Author: Affandy Johan

Affandy Johan is the Industry Analyst at Ookla Research. He utilizes Ookla's data to develop insightful analyses covering various factors and aspects impacting the market. Affandy has extensive experience in the telecom industry, having worked for major vendors and operators in the Asia Pacific region.
Ookla Research™ Articles
| December 14, 2025

Mobile Power Play: Strategic Trade-Offs Shaping 5G Network Performance in Japan

Network Evolution
日本語

Japan’s mobile market is one of the world’s most dynamic and technologically advanced, characterized by intense competition among four major operators: NTT DOCOMO, KDDI (au), SoftBank, and Rakuten Mobile. Each operator employs distinct strategies to secure market share in this highly competitive landscape. This report assesses 5G network performance and availability across Japan’s competitive mobile market.

Key Takeaways

  • 4G remains the essential mobile connectivity service nationwide, while 5G access is geographically segmented. 5G Availability varies dramatically by location, ranging nearly fourfold from a high of 35.2% in Osaka to a low of 9.1% in Yamanashi. Conversely, the 4G network provides a stable and highly reliable foundation, with 4G Availability consistently clustered above the 97% mark across all major operators.
  • Japan’s mobile market is strategically split, with operators prioritizing distinct performance goals. SoftBank and au lead in median download speed across all technologies, at 62.05 Mbps and 57.85 Mbps, respectively. Conversely, Rakuten Mobile achieved the fastest median 5G download speed at 128.39 Mbps. 
  • Operators’ 10th percentile download speeds across prefectures show that highly urbanized prefectures consistently receive higher minimum speeds, reflecting greater site density and capacity investment. NTT DOCOMO maintained the most consistent lower 10th percentile speed across prefectures, peaking at 41 Mbps in Ishikawa. SoftBank’s lower 10th percentile speeds show a significant variation that directly correlates with the urban-rural divide, peaking at 49 Mbps in Aomori but dropping to 4 Mbps in Nagano.

SoftBank leads all technologies in median download speed, while Rakuten Mobile achieves highest 5G speeds

Japan’s mobile telecommunications landscape features highly competitive networks and accelerating technology migration, which is reflected in operator performance data. Speedtest Intelligence®data from Q3 2025 shows SoftBank leading in median download speed across all technologies combined, at 62.05 Mbps, slightly surpassing au’s 57.85 Mbps. SoftBank’s leading performance stems from its notable network modernization and optimization initiatives, which aim to ensure reliable service delivery. Rakuten Mobile and NTT DOCOMO followed with median download speeds of 52.45 Mbps and 50.50 Mbps, respectively.

Mobile Operators All Technologies and 5G Performance, Japan
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

Conversely, Rakuten Mobile led in median 5G performance during the same period. Although its median download speed for all technologies combined was 52.45 Mbps (ranking third), Rakuten’s 5G median download and upload speeds were significantly higher at 128.39 Mbps and 22.34 Mbps, respectively. SoftBank followed with a median download speed of 127.45 Mbps and upload speed of 17.51 Mbps.

Nationwide availability data confirms extensive 4G baseline and differing 5G investment priorities

The Japanese mobile market operates under near-universal adoption, with approximately 194 million cellular connections and a penetration rate of 157% as of early 2025. This saturation dictates that competition is driven primarily by quality of service, speed, and next-generation network availability. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the national 5G population coverage reached 98.4% by the end of fiscal year 2024.

Analysis of Network Availability using Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data from Q3 2025 measures how frequently mobile users connect to 4G and/or 5G networks. The data demonstrate the robust, widespread coverage of the 4G network across all major carriers, with scores clustered above 97%.

Mobile Operators 4G/5G Network Availability, Japan
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

5G Availability—the percentage of time users with 5G-capable devices spent connected to a 5G network—showed a more varied result. NTT DOCOMO led in 5G Availability with 38.4%, exceeding au by almost 6 percentage points. SoftBank recorded the lowest 5G Availability at 26.5%, despite achieving the fastest median download speed across all technologies. This outcome suggested a strategic trade-off, common across the industry due to Japan’s geographical challenges: operators often prioritize mid-band capacity and speed in accessible, high-traffic urban areas, while relying on their 4G networks for broader national coverage. 

Disparity in 5G footprint across prefectures

Japan’s mobile network strategy is fundamentally shaped by its unique geography and extreme population concentration. While approximately 92.1% of the population resides in urban areas, this density necessitates operators covering vast, geographically challenging territories for the remaining users. The Japanese Government, through the MIC, imposes strict mandates tied to 5G spectrum licensing to ensure equitable service access. These requirements compel operators to invest significantly beyond major urban centers, including mandatory coverage obligations across all 47 prefectures.

Speedtest Intelligence data reveals significant disparities in 5G Availability across Japan’s prefectures. This variation is largely due to the nation’s unique population distribution and the economics associated with network build-out. The 5G Availability percentages vary dramatically, from a high of 35.2% in Osaka to a low of 9.1% in Yamanashi. This disparity means users are nearly four times less likely to access 5G connectivity in the lowest-ranking prefecture (Yamanashi) than in the highest (Osaka).

5G Availability (%) Across Prefectures
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

The prefectures with the highest 5G Availability results correspond to Japan’s most populated and economically vital regions, led by Osaka (35.2%), Tokyo (33.7%), Aichi (30.6%), and Kanagawa (29.1%). Operators have strategically prioritized these high-density areas for 5G deployment to maximize capacity of more advanced technology, and secure high-value customers. Conversely, largely inland or mountainous prefectures with scattered populations, such as Yamanashi (9.1%) and Nagano (9.8%), recorded the lowest 5G Availability. This minimal 5G presence underscores the significant challenge of deploying 5G in regions with low population density and difficult terrain, compelling operators to continue relying on their existing 4G networks.

Median 5G Download Speed (Mbps) Across Prefectures
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

The data shows a regional digital divide, marked by a substantial disparity in 5G Availability between the prefectures with the highest and lowest network access. This inequality is compounded by the fact that users in more rural prefectures not only spend significantly less time connected to the 5G network but also experience lower median 5G download speeds, widening the gap between urban and rural areas.

Osaka for instance, recorded 35.2% 5G Availability and a median 5G download speed of 172 Mbps, while Tokyo achieved 33.7% 5G Availability and 128 Mbps median 5G download speed. The dense site deployment in these centers confirms substantial infrastructure investment, and a more robust spectrum strategy. This strategic metropolitan focus directly supports the recorded higher speeds.

However, several prefectures contradict this correlation. Yamagata, for example, is a clear exception to this trend, recording the nation’s highest speed at 181 Mbps despite low 5G Availability at 13.9%. This suggests a scenario where operators deployed 5G infrastructure to meet regulatory coverage commitments, but low user density prevents network contention.

Operators’ 10th percentile 5G performance underscores the urban-rural quality divide

The analysis of the 10th percentile 5G download speeds across the 47 Japanese prefectures in Q3 2025 provides a crucial measure of minimum quality of performance, representing the speeds experienced by the bottom 10% of all users.

NTT DOCOMO generally recorded higher download speeds at the 10th percentile, securing the highest (peaking at 41 Mbps in Ishikawa) or near-highest scores across the widest array of prefectures. Conversely, SoftBank recorded the single highest minimum 10th percentile download speed across all prefectures, reaching 49 Mbps in Aomori. However, SoftBank’s 10th percentile performance varied significantly, dropping to 4 Mbps in Nagano, and 6 Mbps in Chiba. au and Rakuten Mobile generally showed lower and more tightly grouped minimum speeds, suggesting greater performance vulnerability, typically observed at the cell edge or during times of congestion.

10th Percentile Download (Mbps) Speed by Operator and Prefecture
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

The data shows a clear link between 10th percentile download speeds and urbanization. Highly urbanized prefectures or those serving as regional capitals consistently show higher minimum speeds across all operators. This is likely due to higher site density and focused mid-band spectrum deployment to manage greater user volume. For instance, in Osaka, all operators reported narrower 10th percentile speed ranges, from 18 Mbps to 28 Mbps.

Speedtest data also reveals a positive correlation between the median 5G download speed and the 5G Consistency Score across Japan’s prefectures. Ookla’s 5G Consistency metric measures the network’s ability to consistently provide a high-quality user experience, such as for 4K video streaming. Specifically, it quantifies the proportion of user samples that meet or exceed the performance threshold of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. Prefectures with higher median download speeds consistently demonstrate a proportionally higher probability of users experiencing a reliable service.

SoftBank recorded the highest 5G Consistency in many prefectures across all regions, demonstrating superior baseline reliability, particularly in Hokkaido and Tōhoku. Notable examples include Aomori in Tōhoku and Nagasaki in Kyūshū, both recording 90.9% consistency, and Iwate (Tōhoku) at 90.7%. NTT DOCOMO and au also demonstrated strong, consistent performance, reflecting the benefits of their mature, optimized infrastructure.

5G Consistency Across Prefectures
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

Significant regional disparities persist, highlighting specific areas that require immediate infrastructure improvement. The highest 5G Consistency scores were concentrated in the Chūgoku and Shikoku regions, with several operators exceeding 80%. Conversely, the lowest consistency scores are primarily found in rural or challenging prefectures, such as the northern Kanto region (Ibaraki, Gunma, Tochigi).

Japan’s 5G rollout has been a success, achieving high national coverage due to proactive regulatory policies and substantial investment from operators. The main policy goal of universal population coverage has clearly been met. However, an analysis of 5G performance shows a measurable disparity between urban and rural areas, likely influenced by strategic operator deployment decisions and geographical challenges. To ensure universal, high-quality digital connectivity across all of Japan’s 47 prefectures by the 2030 target, continued targeted investment in extending 5G infrastructure, coupled with the strategic integration of innovative technologies such as Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), is critical for bridging the digital divide.

モバイルパワープレイ：日本の5Gネットワークパフォーマンスを形作る戦略的なトレードオフ

日本のモバイル市場は、NTTドコモ、KDDI (au)、ソフトバンク、楽天モバイルという4つの主要な通信事業者の間で激しい競争が繰り広げられる、世界で最もダイナミックで技術的に進んだ市場の1つです。各事業者は、この競争の激しい環境で市場シェアを確保するために、明確な戦略を採用しています。本レポートは、日本の競争的なモバイル市場における5Gネットワークの性能と利用可能性を評価します。

主なポイント

  • 4Gは全国的に不可欠なモバイル接続サービスである一方、5Gアクセスは地理的に分断されています。 5Gの利用可能性は場所によって劇的に異なり、大阪の35.2%を最高に、山梨の9.1%を最低として、約4倍の開きがあります。対照的に、4Gネットワークは、すべての主要な通信事業者で4Gの利用可能性が一貫して97%以上に集約されており、安定した信頼性の高い基盤を提供しています。
  • 日本のモバイル市場は戦略的に二分されており、通信事業者は明確なパフォーマンス目標を優先しています。 SoftBankとauは、全技術のメディアンダウンロード速度でそれぞれ62.05 Mbpsと57.85 Mbpsを記録し、リードしています。一方、楽天モバイルは128.39 Mbpsで最速の5Gメディアンダウンロード速度を達成しました。
  • 都道府県ごとの通信事業者の10パーセンタイルダウンロード速度は、高度に都市化された都道府県が一貫してより高い最低速度を受け取っていることを示しており、 これはより高いサイト密度と容量投資を反映しています。NTTドコモは、石川県で41 Mbpsをピークとする、都道府県全体で最も一貫した低い10パーセンタイル速度を維持しました。SoftBankの低い10パーセンタイル速度は、都市と地方の格差に直接相関する大きな変動を示しており、青森県で49 Mbpsをピークに、長野県では4 Mbpsにまで落ち込んでいます。

SoftBankが全技術のメディアンダウンロード速度でリード、Rakutenが最高の5G速度を達成

日本のモバイル通信環境は、競争の激しいネットワークと加速する技術移行が特徴であり、これは通信事業者のパフォーマンスデータに反映されています。Speedtest Intelligence®の2025年第3四半期のデータによると、SoftBankが全技術を合わせたメディアンダウンロード速度で62.05 Mbpsを記録し、auの57.85 Mbpsをわずかに上回りリードしています。SoftBankの優れたパフォーマンスは、信頼性の高いサービス提供を目指した、注目すべきネットワーク近代化および最適化の取り組みに起因しています。楽天モバイルとNTT DOCOMOは、それぞれ53.54 Mbpsと50.50 Mbpsのメディアンダウンロード速度でそれに続きました。

日本の携帯電話事業者による全技術および5G性能
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

逆に、同期間の5GのメディアンパフォーマンスではRakuten Mobileがリードしました。全技術を合わせたメディアンダウンロード速度は52.45 Mbps（3位）でしたが、Rakutenの5Gメディアンダウンロード速度とアップロード速度はそれぞれ128.39 Mbpsと22.34 Mbpsと著しく高くなっています。SoftBankがこれに続き、メディアンダウンロード速度は127.45 Mbps、アップロード速度は17.51 Mbpsでした。

全国的な可用性データは、広範囲にわたる4Gベースラインと異なる5G投資の優先順位を裏付けています

日本のモバイル市場は、ほぼ普遍的な普及の状況下で運営されており、2025年初頭時点で約1億9400万の携帯電話接続と157%の普及率があります。この飽和状態により、競争は主にサービスの品質、速度、次世代ネットワークの可用性によって推進されています。総務省（MIC）によると、全国の5G人口カバー率は2024年度末までに98.4%に達しました。

2025年第3四半期のOokla Speedtest Intelligenceデータを使用したネットワーク可用性の分析は、モバイルユーザーが4Gまたは5Gネットワークに接続する頻度を測定しています。このデータは、すべての主要なキャリアで4Gネットワークが堅牢かつ広範囲にカバーされており、スコアが97%以上に集約されていることを明確に示しています。

携帯電話事業者による4G/5Gネットワーク可用性、日本
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

5G Availability—5G対応デバイスを持つユーザーが5Gネットワークに接続して過ごした時間の割合—は、より多様な結果を示しました。NTT DOCOMOが38.4%で5G Availabilityをリードし、auをほぼ6パーセントポイント上回りました。SoftBankは、全技術のメディアンダウンロード速度で最速を達成したにもかかわらず、26.5%で最も低い5G Availabilityを記録しました。この結果は、日本の地理的課題により業界全体で一般的な戦略的トレードオフを示唆しています。すなわち、通信事業者は、アクセスしやすくトラフィックの多い都市部でミッドバンドの容量と速度を優先する一方で、より広範な全国カバレッジには4Gネットワークに依存しているということです。

都道府県全体での5Gフットプリントの格差

日本のモバイルネットワーク戦略は、その独自の地理と極端な人口集中によって根本的に形成されています。人口の約92.1%が都市部に居住している一方で、この密度により、通信事業者は残りのユーザーのために広大で地理的に困難な地域をカバーする必要があります。

日本政府は、MICを通じて、公平なサービスアクセスを確保するために5Gスペクトルライセンスに厳格な義務を課しています。これらの要件により、通信事業者は、すべての47都道府県にわたる義務的なカバレッジ義務を含め、主要な都市中心部を超えて大幅な投資を行うことを余儀なくされています。

Speedtest Intelligenceデータは、日本の都道府県全体で5G Availabilityに重大な格差があることを明らかにしています。この変動は、主に国の独自の人口分布と、ネットワーク構築に伴う経済的要因に起因しています。5G Availabilityのパーセンテージは、大阪の35.2%を最高に、山梨の9.1%を最低として、劇的に異なっています。この格差は、ユーザーが最も低いランクの都道府県（山梨）で最も高いランクの都道府県（大阪）と比較して、5G接続にアクセスできる可能性が約4分の1未満であることを意味します。

都道府県別 5G Availability (%)
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

5G Availabilityの結果が最も高い都道府県は、日本の最も人口が多く経済的に重要な地域に対応しており、大阪 (35.2%)、東京 (33.7%)、愛知 (30.6%)、神奈川 (29.1%) がリードしています。通信事業者は、より高度な技術の容量を最大化し、高価値の顧客を確保するために、これらの高密度地域での5G展開を戦略的に優先してきました。対照的に、山梨 (9.1%) や長野 (9.8%) のように、人口が散在している内陸または山岳部の多い都道府県では、最低の5G Availabilityが記録されました。この最小限の5Gの存在は、人口密度の低い地域や困難な地形での5G展開の重大な課題を浮き彫りにしており、通信事業者は既存の4Gネットワークに頼り続けることを余儀なくされています。

