MTN Leads Mobile Speed in Africa as Vodacom Excels in 5G Performance

Recent findings from Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence for H1 2025 reveal a clear distinction in mobile network strategies among Africa’s leading telecom providers. MTN Group dominates the continent’s overall mobile speed rankings, while Vodacom stands out as the top performer in 5G speeds, highlighting diverse approaches to network development across Africa.

MTN’s Broad 4G and 5G Investment Drives Speed Leadership

Among 19 operators spanning MTN, Vodacom, Orange, and Airtel, median download speeds varied significantly-from a low of 14.8 Mbps with Vodacom in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to an impressive 74.76 Mbps with MTN South Africa, the fastest in sub-Saharan Africa. This performance underscores MTN’s commitment to extensive 4G and 5G infrastructure upgrades and network optimization in key markets such as Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa.

MTN South Africa not only achieved the highest median download speed but also led in upload speeds across all technologies, with 74.76 Mbps and 13.65 Mbps respectively, outpacing regional competitors by a wide margin. Botswana’s mobile market, powered by Mascom-a joint venture with MTN-secured the second spot with median download speeds of 65.34 Mbps and upload speeds of 18.35 Mbps, closely followed by Orange Botswana at 56 Mbps.

MTN’s stronghold extends beyond Southern Africa. In East and West Africa, MTN Uganda and MTN Nigeria topped median download and upload speeds. Remarkably, MTN’s networks in Uganda, Nigeria, and Botswana were the only ones in the Speedtest rankings to surpass 200 Mbps median 5G download speeds, outperforming other major players like Vodacom, Orange, and Airtel.

Vodacom’s Urban-Focused 5G Strategy Yields Top Speeds in South Africa

Although MTN leads in overall mobile speed, Vodacom has claimed the 5G speed crown in South Africa, registering a median 5G download speed of 174.9 Mbps and an upload speed of 11.86 Mbps-the fastest in the nation. Vodacom’s advantage stems from leveraging broader spectrum bandwidth and concentrating network densification efforts in urban areas.

When considering all technologies, Vodacom ranked fourth among surveyed operators, with median download and upload speeds of 52.31 Mbps and 7.88 Mbps, respectively. This highlights a growing performance gap between legacy networks and next-generation 5G, as operators adopt varied rollout strategies to balance cost efficiency and spectrum utilization.

Southern Africa Sets the Benchmark for Mobile Broadband

Southern Africa continues to lead sub-Saharan Africa in mobile broadband speeds, with operators like MTN South Africa, Mascom, Orange Botswana, and Vodacom South Africa consistently delivering median download speeds exceeding 50 Mbps.

Conversely, West and Central African markets lag behind. In Côte d’Ivoire, where 5G deployment remains limited, Orange leads with a median download speed of 35.25 Mbps, while MTN Côte d’Ivoire trails below 25 Mbps. The DRC, still awaiting widespread 5G commercialization, sees Orange outperforming competitors in download speeds and Airtel leading in uploads. However, all DRC operators rank near the bottom continent-wide, with Vodacom posting the lowest median download speed at 14.8 Mbps.

Botswana has quietly emerged as a 5G trailblazer in Africa. Investments made in 2021-including the launch of the Digital Delta Data Centre, the $7.5 million SmartBots Village initiative, expanded spectrum allocations, and enhanced digital infrastructure-have positioned the country as one of the continent’s most advanced mobile broadband markets.

East Africa: Safaricom Dominates Kenya’s Mobile Speed Landscape

In East Africa, Safaricom remains the undisputed leader in Kenya’s mobile broadband speeds. The operator’s median download speed of 43 Mbps is more than double Airtel’s, marking the widest performance gap between major competitors in any African market. Safaricom also leads in upload speeds, with a median of 15.11 Mbps.

The disparity is even more pronounced in 5G, where Safaricom’s download and upload speeds are approximately three times higher than Airtel Kenya’s. In Tanzania, Airtel outpaces Vodacom in 5G speeds, while in Uganda, MTN maintains a significant lead over Airtel.

Nigeria: MTN Strengthens Market Leadership Amid Economic Challenges

As Africa’s largest mobile market with over 170 million active subscribers, Nigeria remains a critical arena for telecom operators. MTN and Airtel collectively control more than 86% of the market, yet their network performance differs markedly.

Speedtest data shows MTN Nigeria achieving a median 5G download speed of 226.6 Mbps, surpassing Airtel’s 182.6 Mbps, alongside slightly better 4G availability (91.2% versus 89.9%). MTN’s median download speed of 17.44 Mbps significantly outperforms Airtel, cementing its position as West Africa’s fastest operator.

These achievements are notable given Nigeria’s ongoing economic hurdles, including currency fluctuations, inflation, fuel shortages, and infrastructure vandalism. Despite these obstacles, MTN has pledged US$3.5 billion in network investments from 2023 to 2028, including a strategic infrastructure-sharing agreement with Airtel to enhance coverage and operational efficiency.

The Expanding 5G Landscape and Future Prospects

While 5G networks are gaining traction in Southern and East Africa, coverage remains limited in many other regions. Speedtest data indicates that early adopters like Nigeria, Botswana, and Uganda are already benefiting from enhanced speeds, whereas countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and the DRC await broader commercial 5G launches.

The correlation between 5G availability and improved network performance is evident. Operators with extensive 5G coverage and high network uptime consistently deliver superior speeds, while those reliant on older technologies face ongoing challenges in user experience.

Africa’s telecommunications sector continues to be one of the fastest-growing globally, fueled by a youthful population, rapid smartphone penetration, and increasing demand for digital services. However, sustaining and expanding high-speed connectivity will require overcoming significant barriers, including spectrum allocation, high energy costs, regulatory hurdles, and the promotion of infrastructure sharing among operators.