Best and worst mobile networks in south Africa.

When it comes to the best and worst mobile networks, MTN tops South Africa's mobile network rankings

MyBroadband Insights Q2 2026 Mobile Network Quality Report (Analysis contextualised by CommsCloud, Africa's IoT Connectivity Expert) [updated 26th September 2026]

What it means for IoT uptime and enterprise deployments, the connection between network quality and IoT reliability

Every IoT deployment, from dashcams and push-to-talk radios to connected logistics systems, depends on one thing: reliable mobile networks performance. In Africa, where fleets and field operations span thousands of kilometres and multiple operators, choosing the right underlying network matters more than ever.

That's why reports like MyBroadband Insights' Q2 2026 Mobile Networks Quality Report offer more than consumer insight, they provide critical intelligence for IoT architects, OEMs, and enterprise connectivity planners seeking real uptime across the continent.

MTN still leads the pack

According to MyBroadband Insights' latest report, MTN continues to deliver the best mobile networks in South Africa, extending its lead over competitors.
The study was based on more than 350,000 speed tests conducted nationwide during Q2 2026, combining crowdsourced data with 20,000 km of dedicated drive testing. MTN recorded the highest average download speed at 91.11 Mb/s, an upload speed of 32.46 Mb/s, and latency of 29 ms.

MTN also dominated performance in all major metros, Tshwane, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, and Mangaung, thanks to continued investment in LTE and 5G infrastructure.

Network quality scores (out of 10)

Network	Download (Mb/s)	Upload (Mb/s)	Latency (ms)	Score /10
MTN	91.11	32.46	29	9.96
Cell C	65.76	32.48	41	7.70
Vodacom	71.13	17.27	31	7.55
Telkom	52.56	12.14	30	6.05
Rain	22.27	11.32	28	4.16

Cell C moved into second place, with the strongest raw upload number in this quarter's test (32.48 Mb/s), reflecting its completed migration onto MTN's hosted virtual radio access network. Vodacom held third overall despite still leading on 5G performance, as its 4G numbers held it back.

Why this matters for IoT deployments

For businesses deploying connected assets, these rankings translate directly into IoT uptime and performance economics.

Upload speed increasingly separates the networks that work for IoT from the ones that don't, dashcams, ELDs and remote sensors live or die on how fast a device can push data out, not pull it in.

• Fleet and logistics operators rely on stable coverage across highways and borders to maintain real-time visibility.

• Security companies streaming live video from vehicles or remote sites need high throughput and low latency to avoid blackouts.

• OEMs and system integrators building telematics or AI-driven devices must match their firmware and SIM profiles to the most resilient underlying network layers.

This is where multi-IMSI IoT SIM technology, like CommsCloud's CloudConnect™ SIM, becomes essential, combining the best performing networks (including MTN) with autonomous failover and local breakout to ensure consistent connectivity no matter the region.

Built for Africa's connectivity reality

At CommsCloud, we don't just analyse reports, we design resilience into every SIM. Our Africa-first, multi-Core Network infrastructure ensures:

• Autonomous switching between operators like MTN, Vodacom, and Cell C.

• No roaming downtime, even when crossing borders.

• Real-time visibility and control over every SIM, device, and session.

• OEM-ready integration for fleets, insurers, and industrial IoT deployments.

In short: even the best network can experience outages, but your devices shouldn't.

Real uptime, real ROI

MTN's continued dominance is good news for enterprise IoT in South Africa. It shows that infrastructure investment pays off, and highlights why multi-network strategies are the only sustainable way to achieve always-on connectivity across the continent.

CloudConnect™ SIMs from CommsCloud, powered by the connectivity platform's multi-IMSI technology, leverage these top-performing networks to deliver borderless, high-uptime IoT connectivity for Africa's most demanding industries.

Those rankings answer a consumer's question. What they leave out for a fleet, a sensor estate or a camera network is set out in what mobile network reports don't tell you about IoT.