都道府県別 5G中央値ダウンロード速度（Mbps)
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

データは、最高のネットワークアクセスを持つ都道府県と最低のネットワークアクセスを持つ都道府県との間で、5G Availabilityに大きな格差がある地域的なデジタルデバイドを示しています。この不平等は、より地方の都道府県のユーザーが5Gネットワークに接続して過ごす時間が著しく少ないだけでなく、メディアン5Gダウンロード速度も低く、都市部と地方の格差を広げているという事実によってさらに悪化しています。

例えば、大阪では5G Availabilityが35.2%、メディアン5Gダウンロード速度が172 Mbpsを記録しましたが、東京では5G Availabilityが33.7%、メディアン5Gダウンロード速度が128 Mbpsでした。これらの中心地での高密度なサイト展開は、大規模なインフラ投資と、より堅牢なスペクトル戦略を裏付けています。この戦略的な大都市圏への集中は、記録されたより高い速度を直接的に支えています。

しかし、いくつかの都道府県はこの相関関係に反しています。例えば、山形県は、5G Availabilityが13.9%と低いにもかかわらず、国内最高の速度である181 Mbpsを記録しており、この傾向の明確な例外です。これは、通信事業者が規制上のカバレッジ義務を満たすために5Gインフラを展開したものの、ユーザー密度の低さがネットワークの競合を防いでいるシナリオを示唆しています。

通信事業者の10パーセンタイル5Gパフォーマンスが、都市と地方の品質格差を浮き彫りに

2025年第3四半期における日本の47都道府県全体での10パーセンタイル5Gダウンロード速度の分析は、最低限のパフォーマンス品質の重要な指標を提供し、全ユーザーの下位10%が経験する速度を表しています。

NTT DOCOMOは、一般的に10パーセンタイルでより高いダウンロード速度を記録し、最も広範な都道府県で最高（石川県で41 Mbpsをピーク）またはそれに近いスコアを確保しました。対照的に、SoftBankは、全都道府県の中で単一で最高の最低10パーセンタイルダウンロード速度を記録し、青森県で49 Mbpsに達しました。しかし、SoftBankの10パーセンタイルパフォーマンスは大きく変動し、長野県で4 Mbps、千葉県で6 Mbpsにまで落ち込みました。auとRakuten Mobileは、一般的に低く、より密接にグループ化された最低速度を示しており、通常、セルエッジや混雑時に見られる、より大きなパフォーマンスの脆弱性を示唆しています。

事業者および都道府県別10パーセンタイルダウンロード速度（Mbps）
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

データは、10パーセンタイルダウンロード速度と都市化の間に明確な関連性があることを示しています。高度に都市化された都道府県、または地方の中心都市として機能する都道府県は、すべての通信事業者で一貫してより高い最低速度を示しています。これは、より高いサイト密度と、より大きなユーザーボリュームを管理するための集中的なミッドバンドスペクトル展開による可能性が高いです。例えば、大阪では、すべての通信事業者が10パーセンタイル速度でより狭い範囲を報告しており、それは18 Mbpsから28 Mbpsの間に及んでいます。

Speedtest dataはまた、日本の都道府県全体で、メディアン5Gダウンロード速度と5G Consistency Scoreの間に正の相関関係があることを示しています。Ooklaの5G Consistency metricは、4Kビデオストリーミングなどの高品質なユーザーエクスペリエンスを一貫して提供するネットワークの能力を測定します。具体的には、25 Mbpsのダウンロード速度と3 Mbpsのアップロード速度の性能閾値を満たす、または超えるユーザーサンプルの割合を定量化します。メディアンダウンロード速度が高い都道府県は、ユーザーが信頼性の高いサービスを経験する可能性が比例して高いことを一貫して示しています。

SoftBankは、すべての地域で多くの都道府県で最高の5G Consistencyを記録し、特に北海道と東北地方で優れたベースラインの信頼性を示しています。注目すべき例としては、東北の青森県と九州の長崎県があり、どちらも90.9%のconsistencyを記録し、岩手県（東北）は90.7%でした。NTT DOCOMOとauもまた、成熟した最適化されたインフラストラクチャの利点を反映して、強力で一貫したパフォーマンスを示しました。

都道府県別 5G Consistency
Source: Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

地域間の大きな格差が依然として残っており、早急なインフラ改善が必要な特定の地域を浮き彫りにしています。最高の5G Consistency scoresは中国・四国地方に集中しており、複数の通信事業者が80%を超えています。逆に、最低のconsistency scoresは、主に北関東地方（茨城、群馬、栃木）のような地方や困難な環境の都道府県で見られます。

日本の5G展開は成功しており、積極的な規制政策と通信事業者からの多大な投資により、高い全国カバレッジを達成しました。ユニバーサルな人口カバレッジという主要な政策目標は明確に達成されています。しかし、5Gパフォーマンスの分析は、戦略的な通信事業者の展開決定と地理的な課題の影響を受けている可能性が高い、都市部と地方との間に測定可能な格差があることを示しています。2030年という目標までに、日本の47すべての都道府県でユニバーサルで高品質なデジタル接続を確保するためには、5Gインフラの拡張への継続的かつ的を絞った投資と、Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) のような革新的な技術の戦略的な統合が、デジタルデバイドを埋めるために不可欠です。

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

Network Evolution

About the author

Affandy Johan

Affandy Johan is the Industry Analyst at Ookla Research. He utilizes Ookla's data to develop insightful analyses covering various factors and aspects impacting the market. Affandy has extensive experience in the telecom industry, having worked for major vendors and operators in the Asia Pacific region.

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| December 14, 2025

Charting Malaysia’s 5G Performance as the Country Transitions to a Dual 5G Network Model

Malaysia successfully deployed its 5G network using a unique Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) model, with several major providers operating on a single 5G network overseen by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB). This strategic approach has yielded significant initial outcomes, including high median 5G speeds and extensive population coverage. This report analyzes Malaysia’s current 5G landscape and its impact on the user experience as the country shifts toward a Dual Network (DN) strategy, which aims to introduce competition and meet the growing capacity demands of a maturing 5G market.

Key Takeaways

  • Malaysia’s unique 5G deployment model, overseen by DNB, has achieved high population coverage and high initial median 5G speeds, but performance has since shown a downward trend. The median download speed for all providers combined decreased from 451.79 Mbps in Q4 2023 to 242.92 Mbps by Q3 2025. This decline coincided with an increase in 5G device adoption and contrasts with speed stability observed in comparable multi-operator markets in neighboring countries.
  • Malaysia is experiencing an increase in 5G-capable device adoption, indicating an expanding 5G-ready subscriber base. Based on Speedtest Intelligence® data, the proportion of all tests conducted on 5G-capable devices jumped from 58.6% in Q4 2023 to 79.5% in Q3 2025, with those connected to a 5G network making up 55.0% of all test samples in Q3 2025. 
  • Despite high consumer readiness for 5G adoption,  maximizing the technology’s potential faces challenges, as 5G-capable devices spend 65.8% of their connected time on 4G networks. This gap is primarily driven by persistent coverage issues, particularly the lack of ubiquitous indoor 5G coverage and inconsistent service in rural areas.
  • Controlled testing shows Digital Nasional Berhad’s (DNB) existing 5G network currently provides the dominant 5G coverage in the Klang Valley, forming the essential footprint for all operators’ 5G coverage. Speedtest Drive™ controlled network testing showed U Mobile, the second 5G network provider, still primarily camped on DNB’s frequencies (83.2% of test samples) despite its own active network deployment. In comparison, Yes, acting as a proxy for DNB’s 5G network coverage, camped on DNB’s 3500 MHz mid-band frequency in 77.9% of test samples.

Malaysia’s unique 5G model performance trending downwards while neighbouring countries hold steady

Malaysia’s 5G network performance declined from Q4 2023 to Q3 2025, a trend that directly contrasts with the stable or relatively improving performance seen in several neighboring markets. This decrease followed an initial high benchmark; our previous report noted Malaysia’s 5G median download speed as one of the world’s top performers, ranking third globally in Q3 2023. The median 5G download speed subsequently declined from 451.79 Mbps in Q4 2023 to 242.92 Mbps in Q3 2025. Over the same period, the median 5G upload speed also decreased, falling from 49.87 Mbps in Q4 2023 to 29.52 Mbps.

5G Performance Trend Across Selected Markets in Asia Pacific
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q4 2023 – Q3 2025

Up until early 2025, Malaysia deployed its 5G network using a distinct Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) architecture through DNB, a government-owned entity. This approach aimed to accelerate national coverage and optimize infrastructure investment. The subsequent speed decline suggests network maturation, as the focus shifted from initial high-speed urban deployment to wider geographic coverage. This expansion led to increased user adoption and usage, which placed higher demands on network capacity. Furthermore, as user adoption of 5G increases, the demand for high-capacity applications like streaming and IoT devices rises, driving the need for more assigned spectrum bandwidth to maintain and improve network performance, speed, and reliability. By channeling all operators’ 5G radio traffic through a single provider, the network is subject to speed degradation when demand rapidly increases across the entire infrastructure.

This contrasts with regional peers operating under multi-operator frameworks where market competition and segmented spectrum allocation may offer better resilience and capacity planning against traffic surges. South Korea, a long-established 5G leader, consistently reports median 5G download speeds above 528 Mbps, peaking at 564.14 Mbps by Q3 2025. Singapore demonstrates stability, with speeds reaching 349.19 Mbps in Q3 2025. Conversely, Vietnam and Brunei showed significant increases. Vietnam’s median 5G download speed reached 350.28 Mbps in Q3 2025, and Brunei also showed an overall upward trend despite some fluctuation. The observed increase in 5G performance in Vietnam and Brunei is likely attributable to their status as newer 5G markets, where initial deployments cater to a smaller, less congested subscriber base. This initial strong performance should stabilize as adoption increases in these countries.

Despite the decline, Malaysia’s Q3 2025 download speed remains competitive with several neighboring markets, notably outperforming the Philippines (120.16 Mbps), Japan (124.11 Mbps), and Thailand (169.35 Mbps), the latter of which operates predominantly on low-band and lower-mid frequency bands, naturally limiting peak speeds compared to regional peers.

Malaysia sees significant 5G-capable device adoption growth

Based on GSMA Intelligence data, 5G accounts for almost 40% of consumer connections in Malaysia, while 4G makes up nearly 60%. Analysis of the data on the proportion of devices taking Speedtests in Malaysia clearly indicates the significant growth in 5G-capable device adoption over the period from Q4 2023 to Q3 2025 . The rising proportion of users conducting Speedtests on 5G-capable devices suggests the 5G subscriber base is expanding, driven by greater device compatibility and compelling operator 5G service offerings.

Proportion of Devices Taking Speedtest in Malaysia
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q4 2024 – Q3 2025

According to Speedtest Intelligence® data, 79.5% of all tests conducted in Malaysia in Q3 2025 were carried out on 5G-capable devices. This total includes 55.0% of tests connected directly to a 5G network and 24.5% conducted by 5G-capable devices using non-5G networks. This marks a significant increase from Q4 2023, when 5G-capable devices accounted for 58.6% of all tests, with only 35.4% connected to the 5G network.

Despite the growth, users spend majority of their connected time on 4G network

Despite the growing number of 5G-capable devices, data from Q3 2025 shows that users on 5G-capable devices still spend the majority of their connected time on the 4G network. For all 5G-capable devices, 65.8% of their connected time is spent on the 4G network, compared with 29.8% on 5G.

5G-Capable Devices Spend Most of Their Connected Time On 4G
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q3 2025

This heavy reliance on 4G is strongly linked to two key factors. The first is the lack of comprehensive 5G indoor coverage nationwide. 5G typically relies on high-frequency bands, which penetrate walls and building materials less effectively, even though an estimated 70% to 80% of all mobile usage occurs indoors. DNB actively addresses this constraint by deploying 5G In-Building Solutions (IBS) at high-footfall sites. As of January 2025, DNB installed 5G IBS at 73 strategic sites, including major airports, hospitals, and transportation hubs.

Second, while DNB achieved its 80% coverage of populated areas (COPA) mandate, with recent reports stating coverage is around 82.4%, 5G service remains intermittent in many rural and non-urban areas. In our previous report, we analyzed how more rural states in Malaysia reported lower 5G Availability. This indicates that infrastructure deployment in these states often targets only the state’s capital city and major towns. The lower density of sites outside these major hubs forces devices to fall back to the 4G network, contributing to the higher time spent on the older technology

Transitioning to a dual 5G network to drive the next phase of competition

Malaysia is currently transitioning from its initial 5G network deployment model, operated by DNB, to a Dual Network (DN) approach. This policy shift marks a significant turning point in the country’s telecommunications strategy, moving away from a government-led monopoly structure toward one based on competition. The government mandated that the transition would begin once DNB achieved 80% coverage of populated areas (COPA), a target DNB hit by the end of December 2023.

In November 2024, the government announced U Mobile, the country’s third-largest mobile network operator, as the selected provider to implement the second 5G network provider. In March 2025, U Mobile stated that it had begun rolling out 5G service using standalone access (SA) technology to customers in stages. U Mobile aims for 80% coverage in populated areas within the first year of operation and 95% by the third year. DNB will continue to deploy and operate its network in parallel with U Mobile’s rollout. Managing the transition requires addressing complex considerations, including spectrum allocation for the second network, DNB’s financial viability, and the efficient operation of two parallel 5G networks.

Controlled testing shows DNB’s established network currently provides the dominant, most available 5G footprint

DNB, the incumbent 5G network provider, retained its initial spectrum allocation (F1) across the 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz, and 28 GHz bands. U Mobile, conversely, received specific blocks (F2) for the second 5G network rollout in the 700 MHz and 3.5 GHz bands.

To assess the end-user’s real-world 5G mobile experience under this structure, Ookla® used the Speedtest Drive™ controlled network testing methodology in October 2025. The testing focused on five primary clusters within the Klang Valley—Bukit Bintang, Bukit Jalil, Sunway Damansara, Tasik Batu, and Setia Alam. The controlled testing team was equipped with the latest 5G-capable handsets featuring SIM cards from major operators in the country. Among the five operators included, both Yes and U Mobile are currently implementing 5G Standalone (5G SA) technology. Yes delivers 5G SA services via the DNB infrastructure, integrating its own 5G Core. In contrast, U Mobile employs a dual strategy: it leverages the DNB network for base coverage while rapidly deploying its own second 5G network, which is fully 5G SA by design.

Maps of Serving Tech/Frequency Plots of Select Areas in Malaysia for Yes (DNB), Speedtest Drive™ | October 2025
Maps of Serving Tech/Frequency Plots of Select Areas in Malaysia for U Mobile, Speedtest Drive™ | October 2025

Using Yes as a proxy for DNB’s 5G network coverage along the data collection routes, the controlled network testing results provide unique insight into the network coverage comparison between the two 5G network providers. Analysis of the combined data across all clusters reveals that DNB’s established mid-band 3500 MHz spectrum (F1) provides the dominant 5G SA coverage footprint, effectively acting as the essential anchor for all service providers. The data from U Mobile SIMs showed they camped on DNB’s frequency bands for a combined 83.2% of the test samples. The DNB-managed 3500 MHz spectrum (F1) accounted for the largest share at 67.9%. Conversely, the U Mobile SIM camped on its own network for only 16.8% of test samples, despite U Mobile actively deploying this infrastructure . In comparison, 77.9% of Yes’s test samples camped on DNB’s 3500 MHz band.

DNB vs U Mobile 5G Standalone Frequency Band Camping Ratio
Speedtest Drive® | 4-8 October 2025

As Malaysia’s telecom market transitions to a Dual Network model, we will continue to track its progress. This shift is anticipated to foster competition, leading to a more resilient and performance-driven 5G experience for consumers. For more information about Speedtest Intelligence data and insights, please contact us.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the author

Affandy Johan

Affandy Johan is the Industry Analyst at Ookla Research. He utilizes Ookla's data to develop insightful analyses covering various factors and aspects impacting the market. Affandy has extensive experience in the telecom industry, having worked for major vendors and operators in the Asia Pacific region.

