Mobile internet speeds in Kenya overtook Nigeria’s for the first time in 2025, as uptake of newer generation networks improved performance and boosted value for money.
Average mobile speeds rose from about 21 megabits per second (Mbps) in 2024 to 45 Mbps by the end of last year, ranking Kenya third in Africa, according to tests by network intelligence firm Ookla.
Nigeria’s speeds also improved, from 26 Mbps to 44 Mbps. However, the slower pace of growth pushed it to fourth place behind South Africa and Morocco.
The faster speeds improved value for Kenyan users, as mobile data costs remained broadly stable at about Sh95 per gigabit — a price that had previously been higher than Nigeria’s despite slower connections.
The gains reflect increased adoption of fourth and fifth generation (4G and 5G) networks, as usage of older 2G and 3G technologies declined.
“It is clear that a 5G launch was the main driver for improvement in mobile network performance,” said Ookla’s Karim Yaici, head of research for the Middle East and Africa region.
Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya shows that 5G subscriptions rose by 60 percent in the 12 months to September 2025, to 1.5 million from 936,384 in 2024.
For the first time, 5G data usage exceeded 3G. Consumption rose by more than 16 million gigabits to 60 million gigabits in three months, while 3G usage fell to 51 million gigabits from 53 million in June.
“Data consumption across 4G and 5G technologies continued to grow while 3G maintained a downward trend,” the authority said in its latest quarterly bulletin.
4G, now the most widely used mobile technology in Kenya, recorded usage growth of more than nine million to 40 million, from 31 million a year earlier.
Globally, Kenya now ranks 80th in mobile internet speeds, one of only three sub-Saharan African countries in the top 100. South Africa ranks 64th, while Nigeria is 85th.
“The sub-Saharan African region relies mostly on mobile infrastructure, with a huge usage gap between urban and rural areas. Infrastructure reliability is plagued by electricity shortages,” Mr Yaici said.
The rise in 4G and 5G usage has also been supported by growing smartphone adoption, as more users shift from feature phones amid a device financing boom.
Ookla attributed the speed gains to infrastructure modernisation and expansion, network optimisation and stricter quality-of-service regulation.
Mobile internet speeds are expected to improve further as the regulator moves to tighten quality-of-service standards, raising the performance threshold from 80 percent to 90 percent.
