In the second quarter of 2024, MTN Nigeria achieved download speeds of 95.62 Mbps, placing it first in mobile performance in West and Central Africa (WCA). The achievement, confirmed by Ookla Speedtest Intelligence, puts Nigeria ahead of the pack regarding network performance and technological advancements, making it the region’s number one MTN operator (Opcos).
Apart from download speeds, MTN Nigeria also recorded a respectable average upload speed of 17.01 Mbps, narrowly beating MTN Ghana’s 16.74 Mbps. The two Opcos were top performers in both upload speed and multi-server latency, achieving impressive results despite Ghana’s yet to roll out 5G services.
Improving network performance was consistent across all MTN Opcos in the WCA, but Nigeria and Ghana stood out for improving their rankings over the past two years.
MTN Nigeria’s top ranking is due to its strategic investment in 5G technology and continuous upgrades to its existing network infrastructure.
The rollout of 5G services in Nigeria has been a major factor in this progress. Over the past 18 months, MTN Nigeria has expanded 5G service availability from 17.2% in early 2023 to 35.7% by mid-2024, overtaking South Africa’s 31.6%.
This progress was achieved through a $120 million investment aimed at expanding coverage and improving broadband access in major urban areas.
However, 5G penetration in Nigeria is still relatively low. Only 13.9% of users who own a 5G-enabled device are actively using the service, compared to 31.3% in South Africa.
Concerns over data costs, device affordability and battery life were barriers to adoption.
To address this, MTN Nigeria is exploring strategies to make 5G services more accessible through affordable data plans and financing options for the latest devices.
Regional Performance
Outside Nigeria, MTN Opcos in countries such as Ghana, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire also recorded some improvements. For example,
MTN Ghana saw download speeds triple in two years, driven by improved infrastructure and high smartphone penetration. Meanwhile, MTN Benin maintained a solid performance despite seeing a slight dip in early 2024.
Côte d’Ivoire experienced network speed improvements during the Africa Cup of Nations in early 2024 but struggled to sustain the gains.
Cameroon lagged behind, showing only marginal improvements in both download speeds and latency, while operational issues and economic instability prevented further progress in other markets such as Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry.
