Opensignal's latest report analyzes South Africa's mobile network performance, placing it at 64th globally. The report explores key factors influencing network excellence, including spectrum allocation, digital strategies, and download speeds. While South Africa faces challenges in 4G/5G availability and consistent quality, it leads the way in Sub-Saharan Africa for 5G deployment and boasts impressive 5G download speeds.
South Africa sits at 64th place out of 137 countries in terms of mobile network excellence, according to a recent report by mobile analytics company Opensignal. This ranking, which evaluates countries across three core pillars – 4G/5G availability, consistent network support for demanding applications, and 4G and 5G download speeds – paints a picture of global mobile infrastructure capabilities as of the fourth quarter of 2024.
The report analyzed data from a diverse range of markets, including South Africa, South Korea, Denmark, Namibia, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Kenya, the UK, and the US, segmented by World Bank region, landmass size, and income level. Opensignal found that spectrum strategy plays a significant role in mobile network performance, with countries that have allocated large mid-band (3.5GHz) spectrum enjoying faster 5G speeds and higher capacity. Conversely, delayed or fragmented spectrum allocation can hinder mobile network evolution.Furthermore, the report highlights the importance of progressive digital strategies and regulatory reform programs, including e-government initiatives, for achieving higher mobile network performance. Opensignal's assessment of 4G/5G availability in South Africa places it at 58th globally, lagging behind leaders like the US, which ranks first. While several African nations, including Mauritius at 95th, have also struggled in this area, South Africa stands out as the top performer in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, closely followed by Mauritius. According to Opensignal, bridging the gaps in network availability is crucial for digital inclusion and economic development. Despite economic challenges and the high cost of 5G-capable devices for many South Africans, local telecommunication companies (telcos) are actively rolling out 5G networks. South Africa leads the way in Sub-Saharan Africa for 5G deployment, with expectations of further expansion across the continent this year. Major telcos like MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom are already offering 5G services, primarily concentrated in major cities. Opensignal's analysis of excellent consistent quality (ECQ), which measures how well networks support demanding applications, places South Africa at 69th globally. ECQ considers factors like seamless performance for applications like video calls, e-commerce, and mobile banking, ensuring minimal disruptions. South Africa's 4G download speeds rank 81st, while its 5G download speeds fare significantly better at 32nd. Opensignal emphasizes that download speed is a key indicator of a network's capacity to handle future demand, reflecting both current performance and long-term infrastructure investment. While 5G offers substantial speed gains, strong 4G performance remains vital for network capacity, especially in markets where 5G adoption is still growing.
MOBILE NETWORK EXCELLENCE SOUTH AFRICA OPENSIGNAL 5G SPECTRUM ALLOCATION DIGITAL STRATEGY DOWNLOAD SPEEDS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
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