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Ookla Research™ Articles
| October 7, 2025

Mapping India's Digital Landscape - Mobile Connectivity and Its Impact on Rural India

India has achieved a remarkable digital transformation in the past three to five years, solidifying its position as the world’s second-largest telecommunications market and making significant strides in connecting its more than 650,000 villages. The country has seen robust subscriber growth, an exponential surge in data consumption, and the strategic, rapid deployment of next-generation technologies, particularly 5G. While significant progress has been made, the latest data reveals a compelling narrative of both remarkable success and persistent urban-rural disparities.

Key Takeaways

  • Rural India continues to face a significant digital divide. Although India’s wireless subscriber base grew to 117.1 crore (1.17 billion) by June 2025, a significant mobile penetration gap persists. Urban areas boast a robust mobile penetration rate of 125.3%, while rural areas considerably lag at 58.8%. This stark contrast highlights the critical need for targeted development to overcome barriers to mobile access.
  • In the first half of 2025, 4G networks demonstrated strong penetration in rural India, with data samples with signal strength stronger than -110 dBm reported in 88.9% of total villages nationwide. This widespread coverage underscores the success of 4G as a foundational broadband technology. The deployment of 5G is also progressing swiftly, with coverage detected in 77.8% of villages. The 11.1 percentage point difference between 4G and 5G coverage is the outcome of a phased rollout strategy that prioritizes densely populated areas before expanding to rural regions. 
  • Most states and union territories in India have reported median download speeds exceeding 40 Mbps, largely due to the introduction of 5G. This has led to a nationwide improvement in connectivity performance. Urbanized areas and smaller territories are at the forefront of this improvement, with Delhi recording the highest median download speeds at 168.14 Mbps.
  • Data on the lower 10th percentile download speed shows significant gains, especially in regions with previously slower networks. Lakshadweep’s bottom 10th percentile speed increased more than thirteen-fold, from 0.68 Mbps in 1H 2024 to 8.99 Mbps in 1H 2025. This improvement is a direct outcome of government programs such as the BharatNet project, which aims to expand connectivity infrastructure across all regions.

Regional mobile penetration shows urban dominance and rural under-connectivity

India’s telecommunications sector has seen substantial growth, fueled by increasingly affordable tariffs, expanded service availability, and the ongoing implementation of new technologies like 5G networks. In 2024, mobile data traffic surged 23% year-over-year, reaching 21.5 exabytes per month. The total mobile subscriber base in India has shown consistent growth over the last three years. Based on data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), total wireless subscribers in India rose from 1,147.39 million at the end of June 2022 to 1,170.88 million by the end of June 2025.

Despite impressive network expansion, a significant urban-rural gap in digital access and quality of service persists in India. Mobile penetration, often referred to as teledensity (telephone connections per 100 people), clearly illustrates this disparity. The national average of 82.74% masks a stark contrast: as of June 2025, urban mobile penetration was 125.3%, indicating multi-device ownership, while rural India’s was significantly lower at 58.8%. This 66.5 percentage point difference highlights the unequal distribution of telecommunication services and the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable digital access.

India's Mobile Penetration Between Urban & Rural Areas
TRAI Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicators| June, 2025

Data from TRAI reveals a direct correlation between a region’s level of urbanization and its mobile penetration. This is evident, as the high initial investment required for network infrastructure is more economically viable in densely populated urban areas, where a larger customer base can be served more efficiently. 

India's States & Union Territories Mobile Penetration (%)
TRAI Telecom Services Performance Indicators | April–June, 2025

As of June 2025, Delhi reported a high mobile penetration of 179.7%, followed by Goa at 153.0% and Chandigarh at 144.1%. This data indicates a saturation of telecom connections in these regions, where many individuals possess multiple SIM cards or devices to cater to both personal and professional needs. The concentration of economic activity and population in these urban centers creates a strong demand for extensive connectivity.

Conversely, several states with large rural populations exhibit considerably lower mobile penetration rates. Bihar has the lowest at 56.1%, with the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu at 62.9%, and Jharkhand reporting a penetration rate of 63.0% during the same period.

Despite its low population density and challenging geographic terrain, Ladakh recorded a high mobile penetration rate value of 181.2%. This can be attributed to a large transient population of military personnel, tourists, and seasonal laborers. Its strategic national security importance has also driven significant government investment in robust digital infrastructure to ensure seamless communication for defense operations.

Government initiatives paving the way for widespread mobile coverage

With approximately 650,000 villages across the country, the Government of India has launched a number of targeted initiatives to enhance mobile coverage, particularly in underserved rural and remote areas. The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), now known as Digital Bharat Nidhi, is a key mechanism used to subsidize and fund the development of rural and remote telecom infrastructure. The BharatNet project, a flagship government initiative, aims to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to more than 250,000 Gram Panchayats (village councils) across India using optical fiber. As of early 2025, approximately 220,000 Gram Panchayats are service-ready or already connected.

Using Cell Analytics™ data from the first half of 2025, we analyzed mobile connectivity in Indian villages at national, state, and union territory levels. We then mapped the reported signal strength for each village, categorizing it as: superior (stronger than -80 dBm), good (-80 dBm to -90 dBm), fair (-90 dBm to -100 dBm), and poor (-100 dBm to -110 dBm). The -110 dBm threshold is crucial for reliable voice calls and basic data usage. This data highlights the current state and progress of India’s 4G and 5G mobile network evolution by showing the percentage of villages with detected samples for these technologies, noting that there was limited data for the northern region of Ladakh.

Map of Reported 4G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025
Map of Reported 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

In the first half of 2025, 4G networks demonstrated strong penetration in rural India, with samples reporting signal strengths exceeding -110 dBm in 88.9% of all villages nationwide. This indicates the widespread success of 4G as a foundational broadband technology. In contrast, 5G samples were detected in 77.8% of villages, highlighting an 11.1 percentage point difference that reflects the ongoing and phased deployment of 5G technology.

Percentage of Villages in India with 4G and 5G Reported Samples Stronger Than -110dBm
Cell Analytics™ | 1H 2025

The data also shows that highly urbanized regions and smaller union territories in India are close to achieving universal mobile access. The union territories of Chandigarh and Puducherry, along with the state of Kerala and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, have 100% of their villages reporting a mobile signal stronger than -110 dBm, indicating mobile coverage in all villages within the state or union territories. Other states, such as Punjab 99.6% and Haryana 99.7%, reported signal samples stronger than -110 dBm across their villages.

Percentage of Villages in India's States and Union Territories With Reported Mobile Samples Stronger Than -110dBm
Cell Analytics™ | 1H 2025

The data also highlights disparities in connectivity across various states and union territories, particularly in regions with challenging geographical conditions. States like Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, with 26.4% and 23.1% respectively of their villages reporting no mobile samples, underscore the strategic importance of targeted initiatives and investments in these areas.

Mobile network performance gains span all regions

India has achieved one of the fastest 5G rollouts globally since the commercial launch of services in October 2022. By February 2025, over 469,000 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) had been deployed. The introduction of 5G has significantly improved connectivity performance nationwide. Based on Speedtest Intelligence® data from the first half of 2025, median download speeds across all technologies are generally good nationwide, with the majority of states and union territories reporting speeds well above 40 Mbps.

Urbanized areas and smaller territories are leading in performance. Delhi, Chandigarh and Puducherry have the top median download speeds at 168.14 Mbps, 115.71 Mbps and 114.35 Mbps, respectively. Lakshadweep was the only region to report a median download speed below 20 Mbps, at 16.55 Mbps. As an archipelago in the Arabian Sea, its lower speed can be attributed to geographical and infrastructural challenges that differentiate it from mainland states.

Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir are exceptions to the link between high urbanization and fast mobile performance, with median download speeds of 150.97 Mbps and 136.97 Mbps, respectively. The geopolitical importance of these regions necessitates a reliable and robust network dedicated to supporting defense and government operations.

Median Mobile Download Speeds (Mbps) Across India's States and Union Territories
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

This progress is also significantly reflected in the performance of the lowest-performing connections. Data for the lower 10th percentile download speed shows performance gains over the past six months, especially in states and union territories with lower median download speeds. For example, Lakshadweep, which reported the lowest median download speed, saw its lower 10th percentile speed increase more than thirteen-fold, from 0.68 Mbps in 1H 2024 to 8.99 Mbps in 1H 2025. Similarly, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands also experienced a significant jump, with speeds rising from 1.25 Mbps to 6.71 Mbps. These overall improvements in lower 10th percentile download speed across all states and union territories mean that access to services and opportunities previously confined to urban centers are now reaching more rural areas.

States and Union Territories Lower 10th Percentile Download Speed (Mbps)
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

Universal digital access requires continuous regulator-operator collaboration to overcome last-mile challenges

The progress in India’s digital connectivity is a direct result of strategic efforts by regulators and operators, but achieving universal access requires sustained action. One such example is the Digital Bharat Nidhi, which funds telecom infrastructure in commercially unviable rural areas and supports foundational initiatives like the BharatNet project. Telecom operators are complementing these efforts with rapid 5G rollouts and the launch of affordable devices, such as JioBharat, to drive rural adoption.

However, significant challenges remain. Last-mile connectivity is a major hurdle, requiring sustainable public-private partnerships. The Amended BharatNet Program and the 4G Saturation Project are designed to address these gaps, but their timely completion is critical. The regulator must continue to streamline policies and provide incentives to encourage further investment in remote regions. By focusing on these areas, India can ensure that its digital progress is inclusive, extending the benefits of connectivity to every village.

For more information about Speedtest Intelligence data and insights, please contact us.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the author

Affandy Johan

Affandy Johan is the Industry Analyst at Ookla Research. He utilizes Ookla's data to develop insightful analyses covering various factors and aspects impacting the market. Affandy has extensive experience in the telecom industry, having worked for major vendors and operators in the Asia Pacific region.

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Ookla Research™ Articles
| September 30, 2025

Closing The Gap Between 5G Network Reach And User Adoption

5G
臺灣

Market consolidation has reshaped Taiwan’s telecom market and the remaining operators now must prepare for the next phase

Taiwan’s mobile telecommunications market has undergone a major transformation, marked by market consolidation and a rapid, government-backed 5G deployment. This has reshaped the competitive landscape, moving from a five-player market to one dominated by three major operators: Chunghwa Telecom (CHT), Far EasTone (FET), and Taiwan Mobile (TWM). The mergers of Far EasTone with Asia Pacific Telecom and Taiwan Mobile with Taiwan Star have rebalanced market shares and enabled these operators to leverage expanded spectrum assets and achieve greater economies of scale.

Key Takeaways:

  • Between the 1H 2024 and the 1H 2025, Taiwan’s 5G Availability increased from 62.1% to 69.3%. The nation lags behind regional leaders such as Hong Kong (83.9%) and South Korea (77.1%), but it is ahead of countries such as Singapore (67.9%) and India (60.5%). The timing of commercial 5G network launches, along with differences in spectrum access and market dynamics, influence each market’s reported 5G Availability.
  • All three major Taiwanese operators showed improved 5G Availability, with FarEasTone leading at 72.4%, surpassing Chunghwa Telecom’s 69.8% and Taiwan Mobile’s 66.5%. From the 1H 2024 to the 1H 2025, Taiwan Mobile showed the largest gain, with an increase of 8.5 percentage points, followed by FarEasTone with a gain of 6.9 percentage points, and Chunghwa Telecom with 5.9 percentage points. 
  • Despite FarEasTone’s lead in 5G Availability, Chunghwa Telecom holds a significant lead in performance. Chunghwa Telecom’s median download speed of 344.25 Mbps is 31.6% higher than FarEasTone’s and 54.1% higher than Taiwan Mobile’s. Chunghwa also recorded the highest median upload speed at 34.52 Mbps and the lowest multi-server latency at 23 ms.
  • A significant portion of 5G-capable devices are not using the 5G network, with 40.1% of users having a 5G-capable device but not connecting to 5G. Even for those who are connected, users spend more than double the time on 4G than on 5G. This presents an opportunity for operators to increase 5G connection time through network modernization.

Taiwan’s 5G Availability nears 70%, behind Thailand and other regional leaders

Speedtest Intelligence® data from the first half of 2025 shows Taiwan’s 5G Availability (the percentage of users on 5G-capable devices that spend most of the time with access to 5G networks)  stands at 69.3%, placing it somewhere in the middle tier when compared to some of its selected neighboring countries. Taiwan’s 5G Availability is significantly behind regional leaders, such as Hong Kong at 83.9% and South Korea at 77.1%, but ahead of countries like Singapore at 67.9% and India at 60.5%. Factors such as the timing of commercial launches, spectrum access, and market dynamics, which include affordability and availability of 5G devices, influence each market’s reported 5G Availability.

Taiwan's 5G Availability (%) Compared to Neighboring Countries
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

South Korea and Hong Kong benefited from their early commercialization of 5G, which gave them a significant head start. South Korea, for instance, was the first country globally to launch commercial 5G services in April 2019, and has maintained its high availability through aggressive nationwide deployment strategies. Similarly, Hong Kong’s operators moved quickly after the initial spectrum release, leveraging the city’s compact urban geography and the use of low-band spectrum to deliver near-universal coverage efficiently. 

Strategic deployment and market consolidation drive Taiwan’s 5G Availability

Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and FarEasTone secured significant holdings in the highly sought-after 3.5 GHz C-band during 2020 5G spectrum auction, with Chunghwa acquiring 90 MHz, FarEasTone 80 MHz, and Taiwan Mobile 60 MHz. While all three also won mmWave spectrum in the 28 GHz band, the C-band has emerged as the primary driver of both network performance and availability.

Since the auction, the market has been reshaped by two major mergers: Taiwan Mobile’s acquisition of Taiwan Star and FarEasTone’s acquisition of Asia Pacific Telecom (APT). These mergers have not only reduced the number of main operators from five to three but, more importantly, have led to the aggregation of spectrum, allowing the merged entities to create larger, more efficient bandwidth blocks. Taiwan Mobile’s merger with Taiwan Star enabled the company to combine their respective C-band holdings, forming a single 100 MHz block. Similarly, FarEasTone’s merger doubled its 28 GHz spectrum from 400 MHz to 800 MHz on top of the 80 MHz of the 3.5 GHz band it initially acquired.

Proportion of 5G Spectrum Samples
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

Speedtest Intelligence data from the first half of 2025 highlights that C-band spectrum, a crucial mid-band frequency, accounts for the vast majority—85.5%—of all 5G Speedtest samples collected across Taiwan’s mobile networks. FarEasTone and Chunghwa Telecom showed a heavy reliance on the C-band, with 98.0% and 85.3% of their samples, respectively, originating from C-band. Taiwan Mobile, while still predominantly using C-band (78.6%), shows a more significant proportion of samples from the low-band at 21.1%, compared to its competitors. This reflects Taiwan Mobile’s strategic use of lower frequencies, which became more accessible following its merger with T Star.

Taiwan's Mobile Operators 5G Availability Benchmark
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2024 – 1H 2025

Between the first half of 2024 and the first half of 2025, Taiwan’s 5G Availability for all providers combined increased from 62.1% to 69.3%. All three major operators demonstrated an improvement in 5G Availability. According to Speedtest Intelligence data from the first half of 2025, FarEasTone leads the market with 72.4% 5G Availability, which also saw 6.9 percentage points year-over-year improvement from 65.5% in 1H 2024. Chunghwa Telecom improved its 5G Availability from 63.9% to 69.8%, a gain of 5.9 percentage points while Taiwan Mobile 5G Availability grew from 58.0% to 66.5%, an increase of 8.5 percentage points.

Chunghwa Telecom’s higher speeds indicate performance does not always correlate with network availability

The 5G performance results of Taiwan’s mobile operators show a more pronounced distinction than their 5G Availability scores. Based on Speedtest Intelligence data from the first half of 2025, Chunghwa Telecom held a commanding lead across both download and upload speeds, reaching a median download of 344.25 Mbps. This speed was 31.6% higher than FarEasTone’s and 54.1% higher than Taiwan Mobile’s. Chunghwa also recorded the highest median upload speed at 34.52 Mbps and the lowest multi-server latency at 23 ms.

