In-market 5G performance varies widely. Reviewing the top 10% and worst 10% of Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® samples reveals significant variance in the consumer experience on today’s 5G networks, with 5G speeds peaking at over 1 Gbps for the top 10% of users in the U.A.E on average, but falling to below 20 Mbps for the lower 10% in Norway, the U.S., Japan, Germany, and Spain.
Median 5G performance is declining in many early launch 5G markets. While understandable as 5G adoption grows and users in more remote locations access 5G, declining median download speeds also point to investment and deployment challenges in some markets. At the same time, many of these markets are facing economic headwinds, placing more emphasis than ever on cost control. As a result, operators must carefully balance network investment priorities.
5G Net Promoter Scores (NPS) significantly higher than 4G LTE in most markets, but waning. With the exception of Sweden and Qatar, all the early launch 5G markets in our analysis saw 5G NPS fall year-over-year. Operators’ 5G NPS still trade at a premium compared to 4G, and while performance is just one part of the equation, operators should take care to build on the positive sentiment that 5G has brought to date.
Despite impressive headline speeds, 5G performance varies a lot
Median 5G performance allows us to gauge the midpoint of user experience on 5G networks, however it doesn’t paint the full picture. While headline 5G speeds impress, Speedtest Intelligence data lays bare the ups and downs of 5G performance for consumers, even in early launch, advanced 5G markets. We recently looked at 5G network performance over high frequency (mmW) bands, painting a view of the true potential of 5G networks. However, if we look at performance on today’s 5G networks, looking beyond the median at the range of performance between users in the top 10% and those in the lower 10%, Speedtest Intelligence data reveals huge variance in the performance users experience.
The U.A.E. was the fastest 5G market in our analysis, based on median download performance of 545.53 Mbps in December 2022, followed by South Korea and Qatar. However, the top 10% of users in the U.A.E. recorded speeds of at least 1,266.49 Mbps on average, while the lowest 10% of users experienced speeds of 127.52 Mbps or slower on average. At the other end of the scale, Spain recorded a median 5G speed of 94.14 Mbps, but also demonstrated wide variance between the top 10% of samples at 537.95 Mbps or faster and the lowest 10% with 10.67 Mbps or less.
Based on many of the marketing messages around 5G, consumers are led to expect a big bang change in performance. However, with 5G operating over a greater range of spectrum bands than previous generations, including high frequency spectrum which has relatively poorer propagation, it’s understandable that 5G performance will vary more than previous generations of mobile network technology.
5G markets set to face performance challenges during 2023
While globally 5G speeds have remained stable, for many of the markets in our analysis, median 5G download speeds have fallen over the past year. The U.S. was the main outlier, recording the strongest uplift in 5G performance as T-Mobile continued to drive home its performance advantage in the market, while Verizon’s performance improved early in 2022 through its deployment of 5G in C-band spectrum. This trend is likely to continue in 2023 in the U.S., as more C-band spectrum is made available. However, the picture remains concerning for a number of other 5G markets, particularly those where median 5G speeds are at the lower end of the spectrum.
In some markets, 5G was initially priced at a premium to 4G, with operators focused on driving incremental returns on the new network technology. However, operators have been increasingly opening up 5G access by removing incremental costs for consumers and adding prepaid plans too. As 5G adoption scales, it places more strain on the new networks. The challenge for many of these markets is that network performance is likely to degrade further unless network densification picks up.
For network operators, this investment imperative is occuring amidst macroeconomic headwinds, which are driving up operating costs and putting pressure on consumer and enterprise spend. In addition, there remain challenges in deploying additional 5G cell sites in dense urban areas where demand is strongest, while in some markets EMF limits and other regulations can limit the deployment of high-capacity 5G sites.
Net Promoter Score (NPS) from Speedtest Intelligence paints a largely positive picture of current 5G networks. NPS is a key performance indicator of customer experience, categorizing users into Detractors (score 0-6), Passives (score 7-8), and Promoters (score 9-10), with the NPS representing the percentage of Promoters minus the percent of Detractors, displayed in the range from -100 to 100. Across the markets we analyzed, 5G users on average rated their network operator with NPS scores that were universally higher than those for 4G LTE users. However, consumer sentiment for users on 5G networks is beginning to shift, with NPS scores falling, coinciding with lower median 5G performance in many of the markets we analyzed.
Declining performance levels will be a factor driving NPS down for some 5G users. It’s also important to remember that as 5G scales in many of these early launch markets, the profile of 5G users is also changing from predominantly urban-based users, to more of a mix of urban, suburban, and rural users, which brings additional coverage and performance challenges for network operators. We plan to examine the relationship between 5G performance and spectrum in an up-coming content piece. Please get in touch if you’d like to learn more about Speedtest Intelligence data.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
5G continues to offer new and exciting ways of rethinking everything from streaming video to performing remote surgery. However, not everyone shares equally in these possibilities as many countries do not have access to 5G and even those that do, do not experience the same level of performance from their 5G connections. We examined Speedtest Intelligence® data from Q3 2021 Speedtest® results to see how 5G speeds have changed, where download speeds are the fastest at the country and capital level, where 5G deployments have increased and what worldwide 5G Availability looked like in Q3 2021. We also looked at countries that don’t yet have 5G to understand where consumers are seeing improvements in 4G access.
5G slowed down at the global level
It’s common to see new mobile access technologies slow down as adoption scales, particularly early on in the tech cycle. Over the past year from Q3 2020 to Q3 2021, the median global 5G download speed fell to 166.13 Mbps, down from 206.22 Mbps in Q3 2020. Median upload speed over 5G also slowed to 21.08 Mbps (from 29.52 Mbps) during the same period.
More users are logging on to existing 5G networks, and we’re also at the stage in the evolution of 5G where countries that have historically had slower speeds are starting to offer 5G. In addition, the widespread use of dynamic spectrum sharing that has been used to boost early 5G coverage weighs on 5G download speeds. While the dip in speeds looks like a letdown, it’s more of a compromise to enable broader access. With additional spectrum and further deployments slated for 2022, we anticipate speeds will begin to pick up again.
South Korea had the fastest 5G in the world
South Korea had the fastest median download speed over 5G during Q3 2021, leading a top 10 list that included Norway, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Sweden, China, Taiwan and New Zealand. Sweden, China, Taiwan and New Zealand were new to the top 10 in 2021 while South Africa (whose 5G was brand new last year), Spain and Hungary fell out of the top 10.
5G expanded to 13 additional countries
According to the Ookla® 5G Map™, there were 5G deployments in 112 countries as of November 30, 2021. That’s up from 99 countries on the same date a year ago. The total number of deployments increased dramatically during the same time period with 85,602 deployments on November 30, 2021 compared to 17,428 on November 30, 2020, highlighting the degree to which 5G networks scaled during the year. Note that there are often multiple deployments in a given city.
Seoul and Oslo lead world capitals for 5G
Speedtest Intelligence data from Q3 2021 shows a wide range of median 5G speeds among global capitals. Seoul, South Korea and Oslo, Norway were in the lead with 530.83 Mbps and 513.08 Mbps, respectively; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Doha Qatar followed. Brasilia, Brazil had the slowest median download speed over 5G on our list, followed by Warsaw, Poland; Cape Town, South Africa and Rome, Italy. Stockholm, Sweden and Oslo, Norway had some of the the fastest median upload speeds over 5G at 56.26 Mbps and 49.95 Mbps, respectively, while Cape Town had the slowest at 14.53 Mbps.
The U.S. had the highest 5G Availability
The presence of 5G is only one indicator in a market, because even in markets where 5G has launched, coverage and adoption can be pretty low. We analyzed 5G Availability to see what percent of users on 5G-capable devices spent the majority of their time on 5G, both roaming and on-network during Q3 2021.
The United States had the highest 5G Availability at 49.2%, followed by the Netherlands (45.1%), South Korea (43.8%), Kuwait (35.5%) and Qatar (34.8%). Brazil had the lowest 5G Availability on our list at 0.8%, followed by Sweden (1.5%), South Africa (2.7%), New Zealand (2.9%) and Hungary (3.6%).
Not all 5G networks are created equal
Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data shows a growing disparity in the performance of 5G networks worldwide, even among the pioneer markets who were among the first to launch the new technology. We see leading markets such as South Korea, Norway, the UAE and China pulling well ahead of key European markets, the U.S. and Japan on 5G download speeds, creating what increasingly looks like two tiers of 5G markets.
Part of the reason for this divergence is access to key 5G spectrum bands, with Verizon and AT&T in the U.S. for example, soon to deploy their C-band spectrum holdings for 5G use. However, what really seems to separate these markets is the level of 5G network densification. The number of people per 5G base station ranges from 319 in South Korea and 1,531 in China, to 4,224 in the EU and 6,590 in the US, according to the European 5G Observatory’s International Scoreboard during October 2021.
Despite the noise around 6G, 5G still has a long way to run
Median 5G mobile download speeds across these markets are respectable relative to the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) IMT-2020 target of 100 Mbps for user experienced download data rates. However, 5G Speedtest® results in each market demonstrate significant variability, with the bottom 10th percentile only recording speeds in excess of the IMT-2020 target in South Korea and Norway, and falling significantly short in many other markets, with Spain, Italy and the U.S. below 20 Mbps.
The story gets worse for upload speeds, where no market’s median speed broke the IMT-2020 recommended 50 Mbps, and where the bottom 10th percentile lay in single digits across the board. Operators are clearly prioritizing download speeds over upload, which makes sense given the asymmetric nature of demand, with most consumer applications requiring higher download speeds. However, as operators increasingly look to target the enterprise market with 5G connectivity and consumer demand for services such as video calling and mobile gaming continues to rise, operators will need to boost upload speeds.
Demand for mobile internet bandwidth continues to grow, up 43% year-on-year in Q3 2021 according to Ericsson’s latest mobility report. Looking ahead to 2022, operators will need to increase the capacity of their 5G networks to tackle this growing demand while driving network speeds to new heights. We’ve seen the impact the deployment of new spectrum can have on congested networks during 2021, with Reliance Jio witnessing a bump in 4G LTE performance and consumer sentiment following its acquisition of additional spectrum in India.
Where 5G still fails to reach
Speedtest Intelligence showed 70 countries in the world where more than 20% of samples were from 2G and 3G connections (combined) during Q3 2021 and met our statistical threshold to be included. These are mostly countries where 5G is still aspirational for a majority of the population. As excited as we are about the expansion of 5G, we do not want to see these countries left behind. Not only are 2G and 3G decades old, they are only sufficient for basic voice and texting, social media and navigation apps. To deliver rich media experiences or video calling, users need access to 4G or higher. Having so many consumers on 2G and 3G also prevents mobile operators from refarming that spectrum to make 4G and 5G networks more efficient.
Countries That Still Rely Heavily on 2G and 3G Connections
Speedtest IntelligenceⓇ | Q3 2021
Country
2G & 3G Samples
Central African Republic
89.9%
Palestine
84.7%
Yemen
72.4%
Turkmenistan
71.8%
Micronesia
56.3%
Madagascar
55.0%
Belarus
53.2%
Rwanda
51.7%
Kiribati
48.4%
Equatorial Guinea
47.6%
Afghanistan
44.4%
South Sudan
43.4%
Guyana
42.3%
Guinea
37.0%
Angola
36.8%
Cape Verde
35.9%
Tajikistan
35.6%
Zimbabwe
34.7%
Benin
34.4%
Togo
33.8%
Ghana
33.0%
Sierra Leone
31.7%
Antigua and Barbuda
30.2%
Vanuatu
30.1%
Lesotho
30.0%
Syria
29.6%
Moldova
29.4%
Saint Kitts and Nevis
28.9%
Mozambique
28.8%
Sudan
28.4%
Palau
28.3%
Grenada
28.1%
Tanzania
27.6%
Uganda
27.5%
Niger
27.5%
Gabon
27.5%
Haiti
27.4%
Suriname
27.4%
Tonga
27.3%
Liberia
27.0%
Namibia
26.7%
Swaziland
26.5%
The Gambia
26.3%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
26.3%
Dominica
26.3%
Somalia
26.1%
Cook Islands
26.0%
Zambia
25.9%
Barbados
25.7%
Armenia
25.5%
Algeria
25.4%
Papua New Guinea
25.2%
Jamaica
24.5%
Venezuela
24.2%
Ethiopia
24.1%
Uzbekistan
24.0%
El Salvador
23.5%
Honduras
23.1%
Nigeria
23.0%
Solomon Islands
22.8%
Caribbean Netherlands
22.7%
Botswana
22.3%
Anguilla
21.7%
Mauritania
20.6%
Saint Lucia
20.5%
Bosnia and Herzegovina
20.3%
Burundi
20.3%
Ecuador
20.2%
Ukraine
20.1%
Trinidad and Tobago
20.0%
We were pleased to see the following countries come off the list from last year, having dropped below the 20% threshold: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Iraq, Kenya, Laos, Libya, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Tunisia. While countries like Palestine, Suriname, Ethiopia, Haiti and Antigua and Barbuda are still on this list, they have improved the percentage of their samples on these outmoded technologies when compared to last year (dropping 10-15 points, respectively), 2G and 3G samples in Belarus increased 6.7 points when comparing Q3 2021 to Q3 2020.
