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New analysis from Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence for the first half of 2025 shows MTN Group outperforming other major operators in overall mobile speed performance across Africa, while Vodacom has emerged as the continent’s strongest performer in 5G speeds, reflecting varied strategic investments and network deployment approaches across the region.
Across 19 evaluated operators, median download speeds ranged widely, from 14.8 Mbps on Vodacom DRC to 74.76 Mbps on MTN South Africa, the fastest in sub-Saharan Africa. MTN’s performance reflects continued investment in 4G expansion, 5G rollouts, and network optimization in core markets such as Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa.
MTN South Africa recorded the region’s highest median download and upload speeds across all network technologies, at 74.76 Mbps and 13.65 Mbps respectively. Botswana ranked close behind, with Mascom (an MTN-linked operator) delivering 65.34 Mbps in download speeds and 18.35 Mbps in uploads, followed by Orange Botswana at 56 Mbps.
MTN operations in Uganda, Nigeria, and Botswana were also the only networks in the latest ranking to achieve median 5G download speeds above 200 Mbps, significantly ahead of Vodacom, Orange, and Airtel in similar markets.
Vodacom Leads South Africa’s 5G Performance
Vodacom recorded the fastest 5G speeds in South Africa, with a median 5G download rate of 174.9 Mbps and upload speed of 11.86 Mbps. This advantage stems from broader spectrum allocation and a densification strategy concentrated in major urban hubs.
However, across all network types, Vodacom ranked lower overall, placing fourth with median speeds of 52.31 Mbps down and 7.88 Mbps up, illustrating the performance gap between legacy networks and next-generation 5G.
Regional Performance Snapshot
Southern Africa remains the region’s strongest broadband zone, led by networks in South Africa and Botswana.
Meanwhile, West and Central African markets continue to trail. In Côte d’Ivoire, Orange led with a median download speed of 35.25 Mbps, while major DRC operators posted some of the lowest speeds continent-wide, with Vodacom DRC recording the lowest median download rate in the study at 14.8 Mbps.
Botswana is emerging as a standout performer in 5G readiness, supported by investment in national data centers, digital infrastructure programs, and expanded spectrum access since 2021.
East Africa: Safaricom Extends Lead in Kenya
Safaricom maintained its strong lead in Kenya, providing a median download speed of 43 Mbps — more than double Airtel’s performance — and a 15.11 Mbps median upload rate. The gap widened significantly in 5G, where Safaricom’s speeds were roughly three times higher than Airtel’s.
Nigeria: MTN Maintains Network Edge Despite Market Pressures
In Nigeria’s large and competitive mobile market, MTN recorded a 5G median download speed of 226.6 Mbps, ahead of Airtel’s 182.6 Mbps, while also delivering slightly stronger 4G availability. MTN’s median download speed led the West African region at 17.44 Mbps.
This comes despite economic and operational pressures such as inflation, energy costs, and infrastructure vandalism. MTN has committed US$3.5 billion to network expansion between 2023 and 2028, including infrastructure-sharing agreements with Airtel to improve coverage efficiency.
Looking Ahead: 5G Expansion Still Uneven
While 5G coverage continues to expand in parts of Southern and East Africa, many markets are still early in adoption. Operators that have invested in 5G spectrum and broader coverage are already seeing notable improvements in user experience, while markets reliant on legacy networks continue to face performance limitations.
Africa’s mobile connectivity outlook remains strong, driven by a young population, rising smartphone access, and increasing demand for digital services. Sustaining growth at scale, however, will require coordinated progress in spectrum policy, power infrastructure, regulatory clarity, and greater network-sharing frameworks.
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