Taiwan's Mobile Operators 5G Performance Benchmark
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

FarEasTone, while leading in 5G Availability, fell behind Chunghwa in median download and upload speeds, with a reported median speed of 261.17 Mbps and 28.92 Mbps, respectively. This difference clearly indicates that broader 5G Availability does not always translate to the same level of speed performance. Taiwan Mobile, meanwhile, trailed both rivals, with the lowest median download and upload speeds.

Proportion of 5G-capable devices shows opportunities for better adoption

Of all devices taking a Speedtest, only 46.7% were 5G-capable devices that were connected to a 5G network when running a Speedtest. A large portion, 40.1%, were 5G-capable but are yet to be connected to a 5G network, while 13.2% were non-5G devices. This suggests that despite the widespread availability of 5G-capable devices, a substantial percentage of users are either not on a 5G plan or are operating in areas with limited 5G coverage, a key area for operator focus.

Proportion of Devices Taking Speedtest in Taiwan
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

The operators already have a base of consumers who own 5G-capable devices, with varying levels of success in converting 5G-capable devices into active 5G connections. Chunghwa Telecom demonstrates the most effective user adoption strategy, with 88.3% of its customer base owning 5G-capable devices, and 50.6% of its users conducting tests on 5G in 1H 2025. Chunghwa’s performance is further highlighted by its low proportion of non-5G devices at just 11.1%, indicating a more modern device base compared to its rivals. In contrast, both FarEasTone and Taiwan Mobile trail the market in converting 5G-capable devices to active 5G connections. With 45.5% for FarEasTone and 45.0% for Taiwan Mobile, both operators fall below the national average. Additionally, both show a higher proportion of non-5G devices, 14.6% for FarEasTone and 14.8% for Taiwan Mobile, suggesting a potential lag in device modernization.

5G-capable devices still spend most of their connected time on 4G network

Even with a growing number of 5G-capable devices, Taiwan’s mobile users still spend the majority of their time on the 4G network. This trend is consistent across all three major operators. Data from the first half of 2025 shows that for all 5G-capable devices, time spent on 4G is more than double the time spent on 5G.

Proportion of Time Spent on Technology (5G-capable devices)
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

Chunghwa Telecom demonstrates the highest proportion of users spending time on 5G, with 5G-capable devices spending 32.4% of their time on the 5G network. In contrast, both FarEasTone and Taiwan Mobile trail the market, with their 5G-capable devices spending only 27.8% and 27.7% of their time on 5G, respectively. For all operators, the proportion of time spent on 4G is far higher, reaching 66.2% for Chunghwa Telecom and over 70% for both FarEasTone and Taiwan Mobile.

Spectrum choice can also play a big role in shaping the time users spend on a 5G network. Techniques like Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) allow operators to use the same frequency bands for both 4G and 5G simultaneously, facilitating a more rapid and cost-effective rollout of 5G services. Operators should also prioritize densifying their 5G networks by expanding indoor coverage and adding more small cell sites in high-traffic areas. These efforts would reduce the reliance on 4G for stability and a wider range of services, ultimately increasing the time spent on 5G and validating the significant network investments.

We will keep a close eye on the progress and effectiveness of 5G implementation in Taiwan and its regional neighbours. To find out more about Ookla Speedtest data,  get in touch.

從覆蓋到使用：縮短 5G 用戶採用落差

市場整合重塑了台灣的電信市場，剩下的營運商現在必須為下一階段做好準備

台灣的移動電信市場經歷了重大轉型，其特點是市場整合和政府支持的快速 5G 部署。這重塑了競爭格局，從五家電信商的市場轉變為由三大主要營運商主導：中華電信（CHT）、遠傳電信（FET）和台灣大哥大（TWM）。遠傳電信與亞太電信的合併，以及台灣大哥大與台灣之星的合併，重新平衡了市場份額，並使這些營運商能夠利用擴大的頻譜資產，實現更大的規模經濟效益。

主要重點：

  • 從 2024 年上半年到 2025 年上半年，台灣的 5G 可用率從 62.1% 提高到 69.3%。 台灣落後於香港（83.9%）和韓國（77.1%）等區域領先者，但領先於新加坡（67.9%）和印度（60.5%）等國家。商業 5G 網路發布的時間，以及頻譜接入和市場動態的差異，影響了各個市場報告的 5G 可用率。
  • 台灣所有三大主要營運商的 5G 可用率均有所提高，其中遠傳電信以 72.4% 領先，超過中華電信的 69.8% 和台灣大哥大的 66.5%。 從 2024 年上半年到 2025 年上半年，台灣大哥大增幅最大，增加了 8.5 個百分點，其次是遠傳電信增加了 6.9 個百分點，中華電信增加了 5.9 個百分點。
  • 儘管遠傳電信在 5G 可用率方面領先，但中華電信在性能方面擁有顯著優勢。 中華電信的中位下載速度為 344.25 Mbps，比遠傳電信高出 31.6%，比台灣大哥大高出 54.1%。中華電信還記錄了最高的中位上傳速度（34.52 Mbps）和最低的多伺服器延遲（23 毫秒）。
  • 很大一部分具備 5G 功能的設備未使用 5G 網路，有 40.1% 的用戶擁有具備 5G 功能的設備但未連接到 5G。 即使對於那些已連接的用戶，在 4G 上花費的時間也比在 5G 上花費的時間多出一倍以上。這為營運商提供了一個通過網路現代化來增加 5G 連接時間的機會。

台灣 5G 可用率接近 70%，落後於泰國和其他區域領先者

Speedtest Intelligence® 2025 年上半年的數據顯示，台灣的 5G 可用率（使用具備 5G 功能的設備且大部分時間可接入 5G 網路的用戶百分比）為 69.3%，與選定的一些鄰近國家相比，處於中等水平。台灣的 5G 可用率顯著落後於香港（83.9%）和韓國（77.1%）等區域領先者，但領先於新加坡（67.9%）和印度（60.5%）等國家。商業發布時間、頻譜接入以及包括 5G 設備可負擔性和可用性在內的市場動態等因素，影響了各個市場報告的 5G 可用率。

台灣 5G 可用率（%）與鄰近國家比較
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

韓國和香港從其早期的 5G 商業化中受益，獲得了顯著的先發優勢。例如，韓國是全球第一個於 2019 年 4 月推出商業 5G 服務的國家，並通過積極的全國性部署策略保持了高可用率。同樣地，香港的營運商在初始頻譜釋放後迅速行動，利用該城市緊湊的城市地理環境和低頻段頻譜的使用，有效地實現了接近普及的覆蓋。

策略性部署和市場整合推動台灣的 5G 可用率

中華電信、台灣大哥大和遠傳電信在 2020 年的 5G 頻譜拍賣中，獲得了備受追捧的 3.5 GHz C 頻段的大量持有，其中中華電信獲得 90 MHz，遠傳電信獲得 80 MHz，台灣大哥大獲得 60 MHz。雖然這三家營運商也都贏得了 28 GHz 頻段的毫米波 (mmWave) 頻譜，但 C 頻段已成為網路性能和可用率的主要驅動力。

自拍賣以來，市場因兩大合併案而重塑：台灣大哥大收購台灣之星，以及遠傳電信收購亞太電信 (APT)。這些合併不僅將主要營運商的數量從五家減少到三家，更重要的是，它們促成了頻譜的整合，使得合併後的實體能夠創建更大、更高效的頻寬區塊。台灣大哥大與台灣之星的合併使其能夠整合各自的 C 頻段持有，形成一個單一的 100 MHz 區塊。同樣地，遠傳電信的合併使其 28 GHz 頻譜在最初獲得的 3.5 GHz 頻段 80 MHz 基礎上翻倍，從 400 MHz 增加到 800 MHz。

5G 頻譜樣本比例
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

Speedtest Intelligence 2025 年上半年的數據強調，C 頻段頻譜，這個關鍵的中頻段頻率，佔台灣移動網路收集到的所有 5G Speedtest 樣本的絕大多數——85.5%。遠傳電信和中華電信對 C 頻段的依賴性很高，其樣本分別有 98.0% 和 85.3% 來自 C 頻段。台灣大哥大雖然仍以使用 C 頻段為主（78.6%），但來自低頻段的樣本比例（21.1%）比其競爭對手更為顯著。這反映了台灣大哥大對低頻率的策略性使用，這些頻率在其與台灣之星合併後變得更容易取得。

台灣行動網路營運商 5G 可用率基準評測
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2024 – 1H 2025

在 2024 年上半年和 2025 年上半年之間，台灣所有供應商合計的 5G 可用率從 62.1% 增加到 69.3%。所有三家主要營運商的 5G 可用率均有所提升。根據 Speedtest Intelligence 2025 年上半年的數據，遠傳電信以 72.4% 的 5G 可用率領先市場，其年增長率也從 2024 年上半年的 65.5% 提高了 6.9 個百分點。中華電信的 5G 可用率從 63.9% 提高到 69.8%，增加了 5.9 個百分點，而台灣大哥大的 5G 可用率從 58.0% 增長到 66.5%，增加了 8.5 個百分點。

中華電信更高的速度表明性能並不總是與網路可用率相關聯

台灣移動營運商的 5G 性能結果顯示出比其 5G 可用率分數更為顯著的區別。根據 Speedtest Intelligence 2025 年上半年的數據，中華電信在下載和上傳速度方面均保持領先地位，中位下載速度達到 344.25 Mbps。這個速度比遠傳電信高出 31.6%，比台灣大哥大高出 54.1%。中華電信還記錄了最高的中位上傳速度（34.52 Mbps）和最低的多伺服器延遲 23 毫秒.

台灣行動網路營運商 5G 性能基準評測
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

遠傳電信雖然在 5G 可用率方面領先，但在中位下載和上傳速度方面落後於中華電信，報告的中位速度分別為 261.17 Mbps 和 28.92 Mbps。這種差異清楚地表明，更廣泛的 5G 可用率並不總是能轉化為相同水平的速度性能。同時，台灣大哥大落後於這兩個競爭對手，其下載和上傳速度均為最低中位數。

具備 5G 功能的設備比例顯示了更好的採用機會

在所有進行 Speedtest 的設備中，只有 46.7% 是在運行 Speedtest 時連接到 5G 網路的具備 5G 功能的設備。很大一部分（40.1%）是具備 5G 功能但尚未連接到 5G 網路的設備，而 13.2% 是非 5G 設備。這表明，儘管具備 5G 功能的設備已廣泛可用，但仍有很大比例的用戶要么沒有使用 5G 方案，要么在 5G 覆蓋有限的地區運行，這是營運商需要重點關注的領域。

在台灣進行 Speedtest 測試的設備比例
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

營運商已經擁有一批擁有具備 5G 功能設備的用戶群，但在將具備 5G 功能的設備轉化為活躍的 5G 連接方面，成功程度各不相同。中華電信展示了最有效的用戶採用策略，其客戶群中有 88.3% 擁有具備 5G 功能的設備，且在 2025 年上半年有 50.6% 的用戶在 5G 網路上進行測試。中華電信的表現進一步突出在其非 5G 設備比例較低，僅為 11.1%，這表明與競爭對手相比，其設備基礎更為現代化。相比之下，遠傳電信和台灣大哥大在將具備 5G 功能的設備轉化為活躍 5G 連接方面均落後於市場。遠傳電信為 45.5%，台灣大哥大為 45.0%，兩家營運商均低於全國平均水平。此外，兩家公司的非 5G 設備比例也較高，遠傳電信為 14.6%，台灣大哥大為 14.8%，這表明設備現代化可能存在滯後。

具備 5G 功能的設備仍將大部分連線時間花費在 4G 網路上

即使具備 5G 功能的設備數量不斷增加，台灣的行動用戶仍將大部分時間花費在 4G 網路上。這一趨勢在所有三家主要營運商中都是一致的。2025 年上半年的數據顯示，對於所有具備 5G 功能的設備，花費在 4G 上的時間是花費在 5G 上的時間的兩倍以上.

技術使用時間比例（具備 5G 功能的設備）
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2025

In 中華電信展示了用戶花費在 5G 上時間的最高比例，具備 5G 功能的設備將 32.4% 的時間花費在 5G 網路上。相比之下，遠傳電信和台灣大哥大都落後於市場，他們具備 5G 功能的設備花費在 5G 上的時間分別只有 27.8% 和 27.7%。對於所有營運商來說，花費在 4G 上的時間比例要高得多，中華電信達到 66.2%，遠傳電信和台灣大哥大都超過 70%。

頻譜選擇在決定用戶花費在 5G 網路上的時間方面也可以發揮重要作用。動態頻譜共享 (DSS) 等技術允許營運商同時將相同的頻段用於 4G 和 5G，從而有助於更快、更具成本效益地推出 5G 服務。營運商還應優先通過擴展室內覆蓋範圍和在高流量區域增加更多小型基地台來加密其 5G 網路。這些努力將減少對 4G 的穩定性和更廣泛服務的依賴，最終增加花費在 5G 上的時間，並驗證重大的網路投資。

我們將繼續密切關注台灣及其區域鄰國 5G 實施的進展和有效性。要了解更多關於 Ookla Speedtest 數據的資訊，請聯繫我們.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

5G

About the author

Affandy Johan

Affandy Johan is the Industry Analyst at Ookla Research. He utilizes Ookla's data to develop insightful analyses covering various factors and aspects impacting the market. Affandy has extensive experience in the telecom industry, having worked for major vendors and operators in the Asia Pacific region.

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Ookla Research™ Articles
| August 12, 2025

Indonesia's digital divide narrows with mobile network performance gains

Indonesia’s mobile network performance is undergoing significant improvement, a crucial development for a country with 280 million people. Its vast geography, an archipelago of roughly 19,000 islands, makes mobile connectivity the primary way for people to access the internet. Mobile carriers are thus at the forefront of efforts to bridge the digital divide. This article examines the efforts of KOMINFO and mobile operators to address this connectivity gap.

Key Takeaways

  • Nationwide performance is improving equitably, especially for rural and remote communities. Speedtest Intelligence® data shows nationwide median download speeds increased from 17.54 Mbps to 30.5 Mbps from Q2 2022 to Q2 2025. Critically, this progress is also reflected in the lower 10th percentile, where download speeds more than doubled from 2.66 Mbps to 5.69 Mbps.
  • Overall regional performance gains show nationwide progress beyond major urban regions. Data from 1H 2022 to 1H 2025 shows a rise in median speeds across all regions of Indonesia. This progress is not limited to top performers like Jakarta and Bali. North Maluku, the lowest-performing region, saw speeds increase substantially from 13.39 Mbps to 20.49 Mbps. This broad-based improvement underscores a concerted effort to enhance network performance across the entire archipelago 
  • The 5G rollout is strategic and targeted, contrasting with widespread 4G Availability. While 4G availability now exceeds 90% across all islands , the deployment of 5G is progressing at a more gradual and fragmented pace. 5G availability remains low, with Bali & Nusa Tenggara as a notable outlier at 17%. This strategic, urban-focused approach is a direct result of key challenges such as limited mid-band spectrum and the high cost of infrastructure.

Regulatory action and partnerships drive Indonesia’s mobile network expansion

The projected growth of Indonesia’s digital economy, with estimates reaching  USD 2.8 trillion by 2040, underscores the importance of the telecommunications sector. The sector is recognized as a key enabler of national economic transformation, moving beyond its traditional role as a utility provider. The regulatory body Kementerian Komunikasi dan Digital (KOMDIGI) is spearheading Indonesia’s efforts to bridge the digital divide through a comprehensive strategy outlined in the Digital Indonesia Roadmap 2021-2024. This plan prioritizes infrastructure development and collaborations with mobile operators to extend internet access across the entire archipelago, including remote regions.

A central element of KOMDIGI’s approach is the Universal Service Obligation (USO) fund, managed by the Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI). This fund, financed by operator contributions, facilitates infrastructure projects in underserved areas. BAKTI has overseen significant initiatives like the Palapa Ring national fiber optic network and the SATRIA-1 satellite, which delivers internet to public facilities. Recently, the ministry announced the completion of 6,672 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), further expanding 4G connectivity in remote locations.

Network performance gains in Indonesia confirm progress is reaching rural communities

Speedtest Intelligence® data from Q2 2022 to Q2 2025, show nationwide median download speed increased from 17.54 Mbps to 30.5 Mbps. During the same period, the median upload speed also improved from 10.32 Mbps to 13.93 Mbps. These gains demonstrate a sustained commitment to upgrading networks nationwide.