We’re excited to see how performance levels will normalize as 5G expands to more and more countries and access improves. Keep track of how well your country is performing on Ookla’s 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.
The Gulf region and Turkey have experienced a surge in air passenger traffic. The growth is expected to remain robust in key hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Istanbul. As airports prepare to accommodate this influx of travelers, reliable and high-performance cellular networks have become increasingly important in shaping the overall passenger experience. This article benchmarks the network performance of the busiest airports in the Gulf region and Turkey, in terms of download and upload speeds, as well as latency, based on Speedtest Intelligence® data. It also provides recommendations on where travelers may get the best online experience.
Key Takeaways:
Zayed International Airport (AUH) achieves top-tier mobile download speeds of over 450 Mbps. Istanbul Airport (IST) excels in upload speed at 58.40 Mbps, making it particularly suitable for travelers who need to share content efficiently. On the other end, King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah consistently underperforms across all metrics, with the highest latency and lowest upload speed.
Istanbul Airport significantly leads in 5G performance thanks to a dedicated 5G indoor network: IST achieved the highest download and upload speeds at 861.98 Mbps and 101.96 Mbps, respectively. Gulf-based airports showed a high contrast in median 5G download speeds, with those in Qatar and the UAE offering the fastest speeds at over 500 Mbps.
Most airports provided a median download speed of at least 200 Mbps, enabling an excellent online experience for passengers
While Turkey has long been a magnet for tourists, the Gulf region has emerged as one of the world’s premier travel hubs, attracting hundreds of millions of passengers annually. As a result, airport operators in the region face a pressing need to deliver seamless web browsing, lag-free online gaming, and high-quality streaming experiences to enhance the overall passenger experience and set a new standard for airport facilities. We used Speedtest Intelligence to analyze cellular network performance in the busiest airports in the Gulf region and Turkey.
Total Passengers In Selected Busiest Airports In The Gulf Region And Turkey
Wikipedia | 2024
Total Passengers In Selected Busiest Airports In The Gulf Region And Turkey
Download speed is the most important metric for content consumption and online experience. Zayed International Airport (AUH) had a median download speed of 453.18 Mbps. It was closely followed by Hamad International Airport (DOH), with a speed of 426.43 Mbps. King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and Istanbul International Airport (IST) also delivered excellent download speed performances at 329.04 Mbps and 314.84 Mbps, respectively.
In contrast, Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) and Muscat International Airport (MCT) delivered sub-100Mbps speeds of 78.67 Mbps and 95.95 Mbps, respectively. Airports based in Dubai and Kuwait fall into the mid-range, with download speeds of around 250 Mbps.
Upload speed is important as it determines how efficiently users can upload documents, photos, and videos. IST stands out with a median upload speed of 58.40 Mbps, surpassing all other airports. RUH in Riyadh, DOH in Doha, and SAW in Istanbul follow with upload speeds of 32.83 Mbps, 30.10 Mbps, and 29.10 Mbps, respectively. King Abdul Aziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah falls short, delivering the lowest upload speed of just 16.11 Mbps, while DXB pulls slightly ahead with 18.99 Mbps.
Latency measures the delay in transferring data and affects real-time services such as video calls, online gaming, and media streaming. Most airports offer a sub-40 ms latency, which ensures acceptable responsiveness for users. IST and Kuwait International Airport (KWT) have somewhat better conditions, with a delay of under 32 ms. JED stood out again as a poor performer with a latency of 89.98 ms, suggesting a significant impact on real-time applications such as gaming and video conferencing.
All Technologies Network Performance, Select Airports in the Gulf and Turkey
Speedtest Intelligence® | 2024
All Technologies Network Performance, Select Airports in the Gulf and Turkey
Istanbul Airport significantly leads the region in 5G performance thanks to a dedicated 5G indoor network
As 5G adoption increases, consumers and businesses expect the same level of coverage and performance wherever they go. Yet, the characteristics of ‘outdoor’ 5G, which typically operates in mid-band frequencies of 1.8 GHz to 3.5 GHz, pose a challenge for indoor coverage, as these frequencies struggle to penetrate walls and windows, particularly those built of glass and steel. Furthermore, telecom operators have prioritized outdoor coverage because it requires less CAPEX and OPEX per subscriber than indoor coverage and has a better return on investment. In addition, the traffic patterns in the airport are highly variable, which means that the network must be capable of accommodating different connectivity levels.
The introduction of 5G in Turkey lags significantly behind as 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz, and 26 GHz frequencies will be auctioned in 2025, with commercial launch expected in 2026. However, Istanbul International Airport (IST) deployed a dedicated indoor 5G network that serves only users within the airport’s premises. This deployment gives it performance advantages compared to public 5G networks. Speedtest Intelligence data shows that IST secured the top spot for 5G median download and upload speeds at 861.98 Mbps and 101.96 Mbps, respectively.
Airports in Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Doha (DOH) also have high 5G download speeds, at 678.11 Mbps and 657.56 Mbps, respectively. All other Gulf-based airports provided a median download speed of at least 107 Mbps, enabling users to stream multiple 4K videos over 5G.
Gulf airports lagged significantly behind IST in upload speeds, with four locations’ speeds ranging from around 30 Mbps to 45 Mbps. The other four Gulf-based airports underperformed, with MCT and JED at the bottom of the list with a median upload speed of 15.09 Mbps and 17.84 Mbps, respectively, despite deployingsolutions to improve indoor network coverage and capacity.
Most airports offer a relatively low 5G latency, around 30 ms to 36 ms, suggesting good service responsiveness. The only exception is JED, with a median latency of 86.59 ms, likely degrading the customer experience of real-time services such as video streaming.
5G Network Performance, Select Airports in the Gulf and Turkey
Speedtest Intelligence® | 2024
5G Network Performance, Select Airports in the Gulf and Turkey
As the results show, airports in the Gulf region and Turkey generally have excellent mobile network performance inside and around these facilities. These achievements were realized thanks to the deployment of 5G and investment in solutions to improve indoor coverage and capacity.
The tourism boom in Turkey and the Gulf region is set to continue and will drive infrastructure investment and economic growth
According to GlobalData, the number of international arrivals into the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) reached 73.64 million travelers in 2023. The U.A.E. leads the GCC in terms of tourist numbers with 28.2 million visitors in the city during H1 2024, while Saudi Arabia received 27.4 million visitors (including pilgrims) with the ambition to grow to 150 million by 2030. The tourism sector in Qatar is also a promising destination, with 3 million visitors in 2023, benefiting from the successful hosting of the World Cup in 2022. Oman welcomed 3.4 million tourists in 2023 and plans to attract 11.7 million by 2040.
These countries have invested heavily in infrastructure, including transport, to address the growing influx of tourists and translate into economic growth. They have also built new airports and upgraded existing ones to cater to the rise in air passenger traffic, which is expected to surge to 449 million in 2024, more than double its 2019 level.
The new Istanbul airport was inaugurated in 2018 to make Turkey’s capital one of the world’s largest financial and economic centers. It had an initial capacity of 90 million passengers annually, making it a major gateway for international visitors and contributing to the country’s economy. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the number of tourist arrivals in the country increased by 7% to 47.3 million during the first 10 months of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year. It plans to expand its capacity to 120 million passengers in 2025.
As the Gulf region and Turkey continue to experience a surge in air passenger traffic, it is essential to meet their expectations for fast and reliable connectivity to enhance their overall experience and gain a competitive edge over other airports. By doing so, they can unlock new growth opportunities, improve customer loyalty, and strengthen their position as major global travel hubs.We will continue to monitor network performance in key locations where people spend their time and how it impacts their online experience. If you are interested in Speedtest Intelligence, please contact us.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
5G is no longer a new technology, however, consumers in many countries are still waiting to see the full benefits of 5G (or even to connect to 5G at all). We examined Speedtest Intelligence® data from Q3 2022 Speedtest® results to see how 5G performance has changed since last year, where download speeds are the fastest at the country level, and how satellite technologies are offering additional options to connect. We also looked at countries that don’t yet have 5G to understand where consumers are seeing improvements in 4G LTE access.
5G speeds were stable at the global level
In 2021, we discussed how an expansion of 5G access led to a decline in overall speed at the global level. This year showed a stabilization in overall speed, even as 5G access broadened, with a median global 5G download speed of 168.27 Mbps in Q3 2022 as compared to 166.13 Mbps in Q3 2021. Median upload speed over 5G slowed slightly to 18.71 Mbps (from 21.08 Mbps) during the same period. According to the Ookla® 5G Map™, there were 127,509 5G deployments in 128 countries as of November 30, 2022, compared to 85,602 in 112 countries the year prior.
South Korea and the United Arab Emirates led countries for 5G speeds
South Korea and the U.A.E. had the fastest median download speed over 5G at 516.15 Mbps and 511.70 Mbps, respectively, during Q3 2022, leading a top 10 list that included Bulgaria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Kuwait, New Zealand, Bahrain, and Brazil. Bulgaria, Singapore, Bahrain, and Brazil were new to the top 10 in 2022, while Norway, Sweden, China, and Taiwan fell out of the top 10.
Satellite became more accessible but performance slowed
2022 saw a proliferation of fast, low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet from Starlink across the world. Q1 2022 saw Starlink speeds increase year over year in Canada and the U.S., with Starlink in Mexico having the fastest satellite internet in North America, Starlink in Lithuania the fastest in Europe, Starlink in Chile the fastest in South America, and Starlink in Australia the fastest in Oceania.
Q2 2022 saw Starlink speeds decrease in Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S. from Q1 2022 as Starlink crossed the 400,000 user threshold across the world. Starlink in Puerto Rico debuted as the fastest satellite provider in North America. Starlink outperformed fixed broadband averages in 16 European countries. Starlink in Brazil had the fastest satellite speeds in South America. And Starlink in New Zealand was the fastest satellite provider in Oceania.
During Q3 2022, Starlink performance dipped once again from Q2 2022 in Canada and the U.S., while remaining about the same in Chile. Starlink in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands had the fastest satellite speeds in North America, while Starlink in Brazil again was the fastest satellite provider in South America.
With Viasat, HughesNet, and Project Kuiper set to launch huge LEO constellations in 2023, consumers around the world are poised to have more fast satellite internet options, particularly as the European Commission makes its own play for a constellation and Eutelsat and OneWeb potentially merging.
5G Availability points to on-going challenges
5G Availability measures the proportion of Speedtest users with 5G-capable handsets, who spend a majority of time connected to 5G networks. It’s therefore a function of 5G coverage and adoption. We see wide disparity in 5G Availability among markets worldwide, with for example the U.S. recording 54.3% in Q3 2022, well ahead of markets such as Sweden and the U.A.E., with 8.6% and 8.3% respectively.
Critical levers for mobile operators to increase 5G Availability include:
Increasing 5G coverage by deploying additional base stations
Obtaining access to, or refarming, sub-GHz spectrum, to help broaden 5G coverage, as sub-GHz spectrum has superior propagation properties than that of higher frequency spectrum bands.
Encouraging 5G adoption among users with 5G-capable handsets.
Speedtest Intelligence points to 5G adoption challenges in some markets, with 5G Availability dropping in Bulgaria, South Korea, the Netherlands, and the U.A.E. As more users acquire 5G-capable devices, operators need to balance their pricing models to ensure users have sufficient incentives to purchase a 5G tariff.
Where 5G continues to fail to reach
Speedtest Intelligence showed 29 countries in the world where more than 20% of samples were from 2G and 3G connections (combined) during Q3 2022 and met our statistical threshold to be included (down from 70 in Q3 2021). These are mostly countries where 5G is still aspirational for a majority of the population, which is being left behind technologically, having to rely on decades-old technologies that are only sufficient for basic voice and texting, social media, and navigation apps. We’re glad to see so many countries fall off this list, but having so many consumers on 2G and 3G also prevents mobile operators from making 4G and 5G networks more efficient. If operators and regulators are able to work to upgrade their users to 4G and higher, everyone will benefit.
