MTN Nigeria leads 5G speed after $120m investment

• Published On: 27 November 2024 at 20:12

MTN Nigeria has risen to the top of the internet speed rankings in West and Central Africa, according to the most recent Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data.

This accomplishment comes after an investment of more than $120 million in its 5G network infrastructure.

MTN Nigeria achieved its greatest download and upload speeds to date in the second quarter of 2024, with 95.62 Mbps and 17.01 Mbps, respectively.

This strong performance benefits the telco's 2.6 million 5G subscribers and is likely to make MTN Nigeria a more desirable option for prospective customers. MTN presently controls 50% of Nigeria's telecom market.

MTN Nigeria's 5G network exceeds other MTN Group subsidiaries, such as MTN Ghana, MTN Benin, MTN Côte d'Ivoire, and MTN Cameroon, in terms of download and upload speeds.

It also outperforms competitors such as Airtel, which in 2022 had a median download speed of 30.35 Mbps and an upload speed of 10.28 Mbps on its 4G network.

MTN Nigeria's 5G network, which launched in September 2022, first served seven major cities—Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri—before rapidly expanding.

By 2023, the network had reached 11% of the population, with over 2,100 5G facilities deployed across the country. MTN's continuous investments have greatly enhanced coverage and network capabilities, establishing the business as a regional leader in 5G technology.

"The influence of 5G has so far been limited to Nigeria, as it is still in its early stages over much of the area. MTN is focused on growing its 5G coverage, building on its successes in Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire, while also improving its 4G infrastructure," said Karim Yaici, Lead Industry Analyst at Ookla.

5G adoption in Nigeria has increased rapidly, with penetration going from 17.2% in Q1 2023 to 35.7% in Q2 2024, surpassing South Africa's 31.6%. While both MTN and Airtel have commercially launched 5G services in the country, MTN has a wider reach. Meanwhile, ISP Mafab Communication, which received a 5G license in December 2021, has yet to provide its services.

As of September 2024, Nigeria had 3.3 million 5G customers, accounting for 2.19% of the country's 154.9 million active mobile users. MTN Nigeria dominates the 5G market, with approximately 79% of the country's 5G subscribers.