Nigeria vs. South Africa: Which Country Has the Most Advanced Mobile Network?

Mobile networks provide the backbone for modern communication; from voice calls to high-speed internet access. In Africa, where mobile technologies often reach far more people than fixed-line infrastructure, a good mobile network is one of the basic needs in economic development, education, and social contact.

The question of who has the most advanced mobile network in Africa is a hot discussion topic, especially with the fact that the continent is experiencing a massive digital transformation. At the heart of it are the two of the biggest economies on the continent-Nigeria and South Africa.

Nigeria and South Africa are among the most influential nations in the continent, each having key milestones in the area of mobile technology.

But which of the two African giants has the most advanced mobile network concerning network coverage, speed of the internet, and user experience?

In this writing, we’ll explore which Country Has the Most Advanced Mobile Network; is it Nigeria or South Africa, and the key factors that determine mobile network superiority.

What are the key obstacles widening the internet gap in Africa?

Three major factors has contributed to the widening of the internet usage gap – over 60% of the African population is not yet connected;

1. Smartphone Owners: Despite owning smartphones, a significant portion of Sub-Saharan Africa (4%) remains unconnected to mobile internet.
2. Alternate Mobile Users: In Sub-Saharan Africa (16%), individuals use basic or feature phones for mobile services but haven’t transitioned to mobile internet.
3. No Mobile Device Owners: A substantial part, ranging from 40% in Sub-Saharan Africa, lacks ownership of any mobile device. 

Which is the Best Network Coverage in Africa?

The use of mobile internet networks in Africa has shown further growth over the years. In contrast to the global trends of 2022, Africa has not slowed down the growth rate of mobile internet connectivity.

Approximately 30 million new mobile internet users come online, which matched the growth in 2021. Despite this advancement, Africa remains a region with the greatest usage and cover gap with almost half of the 400 million people that lack mobile broadband coverage.

This shows that network coverage is one of the major determinants of efficiency for any mobile network in both reach and reliability.

Several Mobile Network firms work to ensure that people in rural and less privileged areas get access to voice and data services. While Nigeria has made impressive strides, South Africa’s network is more advanced in terms of better reliability and speed, especially in urban centres.

Also Read: Nigeria vs. South Africa: Which Country Leads in FinTech Innovation?

Network Coverage in Nigeria

Without a doubt, Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, has made giant strides to increase mobile network coverage. Key operators such as MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile have seriously invested in infrastructure so that even remote communities get the basic services.

Recent reports have noted that mobile network coverage has risen above 90%, while 4G networks have also been spreading at a fast pace across the country. However, a few of the challenges remain with network congestion besides inconsistent service quality in rural areas.

Network coverage in South Africa

Network coverage is very strong and reliable in South Africa. While big service providers did a great job within the country, Vodacom, MTN, and Telkom laid 4G networks across the country. The 5G is also implemented in big cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.

South Africa has close to 95% coverage, but it is more biased to the urban areas. Because of the relatively smaller population and high GDP per capita, service provision is better in comparison.

What is the Most Used Mobile Network in Africa?

The network’s reach, and affordability determine the most used mobile network in Africa, and the service quality of a provider. Both Nigeria and South Africa boast some of the largest mobile operators on the continent.

MTN is the most used mobile network across Africa and enjoys a very good presence in both countries, Nigeria and South Africa. South African Vodacom, however, leads in service quality and technological advancements.

See also: Best Tech Universities in Nigeria vs. South Africa: Where Should You Study?

Mobile Networks in Nigeria

MTN Nigeria is the largest in the country, with over 70 million subscribers; in that order comes Airtel, Globacom-very well known as Glo-and 9mobile. The reasons are simple: wide coverage, relatively affordable data plans, and generally reliable services.

Competition among providers has ensured frequent price wars that benefit consumers but sometimes strain network infrastructures.

Mobile Networks in South Africa

Vodacom and MTN remain at the forefront in South Africa. It is the largest, with the most subscribers in the country, in addition to more than 40 million subscribers.

MTN South Africa is the second one, just as much for its rural and urban areas. Indeed, with its qualitative services, the cellular networks of South Africa impressively embraced modern technologies like 5G right from the beginning.

Which Country Has the Best Internet Service in Africa?

Looking from the point of view of a country with the most advanced mobile network, the critical factor of internet service quality is its speed, reliability, and accessibility.

To this effect, South Africa is unparalleled: it has faster speeds and is more reliable; it was also among the very first to move to 5G.

Internet Service of Nigeria

The internet penetration has been so rapid in Nigeria that more than 50% of the population uses mobile internet. On average, the speed of mobile internet in the country is around 25 Mbps, decent but not really at par with the global standards.

Even though 4G networks are highly spread, congestion during peak hours often leads to reduced speed.