Countries That Still Rely Heavily on 2G and 3G Connections
Speedtest IntelligenceⓇ | Q3 2021
Country
2G & 3G Samples
Central African Republic
76.2%
Turkmenistan
58.5%
Kiribati
51.6%
Micronesia
47.4%
Rwanda
41.1%
Belarus
39.7%
Equatorial Guinea
37.7%
Afghanistan
36.7%
Palestine
33.5%
Madagascar
27.5%
Sudan
27.4%
Lesotho
26.5%
South Sudan
26.3%
Benin
26.0%
Guinea
25.5%
Cape Verde
24.3%
Tonga
24.3%
Syria
23.4%
The Gambia
23.4%
Ghana
23.3%
Palau
22.9%
Niger
22.8%
Tajikistan
22.7%
Mozambique
22.4%
Guyana
21.8%
Togo
21.8%
Congo
21.1%
Moldova
20.8%
Saint Kitts and Nevis
20.0%
We were pleased to see the following countries come off the list from last year, having dropped below the 20% threshold: Algeria, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burundi, Caribbean Netherlands, Cook Islands, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Gabon, Grenada, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Liberia, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. While countries like Belarus, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guyana, Madagascar, Palestine, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tajikistan, Togo, and Turkmenistan are still on this list, they have improved the percentage of their samples on these outmoded technologies when compared to last year by at least 10 points. Palestine improved by more than 50 points. 2G and 3G samples in Kiribati increased 3.2 points when comparing Q3 2022 to Q3 2021.
We’re glad to see performance levels normalize as 5G expands to more and more countries and access improves and we are optimistic that 2023 will bring further improvements. Keep track of how well your country is performing on Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index™ or track performance in thousands of cities worldwide with the Speedtest Performance Directory™.
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.
Several Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, and the U.A.E., have emerged as leaders in fiber deployment and adoption. The introduction of gigabit packages and the increase in entry-level speeds have significantly boosted their ranking in the Speedtest Global Index® for fixed broadband. This article examines the factors driving performance in these countries, the initiatives of ISPs to enhance indoor performance, and key enablers for wider gigabit internet adoption in the region.
Key Takeaways:
According to Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence®, the U.A.E. leads the Middle East in fixed broadband performance in Q1 2024. The U.A.E. achieved a median download speed of 270.91 Mbps and an upload speed of 124.37 Mbps. Meanwhile, Bahrain and Qatar saw significant improvements in download and upload speeds, while the median download speed in Jordan rose rapidly from a small base, surpassing Saudi Arabia by Q1 2024.
ISPs are addressing indoor performance bottlenecks with more modern consumer premise equipment (CPE). In-premise connectivity is crucial to guarantee maximum throughput on-premise. That is why ISPs started bundling Wi-Fi 6 compatible CPEs and deploying fiber-to-the-room (FTTR) for ubiquitous gigabit wireless access indoors.
Affordability is a barrier to wider gigabit adoption in the Middle East. While geography, level of competition, and government policies all impact fiber deployment, affordability is key to unlocking faster speeds in the region. Making gigabit plans more accessible can help operators boost fiber subscribers and aspiring countries to move up the Speedtest Global Index.
The U.A.E. tops the Middle East in Speedtest Global Index for fixed broadband
The analysis focuses on countries in the Middle East that are leading in fiber coverage, adoption, and speed enhancements, namely Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E. These achievements were thanks to significant progress by local ISPs in extending fiber coverage, encouraging migration to higher-speed plans, and making services more affordable. Government support has been vital in accelerating fiber roll-outs to keep pace with the demand for data services and to ensure universal access to high-speed internet as part of national broadband development strategies.
As a result, these countries continue to improve their Speedtest Global Index rankings. For example, the U.A.E rose from 18th in June 2020 to the second position in March 2024. Jordan jumped from 64th to 33rd while Bahrain jumped up 32 places to 63rd in the Index over the same period. Qatar’s position fluctuated between 29 and 45, with steady improvements since 2021. Saudi Arabia’s speed increase rate has been more modest than in other markets, causing a drop in the global ranking by 11 places to 46th in March 2024. The country is the largest in the group, which makes fiber coverage more limited outside the big cities, while there is a relatively large base of legacy copper connections.
Speedtest Global Index™ Rankings for Fixed Broadband, Select Countries in the Middle East
Speedtest Intelligence® | June 2020-March 2024
Speedtest Global Index Rankings for Fixed Broadband, Select Countries in the Middle East
Fixed broadband performance improved as faster entry-level fiber plans and gigabit packages were introduced
According to Speedtest Intelligence, the U.A.E. leads the Gulf region in median download speeds at 270.91 Mbps in Q1 2024, more than double the Q3 2022 figure. This represents the largest speed improvement among the reviewed countries. The turning point came in Q4 2022 when ISPs lifted the minimum broadband package speed from 250 Mbps to 500 Mbps and offered aggressive discounts to encourage upselling to faster fiber packages. The median upload speed also saw notable improvement, reaching 124.37 Mbps in March 2024.
Median Download Speeds for Fixed Broadband, Select Countries in the Middle East
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q1 2022-Q1 2024
Median Download Speeds for Fixed Broadband, Select Countries in the Middle East
Bahrain and Qatar also experienced significant and rapid rises in median download speeds, reaching 83.09 Mbps and 135.34 Mbps, respectively. The ISPs in the two countries saw significant improvements in upload speeds too. Users in Qatar saw the biggest jump in median upload speed, tripling from Q1 2022 to Q1 2024 to 115.74 Mbps. In Bahrain, the median upload speed increased by over 2.7x but remained the lowest of the group at 20.70 Mbps.
In Bahrain, the telecoms regulator mandated ISPs to double the speed of entry-level fiber packages in April 2023 while maintaining the same wholesale prices. This immediately impacted the market, with median broadband download speeds jumping from 48.14 Mbps in Q1 2023 to 70.17 Mbps in Q2 2023 (over 40%).
Qatar was the first country in the GCC to offer 10 Gbps consumer broadband packages. However, Ooredoo and Vodafone maintained a relatively low download speed on entry-level tariffs at 100 Mbps. This changed in June 2023, when they raised the minimum speed to 1 Gbps while offering discounts on more expensive fiber packages. These initiatives resulted in a step change in download speeds, increasing by 41% in Q1 2024 compared to Q2 2023.
Jordan began ramping up its fiber infrastructure in 2013-2014, with strong take-up since 2019 driven by increased competition, extended coverage outside the capital, and rising demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The launch of Fibertech, a fiber wholesale company, in 2019 significantly boosted service competition and led to more accessible and affordable fiber services for consumers. Fibertech, set up as a joint venture between ISP Umniah and Jordan Electricity Company, covered 1.2 Million households by July 2023 and planned to reach 1.4 million premises, 70% of Jordan’s households, by the end of that year.
Fiber overtook fixed wireless access (FWA) and ADSL connections in Q2 2021 and represented 56% of fixed broadband connections by the end of 2022. Fiber maintained its upward trajectory, capturing 64% of the market in 3Q 2023 with 513,744 active connections according to the last reported data from the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC)). Local ISPs have also been increasing the speed of entry-level plans and offering gigabit packages. For example, Orange Jordan introduced 2 Gbps and 10 Gbps plans in May 2023. This accelerated fiber take-up boosted the median speeds for both download and upload, reaching 130.41 Mbps and 108.08 Mbps, respectively, in Q1 2024. Notably, Jordan doubled its median upload speed in two years, narrowing the gap with its median download speed.
In Saudi Arabia, stc led the way by increasing the minimum download speed from 100 Mbps to 300 Mbps in the summer of 2022. Mobily followed suit in 2023 by doubling the speed of its entry-level package and introducing a 1 Gbps broadband plan during Q2 2023. Zain initially reserved higher download speeds (ranging from 200 Mbps to 500 Mbps) for customers on 2-year contracts, while those on 12-month contracts received speeds between 100 Mbps and 300 Mbps. However, in 2023, Zain merged its plans into a standard 18-month contract starting at 200 Mbps, with 1 Gbps at the high end. These initiatives began to impact the market in Q2 2023, when the median download speed surpassed 90 Mbps for the first time, reaching 108.95 Mbps by Q1 2024. Upload speeds also saw significant growth, rising to 53.75 Mbps during this period.
Speedtest Intelligence’s Enrichment API allows us to track the adoption and performance of individual fixed broadband technologies and assess their impact on the Saudi market. For example, the fiber share of stc Speedtest samples has been growing – fiber represented 75.4% of Speedtest samples in March 2024, up from 69.9% in Q4 2023. This increased fiber adoption contributed to raising overall fixed broadband performance across download, upload, and latency metrics and widened the performance gap with legacy DSL lines. This result also highlights the potential for further improvement if most samples (and by extension, customers) switch to fiber.
DSL and Fiber Performance, Saudi Arabia
Speedtest Intelligence® | Q4 2022 – Q1 2024
DSL and Fiber Performance, Saudi Arabia
Improving indoor coverage is key to ensuring maximum fiber performance delivery to customers
ISPs in the analyzed countries have rapidly expanded their fiber footprint and migrated customers to faster broadband services, helping to increase the median download speed. However, the last few meters indoors, closer to the end-users, can be a potential bottleneck to achieving maximum throughput. To address this, local ISPs have taken steps such as:
Offering upgraded CPEs that support Wi-Fi 6. The choice of Wi-Fi standards and spectrum bands directly influences indoor connectivity quality, throughput, and network coverage. Our recent analysis found that over one-third of test samples in the Gulf region reported using Wi-Fi 4 to connect to the fixed CPE. More ISPs are now offering Wi-Fi 6 compatible CPEs and including additional mesh Wi-Fi nodes at no extra costs to improve indoor coverage and speed.
Deploying fiber-to-the-room (FTTR). This relatively new technology involves deploying and extending fiber connectivity to each room, usually through transparent cables, to provide ubiquitous gigabit wireless access. ISPs started deploying this technology in East Asia to differentiate their broadband offering and it is now being adopted by ISPs in the Middle East, including Jordan (Umniah and Zain), Qatar (Ooredoo), Saudi Arabia (Salam, stc), and the U.A.E. (Etisalat by e&).
Making gigabit internet more accessible will unlock faster speeds and drive wider adoption
Countries with small landmasses and populations, and high urbanization, such as Singapore, the U.A.E., Hong Kong (SAR), Iceland, and Monaco, top the Global Speedtest Index. While such geographical and demographic characteristics give an advantage to smaller nations as they facilitate the deployment of fiber infrastructure, other factors including market competition, government support, and service affordability are key to driving mass adoption.
Many of the top 10 markets in the Global Speedtest Index have multiple ISPs competing which drives investments in better technology and continuous upgrades to attract customers. A competitive landscape benefits consumers because it helps to keep prices relatively low. It also accelerates increases in median speeds as ISPs tend to offer free speed upgrades to existing customers. For example, in Hong Kong (which had 28 licensed ISPs as of March 2024) and Singapore, gigabit broadband speeds have been available to residential customers since the early 2010s, and ISPs have eliminated sub-1 Gbps plans. As a result, 85% of residential homes in Singapore and 68.0% in Hong Kong have at least 1 Gbps services. Chile, Latin America’s leader in fixed line performance and fourth in the Speedtest Global Index in Q1 2024, has six ISPs with more than 5% market share, all of which are heavily focused on migrating customers to fiber.
Governments in these leading countries have also prioritized strong digital infrastructure development with significant investment in infrastructure. For example, China has pursued a state-coordinated infrastructure deployment program to promote economic development. In France, the government’s “France Très Haut Débit” initiative aimed to provide fiber optic access to all citizens by 2025 through public-private partnerships. The Singaporean government invested S$1 billion to build the infrastructure of its National Broadband Network (NBN) which supported speeds of up to 10 Gbps and reached more than 95% premises in 2013. In February 2023, it announced an additional investment of up to S$100 million to upgrade the NBN to enable more than half a million households to benefit from speeds of up to 10Gbps by 2028.
While the broadband infrastructure in some countries from the Middle East is gigabit internet-ready, the disparity in income and the high price of these packages hinder the adoption rate of high-speed broadband services. For example, a 1 Gbps fiber line in Hong Kong or Singapore could cost as little as $30 per month, and a plan with a similar speed starts at $100 per month in Qatar, $150 in the U.A.E., $250 in Saudi Arabia, and $345 in Bahrain. This highlights the need to make gigabit plans more affordable if the operators want to boost fiber subscribers and countries aspire to move up the Speedtest Global Index.
