You’ve come to rely on the Speedtest Global Index™ for our ranking of internet performance in countries around the world. Today we’ve expanded that resource to include internet speed rankings for some of the world’s largest cities. Read on to find out which city has the fastest download speed, learn how to find the information you’re looking for, and view a sneak peek at our 34 latest Ookla Market Reports™.
Shanghai and Beijing are the fastest cities on the Speedtest Global Index
The Speedtest Global Index now ranks median internet download speeds in nearly 200 cities all over the world. The Speedtest Global Index shows China topped the list with Shanghai as the fastest city on our list for mobile with a median download speed of 158.63 Mbps, while Beijing was fastest for fixed broadband during September 2022 at 238.86 Mbps.
Our list includes the two largest cities from each country. The cities must also have over 500,000 inhabitants and sufficient samples to be included. They are ranked according to median download speed based on Speedtest® data from the month prior.
You can find city data simply by switching the toggle at the top center of the page. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook for updates on new data, or check back next month to see how the rankings change as governments and internet providers build out their infrastructure to better serve consumers. If you’re looking for data on more cities, visit the Speedtest Performance Directory™.
Ookla Market Reports benchmark internet performance in 34 countries around the world
This quarter we are showcasing Q3 2022 Speedtest Intelligence® data from 34 countries in our Ookla Market Reports. We’ve summarized a few top takeaways below, and you’ll want to click through to the report to see more detail and charts about the countries you’re most interested in, including who was the fastest provider on mobile and fixed broadband, who had the most consistent service, and 5G and device performance in that country. Jump forward to a continent using these links:
Argentina: Personal had the fastest median download speed over mobile (29.41 Mbps) and Movistar was fastest for fixed broadband (87.20 Mbps).
Bolivia: VIVA had the highest mobile Consistency with 80.1% of results showing at least a 5 Mbps minimum download speed and 1 Mbps minimum upload speed.
Brazil: The fastest mobile operator was Claro with a median download speed of 37.17 Mbps.
Canada: TELUS was the fastest mobile operator in Canada with a median download speed of 76.03 Mbps. Rogers was fastest for fixed broadband (223.89 Mbps).
Colombia: WOM was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 15.60 Mbps. Movistar was fastest for fixed broadband at 125.32 Mbps.
Dominican Republic: Claro had the fastest median download speed among mobile operators at 27.74 Mbps. Altice was fastest for fixed broadband at 23.54 Mbps.
El Salvador: Claro also had the fastest median download speed over mobile in El Salvador at 33.83 Mbps.
Ecuador: The fastest mobile operator was CNT with a median download speed of 34.03 Mbps. Netlife was fastest for fixed broadband at 63.35 Mbps.
Guatemala: Claro was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 28.56 Mbps. Tigo had the fastest median download speed over fixed broadband at 26.90 Mbps.
Jamaica: Digicel+ was the fastest fixed broadband provider with a median download speed of 45.27 Mbps.
Mexico: Telcel had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 36.07 Mbps. Totalplay was fastest for fixed broadband at 74.64 Mbps.
Peru: Claro was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 21.94 Mbps.
Trinidad and Tobago: Digicel had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 38.19 Mbps.
United States: T-Mobile was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 116.14 Mbps. Spectrum was fastest for fixed broadband at 211.66 Mbps.
Cambodia: SINET had the fastest median download speed over fixed broadband at 40.51 Mbps.
China: China Mobile was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 132.33 Mbps. China Unicom was fastest for fixed broadband at 177.70 Mbps.
Singapore: Singtel had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 112.28 Mbps.
Vietnam: Viettel was the fastest mobile and fixed broadband provider with a median download speed over mobile of 44.81 Mbps and 88.69 Mbps for fixed broadband.
Albania: Vodafone was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 46.75 Mbps. Digicom was fastest for fixed broadband at 77.83 Mbps.
Belgium: Telenet had the fastest median download speed over fixed broadband at 126.79 Mbps.
Denmark: YouSee was the fastest mobile operator in Denmark with a median download speed of 118.32 Mbps. Fastspeed was fastest for fixed broadband at 270.80 Mbps.
Estonia: The fastest operator in Estonia was Telia with a median download speed of 72.95 Mbps. Elisa was fastest over fixed broadband at 84.09 Mbps.
Finland: DNA had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 74.65 Mbps. Lounea was fastest for fixed broadband at 103.79 Mbps.
Germany: Telekom was the fastest mobile operator in Germany with a median download speed of 78.85 Mbps. Vodafone was fastest for fixed broadband at 112.58 Mbps.
Latvia: LMT had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 63.59 Mbps. Balticom was fastest for fixed broadband at 203.31 Mbps.
Lithuania: The operator with the fastest median download speed was Telia with 102.09 Mbps. Cgates was fastest for fixed broadband at 131.63 Mbps.
Poland: Orange had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 43.02 Mbps. UPC was fastest for fixed broadband at 206.22 Mbps.
Turkey: Turkcell was the fastest mobile operator in Turkey with a median download speed of 51.92 Mbps. TurkNet was fastest for fixed broadband at 50.94 Mbps.
Australia: Telstra was the fastest mobile operator in Australia with a median download speed of 95.83 Mbps. Aussie Broadband was fastest for fixed broadband at 67.40 Mbps.
New Zealand: MyRepublic had the fastest median download speed over fixed broadband at 271.12 Mbps.
The Speedtest Global Index is your resource to understand how internet speeds compare around the world and how they are changing. Check back next month for updated data on country and city rankings, and look for updated Ookla Market Reports for Q4 2022 in January.
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.
Ookla® Market Reports™ identify key data about internet performance in countries across the world. This quarter we’ve provided updated analyses for 44 markets using Speedtest Intelligence® and summarized a few top takeaways below. Click through to the market report to see more details and charts about the countries you’re interested in, including the fastest fixed broadband providers and mobile operators, who had the most consistent service, and 5G and device performance in select countries during Q4 2022. Jump forward to a continent using these links:
Argentina: Personal had the fastest median download speed over mobile (31.65 Mbps) and Movistar was fastest for fixed broadband (92.83 Mbps).
Belize: NEXGEN had the fastest median download over fixed broadband in Belize at 47.84 Mbps. Digi had the fastest median mobile download speed at 14.07 Mbps.
Canada: There was no fastest mobile operator in Canada. Rogers was fastest for fixed broadband (249.08 Mbps).
Colombia: Movistar was fastest for fixed broadband at 141.32 Mbps.
Dominican Republic: Claro had the fastest median download speed among mobile operators at 32.80 Mbps. SpaceX’s Starlink was fastest for fixed broadband at 50.40 Mbps.
Ecuador: The fastest mobile operator was CNT with a median download speed of 32.65 Mbps. Netlife was fastest for fixed broadband (67.57 Mbps).
El Salvador: Claro had the fastest median download speed over mobile in El Salvador at 34.37 Mbps.
Guatemala: Claro was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 32.56 Mbps.
Guyana: ENet was the fastest fixed broadband provider (56.50 Mbps), while Digicel was the fastest mobile operator (30.49 Mbps).
Jamaica: Flow overtook Digicel+ as the fastest fixed broadband provider in Jamaica with a median download speed of 48.88 Mbps.
Mexico: Telcel had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 43.04 Mbps. Totalplay was fastest for fixed broadband (80.36 Mbps).
Peru: Claro was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 22.08 Mbps, while Win delivered the fastest fixed broadband download speed (111.02 Mbps).
Trinidad and Tobago: Digicel had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 34.58 Mbps. Digicel+ had the fastest median fixed broadband download speed at 93.43 Mbps.
United States: T-Mobile was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 151.37 Mbps. XFINITY overtook Spectrum as the fastest fixed broadband provider at 226.18 Mbps.
Afghanistan: The fastest mobile operator in Afghanistan was Afghan Wireless (6.82 Mbps).
Bangladesh: Banglalink was the fastest mobile operator in Bangladesh with a median download speed of 19.00 Mbps.
Bhutan: TashiCell had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 25.81 Mbps.
Brunei: Imagine was the fastest mobile operator in Brunei at 111.09 Mbps.
Cambodia: SINET had the fastest median download speed over fixed broadband (41.86 Mbps). Cellcard was fastest over mobile at 28.69 Mbps.
China: China Mobile was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 147.45 Mbps. China Unicom was fastest for fixed broadband at 214.17 Mbps.
Indonesia: Telkomsel was the fastest Indonesian mobile operator at 20.85 Mbps.
Pakistan: Transworld had the fastest median fixed broadband download speed in Pakistan at 17.89 Mbps. Jazz was fastest over mobile at 20.84 Mbps.
Philippines: Smart delivered the fastest mobile download speed in the Philippines (32.16 Mbps).
Singapore: Singtel had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 120.24 Mbps.
Sri Lanka: SLT-Mobitel delivered the fastest mobile and fixed broadband speeds in Sri Lanka at 19.98 Mbps and 33.49 Mbps, respectively.
Vietnam: Viettel was the fastest mobile and fixed broadband provider with a median download speed over mobile of 46.52 Mbps and 87.89 Mbps for fixed broadband.
Albania: Vodafone was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 45.89 Mbps. Digicom was fastest for fixed broadband (81.80 Mbps).
Austria: Magenta had the fastest median fixed broadband download speed (156.33 Mbps).
Belgium: Telenet had the fastest median download speed over fixed broadband at 131.96 Mbps, while Telenet/BASE had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 69.40 Mbps.
Denmark: YouSee was the fastest mobile operator in Denmark with a median download speed of 129.39 Mbps. Hiper was fastest for fixed broadband at 249.76 Mbps.
Estonia: The fastest mobile operator in Estonia was Telia with a median download speed of 80.48 Mbps. Elisa was fastest over fixed broadband at 85.98 Mbps.
Finland: DNA had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 91.56 Mbps. Lounea was fastest for fixed broadband at 105.57 Mbps.
Germany: Telekom was the fastest mobile operator in Germany with a median download speed of 90.33 Mbps. Vodafone was fastest for fixed broadband at 116.19 Mbps.
Latvia: LMT delivered the fastest median download speed over mobile at 71.84 Mbps. Balticom was fastest for fixed broadband at 219.23 Mbps.
Lithuania: The mobile operator with the fastest median download speed was Telia with 112.03 Mbps. Cgates was fastest for fixed broadband at 142.96 Mbps.
Malta: The fastest mobile operator in Malta was GO at 71.90 Mbps, while the fastest fixed broadband provider was Melita at 121.43 Mbps.
Poland: Orange had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 44.12 Mbps. UPC was fastest for fixed broadband at 205.62 Mbps.
Switzerland: Swisscom delivered the fastest median download speed over mobile at 100.71 Mbps, while Salt blazed ahead on fixed broadband at 355.71 Mbps.
Turkey: Turkcell was the fastest mobile operator in Turkey with a median download speed of 52.78 Mbps. TurkNet was fastest for fixed broadband at 55.82 Mbps.
Australia: Telstra was the fastest mobile operator in Australia with a median download speed of 96.16 Mbps.
New Zealand: MyRepublic had the fastest median download speed over fixed broadband in New Zealand at 283.27 Mbps.
The Speedtest Global Index is your resource to understand how internet connectivity compares around the world and how it’s changing. Check back next month for updated data on country and city rankings, and look for updated Ookla Market Reports with Q1 2023 data in April.
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.
Ookla® Market Reports™ identify key data about internet performance in countries across the world. This quarter we’ve provided updated analyses for 47 markets using Speedtest Intelligence® and summarized a few top takeaways below. Click through to the market report to see more details and charts about the countries you’re interested in, including the fastest fixed broadband providers and mobile operators, who had the most consistent service, and 5G and device performance in select countries during Q1 2023. Jump forward to a continent using these links:
Cameroon: Speedtest Intelligence reveals that MTN had the fastest median mobile download speed in Cameroon at 14.46 Mbps during Q1 2023. blue had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 184 ms.
Ethiopia: Safaricom had the fastest median mobile download speed at 32.81 Mbps during Q1 2023. Ethio Telecom had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 55 ms.
Tanzania: There were no winners over fastest fixed broadband and mobile in Tanzania during Q1 2023. Dar es Salaam had the fastest median mobile download speed among Tanzania’s most populous cities at 28.73 Mbps during Q1 2023.
