Last updated: 15 October 2026 · By Naijatipsland Editorial Team · Editorial policy
“Which network is fastest in Nigeria?” has no single answer, because speed depends on your phone, your area and the time of day. What we can do is compare the independent measurements. Opensignal’s July 2026 report, based on tests from 1 April to 29 June 2026, is the most recent we found, and it points to a clear leader on speed and reliability, with a different winner on 5G availability.
This guide sets out the numbers, explains what they mean for your choice, and shows how to test the networks in your own area before you commit to a SIM.
The short answer
- MTN was named Best Network by Opensignal for the second report running, winning 11 of 12 award categories outright, including Reliability and Consistent Quality.
- MTN’s average download speed was 21.3 Mbps, against 14.2 Mbps for Airtel and 13.0 Mbps for Glo. T2 (formerly 9mobile) was 17.6 Mbps.
- Airtel won 5G Availability (36.3% against MTN’s 26.8%), but MTN’s 5G speeds were higher.
- MTN also has the biggest subscriber base: about 100.86 million active lines in July 2026.
Speed, network by network
Opensignal measures what real users experience on their own phones. These are the July 2026 figures for 4G and 5G combined unless marked otherwise:
- MTN: download 21.3 Mbps; upload 7.9 Mbps; reliability score 656; consistent quality 18.5% of tests.
- T2 (formerly 9mobile): download 17.6 Mbps; upload 1.9 Mbps; reliability 536; consistent quality 9.9%.
- Airtel: download 14.2 Mbps; upload 4.3 Mbps; reliability 419; consistent quality 6.9%.
- Glo: download 13.0 Mbps; upload 5.0 Mbps; reliability 576; consistent quality 11.3%.
Two things stand out. First, MTN leads on download, upload and reliability. Second, Airtel’s reliability and consistent-quality scores were the lowest in the table even though its 5G availability is the best. In practice that means Airtel can be fast where you have 5G but less steady elsewhere. 9mobile is not listed separately by Opensignal; the figures above for T2 are the operator that replaced it, and the report did not list every metric for it.
5G: who is winning?
On 5G, Opensignal reported:
- 5G download: MTN 143.9 Mbps, Airtel 129.3 Mbps.
- 5G upload: MTN 16.4 Mbps, Airtel 11.8 Mbps.
- 5G availability: Airtel 36.3%, MTN 26.8%, Glo 4.5%. This measures how much of their time users spend connected to 5G, not map coverage.
- 5G video experience (0 to 100): MTN 63.1, Airtel 59.6. 5G games: MTN 51.4, Airtel 48.3.
You need a 5G-capable phone and a 5G plan or SIM to benefit. Check whether your area has 5G before you pay for a phone upgrade. See where 5G is available in Nigeria.
Earlier measurements agree on the leader
Ookla’s connectivity report for the second half of 2024, as summarised by TechCabal, also ranked MTN first among mobile operators (median 5G download 231.39 Mbps), followed by Airtel and Glo. It put median mobile download in Lagos at 40.26 Mbps, ahead of Benin City (23.54) and Ibadan (23.03). Those figures are older and use a different method, so do not compare them directly with Opensignal’s numbers. They do show Lagos and other big cities usually perform far better than small towns.
How many people use each network?
NCC data for July 2026, reported by TechEconomy, listed 195.11 million active mobile lines: MTN 100.86 million (51.38%), Airtel 66.12 million (34.44%), Glo 23.68 million (12.34%) and T2 3.54 million (1.84%). The article’s line counts do not sum exactly to the total, so treat the shares as approximate. A bigger network is not automatically faster, but it does mean more people share the same towers, which is one reason speed can drop in crowded places.
Which network should you choose?
- Best all-round speed and stability: MTN, on the Opensignal evidence.
- If you live where Airtel has 5G and own a 5G phone: Airtel is worth testing, since it spends more of the time on 5G.
- Cheap data and bonuses: compare current plans before you choose, such as Airtel and Glo data plans. Price and speed are separate questions.
- No good network signal at all: satellite internet is an option, though costly. See Starlink in Nigeria: price and plans.
- Calls and data in rural areas: the best network is the one with a signal at your home or farm. Ask neighbours.
- Best answer for most people: keep a second SIM from another network as a backup.
How to test networks where you live
- Borrow SIMs from friends or buy cheap starter SIMs, and note the signal bars in your room, office and on your usual route.
- Run the same speed test app at morning, afternoon and evening, three times each.
- Compare download, upload and latency (ping), and note how video calls behave.
- Check that the SIM is registered with your NIN, as networks restrict unregistered lines.
- Pick the network that is steadiest, not the one with the single best result.
Why your speed may be slow
- A weak signal indoors. Move near a window or outdoors to test.
- Network congestion in the evening in busy areas.
- A phone without the right 4G or 5G bands.
- Background apps using data. Our guide to stopping your phone from using data in the background will cover this.
- Data plan throttling after you reach a fair-use limit.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the fastest network in Nigeria in 2026?
MTN, according to Opensignal’s July 2026 report (21.3 Mbps average download, against 14.2 for Airtel and 13.0 for Glo).
Which network has the best 5G?
MTN had faster 5G speeds, while Airtel won 5G availability, meaning its users spent more of their time on 5G.
Is Glo or Airtel better?
Airtel was ahead on speed, while Glo scored higher on reliability and consistent quality. Glo’s 5G availability was only 4.5%.
Is 9mobile still available?
NCC data lists T2, formerly 9mobile, with 3.54 million lines in July 2026.
Do these results apply to my area?
Not necessarily. They are national averages. Test the networks where you live.
Bottom line
On the best recent independent data, MTN is the fastest and steadiest network in Nigeria, Airtel leads on how often users are on 5G, and Glo and T2 trail on speed. Use these numbers as a starting point, then test in your own area.
The reliability scores surprised me. Airtel leads on 5G availability but had the lowest reliability score in the table, behind Glo. It’s fast where you have 5G and shakier elsewhere. Which network holds up best where you live?
Testing in the morning, afternoon and evening sounds like a lot of effort, but evenings are often when networks struggle. What’s the worst time of day for data in your area?