As demand for high-speed internet continues to grow, we expect increased adoption of 10 Gbps speeds to support more demanding applications and improve the user experience. Work is underway in some developed markets to build higher-capacity broadband networks to enable new cases and make the infrastructure future-ready. For example, In March 2024, Hong Kong Telecom announced the availability of 50 Gbps lines for residential and business customers. This trend is slowly emerging in the Middle East – Etisalat by E& in the U.A.E and Ooredoo in Qatar announced early experiments with 50G PON technology. We anticipate continued innovation and competition in the region, driving further advancements that will ultimately benefit end-users by delivering faster and more affordable gigabit connectivity options.
For more information about Speedtest Intelligence data and insights, please contact us.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
Consumers around the world eagerly awaited Samsung’s release of the latest line of its flagship Galaxy S series of smartphones on February 1, 2024. Was the wait worth it? In this article, we analyze how the Samsung Galaxy S24 family measures up against its predecessors in terms of 5G speed and latency during its first several weeks on the market (February 1 – March 24, 2024).
With new chipsets and technologies alongside plenty of other cool new features in Galaxy S24 devices, we examined early results from Speedtest® users in 15 select countries around the world to see whether the Galaxy S24 lineup — comprising the S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra models — outpaced Samsung’s earlier S22 and S23 families for 5G performance. Additionally, we’ve compared the 5G speeds and latency of Apple’s iPhone 15 family — including the iPhone 15, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max — against Samsung’s offerings.
It’s important to note that device performance metrics can vary significantly from one country to another. Factors such as government and mobile operator investments in 5G infrastructure, spectrum allocations, and the extent of 5G network deployment all contribute to these variations.
Key takeaways:
The Samsung Galaxy S24 family showed a statistically significant lead for median 5G download speeds in seven out of 15 countries in this study. On the other hand, the Apple iPhone 15 family posted the fastest 5G speeds in only one country. It’s worth noting, however, that speed differences between Galaxy S24 devices and iPhone 15’s were relatively minor in some of the countries analyzed (see the charts below for details).
The S24 family recorded the lowest median 5G multi-server latency in 10 of 15 countries, whereas iPhone 15 devices offered the highest median 5G latency in 10 markets.
Samsung Galaxy S22 models unsurprisingly offered the slowest median 5G download speeds in eight countries, while the Galaxy S23 family was slowest in four countries.
Devices in the Galaxy S24 family experienced the fastest median 5G upload speed in 13 of the 15 countries examined for this analysis. However, upload speeds were much slower than 5G download speeds, ranging from 11.83 Mbps to Mbps to 66.52 Mbps, with median 5G upload speeds of 50 Mbps or better found in only three countries (South Korea, Qatar, and the U.A.E.).
To learn more about what speeds mean in real-world terms, check out our article looking at how much speed users need for a variety of daily mobile activities.
Everyone wants to know if the newest technology is worth the upgrade when they’re investing in an expensive new smartphone. Each device within the Galaxy S24 family has various upgrades (including new AI features), but when it comes to features that impact speed and latency performance, here’s a look at the chipsets and modems for each line of smarthpones in our study:
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra models use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset globally, while the S24 and S24+ use it only in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States. The Samsung Exynos 2400 is used elsewhere for the S24 & S24+.
The Galaxy S23 series uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 worldwide, while Samsung S22 models use an Exynos 2200 chipset in Europe and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 elsewhere.
Galaxy S24 devices utilize the Snapdragon X75 5G modem, S23 models have a Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 modem, while S22 models have a Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 modem.
Apple iPhone 15 models use Apple’s A16 Bionic chipset, while iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models use the A 17 Pro chip. All devices in the Apple iPhone 15 family utilize Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X70 5G modem.
Do you own one of these devices? See how your speeds compare by taking a quick Speedtest. And to learn more about mobile and fixed broadband performance in cities and regions across the world, visit the Speedtest Performance Directory™, where you’ll find ISP recommendations, insights on mobile and fixed broadband performance, and more.
Digging into the Data: Where does the Samsung Galaxy S24 Family Lead its S22, S23, and iPhone 15 Counterparts Around the Globe?
Early findings from Speedtest Intelligence® reveal that the latest Galaxy S24 family outperformed its predecessors — especially S22 models — in terms of 5G speed across several of the countries we analyzed. While differences in speed between devices were minimal in some countries, S24 models showed significant speed advantages over previous generation Samsung devices in markets like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and others.
Does that mean users in those locations should upgrade immediately? Not necessarily. The decision to upgrade depends on various factors, from price to features to performance and more. However, if speed is your primary concern, the Galaxy S24 series is a compelling option, especially for consumers currently utilizing devices from the Galaxy S22 lineup, which is now over two years old.
Read on to see our complete analysis of all 15 countries in this study or select a region below to dig into more localized results.
Consumers in Hong Kong who want new features might want to upgrade
Speedtest Intelligence data revealed strong performance for all device families in Hong Kong, with the new Galaxy S24 family performing particularly well, boasting a median 5G download speed of 165.74 Mbps and the lowest median 5G multi-server latency in the market at 21.74 ms. However, the S24’s median 5G download speed was statistically comparable to that of its older Samsung and iPhone 15 peers, making the choice to upgrade currently more about new features than about performance.
Bottom line: With strong — and similar — 5G download speeds across all device families in Japan, upgrading to a new Galaxy device isn’t a must just yet, unless you want to enjoy the S24 family’s new features.
5G speeds were fast across the board in India, where the Samsung Galaxy 24 family held a slight edge
In the early days following the release of the Galaxy S24 series in India, the latest Samsung models led for both 5G download speeds and 5G multi-server latency. While 5G speeds impressed across all device families in India — all notched speeds of at least 273.78 Mbps — Galaxy S24 models posted the top median 5G download speed at 302.43 Mbps and the lowest median 5G multi-server latency at 41.56 ms. On the other hand, Galaxy S22 devices showed the slowest — but still impressive — speeds in India at 273.78 Mbps, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 was just a tick behind at 279.93 Mbps. The iPhone 15 family, meanwhile, clocked in with a median 5G download speed of 285.78 Mbps.
Bottom line: Consumers in India currently using S22 devices might want to upgrade to an S24 model, given the nearly 30 Mbps speed advantage the new devices provided in this study. However, with excellent 5G speeds across all device families and similar speeds for devices in the S22, S23, and iPhone 15 families, users might not feel a huge difference in their 5G experience from one device to another.
Samsung Galaxy enthusiasts in Indonesia needn’t rush to upgrade to an S24 device — yet
In contrast with what our results showed in most countries, the iPhone 15 family emerged as the leader in Indonesia with a median 5G download speed of 80.49 Mbps. All three Samsung Galaxy families trailed with speeds ranging from 55.61 Mbps for the S24 family to 69.24 Mbps for S23 models. While the iPhone 15 family’s 5G speed was nearly 25 Mbps faster than that of S24 devices, it’s worth noting that the difference among all three Samsung Galaxy models was only about 14 Mbps, and our results revealed no statistical difference in median 5G download speeds between the S22 and S23 families.
Bottom line: Despite the iPhone 15 providing the top speeds in the market, the Galaxy S24 could hold greater long-term potential for consumers in Indonesia, especially when compared to older Samsung models. Equipped with a newer processor and modem, the S24 could see quicker speeds over time as Indonesia’s 5G networks evolve. In the meantime, users shouldn’t experience notable disparities in speed or latency among all three Samsung device families analyzed.
No clear advantage to upgrading to a new Galaxy S24 in Japan
People in Japan who upgraded to a Galaxy S24 device likely haven’t seen a performance boost just yet. While all four device families performed similarly well in Japan, there was no statistical difference in the median 5G download speeds offered by all three Galaxy families, with speeds ranging from 110.48 Mbps to 118.93 Mbps across all three Galaxy devices. The iPhone 15 lineup also had a strong speed at 125.48 Mbps.
Bottom line: With generally similar median 5G download speeds across all device families in Japan, users who are considering upgrading to a new Galaxy smartphone might want to wait. While we anticipate the S24’s speeds to surpass those of its predecessors over time, 5G speeds in the market were quite close across all three Galaxy device families in the early days of the S24’s release.
For users in the Philippines who want the fastest 5G, Galaxy S22 users may want to upgrade.
Samsung Galaxy S24 users in the Philippines might have noticed a modest improvement to their 5G speeds compared to those on older S23 and S22 models since they upgraded, as the Galaxy S24 family’s median 5G download speed of 157.38 Mbps was about 20 Mbps faster than that of Galaxy S22’s (137.68 Mbps) and a little over 15 Mbps faster than the Galaxy S23 family (140.06 Mbps). Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 family’s median 5G download speed of 120.04 Mbps trailed all three Samsung Galaxy families in the market.
Bottom line: For users in the Philippines seeking the fastest possible 5G experience, upgrading to an S24 device is worth considering. However, it’s worth noting that the differences in speed between devices wasn’t as stark as that in some other countries, and upgrading likely isn’t for everyone just yet.
Samsung Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 much faster on 5G in South Korea than S22 devices
In South Korea, home to the first widespread 5G launch in the world, our results reflected outstanding 5G speeds, with the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S24 families posting similar median 5G download speeds of 598.64 Mbps and 590.28 Mbps, respectively. The S22 family, meanwhile, offered the “slowest” 5G speeds in South Korea, posting an excellent median 5G download speed of 475.42 Mbps, while Galaxy S23 devices came in at 511.82 Mbps.
Bottom line: 5G users in South Korea can expect remarkable 5G speeds across the board, regardless of their device. However, Samsung Galaxy loyalists who currently use S22 models might want to consider moving to an S24 model, given that the S24 family was over 100 Mbps faster than Galaxy S22’s, while also offering the top median 5G upload speed in the market at 55.22 Mbps. For users who prioritize the fastest 5G experience, Galaxy S24’s and iPhone 15’s are both worth a look.
Samsung Galaxy S24 family provides top 5G download speeds in Thailand
In Thailand, Speedtest Intelligence showed that the Galaxy S24 family delivered the fastest median 5G download speed in the market at 171.27 Mbps. That speed marks a notable improvement of roughly 35 Mbps over the S22’s 132.60 Mbps and the S23’s 135.55 Mbps. The Galaxy S24 family also offered the lowest median 5G multi-server latency in Thailand at 32.46 ms. The iPhone 15 family provided the second-fastest median 5G download speed in the market at 147.53 Mbps.
Bottom line: If you’re thinking of upgrading from an S22 or S23 device, our findings suggest that the Galaxy S24 might be the right choice. With faster 5G speeds compared to previous generations, coupled with low latency, smartphones in the Galaxy S24 family should allow for quick content downloads and smooth connectivity overall.
Middle East and Africa
Excellent 5G speeds in Nigeria, but too soon to tell if you should upgrade for performance
In Nigeria, 5G speeds were impressive overall, from the Galaxy S23 family’s median 5G download speed of 281.67 Mbps to the new Galaxy S24’s speed of 383.97 Mbps. However, in these early days of the S24 lineup’s release, we are still waiting to see how things stabilize in the market before we can make a firm recommendation on whether to upgrade.
Bottom line: For users who like to have the latest gear and/or want the new features offered by the S24 lineup, upgrading is certainly worth considering. But with fast 5G speeds in general, users on any of the device families we looked at should see a quick download experience in general.
Samsung Galaxy S24 by far the fastest 5G in Qatar
Home to some of the fastest 5G speeds in the world, Qatar showcased impressive median 5G download speeds across all three device families analyzed. The Galaxy S24 family led the pack with a jaw-dropping median 5G download speed of 971.49 Mbps and the top median 5G upload speed in the market at 66.52 Mbps. The Galaxy S22 and S23 families trailed, albeit with great median 5G download speeds of 675.06 Mbps and 758.49 Mbps, respectively. The iPhone 15 family also had a strong showing in Qatar, posting a median 5G download speed of 788.97 Mbps.
Bottom line: Consumers in Qatar with older Galaxy S22 or S23 devices might want to make the switch, given that the S24 family’s remarkable median 5G download speed of nearly 1 Gbps was much faster than those of either the Galaxy S23 or especially S22 families.
Galaxy S24 a good option for Samsung fans in the U.A.E.
In the U.A.E., which is home to outstanding 5G speeds in general, the Samsung Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15 families delivered the top median 5G download speeds in the market at 828.11 Mbps and 819.48 Mbps, respectively. When compared to its earlier generation Samsung predecessors, the S24 family held a commanding speed advantage, boasting speeds that were at least 170 Mbps higher than those of either the S22 (639.33 Mbps) or S23 (657.79 Mbps) families.