Argentina: Personal had the fastest median download speed over mobile (32.62 Mbps) and Movistar was fastest for fixed broadband (94.26 Mbps). Movistar had the lowest median multi-server latency over fixed broadband at 12 ms.
Belize: NEXGEN had the fastest median download over fixed broadband in Belize at 47.35 Mbps. Digi had the fastest median mobile download speed at 18.39 Mbps.
Canada: Bell was the fastest mobile operator in Canada with a median download speed of 111.11 Mbps at Q1 2023. Bell also had the fastest median 5G download speed at 183.29 Mbps. Bell pure fibre was fastest for fixed broadband (281.94 Mbps).
Colombia: Movistar was fastest for fixed broadband with a median download speed of 151.74 Mbps. ETB had the lowest median multi-server latency over fixed broadband at 8 ms.
Dominican Republic: Claro had the fastest median download speed among mobile operators at 32.01 Mbps. Viva had the lowest mobile multi-server latency at 43 ms. SpaceX’s Starlink was fastest for fixed broadband at 45.65 Mbps.
Ecuador: The fastest mobile operator was CNT with a median download speed of 30.82 Mbps. Netlife was fastest for fixed broadband (71.82 Mbps). Fibramax had the lowest multi-server latency over fixed broadband at 9 ms.
El Salvador: Claro had the fastest median download speed over mobile in El Salvador at 39.09 Mbps.
Guatemala: Claro was the fastest mobile operator in Guatemala with a median download speed of 33.13 Mbps. Claro also had the highest Consistency with 84.5% of results showing at least a 5 Mbps minimum download speed and 1 Mbps minimum upload speed.
Guyana: ENet was the fastest fixed broadband provider (60.27 Mbps), while Digicel was the fastest mobile operator (35.60 Mbps). ENet also had the lowest median multi-server latency over fixed broadband at 120 ms.
Haiti: Digicel was the fastest mobile operator in Haiti with a median mobile download speed of 11.12 Mbps. SpaceX Starlink had the fastest fixed broadband internet at 46.76 Mbps. Natcom had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 62 ms.
Jamaica: Flow was the fastest fixed broadband provider in Jamaica with a median download speed of 50.50 Mbps. Flow also had the lowest median multi-server latency at 36 ms.
Mexico: Telcel had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 45.54 Mbps. Totalplay was fastest for fixed broadband (78.94 Mbps) and had the lowest median multi-server latency at 26 ms.
Peru: Claro was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 22.39 Mbps. Apple devices had the fastest median download speed among top device manufacturers at 29.68 Mbps.
Suriname: Telesur had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 51.18 Mbps. There was no winner over fixed broadband, but Digicel+ had the lowest median multi-server latency at 57 ms.
Trinidad and Tobago: Digicel had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 37.56 Mbps. Digicel+ had the fastest median fixed broadband download speed at 94.27 Mbps and the lowest median multi-server latency at 7 ms.
United States: T-Mobile was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 165.22 Mbps. T-Mobile also had the fastest median 5G download speed at 220.70 Mbps. Spectrum edged out XFINITY as the fastest fixed broadband provider with a median download speed of 234.80 Mbps. Verizon had the lowest median multi-server latency on fixed broadband at 15 ms.
Afghanistan: The fastest mobile operator in Afghanistan was Afghan Wireless (5.92 Mbps), which also had the lowest median multi-server latency at 84 ms.
Bangladesh: Banglalink was the fastest mobile operator in Bangladesh with a median download speed of 21.94 Mbps. DOT Internet was fastest over fixed broadband at 89.50 Mbps and had the lowest median multi-server latency at 5 ms.
Bhutan: There was no fastest mobile operator in Bhutan during Q1 2023, but BT had the lowest median multi-server latency at 66 ms.
Brunei: There was no statistical winner on mobile during Q1 2023, but Apple devices had the fastest median download speed at 113.48 Mbps.
Cambodia: SINET had the fastest median download speed over fixed broadband (42.00 Mbps). Cellcard was fastest over mobile at 32.05 Mbps.
China: China Mobile was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 138.95 Mbps. China Mobile also had the fastest median mobile 5G download speed at 291.24 Mbps. China Unicom was fastest for fixed broadband at 221.07 Mbps.
Georgia: MagtiCom had the fastest median fixed broadband speed in Georgia at 27.65 Mbps during Q1 2023. MagtiCom also had the lowest median multi-server latency at 11 ms. Geocell was fastest over mobile at 40.81 Mbps.
Indonesia: Telkomsel was the fastest Indonesian mobile operator with a median download speed of 24.48 Mbps. Telkomsel also had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 45 ms.
Japan: NTT DoCoMo was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 48.86 Mbps during Q1 2023. So-net had the fastest fixed broadband speed at 282.13 Mbps, as well as the lowest median multi-server latency at 9 ms.
Malaysia: TIME was the fastest fixed broadband provider in Malaysia (107.56 Mbps) and had the lowest multi-server latency at 9 ms.
Pakistan: Transworld had the fastest median fixed broadband download speed in Pakistan at 16.23 Mbps. Jazz was fastest over mobile at 21.93 Mbps. Zong had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 46 ms.
Philippines: Smart delivered the fastest mobile download speed in the Philippines (33.39 Mbps).
Singapore: Singtel had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 119.66 Mbps. StarHub had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 26 ms. SingTel had the fastest fixed broadband speed (263.13 Mbps).
South Korea: KT delivered the fastest median download speed over fixed broadband in South Korea at 145.28 Mbps. SK Telecom had the fastest mobile speed at 194.41 Mbps.
Sri Lanka: SLT-Mobitel delivered the fastest mobile and fixed broadband speeds in Sri Lanka at 20.62 Mbps and 44.76 Mbps, respectively. Dialog had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 36 ms.
United Arab Emirates: Etisalat had the fastest median fixed download speed (255.01 Mbps) and median mobile download speed (184.58 Mbps) in the UAE during Q1 2023. Etisalat also had the fastest median 5G download speed at 672.04 Mbps and lowest median multi-server latency at 35 ms.
Albania: ONE overtook Vodafone as the fastest mobile operator in Albania with a median download speed of 48.44 Mbps during Q1 2023. ONE also had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 34 ms. Digicom was fastest for fixed broadband (87.71 Mbps).
Belgium: Telenet had the fastest median download speed over fixed broadband at 135.65 Mbps, while Telenet/BASE had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 69.48 Mbps.
Denmark: YouSee was the fastest mobile operator in Denmark with a median download speed of 137.28 Mbps. Hiper was fastest for fixed broadband at 258.41 Mbps.
Estonia: The fastest mobile operator in Estonia was Telia with a median download speed of 91.34 Mbps. Telia had the lowest median multi-server latency on mobile at 30 ms. Elisa was fastest over fixed broadband at 92.20 Mbps.
Finland: DNA had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 101.59 Mbps. Lounea was fastest for fixed broadband at 107.84 Mbps and had the lowest median multi-server latency at 11 ms.
Germany: Telekom was the fastest mobile operator in Germany with a median download speed of 96.61 Mbps. Deutsche Glasfaser overtook Vodafone as the fastest fixed broadband provider at 183.20 Mbps. Deutsche Glasfaser also had the lowest median multi-server latency at 14 ms.
Latvia: While there was no fastest mobile operator in Latvia during Q1 2023, Balticom was fastest for fixed broadband with a median download speed of 238.41 Mbps. Balticom also had the lowest median fixed broadband multi-server latency at 4 ms.
Lithuania: The mobile operator with the fastest median download speed was Telia at 109.53 Mbps. Cgates was fastest for fixed broadband at 151.33 Mbps.
Poland: UPC was the fastest provider for fixed broadband with a median download speed of 214.34 Mbps. There was no statistical winner over mobile during Q1 2023.
Switzerland: Salt blazed ahead for the fastest fixed broadband with a median download speed of 367.36 Mbps. Salt also had the lowest median multi-server latency over fixed broadband at 8 ms.
Turkey: Turkcell was the fastest mobile operator in Turkey with a median download speed of 51.76 Mbps. Türk Telekom had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 38 ms. TurkNet was fastest for fixed broadband at 58.85 Mbps.
New Zealand: MyRepublic had the fastest median download speed over fixed broadband in New Zealand at 287.90 Mbps. There were no statistical winners among top mobile operators.
The Speedtest Global Index is your resource to understand how internet connectivity compares around the world and how it’s changing. Check back next month for updated data on country and city rankings, and look for updated Ookla Market Reports with Q2 2023 data in July.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on April 18 to exclude data from Vietnam while we continue to investigate anomalies in the market.
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.
The Asia Pacific region has successfully implemented 5G technology despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, global economy, and geopolitical climate. South Korea, China, and Japan have led the way in 5G network deployment. With the continued rollout of 5G networks in other regional markets, Asia Pacific is on track to become the largest 5G market globally.
Key messages
Advanced Asia Pacific markets have taken the lead in the 5G rollout. Countries such as South Korea, Australia, and China, were among the first in the world to launch commercial 5G networks as more markets joined the ranks.
5G performance outranks Europe. Early adopters in the Asia Pacific region have outperformed major European markets in terms of 5G performance. This is mainly due to factors like early spectrum availability and supportive government policies.
5G Availability varies. The region experiences varying levels of 5G Availability and adoption due to factors like population density, device affordability, and tariffs.
Seoul and Kuala Lumpur are the top cities for 5G performance, boasting median download speeds of 533.95 Mbps and 523.44 Mbps, respectively.
5G helps to narrow the digital divide. 5G FWA is a viable alternative to traditional fixed broadband to narrow down the digital divide in the region
South Korea sets the pace as 5G networks expand across the region
Many of the more advanced markets in the Asia Pacific have been the frontrunners in terms of 5G rollout. South Korea was the first market in the world to deploy a nationwide 5G network in April 2019, followed by Australia, the Philippines, China, and New Zealand later that year. As predicted by GSMA Intelligence, the recent second wave of 5G rollouts in the region in countries such as Indonesia, India, and Malaysia will see Asia Pacific becoming one of the largest 5G markets in the world by 2025.
Allocation of spectrum resources is crucial
In our recent spectrum analysis, we discussed how important spectrum is for the performance and coverage of 5G. In general, regulators in the Asia Pacific region have been quick to allocate spectrum for 5G applications, and in many cases, operators have been able to secure substantial bandwidth in the key C-band.
The mid-band spectrum is the most frequently awarded spectrum band in the Asia Pacific region. It is the top choice for commercial 5G deployment because it balances 5G coverage and capacity. In some markets, 5G deployment uses low-band (sub 1 GHz) frequencies, allowing for wider outdoor 5G coverage and better penetration inside buildings in urban and suburban areas. However, this may come at the expense of the median download speed, which typically peaks at around 100 Mbps.
For some markets, 5G spectrum awards are subject to strict milestones and requirements. Operators in South Korea were required to have 22,500 base stations by the end of 2021, 45,000 by the end of 2023, and 150,000 base stations upon completion of their 3.5 GHz spectrum rollout. Additionally, within three years, there were required to install 15,000 base stations utilizing 28 GHz. However, a review by South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) found that all mobile operators met the minimum requirements for the 3.5GHz spectrum but not the 28GHz spectrum. Consequently, the ministry has withdrawn all operators’ spectrum licenses in the 28GHz band. In our recent mmWave analysis, we thoroughly covered the performance and progress inherent in that spectrum band.
Asia Pacific outpaced major European markets in terms of 5G performance
While Europe and the Asia Pacific markets share similarities such as large cultural diversity, customers with varying demographics, and mixed regulations and policies, our recent analysis of European 5G performance revealed that early 5G adopters in the Asia Pacific region performed better than some major European markets.
According to Speedtest Intelligence® H1 2023 data, several markets in the Asia Pacific region had faster median download performance compared to the top five European economies. Malaysia and South Korea led the pack with speeds of over 500 Mbps, with Malaysia reporting a median download performance of 512.10 Mbps, and South Korea at 503.99 Mbps – an impressive accomplishment for Malaysia, which launched 5G 3.5 years after South Korea and has caught up to them in performance. Both countries have notable differences in terms of their telecommunications landscapes. The Malaysian government went with a nationwide single wholesale network (SWN) approach as its 5G deployment plan. Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) was established in 2021 to construct and operate the 5G network infrastructure and provide 5G services to mobile network operators at wholesale prices. South Korea has long been at the forefront of mobile technology and boasts one of the highest internet penetration rates globally. As a result of its early commitment to 5G development, South Korea became the first market in the world to launch a commercial 5G network.
