Looking for the fastest network in Nigeria 2025? Whether you’re streaming Nollywood movies, attending online classes or running a business from your phone, you need a network that won’t leave you hanging. Two heavyweights dominate the scene: MTN and Airtel. But which one really delivers the speed and reliability Nigerian hustlers need?
Market share and subscriber base
According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission, MTN has more than 75 million active data subscribers in early 2025, giving it a market share of around 53 percent. Airtel has grown steadily over the years and now has about 48.7 million subscribers, controlling roughly 34 percent of the market. The massive subscriber base gives MTN an advantage in coverage, but it also means more people are sharing the network. Airtel’s smaller but growing base suggests it’s catching up fast.
Fastest network Nigeria 2025: speed test results (nPerf barometer)
To find out which network is truly faster, we looked at the nPerf barometer for Nigerian mobile internet for 2024, which analysed connection quality between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024. MTN topped the chart with an overall score of 39,475 points, outperforming Airtel (26,513 points) and Glo (19,684 points). nPerf notes that MTN led in download speed, upload speed and latency, as well as video streaming. Airtel performed well in web browsing and streaming but still lagged behind MTN.
Independent speed tests support this: data from Broadband Speed Checker between September 2024 and March 2025 shows MTN users achieving average download speeds of around 38 Mb/s, while Airtel users average around 10 Mb/s. However, keep in mind that network performance can vary widely depending on where you live and the time of day.
Growing 4G (and a dash of 5G)
Nigeria’s mobile network is rapidly shifting towards faster technologies. In May 2023, more than half of mobile users were still on 2G networks, but by April 2025, 4G usage had climbed to roughly half of all connections while 2G dropped below 40 percent. 3G usage declined to about 8 percent, and although 5G adoption is still small at around 2.8 percent, it grew more than twenty‑fold in just two years. Both MTN and Airtel have rolled out 5G in select cities, but 4G remains the mainstay for most Nigerians.
Fastest network Nigeria 2025: Which network should you choose?
If raw speed is your top priority and you’re in an area with good coverage, MTN currently has the edge based on 2024 performance reports. Its larger 4G footprint and higher nPerf score mean faster downloads and lower latency for streaming and gaming. Airtel, on the other hand, offers competitive speeds in some urban areas and often runs cheaper data bundles. It has also nearly quadrupled its subscriber base since 2013, so coverage is continually improving.
Ultimately, the best network for you depends on where you live and what you use your phone for. You can test both networks in your neighbourhood before committing, and keep an eye on coverage maps as 5G expands. For more tips on maximising your data and choosing the right gadgets, check out our budget smartphones Nigeria 2025 guide.