Bottom line: With median 5G download speeds ranging from 639.33 Mbps to 828.11 Mbps, consumers in the U.A.E. will likely enjoy fantastic speeds regardless of device model. However, for current S22 or S23 users hoping to boost their speeds, the Galaxy S24 family stands out as a good choice.
Europe
Galaxy 24 family clocked 5G speeds over 80 Mbps faster than those on S22 devices in France
In France, the Galaxy S24 family was the frontrunner, delivering the fastest median 5G download speed among all device families in the market at 292.15 Mbps. That marks a significant improvement of over 80 Mbps compared to the S22 family’s speed of 211.32 Mbps, along with a jump of more than 60 Mbps compared to the S23’s speed of 229.78 Mbps. Meanwhile, iPhone 15 users experienced the second-fastest median 5G download speed in the market at 257.15 Mbps, with 5G latency nearly identical to that of the S22 and S23 families.
Bottom line: For consumers currently using an S23 or especially an S22 model, upgrading to an S24 device is worth considering. Our results in France showed that the latest Samsung lineup delivered a superior 5G speed experience over older Galaxy models, especially those in the Galaxy S22 family.
Galaxy S24’s a good choice over S22 models in Spain
All four device families in Spain provided good 5G speeds, ranging from the S22’s median 5G download speed of 141.33 Mbps to the S24 family’s speed of 179.34 Mbps. While speeds recorded on S24, S23, and iPhone 15 devices were statistically similar, the difference in speed between the S24 and S22 was much starker, with the S24 nearly 40 Mbps faster than the S22.
Bottom line: The decision to upgrade should be more straightforward for S22 users in Spain compared to those with S23 or iPhone 15 models, as the S24’s median 5G download speed of 179.34 Mbps was almost 40 Mbps faster than that of the S22 family.
Samsung Galaxy S24 likely worth an upgrade from S22 in the U.K.
In the U.K., Samsung Galaxy S24 models were the fastest in the market, with the S24’s median 5G download speed of 156.71 Mbps offering a speed gain of nearly 40 Mbps compared to the Galaxy S22 family. Galaxy S24 models also posted faster speeds than both the Galaxy S23 and iPhone 15 families, but the difference was less stark than it was with the S22 family, with Galaxy S22 models clocking in at 120.49 Mbps, Galaxy S23’s at 133.49 Mbps, and iPhone 15’s at 138.07 Mbps.
Bottom line: U.K. consumers using either S22 or S23 models may want to look into upgrading to the S24 to enjoy faster speeds. That’s especially true for S22 users, given that the S24’s median 5G download speed was nearly 40 Mbps faster than that of S22 devices.
North America
No major 5G speed boost for users in Mexico who upgraded to a Galaxy S24
5G speeds in Mexico were impressive, with all device families posting median 5G download speeds of 176.53 Mbps or better. While Speedtest users of the Galaxy S24 family experienced the fastest median 5G download speed in the market at 197.42 Mbps, that speed marked only a modest improvement compared to Galaxy S22 devices (186.51 Mbps) and iPhone 15 models (193.73 Mbps). The Galaxy S23 family showed the slowest 5G speed in the market at 176.53 Mbps, coming in about 20 Mbps slower than Galaxy S24 models
Bottom line: For users eager to embrace the new features offered by Galaxy S24 devices or move on from S23 devices, an upgrade might be worthwhile. However, with fast 5G speeds across all device families in Mexico and only about 20 Mbps separating all four device families in our study, users likely won’t see a major change in their 5G experience by upgrading.
Galaxy S22 users in the U.S. could get faster 5G with the S24 family.
5G speeds in the U.S. had an impressive showing across the board, with median 5G download speeds of at least 232.46 Mbps across all device families. The Samsung Galaxy S24 family led the way with an excellent median 5G download speed of 306.90 Mbps and the lowest median 5G multi-server latency at 45.71 ms. Users of the Galaxy S24 family enjoyed speeds roughly 75 Mbps faster than those on S22 models (232.46 Mbps) and approximately 65 Mbps faster than those on S23 devices (241.60 Mbps). Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 family also offered a strong performance, with a median 5G download speed of 272.99 Mbps.
Bottom line: Users of older Samsung device models in the United States may want to switch to one of the newer models to capitalize on the faster 5G speeds offered by S24 devices, though speeds were strong for all device families in this study.
Ookla will continue monitoring how devices are performing
We’ll continue to check in on device performance as new models enter the market, so stay tuned for further insights into mobile and fixed broadband performance in countries around the world.
If you’ve recently made the switch to an S24 device, make sure you’re getting the speeds you need by downloading the iOS or Android Speedtest® app.
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.
As 5G adoption increases, consumers and businesses expect the same level of coverage and performance wherever they go. Yet, the characteristics of 5G, which typically operates in mid-band frequencies of 1.8 GHz to 3.5 GHz, pose a challenge for indoor coverage, as these frequencies struggle to penetrate walls and windows depending on the materials used in construction. Therefore, operators need to invest in additional solutions to enhance indoor coverage and potentially offload onto in-building Wi-Fi systems.
In the Gulf region, where shopping malls are central to the economic and social lifestyle, bridging the indoor-outdoor coverage gap is ever more important. In this article, we use data from Cell Analytics™ to benchmark indoor 5G coverage provided by seven mobile operators across 28 malls in Qatar (Doha), Saudi Arabia (Jeddah and Riyadh), and the U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) based on crowdsourced measurements collected between December 2022 and November 2023.
Key takeaways
Good indoor coverage is vital for 5G more than for previous generations. Indoor 5G coverage is more crucial than ever since people spend 90% of their time indoors, and an increasing number of consumers and businesses depend on its availability and expect near gigabit speeds wherever they are.
Top U.A.E. malls have superior indoor 5G coverage compared to top malls in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. du leads the way in the U.A.E. (particularly in Abu Dhabi), while in Saudi Arabia, Mobily has the edge in terms of the number of malls where it has better indoor 5G coverage. In Qatar, Ooredoo comes first for indoor coverage and its lead over Vodafone is more evident than in the other two countries.
Efficient deployment of indoor network coverage solutions requires addressing non-technical challenges. Beyond cost and technical factors, operators must anticipate other issues when aiming to improve indoor coverage, such as site acquisition and permission and compliance, all of which can be facilitated through regulatory measures.
5G underscores the importance of indoor coverage more than previous generations of mobile technologies
Before 4G, mobile networks were designed primarily for outdoor voice coverage. That is why outdoor deployment took precedence over indoor coverage in previous generations of mobile networks since coverage maps were important marketing collateral to grow market shares. With 5G, consumers and businesses expect high-speed and consistent mobile connectivity everywhere. As they rely heavily on continuous 5G availability, operators are pressured to deliver a similar quality of experience indoors and outdoors. Delivering consistent high-speed data connectivity across both indoor and outdoor networks is far more challenging since the performance of a 5G network is limited by interference.
5G is also the main data growth driver of usage for the operators and most of the usage is likely to be generated indoors. According to Ericsson, we spend 90% of our time indoors, and up to 80% of our data is consumed indoors. Therefore, operators should strive to improve coverage and capacity indoors if they want to capitalize on data growth, reduce churn, and support new consumer and business use cases.
Indeed, 5G enables a wide range of applications because it supports high bandwidth, low latency, and high device density. As 5G adoption increases, there will be more use cases where an excellent indoor 5G experience will be essential to end users and commercially beneficial to the operators.
Technical and commercial reasons also explain why indoor 5G performance is typically inferior to outdoors. The mid-band frequencies (1.8 GHz to 3.5 GHz) used in 5G deployment do not effectively penetrate walls and windows. The increasing use of insulating materials and metal structures further hamper the propagation of radio waves. Furthermore, indoor network systems need to be designed to fit within the site-specific requirements for antenna placement, connectivity, and power distribution systems, minimize interference with careful coordination between adjacent sites, and connect more customers per square meter than outdoors which impacts network performance.
Commercially, operators have prioritized outdoor coverage because it requires less CAPEX and OPEX per subscriber compared to indoor coverage and has a better return on investment. Additionally, operators need to adapt their indoor network solution to suit different venues and building configurations, find other service providers to share deployment costs with, and convince venue owners to offset some of them.
Technical solutions exist to address the 5G coverage gap
Spectrum is arguably the most influential factor for 5G coverage and speed. High frequencies (shorter wavelengths) carry data faster but have a shorter range than lower frequencies, leading to lower coverage levels and inferior indoor quality of service.
Operators can opt for higher towers to cover a large area to compensate for the shorter range or adjust spectrum usage in specific areas to maximize coverage while not too negatively impacting performance.
Alternative technical solutions also exist to address indoor cellular coverage challenges (see table below). Most of these solutions were designed originally for 3G and 4G but were upgraded by increasing their power and the number of antennas to enable greater performance and improve spectral and energy efficiency. However, deploying some of these solutions can be complex and costly. For example, a DAS that supports MIMO costs multiple times a typical outdoor macro site. They may also lead to unnecessary duplication of infrastructure if operators do not share their assets.
Examples of solutions to improve indoor 5G coverage
Solution
Description
Limitations
Amplifiers
• Strengthen a weak external cellular signal by amplifying it inside the building
• Could cause interferences with signals from the macro cells
Small cells (microcells, picocells, and femtocells)
• Low-power antennas that provide localized coverage and add capacity in dense locations • Connected to the macro cell through backhaul
• More suitable for small indoor areas (e.g. a room or floor), not shopping malls • Not cost-effective to cover a large area
Distributed Antenna System (DAS)
• Set of antennas distributed around a venue to amplify the signal and provide consistent coverage and capacity throughout • DAS is connected to one or more base stations via cable
• Could be expensive and complex to deploy and upgrade due to the multiple radio heads and cable connections required
Private LTE/5G Networks
• Localized cellular networks deployed to offer customized indoor coverage and capacity solutions • Cater to specific indoor environments such as factories, warehouses, and corporate offices
• Acquiring dedicated spectrum is challenging and costly • Deployment complexity and cost can make it prohibitive for smaller organizations • Navigating regulatory frameworks can be challenging
Indoor 5G coverage is more vital in Gulf countries because shopping malls play an essential economic and social role
The Gulf region has been a global 5G pioneer. Most countries have attained nationwide 5G coverage by 2023. 5G penetration among mobile users has also skyrocketed since the beginning of 2022. It reached 28.11%, 22.48%, and 26.86% in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E. in Q3 2023, according to GSMA Intelligence.
Indoor network coverage is arguably more critical in the Gulf region. The high temperatures and long summers mean that people spend most of their time indoors, especially in shopping centers. These malls are the heart of the economic, social, and cultural life in the region for residents and tourists alike.
Aided by retail-friendly policies, such as low taxes and late opening times, malls experienced a boom in footfall and retail transactions. Despite the rapid rise in online shopping, especially after COVID-19 lockdowns, brick-and-mortar remains a pillar of national economies and accounts for the largest share of all retail transactions. The retail segment has also room to grow further as the retail gross leasable area (GLA) per capita across major GCC cities remains below that of developed markets like the U.S.A., despite being higher than other markets in the Middle East and North Africa.
5G connectivity inside the malls is not just crucial for consumers but also businesses. Stores can use the network to connect video cameras, point-of-sale (PoS) devices, and signage systems. Good indoor connectivity also enables shops to offer a hybrid retail experience, combining physical and digital sales channels. For example, customers can order items online for in-store pick-up. Indeed, nearly 60% of surveyed shoppers in the U.A.E. use their smartphones in-store to research products, compare prices, or look for offers. Excellent indoor 5G coverage also underpins future in-mall experiences that mix physical and digital interactions through technologies like AR/VR.
Operators and venue owners can also benefit from offering seamless connectivity in the malls. For example, operators can improve their brand image and prestige by associating themselves with iconic venues such as Dubai Mall in Dubai, Mall of Qatar in Doha, and Mall of Arabia in Jeddah. For landlords, exceptional indoor coverage and quality can serve as a key differentiator for the mall, potentially resulting in higher rental rates.
Operators can offload onto Wi-Fi as an alternative to extending 5G indoors, provided these systems are designed, optimized, and operated with equivalent quality of experience, using, for example, Ekahau®. While many malls in the region have Wi-Fi infrastructure, we believe that 5G complements rather than competes with Wi-Fi. Direct access to a 5G network offers more convenience for consumers and is intrinsically more secure than 4G or Wi-Fi.
The latest generations of Wi-Fi technology, including Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7, are likely to play a more pivotal role in enhancing indoor coverage thanks to their improved performance, higher speeds, and increased capacity. Wi-Fi’s seamless integration with cellular coverage enables the offloading of cellular traffic in congested areas, maintains connectivity in deep indoor locations, and provides a robust and interconnected network experience for users.