Internet Service Providers in South Africa

With the best Internet speeds in the continent at the moment, it leads the pack with an average mobile Internet rate of 35 Mbps. In that regard, it has led the front with the new 5G technology on the continent, where Vodacom and MTN have taken precedence.

Another good thing about South Africa is the fact that it keeps pretty good prospects in providing good internet service among the urban areas and, as such, is a hotbed for technology start-ups and digitization.

Explore about Top 10 In-Demand Tech Courses in Nigeria vs. South Africa (2025 Edition)

Which is the Strongest Mobile Network in Nigeria?

The big four in the Nigeria Mobile Network include MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile. These different service providers are good in their ways, but among them is the strongest.

MTN Nigeria

At the front line and largest is MTN, commanding over 70 million subscribers. Its network covers the widest areas, reaching even the most interior parts of the country.

It has been credited with reliable services, super-fast 4G speeds, and relatively cheaper data plans. This company has invested highly in infrastructure; it thus guarantees connective consistency across the nation.

Airtel Nigeria

Airtel is another strong player with its huge number of subscribers and expansive coverage. Quite popular in competitive data packages and customer-friendly policies, it’s here to stay.

Besides, Airtel had been extending the 4G network; hence, it would be one of the reliable network providers for any internet user.

Glo and 9mobile

While smaller by comparison, Glo and 9mobile have been able to carve niches for themselves. Glo is known for its cheap call rates and cheap data plans, while 9mobile focuses on innovative services and customer satisfaction.

Both, however, have network consistencies and a lack of sufficient coverage in the rural areas.

Which is the Strongest Mobile Network in South Africa?

The South African mobile network industry is a very competitive one, and the leading companies at the fray are Vodacom and MTN. Both service providers have enjoyed leadership status in the region, but one stands taller among them.

Vodacom

Operating in the country is Vodacom, the largest mobile network operator, with more than 40 million subscribers. It has been renowned for extensive coverage, high speeds of the internet, and very early adoption of advanced technologies like 5G.

The Vodacom network is particularly good in urban areas, offering very reliable connectivity and fast data speeds.

MTN South Africa

Other leading players include MTN South Africa, which boasts of wide coverage across the country. It has been known for competitive pricing and ground-breaking services.

MTN has also been at the frontline in the deployment of 5G, thus becoming another key player in the digital transformation of South Africa.

Telkom and Cell C

While smaller, both Telkom and Cell C have recently been actively improving their performances. For example, Telkom is best known for offering relatively cheap data plans, while Cell C majors on value-added services. None of them is yet as wide either in coverage or technologically advanced as either Vodacom or MTN.

Which Country Has the Most Advanced Mobile Network? Nigeria or South Africa

While Nigeria is catching up, the early adoption of 5G and an edge in service quality make South Africa’s mobile network the most advanced within the region.

South Africa outpaces Nigeria on coverage, internet speed, and technological innovation.

Having identified the strongest networks within each country, let’s do a quick comparison between Nigeria and South Africa to determine which nation has the most advanced mobile network.

Network Coverage

Nigeria: MTN Nigeria is leading, boasting of over 90% coverage, though rural areas are still struggling for consistency and speed.

South Africa: Vodacom and MTN South Africa boast about 95% coverage, relatively well-serviced throughout both urban and rural areas.

Internet Speed

Nigeria: The average mobile internet speeds are about 25 Mbps, with 4G networks available almost everywhere but usually congested.

South Africa: The average speed for mobile internet is about 35 Mbps, and it has already deployed 5G in major cities.

Improvement of Technology

Nigeria: Has started deploying 5G. The two telecommunication giants that are driving this agenda are MTN and Airtel.

South Africa: South Africa has been at the forefront in embracing 5G technology, especially in major towns and pioneered by Vodacom and MTN.

User Experience

Nigeria: For all the progress made, Nigeria is still battling network congestion and variable service quality.

South Africa: In South Africa, the user experience is seamless, with faster speeds, greater reliability, and early access to advanced technologies.

FAQs

Conclusion

While Nigeria has indeed done a great job in expanding network coverage and boosting internet penetration, South Africa is so ahead in the areas of reliability of networks, internet speed, and generally in technological advancements.

In the race to be among the early adopters of 5G and with consistency in service delivery, South Africa stands tall above its competitors.

However, the good news is that both countries invest in their mobile networks, and the gap is bridging.  With Nigeria continuing to work on its infrastructure, along with other challenges such as congestion, it can soon challenge the dominance of South Africa. But as things stand, to put it rather simply, South Africa hosts the most advanced mobile network.

References

• statista.com/mobile network coverage in Africa
• techafricanews.com/Mobile network coverage Africa
• statista.com/mobile network coverage in sub-Saharan Africa/

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