Indonesia's Mobile Network Performance (All Technologies Combined) See Steady Improvement
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q2 2022 – Q2 2025

While median speeds offer a glimpse into a network’s overall capability, examining the performance of the lower 10th percentile – those experiencing the worst 10% of performance samples – provides critical insights into minimum user speeds, representing performance for users with the worst connections, often in less-developed areas. Download speeds for this group increased from 2.66 Mbps to 5.69 Mbps, while upload speeds rose from 1.41 Mbps to 2.0 Mbps. This improvement is particularly significant given Indonesia’s demographics, as 41% of the population resided in rural areas in 2024, according to World Bank data. The consistent gains in the bottom percentile indicate that network enhancements are reaching these rural communities, thereby reducing the connectivity disparity.

Mobile network gains span all regions, bridging geographic divides

A detailed look at Speedtest Intelligence data from 1H 2022 to 1H 2025 confirms a nationwide increase in mobile speeds, with every single region of Indonesia experiencing a rise in median download speeds. While major regions such as Jakarta and Bali recorded the highest speeds, the progress was not limited to top performers. Jakarta reached a median download speed of 41.42 Mbps, an increase of 21.69 Mbps from its 1H 2022 speed of 19.79 Mbps. Bali’s median speed reached 41.31 Mbps, marking a gain of 16.80 Mbps during the same period. For instance, North Maluku, which recorded the lowest median speed in 1H 2022, still saw its median download speed rise substantially from 13.39 Mbps to 20.49 Mbps. This broad-based improvement underscores a concerted effort to enhance network performance across the entire archipelago.

All Regions in Indonesia Experience Faster Mobile Speeds (All Technologies Combined)
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2022 and 1H 2025

Crucially, this progress is also reflected in the performance of the lowest-performing connections. The data for the lower 10th percentile download speed reveals significant gains, particularly in regions with lower overall speeds. For example, Gorontalo’s lower 10th percentile speed more than tripled, rising from 3.18 Mbps to 9.31 Mbps. The Bangka Belitung Islands also saw a significant jump, with speeds rising from 3.18 Mbps to 7.91 Mbps. These gains are particularly significant as both provinces, along with other improving regions like Papua and North Maluku, are more remote and geographically challenging than major metropolitan regions. The strong improvements in these areas are an indicator that network expansion is effectively targeting and narrowing the digital divide, ensuring that even the most difficult-to-reach communities benefit from Indonesia’s digital evolution.

Regional Lower 10th Percentile Download Speeds (Mbps) Shows Overall Improvement
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2022 and 1H 2025

4G Availability in Indonesia exceeds 90% across all islands

The expansion of mobile speeds is underpinned by a significant increase in 4G Availability across Indonesia’s major islands and island groups. Speedtest Intelligence data from 1H 2023 to 1H 2025 reveals that 4G Availability has improved in every single region. This indicates a concerted effort to ensure that a greater proportion of users can access 4G technology, which is a critical prerequisite for achieving the higher mobile speeds observed across the country and a key enabler for nationwide internet access, particularly since 98.7% of Indonesia’s internet users rely on a mobile devices to get online.

4G Availability (%) Trend Across Indonesia's Major Islands
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2023 and 1H 2025

Java island reported the highest availability at 96.4% in 1H 2025, closely followed by Bali & Nusa Tenggara with 95.2%. What is particularly significant is that even regions with historically lower availability, such as Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Kalimantan, have all surpassed the 90% threshold. For example, Sulawesi’s 4G availability rose from 85.8% to 92.1% during this period, while Maluku & North Maluku reached 90.1% by 1H 2025. This broad-based improvement is critical for ensuring equitable access to digital services.

The escalation in 4G availability is a direct result of strategic government initiatives and robust public-private partnerships. KOMDIGI has focused on expanding network infrastructure in remote and underserved areas, often referred to as 3T regions. This includes projects to build Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in locations where commercial operators might not find it economically viable. Simultaneously, major carriers like Telkomsel have made significant investments in their own network expansion programs, strategically targeting these same remote areas to align with and build upon the government’s efforts. This collaborative approach has been a key factor in bridging the digital gap and ensuring that the gains in mobile speed are accessible to a wider population.

Gradual 5G progress reflects a strategic, urban-focused rollout

While Indonesia’s mobile networks have made substantial progress in 4G performance and availability, the development of 5G technology has been more gradual and strategic. Data from 1H 2023 to 1H 2025 illustrates this trend, showing a significant disparity in 5G Availability across the archipelago. The overall availability remains low in all regions, reflecting a highly targeted approach to deployment.

5G Availability (%) Trend Across Indonesia's Major Islands
Speedtest Intelligence® | 1H 2023 and 1H 2025

The data shows Bali & Nusa Tenggara as a clear outlier, with 5G Availability surging from 4.4% in 1H 2024 to 17% in 1H 2025. This rapid increase reflects a concentrated rollout in key tourism and business areas. In contrast, major islands like Java and Sumatra show more modest growth, with Java reaching 6.5% and Sumatra at 4.8%. Meanwhile, availability in regions such as Kalimantan, Maluku & North Maluku, and Papua & Western New Guinea remains in the low single digits, confirming that deployment has yet to extend to many parts of the country.

A key challenge to widespread 5G has been the limited mid-band spectrum, which is essential for strong 5G performance. Current 5G spectrum utilization is limited to the 1.8 GHz, 2.1 GHz, and 2.3 GHz bands. This challenge is compounded by the high cost of new 5G infrastructure and the continued strength of existing 4G networks. As a result, operators have adopted a strategic, phased deployment that focuses on urban areas with high populations and proven demand.

Indonesia’s major operators have each taken a targeted approach to 5G. Telkomsel, for instance, has established a leading presence by deploying over 2,100 5G sites across 56 cities, with a focus on key urban and industrial centers. Similarly, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has expanded its 5G services to more cities, leveraging network sharing to accelerate deployment. This collective, urban-focused strategy is positioning the technology for future growth as more spectrum becomes available and consumer demand increases

Indonesia’s telecommunications sector is on a trajectory of significant transformation. The ongoing market consolidation, coupled with strategic government interventions and a pragmatic approach to infrastructure deployment, is setting the stage for a more robust and inclusive digital future. We will continue to monitor the expansion of mobile networks in Indonesia  and its regional neighbours. If you are interested in Ookla’s solutions and services for network intelligence and management, get in touch.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the author

Affandy Johan

Affandy Johan is the Industry Analyst at Ookla Research. He utilizes Ookla's data to develop insightful analyses covering various factors and aspects impacting the market. Affandy has extensive experience in the telecom industry, having worked for major vendors and operators in the Asia Pacific region.

More Articles

Ookla Research™ Articles
| August 7, 2025

Hong Kong gets game-ready as 5G performance evolves across major stadiums

Hong Kong is gearing up to play a role in the upcoming  2025 National Games of the People’s Republic of China. The event which occurs every four years is expected to attract tens of thousands of attendees, rigorously testing mobile infrastructure and offering ideal real-world environments for evaluating 5G network performance.

This report examines the 5G network performance and user experience across four key venues: Kai Tak Stadium, Hung Hom Stadium, Victoria Park, and Victoria Harbour with the Central Waterfront. These venues are not merely backdrops; they are dynamic arenas where seamless connectivity will be paramount for athletes, officials, media, and spectators alike. Fanling Golf Course and Tseung Kwan O Cycling Stadium, while host venues, were not included in this analysis.

Key Takeaways

  • Kai Tak Stadium boasts superior 5G coverage, averaging better than -75 dBm RSRP. This establishes it as Hong Kong’s leading venue for high-density mobile usage, with csl and Hutchison HK reporting particularly strong 5G signal strength of -71.27 dBm and -72.3 dBm, respectively. Kai Tak also reported good user experiences; for instance, web page loads consistently occur under one second, with SmarTone achieving 0.85 seconds, and low instant messaging response times are common, with csl reporting 12.10 milliseconds.
  • While Hong Kong’s 5G networks at these venues delivered remarkable peak download speeds—China Mobile at Hung Hom Stadium reached up to 884.61 Mbps—a substantial performance gap persists, with some users experiencing speeds as low as 2 Mbps. This wide disparity highlights a critical challenge for operators: ensuring consistent and reliable network quality for all users, particularly as attendance swells for the 2025 National Games.
  • Hong Kong’s key stadiums reported good mobile quality of experience for visitors, with many exceeding national benchmarks from the first half of 2025. Kai Tak Stadium stands out with strong performance that surpasses Hong Kong’s national medians of 1.21 seconds for web page load and 23.44 milliseconds for IM latency. For example, SmarTone delivered a 0.85-second web page load time and csl reported a 12.10-millisecond instant messaging latency.

The new Kai Tak Stadium stands out with the strongest 5G coverage among all major venues

Using data from Speedtest Insights™, collected in the first half (1H) of 2025, we evaluated 5G experience at each venue by measuring the average Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ). RSRP represents the network signal strength received by a mobile phone. An RSRP value stronger than -80 dBm indicates superior coverage. Measurements between -80 dBm and -90 dBm represent good coverage, while those from -90 dBm to -100 dBm are considered fair coverage. Below this range, expect slower download speeds and potential network disconnections. RSRQ is a metric used to evaluate the quality of the reference signal received by a device. A value of -10 dB or higher indicates excellent network quality while a value between -10 dB and -15 dB is considered good. An RSRQ value lower than -15 dB is poor or indicates no signal at all.

Mobile Operators Average 5G Signal Strength At Selected Stadiums
Speedtest Insights™ | 1H 2025

Kai Tak Stadium stands out with the strongest and most consistent 5G signal strength across all major operators. Opened on March 1, 2025, Kai Tak Stadium is Hong Kong’s largest sports infrastructure project and has already hosted numerous local and international events and concerts, drawing over 50,000 attendees. Signal strength (RSRP) at the stadium averages better than -75 dBm, with operators like csl and Hutchison HK reporting particularly strong values of -71.27 dBm and -72.3 dBm respectively. This clearly shows their significant investment in this new flagship venue, likely tied to Kai Tak’s role as a centerpiece of the Games.

Map of Mobile Operator 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot at Kai Tak Stadium - cslg | Speedtest Insights | 1H 2025
Map of Mobile Operator 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot at Kai Tak Stadium - Hutchison HK | Speedtest Insights | 1H 2025
Map of Mobile Operator 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot at Kai Tak Stadium - China Mobile Hong Kong | Speedtest Insights | 1H 2025
Map of Mobile Operator 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot at Kai Tak Stadium - Smartone | Speedtest Insights | 1H 2025

While Kai Tak Stadium reported good RSRP values, its RSRQ values are comparatively lower than other venues, with all operators reporting values below -12 dB. This suggests increased network interference or load during peak usage. Although excellent coverage is established, network quality may degrade under peak crowd pressure, indicating that further optimization is needed to ensure a consistently high-quality user experience. Among the operators, csl and China Mobile Hong Kong reported the best RSRQ values at -12.37 dB and -12.4 dB, respectively.

Mobile Operators Average 5G Signal Quality At Selected Stadiums
Speedtest Insights™ | 1H 2025

In contrast, Hung Hom Stadium, one of the older venues analyzed, recorded the weakest 5G signal strength overall, with average RSRP values ranging from -81 dBm to -85 dBm. However, it delivered relatively good signal quality. Specifically, Hutchison HK and China Mobile Hong Kong reported strong RSRQ values of -11.06 dB and -11.35 dB, respectively. This indicates that while the radio signal is weaker, the level of interference and network contention is lower. This may be due to reduced user density or lower active usage compared to newer, high-profile venues like Kai Tak.

Other key venues, including Victoria Harbour and Central Waterfront and Victoria Park, show mixed results. These areas have long hosted major festivals and public events, and operators have previously deployed mobile cells to handle surges. Similar moves are expected for the Games.

Top-end 5G download speeds exceed 800 Mbps while lower-end results drop below 10 Mbps

Analysis of  Speedtest Intelligence® data across the four venues reveals strong overall performance with clear differences between operators and locations. While all venues demonstrated usable 5G speeds, users at the lower end of the measured speeds (the lower 10th percentile) experienced significantly slower performance, which varied heavily depending on the operator.

Chart of Operator 5G Performance - Upper 10% Download Speed Across Selected Venues in Hong Kong | Speedtest Intelligence | 1H 2025

At the top end, users experienced excellent performance. China Mobile Hong Kong stood out with speeds exceeding 880 Mbps at Hung Hom and 777 Mbps at Kai Tak. csl and SmarTone followed with top-tier speeds ranging from 326 Mbps to over 680 Mbps. The wide gap between the top and bottom users underlines a key challenge: ensuring consistent quality across the full range of network conditions. 

While peak and median speeds offer a glimpse into a network’s overall capability, examining the lower 10th percentile of download performance provides critical insights into minimum user speeds, especially under less optimal conditions like cell edge or moderate congestion. Across the four key venues, the lower 10th percentile download speeds ranged significantly, from 2.00 Mbps to 140.32 Mbps. This wide variance indicates that while networks are robust on average, pockets of weaker performance can still impact user experience, especially for data-intensive applications like HD streaming or video calls. While this baseline generally supports basic activities like web Browse, messaging, and standard-definition video for most operators, the stark differences across operators and locations underscore the importance of understanding these minimum guarantees.

Chart of Operator 5G Performance - Lower 10% Download Speed Across Selected Venues in Hong Kong | Speedtest Intelligence | 1H 2025

SmarTone demonstrated strong low-percentile performance, leading at Hung Hom Stadium with 94.49 Mbps, Kai Tak Stadium with 97.57 Mbps, and Victoria Harbour and the Central Waterfront with 54.41 Mbps. China Mobile Hong Kong exhibited good low-percentile performance at Victoria Park, recording a speed of 140.32 Mbps. Conversely, csl’s 2.00 Mbps at Hung Hom Stadium indicates an area for significant improvement in minimum speed delivery.

Overall, the data shows that while Hong Kong’s 5G infrastructure can deliver excellent speeds, the range between the slowest and fastest measurements remains wide. This suggests that improving performance consistency is key to ensuring a better experience for all users, especially as networks prepare to support dense crowds and high traffic during the 2025 National Games.

Kai Tak Stadium leads the way in 5G web load time and low-latency messaging

Consumer QoE™ data from the first half of 2025 was analyzed to examine web page load times and instant messaging latency across the four venues. These measurements represent consumers’ actual experiences using the internet and sharing messages and media. They also indicate how effectively operators support everyday applications in high-traffic environments. The data shows that mobile web page load time and instant messaging at Hong Kong’s selected major event venues presents a varied performance landscape when compared against the national median data from the first half of 2025. The national median web page load time for 1H 2025 is 1.21 seconds, and instant messaging latency is 23.44 ms.

Median Web Page Load Time Over 5G (seconds) Across Selected Venues
Consumer QoE™ | 1H 2025

Web browsing performance varied across venues, with Kai Tak Stadium again ranking best, as all operators delivered web page load times below one second. SmarTone’s performance of 0.85 seconds and China Mobile Hong Kong’s 0.89 seconds both surpassed the national median of 1.21 seconds. This aligns with observations of Kai Tak’s infrastructure and optimized 5G deployments. At other venues, many web page load times also remained below the national median. For example, China Mobile Hong Kong recorded 1.00 seconds at Victoria Harbour and Central Waterfront, and 0.95 seconds at Victoria Park, all faster than the national median. However, Hutchison HK recorded 1.44 seconds at Victoria Park and 1.43 seconds at Hung Hom Stadium, indicating areas for potential optimization to align with the national median at these specific locations.

Median Instant Messaging (Whatsapp) Latency Over 5G (ms) Across Selected Venues
Consumer QoE™ | 1H 2025

Instant messaging latency across the stadiums generally falls within the national median of 23.44 ms, with some venues demonstrating significantly faster response times. Kai Tak again led the way, with all operators delivering WhatsApp response times below 17 ms. csl reported 12.10 ms at Kai Tak, while SmarTone and Hutchison HK both recorded 13 ms. At other venues, a range of latencies was observed. For example, csl at Hung Hom Stadium recorded 19.40 ms, Hutchison HK at Victoria Harbour/Central Waterfront recorded 18.40 ms, and SmarTone at Hung Hom Stadium recorded 21.60 ms. These results remain within or below the national median. However, some specific instances, such as SmarTone recording 25.40 milliseconds at Victoria Park and China Mobile Hong Kong recording 25.60 milliseconds at Central Waterfront, above the national median.