Major differences in indoor 5G coverage quality between malls, operators, and countries in the Gulf region
In this analysis, we examine the variations in the strength of indoor 5G coverage across select shopping malls in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E.. We use data from Cell Analytics based on crowdsourced measurements of consumers’ mobile devices worldwide. The tool captures RF measurement and data usage, both indoors and outdoors, enabling us to benchmark signal metrics and generate user density and competitive coverage difference maps.
We use the average Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) as a measure of network coverage. RSRP represents the network signal strength received by a mobile phone. An RSRP value that exceeds -90 dBm indicates superior coverage. If the signal strength is between -90 dBm and -100 dBm then network coverage is considered good. Lower RSRP values signify lower download speeds and an increased probability of network disconnection.
In the sections below, we examine 5G RSRP measurements inside major malls in Qatar (Doha), Saudi Arabia (Jeddah and Riyadh), and the U.A.E. (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) from December 2022 to November 2023. For each location, we compare operators’ RSRP values to determine which ones offer superior 5G coverage. We included locations where we received sufficient samples to achieve a confidence level of 95%.
du commands a lead in indoor 5G coverage in more U.A.E. malls than Etisalat by e&
The U.A.E. emerged as the fastest 5G market globally in Q2 2023, according to Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence®. This achievement was facilitated by an almost nationwide 5G coverage of the population. Both operators, du and Etisalat by e&, have sought to continually enhance customer experience by improving network coverage and quality.
du reported 98.5% 5G coverage of the population in November 2023 and attributed much of its CAPEX to 5G deployment and specifically to enhancing indoor coverage. For example, it has installed small cell antennas in apartments and offices and expanded DAS in new mall locations. It also launched 5G Standalone (SA) and Voice over New Radio (VoNR) in 2023.
The chart below depicts indoor 5G RSRP values for du and Etisalat by e&, across 12 malls in Dubai and six others in Abu Dhabi. Both operators have the same number of malls in Dubai where they lead in indoor coverage. In Abu Dhabi, du consistently outperformed Etisalat by e& in terms of indoor coverage in all the malls we reviewed.
Overall, top U.A.E. malls have better indoor 5G coverage than those in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The weighted average RSRP per mall is at least -86 dBm in 9 out of the 18 locations analyzed, suggesting excellent indoor coverage. However, in some locations, such as Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of Emirates (for both operators), Wafi Mall and Yas Mall (for Etisalat by e&), and Dubai Mall (for du), the signal power is equal or less than -90 dBm.
du consistently outperforms Etisalat by e& in indoor 5G coverage across all the six malls in Abu Dhabi. For example, du is 10% better than Etisalat by e& in Khalidiya Mall and 8% better in Marina Mall.
The difference in signal power in Dubai locations is generally smaller, implying that consumers are unlikely to perceive a difference in 5G coverage while shopping there. For example, the RSRP gap between operators is inferior to 1.5 dBm in Deira City Mall, Festival City Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, Mirdif City Centre, and Wafi Mall. This could be because both operators share the same indoor coverage infrastructure in these malls to avoid duplication and to reduce costs.
Mobily and Zain are the frontrunners for indoor 5G coverage in Saudi malls
The Saudi Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) reported that 5G coverage reached 97 governorates in March 2023 (out of 136 governorates), up from 84 a year earlier. This is a substantial jump from the 35 governorates it first reported in Q2 2020.
This improvement is partially driven by the ongoing release of suitable spectrum for 5G. Indeed, operators had access to low-band spectrum (700 MHz and 800 MHz) from 4G that they could reuse for 5G, and auctions for 2.3 GHz, 2.6 GHz, and 3.5 GHz bands were completed in 2019. The CST also plans to auction 600 MHz, 700 MHz, and 3800 MHz bands in Q1 2024.
Operators have steadily invested in 5G infrastructure. stc reported that it provides 5G coverage to over 90% of its mobile site locations in major cities. In October 2023, it announced significant network investments to extend its reach to over 75 cities and governorates.
The two charts below show indoor 5G RSRP values for Mobily, stc, and Zain across three malls in Riyadh and three others in Jeddah. Despite the large investments in 5G infrastructure and access to low-band spectrum, Cell Analytics reveals a weighted average RSRP of -95.5 dBm across the six surveyed malls, which is significantly lower than the weighted averages in Qatar and the U.A.E. at -85.3 dBm and -87.4 dBm, respectively.
Saudi Arabia is home to the five malls with the poorest indoor 5G coverage among the 28 malls analyzed in this article. The RSRP weighted averages ranged from -98.8 dBm in Al Salam Mall in Jeddah to -93.8 dBm in Riyadh Gallery Mall in Riyadh (the other lagging malls are Mall of Arabia and Red Sea Mall in Jeddah, and Al Nakheel Mall in Riyadh).
Mobily had better indoor 5G coverage than its competitors in three malls while Zain outperformed them in two of the malls. Mobily is quite ahead of its competitors in Mall of Arabia, one of the biggest malls in Saudi Arabia, with an RSRP of -92.8 dBm, a signal strength that is 6.5 dBm higher than Zain’s and 8.8 dBm stronger than stc’s.
Zain leads Mobily in two malls, Riyadh Gallery Mall and Red Sea Mall, by 2.4 dBm and 1.7 dBm, respectively. On the other hand, stc leads in 5G coverage inside Granada Center with an RSRP of -88.1 dBm, the highest signal power among the analyzed malls in Saudi Arabia. The RSRP difference between the three operators in the other malls varies between 3.3 dBm and 4.6 dBm, which suggests that operator choice can affect signal reception when shopping in these venues.
Ooredoo leads in 5G coverage inside the malls in Qatar
Likewise, Vodafone nearly doubled its radio network sites, upgraded the existing sites’ technologies, and increased 5G coverage, especially indoors. It reported that over 1188 TB of data were consumed across all stadiums during the World Cup. These initiatives helped to make Vodafone the world’s fastest mobile network operator in 2022. By June 2023, 85% of Vodafone’s 2250 radio network sites were 5G enabled.
The chart below shows indoor 5G RSRP values for Ooredoo and Vodafone across four malls in Doha. It reveals that Ooredoo delivered superior indoor coverage in all of them, except for Villaggio Mall, where Vodafone outperformed.
The difference in RSRP is highest in City Center Doha Mall where Ooredoo was ahead of Vodafone by 9.2 dBm. In the country’s largest shopping center, the Mall of Qatar, the difference in indoor signal strength between the two operators is sizable, standing at 4.4 dBm. However, since both operators offer excellent coverage simultaneously, with an RSRP of -81.4 and -85.8 for Ooredoo and Vodafone, respectively, consumers are unlikely to perceive a difference in coverage.
Operators need to consider non-technical aspects when deploying indoor solutions
Measures should be in place to encourage operators to make indoor network deployments more efficient. For instance, the Chinese government mandated that operators share the mid-band spectrum (3.3-3.4 GHz) for indoor coverage to promote co-development and cost-sharing. In Europe, mobile network operators (MNOs) share indoor networks deployed by neutral hosts, such as Cellnex, with a revenue model based on charging the venue or building owner for the network instead of the operator.
In the United States, the primary ownership model for DAS often involves a combination of ownership by neutral host operators, MNOs, and venue owners depending on agreements, partnerships, and specific needs of the venue or location. Neutral host operators often play a significant role in deploying shared DAS infrastructure, while venue owners, managers, or MNOs may also have ownership stakes or involvement in specific deployments to enhance indoor wireless coverage.
Beyond cost and technical considerations, operators need to carefully address other factors and practical challenges before and during the implementation of an indoor network coverage solution. These include site acquisition and permission, physical space and aesthetics, and regulatory compliance needs.
Regulators can have a proactive role in reducing bureaucratic hurdles and encouraging government-industry collaboration. For example, in South Korea, the regulator promotes the parallel development of indoor and outdoor 5G coverage across the country. Another example is the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) which recently requested industry views on the mechanism to rate digital connectivity in buildings. TRAI’s initiative illustrates the importance of devising standard guidelines, incentivizing investments in in-building infrastructure, and ultimately ensuring seamless and reliable indoor connectivity for consumers and businesses.
Ookla can support operators and venue owners in improving indoor cellular coverage
As consumers’ expectations for network speed and consistent connectivity rise with the advent of 5G, operators should prioritize addressing indoor coverage issues to improve customer experience, drive data usage, and outperform their competitors.
As more consumers and businesses rely on 5G, an excellent indoor 5G experience will become even more essential. It will also pave the way for innovations that blend in-store with digital experiences. The future of physical malls in the region hinges on their ability to adopt new technologies and use them to transform the consumer experience.
Ookla can assist operators in identifying buildings or indoor venues with coverage or capacity issues using crowdsourced and controlled test data and the execution of precise walk tests for diagnosis. Cell Analytics helps to identify specific indoor areas with low signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) and signal quality (RSRQ), causing sluggish data speeds despite adequate coverage (RSRP).
Equipped with this knowledge, mobile network operators can promptly deploy personnel for on-site walk-tests using Wind™, Ookla’s handheld walk-and-drive controlled testing platform. Wind enables testers to simulate user behavior while meticulously capturing detailed RF data in the background and processing it in near-real time. This allows operators to implement corrective actions to boost network performance within any venue.
An alternative to deploying in-building 5G systems is to selectively offload usage to Wi-Fi provided these systems are designed, optimized, and operated to deliver an equivalent quality of experience – this can be done using Ekahau.
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.
Based on Speedtest Intelligence® data, we can see a significant variance between countries in median 5G speed, with four broad clusters of 5G performance emerging: 5G Leaders, High Performers, Improvers, and 5G Outliers.
5G performance depends heavily on the operator’s 5G spectrum holding.
The larger the allocation of the C-band spectrum, the faster the 5G download speed, with the contiguous spectrum enhancing performance further.
Operators with access to 100 MHz of contiguous spectrum, e.g., in the U.A.E. and South Korea, led the 5G global ranking in Q4 2022 with a median download speed of 516.15 Mbps and 511.70 Mbps, respectively.
Access to low-band spectrum is just one factor that impacts 5G Availability.
Four tiers of 5G performance
Looking at market-level Speedtest Intelligence data, we can see significant variance in median 5G download speeds between the 52 countries we analyzed. We identified four broad clusters of 5G performance as measured by median 5G download speed.
5G Leaders: > 300 Mbps
These markets are the 5G pioneers, being among the first to launch 5G services, and are continually pushing the boundaries of 5G performance with median download speeds typically greater than 300 Mbps. High-performant 5G markets have allocated substantial amounts of spectrum for 5G use, particularly with wide allocations in the coveted C-band, and have assigned and, in some cases, begun limited use of mmWave spectrum. In some cases, we see a trade-off between 5G performance and 5G Availability (the proportion of time users with 5G capable devices spend connected to 5G networks).
5G High Performers: 200 – 300 Mbps
These markets share many of the characteristics of 5G leaders, having made an adequate spectrum allocation for 5G use and fostered competition between operators, which has helped spur network investment. However, they lag behind 5G Leaders based on their level of network densification. They typically use Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS), which allows operators to share spectrum between network generations, but it can weigh on performance. Median 5G download performance in these markets typically ranges from 200 Mbps to 300 Mbps. We don’t generally see as much of a trade-off between performance and 5G Availability in these markets.
5G Improvers: < 200 Mbps
These markets typically have limited C-band availability or a regulatory environment promoting strong price competition, with operator investment constrained. As a result, median 5G download speeds are between 100- 200 Mbps in these markets. In some cases — for example, in the U.S. and U.K., we see 5G spectrum allocations (based on spectrum currently in use) giving a significant advantage to one player in the market, which has then sought to capitalize on this through aggressive 5G network deployment. Furthermore, with the exception of the U.S., which had a 5G Availability of 56.0% in Q4 2022, 5G Improvers all have 5G Availability in the low double digits, ranging from 13.5% in Japan to 19.2% in Germany.
5G Outliers
Only in a few markets did 5G performance drop below 100 Mbps. Polish performance can be explained by the lack of a dedicated 5G spectrum; Polkomtel trading under the Plus brand, utilizing 50 MHz of spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band, and all other operators deploying 5G using DSS in the 2.1 GHz spectrum band. Spain, on the other hand, has assigned spectrum across all three bands, with C-band blocks ranging from 80MHz (MasMovil) to 110 MHz (Orange), and most recently, awarded mmWave too. However, operators focus on meeting coverage obligations that rely heavily on the 700 MHz band. For example, Movistar’s 5G network reached a total of 1,719 municipalities at the end of 2022, equivalent to 83% of the population.
