MTN continues to dominate the South African mobile network market, maintaining its position as the country’s best-performing mobile operator. According to the latest MyBroadband Insights Q1 2025 report, MTN earned an impressive Network Quality Score of 9.92 out of 10, maintaining its lead over competitors in key areas such as download speed, upload speed, and latency. Meanwhile, Cell C has made a surprise move, overtaking Vodacom to claim second place.
The Numbers That Tell the Story
The MyBroadband Insights Q1 2025 report is based on over 1.17 million speed tests carried out by 18,649 mobile data users across South Africa. Key findings from the report include:
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MTN:
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Download Speed: 82.79 Mbps
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Upload Speed: 29.00 Mbps
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Latency: 29 ms
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Network Quality Score: 9.92
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Cell C:
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Download Speed: 64.43 Mbps
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Upload Speed: 20.50 Mbps
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Latency: 31 ms
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Network Quality Score: 8.75
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Vodacom:
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Download Speed: 61.36 Mbps
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Upload Speed: 13.84 Mbps
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Latency: 34 ms
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Network Quality Score: 7.21
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MTN’s Regional Edge: A Sub-Saharan Africa Leader
MTN’s dominance extends beyond South Africa. MTN South Africa leads the charge in download speeds across the entire Sub-Saharan Africa region, outperforming its sister operations in countries like Nigeria, Uganda, and Ghana. Despite challenges such as intermittent load shedding, MTN has continued to invest heavily in network infrastructure, positioning itself as a resilient leader in the industry.
Backing the Rankings: Evidence and Validation
The Insights report are based on real user data, with over 1.17 million speed tests conducted using the MyBroadband Speed Test App. This ensures that the rankings are not just theoretical but represent actual user experiences.
MTN’s performance has been further validated by its consistent win at the MyBroadband 2025 Award for Best Mobile Network, securing its spot at the top for the fourth consecutive year.
The Cell C Success Story: A Model for Lean Operators
Perhaps the most striking shift in the rankings is Cell C’s rise to second place. This leap is attributed to its partnership with MTN, which allows Cell C to run a virtual radio access network (vRAN) on MTN’s infrastructure. This move has significantly boosted Cell C’s performance, with the company nearly doubling its network speeds. This collaboration serves as a strong example for smaller operators looking to improve performance without investing in costly infrastructure.
What Other Mobile Operators Can Learn
The Q1 2025 report offers valuable lessons for mobile operators worldwide:
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Investing in Infrastructure Is Critical
MTN’s sustained dominance underscores the importance of heavy investment in network infrastructure. Annual spend exceeding R10 billion on upgrades, new sites, and spectrum efficiency ensures consistent network performance and customer satisfaction. -
Strategic Partnerships Yield Powerful Results
Cell C’s partnership with MTN highlights the power of collaboration. By leveraging MTN’s established infrastructure, Cell C has rapidly improved its network performance and user experience. -
Prioritize User Experience
For operators looking to compete, the key takeaway is clear: prioritizing user experience — through faster speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connections — is the path to success.
Conclusion
As MTN maintains its leadership and Cell C makes an unexpected ascent, the South African mobile network landscape continues to evolve. These developments are a testament to the power of investment, innovation, and strategic partnerships in shaping a competitive telecommunications market. For operators looking to improve their performance, focusing on user-centric strategies and smart collaborations will be crucial to staying ahead in the race.