During the same period, Singapore, India, New Zealand, China, and Australia achieved a median 5G download speed exceeding 200 Mbps. In comparison, only France recorded speeds above 200 Mbps among the European countries mentioned, while Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, and Spain, recorded median download speeds below 150 Mbps.
5G Availability and adoption vary across the region
5G Availability (the percentage of users on 5G-capable devices that spend most of the time with access to 5G networks) varied widely across the Asia Pacific region during H1 2023. Factors such as access to low-band spectrum and affordability and availability of 5G devices influence each market’s reported 5G Availability. Analysis based on data from Speedtest Intelligence shows that Hong Kong stands out as the only country analyzed to have surpassed 40% 5G Availability, reaching 42.3% in H1 2023. Part of the reason is the city’s high population density, 5G coverage that reaches over 90% of the population, and a high 5G smartphone penetration rate, which Counterpoint Research reported as 78% in Q1 of 2023.
Despite Australia being 78 times larger than South Korea, and being one of the least densely populated countries, both countries reported similar 5G Availability rates, at around 36.6%. Counterpoint Research reported a 5G smartphone penetration rate of more than 80% for both countries, with South Korea at 88% and Australia at 82%. Across the European markets, France, Spain, Germany, and the U.K. ranged between 20%-30%. Similarly, Thailand also falls within this range at 26.8%.
Based on Q2 2023 data from GSMA Intelligence, South Korea, China, and Japan led in 5G adoption, measured as the percentage of 5G connections compared to total connections, higher than the selected European markets looked at in this report. South Korea had a total of 31.3 million 5G connections, which accounted for more than 48% of all mobile connections in the country, while China boasts over 700 million 5G connections, equivalent to 41% of connections. Other early adopters of 5G in the region, such as Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia, have all seen a considerable rise in their total 5G connections from the previous year. Japan experienced a 76% increase of 5G connections between Q2 2022 to Q2 2023, to 60.8 million connections. Hong Kong increased by 65% to 4.8 million, and Australia had 8.8 million connections, up by almost 40% during the same period of time.
Seoul and Kuala Lumpur are the top cities in the Asia Pacific region for 5G speeds.
Given that both Malaysia and South Korea are ahead in 5G performance among their peers, it is unsurprising that their capital cities came first as well in the ranking of selected cities. In H1 2023, Seoul had a median download speed of 533.95 Mbps, while Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, reported a median download speed of 523.44 Mbps. Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), Malaysia’s designated 5G wholesale provider, reported 90% 5G coverage of populated areas (COPA) throughout Kuala Lumpur at the end of 2022.
Despite being one of the latest markets to launch 5G, the Indian cities of Delhi and Mumbai performed well in the cities’ speeds ranking. Both cities reported median download speeds of over 300 Mbps in H1 2023, with Delhi at 357.43 Mbps and Mumbai at 319.45 Mbps. While Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, and Delhi have shown 5G performance comparable to or even exceeding those of well-established 5G markets in the region, their 5G networks are still relatively new. As a result, these cities have lower 5G Availability than others as anticipated.
Metro Manila, with one-third of the population of the Philippines, had the lowest median download speed among all the cities in this report for H1 2023, with a speed of 135.51 Mbps. During the same period, Metro Manila reported a 5G availability rate of 35.7%, slightly lower than Seoul (35.9%) and Sydney (39.2%).
Breaking the digital divide with 5G FWA
The benefits of 5G go beyond the faster speeds compared to 4G. It also plays a role in bringing connectivity to underserved areas. Although developed markets in the Asia Pacific are leading in ultra-fast, fixed fiber broadband, there is still a portion of the region where internet connectivity is expensive, unavailable, or insufficient. Many people in these underserved regions rely on mobile devices to access the internet. According to GSMA Intelligence, mobile broadband networks are accessible to more than 96% of the population, making it the primary option for internet access in many households.
In some markets, mobile operators see 5G, particularly 5G fixed-wireless access (FWA) services, as a viable alternative to traditional fixed broadband. While FWA is not a new concept, the use of 5G technology is expected to accelerate its growth, especially in areas where it is not economically feasible to deploy high-speed fixed broadband networks. According to GSMA Intelligence, nearly three in five users who either have upgraded or plan to upgrade to 5G find the idea of using 5G for home broadband appealing. FWA is becoming one of the operators’ primary 5G use cases, providing an opportunity to increase revenue and monetize network investments and wireless spectrum.
The Asia-Pacific region is seeing a rise in the adoption of 5G FWA, with Southeast Asia leading the way. In 2019, Globe Telecom in the Philippines, became the first country in the region to launch FWA. Other regional operators, such as Telkomsel in Indonesia and AIS in Thailand, have also begun offering FWA services. In New Zealand, operators plan to provide FWA coverage to 90% of the population by the end of 2023.
While 5G FWA shows promising growth potential, operators need to ensure that as 5G adoption in the network increases, they have the capacity to support their FWA services and the spectrum to guarantee quality. When the demand for 5G FWA service grows, operators may have to look at utilizing the mmWave spectrum to maintain the quality of their FWA services while keeping network capacity intact.
We will keep a close eye on the progress and effectiveness of 5G implementation throughout the Asia Pacific region. If you are interested in benchmarking your performance or if you’d like to learn more about internet speeds and performance in other markets around the world, visit the Speedtest Global Index™.
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.
Speedtest Global Index™ Market Analyses from Ookla® identify key data about internet performance in countries across the world. This quarter we’ve provided updated analyses for 44 markets that include details on fastest mobile and fixed broadband providers, performance of most popular devices and chipsets and internet speeds in cities. Click a country on the list below to see highlights or scroll through the article to learn what Speedtest Intelligence® revealed in all 43 markets:
Speedtest Intelligence revealed mobile provider MTN had the fastest median download speed (15.71 Mbps) and Consistency Score™ (71.1%) in Côte d’Ivoire during Q1 2022.
There was no statistical winner for fastest fixed broadband provider in Côte d’Ivoire during Q1 2022, though Orange had a median download speed of 33.65 Mbps and CANALBOX had a median download speed of 33.35 Mbps.
Fixed broadband provider ipNX had the fastest median download speed (21.34 Mbps) and highest Consistency Score (45.9%) in Nigeria during Q1 2022.
There was no statistical winner for fastest top mobile operator in Nigeria during Q1 2022, though Airtel and MTN led the way at 22.42 Mbps and 21.71 Mbps, respectively.
Speedtest Intelligence shows Cool Ideas had the fastest fixed broadband median download speed (46.05 Mbps) and highest Consistency Score (73.2%) in South Africa during Q1 2022.
MTN had the fastest median 5G download speed in South Africa at 213.37 Mbps during Q1 2022, much faster than Vodacom (132.11 Mbps).
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra dominated for fastest popular device in South Africa during Q1 2022 and achieved a median download speed of 105.21 Mbps. The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max followed at 82.23 Mbps.
Among top mobile operators in Tanzania, Halotel had the fastest median download speed (17.84 Mbps) and highest Consistency Score (80.1%) during Q1 2022.
Mwanza had the fastest median mobile download speed among Tanzania’s most populous cities at 13.76 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Speedtest Intelligence reveals mobile provider Turkcell had the fastest median download speed and highest Consistency Score in Turkey at 53.77 Mbps and 92.7%, respectively, during Q1 2022.
For fixed broadband in Turkey, TurkNet had the highest median download speed (47.43 Mbps) and Consistency Score (76.8%) during Q1 2022.
According to Speedtest Intelligence, China Telecom was the fastest fixed broadband provider in China with a median download speed of 146.70 Mbps during Q1 2022.
During Q1 2022, China Mobile achieved the fastest median 5G download speed at 300.96 Mbps, ahead of China Telecom (296.97 Mbps) and China Unicom (280.62 Mbps).
Among top device manufacturers, Huawei had the fastest median download speed in China at 108.94 Mbps during Q1 2022.
China Mobile Hong Kong was the fastest mobile operator in Hong Kong, achieving a median download speed of 66.11 Mbps during Q1 2022.
China Mobile Hong Kong also showed the fastest 5G download speed, achieving a median speed of 172.19 Mbps during Q1 2022. Mobile provider 3 followed at 155.81 Mbps.
Vodafone was the fastest mobile operator in New Zealand during Q1 2022, earning a median download speed of 59.65 Mbps.
2degrees blazed ahead with the fastest median 5G download speed in New Zealand at 479.71 Mbps during Q1 2022, beating out Vodafone (342.45 Mbps) and Spark (307.21 Mbps).
For fixed broadband, MyRepublic achieved the fastest median download speed in New Zealand at 217.66 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Speedtest Intelligence shows Singtel was the fastest top mobile operator in Singapore with a median download speed of 93.00 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Singtel blazed ahead of the competition for fastest median 5G download speed in Singapore at 360.31 Mbps during Q1 2022 — a strong rise over its median 5G download speed of 289.01 Mbps during Q4 2021.
Speedtest Intelligence revealed that AIS had the fastest median download speed on mobile in Thailand at 43.52 Mbps during Q1 2022, beating out TrueMove H and dtac.
AIS also had the fastest median 5G download speed in Thailand during Q1 2022 at 261.19 Mbps, followed by TrueMove H and dtac.
Vinaphone was Vietnam’s fastest mobile operator during Q1 2022, reaching a median mobile download speed of 42.43 Mbps, just faster than Viettel (40.61 Mbps).
Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro had the fastest median download speed among popular devices in Vietnam at 70.91 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Magenta took the top spot as Austria’s fastest fixed broadband provider with a median download speed of 154.44 Mbps during Q1 2022. LIWEST was the closest competitor (88.75 Mbps).
A1 was the fastest mobile provider in Austria during Q1 2022, achieving a median download speed of 69.80 Mbps. Operator 3 followed at 53.73 Mbps.
Telenet decisively claimed its spot as Belgium’s fastest fixed broadband provider during Q1 2022, earning a median download speed of 129.18 Mbps. VOO followed at 109.76 Mbps.
Among mobile operators, Telenet/BASE had the fastest median download speed at 66.92 Mbps.
Fastspeed was Denmark’s fastest fixed broadband provider during Q1 2022, achieving a median download speed of 284.28 Mbps. Hiper followed at 239.43 Mbps.
YouSee was Denmark’s fastest mobile operator, earning a median download speed of 115.87 Mbps during Q1 2022.
According to Speedtest Intelligence, Elisa was the fastest fixed broadband provider in Estonia during Q1 2022, achieving a median download speed of 74.48 Mbps.
Telia had the fastest mobile median download speed in Estonia at 73.20 Mbps during Q1 2022.
According to Speedtest Intelligence, DNA took the top spot as Finland’s fastest mobile operator in Q1 2022, earning a median download speed of 70.76 Mbps. DNA also edged out Telia for the highest Consistency Score 93.1% to 91.7%.
In addition, DNA had the fastest 5G download speed in Finland, achieving a median download speed of 297.70 Mbps. Telia (259.68 Mbps) and Elisa (230.35 Mbps) followed.
Competition was tight for Finland’s fastest fixed broadband provider during Q1 2022. DNA (87.87 Mbps) raced past Elisa (86.54 Mbps) and Telia (86.13 Mbps) to take the top spot.
Orange earned the top spot as France’s fastest and most consistent mobile operator with a median mobile download speed of 81.03 Mbps and a Consistency Score of 89.8% during Q1 2022.
During Q1 2022, Orange dominated the competition as France’s fastest 5G provider by achieving a median 5G download speed of 366.42 Mbps. SFR followed at 247.32 Mbps.
According to Speedtest Intelligence, Vodafone was Germany’s fastest fixed broadband provider during Q1 2022, earning a median download speed of 108.67 Mbps.
Telekom achieved the fastest median mobile download speed (79.34 Mbps) and Consistency Score (90.9%) among German mobile operators during Q1 2022.
Telekom took the top spot for the fastest median 5G download speed in Germany at 193.09 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Vodafone was Hungary’s fastest fixed broadband provider with a median download speed of 159.59 Mbps during Q1 2022. Vodafone also had the highest Consistency Score at 87.9% during Q1 2022.
