Ookla analysts have found that MTN’s mobile network performance in Nigeria is better as compared with its operations in other telecom markets in Africa.
MTN Group operates in 15 markets in Africa and serves nearly 300 million subscribers, with a strategic focus on expanding digital connectivity across the continent.
Network Performance Highlights
Nigeria has emerged as the standout performer among MTN’s operations in Africa, according to the latest Ookla report. In the second quarter of 2024, MTN Nigeria achieved mobile download speeds of 95.62 Mbps, improving its performance over the past two years. Nigeria also leads in upload speeds, reaching 17.01 Mbps, closely followed by MTN Ghana at 16.74 Mbps.
The network performance across MTN’s operations in West and Central Africa showed improvement between Q2 2022 and Q2 2024. Countries like Nigeria and Ghana more than tripled their median download speeds during this period, demonstrating significant technological advancement.
5G Deployment and Challenges
5G rollout has been a key focus for MTN, with Nigeria making the most substantial progress. The country has increased its 5G service availability from 17.2 percent in Q1 2023 to 35.70 percent in Q2 2024, outpacing even South Africa. However, 5G adoption remains limited, with only 2.3 million 5G subscribers in Nigeria by the end of 2023, representing just 1.04 percent of active mobile subscribers.
Cote d’Ivoire represents the only other country in the region where MTN has launched 5G services, coinciding with the African Football Championship in January 2024. Other countries in the region are still in various stages of 5G preparation, with some conducting pilot projects or focusing on 4G infrastructure development.
Economic and Operational Context
The telecommunications business in West and Central Africa is characterized by significant challenges, including:
– Economic instability
– High inflation
– Currency devaluation
– Political uncertainties
Despite these obstacles, MTN sees substantial growth potential. The region boasts a large, young, and rapidly growing population with relatively low levels of digital adoption, presenting significant opportunities for telecommunications expansion.
Strategic Outlook
MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy aims to:
– Double consumer mobile data users to 200 million
– Increase home broadband customers to 10 million
– Achieve 95 percent broadband population coverage
– Ensure data contributes to half of the group’s total revenue
The company has committed substantial investments, including:
– $3.5 billion planned investment in Nigeria over five years
– $200 million for network services in Cameroon
– $215 million for 5G infrastructure development in Benin
Conclusion
MTN continues to demonstrate resilience and commitment to improving digital connectivity across West and Central Africa. The improvements in network performance, particularly in countries like Nigeria and Ghana, underscore the company’s technological advancement and strategic focus on bridging the digital divide.
