MTN Nigeria delivered the strongest mobile internet performance in Nigeria in 2025, outperforming its rivals across key network quality indicators, according to data released by nPerf.
The assessment, which covers the period from January 1 to December 31, 2025, shows that MTN subscribers enjoyed superior mobile internet experience nationwide, driven by faster speeds, stronger video streaming quality, and overall network consistency.
MTN Leads on Speed, Streaming and Overall Quality
MTN recorded an nPerf score of 37,106 points, the highest among Nigeria’s major mobile operators and well above the sector average of 27,732 points. The operator dominated all major performance metrics, consolidating its leadership position in the market.
Average download speed reached 18.65 Mbps, supporting high-definition video streaming and faster content downloads, while upload speed stood at 8.70 Mbps, enabling smoother video calls and content sharing.
MTN also led in web browsing performance (35.78 percent) and YouTube streaming quality (67.02 percent), underscoring a balanced and high-capacity network.
Latency on the MTN network averaged 96.46 milliseconds, reinforcing its suitability for real-time applications such as video conferencing and online gaming.
Airtel Ranks Second With Competitive Performance
Airtel Nigeria placed second with an nPerf score of 25,614 points, delivering competitive results across several indicators. The operator achieved an average download speed of 10.57 Mbps and upload speed of 4.74 Mbps, supporting stable everyday internet usage.
Airtel also recorded strong video streaming performance at 62.50 percent, ranking second behind MTN, and maintained solid web browsing results, reflecting a network capable of handling mainstream consumer demand.
Glo Posts Best Latency but Trails on Overall Score
Globacom ranked third with an nPerf score of 20,475 points. While trailing in overall speed metrics, Glo delivered the lowest latency in the sector at 121.81 milliseconds, a key advantage for time-sensitive communications.
The operator also ranked second in web browsing performance (29.86 percent), indicating relatively efficient page loading and navigation, even as download and upload speeds lagged competitors.
4G Performance Reinforces MTN’s Lead
In the 4G-only category, MTN maintained its dominance with an nPerf score of 36,864 points, driven by 15.48 Mbps download speed, 9.24 Mbps upload speed, and the strongest browsing and streaming performance among peers. Airtel and Glo followed with scores of 26,761 points and 22,557 points, respectively.
Market Implications
The results highlight MTN’s continued investment in network capacity and optimisation, translating into measurable performance gains for subscribers.
While competition among Nigeria’s three major operators remains strong, the data indicates a clear performance gap at the top end of the market.
For consumers, the findings point to increasingly capable mobile networks, particularly for data-intensive activities such as video streaming.
For investors and industry observers, the rankings reinforce MTN’s position as the benchmark operator in Nigeria’s mobile data segment, with network quality remaining a key differentiator in a highly competitive market.