Yettel was Hungary’s fastest mobile operator during Q1 2022, earning a median download speed of 50.62 Mbps.
According to Speedtest Intelligence, Balticom had the fastest median fixed broadband download speed in Latvia at 188.27 Mbps and highest Consistency Score (91.9%) during Q1 2022.
LMT had the fastest median mobile download speed in Latvia at 50.70 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Telia had the fastest median mobile download speed in Lithuania at 77.77 Mbps during Q1 2022. Tele2 followed at 41.75 Mbps, then BITE (29.81 Mbps).
Speedtest Intelligence reveals that Cgates had the fastest median fixed broadband speed in Lithuania at 99.50 Mbps during Q1 2022, edging out Penki (93.52 Mbps) and Telia (86.84 Mbps).
Melita took the top spot as Malta’s fastest and most consistent fixed broadband provider during Q1 2022, earning a median download speed of 117.68 Mbps and Consistency Score of 85.2%.
According to Speedtest Intelligence, Orange dominated as Moldova’s fastest fixed broadband provider, achieving a median download speed of 203.54 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Tiraspol showed the fastest median mobile download speed among Moldova’s most populous cities at 35.62 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Speedtest Intelligence revealed that UPC was the fastest fixed broadband provider in Poland, achieving a median download speed of 195.74 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Mobile operator Plus had the fastest median 5G download speed in Poland at 167.37 Mbps during Q1 2022, a slight gain over Q4 2021.
Orange took the top spot as Slovakia’s fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 53.30 Mbps, edging out Telekom’s 45.90 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Orange also dominated as the fastest 5G operator in Slovakia with a median 5G download speed at 299.09 Mbps during Q1 2022. 4ka followed at 177.76 Mbps.
UPC took the top spot as Slovakia’s fastest and most consistent fixed broadband provider with a median download speed of 146.65 Mbps and a Consistency Score of 87.5% during Q1 2022.
Movistar provided the fastest and most consistent mobile experience among Spanish mobile operators during Q1 2022 with a median download speed of 52.44 Mbps and Consistency Score of 89.4%.
Vodafone was Spain’s fastest 5G provider by a wide margin, achieving a median download speed of 192.40 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Speedtest Intelligence revealed Personal was Argentina’s fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 25.57 Mbps during Q1 2022.
There was a tight race for the fastest median mobile download speed in Argentina’s most populous cities with no statistical winner during Q1 2022. However, Buenos Aires (25.26 Mbps) and La Plata (25.18 Mbps) led the way.
Speedtest Intelligence reveals Claro was the fastest and most consistent mobile operator in Brazil during Q1 2022, achieving a median download speed of 33.53 Mbps and Consistency Score of 84.6%.
Claro achieved the fastest median 5G download speed in Brazil at 72.35 Mbps during Q1 2022. TIM (62.80 Mbps) and Vivo (62.38 Mbps) followed.
According to Speedtest Intelligence, Netlife was Ecuador’s fastest and most consistent fixed broadband provider during Q1 2022, achieving a median download speed of 45.53 Mbps and Consistency Score of 75.5%.
CNT was the fastest and most consistent mobile operator in Ecuador during Q1 2022, with a median download speed of 33.11 Mbps and Consistency Score of 87.4%.
According to Speedtest Intelligence, Claro was the fastest and most consistent mobile operator in Guatemala during Q1 2022, achieving a median download speed of 21.40 Mbps and Consistency Score of 80.5%.
Tigo was the fastest and most consistent fixed broadband provider in Guatemala with a median download speed of 26.56 Mbps and Consistency Score of 58.3% during Q1 2022.
Speedtest Intelligence reveals Telcel was Mexico’s fastest mobile operator during Q1 2022, leading the market with a median download speed of 40.25 Mbps.
Totalplay was the fastest and most consistent fixed broadband provider in Mexico, achieving a median download speed of 49.33 Mbps and Consistency Score of 74.3% during Q1 2022.
According to Speedtest Intelligence, Winet Telecom was Peru’s fastest fixed broadband provider by a wide margin, achieving a median download speed of 102.83 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Claro was the fastest mobile operator in Peru during Q1 2022, earning a median download speed of 19.55 Mbps.
Speedtest Intelligence reveals Verizon was the fastest fixed broadband provider in the United States during Q1 2022, edging out XFINITY with a median download speed of 184.36 Mbps to XFINITY’s 179.12 Mbps.
T-Mobile took the top spot as the fastest and most consistent mobile operator in the U.S. during Q1 2022, achieving a median download speed of 117.83 Mbps and a Consistency Score of 88.3% — both increases over Q4 2021.
Looking at tests taken only on 5G, T-Mobile achieved the fastest median 5G download speed at 191.12 Mbps during Q1 2022. Verizon also had a notable increase in 5G download speed during Q1 2022 over Q4 2021 , which was helped by turning on new C-Band spectrum in January.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was the fastest popular device in the U.S. at 116.33 Mbps during Q1 2022.
Read the full market analyses and follow monthly ranking updates on the Speedtest Global Index.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on May 11, 2022.
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.
This analysis includes Starlink Net Promoter Score (NPS) data for France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, year-over-year data for satellite providers in Europe and Oceania from Q2 2022 to Q2 2023, and new Q2 2023 data from Starlink in Africa.
Starlink users across different continents continue to love the service
Using Speedtest Intelligence®, we examined NPS ratings data for Starlink users against an aggregate of all fixed broadband providers combined.
NPS is based on Speedtest® user responses after being asked how likely they are to recommend their provider to friends or family on a 0 to 10 scale. NPS ratings are categorized into Detractors (score 0-6), Passives (score 7-8), and Promoters (score 9-10), and is calculated as (% Promoters – % Detractors) x 100. Any NPS score above 0 indicates that a provider’s audience is more loyal than not.
As you can see from the above image, Starlink users in France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the U.K. had an NPS score much higher than the aggregate score for all fixed broadband providers combined during Q2 2023. France had the highest NPS among the aggregate of fixed broadband providers for the countries we surveyed at -15.98 and fixed broadband providers had a much faster median download speed at 165.37 Mbps to Starlink’s 107.56 Mbps. In New Zealand there was a similar story with the aggregate of fixed broadband providers having a -20.40 NPS to Starlink’s 48.83, while having a faster median download speed 147.86 Mbps to 113.78 Mbps during Q2 2023.
Germany, which had the lowest NPS rating of aggregate of fixed broadband providers in Europe at -30.10, also had the smallest difference in NPS with Starlink scoring 38.19. Interestingly, the aggregate of fixed broadband providers and Starlink both had similar median download speeds at 83.16 Mbps and 82.56 Mbps, respectively, during Q2 2023.
Of note, Starlink had much higher NPS ratings and median download speeds than the aggregate of all fixed providers combined in Italy and the U.K., respectively, during Q2 2023. Starlink’s NPS was 50.20 to -25.61 for the aggregate of all fixed broadband providers in Italy during Q2 2023, while the median download speeds were 100.68 Mbps to 63.99 Mbps. In the U.K., Starlink’s NPS was 47.18 to -26.88 for the aggregate of all fixed broadband providers combined, with the median download speeds a little closer, 100.11 Mbps to 77.38 Mbps, respectively.
In our last report, we found a wide NPS gap between U.S. rural Starlink users — who often have fewer options for fixed broadband access — and the corresponding aggregate of fixed broadband providers. Given that all five of these countries have rural or remote regions that are underserved or not served by traditional broadband offerings, it may be no surprise that Starlink users who reside in those areas may feel positive about having access to fast broadband internet.
Starlink speeds over 100 Mbps in 14 European countries during Q2 2023, speeds stabilizing across Europe
Key takeaways:
Starlink results were the fastest among satellite providers we surveyed.
Starlink quarter-to-quarter speeds improved or remained about the same (between 5% and -5%) in 23 countries, while decreasing in 4 countries.
Among the 27 European countries we surveyed, Starlink had median download speeds greater than 100 Mbps in 14 countries, greater than 90 Mbps in 20 countries, and greater than 80 in 24 countries, with only three countries failing to reach 70 Mbps.
Skylogic, while delivering speeds slower than Starlink, showed stabilized broadband speeds over the past year for those seeking a Starlink alternative.
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Over the past year, we’ve seen huge developments in the global satellite market, Europe notwithstanding, with Amazon’s Project Kuiper moving forward, the EU creating its own satellite constellation, and OneWeb and Eutelsat merging. While Starlink continues to lead for performance among satellite providers we surveyed, Starlink has experienced some major hurdles over the past year as users flock to the service and speeds have subsequently dipped — but of note those concerns seem to have started allaying in most of Europe during Q2 2023.
At first glance, year-over-year median download speeds for Starlink are about the same (-5% to 5%) or better (greater than 5%) from Q2 2022 to Q2 2023 in 15 countries and slower (decreasing more than 5%) in 8 countries. But among the 27 countries we surveyed during Q2 2023, Starlink had speeds faster than the aggregate of all fixed broadband providers combined in 11 countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, and the U.K.) Those speeds were most notably faster in Croatia and Greece for Starlink at 94.41 Mbps to 45.24 Mbps and 108.97 to 44.09 Mbps, respectively, during Q2 2023. Speeds were about the same in four countries (Finland, Slovenia, Germany, and Lithuania), and speeds were slower than the aggregate of fixed broadband providers in 12 countries, most notably in Poland, Spain, Romania, Denmark, and France which saw between 50% and 105% faster aggregate fixed broadband speeds than Starlink.
Quarterly download speeds stabilizing or improving
Looking at results from Q1 2023 to Q2 2023, median download speeds for Starlink remained about the same (between 5% and -5%) in 23 countries, while decreasing in four countries. That’s a big deal, especially given Starlink had median download speeds greater than 100 Mbps in 14 countries, and greater than 90 Mbps in 20 countries, and greater than 80 in 24 countries — with only three countries failing to reach 70 Mbps.
While trailing Starlink speeds, Skylogic recorded median download speeds in Italy at 29.21 Mbps during Q2 2023, a roughly 27% statistical increase year-over-year from 22.28 Mbps during Q2 2022. Notably, Skylogic recorded a median download speed of 68.44 Mbps in Italy during Q1 2023. Among the various countries we recorded Skylogic data for during the past year, the range of median download speeds varied between 19.53 Mbps and 68.44 Mbps, with most speeds between 28 and 50 Mbps, all fast enough to stream 4K video online. Viasat, had relatively similar download speeds in Germany and Italy at 17.22 Mbps and 17.45 Mbps, respectively, during Q2 2023.
Top 10 fastest Starlink download speeds in European countries
Starlink in Switzerland had one of the fastest median download speed among countries with Starlink during Q2 2023 at 122.47 Mbps, followed by Denmark (117.38 Mbps), Austria (111.91 Mbps), Belgium (111.20 Mbps), Hungary (108.97 Mbps), France (107.56 Mbps), Ireland (104.42 Mbps), Estonia (102.38 Mbps), Portugal (101.75 Mbps), and Latvia (100.94 Mbps). Sweden, Italy, Bulgaria, and the U.K. all followed but had speeds greater than 100 Mbps.
Upload speeds for Starlink are down year over year, but quarterly speeds almost all improved or were about the same
Upload speeds for Starlink mostly decreased notably year over year, with only the U.K. showing an improved median upload speed in Q2 2023 out of 27 countries surveyed. However, looking quarter to quarter, Q2 2023 upload speeds for Starlink stayed about the same or improved in 25 out of 27 countries, with only Greece and Ireland showing declines. For upload speeds, Starlink all 27 countries we surveyed had upload speeds between 10 Mbps and 15 Mbps except Portugal (17.70 Mbps), Hungary (16.91 Mbps), Croatia (16.12 Mbps), Bulgaria (15.93 Mbps), Romania (15.82 Mbps), Spain (15.79 Mbps), and Poland (9.11 Mbps). Starlink in Greece was the only instance of a satellite provider in Europe having an upload speed greater than the aggregate of all fixed providers combined, 12.97 Mbps for Starlink to 7.85 Mbps for the aggregate of fixed broadband providers combined. Skylogic showed upload speeds lower than 4 Mbps in both Austria and Italy during Q2 2023. Viasat had upload speeds of 3.51 Mbps in Germany and 4.69 Mbps in Italy during Q2 2023.
