MyBroadband Insights has released its Q4 2019 Mobile Network Quality Report, which shows that MTN has the best mobile network in South Africa. The report is based on 310,649 speed tests which were performed by thousands of MyBroadband Android Speed Test App users across South Africa between 1 October and 31 December 2019. The research shows that South Africa had an average mobile download speed of 26.73Mbps and an average upload speed of 9.53Mbps. MTN had the highest average download speed at 40.64Mbps, followed by Vodacom on 32.23Mbps, Telkom on 21.63Mbps, Rain on 16.44Mbps, and Cell C on 16.48Mbps.
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 9.85, followed by Vodacom on 8.01, Rain on 5.58, Telkom on 5.32, and Cell C on 4.91.
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 | 40.64 | 14.65 | 32 | 9.85 |
| Vodacom | 32.23 | 11.76 | 36 | 8.01 |
| Rain | 16.44 | 8.44 | 30 | 5.58 |
| Telkom | 21.63 | 4.61 | 40 | 5.32 |
| Cell C | 16.48 | 8.13 | 44 | 4.91 |
The best networks in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Cape Town and Durban. The latest MyBroadband Mobile Network Quality Report includes network quality rankings for South Africa’s major cities. MTN was a clear winner in all South African cities – Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, and Tshwane.
MTN and MoMo
MTN has announced that its mobile money service, MoMo, already available in a number of African countries, is live in South Africa now.
MoMo will allow customers to send, receive, save and spend money, as well as pay for goods and services, using their mobile phones. MoMo is available to all consumers via USSD functionality as well as via app download in the Google Play store and the Apple App store.
During the initial phase MoMo will only be available to MTN customers and offer basic services, but further innovation is promised. Users of MoMo do not need to have an actual bank account but must be a South African resident, 18 years or older, with a valid South African ID. The user also needs to be an active MTN customer to qualify for selected promotional offers.
Initial functionality of MoMo allows users to:
- Send money to any working cell phone number in SA;
- Buy prepaid services like electricity, data and SMS bundles.
- Pay for purchases at selected till points.
- Perform Cash In and Cash Out transactions at any MTN store or Mobile Money Agents.
No minimum balance will be required. There are no monthly finance charges and no automated debits. MTN customers can get cash back every time they buy something at selected Merchants and there will be a promotional offer of 100 percent bonus for users who buy MTN Airtime bundles using MoMo will get a free SMS notification every time they use the service. Customers may visit nearest MTN store and speak to a MoMo Ambassador for more information.
The initial functionality of MoMo will allow users to send money to any working cell phone number in South Africa; buy prepaid services like electricity, data and SMS bundles; pay for purchases at selected till points; and perform cash in and cash out transactions at any MTN store or Mobile Money agents. No minimum balance will be required. There are no monthly finance charges and no automated debits.
Felix Kamenga, MTN SA chief officer of mobile financial services, points out that “approximately 11 million South Africans remain unbanked, while 50 percent of the adult population remains thinly served. MoMo aims to bridge this gap.”
South Africa is the latest addition to countries served by MTN’s mobile money services in sub-Saharan Africa. They include Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Swaziland, Uganda and Zambia.