Fast 5G and good 5G Availability don’t always go hand in hand
Using Speedtest Intelligence data, we examined a relationship between the country’s 5G median download speed and 5G Availability. And for the most part, there isn’t one. Fast networks don’t immediately come with high 5G Availability. For example, the U.A.E. and South Korea have topped our ranking in terms of the fastest median download speed over 5G at 549.70 Mbps and 496.63 Mbps, respectively, during Q4 2022. Yet, when it comes to 5G Availability, the U.S. came first in the ranking at 56.0% in Q4 2022, South Korea’s 5G Availability stood at 35.1%, while the U.A.E recorded a 5G Availability of 7.7% in Q4 2022.
All eyes on spectrum
The key to understanding 5G is understanding operators’ 5G spectrum holding. There are two key considerations to keep in mind when discussing the spectrum for 5G: speed performance and geographical coverage. Regulators assign 5G spectrum across three spectrum ranges: low, mid (lower mid-band and upper/C-band), and high (mmWave).
Low-band (sub-1GHz) spectrum can travel farther, cover a greater geographical region, and provide deeper penetration within buildings, given its good propagation characteristics. But, the low band spectrum cannot deliver “true” 5G speeds, peaking at 100 Mbps median download speed. Another challenge is that these frequency bands are in high demand and in low supply, and in some countries, still used for analog television.
Mid-band spectrum (1-6 GHz spectrum) is the so-called “sweet spot” for 5G, especially the upper mid-band (C-band), which offers the best of both worlds in terms of coverage and capacity.
Existing networks such as 2G, 3G, and 4G already use the lower mid-band. This spectrum band has been the 4G data traffic capacity layer, often used in Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) mode. FDD is a technique that uses separatefrequency bands at the transmitter and receiver sides. For example, the U.S. and China used the 2.6 GHz spectrum band in Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode to drive their 5G deployment. Most counties will use TDD for 5G network rollout. This means that the 5G base station and end-user device use the same channel to transmit simultaneously, potentially creating interference issues while allowing more flexibility. Furthermore, this spectrum band will grow in importance as legacy networks are retired and spectrum refarmed.
The upper mid-band, especially 3.3 GHz to 3.8 GHz (otherwise known as C-band), offers a good combination of propagation and capacity. 3GPP standards currently support a 100 MHz wide channel and a maximum bandwidth of 400 MHz in carrier aggregation mode.
The high band, also called the millimeter wave (mmWave), spectrum can deliver super-fast speeds (thinking gigabits) but has limited range. Recently we published an article looking at the mmWave performance and recent developments.
Using Speedtest Intelligence background data, we can gain insights into which spectrum bands operators use for 5G.
High band (mmWave) accounted for less than 1% of the scans in four countries: Japan, U.S., Qatar, and Australia.
Most countries used the mid-band spectrum.
C-band spectrum is used by all countries that have allocated it (21 out of 23 countries), with a notable exception of the Netherlands and Poland, which will finally auction the 3.5 GHz spectrum, set to take place in the summer of 2023.
All countries we have analyzed, bar South Korea, use lower mid-band partially due to operators switching off their legacy networks (2G/3G) and refarming their existing spectrum holdings to support 5G networks rollout.
Low band was used by 78% of analyzed countries (18 out of 23) across our sample.
Addressing spectral challenges via DSS and CA comes at a cost
The ITU minimum technical requirements to meet 5G performance requirements identify at least 100 MHz channel per operator and up to 1 GHz per operator in mmWave bands. This, however, is only sometimes the case. We can see imbalances in terms of operators’ performance within a country, which can be partially explained by having larger spectral resources. For example, Three UK benefited from having the largest, dedicated 5G spectrum — 140 MHz of frequency across several 5G spectrum bands, including a 100 MHz block of continuous spectrum in the 3.3-3.8 GHz band, which positions it well in terms of median download speeds compared to other U.K. operators.
In the absence of a dedicated 5G spectrum or to supplement the existing spectrum, operators can use two technologies to aid their 5G deployment: Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) and Carrier Aggregation (CA). DSS enables operators to allocate spectrum flexibly across low-, mid-, and high-bands and switch between LTE and 5G New Radio depending on network demand. However, there is a downside to that in terms of 5G performance. For example, in Poland, apart from Plus, all other operators deployed 5G using DSS in the 2.1 GHz spectrum band, which can partially explain why they have lower speeds.
Conversely, CA enables operators to use two or more bands together, integrating them as one big block to deploy 5G. This allows for the aggregation of non-contiguous spectrum blocks, but it impacts performance by introducing latency and signaling overhead.
Access to low-band spectrum has a positive impact on 5G Availability, but it is not the only factor at play
Ookla® data indicates that 5G coverage, which is often enabled by having access to a dedicated low-band spectrum (600 – 900 MHz), is just one part of the puzzle when it comes to 5G Availability. Low-band (700 MHz) spectrum, initially used for LTE, is now allocated to 5G because it allows extended coverage. According to the GSA, the 700 MHz spectrum band is particularly precious. GSA’s data shows that spectrum at 700 MHz has generated an average of $0.309/MHz/pop in assignments and auctions since 2015, significantly above the average price for C-band. For example, India’s highly anticipated 5G spectrum auction garnered $0.380MH/pop for 700 MHz compared to $0.031/MHz/pop for C-band.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the U.A.E. don’t have any 5G devices using low-band spectrum simply because there has been no spectrum assigned in this band to 5G services. During the initial 5G auction in 2016, South Korea’s 700 MHz spectrum remained unsold.
Other essential aspects driving 5G Availability are the affordability and availability of 5G-capable smartphones, 5G tariffs, and end-user demand. Case in point, despite the lack of low-band spectrum, South Korea reached a 5G Availability of 35.1% in Q4 2022, driven by customer adoption and 5G network densification. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, in November 2022, there were 27.5 million 5G subscriptions in South Korea, equivalent to 36% of all mobile subscriptions. According to its Communication Agency, there are 215,000 5G base stations, which translates into 319 people per 5G base station, nearly seven times more than the EU and 13 times more than the U.S.
A country’s geography impacts 5G coverage too. For example, in addition to having access to low band spectrum, the Netherlands benefits from being flatter and more densely populated, resulting in a greater ability to expand 5G coverage.
Another factor at play is the spectrum license conditions that stipulate coverage requirements, for instance, as part of the 700MHz licenses in the Netherlands, there is a minimum speed of 8 Mbps in 98% of the cases in each municipality of the country in 2022.
While the relationship between low-band spectrum and 5G Availability is not a direct one, we wanted to investigate whether there is a link between the median 5G download speed and the C-band spectrum.
Larger the share of the C-Band spectrum, the faster the 5G download speed
Our analysis found that access to C-band spectrum typically translates into a faster median 5G download speed. Unsurprisingly, operators are keen to deploy 5G services using C-band spectrum. According to GSA, since the end of 2015, 54 countries have auctioned, assigned, or renewed licenses for C-band spectrum.
All eyes on 5G Leaders
Countries where operators solely rely on the mid-band spectrum for 5G, and where 5G services have been available for more than 13 quarters have achieved over 300 Mbps median download speed in Q4 2022. Bulgaria is an exception, having launched services just over two years ago. We can also conclude that operators’ overall spectrum holding and whether they have access to a contiguous spectrum matters, too. Contiguous spectrum helps achieve faster speeds, lower latency, and improved spectral efficiency.
U.A.E.: Emirati operators – Etisalat and Du – use two carrier spectrum in the 3.5 GHz and 2.5 GHz frequency range, each carrier at 100 MHz, to establish a 5G network. This results in speeds exceeding 500 Mbps. The U.A.E. had a median 5G download speed of 511.70 Mbps in Q4 2022.
South Korea: KT and SKT bought a 100 MHz channel each in 2018. In July 2022, LG+ secured an additional 20 MHz C-band spectrum, bringing its total spectrum holding to 100 MHz. Alongside the 5G spectrum auction, the government outlined the rollout milestones for the operators’ 3.5 GHz rollout: 22,500 base stations by the end of 2021, 45,000 by the end of 2023, and 150,000 at completion. Thanks to that, South Korea has the most base stations per population. South Korea is one of the early adopters of 5G, having commercialized 5G in 2019 and over a third of all mobile subscriptions on 5G. One of the reasons behind South Korea’s fast-paced 5G adoption is the support from the government, which adopted the 2021 action plan for the “Digital New Deal” to support 5G development and a wider digital transformation.
Qatar: Qatar, clocking a median 5G download speed of 462.15 Mbps and 5G Availability of 50.7% in Q4 2022, delivers the best of the worlds — good speeds and 5G Availability. In November 2022, Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) amended the mobile licenses held by Vodafone Qatar and Ooredoo Qatar in early 2019, authorizing each operator to utilize 100 MHz of C-band spectrum and committing them to roll out commercial 5G networks before the end of 2020 in all densely populated areas. Operators’ heavy investment into their network to achieve near-universal service coverage and incentives to migrate users to 5G networks has paid off. We have closely monitored 5G performance during the recent World Cup. Not only did Qatari 5G networks manage to withstand the additional network load that World Cap brought, but it has also improved in performance, with the median 5G download performance hitting 472.13 Mbps in November 2022.
Saudi Arabia: Operators in the KSA have access to more than 1000 MHz of licensed spectrum for IMT use in the low- and mid-band ranges. Saudi regulator – CST (Communication, Space and Technology Commission) – championed data-driven, evidence-based policy decisions to enable a 5G rollout by conducting analysis of spectrum usage, the performance of various bands, and existing network infrastructure to see where investments had been made within certain bands (e.g., extra capacity in specific bands in urban areas and coverage of rural areas using adequate bands). If you would like to find out more, read this case study.
Bulgaria: In April 2021, Vivacom Bulgaria won 100 MHz in the 3.7-3.8 GHz band for BGN4.6 million (€2.35 million). Vivacom utilizes DSS, combining frequencies in 1.8, 2.1, and 3.6 GHz bands for 5G. A1 Bulgaria, on the other hand, uses a dedicated 100 MHz band.
We will continue to monitor 5G performance across the world and investigate the factors that impact 5G performance. If you want to learn more about 5G performance, head to Ookla ResearchTM and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with our latest analyses.
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.
To gain insight into the current performance of networks, we analyzed Speedtest® data in Q3 2023. Our analysis compares changes in 5G performance to the previous year, identifies the top 10 countries with the best performance, and discusses customer satisfaction with 5G. We also ranked countries based on the performance of their fixed networks and investigated the connectivity gap across the world.
Global 5G download speed improved. The median global 5G download speed experienced a substantial 20% increase in Q3 2023, reaching 203.04 Mbps, compared to 168.27 Mbps in Q3 2022. This improvement aligns with a significant rise in global 5G subscriptions, indicating positive progress in user adoption of 5G and the performance of 5G networks.
Top 5G performers have shifted. The top 10 countries for 5G performance witnessed notable changes, with the United Arab Emirates claiming the top spot, surpassing South Korea. Malaysia, India, and the Dominican Republic also made significant strides, showcasing a dynamic shift in the global 5G landscape.
Speedtest user ratings indicate room for 5G improvement. Despite advancements in 5G technology, there has been a decline in the Net Promoter Score (NPS) among 5G users. Factors contributing to this dissatisfaction could include unmet expectations and discrepancies between actual 5G speeds and advertised speeds.
Fixed Networks Advancements. On a global scale, fixed networks demonstrated significant performance improvement, with a 19% increase in median download speed (83.95 Mbps) and a 28% increase in upload speed (38.32 Mbps) in Q3 2023 compared to the previous year. This highlights the ongoing transition to more advanced broadband technologies, particularly Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH).
The imperative of closing the connectivity gaps. Despite improvements in global connectivity, there are still areas that fall outside of network coverage. Speedtest® data highlights disparities in internet performance between fixed and mobile networks across different regions, emphasizing the importance of addressing connectivity challenges worldwide.
5G Networks
Global 5G download speed improvements
The median global 5G download speed has experienced a noteworthy surge, registering a 20% increase and reaching 203.04 Mbps in Q3 2023, compared to 168.27 Mbps in Q3 2022, according to Speedtest Intelligence® data. This improvement coincides with a substantial rise in global 5G connections, reaching 1.4 billion according to GSMA Intelligence, representing a 65% year-on-year increase from 872 million a year ago.
