MyBroadband Insights has released its Q3 2019 Mobile Network Quality Report, which shows that MTN has the best mobile network in South Africa.
The report is based on 314,751 speed tests which were performed by thousands of MyBroadband Android Speed Test App users across South Africa between 1 July and 30 September 2019.
The research shows that South Africa had an average mobile download speed of 24.68 Mbps and an average upload speed of 9.03Mbps.
MTN had the highest average download speed at 35.31Mbps, followed by Vodacom on 31.19Mbps, Telkom on 22.42Mbps, Cell C on 17.18Mbps and Rain on 16.71Mbps.
Best mobile network in South Africa
To determine the best mobile network in South Africa, a “Network Quality Score” was calculated for each network using download speed, upload speed, and latency.
The Network Quality Score out of 10 then shows how the network performed in relation to other networks.
MTN reigned supreme with a Network Quality Score of 10.00, followed by Vodacom on 8.72, Telkom on 6.23, Rain on 5.88, and Cell C on 5.58.
The table below provides an overview of the mobile network rankings in South Africa.
| Network Operator | Download Speed (Mbps) | Upload Speed (Mbps) | Latency (ms) | Network Quality Score |
| MTN | 35.31 | 14.05 | 32 | 10.00 |
| Vodacom | 31.19 | 11.35 | 36 | 8.72 |
| Telkom | 22.42 | 4.93 | 37 | 6.23 |
| Rain | 16.71 | 7.66 | 33 | 5.88 |
| Cell C | 17.18 | 8.08 | 42 | 5.58 |
The best networks in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Cape Town and Durban
The latest MyBroadband Mobile Network Quality Report also included network quality rankings for South Africa’s major cities.
MTN was a clear winner in Cape Town, Durban and Tshwane while Vodacom and MTN shared the spoils in Johannesburg.
Rain had the worst network in Johannesburg and Pretoria while Cell C was the worst network in Durban and Cape Town.
