According to OpenSignal, the fastest mobile network internet connections in Africa are in South Africa, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Tunisia, and Kenya as of February 2017.
Overall speed that users in each country see over its data networks. OpenSignal defines overall speed as the average mobile data connection a user experiences based on both the speeds and availability of a country’s 3G and 4G networks.
Overall speed measurements vary considerably from country to country depending on their particular stage of 3G and 4G development. For instance a country with fast LTE speeds but low 4G availability might have a much lower overall speed than a country with moderate LTE speeds but a very high level of 4G availability.
South Africa: 9.93 Mbps
The latest initiative ‘Internet for All,’ launched by the government and the private sector in Durban on May 5, aims to connect millions of South Africans (EZA) to the internet over the next two years. The initial rollout is expected to cost around $64 per person. This cost is expected to go down if infrastructure sharing is factored in.
Ivory Coast: 7.64 Mbps
This West African country was once considered a model of stability (since its independence from France), but currently harbors protests and rebellion. Despite the economic and political instability, Ivory Coast remains the world’s largest exporter of cocoa beans and its citizens enjoy a relatively high level of income compared to other countries in the region. The region also enjoys one of the fastest mobile networks in Africa with an average speed of 7.64 Mbps.
Morocco: 7.36 Mbps
According to a recent report released by Morocco’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT), internet subscriptions in the economy were up 26% in 1Q17 as compared to 1Q16, bringing the total number of Moroccans with internet subscriptions to 18.3 million. Mobile internet users rose by 27.5% in 1Q17 YoY. Among the countries with the fastest mobile networks in Africa, Morocco stands 3rd with an average of 7.36 Mbps.
Tunisia: 7.21 Mbps
At an average of 7.21 Mbps, Tunisia provides the 4th fastest speed in the African continent.
Kenya: 6.75 Mbps
Kenya’s high internet speed and connectivity are attributable to the successful implementation of the National Broadband Strategy that provided a clear framework for public-private collaboration and partnerships in the area, according to the country’s ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru.
Sources; Frontera News & Open Signal
