Africa’s internet landscape shows stark contrasts, with southern nations often leading while many others lag behind global averages. Recent data highlights progress in fiber rollout and mobile networks, yet rural-urban divides persist.
Top Fixed Broadband Speeds
South Africa dominates fixed broadband with an average download speed of 42.42 Mbps, based on over 1.5 billion global speed tests from mid-2023 to mid-2024. Eswatini follows at 37.23 Mbps, Rwanda at 32.69 Mbps, Mauritius at 31.12 Mbps, and Botswana at 29.52 Mbps. These figures place only Réunion above the global average of 55.58 Mbps at 63.29 Mbps, underscoring southern Africa’s edge from heavy fiber investments in cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Nigeria clocks 27.62 Mbps, while slower performers include Madagascar (22.57 Mbps), Lesotho (20.71 Mbps), Seychelles (20.09 Mbps), and Morocco (19.61 Mbps). Providers like Afrihost (35.79 Mbps) and Webafrica (34.21 Mbps) in South Africa excel due to low latency around 4ms and robust infrastructure.
Leading Mobile Internet Speeds
Mobile speeds paint a different picture, with Morocco topping at 123.87 Mbps thanks to 4G expansions and low 9ms latency ideal for streaming and gaming. South Africa ranks second at 65.70 Mbps, supported by fixed broadband complements of 48.34 Mbps download and 39.15 Mbps upload. Tunisia follows at 57.30 Mbps on mobile, though its fixed speeds lag at 18.88 Mbps download.
These rankings reflect urban strengths; Nigeria’s mobile hovers at 15-20 Mbps despite its economic size. North African markets like Egypt and Morocco generally outperform sub-Saharan peers, but global positions remain modest—Africa’s best at 64th to 105th worldwide.
Regional Disparities
Southern Africa shines in fixed broadband, driven by competitive providers like MTN, Vodacom, and Telkom. Islands like Réunion and Mauritius benefit from geography and investments, hitting 30+ Mbps. East Africa’s Rwanda stands out at 32.69 Mbps, but Kenya trails at 13.69 Mbps and Egypt at 12.64 Mbps.
North Africa leads mobile via 4G density, while West and Central regions struggle with under 5 Mbps in rural 3G zones. Urban hubs like Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg match mid-tier global cities, but national averages suffer from sparse rural coverage.
| Region | Top Country (Fixed Mbps) | Avg Speed Range | Key Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern | South Africa (42.42) | 20-42 | Fiber networks |
| North | Morocco (19.61 fixed; 123.87 mobile) | 12-124 | 4G expansion |
| East | Rwanda (32.69) | 13-33 | Urban investments |
| West | Nigeria (27.62) | 15-28 | Population density |
Factors Driving Differences
Infrastructure investments separate leaders from laggards; South Africa’s decades of telecom competition yield double Morocco’s fixed speeds. Mobile 4G/5G rollouts boost North Africa, with Morocco’s low latency enabling real-time apps.
Urban bias skews averages—Nairobi outpaces Kenya’s national 13.69 Mbps. Economic size aids Nigeria, but rural reliance on 2G hampers it. Global comparisons show Africa’s fastest (Réunion) at 75th, far from leaders like Singapore.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Persistent gaps include rural access under 5 Mbps and high costs relative to incomes. Progress via undersea cables and 5G pilots promises gains, especially in Kenya and Nigeria’s tech hubs.
By 2026, southern and island nations may push toward 50 Mbps averages if investments continue. Closing divides requires spectrum allocation and affordable devices