Multi-server latency is stabilizing for Starlink users across Europe
As an low-earth orbiting (LEO) satellite internet provider, Starlink has a leg up on some satellite competitors who rely on further away geosynchronous-earth orbit (GEO) and medium-earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellations. However, once again, all the aggregates of all fixed broadband providers in Europe had much lower multi-server latencies than Starlink, Viasat (which had latencies over 600 ms) and Skylogic (which had latencies over 700 ms). That being said, Starlink still saw multi-server latencies under 60 ms in the U.K. (51.26 ms), Spain (53.37 ms), Portugal (55.84 ms), and Belgium (59.34 ms). Starlink saw most countries’ multi-server latencies between 60 and 90 ms.
Starlink speeds stabilize in Oceania
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Oceania, the second least densely populated continent in the world to Antarctica, has rural and remote populations that benefit from (and even rely on) satellite internet connections. Luckily for rural and remote Starlink users, they’ve probably seen a good amount of stability over the past year with Q2 2023 median download speeds in New Zealand at 113.78 Mbps (105.99 Mbps in Q2 2022) and Australia at 104.92 Mbps (102.76 Mbps in Q2 2022). Tonga, which is very remote, saw download speeds drop from 45.25 Mbps in Q2 2022 to 37.95 Mbps in Q2 2023.
Upload speeds also showed some stability with Australia going from 10.45 Mbps in Q2 2022 to 11.33 Mbps during Q2 2023 and New Zealand going from 12.31 Mbps to 14.62 during the same time period. Tonga saw a notable drop in speeds year over year from 19.26 Mbps in Q2 2022 to 6.66 Mbps Q2 2023.
Multi-server latency, which usually will be higher for satellite internet options, showed promising results for Starlink in Oceania during Q2 2023. Multi-server latency dropped noticeably in New Zealand year over year, going from 89.38 ms in Q2 2022 to 46.42 ms in Q2 2023. Australia saw a more modest drop with multi-server latency going from 63.04 ms to 59.78 ms from Q2 2022 to Q2 2023. Tonga saw an increase in multi-server latency from 125.24 ms to 137.16 ms during the same time period.
Starlink in Africa is off to a promising start
Starlink, which first launched on the African continent in Nigeria this past January, is showing intriguing early results. Speedtest Intelligence showed that Starlink in Nigeria had a faster median download speeds than all aggregate fixed broadband providers combined at 63.69 Mbps to 15.60 Mbps during Q2 2023. Upload speeds were more similar during the same time period with Starlink at 13.72 Mbps and the aggregate of all fixed broadband providers combined at 10.60 Mbps. Starlink did have a marginally higher multi-server latency at 55.88 ms to 50.26 ms during Q2 2023.
In Rwanda, median download speeds were a little closer with Starlink recording a median download speed at 63.10 Mbps in Q2 2023 compared to the aggregate of all fixed broadband providers combined at 34.55 Mbps. Starlink trailed behind for median upload speed at 6.88 Mbps to 10.05 Mbps for fixed broadband providers during Q2 2023. Multi-server latency for Starlink was much higher at 320.45 ms to 29.04 ms for fixed broadband providers during the same time period.
The 2023 space revolution is off to a huge start
Here are some major updates about what’s next for various different satellite competitors:
After delays, Amazon’s Project Kuiper aim to launch prototype satellites this fall
China’s grand ambitions to provide internet connectivity to over 362 million people
According to the Wall Street Journal, over 362 million people in China don’t have access to the internet — which is about 1 in every 4 people in China, a large portion of which live in rural or remote communities. In order to overcome that connectivity gap, China is looking to the sky to create its own satellite constellation with potentially over 12,000 satellites. China’s biggest gap seems to be with recreating the success of SpaceX’s reusable rockets — however, initial tests are far underway and a host of reusable rockets are slated for test launches in 2024.
SpaceX’s Starlink service offerings are about to rapidly expand
While Starlink continues to lead among satellite providers in most areas of the world, their expansion is only starting. Looking at the Starlink availability map, Starlink has an incredibly busy rest of 2023 and 2024 in Africa, Asia, and South America — and they’re marking their intent to expand into most of the world. That comes as Starlink marked launching over 5,000 satellites into space at the end of August. With some wiley entrepreneurs already renting out their Starlink “Dishy McFlatfaces” to vacationers and campers for $25-30 dollars a day, satellite connectivity is truly becoming a full-time gig.
Viasat’s bad luck might affect entire industry
Viasat launched the first of its three long-awaited Viasat-3 arrays — but then their first satellite suffered an antenna anomaly, which prevented a large reflector to deploy that affects whether or not the satellite can operate as intended. While Viasat is rushing to solve the issue, this could ultimately trigger a $420 million insure claim for the loss of the $700 million satellite. With such a high-value loss, this could send ripples through the satellite industry, causing insurance premiums to skyrocket for companies looking to mitigate potential losses through insurance. All of this comes on the heels of acquiring Inmarsat in May for $7.3 billion to expand its satellite arrays and spectrum holdings. We’ll be watching to see whether or not Viasat can find a solution.
Eutelsat and OneWeb merger imminent, big moves abound
The Eutelsat and OneWeb merger should make competitors take notice — combining satellite networks, expanding enterprise offerings, and competing in emerging markets has big revenue potential — with OneWeb having an already established LEO network of 630 satellites and Eutelsat offering 36 GEO satellites. Of note, OneWeb recently inked a deal with Telstra in Australia to provide satellite backhaul for locations “where satellite backhaul is a preferred or only viable option.” OneWeb is also partnering with the European Space Agency to develop a next-gen 5G beam-hopping satellite, which could quickly increase connectivity for people traveling or for disaster areas that need emergency connectivity. Shareholders are set to vote on approving the merger on Sept. 28.
European Union greenlights multi-orbit constellation
HughesNet aiming to launch Jupiter 3 array in Q2 2023
HughesNet successfully launched its Jupiter 3 array on July 29, which aims to provide U.S. and Latin America consumers with higher broadband download speeds. While the actual satellite will take some time to reach its geosynchronous orbit and deploy, this satellite adds 500 Gbps of Ka-band capacity for HughesNet, which could see consumers reaching download speeds between 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps. We’ll be eagerly awaiting Speedtest® results from HughesNet’s Jupiter 3 array.
Ookla will continue monitoring new satellite internet developments
2023 continues to be an important year for satellite internet providers. Satellite connectivity is something we’ll be watching closely and we’ll continue our series next quarter with Q3 2023 data from select continents including North America. In the meantime, be sure to download the Speedtest app for Windows and Mac computers or for iOS or Android for devices and see how your satellite internet stacks up to our results.
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.
Ookla® Market Reports™ identify key data about internet performance in countries across the world. This quarter we’ve provided updated analyses for 51 markets using Speedtest Intelligence® and summarized a few top takeaways below. Click through to the market report to see more details and charts about the countries you’re interested in, including the fastest fixed broadband providers and mobile operators, who had the most consistent service, and 5G and device performance in select countries during Q3 2023. Jump forward to a continent using these links:
Côte d’Ivoire: Orange recorded the fastest median mobile and fixed download speeds during Q3 2023, at 24.33 Mbps and 66.84 Mbps, respectively. Moov Africa recorded the lowest median multi-server latency over fixed broadband at 122 ms. Of Côte d’Ivoire most populous cities, Bouake had the fastest median fixed download speed of 59.22 Mbps, just ahead of Abidjan with 58.44 Mbps.
Mozambique: There were no statistical winners for fastest median mobile download speed during Q3 2023, with Vodacom and Tmcel delivering median download speeds of 31.16 Mbps and 27.89 Mbps, respectively. Tmcel recorded the lowest mobile multi-server latency at 52 ms and the highest Consistency at 91.8%. Of Mozambique’s most populous cities, Maputo had the fastest median mobile and fixed download speeds at 28.71 Mbps and 12.57 Mbps, respectively. SpaceX’s Starlink recorded the fastest fixed broadband median download speed in Q3 2023 at 53.98 Mbps, along with the highest Consistency at 60.3%. Meanwhile, TVCABO recorded the lowest median multi-server latency over fixed broadband at 14 ms.
Senegal: There was no winner of fastest median mobile performance in Senegal during Q3 2023, with Orange and Free both tied. Orange led the market for median fixed broadband download performance, with 21.68 Mbps in Q3 2023. It also had the lowest median multi-server latency at 85 ms and highest Consistency of 45.3%. Of Senegal’s most populous cities, Dakar had the fastest median fixed download speed of 26.08 Mbps.
Argentina: Personal had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 36.63 Mbps, while also registering lowest mobile multi-server latency at 39 ms during Q3 2023. In the fixed broadband market, there was no statistically fastest network, with Movistar and Telecentro delivering median download speeds of 102.55 Mbps and 101.96 Mbps, respectively. Movistar recorded the lowest multi-server latency of 10 ms. Among Argentina’s most populous cities, La Plata recorded the fastest mobile download speed of 35.48 Mbps, while Buenos Aires recorded the fastest fixed download speed of 105.50 Mbps.
Belize: Digi had the fastest median mobile download and upload speeds of 17.23 Mbps and 10.38 Mbps, respectively during Q3 2023. Digi also recorded the highest Consistency of 81.5%, while smart! recorded the lowest median mobile multi-server latency of 55 ms. NEXGEN had the fastest median download and upload speeds over fixed broadband in Belize at 48.27 Mbps and 47.29 Mbps, respectively.
Canada: Bell was the fastest mobile operator in Canada with a median download speed of 100.77 Mbps in Q3 2023. Bell also had the fastest median 5G download speed at 183.06 Mbps. Rogers had the fastest median mobile upload speed of 11.44 Mbps, and the highest Consistency of 82.9%. Bell pure fibre was fastest for fixed broadband, recording a median download speed of 286.08 Mbps and a median upload speed of 244.64 Mbps. Of Canada’s most populous cities, St. John’s recorded the fastest median mobile download speed at 158.19 Mbps, while Fredericton recorded the fastest median fixed broadband download speed of 238.49 Mbps.
Colombia: Movistar was fastest for fixed broadband with a median download speed of 181.42 Mbps in Q3 2023. ETB had the lowest median multi-server latency over fixed broadband at 9 ms. Of Colombia’s most populous cities, Cartagena recorded the fastest median fixed download speed of 125.15 Mbps.
Costa Rica: Claro had the fastest median download and upload speeds among mobile operators at 52.38 Mbps and 12.56 Mbps, respectively. Liberty had the lowest mobile multi-server latency at 33 ms and the highest Consistency at 80.1%. Metrocom was fastest for fixed broadband download and upload performance, at 213.77 Mbps and 157.89 Mbps, respectively.
Dominican Republic: Claro had the fastest median download and upload speeds among mobile operators at 32.22 Mbps and 9.27 Mbps, respectively. Viva had the lowest mobile multi-server latency at 44 ms. SpaceX’s Starlink was fastest for fixed broadband download performance at 49.21 Mbps, while Claro recorded the fastest median upload speed at 14.81 Mbps, as well as the lowest multi-server latency at 40 ms. Of the Dominican Republic’s most populous cities, Santo Domingo recorded the fastest median mobile and fixed download speeds of 37.43 Mbps and 44.92 Mbps, respectively.
Ecuador: There was no winner of fastest median mobile performance in Ecuador during Q3 2023, with CNT and Claro posting median download speeds of 28.00 Mbps and 26.65 Mbps, respectively. Movistar recorded the lowest mobile multi-server latency, of 40 ms. Netlife was fastest for fixed broadband, with a median download speed of 90.31 Mbps. Netlife also recorded the lowest multi-server latency over fixed broadband at 8ms.
El Salvador: Claro had the fastest median download speed among mobile operators at 41.26 Mbps, along with the highest Consistency of 88.5%. Movistar registered the lowest median multi-server latency in El Salvador at 59 ms. Cable Color recorded the fastest median fixed download speed at 54.91 Mbps, the top median upload speed at 49.87 Mbps, and the lowest median multi-server latency of 42 ms.