​​The data reinforces that strong 5G performance requires more than just high speeds. Responsive browsing and low-latency messaging are just as critical, especially in stadiums and public venues where users expect instant access and uninterrupted communication. To meet rising expectations during large-scale events like the 2025 National Games, operators will need to maintain focus on end-to-end quality—not just coverage and speed, but also responsiveness and reliability.

We will continue to track 5G performance and user experience across major venues in Hong Kong and upcoming major events. For more insights into Ookla’s network intelligence and experience benchmarking solutions, please contact us.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the author

Affandy Johan

Affandy Johan is the Industry Analyst at Ookla Research. He utilizes Ookla's data to develop insightful analyses covering various factors and aspects impacting the market. Affandy has extensive experience in the telecom industry, having worked for major vendors and operators in the Asia Pacific region.

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Ookla Research™ Articles
| July 6, 2025

Benchmarking Visitor Connectivity Experience At Expo 2025 Osaka

5G
日本語

Held every five years, the World’s Fair—also known as the World Exposition—is a major international event hosted in different cities. Osaka, Japan, was selected as the host city for World Expo 2025. The event, officially known as Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, is scheduled to run from April 13 to October 13, 2025, and is located on the man-made Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay. The organizers anticipate around 28.2 million attendees during the event’s six-month duration.

The success of the Expo’s experiences hinges critically on robust and advanced mobile performance and connectivity. This analysis evaluates 5G coverage and performance, using data collected between the opening day of the Japan Expo 2025, which was April 13, up till June 6, 2025.

Key Takeaways

  • SoftBank and NTT DoCoMo delivered the strongest 5G signal strength, while all four operators showed similar signal quality levels. SoftBank and DoCoMo recorded mean RSRP values around –83 dBm, indicating good 5G coverage across the venue. Rakuten Mobile and au trailed with weaker signal strength, although RSRQ results across all networks clustered between –12.58 dB and –13.01 dB.
  • au led all operators in 5G download speed at Expo 2025, with a median of 384.68 Mbps, followed by DoCoMo and SoftBank. Speedtest® data shows a clear gap between operators, especially in the lower 10th percentile, where au maintained strong throughput while Rakuten’s performance dropped significantly. 
  • Expo 2025’s public Wi-Fi fell far behind 5G in download performance, highlighting the complementary roles of both networks. Visitors who are able to access the public Wi-Fi experienced median download speeds of 66.94 Mbps, compared to 5G’s combined median download of 305.63 Mbps.

SoftBank and DoCoMo Reported Stronger 5G Signal Strength At Expo 2025

To meet the demands of the event, major Japanese operators have reportedly deployed additional 5G base stations in and around Yumeshima Island. Despite these deployments, the Expo encountered initial wireless network outages on its opening day, leading to operational disruptions. This highlighted the inherent complexities of managing high-density network traffic in a dynamic, large-scale event. 

Using data from Speedtest Insights™, collected from April 13 to June 6, 2025, we evaluated the Expo visitor’s 5G experience by measuring the average Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ). RSRP represents the network signal strength received by a mobile phone. An RSRP value stronger than -80 dBm indicates superior coverage. Measurements between -80 dBm and -90 dBm represent good coverage, while those from -90 dBm to -100 dBm are considered fair coverage. Below this range, expect slower download speeds and potential network disconnections. RSRQ is a metric used to evaluate the quality of the reference signal received by a device. A value of -10 dB or higher indicates excellent network quality while a value between -10 dB and -15 dB is considered good. An RSRQ value lower than -15 dB is poor or indicates no signal at all.

The 5G signal strength comparison between mobile operators is depicted in the plots below. Softbank and NTT Docomo exhibit good to excellent 5G coverage in most locations, at -90 dBm or better. In contrast, within the Expo area, Rakuten and au show a significant portion with 5G signal strength of -90 dBm or lower, indicated by the prevalence of light green and orange tiles.

Map of Mobile Operator 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot at Expo 2025 Osaka - SoftBank
Map of Mobile Operator 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot at Expo 2025 Osaka - NTT DoCoMo
Map of Mobile Operator 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot at Expo 2025 Osaka - Rakuten Mobile
Map of Mobile Operator 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot at Expo 2025 Osaka - au

The data shows that SoftBank and NTT DoCoMo demonstrated good coverage, exhibiting nearly identical average 5G signal strength. SoftBank reported a mean RSRP of -83.52 dBm, while NTT DoCoMo followed closely with -83.74 dBm. Rakuten Mobile and au, on the other hand, showed slightly weaker average 5G signal strength. Rakuten reported a mean RSRP of -92.62 dBm, and au recorded the lowest signal strength with a mean RSRP of –93.60 dBm, indicating a more limited signal reach or reduced performance in indoor or congested areas.

Expo 2025 Osaka, Operators 5G Signal Strength
Speedtest Insights™ |  April 13 – June 6, 2025

Expo 2025 Osaka, Operators 5G Signal Quality
Speedtest Insights™ |  April 13 – June 6, 2025

In terms of signal quality, the gap between operators was much narrower. Rakuten Mobile reported an average RSRQ of -12.58 dB, followed by SoftBank at -12.63 dB, au at -12.90 dB, and NTT DoCoMo at -13.01 dB. All four operators reported values within a tight range, suggesting similar levels of network load and interference.

5G Speed Performance at Expo 2025 Shows Clear Gaps Between Operators

Based on Speedtest Intelligence® data collected from April 13 to June 6, 2025, au delivered the fastest 5G performance among Japan’s major operators during the Expo period. The operator recorded a median download speed of 384.68 Mbps, with the bottom 10 percent of users still achieving 354.34 Mbps, while the top-performing 10 percent reached 411.94 Mbps. This consistency across all user percentiles reflects strong network capacity and a well-optimized 5G deployment across the event site.

Chart of Mobile Operator Median 5G Download Performance at Expo 2025 Osaka
Chart of Mobile Operator Median 5G Upload Performance at Expo 2025 Osaka

NTT DoCoMo followed with a median download speed of 320.07 Mbps. DoCoMo still maintained solid performance, with the lower 10 percent of speeds at 261.74 Mbps and the top 10 percent reaching 379.94 Mbps. SoftBank trailed further behind, recording a median of 270.98 Mbps. Rakuten Mobile showed the slowest 5G performance, with a median download speed of just 200.96 Mbps. The lower 10 percent of users recorded only 149.58 Mbps, and even the top 10 percent capped at 219.30 Mbps. Upload performance results followed a similar trend. SoftBank reported the highest median upload speed at 37.45 Mbps, closely followed by au at 36.36 Mbps. NTT DoCoMo and Rakuten Mobile recorded considerably lower uploads at 21.78 Mbps and 18.43 Mbps, respectively.

Initial Wi-Fi Network Strain Underscored the Need for Robust Mobile Access

On the opening day of the Expo, visitors reported several connectivity issues, including limited Wi-Fi availability, authentication problems, and unstable access during peak traffic periods. The Expo organizing committee acknowledged the disruptions and stated that backup systems and additional bandwidth were deployed within the first 48 hours. By April 15, several access points were reconfigured, and temporary signal boosters were installed in high-traffic zones to stabilize the Wi-Fi network.

Using Speedtest Insights data, we analyzed the Wi-Fi performance based on the public SSID meant for visitors to the expo to access. Based on the data, the public Wi-Fi network delivered a median download speed of 66.94. This speed was sufficient for general browsing, messaging, social media use, and video calls. However, they were significantly lower than the median speeds offered by 5G mobile networks throughout the event period. For comparison, 5G speed for all operators combined recorded a median download speed of 305.63 Mbps, 4.5 times faster than the public Wi-Fi benchmark.

Expo 2025 Osaka, Wi-Fi Vs. 5G Performance
Speedtest Intelligence® | April 13 – June 6, 2025

While 5G networks led in median download speeds, public Wi-Fi provided faster upload speeds during the same period. Data collected from April 13 to June 6 shows that Expo’s public Wi-Fi delivered a median upload speed of 43.82 Mbps. In contrast, the combined median upload speed across all 5G mobile operators was 29.74 Mbps.

The comparison highlights a broader trend seen at large-scale events: while public Wi-Fi offers convenience in areas where access is available, it remained supplementary rather than primary for high-bandwidth tasks. The bandwidth and throughput of 5G networks provided more stable and higher-speed alternatives for most visitors.

The early issues at Expo 2025 highlighted the inherent complexities of managing high-density network traffic. Please contact us to learn how Ookla® can help you determine if your network is prepared for the massive crowds that accompany a marquee event, and analyze how your network performs both indoors and out, down to the building level.

Expo 2025 Osakaでの来場者のコネクティビティ体験のベンチマーキング

5年ごとに開催される 万国博覧会は、さまざまな都市で開催される主要な国際イベントです。 2025年の万国博覧会開催都市には大阪市が選出されました。正式名称はExpo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japanであり、大阪湾にある人工島の夢島で2025年4月13日から10月13日まで開催されます。 主催者は、イベントの6か月間で約2,820万人の参加者を見込んでいます。

Expoの体験の成功は、堅牢で高度なモバイルパフォーマンスと接続性に大きく依存しています。 この分析では、Japan Expo 2025の開幕日である4月13日から2025年6月6日までの間に収集されたデータを使用して、5Gのカバレッジとパフォーマンスを評価します。

重要なポイント

  • ソフトバンクとNTTドコモは最も強い5G信号強度を提供し、4つのオペレーターすべてが同様の信号品質レベルを示しました。 ソフトバンクとドコモは、平均RSRP値を約-83dBmと記録し、会場全体で5Gのカバレッジが良好であることを示しています。 楽天モバイルとauは信号強度が弱く後塵を拝しましたが、すべてのネットワークでRSRQの結果は-12.58dBから-13.01dBの間でクラスター化されました。
  • Expo 2025での5Gダウンロード速度はauが中央値384.68Mbpsで全事業者をリードし、ドコモとソフトバンクがそれに続きました。 Speedtest®のデータによると、オペレーター間の明確なギャップ、特に10パーセンタイル下位では、auが強力なスループットを維持し、楽天のパフォーマンスが大幅に低下しました。 
  • Expo 2025の公共Wi-Fiは、ダウンロード性能で5Gに大きく遅れをとっており、両ネットワークの補完的な役割が浮き彫りになりました。 公共Wi-Fiにアクセスできる訪問者の場合、ダウンロード速度の中央値が66.94Mbpsでした。これに対して、5Gの複合ダウンロード速度の中央値は305.63Mbpsでした。

ソフトバンクとドコモは、2025年万博で5Gの信号強度は強いと報告しています

このイベントの要求を満たすために、日本の大手通信事業者は、夢島とその周辺に追加の5G基地局を配備したと報じられています。 このような展開にもかかわらず、Expoは開幕日に最初の無線ネットワーク障害に遭遇し、運用の中断につながりました。 このことは、ダイナミックで大規模なイベントで高密度ネットワークトラフィックを管理することの本質的な複雑さを浮き彫りにしました。 

2025年4月13日から6月6日までに収集された Speedtest Insights™ のデータを使用して、平均基準信号受信電力 (RSRP) と基準信号受信品質 (RSRQ) を測定することにより、博覧会の訪問者の5Gエクスペリエンスを評価しました。 RSRPは、携帯電話が受信するネットワーク信号強度を表します。 RSRP値が -80 dBmより強い場合は、カバレッジが優れていることを示します。 -80 dBmから -90 dBmまでの測定値は良好なカバレッジを表し、-90 dBmから -100 dBmまでの測定値は適切なカバレッジと見なされます。 この範囲を下回ると、ダウンロード速度が遅くなり、ネットワークが切断される可能性があります。 RSRQは、デバイスが受信した基準信号の品質を評価するために使用されるメトリックです。 -10 dB以上の値は優れたネットワーク品質を示し、-10 dBから -15 dBの値は良好と見なされます。 RSRQ値が -15 dB未満の場合、信号品質が悪いか、信号がまったくないことを意味します。

モバイル事業者間の5G信号強度の比較は、以下のプロットに示されています。 ソフトバンクとNTTドコモでは、ほとんどの場所で-90 dBm以上と、5Gのカバレッジが良好～優秀であることが示されています。 一方、博覧会エリア内では、楽天とauの5G信号強度が多くの領域で-90 dBm以下であり、ライトグリーンとオレンジのタイルが多くなっています。

Map of Mobile Operator 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot at Expo 2025 Osaka - Softbank
Map of Mobile Operator 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot at Expo 2025 Osaka - NTT DoCoMo
Map of Mobile Operator 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot at Expo 2025 Osaka - Rakuten Mobile
Map of Mobile Operator 5G Signal Strength (dBm) Plot at Expo 2025 Osaka - au

データによると、ソフトバンクとNTTドコモは良好なカバレッジを示し、5Gの平均信号強度はほぼ同じでした。 ソフトバンクの平均RSRPは-83.52dBmと報告され、NTTドコモは-83.74dBmと僅差で続きました。 一方、楽天モバイルとauは、5Gの平均信号強度がわずかに弱くなっています。 楽天の平均RSRPは-92.62dBm、auは平均RSRPが-93.60dBmと最も低い信号強度を記録し、屋内または混雑したエリアでの信号到達範囲が限定的であるか、パフォーマンスが低下していることを示しています。

2025年大阪国際博覧会、通信事業者5Gの平均RSRP(dBm)
Speedtest Insights™ | 2025年4月13日 – 6月6日

2025年大阪万博、オペレーター5G平均RSRQ(dB)
2025年4月13日〜6月6日

信号品質に関しては、オペレーター間のギャップははるかに狭かった。 楽天モバイルの平均RSRQは-12.58dB、次いでSoftBankが-12.63dB、auが-12.90dB、NTTドコモが-13.01dBでした。 4つのオペレーターはすべて、狭い範囲内の値を報告しており、ネットワーク負荷と干渉のレベルがほぼ同じであることを示唆しています。

Expo 2025での5Gスピードパフォーマンスは、オペレーター間の明確なギャップを示しています

2025年4月13日から6月6日までに収集 Speedtest Intelligence® データに基づくと、auは万博期間中、日本の主要通信事業者の中で最速の5Gパフォーマンスを達成しました。 このオペレーターは、ダウンロード速度の中央値384.68 Mbpsを記録し、下位10%のユーザーは引き続き354.34 Mbpsを達成し、上位10%は411.94 Mbpsに達しました。 すべてのユーザーパーセンタイルでこの一貫性は、強力なネットワーク容量と、イベントサイト全体での5G展開が最適化されていることを反映しています。

Chart of Mobile Operator Median 5G Download Performance at Expo 2025 Osaka
Chart of Mobile Operator Median 5G Upload Performance at Expo 2025 Osaka

NTTドコモは、ダウンロード速度の中央値が320.07 Mbpsでした。 DoCoMoは依然として堅調なパフォーマンスを維持し、下位10%の速度は261.74 Mbps、上位10%の速度は379.94 Mbpsに達しました。 SoftBankはさらに遅れをとり、中央値は270.98 Mbpsを記録しました。 楽天モバイルは5Gのパフォーマンスが最も遅く、ダウンロード速度の中央値はわずか200.96Mbpsでした。 下位10% のユーザーでは149.58 Mbpsしか記録されておらず、上位10% でも219.30 Mbpsが上限となっています。 アップロードのパフォーマンス結果も同様の傾向をたどりました。 SoftBankは、アップロード速度の中央値が37.45 Mbpsと最も高く、auが36.36 Mbpsと僅差で続きました。 NTTドコモと楽天モバイルは、それぞれ21.78 Mbpsと18.43 Mbpsと大幅に低いアップロードを記録しました。

初期のWi-Fiネットワークの逼迫により、堅牢なモバイルアクセスの必要性が浮き彫りになりました

博覧会の初日には、訪問者から、Wi-Fiの利用 制限、認証の問題、トラフィックのピーク時の不安定なアクセスなど、いくつかの接続の問題が報告されました。 万博組織委員会は混乱を認め、最初の48時間以内にバックアップシステムと追加の帯域幅が展開されたと述べました。 4月15日までに、いくつかのアクセスポイントが再構成され、Wi-Fiネットワークを安定させるために、交通量の多いゾーンに一時的な信号ブースターが設置されました。

