTN and Safaricom in speed performance in several markets. Orange performs strongly in West Africa and Botswana, leveraging early 5G adoption and fiber expansion.
Despite economic challenges such as inflation, currency fluctuations, and high energy costs, operators are heavily investing in network expansion, fiber backhaul, and 4G/5G deployments. The ongoing rollout of 4G and 5G networks positions operators to meet rising digital demand, particularly driven by a young, tech-savvy population. Strategic investments in network infrastructure and digital services are expected to shape the competitive landscape and unlock growth opportunities for telecom operators across SSA.