Guatemala: Claro was the fastest mobile operator in Guatemala with a median download speed of 37.39 Mbps and a median upload speed of 20.43 Mbps. Claro also had the highest Consistency at 86.1%, while also leading the market for 5G performance, with a median 5G download speed of 370.97 Mbps. SpaceX’s Starlink was fastest for median fixed download performance at 56.91 Mbps, while Cable Color was fastest for fixed upload performance at 28.96 Mbps. Cable Color also had the lowest median multi-server latency on fixed broadband at 34 ms.
Guyana: There was no winner of fastest median mobile performance in Guyana during Q3 2023, with ENet and Digicel posting median download speeds of 32.48 Mbps and 28.01 Mbps, respectively. ENet recorded the fastest median mobile upload speed at 18.03 Mbps and offered the lowest median multi-server latency at 137 ms. In the fixed broadband market, ENet recorded the fastest median download and upload speeds, of 61.46 Mbps and 39.75 Mbps, respectively.
Haiti: Digicel was the fastest mobile operator in Haiti with a median mobile download speed of 13.77 Mbps, a median upload speed of 9.92 Mbps, and Consistency of 67.4%. SpaceX Starlink had the fastest median fixed download speed at 50.18 Mbps. Natcom had the fastest median fixed upload speed at 32.10 Mbps and the lowest median fixed multi-server latency at 41 ms.
Honduras: Claro had the fastest median download and upload speeds over mobile at 54.06 Mbps and 15.75 Mbps, respectively. Claro also had the lowest mobile median multi-server latency at 89 ms and highest Consistency at 88.4%. Claro recorded the fastest median fixed broadband download speed of 46.11 Mbps, while TEVISAT had the fastest median upload speed of 21.30 Mbps and lowest median multi-server latency of 32 ms.
Jamaica: There was no winner of fastest median mobile download performance in Jamaica during Q3 2023, with Digicel and Flow tied. Digicel recorded the fastest median upload speed of 9.55 Mbps and highest Consistency of 85.8%. Flow had the lowest mobile median multi-server latency at 36 ms. SpaceX Starlink had the fastest median download speed over fixed broadband at 79.85 Mbps.
Mexico: Telcel had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 50.81 Mbps, and the operator also delivered the fastest median 5G download speed at 223.06 Mbps. Telcel also had the lowest mobile median multi-server latency at 63 ms and highest Consistency at 87.1%. Totalplay was fastest for fixed broadband with a median download speed of 88.28 Mbps and upload speed of 30.60 Mbps. Totalplay also had the lowest median multi-server latency at 27 ms. Among Mexico’s most populous cities, Monterrey recorded the fastest median download speeds on both mobile and fixed, at 39.47 Mbps and 77.94 Mbps, respectively.
Panama: MasMovil was the fastest mobile operator with median download and upload speeds of 23.66 Mbps and 15.49 Mbps, respectively, as well as the highest Consistency of 80.6%. MasMovil was also the fastest fixed network provider, with a median download speed of 147.50 Mbps and a median upload speed of 30.12 Mbps.
Peru: Claro was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 22.27 Mbps,and Claro also had the highest mobile Consistency in the market with 80.3%.
Trinidad and Tobago: Digicel had the fastest median download speed over mobile at 34.92 Mbps and highest Consistency of 89.4%. Digicel+ had the fastest median fixed broadband download and upload speeds at 114.20 Mbps and 105.21 Mbps, respectively. Digicel+ also had the lowest median multi-server latency at 7 ms, as well as the highest Video Score at 82.35.
United States: T-Mobile was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 163.59 Mbps. T-Mobile also had the fastest median 5G download speed at 221.57 Mbps, as well as the lowest 5G multi-server latency of 50 ms. Cox led the market as the fastest fixed broadband provider with a median download speed of 260.09 Mbps, while AT&T Internet recorded the fastest median fixed upload speed of 188.60 Mbps, and Verizon had the lowest median multi-server latency on fixed broadband at 16 ms.
Uruguay: Antel was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 182.79 Mbps, and Antel also had the lowest median multi-server latency of 42 ms.
Venezuela: Digitel was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 13.53 Mbps and a median upload speed of 6.54 Mbps. Digitel also recorded the highest Consistency in the market, with 66.2%, and the lowest median multi-server latency of 95 ms. Airtek Solutions had the fastest fixed median download speed of 82.79 Mbps, upload speed of 88.09 Mbps, and the lowest median multi-server latency at 7 ms.
Afghanistan: The fastest mobile operator in Afghanistan was Afghan Wireless with a median download speed of 6.38 Mbps. The operator also had the lowest median multi-server latency at 74 ms and the highest Consistency of 52.3% in Q3 2023.
Bangladesh: Banglalink was the fastest mobile operator in Bangladesh with a median download speed of 25.03 Mbps in Q3 2023. Banglalink also recorded the highest Consistency of 85.3% and the lowest median multi-server latency of 35ms. DOT Internet was the fastest fixed broadband provider with a median download speed of 90.20 Mbps, while also recording the highest Consistency at 85.6% and the lowest median multi-server latency at 5 ms.
Bhutan: There was no statistical winner for fastest mobile download performance during Q3 2023 in Bhutan, with BT and TashiCell both tied.
Brunei: There was no statistical winner for fastest mobile download performance during Q3 2023 in Brunei, with DST and Imagine both tied.
Cambodia: Cellcard recorded the fastest median mobile download speed at 31.76 Mbps during Q3 2023, while Metfone recorded the highest Consistency at 81.0% and the lowest median multi-server latency at 38 ms. There was no statistical winner among top providers in Cambodia for median fixed download speed, with SINET and MekongNet both tied.
China: China Mobile was the fastest mobile operator with a median download speed of 179.81 Mbps, and highest Consistency of 95.6%. China Broadnet recorded the fastest median 5G download speed at 297.59 Mbps. China Unicom was fastest for fixed broadband at 208.59 Mbps. Among China’s most populous cities, Beijing recorded the fastest median mobile download speed of 220.21 Mbps, while Tianjin recorded the fastest median fixed download speed of 284.90 Mbps.
Georgia: There was no statistical winner for fastest mobile download performance during Q3 2023 in Georgia, with Geocell and Magti both tied. Geocell recorded the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 41 ms, while Magti recorded the highest mobile Consistency with 88.0%. MagtiCom had the fastest median fixed download speed at 27.80 Mbps during Q3 2023. It also recorded the highest Consistency, of 66.3%, and the lowest median multi-server latency at 12 ms. Among Georgia’s most populous cities, Gori recorded the fastest median mobile download speed of 39.01 Mbps, while Tbilisi recorded the fastest median fixed download speed of 26.98 Mbps.
Indonesia: Telkomsel was the fastest Indonesian mobile operator with a median download speed of 31.04 Mbps. Telkomsel also had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 45 ms.
Japan: Rakuten Mobile recorded the fastest mobile download and upload speeds during Q3 2023 in Japan, at 46.98 Mbps and 19.34 Mbps, respectively. The operator also recorded the highest Consistency in the market at 90.4%, while SoftBank recorded the lowest median multi-server latency at 44 ms. So-net had the fastest fixed download and upload speeds, at 270.59 Mbps and 213.43 Mbps, respectively, as well as the lowest median multi-server latency over fixed broadband at 9 ms.
Malaysia: TIME was the fastest fixed broadband provider in Malaysia with a median download speed of 110.23 Mbps. TIME also recorded the highest Consistency in the market with 88.5% and the lowest multi-server latency at 9 ms.
Pakistan: Jazz delivered the fastest median mobile download speed in Pakistan at 20.63 Mbps in Q3 2023 and the highest Consistency of 80.5%. Zong recorded the lowest median mobile multi-server latency of 52 ms. Transworld had the fastest median fixed broadband download speed in Pakistan at 18.91 Mbps and the highest Consistency at 40.1%.
Philippines: Smart delivered the fastest median mobile download speed in the Philippines at 35.56 Mbps in Q3 2023.
South Korea: SK Telecom recorded the fastest median mobile download and upload speeds at 174.80 Mbps and 17.94 Mbps, respectively, while also recording the highest Consistency in the market at 86.3%. LG U+ had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency in the market at 66 ms. In South Korea’s fixed broadband market, LG U+ delivered the fastest median download and upload speeds at 148.56 Mbps and 96.53 Mbps, respectively. LG U+ also recorded the lowest median multi-server latency of 38 ms.
Sri Lanka: SLT-Mobitel delivered the fastest mobile and fixed download speed in Sri Lanka at 21.78 Mbps and 35.70 Mbps respectively in Q3 2023. Dialog had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 35 ms, while SLT-Mobitel recorded the lowest fixed broadband multi-server latency at 13 ms and the highest Consistency at 56.4%.
Turkey: Turkcell was the fastest mobile operator in Turkey with a median download speed of 57.60 Mbps, and the operator also recorded the highest Consistency of 90.8%. Türk Telekom had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 41 ms. TurkNet was fastest for fixed broadband, with a median download speed of 64.31 Mbps. TurkNet also recorded the lowest median fixed multi-server latency at 13 ms, and highest Consistency at 80.6%. Among Turkey’s most populous cities, Istanbul recorded the fastest median download speeds across mobile and fixed, of 41.22 Mbps, and 44.38 Mbps, respectively.
Vietnam: Vinaphone had the fastest median mobile download speed in Q3 2023, at 54.74 Mbps. Vinaphone also had the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 34 ms and the highest Consistency at 94.7%. Viettel was the fastest fixed provider with a median download speed of 109.77 Mbps. Viettel also recorded the lowest median fixed broadband multi-server latency of 7 ms and the highest Consistency at 91.4%.
Albania: There was no statistical winner for fastest mobile download performance during Q3 2023 in Albania, with One Albania and Vodafone tied. One Albania recorded the highest Consistency of 84.5%, while Vodafone recorded the lowest median multi-server latency at 35 ms. Digicom was the fastest fixed broadband provider with a median download speed of 93.98 Mbps, while also recording the highest Consistency at 87.9%. Among Albania’s most populous cities, Elbasan recorded the fastest median mobile download speed of 65.31 Mbps, while Vlorë recorded the fastest median fixed download speed of 56.98 Mbps.
Belgium: Proximus recorded the fastest median mobile download speed during Q3 2023, at 88.76 Mbps. Proximus also recorded the highest mobile Consistency in the market at 89.4%. Telenet had the fastest median fixed download speed at 149.77 Mbps, while VOO recorded the highest Consistency at 89.2%. Among Belgium’s most populous cities, Ghent recorded the fastest median mobile download speed of 213.88 Mbps, while Antwerp offered the fastest median fixed download speed of 88.93 Mbps.
Denmark: YouSee was the fastest mobile operator in Denmark with a median download speed of 131.88 Mbps in Q3 2023. Hiper was fastest for fixed broadband, with a median download speed of 274.54 Mbps.
Estonia: The fastest mobile operator in Estonia was Telia with a median download speed of 89.65 Mbps in Q3 2023. Elisa was the fastest fixed broadband provider, with a median download speed of 97.27 Mbps, while Infonet recorded the lowest median fixed broadband multi-server latency of 5 ms.
Finland: DNA had the fastest median mobile download speed at 100.55 Mbps in Q3 2023 and the highest Consistency of 91.9%. Telia recorded the lowest median mobile multi-server latency of 32 ms. Lounea was fastest for fixed broadband with a median download speed of 122.03 Mbps. Lounea also recorded the highest Consistency in the market at 92.3%, as well as the lowest median fixed broadband multi-server latency at 11 ms.
Germany: Telekom was the fastest mobile operator in Germany during Q3 2023, with a median download speed of 91.53 Mbps, as well as the top median download speed over 5G at 182.50 Mbps. Telekom also recorded the highest Consistency in the market at 90.7% and the lowest median mobile multi-server latency of 39 ms. Deutsche Glasfaser recorded the fastest fixed broadband performance, with a median download speed at 191.89 Mbps. It also recorded the highest Consistency in the market at 89.8% and the lowest fixed broadband multi-server latency of 14 ms.
Latvia: BITĖ was the fastest mobile operator in Latvia during Q3 2023, with a median download speed of 81.00 Mbps and the highest Consistency in the market of 89.3%. LMT recorded the lowest mobile multi-server latency at 27 ms. Balticom was fastest for fixed broadband with a median download speed of 256.37 Mbps. Balticom also had the highest fixed broadband Consistency of 92.5% and the lowest median fixed broadband multi-server latency at 4 ms.
