MTN Tops Africa’s Mobile Speed Rankings in 2025 as Vodacom Wins 5G Crown

Tech Cabal reports that new insights from Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence for the first half of 2025 have revealed MTN Group as the undisputed leader in Africa’s mobile speeds. At the same time, Vodacom surges ahead in the 5G arena.

Among 19 operators from MTN, Vodacom, Orange, and Airtel, median download speeds spanned from 14.8 Mbps for Vodacom in the Democratic Republic of Congo to a blistering 74.76 Mbps for MTN South Africa—the swiftest in sub-Saharan Africa. This dominance stems from MTN’s aggressive investments in 4G expansion, 5G deployment, and network optimisation in powerhouse markets such as Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa.

With median download and upload speeds of 74.76 Mbps and 13.65 Mbps across all technologies, MTN South Africa dominated the charts, outpacing competitors. Botswana secured second place via Mascom—MTN’s joint venture—clocking 65.34 Mbps download and 18.35 Mbps upload, with Orange Botswana trailing closely at 56 Mbps.

MTN’s prowess radiated across regions: MTN Uganda commanded East Africa’s median speeds, while MTN Nigeria reigned in West Africa. Remarkably, only MTN’s networks in Uganda, Nigeria, and Botswana breached the 200 Mbps barrier for 5G median downloads, eclipsing Vodacom, Orange, and Airtel.

Though MTN rules overall mobile performance, Vodacom seized South Africa’s 5G throne with median download speeds of 174.9 Mbps and uploads at 11.86 Mbps—the nation’s fastest. This advantage arises from a broader spectrum bandwidth and urban-focused network densification.

Across all technologies, Vodacom placed fourth with median download speeds of 52.31 Mbps and upload speeds of 7.88 Mbps. Its 5G superiority signals a widening gap between legacy and cutting-edge networks as operators balance costs with spectrum efficiency.

Southern Africa remains sub-Saharan Africa’s broadband vanguard, with MTN South Africa, Mascom, Orange Botswana, and Vodacom South Africa all surpassing 50 Mbps in median downloads.

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West and Central Africa trail significantly. In Côte d’Ivoire, where 5G coverage is scarce, Orange led with 35.25 Mbps downloads, while MTN lagged with under 25 Mbps. The DRC, still awaiting broad 5G commercialisation, saw Orange top downloads and Airtel uploads, yet all operators—including Vodacom’s continent-low 14.8 Mbps—languished at the bottom.

Botswana has emerged as an unlikely 5G trailblazer, fueled by Mascom and Orange. Investments since 2021, including the Digital Delta Data Centre, the $7.5 million SmartBots Village, expanded spectrum, and digital infrastructure, have forged one of Africa’s most robust mobile ecosystems.

Safaricom asserts unchallenged leadership in Kenya, delivering a median download speed of 43 Mbps—2.4 times that of Airtel’s—and 15.11 Mbps uploads. The 5G chasm widens further, with Safaricom tripling Airtel’s speeds. Tanzania reverses the script, with Airtel besting Vodacom in 5G, but MTN Uganda towers over Airtel.

In Africa’s largest mobile market—boasting over 170 million subscribers—MTN and Airtel command an 86% share, yet performance diverges dramatically. MTN Nigeria’s 5G median hit 226.6 Mbps, compared to Airtel’s 182.6 Mbps, with superior 4G availability at 91.2% versus 89.9%. Overall downloads crushed Airtel’s 17.44 Mbps, crowning MTN West Africa’s speed king.

These feats endure amid Nigeria’s turmoil: currency crashes, inflation, fuel crises, and vandalism. MTN counters with a $3.5 billion pledge through 2028, along with infrastructure-sharing agreements with Airtel for enhanced coverage and efficiency.

5G proliferates in Southern and East Africa but remains patchy elsewhere. Early adopters, such as Nigeria, Botswana, and Uganda, reap the benefits of speed, while Côte d’Ivoire and the DRC await their launches.

5G’s transformative power is evident: expansive coverage and availability yield superior velocities, whereas legacy dependence stifles progress. Africa’s telecom narrative captivates with its youthful demographics, smartphone boom, and digital hunger—yet sustained velocity demands tackling spectrum scarcity, energy costs, regulations, and infrastructure collaboration.

Blazing telecom speeds could turbocharge Nigeria’s and Africa’s tourism sectors by enabling immersive digital experiences. In Nigeria, MTN’s speeds empower virtual tours of Yankari Game Reserve or Obudu Cattle Ranch, AR-guided Lagos street art walks, and instant bookings via apps—drawing adventure seekers and diaspora visitors. 

Continent-wide, Vodacom’s 5G in South Africa already enables live-streaming of safaris; scaled to Botswana’s eco-lodges or Uganda’s gorilla treks, it attracts high-value tourists craving real-time sharing. Reliable connectivity removes barriers for remote destinations, boosts ecotourism revenue (projected to reach $200B by 2030, according to WTTC), and positions Africa as a digital nomad hub—potentially adding millions to GDP while preserving cultural sites through contactless technology.

Dive deeper into Africa’s tech transformations—explore more stories on cutting-edge telecom, tourism, and innovation at our site today!

 

FAQs

1. Who leads Africa’s overall mobile speeds in 2025?

MTN Group, with MTN South Africa hitting 74.76 Mbps median download, the fastest in sub-Saharan Africa.

2. Which operator has the fastest 5G in South Africa?  

Vodacom can deliver a median 5G download speed of 174.9 Mbps by leveraging a broader spectrum and urban densification.

3. How does MTN Nigeria perform amid economic challenges?  

MTN achieves a 226.6 Mbps 5G median despite inflation and vandalism, backed by $3.5B investments through 2028.

4. Why does Southern Africa outpace other regions in speed? 

Heavy 4G/5G investments, infrastructure such as Botswana’s Digital Delta, and spectrum access drive median speeds above 50 Mbps.

5. How could better speeds impact African tourism?

High-speed networks enable virtual tours, AR experiences, and seamless bookings, attracting digital nomads and boosting revenue in remote eco-destinations.