nPerf has released its latest Mobile Internet Barometer for South Africa, covering the period from April 2025 to March 2026, highlighting a highly competitive telecoms landscape led by MTN and Cell C.
According to the report, both operators delivered the best overall mobile internet performance in 2026, sharing the top position based on nPerf’s composite scoring system.
The report shows that MTN achieved the highest download speeds at 41.26 Mb/s and led upload speeds at 11.19 Mb/s, marking a significant milestone for the operator as it reached first place overall for the first time. MTN also topped web browsing performance, demonstrating improvements in real-world user experience. Meanwhile, Cell C maintained strong consistency, particularly excelling in latency, where it recorded the best results for the fifth consecutive year, alongside leading performance in web browsing and video streaming metrics.
In the 4G segment, Cell C emerged as the clear leader, retaining its top position for the fifth straight year. It dominated key indicators including upload speeds, latency, web browsing, and streaming performance. MTN, however, stood out in 4G download speeds, reflecting continued investment in network capacity and infrastructure.
Vodacom ranked third overall with notable improvements in user experience metrics, securing first place in both web browsing and streaming performance for the first time. Despite trailing in speed metrics, its gains indicate a stronger focus on quality of service. Telkom placed fourth, recording lower performance across most indicators, although it maintained relatively competitive latency compared to some peers.
The findings are based on millions of real-user tests conducted via nPerf’s measurement platform, which evaluates connectivity across download and upload speeds, latency, browsing, and streaming performance. The methodology incorporates both peak and off-peak usage periods to provide a comprehensive view of user experience.
Overall, the report underscores a shifting competitive dynamic in South Africa’s telecom sector, with operators making measurable progress across different performance metrics. As demand for faster and more reliable connectivity grows, the race for network leadership is expected to intensify in the coming years.