Lithuania: Telia was the fastest mobile operator in Lithuania during Q3 2023, with a median download speed of 117.76 Mbps in Q3 2023. Telia also recorded the highest Consistency in the market at 92.8%. Cgates was fastest for fixed broadband with a median download speed at 167.30 Mbps. Cgates also recorded the highest Consistency over fixed broadband in the market at 90.1%.
Poland: T-Mobile was the fastest mobile operator in Poland during Q3 2023, with a median download speed of 50.31 Mbps. T-Mobile also recorded the highest Consistency in the market at 86.8%. Plus recorded the fastest 5G performance in the market, with a median 5G download speed of 146.01 Mbps. UPC was the fastest provider for fixed broadband with a median download speed of 228.57 Mbps in Q3 2023. Among Poland’s most populous cities, Łódź recorded the fastest median mobile download speed of 52.92 Mbps, while Wrocław recorded the fastest median fixed download speed of 163.04 Mbps.
Switzerland: Salt was the fastest fixed broadband provider in Switzerland, with a median download speed of 384.65 Mbps. Salt also had the highest Consistency in the market at 94.8% and the lowest median multi-server latency over fixed broadband at 8 ms.
New Zealand: One NZ was the fastest mobile operator in New Zealand during Q3 2023, with a median download speed of 74.20 Mbps. 2degrees led the market with the highest Consistency of 91.0% and the lowest median mobile multi-server latency at 41 ms.
The Speedtest Global Index is your resource to understand how internet connectivity compares around the world and how it’s changing. Check back next month for updated data on country and city rankings, and look for updated Ookla Market Reports with Q4 2023 data in January.
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.
Yes, you can game from anywhere with an internet connection. But if you’re at all competitive, it’s nice to play from somewhere with low ping and fast internet speeds. Plus when you need to leave the house, it’s extra nice to know you’re also surrounded by gamer culture. We’ve examined February 2019 Speedtest results in 35 cities that are known for their esports events, gaming conferences, game companies and more to find out who has the advantage and ranked them based on their ping.
The top contenders
First place Bucharest, Romania is home to super-low ping, a lightning fast download speed and a thriving gaming culture. From Bucharest Gaming Week (which includes the CS:GO Southeast Europe Championship and the FIFA National Tournament) to their numerous local game studios, Bucharest is a great place to be a gamer whether you’re online or out and about.
The next five gaming cities with the lowest pings are all in Asia. Hangzhou, China comes in second overall with a fast ping and world-class download speeds. This city is so devoted to its gamers that it opened a $280 million gaming “city” in 2018 and plans 14 new esports arenas before 2022. Coming in third, Chengdu, China has an equally low ping to our first two contenders and serves as one of two host locations in China for the Global Mobile Game Confederation (GMGC). Both Hangzhou and Chengdu are also franchise holders in the Overwatch League, giving local gaming fans something to cheer about. Fourth place Singapore, host of the 5th Annual GameStart Convention in October 2018, had only a slightly slower ping than the first four cities and the fastest download speed of any of the cities we considered.
South Korea is home to the fifth and sixth best cities for gamers. A satellite city of Seoul, Seongnam-si boasts the Pangyo Techno Valley (a.k.a. the Silicon Valley of Korea) and numerous game development companies. Perfect for a city with a 9 ms ping. Though Incheon’s ping was a little slower at 12 ms, gamers there can console themselves with the city’s gamer cred — the 2018 League of Legends World Championship was held in Incheon’s Munhak Stadium.
Coming in at number seven, Budapest, Hungary is an emerging game city, having hosted its first big esports event (the V4 Future Sports Festival) in 2018, but a 12 ms ping makes them a strong contender. More established Malmö, Sweden is number eight with a slightly slower average download speed but the city is headquarters to Massive Entertainment, creators of Tom Clancy’s The Division series, Far Cry 3, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations and many more.
Vancouver, Canada, North America’s only qualifier for the top gaming cities list, comes in at number nine with a 12 ms ping and many gaming companies including the Canadian arms of Nintendo of Canada and EA (Electronic Arts). We included both Shanghai, China and Moscow, Russia on the top gamer cities list as both had a 12 ms ping as well, though the internet speeds in Shanghai are superior. Shanghai will also host the International Dota 2 in 2019 while Moscow is known for Epicenter.
The rest of the pack
Notably absent from the list above is most of the western hemisphere. Cities in North America were held back by their high pings. Cities in South America suffered from high pings and also slow internet speeds — something that esports leagues have complained is a barrier to investment.
Our full list of gaming cities provides wider geographical representation, even if the internet performance is not always as stellar. You’ll find Los Angeles in 27th place, behind Seattle, Boston and Las Vegas. And São Paulo, Brazil has the best showing in Latin America at 23rd.
Internet Performance in 35 Cities with a Gaming Culture
Speedtest Results | February 2019
City
Ping (ms)
Mean Download (Mbps)
Mean Upload (Mbps)
Bucharest, Romania
8
172.13
126.57
Hangzhou, China
8
125.93
29.54
Chengdu, China
8
101.92
33.80
Singapore
9
196.43
200.08
Seongnam-si, South Korea
9
155.25
114.83
Incheon, South Korea
12
139.84
102.91
Budapest, Hungary
12
132.72
54.46
Malmö, Sweden
12
126.28
105.67
Vancouver, Canada
12
117.55
50.23
Shanghai, China
12
75.14
30.06
Moscow, Russia
12
64.56
63.59
Oslo, Norway
13
115.46
69.03
Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR)
14
167.59
161.14
Zürich, Switzerland
14
144.36
109.39
Seattle, United States
15
138.50
79.88
Stockholm, Sweden
15
134.16
93.83
Auckland, New Zealand
15
92.05
53.30
Toronto, Canada
16
134.75
67.42
Boston, United States
17
152.42
60.87
Las Vegas, United States
17
141.69
41.22
Chennai, India
17
48.40
42.93
Cologne, Germany
18
63.77
18.36
São Paulo, Brazil
18
46.43
21.57
Jakarta, Indonesia
18
17.88
10.21
Mumbai, India
19
23.40
19.26
Paris, France
20
161.04
93.68
Los Angeles, United States
20
121.00
23.57
London, United Kingdom
20
63.58
23.18
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
20
36.50
13.33
Buenos Aires, Argentina
21
34.31
6.40
Katowice, Poland
22
83.99
20.91
Mexico City, Mexico
25
37.66
15.39
Sydney, Australia
25
34.20
9.61
Santiago, Chile
26
56.13
18.49
Tokyo, Japan
28
99.24
101.90
Of course, die-hard gamers will know that a low ping in your city won’t necessarily save you if you’re playing on a distant server.
What’s the ping like in your city? Take a Speedtest and see if your connection is hurting your gameplay.
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.
At Ookla we celebrate speed and the individuals and companies that dedicate their lives to being the fastest at whatever they do. That’s why this month’s big race in France is so exciting. To cheer all the worn out tires that go into making a great event, we compared the mobile performance of cyclists’ home countries using the Speedtest Global IndexTM. We also looked at download speed in the race’s start and stop cities to see which has the best internet speed advantage.
Which countries’ mobile speeds are breaking away from the main group
The Speedtest Global Index ranks countries based on their download speeds over mobile and fixed broadband. To honor the big race, we narrowed that field to just the countries competing this year and looked at their mobile performance over the past 12 months. We had to leave Eritrea off the list as there were not sufficient samples in the country during the time period to qualify for the Speedtest Global Index.
Mobile speeds in Norway have exploded to the point that they’ve led the pack every single month for the past year. Even when Norway slipped to second in the world for mobile, behind South Korea, they still led all the countries currently touring. Canada’s mobile speeds started strong and rallied to surpass Australia and the Netherlands. These four countries were up in front of the pack for the entire year.
Up next in the chasing group, there was a lot more movement. France started a long climb in September 2018 that took them from 29th in the world for mobile download speed to 17th. This also helped France pass New Zealand and Austria. Belgium started strong but then they fell back in the bunch. The Czech Republic regrouped slightly in April to improve their ranking to a career high of 11, but recently they’ve fallen back to just above where they ranked 12 months ago.
All the way back in the broom wagon, Colombia fell behind early and couldn’t find their second wind. Costa Rica’s decline started later but still left them in second to last place.
Mobile performance in Tour cities
Cyclists and fans are visiting many different cities for the different stages of the race. We compared mean download speeds over mobile in some of the start and stop cities during Q2 2019 to see which were in front and which were chasing. Note that according to the Ookla 5G MapTM, no cities in France or Belgium have commercially-available 5G as of this writing.
Mobile Performance in Tour Start and Stop Cities
SpeedtestⓇ Data | Q2 2019
City
Mean Download (Mbps)
Mean Upload (Mbps)
Saint-Étienne, France
60.99
13.08
Reims, France
59.05
13.95
Nancy, France
58.48
14.66
Mulhouse, France
57.60
13.57
Toulouse, France
55.31
12.68
Belfort, France
53.46
13.19
Tarbes, France
53.26
12.92
Pau, France
52.27
13.14
Nîmes, France
51.10
12.84
Rambouillet, France
51.09
12.13
Colmar, France
50.52
13.97
Mâcon, France
48.57
14.42
Paris, France
46.76
11.18
Brussels, Belgium
45.81
16.56
Albi, France
44.49
12.22
Chalon-sur-Saône, France
42.99
12.89
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France
35.44
11.93
Gap, France
27.77
8.24
Saint-Étienne led a tight pack that included Reims, Nancy and Mulhouse which all showed mobile download speeds above 57 Mbps. Toulouse, Belfort, Tarbes, Pau, Nîmes, Rambouillet and Colmar were chasing with mobile download speeds between 50 and 56 Mbps.
We hope that last-place Gap and second-to-last Saint-Dié-des-Vosges were regrouping rather than taking a rest day as they showed mobile download speeds that were significantly slower than the rest of the cities.
Not all locations had sufficient samples to be included in our list, so if you want to know what mobile speeds are like at the Pont du Gard (or anywhere else), take a Speedtest on Android or iOS.
Chapeau to all the teams! May the rest of the race feel flat and fast.
Embarquez pour le tour des performances mobiles avec le Speedtest Global Index
Chez Ookla, nous vouons une véritable passion à la vitesse. Et alors que la Grande Boucle bat son plein en France, nous comptons bien la célébrer comme il se doit ! En parallèle de la lutte acharnée que se livrent les valeureuses équipes, nous avons comparé les performances mobiles des pays d’origine des coureurs en utilisant le Speedtest Global IndexTM. Nous avons également mesuré la vitesse de téléchargement dans les villes-étapes pour découvrir laquelle peut se vanter de disposer du meilleur débit Internet.
Performances mobiles : quels pays s’échappent du peloton ?
Le Speedtest Global Index classe les pays en fonction de leur vitesse de téléchargement haut débit mobile et fixe. Pour rendre hommage au Tour, nous avons uniquement examiné les performances mobiles des pays en lice au cours des douze derniers mois. L’Érythrée n’est malheureusement pas au rendez-vous en raison d’un nombre d’échantillons de données insuffisant.
Grâce à une vitesse de téléchargement mobile ultrarapide, la Norvège a trusté la première place du classement tout au long de l’année. Si le pays a rétrogradé à la deuxième place mondiale juste derrière la Corée du Sud, il a littéralement survolé les débats dans le cadre de notre compétition. De son côté, le Canada a démarré fort, en parvenant même à dépasser l’Australie et les Pays-Bas. Ces quatre pays ont réussi une formidable échappée tout au long de l’année.
Derrière, le groupe de poursuivants s’est organisé pour réduire l’écart. Grâce à une folle remontée en septembre 2018, la France est passée de la 29e à la 17e place mondiale, coiffant au poteau la Nouvelle-Zélande et l’Autriche. Après un très bon départ, la Belgique s’est malheureusement retrouvée engluée dans le peloton. La République Tchèque a mis un petit coup d’accélérateur en avril pour atteindre la 11e place (une première !). Elle a ensuite connu une baisse de régime qui l’a vu terminer juste au-dessus de son classement de l’année dernière.
En queue de peloton, la Colombie a rapidement été distancée et n’est jamais parvenue à trouver un second souffle. Malgré ses bonnes intentions, le Costa Rica a quant à lui fini avant-dernier.
