MTN Nigeria has been identified as the top-performing mobile internet network in Nigeria for 2025, surpassing rivals Airtel Nigeria and Globacom.
The ranking is based on a comprehensive industry report published by nPerf, a France-based platform that measures real-world mobile internet performance using user-generated data.
Nigeria Mobile Internet Rankings by nPerf
The report, titled Barometer of Mobile Internet Connections in Nigeria, reviewed mobile data performance throughout the 2025 calendar year.
The overall scores show a clear lead for MTN Nigeria:
- MTN Nigeria: 37,106 nPoints
- Airtel Nigeria: 25,614 nPoints
- Globacom: 20,475 nPoints
According to nPerf, the nPoints score represents a combined measure of speed, responsiveness, and user experience.
Methodology Behind the Rankings
nPerf explained that the analysis was built on speed tests conducted by Nigerian mobile subscribers using its platform.
Performance was evaluated across several indicators, including:
- Download and upload speeds
- Network latency
- Web browsing quality
- Video streaming experience
To reflect real-life usage, the study focused on tests carried out during peak hours (6:00 pm to 11:00 pm) as well as off-peak periods.
In terms of data volume, MTN Nigeria accounted for 58% of all recorded tests, while Airtel Nigeria and Globacom represented 24% and 18%, respectively.
MTN Nigeria Leads Across Performance Categories
Download Speed Performance
MTN Nigeria recorded the highest average download speed in 2025 at 18.65 Mb/s, significantly ahead of its competitors.
- MTN Nigeria: 18.65 Mb/s
- Airtel Nigeria: 10.57 Mb/s
- Globacom: 7.46 Mb/s
The operator also delivered consistent performance during both heavy and light usage periods, achieving 15.37 Mb/s during peak hours and 19.99 Mb/s during off-peak times—making it well-suited for HD streaming and large file downloads.
Upload Speed Results
MTN subscribers also benefited from the strongest upload speeds among Nigerian mobile networks.
- MTN Nigeria: 8.70 Mb/s
- Airtel Nigeria: 4.74 Mb/s
- Globacom: 3.85 Mb/s
Upload speeds averaged 7.43 Mb/s during busy hours and climbed to 9.12 Mb/s during idle periods.
Browsing and Streaming Experience
In browsing and video streaming performance, MTN Nigeria again outperformed its peers, recording:
- Browsing score: 35.78%
- Streaming score: 67.02%
These figures point to smoother video playback and faster page loading for MTN users.
Among competitors, Globacom posted a browsing score of 29.86%, narrowly ahead of Airtel at 29.45%. However, Airtel ranked second in streaming performance with 62.50%, while Globacom recorded 52.44%.
What This Means for Mobile Internet Users in Nigeria
The nPerf findings highlight MTN Nigeria’s sustained investment in network expansion and optimisation, reinforcing its position as the most reliable mobile internet provider in the country for 2025.
As Nigerians increasingly rely on mobile data for streaming, digital payments, remote work, and online services, reports like this offer critical insights for consumers comparing network quality.
With MTN leading across speed, browsing, and streaming metrics, the 2025 nPerf report cements its status as Nigeria’s best-performing mobile internet network.
