Business · South Africa
Only One South African Mobile Network in Global Rankings
TechCentral · 2026/02/16
Summary
In the latest global rankings by Opensignal, only two mobile network operators from the entire African continent made it onto the list, and just one of those operators is from South Africa. Opensignal evaluates mobile networks worldwide based on factors like speed, coverage, and customer experience. This limited recognition highlights the challenges faced by South African operators in competing with global counterparts, particularly in providing consistent, high-quality service. It also signals the room for improvement in the local mobile market, where users often struggle with network issues such as slow data speeds and limited coverage in certain areas. Despite being a large market in Africa, South Africa's mobile networks need to boost performance to meet growing consumer and business demands for better connectivity. Mobile operators may need to invest more in infrastructure upgrades and innovative technology to improve their offerings and gain higher international rankings.
OnABudget takeaway: For consumers, this means it’s important to choose mobile operators that offer reliable service and good value for money. Small businesses and investors should watch which networks improve, as better connectivity can help reduce costs and improve productivity.