Speedtest Insightsのデータを使用して、博覧会の訪問者がアクセスするための公開SSIDに基づいてWi-Fiパフォーマンスを分析しました。 データに基づくと、公共Wi-Fiネットワークのダウンロード速度の中央値は66.94でした。 この速度は、一般的なブラウジング、メッセージング、ソーシャルメディアの使用、およびビデオ通話には十分でした。 ただし、イベント期間中の5Gモバイル ネットワークで提供されている速度の中央値よりも大幅に低いものでした。 比較のために、すべての通信事業者を総合した5G速度では、ダウンロード速度の中央値が305.63 Mbpsで、これは公共Wi-Fiベンチマークの4.5倍の速度です。

2025年大阪国際博覧会、Wi-Fiと5Gの性能
Speedtest Intelligence® | 2025年4月13日 – 6月6日

5Gネットワークはダウンロード速度の中央値でトップでしたが、同期間において公共Wi-Fiはアップロード速度が上回りました。 4月13日から6月6日までに収集されたデータによると、Expoの公共Wi-Fiのアップロード速度の中央値は43.82 Mbpsでした。 対照的に、すべての5G携帯事業者の総合アップロード速度の中央値は29.74Mbpsでした。

この比較は、大規模なイベントで見られる広範な傾向を浮き彫りにしています。公共Wi-Fiは、アクセス可能な地域では便利である一方で、高帯域幅を要するタスクでは主要な手段ではなく、補助的な役割を果たしています。 5Gネットワークの帯域幅とスループットは、ほとんどの訪問者にとってより安定した高速な代替手段を提供しました。

Expo 2025の初期の問題では、高密度ネットワークトラフィックの管理に固有の複雑さが浮き彫りになりました。 Ookla®にお問い合わせください。大規模なイベントで多数の人々に対してネットワークが準備されているかどうかを判断し、屋内と屋外の両方でネットワークのパフォーマンスを建物レベルまで分析する方法についてご案内いたします。

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

5G

About the author

Affandy Johan

Affandy Johan is the Industry Analyst at Ookla Research. He utilizes Ookla's data to develop insightful analyses covering various factors and aspects impacting the market. Affandy has extensive experience in the telecom industry, having worked for major vendors and operators in the Asia Pacific region.

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Ookla Research™ Articles
| June 3, 2025

Urban Exodus During Mudik Triggered Shifts In Indonesia’s Mobile Experience

Eid al-Fitr, or Lebaran, which fell on March 31, 2025, is one of the most significant national holidays in Indonesia, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Beyond its religious importance, it is also the largest annual mass movement in the country, with tens of millions of people traveling from cities and towns to their hometowns in a practice known as “mudik”. Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation estimated over 146.48 million people took part in mudik in 2025.

The mass movement from urban to rural areas during Eid creates temporary but rapid shifts in mobile network demand, challenging operator performance. This report analyzes changes in mobile experience across Indonesian regions and cities during the Eid period.

Key Takeaways

  • Mobile user activity shifted sharply during Eid, where Jakarta experienced a 30% drop in Speedtest® samples by the week of March 31, reflecting the urban outflow during mudik. In contrast, Central Java experienced nearly double the typical Speedtest volume, and East Java saw an increase of over one-third, as mobile users returned to hometowns for the festive period. 
  • Median download speeds rose in cities as congestion lowers but dropped in areas experiencing user surges. Jakarta recorded a median download speed of 57.94 Mbps during the week of March 31, a 20% increase from the previous week. In contrast, Central Java’s speed fell to 15.99 Mbps (down 38%), and East Java dropped to 25.91 Mbps, reflecting network strain.
  • Jakarta saw improvements with a page load time of 1.42 seconds and a video start success rate of 62.25%, following the outflow of residents during the festive period. Conversely, Central Java experienced increased traffic, leading to a slower page load time of 1.94 seconds and a lower video start success rate of 50.87%. These patterns highlight how changes in user distribution during the festive period influenced mobile experience across regions.

Eid travel pressure met with stronger network readiness from regulator and operators

To support mobile performance during mudik, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kominfo) and major mobile operators undertook coordinated efforts ahead of Eid. Kominfo deployed a monitoring force of 1,500 personnel and 29 vehicles across 386 key locations, including transportation hubs. Mobile operators also boosted capacity. XL Axiata, for example, doubled its network capacity and deployed hundreds of mobile base transceiver stations (BTS) to areas expected to see spikes in demand. Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, and Smartfren took similar steps, reinforcing coverage along highways, terminals, and popular travel routes.

Based on weekly aggregated Speedtest Intelligence® data of all technologies combined, from the week of March 17 to April 7 2025, reveals population shifts during the 2025 Eid al-Fitr period in Indonesia. This is indicated by a decrease in mobile Speedtest sample density in Jakarta and other major urban centers, coupled with an increase in provinces like Central Java and East Java. This reflects not just physical movement, but also shifts in network load and demand.

Animation of maps showing showing Weekly Speedtest Sample Size During Eid in All Regions of Indonesia | Weeks of March 17 – April 7, 2025

At the regional level, Jakarta experienced the most notable drop in sample density during the Eid week of March 31. Compared to the week of March 17, Jakarta’s sample density fell by about 30%, indicating a substantial outflow of users. By the week of April 7, sample numbers in the capital had rebounded by over 40%, suggesting that many users had returned shortly after the festive period. In contrast, Central Java and East Java recorded significant increases during the same period. Central Java saw its sample density nearly double between mid-March and the week of Eid, reflecting a large influx of people returning to their hometowns in the region. East Java followed a similar trajectory, with sample density rising by more than one-third. 

Outside Java, most provinces showed low and relatively stable sample density across the four weeks. Regions such as Maluku, West Papua, and North Kalimantan did not exhibit significant fluctuations, likely due to lower population density, limited mudik movement, or infrastructural factors. This contrast underscores the concentrated nature of mudik, where most of the population flow occurs within and around Java Island.

Chart of Weekly Speedtest Sample Size During Eid in Select Cities of Indonesia | Weeks of March 17 – April 7, 2025

At the city level, the trend in Jakarta was mirrored in other major urban centers. Surabaya, a major city in East Java, showed a similar pattern as Jakarta, with a 20% drop in samples during the Eid week of March 31, compared to the week of March 17. 

Mudik Migration Reshapes Mobile Network Loads, Boosting Urban Speeds and Straining Rural Connectivity

There was a clear relationship between sample density and mobile network performance data, which directly correlated with the population movements characteristic of the mudik period Major cities and urban areas with reduced user activity saw download speeds increase, while some regional areas with increased user concentration experienced performance degradations.

Animation of maps showing showing Weekly Download Performance During Eid in All Regions of Indonesia | Weeks of March 17 – April 7, 2025
Animation of maps showing showing Weekly Upload Performance During Eid in All Regions of Indonesia | Weeks of March 17 – April 7, 2025

Jakarta, which recorded the highest drop in Speedtest samples during Eid week, showed a temporary boost in median download speed. The city’s speed rose from 48.36 Mbps in the week of March 24 to 57.94 Mbps during the week of March 31, a 20% improvement. However, by April 7, when users returned, speeds fell by over 27% compared to Eid week, returning closer to pre-Eid levels. Median upload speed also saw a similar pattern, increasing slightly from 15.76 Mbps to 17.5 Mbps, and dropping down to 15.92 Mbps during the same period.

The opposite trend is seen in Central Java and East Java, two regions that received a large influx of users during the Eid period. In Central Java, sample density nearly doubled by March 31, while download speeds dropped to 15.99 Mbps during the same week—down by more than 38% from the week of March 17. East Java followed a similar pattern. As sample density increased during the week of March 31, performance dipped to 25.91 Mbps, a decline from its pre-Eid baseline of 29.26 Mbps.

Mobile Performance Trend For All Technologies Combined In Select Indonesia Cities
Speedtest Intelligence® | Week of March 17th – April 7th

City-level performance during the Eid period mirrored the broader regional trends, with download and upload speeds rising in cities that saw lower user concentration and falling in those experiencing increased demand. Jakarta recorded the highest median download speed during Eid week at 57.94 Mbps, aligning with the drop in sample density size as residents traveled out of the capital. Surabaya and Denpasar also saw performance peaks during the festive period, reaching 47.57 Mbps and 51.8 Mbps, respectively, suggesting lower local congestion during Eid. Upload speeds followed a similar pattern. Cities with lower user load during Eid, such as Pekanbaru, Denpasar, and Yogyakarta, recorded the highest upload speeds, with Pekanbaru reaching 21.83 Mbps. Jakarta’s upload speed increased slightly to 17.5 Mbps during Eid, then dropped as users returned. 

Regional Performance Comparison Between Week of Eid 2024 vs. Eid 2025
Speedtest Intelligence® | Week of Apr 08, 2024 and Week of March 31, 2025

A comparison of Speedtest data during the Eid week in 2024 and 2025 shows a clear improvement in median download speeds across most provinces in Indonesia. Out of 34 regions, over 64% recorded faster speeds in 2025. Notable year-on-year gains were observed in Papua, which improved by 28.37 Mbps, Jakarta by 9.91 Mbps, and East Nusa Tenggara by 8.68 Mbps. These improvements reflect a stronger network response during the peak holiday period in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Users’ mobile web browsing and video experience tracked closely with regions’ download speed and network demand

Fast page load times and acceptable video start times are critical to the user experience, especially during festive periods like Eid, when users engage heavily with social media, share greetings, and stream video content. Speedtest regional data during the week of Eid (March 31) showed regions with sufficient network capacity and aren’t strained by user surges, experienced faster page load and smoother video streaming.

Users’ Mobile Web Browsing And Video Experience By Region
Speedtest Intelligence® | Week of March 31

Jakarta stood out with the fastest page load time at 1.42 seconds and the highest acceptable video start time rate at 62.25%, backed by the highest download speed of 57.94 Mbps. Other areas like Banten and West Java also performed well, with page load times below 1.6 seconds and video start rates above 57%. 

By contrast, provinces that saw increased sample density—such as Central Java and East Java—faced higher page load times at 1.94 and 1.65 seconds, and lower video start success at 50.87% and 56.1%. Remote and low-speed regions such as North Maluku, Papua, and Maluku consistently performed at the bottom. Page load times exceeded 2.1 seconds, and video start time success fell below 51%. These areas also had low sample volumes and limited network capacity, pointing to infrastructure constraints rather than temporary congestion.

Proactive measures and collaborative efforts ensured largely stable mobile network operations during the Eid period, effectively mitigating increased demand and minimizing disruptions to user experience during peak travel. We will continue to track mobile performance across Southeast Asian markets during significant festive periods. To find out more about Speedtest Intelligence® data and insights, please contact us here.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the author

Affandy Johan

Affandy Johan is the Industry Analyst at Ookla Research. He utilizes Ookla's data to develop insightful analyses covering various factors and aspects impacting the market. Affandy has extensive experience in the telecom industry, having worked for major vendors and operators in the Asia Pacific region.

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Ookla Research™ Articles
| May 20, 2025

Easter Holiday Commute Highlights Progress and Gaps in Metro Manila Expressway Connectivity

Metro Manila continues to face severe traffic congestion, ranking first globally in the 2023 TomTom Traffic Index with an average travel time of 25 minutes and 30 seconds per 10 kilometers. Although it dropped to 15th in 2024, Manila remains one of the most congested capital cities in Southeast Asia. To ease mobility challenges, authorities have expanded the expressway network across and around the metro area. As these road corridors grow in importance, reliable mobile connectivity has become essential for navigation, communication, and access to digital services while on the move. This report examines mobile network performance along major expressways during the peak Easter holiday weekend to assess how well current infrastructure supports user demand in real-world conditions.

Key Takeaways

  • Mobile coverage across Metro Manila’s expressways was generally strong, with most routes recording average RSRP better than -90 dBm. Metro Manila Skyway led in both signal strength (-84.67 dBm) and quality (-11.12 dB RSRQ), showing consistent performance. However, CAVITEX-Parañaque stood out for weaker coverage, with an average RSRP of -98.92 dBm and the lowest 10th percentile at -113 dBm.
  • Most Metro Manila expressways provided widespread 5G coverage, with users spending more than 70% of their travel time on 5G across most routes. NLEX-McArthur Highway Link led with 87% 5G time, while service gaps were rare except in CAVITEX-Parañaque.

Linking Mobility and Connectivity on Metro Manila Expressways

The growing reliance on expressways for daily travel across Manila and its surrounding areas highlights the critical need for strong mobile connectivity along these major corridors. Reliable mobile access supports navigation, communication, ride-hailing, and emergency services. Coverage gaps or network interruptions can disrupt travel experiences and impact road efficiency. To address this, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), under its High Standard Highway Network Development Plan, has introduced policies to accelerate the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure along expressways.

Using Ookla’s coverage scans data across all mobile network operators, we analyzed mobile performance and quality of experience along 12 key expressways across Metro Manila during the Easter holiday (April 18th to 20th) weekend. The selected expressways include:

  • C-5 Expressway
  • CAVITEX-C-5 South Link Expressway
  • CAVITEX-Parañaque
  • Manila-Taguig Expressway
  • Metro Manila Skyway
  • NAIA Expressway
  • NLEX-CAITEX Port Expressway
  • NLEX-Harbor Link
  • NLEX-McArthur Highway Link
  • NLEX-Mindanao Ave Link
  • NLEX-SLEX Connector
  • South Metro Manila Skyway

These expressways form the core of Metro Manila’s road network, connecting major residential, commercial, and industrial areas. They link key cities such as Quezon City, Manila, Taguig, Parañaque, Pasay, and Makati, while extending to neighboring provinces like Bulacan and Cavite. They serve high volumes of daily commuters and provide critical access to airports, seaports, business districts, and suburban developments. 

Easter Traffic Patterns Highlight Peak Mobile Usage on Southern Expressways

Using data from Speedtest® background samples, we combined hourly sample counts from all mobile operators over the three days to smooth out irregularities and highlight consistent usage patterns. The chart shows the total number of Speedtest samples collected per hour across 12 major Metro Manila expressways during April 18 to 20, 2025 (Easter weekend). 

Chart of Number of Devices on Manila Expressways During Easter Weekend (Hourly) in Manilia, Philippines, April 18-20, 2025

Data reveals a clear daily pattern: sample volumes were lowest between 00:00 and 05:00, began rising mid-morning, and peaked between 14:00 and 19:00. This reflects typical daytime travel behavior during a long holiday period, where road activity intensifies as people travel for leisure, family gatherings, and regional trips. C-5 Expressway, Metro Manila Skyway, and South Metro Manila Skyway recorded the highest sample volumes during peak times. These routes connect key residential and commercial areas across the capital and serve as primary arteries for southbound travel. In contrast, routes such as NLEX-Harbor Link and NLEX-McArthur Highway Link recorded lower sample volumes, indicating either lighter traffic flow or lower available samples.

The spike in usage along major southern routes reflects a well-established trend during Holy Week in the Philippines, with heavy outbound travel toward provinces like Batangas and Laguna. This year, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reinforced expectations of increased traffic by announcing a comprehensive traffic management plan for the 2025 Holy Week, including deployment of additional personnel, traffic rerouting schemes, and coordination with toll operators to ease congestion. The observation aligns with past advisories from the MMDA, the Department of Transportation, and local news reports, all highlighting recurring congestion on southern expressways during this period.

Expressway Network Shows Broad Mobile Coverage, With Targeted Enhancements Needed

To evaluate mobile coverage during the Easter weekend, we analyzed average Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) across these major expressways in Metro Manila. These metrics reflect the strength and quality of mobile signals experienced by users while traveling. An RSRP value that exceeds -90 dBm indicates superior coverage. If the signal strength is between -90 dBm and -100 dBm, then network coverage is considered good. Below this range, expect slower download speeds and potential network disconnections. RSRQ is a metric used to evaluate the quality of the reference signal received by a device. A value of -10 dB or higher indicates excellent network quality while a value between -10 dB and -15 dB is considered good. An RSRQ value lower than -15 dB is poor or indicates no signal at all.

