MEA Mobile & Fixed Broadband Rankings 2025: 5G & Fiber Drive Speed Improvements | Ookla®

Dubai, UAE – While the global digital landscape continues to evolve, significant shifts in fixed and mobile broadband performance are reshaping connectivity across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). A recent analysis of Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index data reveals a region marked by contrasts, with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations consistently leading the way, while North African countries demonstrate notable gains, and Sub-Saharan Africa lags behind.

The GCC – comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE – remains the dominant force in MEA’s digital infrastructure. These nations consistently rank high in both fixed and mobile network performance, with several appearing in the global top-10 for mobile speeds throughout 2025. However, the year also saw significant improvements in other regions, particularly in North Africa, driven by the introduction of 5G technology and expansion of fiber optic networks.

According to Ookla’s data, Morocco recorded the largest jump in mobile rankings, climbing 22 places, followed by Algeria and Tunisia as they launched 5G services in 2025. Oman also saw a five-place increase, attributed to network investment and spectrum refarming. On the fixed broadband side, Algeria experienced the most substantial rise, moving up 28 places, with Mauritania and Bahrain also making significant strides.

The primary drivers of these improvements are clear: 5G deployment and the modernization of existing infrastructure. North Africa, in particular, benefited from a confluence of these factors. In Bahrain, a regulatory push to increase minimum speeds – from 100 Mbps to 300 Mbps in March 2025 – coupled with ISP efforts to make faster plans more affordable, contributed to a 16-place jump in fixed broadband rankings.

However, urbanization alone does not guarantee superior mobile network performance. While densely populated areas facilitate infrastructure deployment and shorter cell distances, other structural elements often prove more decisive. Factors such as the pace of network modernization, investment capacity, political stability, and market conditions can override demographic advantages. Egypt and Nigeria, despite relatively lower urbanization rates, have seen improvements in mobile speeds due to 5G launches and 4G network enhancements.

Within the Levant region – encompassing Jordan, Iraq, and Türkiye – performance has been more mixed. Türkiye, with its sophisticated market similar to Europe, leads the sub-region, ranking 61st globally with a median download speed of 66.91 Mbps as of December 2025. The country is poised for further improvement with planned 5G services in April 2026, following spectrum auctions held in October 2025. Jordan, despite having commercial 5G since 2023, saw a decline in median download speed to 43 Mbps.

Jordan’s success in fixed broadband, however, is noteworthy. Ranking 34th globally with a median download speed of 198.54 Mbps, the country has benefited from significant fiber-optic network deployment, with 77% of all fixed broadband subscribers now utilizing fiber connections, and 66.4% enjoying speeds of 200 Mbps or higher.

The launch of 5G in North Africa has yielded varying results. Tunisia and Egypt were early adopters in February and June 2025, respectively, but the impact on national performance has been uneven. While Tunisia initially saw a peak in rankings, it later dropped to 72nd, suggesting infrastructure limitations. Egypt’s gains were more modest, with a limited increase in speed potentially due to bandwidth constraints. Morocco and Algeria, launching 5G later in the year, experienced more immediate improvements, driven by strong consumer interest and initial test results.

Fiber deployments have also accelerated in North Africa, with Egypt leading in broadband performance. Algeria and Morocco have made significant strides, achieving median download speeds of 53.62 Mbps and 56.27 Mbps, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Sub-Saharan Africa continues to lag behind other regions in MEA, with only South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria appearing in the global top-100 for mobile speeds. South Africa leads the sub-region, but its ranking dropped five places in 2025 to 64th, with a median download speed of 65.7 Mbps. Nigeria and Kenya followed at 85th and 80th respectively.

However, some progress is being made. Côte d’Ivoire is emerging as a leader in fixed broadband, ranking 103rd globally with a median download speed of 58.17 Mbps, driven by increasing fiber adoption. Mauritania also saw a substantial jump, moving 24 places to 106th, thanks to a significant expansion of its fiber backbone, adding 5,500 km of new lines.

Looking at the broader G20 context, Saudi Arabia stands out as a strong performer, ranking 9th globally in mobile and 10th in fixed broadband. Türkiye and South Africa, however, lag behind, highlighting challenges in fixed internet infrastructure and fiber adoption.

The data underscores the importance of a multi-faceted approach to improving network performance. Operators’ continued investment in network modernization, coupled with proactive regulatory initiatives – such as spectrum auctions, legacy network switch-offs, and minimum speed mandates – are key levers for driving connectivity across the MEA region. While urbanization plays a role, structural factors and strategic investments ultimately determine a country’s position in the global digital landscape.