OpenSignal’s latest report, The State of Mobile Network Experience in Africa, reveals significant disparities in mobile network performance across the continent. The report, which analyzes 27 African markets, emphasizes the impact of macroeconomic conditions, investment levels, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure on mobile experiences.
South Africa leads the continent with the fastest download speeds, clocking in at 34.5Mbps — approximately 50% faster than second-place Zimbabwe and over four times faster than Angola, which ranks last. However, the report also reveals stark contrasts in network performance, with many countries struggling with consistent quality (CQ) and signal reliability.
Key findings from the report include:
- Download Speed: South Africa stands out with the fastest download speeds in Africa, at 34.5Mbps. Other countries, such as Zimbabwe, Morocco, Kenya, Tunisia, and Madagascar, also perform relatively well with speeds above 20Mbps, but many others lag significantly behind. In Angola, users experience speeds that are over four times slower than South Africa.
- Consistent Quality (CQ): While South Africa and Tunisia exhibit relatively strong performance in terms of CQ, around 60% of the countries analyzed score below 30%, indicating widespread connectivity challenges that affect the stability needed for even basic digital services.
- Reliance on 2G and 3G Networks: A significant portion of the mobile experience across Africa is hindered by outdated 2G and 3G technologies. Across the markets studied, users spend between 8.3% and 38.5% of their time on these older networks, with 63% of countries spending more than 20% of their time on networks that limit both download speed and consistent quality.
- No Signal Time: Tunisia has the highest proportion of time spent without a signal, indicating substantial gaps in service and infrastructure. In contrast, South Africa experiences minimal downtime with no signal, demonstrating its better infrastructure and network reliability.
The report highlights that smartphone users in South Africa enjoy the best mobile network experience, with download speeds at least twice as fast as in 20 out of the 27 analyzed markets. However, much of the continent faces challenges related to infrastructure and older network technologies, which continue to impact both download speeds and connectivity stability.
This report serves as a stark reminder of the digital divide across Africa, urging the need for investment in modern mobile networks to enhance connectivity and improve the mobile experience for users across the region.