Performances mobiles dans les villes-étapes
Les coureurs et les fans visitent de nombreuses villes lors des différentes étapes du Tour. Nous avons comparé les vitesses moyennes de téléchargement mobile dans certaines de ces villes au cours du deuxième trimestre 2019 afin d’établir un classement. Notez que selon l’Ookla 5G MapTM, aucune ville de France ou de Belgique ne propose actuellement la 5G.
Performances mobiles dans les villes-étapes
Données SpeedtestⓇ Data | Deuxième trimestre 2019
Ville
Débit descendant moyen (Mbps)
Débit ascendant moyen (Mbps)
Saint-Étienne, France
60,99
13,08
Reims, France
59,05
13,95
Nancy, France
58,48
14,66
Mulhouse, France
57,60
13,57
Toulouse, France
55,31
12,68
Belfort, France
53,46
13,19
Tarbes, France
53,26
12,92
Pau, France
52,27
13,14
Nîmes, France
51,10
12,84
Rambouillet, France
51,09
12,13
Colmar, France
50,52
13,97
Mâcon, France
48,57
14,42
Paris, France
46,76
11,18
Bruxelles, Belgique
45,81
16,56
Albi, France
44,49
12,22
Chalon-sur-Saône, France
42,99
12,89
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France
35,44
11,93
Gap, France
27,77
8,24
Au coude-à-coude avec Reims, Nancy et Mulhouse, Saint-Étienne s’est imposée dans un groupe relevé affichant une vitesse de téléchargement mobile supérieure à 57 Mbps. Dans son sillage, Toulouse, Belfort, Tarbes, Pau, Nîmes, Rambouillet et Colmar ont fait bonne figure avec une vitesse comprise entre 50 et 56 Mps.
Gap et Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, respectivement dernier et avant-dernier, n’ont jamais semblé pouvoir suivre le rythme du peloton, avec une vitesse bien inférieure à celle des autres villes.
Faute d’un nombre d’échantillons de données suffisant, cette liste n’est pas exhaustive. Si vous souhaitez connaître la vitesse de téléchargement mobile de Pont du Gard ou de toute autre ville, effectuez un Speedtest sur Android ou iOS.
Un grand bravo à toutes les équipes ! Nous vous souhaitons bonne chance pour le reste de la course !
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.
A lot has changed in the two years since 2017 when we first began ranking mobile and fixed broadband speeds of countries around the world with the Speedtest Global IndexTM. 5G is being deployed around the world and fiber continues to make gigabit speeds a reality in more and more countries. We’ve been tracking it all and are here to report on how much speeds have increased, which countries are leading internet performance and which are falling behind, and what trends we see across continents.
World mobile speed increased 21.4% with fixed broadband up 37.4%
Looking just at the last year, the world’s mean download speed over mobile increased 21.4% from 22.81 Mbps in July 2018 to 27.69 Mbps in July 2019. Mean upload speed over mobile increased 18.1% from 9.13 Mbps to 10.78 Mbps. The world average for download speed over fixed broadband increased 37.4% from 46.48 Mbps in July 2018 to 63.85 Mbps in July 2019. Mean upload speed over fixed broadband increased 48.9% from 22.52 Mbps to 33.53 Mbps.
Shake-ups in the country rankings for internet performance
Mobile speeds in the fastest countries have skyrocketed in the past year which has dramatically shifted the rankings. South Korea, which was not even in the top ten a year ago, saw a 165.9% increase in mean download speed over mobile during the past 12 months, in large part due to 5G. Switzerland’s mean download speed increased 23.5%. Canada’s was up 22.2%, Australia 21.2%, the Netherlands 17.3%, UAE 11.1%, Malta 10.3% and Norway 5.8%. Qatar remained in the top ten, although the country’s mean download speed over mobile actually dropped 1.4% from July 2018 to July 2019.
Individual mobile operators can make a huge difference in a country’s speeds. In 2017 we were excited to see Telenor uncap their mobile speeds, which drove Norway to the top of the Speedtest Global Index. A big part of South Korea’s mobile success in the past year is the way KT, LG U+ and SK Telecom banded together to release 5G at the same time. Switzerland has also benefited from 5G and Sunrise leads the country with 262 5G deployments across the country while Swisscomm has 52.
Fixed broadband rankings on the Speedtest Global Index have not changed as dramatically during the past 12 months as those on mobile. Singapore remains the fastest country with an increase in mean download speed over fixed broadband of 5.6%. Taiwan had the largest jump in speeds among the top 10 with a 166.5% improvement in fixed download speed between July 2018 and July 2019. Mean download speed over fixed broadband increased 52.4% in South Korea, 26.4% in Macau, 21.7% in Romania, 21.0% in Switzerland, 19.3% in the United States and 3.5% in Hong Kong.
Monaco and Andorra did not have enough tests to qualify for the Speedtest Global Index one year ago, but massive fixed broadband improvements in both countries inspired us to lower our test count threshold for inclusion and also share these smaller countries’ success stories.
Technologies paving the way: 5G and gigabit
The presence of 5G is not enough to change a market
In reality, though, unless 5G is commercially available widely across a country and from all mobile operators (as was the case in South Korea), the change in speeds at the country level is not that significant. Though commercial 5G was launched widely across Switzerland by Sunrise and Swisscom in April 2019, the country’s mean download speed only increased 2.8% in the three months since. The average mobile download speed in the U.S. has actually declined slightly since 5G was initially deployed. This is because 5G is still only available in a very limited number of markets to consumers with 5G-capable devices.
Visit the Ookla 5G Map for the latest on 5G deployments across the globe.
Gigabit is a game-changer, if you can get it
Unlike 5G, fiber connections have been rolling out since 2007, opening up the possibility of gigabit-speed fixed broadband. That said, it’s costly and time-intensive to lay miles and miles of fiber so progress has varied widely across the globe.
Geographically small countries like Singapore have the advantage when it comes to fiber, because It’s easier and cheaper to lay fiber optic cable across the country’s small footprint. Singaporean internet service providers (ISPs) have used this advantage to go beyond mere gigabit and offer connections as fast as 10 Gbps. This is reflected both in Singapore’s dominance of the fixed rankings on the Speedtest Global Index and in the fact that 2.87% of their total Speedtest results over fixed broadband are gigabit-speed (800 Mbps or higher).
Brazil offers a good contrast for how difficult it can be for gigabit to reach the masses. While the first Brazilian ISP to offer fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) initially did so in 2007, easy access to gigabit speeds was slow to follow. However, that may be starting to change. Between June and July 2019 we saw a large uptick in gigabit-speed results in Brazil, where the proportion of gigabit speed tests increased from 0.02% of total fixed broadband tests to 0.17%. This corresponded with a large increase in mean download speed at the country level.
Comparing world mobile and fixed broadband at a glance
We were curious to see just how different internet performance experiences were around the world, so we plotted average mobile download speed against average download speed on fixed broadband. All of the graphs below use a percentage difference from the global average, a number that changed between 2018 and 2019.
Speed Leaders
There was not much change in the list of countries that showed above-average download speeds on both mobile and fixed broadband between July 2018 and July 2019, the “Speed Leaders.” What did change was that fixed broadband speeds increased significantly enough among the group to bring the whole pack closer to Singapore and Hong Kong. On the mobile axis, South Korea’s major increase in download speed made that country more of an outlier, pushing the boundaries of what great performance can look like.
Fixed-Focused countries
Between July 2018 and July 2019 we saw the number of countries considered to be “Fixed-Focused” (having faster download speeds over fixed broadband than the world average while their average mobile download speeds were slower than average) increase. Ireland was the only country that solidly fit this category in 2018. Thailand and Chile started near the midline for fixed speeds and below-average for mobile speeds in 2018. 2019 found both countries squarely in the Fixed-Focused category. Israel also edged into this category as their mobile download speed fell between July 2018 and 2019.
Mobile-Focused countries
The “Mobile-Focused” category saw the most movement between July 2018 and July 2019 as some countries (the UAE and Qatar) increased their fixed speeds sufficiently to join the Speed Leaders. Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s mobile download speed increased year-over-year to move them into the Mobile-Focused quadrant. Georgia’s mobile download speed decreased enough to move them from Mobile-Focused to Speed Laggers.
It will be interesting to see how many of these Mobile-Focused countries double down on their mobile investments and explore 5G alternatives to fixed broadband.
Speed Laggers
No country wants to be in the position of having slower than average mobile and fixed broadband speeds. We saw 57 countries in this “Speed Laggers” quadrant in July 2018 and 78 in July 2019. This increase is mostly due to our expansion of the number of countries we consider for the Speedtest Global Index based on test count. There were enough countries in this category that we’ve considered them separately by continent below.
Regional views of mobile and fixed broadband performance
We aggregated Speedtest results by continent to analyze mobile and fixed broadband performance by continent.
Asia had the highest percentage increase in mobile download speed followed by North America, Oceania, South America, Africa and Europe. Oceania had the fastest mean download speed in July 2019. North America placed second, Europe third, Asia fourth, South America fifth and Africa sixth.
On the fixed broadband side, South America saw the highest percentage increase in download speed. Asia came in second, Europe third, Africa fourth, North America fifth and Oceania sixth. North America had the fastest mean download speed in July 2019. Europe was second, Asia third, and Oceania fourth. As we saw with mobile, South America and Africa again ranked fifth and sixth, respectively.
A zoomed-in view of the speed quadrants separated by continent offers a more detailed view of each country’s role in these rankings.
Africa mostly lags in internet speeds
In July 2019, all but two African countries in the Speedtest Global Index fell into the Speed Laggers category, having mobile and fixed broadband speeds that were below global averages. The exceptions were South Africa and Guinea, which both had fast enough mobile speeds to place them in the mobile-focused quadrant.
Asian markets show a wide breadth of internet performance
Asia was the most diverse continent we examined in terms of internet performance. We saw a plurality of countries in each of the four quadrants in July 2019. Most of the Speed Leaders were in East Asia: China, Hong Kong (SAR), Japan, Macau (SAR), South Korea, and Taiwan. If we include Singapore, another Speed Leader, these are among the wealthiest nations in Asia (using GDP per capita). Two of Asia’s Fixed-Focused countries are in Southeast Asia (Malaysia and Thailand) and one is in the Middle East (Israel).
The Speed Laggers category contained countries from South Asia (including Afghanistan, India and Pakistan), Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam) and the Middle East (Jordan). Mobile-Focused countries in Asia were mostly Middle Eastern, including Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
European mobile performance is mostly strong, fixed varies
With the exception of Ireland, the European countries on the Speedtest Global Index fell into the Speed Leaders, Mobile-Focused, and Speed Laggers categories. All of the Speed Laggers (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and the Ukraine) were from Eastern Europe. Countries from Southeast Europe (including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, Moldova, Serbia and Slovenia) and Central Europe (Austria and the Czech Republic) made up the bulk of the Mobile-Focused category.
Speed Leaders included countries from the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), the Nordics (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), Central Europe (Poland and Romania), and Western Europe (including Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain).
North American internet performance is sharply divided
Canada and the U.S. are the only two North American countries in the Speed Leaders category. Panama is the only North American country under Fixed-Focused. Mexico and all of the Central American countries fall into the Speed Laggers category. There are no North American countries that are Mobile-Focused.
Each country in Oceania has a very different internet story
Oceania is represented in three of the four quadrants: Speed Leaders (New Zealand), Mobile-Focused (Australia) and Speed Laggers (Papua New Guinea) with Fiji straddling the divide between Speed Laggers and Mobile-Focused.
South America mostly lags in mobile and fixed internet speeds
Most of the South American countries represented on the Speedtest Global Index are in the Speed Laggers quadrant (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela). Chile is an exception, being part of the Fixed-Focused group, as is Uruguay which sits in Mobile-Focused.
Global internet speeds are improving on average and 5G and gigabit are compounding those advances where available. However, not all countries are benefitting equally. We’ll be interested to see how 5G continues to push mobile speeds in the next year and also whether 5G Wi-Fi becomes a game changer for fixed broadband. Remember to check the Speedtest Global Index on a monthly basis for updated country rankings. And take a Speedtest to make sure your experience is represented in your country’s averages.
Editor’s Note: This article was edited on September 10, 2019 to correct an error in the labeling on the first image. The colors in a later image were updated for consistency.
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.
