‘17.82 Mbps’: MTN leads internet connections in Nigeria

Telecommunication company MTN led mobile internet in Nigeria across every measurable category, with great performance in the year 2024.

From January 1 to December 31, 2024, MTN led mobile internet in Nigeria with its subscribers enjoying an average download speed of 17.82 Mbps, while Airtel occupied the second position with 9.98 Mbps, and Glo at a distant third of 5.66 Mbps.

This was disclosed in nPerf’s 2024 report, a copy of which was made available to The Star on Friday, January 17, 2025.

nPerf stated: “For the period analyzed, MTN stands out as the market leader, achieving a notable performance score.

“Not only does MTN excel in Download speed, Upload speed, and Latency, but it also leads in Video streaming. MTN dominates the 4G focus area, reinforcing its pioneering position in the mobile technology sector.

“Significant improvements include a remarkable enhancement in Upload speed. MTN’s consistent contributions have greatly strengthened the overall market landscape.”

In 2024, MTN’s overall nPerf score was 39,475 points, above Airtel’s 26,513 points and Glo’s 19,684 points.

In the upload speed category, MTN also came top with 8.05 Mbps, Airtel 4.35 Mbps, and Glo 3.43 Mbps.

Latency, an important metric for real-time applications such as video calls and gaming, also enhanced MTN’s place in the market with the network achieving an average latency of 79.44 ms, outperforming Glo’s 89.44 ms and Airtel’s 119.85 ms.

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These figures, according to the report, are particularly important during peak periods (6 p.m. to 11 p.m.) when the network issues are at the highest.

Beyond raw speeds, the quality of experience (QoE) was also analysed. In browsing performance, MTN scored an average success rate of 36.08%, surpassing Airtel at 28.86%, while Glo lagged at 29.42%.

This difference was also seen in video streaming, where MTN recorded an average streaming success rate of 72.35%, overshadowing Airtel’s 67.04% and Glo’s 53.81%.

The report disclosed that whether downloading, browsing, or streaming, MTN subscribers always enjoyed the best experiences.

Airtel, despite being a distant second in most metrics, delivered a commendable performance in specific areas, particularly video streaming. Its streaming rate, at 67.04%, showed a strong emphasis on delivering quality experiences in this domain.

Glo, on the other hand, had steady progress in 2024. Although it lagged in download (5.66 Mbps) and upload speeds (3.43 Mbps), its performance in latency (89.44 ms) revealed some improvement in network responsiveness.

The methodology behind nPerf’s analysis included the incorporation of millions of user-initiated tests across busy and idle hours, with the report providing an evaluation of network performance.

nPerf added: “Statistical precision is crucial in accurately determining winners. At nPerf, we prioritize test quality, precise reporting, and transparency.

“Analyzing a large volume of tests in this study, we’ve achieved 3% precision for absolute values, highlighting the reliability and accuracy of our data.”

The Star