Map of RSRP Plots for All Technologies Combined Over Easter Weekend in Manila Philippines, April 18-20, 2025
Map of RSRQ Plots for All Technologies Combined Over Easter Weekend in Manila Philippines, April 18-20, 2025

Most expressways recorded strong overall signal strength, with average RSRP values better than -90 dBm. Metro Manila Skyway delivered the best average signal at -84.67 dBm, followed by South Metro Manila Skyway, and NLEX-McArthur Highway Link. In contrast, CAVITEX-Parañaque and CAVITEX-C5 South Link reported weaker average RSRP near -99 dBm, suggesting reduced signal consistency in these areas. CAVITEX-Parañaque also reported a much weaker signal strength in the lower 10% with RSRP value of -113 dBM, indicating poor coverage zones where users are likely to experience slow speeds or connection drops. Meanwhile, in areas with good coverage, the top 10% of samples reported excellent signal levels, with RSRP values above -75 dBm on most expressways.

Chart of Average, Lower 10%, and Top 10% RSRP for All Technologies Combined Easter Weekend in Manila Philippines, April 18-20, 2025
Chart of Average, Lower 10%, and Top 10% RSRQ for All Technologies Combined Easter Weekend in Manila Philippines, April 18-20, 2025

 Signal quality remained stable across most expressways, with all reporting average RSRQ values within the “good” range of -10 to -15 dB. Metro Manila Skyway recorded the best average signal quality at -11.12 dB, followed by South Metro Manila Skyway and NLEX-McArthur Highway Link. The data indicates that expressways with stronger signal strength also tend to maintain better quality, likely due to more consistent tower spacing and better interference management, while weaker areas may benefit from improved handover and tuning.

Easter Weekend travel backed by widespread 5G coverage

We analyzed the share of time mobile users spent connected to different network technologies while traveling along these expressways during the holiday weekend, to reflect the percentage of time users were on 5G, 4G, older 2G/3G technologies, or had no service while traveling.

Proportion Of Time Spent By Commuters On Different Technologies 
Speedtest Intelligence® | April 18th – 20th, 2025

The data indicate that 5G coverage is widespread on most major expressways in Metro Manila. NLEX-McArthur Highway Link reported the highest 5G usage, with users spending 87% of their time connected to 5G. Metro Manila Skyway followed at 80.2%, along with NAIA Expressway at 78.1% and NLEX-Harbor Link at 76.5%. Most other expressways also showed strong 5G usage, with shares ranging between 63% and 72.5%. Only three routes—C-5 Expressway, NLEX-Mindanao Ave Link, and CAVITEX-Parañaque, recorded lower 5G shares, but still had over half of total usage on 5G.

There is still a degree of dependence on 4G, possibly due to less consistent 5G coverage. CAVITEX-Parañaque registered the highest 4G usage at 32.1% of user time, closely followed by CAVITEX-C-5 South Link Expressway at 30.9%. Notably, older 2G or 3G technologies still saw significant usage on certain expressways, specifically NLEX-Mindanao Ave Link at 12.5% and NLEX-SLEX Connector at 12.4%. On most Manila expressways, mobile users experienced very little time without service, with almost all routes showing less than 1% of no service. An exception was CAVITEX-Parañaque, which had the highest service gap at 11.8%.

The results suggest 5G is now the dominant mobile technology on most expressways, offering strong baseline availability for users in motion. However, variation in 5G usage and isolated no-service zones point to areas where further densification and optimization are needed. Routes with higher 4G or fallback use could benefit from additional 5G site deployments or improvements in signal consistency, especially in dense or complex urban corridors.

Expressway 5G signal strength reflects operator network scale

Analysis of 5G signal strength across Metro Manila’s major expressways during the Easter weekend showed varied performance among mobile operators. Smart recorded the strongest average RSRP values on 7 out of 12 expressways, including key corridors such as Manila-Taguig Expressway with an RSRP value of -81.46 dBm, NLEX-Mindanao Ave Link at -79.86 dBm, and NAIA Expressway at -79.40 dBm. 

Chart of Mobile Operators 5G RSRP Over Easter Weekend in Manila, Philippines, April 18-20, 2025
Chart of Mobile Operators 5G RSRQ Over Easter Weekend in Manila, Philippines, April 18-20, 2025

Globe delivered competitive performance on four expressways, including C-5 Expressway with an RSRP value of -83.95 dBm and NLEX-McArthur Highway Link at -81.69 dBm. DITO recorded weaker signal strength across all corridors, with no expressway exceeding an RSRP value stronger than -84.60 dBm. The differences observed across operators reflect their respective network scales, cell site density, and deployment stages. In terms of signal quality, Smart and Globe also showed good average RSRQ across most expressways. 

Smart and Globe both operate large, nationwide 5G networks, while DITO—launched in 2021—is still expanding its coverage, focusing on select urban areas. Smart’s performance likely reflects its continued investment in 5G infrastructure, especially in high-mobility urban zones. As of late 2024, Smart’s parent company, PLDT, confirmed upgrades to its 5G network capacity and coverage through expanded cell site deployment, particularly in Metro Manila and major transit corridors. 

5G Availability highlight room for growth in Metro Manila

Ookla’s 5G Availability data from Speedtest Intelligence® represents the percentage of 5G-active devices that spend the majority of their time connected to 5G networks. While the findings show strong 5G signal strength and quality along Metro Manila’s expressways, the city’s overall 5G Availability suggests there is still room to expand 5G coverage across the whole city area. 

5G Availability (%) In Select Southeast Asian Capital Cities
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q1 2025

Q1 2025 5G availability data places Metro Manila in the middle of the pack among Southeast Asia’s capital cities. As of Q1 2025, 5G users in Metro Manila spent 40.8% of their time connected to 5G networks. This figure trails Bangkok (70.8%) and Singapore (66.3%)—two cities with more mature 5G rollouts and denser site deployments. However, Metro Manila maintains a lead over Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory (39.3%) and is significantly ahead of Jakarta (10.8%), where 5G deployment is still in progress.

We will continue to monitor network coverage and performance in major cities across Asia Pacific and provide updates on infrastructure readiness along key expressways and transportation routes. For more information about Ookla’s network intelligence and management solutions, please contact us.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the author

Affandy Johan

Affandy Johan is the Industry Analyst at Ookla Research. He utilizes Ookla's data to develop insightful analyses covering various factors and aspects impacting the market. Affandy has extensive experience in the telecom industry, having worked for major vendors and operators in the Asia Pacific region.

More Articles

Ookla Research™ Articles
| March 25, 2025

Charting Malaysia’s 5G Journey: From Urban Priorities to Nationwide Coverage

Network Evolution

Malaysia has made strong progress in improving mobile internet connectivity nationwide in recent years. Key government initiatives, particularly the National Digital Network Plan (JENDELA), combined with investments by telecommunications operators, have driven this growth. However, challenges remain in rural areas, where coverage is still inconsistent.

Key Takeaways

  • Malaysia’s mobile download speed increased 2.3 times as 5G adoption surged. Malaysia’s mobile performance improved significantly between Q1 2023 and Q4 2024, with median download speeds increasing 2.3 times from 45.57 Mbps to 105.36 Mbps. Upload speeds also rose from 12.84 Mbps to 19.62 Mbps. 5G adoption played a key role, growing from 6.7% of connections in Q1 2023 to 41.9% by Q4 2024.
  • From early to mid-2023, 5G Availability in Malaysia expanded from major urban states to more rural areas. Between Q1 2023 and Q4 2024, rural states saw noticeable increases in 5G Availability — the proportion of users of 5G-capable devices who spend most of their time on 5G networks — driven by network expansion beyond urban centers. Labuan Federal Territory recorded the largest increase, with a 34.3 percentage point rise.
  • Rural states reported faster 5G speeds than urban ones, due to lower congestion and network demand. In Q4 2024, states with lower 5G Availability, such as Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang, recorded median 5G download speeds exceeding 366 Mbps. Meanwhile, urbanized states like Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, with higher 5G Availability, reported slower speeds below 280 Mbps, highlighting the increasing strain on urban networks as 5G adoption accelerates.

Improving Nationwide Connectivity in Malaysia

The efforts of the Malaysian regulator, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and major telecommunications operators have been pivotal in narrowing the digital divide and improving internet connectivity nationwide. Central to these efforts is the Jalinan Digital Negara (JENDELA) program, which aims to expand 4G coverage, increase mobile broadband speeds, and prepare the country for 5G rollout. Phase 1, completed in 2022, focused on strengthening 4G networks and shutting down 3G services. By the end of this phase, 4G coverage had reached 96.9% of populated areas, with average mobile broadband speeds of 116.03 Mbps. Phase 2, which runs from 2022 to 2025, builds on this progress with targets of mean mobile broadband speeds of 100 Mbps and achieving 100% 4G and 80% 5G population coverage.

Malaysia’s 5G rollout has been a central part of its connectivity strategy, with Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) leading the deployment of 5G infrastructure as the single wholesale network provider. The rollout aims to provide widespread 5G coverage by 2025, unlocking opportunities for advancements in smart cities, healthcare, and logistics.  In May 2023, the Malaysian government announced plans to introduce a second 5G network provider, contingent on DNB reaching 80% population coverage. DNB met this milestone in December 2023, recording 80.2% coverage. This achievement paved the path for the government to award the second 5G network license to U Mobile. According to MCMC, introducing a second provider is expected to drive competition, enhance network resilience, and help lower costs for consumers in the long term.

Steady 5G adoption pushes Malaysia’s mobile download speeds past 100 Mbps

Speedtest Intelligence® data reveals that Malaysia has experienced a steady increase in both mobile median download and upload speeds for all technologies. Our data reveals that median mobile download speeds for all technologies combined in Malaysia increased 2.3 times from 45.57 Mbps up to 105.36 Mbps between Q1 2023 and Q4 2024. There was a slight improvement across upload speeds, with the median mobile upload speed in the market  increasing in the same period from 12.84 Mbps to 19.62 Mbps.

Mobile (All Technologies Combined) Performance, Malaysia
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q1 2023 – Q4 2024

The continuous expansion of the 5G network by the nation’s 5G single wholesale network (SWN) provider, DNB, and increased 5G adoption has helped with the upward increase of mobile speed in the past two years. Data from GSMA Intelligence shows a steady and consistent increase in the percentage of 5G connections in Malaysia from Q1 2023 to Q4 2024. 5G connections grew from 6.7% in Q1 2023 to 21.7% by Q4 2023, and further to 41.9% by Q4 2024.

Percentage of Mobile Connections on 5G in Malaysia
GSMA Intelligence | Q1 2023 – Q4 2024

This sustained growth reflects expanding 5G coverage, the increasing availability of 5G devices, and growing consumer and enterprise demand for faster, more reliable mobile connectivity. The rollout by DNB and efforts by mobile operators to make 5G plans more accessible have contributed to this adoption. The data suggests that 5G has transitioned from early adoption stages to becoming a mainstream technology, with continued growth expected as 5G coverage expands nationwide.

5G Deployment Focus Shifts Toward Broader State-Level Coverage

By the end of 2022, DNB had achieved 50% 5G coverage of populated areas. Following this milestone, the government accelerated its target, mandating DNB to reach 80% coverage by the end of 2023 — a goal that was originally set for the end of 2024. Ookla’s 5G Availability data from Speedtest Intelligence represents the proportion of users of 5G-capable devices who spend most of their time on 5G networks. Between Q1 2023 and Q4 2024, Malaysia’s 5G Availability increased from 20.9% to 32.8%.

Analysis of the data from Q1 2023 to Q4 2024 reveals clear shifts in 5G deployment patterns across Malaysia. In early 2023, major cities and urban centers such as Putrajaya (35.4%), the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (29.3%), and Johor (18%) reported the highest levels of 5G Availability. This early focus on urban areas was expected, as these densely populated locations provided faster returns on investment and met immediate demand from businesses and consumers.

5G Availability (%) Trend by State, Malaysia
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q1 2023 – Q4 2024

By mid-2023, deployment efforts began shifting toward smaller and more rural states. This shift is reflected in the substantial increases in 5G Availability in areas such as Labuan Federal Territory (+34.4 percentage points), Penang (+20.8), Kedah (+19.1), and Terengganu (+18.4). These gains align with the objectives of JENDELA Phase 2, which aims to extend 5G connectivity nationwide. The strong growth in these regions demonstrates the government’s and operators’ commitment to bridging the digital divide and ensuring more balanced connectivity between urban centers and rural communities.

Percentage Point Growth in 5G Availability Across Malaysian States
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q1 2023 – Q4 2024

Urbanized states and territories continued to see steady growth in 5G Availability, though at a slower rate compared to more rural states. For example, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur reported smaller increases of 16.1 and 10.4 percentage points, respectively, showing that these areas were already well covered and improvements were focused on coverage quality and capacity enhancements rather than new deployments. This deployment strategy reflects a balanced national approach — solidifying urban 5G readiness while expanding access into smaller cities and rural regions to meet nationwide targets.

Rural states show lower 5G Availability but experience faster 5G speeds

Data for Q4 2024 highlights significant differences in 5G performance across Malaysian states. Rural states such as Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang report the highest median 5G download speeds, with Kelantan leading at 392.04 Mbps, followed by Terengganu at 375.38 Mbps and Pahang at 366.03 Mbps. However, these states also have lower 5G Availability, with Kelantan at 18.2%, Pahang at 17.3%, and Terengganu at 23.4%. In contrast, more developed areas such as Putrajaya and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, despite having higher 5G Availability rates of 51.5% and 39.7%, show lower median download speeds of 325.47 Mbps and 243.21 Mbps, respectively.

5G Availability (%) and Median 5G Download Speed (Mbps) By State, Malaysia
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q4 2024

This is somewhat expected, as the higher 5G speeds in rural states can be attributed to lower user density and less network congestion. With fewer users accessing the network simultaneously, available bandwidth is distributed among a smaller number of connections, resulting in faster speeds. Additionally, the rollout of 5G infrastructure in these states is often targeted at the state’s capital city and  major towns. However, the limited availability indicates that coverage is still expanding and does not yet reach the broader population. In contrast, urban areas such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Selangor, which have higher 5G Availability, experience lower median speeds due to higher user demand and potential network congestion. As 5G adoption continues to grow and more users connect to the network, performance fluctuations are expected due to increasing traffic demand.

Malaysia’s 5G landscape faces new dynamics with the introduction of a second 5G provider

In November 2024, Malaysia’s government announced a shift to a 5G dual-network wholesale model, and granted a second 5G wholesale network license to U Mobile, the country’s third-largest mobile network operator. The government’s decision to introduce a second 5G network reflects a strategic effort to increase competition, improve service delivery, and accelerate the nationwide rollout of 5G. U Mobile has committed to deploying this network independently, with a target completion by mid-2026, positioning itself as a major player in Malaysia’s next-generation connectivity landscape.

The shift to a dual-network model is expected to bring several advantages to the market. Increased competition between two wholesale providers should lead to better network quality and more competitive pricing for mobile network operators and end consumers. This dual-network setup strengthens resilience in the national network infrastructure by reducing reliance on a single provider. Furthermore, having two competing 5G networks could drive innovation and encourage more aggressive investment in new technologies and service enhancements that will benefit sectors like healthcare, smart cities, and logistics, all of which are part of Malaysia’s digital transformation agenda. 

However, this development does not come without challenges. Deploying a second nationwide 5G network requires significant investment in infrastructure, spectrum management, and network operations. There is a risk of resource duplication and inefficiencies if the two operators do not coordinate their efforts, especially in areas where coverage overlaps. Additionally, dual wholesale network could become an issue, potentially slowing the unified growth of the 5G ecosystem. Interoperability between the two networks, as well as integration with existing 4G infrastructure, will also require careful management to ensure seamless service quality for consumers and businesses alike.

We will continue to monitor Malaysia’s telecom market as it evolves. For more information about Speedtest Intelligence data and insights, please contact us.

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About the author

Affandy Johan

Affandy Johan is the Industry Analyst at Ookla Research. He utilizes Ookla's data to develop insightful analyses covering various factors and aspects impacting the market. Affandy has extensive experience in the telecom industry, having worked for major vendors and operators in the Asia Pacific region.

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