In terms of upload speed and latency, only a very modest improvement of 1% occurred. Median 5G upload speeds reached 18.93 Mbps in Q3 2023, compared to 18.71 Mbps in the same period last year; multi-server latency, a critical metric for network responsiveness, improved from 45 ms in Q3 2022 to 44 ms in Q3 2023.
Speedtest users experiencing the top 10% of 5G download speeds globally have seen a 9% increase, rising from 525.54 Mbps in Q3 2022 to 573.12 Mbps in Q3 2023. However, speeds have not yet reached Gigabit levels, primarly because of network economics. 5G was originally designed to deliver peak data rates of up to 20 Gbps based on IMT-2020 requirements, but we are still a ways off before gigabit speeds become the new normal. For instance, symmetrical download, upload speeds, and ultra-low latency haven’t been realized, partially because the vast majority of 5G networks are not ‘true 5G’ as they have been deployed in Non-Standalone (NSA) mode, meaning they rely on a 4G LTE network core. According to GSA, over 40 operators have launched 5G standalone (SA) in public networks, but the rollout is not yet complete. Nevertheless, the industry is actively exploring the prospect of 5G Advanced, which promises symmetrical upload and download speeds and ultra-low latency, signaling a proactive stance ahead of the eventual transition to 6G.
Malaysia joined South Korea and the U.A.E at 5G speeds podium
During Q3 2023, the United Arab Emirates and South Korea stood out as leaders in 5G performance, boasting the fastest median 5G download speeds globally at 592.01 Mbps and 507.59 Mbps, respectively. Our top 10 list also includes Malaysia, Qatar, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Kuwait, Macau, Singapore, and India. The shift in the top 10 rankings reveals dynamic changes, with Malaysia, the Dominican Republic, and India making significant strides, while Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and Bahrain dropped out of the rankings.
The U.A.E showcased a 14% increase in its median 5G download speed, reaching 592.01 Mbps in Q3 2023, up from 511.68 Mbps in Q3 2022, allowing the U.A.E to take the top spot from South Korea. Key factors contributing to the U.A.E.’s 5G leadership include fierce market competition driven by Etisalat and du, resulting in extensive 5G coverage and widespread access to 5G services. Additionally, the allocation of a 100 MHz of contiguous spectrum, as discussed in our 5G spectrum article, has played a pivotal role in achieving faster speeds, lower latency, and improved spectral efficiency.
The regional shift in 5G performance leadership is noteworthy. In 2022, half of the top 10 countries were from the Middle East, while in 2023, the same proportion hailed from the Asia Pacific region. Our analysis suggests that early adopters in the Asia Pacific region have outperformed major European markets in 5G performance, due to factors such as early spectrum availability and supportive government policies.
Malaysia’s remarkable achievement in reaching the third spot globally for 5G download speed, with a reported speed of 485.24 Mbps in Q3 2023, is particularly noteworthy. Despite launching its nationwide 5G network less than two years ago, Malaysia’s unconventional deployment strategy has proven effective. India has also made a significant leap, with its median 5G download speed of 312.26 Mbps allowing India to reach the top 10 worldwide. The country’s climb of 72 places on the Speedtest Global Index™ between September 2022 and August 2023 is primarily credited to the launch of 5G. Following a 5G spectrum auction in India, operators have successfully addressed network congestion issues by offloading 4G traffic onto 5G networks.
In Brazil, 5G download speed increased 1.4 times, jumping from 312.09 Mbps in Q3 2022 to 443.93 Mbps in Q3 2023. Before Brazil’s 5G spectrum auction, operators had offered 5G using DSS since July 2020. While DSS can provide broad 5G coverage, its speeds are often similar to those on 4G LTE networks. In November of 2021, however, Brazil’s multi-band 5G spectrum auction closed, which not only generated BRL47.2 billion ($8.5 billion) in total commitments, but it also allowed operators to deliver much faster speeds on dedicated 5G spectrum compared to DSS. National operators – Telefonica Brasil (Vivo), Claro Brazil, and TIM Brazil – ended up with 40 MHz or 50 MHz in the 2.3 GHz spectrum band and 100 MHz each in the 3.5 GHz band. The subsequent simultaneous activation of 5G networks in July 2022 marked a transformative moment with the continuous expansion of 5G services to 623 municipalities by December 2023. An upcoming spectrum auction expects to improve Brazil’s 5G standing even further.
The Dominican Republic’s entry into the top 10 fastest 5G countries was marked by its official launch of 5G services in December 2021, making it the first Caribbean nation and the third in Latin America to adopt a 5G network.
Disparity Between 5G Performance and Consumer Perception
The Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a tool that gauges customer loyalty and satisfaction. At the end of Speetest, users may be asked to answer “How likely is it that you would recommend [provider] to a friend or colleague?” on a scale from 0-10. Net Promoter Scores are applied to both users and providers. Users are categorized into Detractors (score 0-6), Passives (score 7-8), and Promoters (score 9-10). NPS is the percent of Promoters minus the percent of Detractors and is displayed in the range from -100 to 100. Providers are ranked in descending order of NPS. NPS categorizes users into Detractors (those that score 0-6), Passives (scores between 7 and 8), and Promoters (scores of 9-10). NPS represents the percentage of Promoters minus the percent of Detractors displayed in the range from -100 to 100.
In our article discussing whether 5G was meeting customer expectations, we found that 5G users typically rate their network operator with NPS scores universally higher than those for 4G LTE users. In Q3 2023, that trend continued, as 5G users that were on 5G network when answering the NPS question still scored higher than those on 4G across all markets analyzed. It isn’t surprising given that at a global level, 5G had a 637% better median download speed than 4G and a 130% better median upload speed.
While 5G NPS still outpaces scores on 4G, our data shows that 5G NPS has been decreasing annually. This could point to the fact that excitement about 5G as a new technology is waning as users become used to faster speeds, or as customers await new use cases that can take advantage of the faster speeds that 5G can provide. After all, we are still waiting for that killer app for 5G, the way the video and streaming were for 4G.
While it is difficult to fully explain the reasons behind the 5G NPS decrease without further research, we can clearly see that network performance isn’t the only factor at play influencing NPS declines. Others can include customer care, pricing, and other services. For example, in South Korea, one of the first countries to launch 5G with one of the world’s fastest speeds, consumers scored 5G networks -41.47 in Q3 2023 compared to -20.51 in Q3 2022.
In March 2021, South Korean consumers launched a class action suit against operators because they felt they were being misled by the promises of 5G in the country. Recently, South Korea’s antitrust regulator fined three 5G operators a total of 33.6 billion won ($25.06 million) for making exaggerated claims about the level of performance their networks could achieve. South Korean operators claimed consumers could experience theoretical 5G speeds, which are not practically achievable in a “real world” environment, as factors such as spectrum usage, network densification, user location, and device capability significantly affect actual performance. Our data shows that the top 10% of 5G users in South Korea experienced speeds of 1.004 Gbps in Q3 2023, which, although impressive, are far lower than the advertised 20 Gbps speeds.
Fixed Networks
Fiber driving fixed performance gains
On a global scale, fixed networks have demonstrated significant advancements, achieving a median download speed of 83.95 Mbps and an upload speed of 38.32 Mbps in Q3 2023, per Speedtest Intelligence data. This signifies a substantial 19% improvement in download speed and an impressive 28% enhancement in upload speed compared to those in 2022. This also indicates that more fixed connections have migrated to fiber networks.
According to the World Broadband Association (WBBA) report titled “Next Generation Broadband Roadmap 2023 to 2030” Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) is identified as the natural progression from copper-based xDSL broadband networks. The shift towards FTTH varies across different countries and regions, but the industry is committed to embracing more advanced and efficient broadband technologies.
Oftentimes, despite improvement in underlying broadband technology, Wi-Fi is the bottleneck that reduces customer experience. Our research has shown that Wi-Fi performance can lag behind ethernet in markets where advanced cable and fiber connections are replacing legacy broadband technology (such as DSL or coax cable). Wi-Fi speeds typically range from 30-40% of ethernet, indicating a need to accelerate the adoption of more advanced Wi-Fi technologies and optimize the home network environment.
The UAE, Singapore, and Hong Kong are in the lead for fixed
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore led the way in fixed network performance.
The UAE achieved a median download speed of 247.63 Mbps in Q3 2023, representing a notable 1.83 times increase compared to the previous year. Most customers in the UAE have access to fiber networks, and additional measures have been implemented by operators in the region to enhance internet speeds, such as increasing the minimum download speed from 250 Mbps to 500 Mbps and offering price discounts to incentivize users to upgrade to higher-tier plans.
Singapore also leads on the 2023 Fiber Development Index (FDI), with maximum scores in seven of the nine metrics. Singapore, along with Qatar and South Korea, has achieved 100% FTHH coverage. One of the reasons for this success, besides having a smaller area, is that Singapore’s regulator mandates building owners and real estate developers to provide adequate space, facilities, and accessibility for network operators to pre-install fiber networks.
Hong Kong also demonstrated significant progress, with a 37% increase in median download speed and a 40% increase in upload speed. To track broadband adoption, the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) in Hong Kong monitors broadband adoption by advertised speed and technology mix; as of August 2023, 66% of residential clients already subscribed to the Internet with a download speed equal to or greater than 1 Gbps.
Chile has seen a 14% improvement in median download speed and a 29% improvement in upload speed on the back of a greater fiber adoption. Chile has been the top-performing fixed broadband market across Latin America, consistently outperforming other regional markets but over the last three years, it has also closed the performance gap with other leading markets globally. Chile’s strong fixed broadband performance — an anomaly in the region — is primarily due to strong competition among Chilean ISPs. Chile has seven ISPs with over 5% market share, all heavily focused on migrating customers to fiber.
Thailand is a newcomer to the ranking as FTTH continues to grow strongly. FTTH constitutes an impressive 95% of fixed broadband users in Thailand, equivalent to around 58.96% of household penetration. Operators have been actively rolling out fiber in adherence to the Digital Thailand National Policy.
In the United States, there has been a 26% improvement in median download speed and a 7% improvement in upload speed. In this very competitive market, with a range of access technologies vying for customers, a combination of migration to fiber, 5G fixed-wireless access (FWA), and faster cable connections is helping drive higher performance levels. In line with the demand for faster network performance in the market, the FCC recently announced that it is seeking input on a planned increase to its definition of broadband/high-speed internet to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, up from the current 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload standard.
As discussed in our recent article, several European countries are making substantial progress in offering high-speed broadband. Across Europe, Denmark had the fastest median download speed for fixed broadband (196.43 Mbps), followed by Spain (176.08 Mbps) and France (170.51 Mbps). Denmark experienced a 25% improvement in median download speed and a 16% improvement in upload speed. Spain also showed significant improvement, with a 32% increase in median download speed and a 29% increase in upload speed. France exhibited even stronger progress, with a 53% increase in median download speed and a 41% increase in upload speed. The speed gains we’ve seen in Spain and France are correlated with an increase in fiber adoption; for example, Spain boasts nearly 90% fiber optic coverage, thanks to private initiatives and government support, while France expects a full-fiber rollout by 2025.
Connectivity for All
The imperative of closing the connectivity gap
Massive investments are being made to bridge the connectivity gap as recognition of connectivity as a fundamental human right is growing. According to a WBBA Whitepaper, a high level of broadband penetration is critical to the country’s socioeconomic development. However, it’s not only about being connected to the network per se; the quality of that broadband connection is equally crucial. Unlike other utility services like gas and electricity, where quality is generally stable, with broadband, the quality of the network experience is crucial to ensure users can benefit fully from multiple applications.
To assess the digital divide, we mapped mobile and fixed internet performance using data from the Open Data Initiative, which Ookla provides as part of Ookla for Good.
Determining where a digital divide exists is a complex issue that involves identifying where network infrastructure is located, where people need connectivity, and how affordable it is. Although it can be challenging to dig into a specific location, it is evident that there are varying levels of Internet performance worldwide. A quick glance at our data shows that fixed broadband customers are more likely to experience faster networks (measured as an average download speed of 100 Mbps and above) than mobile across the Americas and Europe. The opposite is true for mobile networks across Africa and APAC, where mobile networks are often the primary means of connectivity. Compared to urban areas, rural communities are often ill-equipped for broadband access. Due to a lack of bandwidth (and therefore slower speeds), people in these areas need help doing many things on the internet, such as streaming videos. The US regulator FCC defines broadband in the United States as access to 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds. Areas without those speeds are classified as broadband “digital deserts,” even if those areas have internet access. Although broadband definitions can vary considerably from country to country, we can see in the next section that many areas fall outside any standards of connectivity globally.
Despite the world becoming increasingly connected, many rural and remote areas still struggle to access the internet. For example, large swathes of South America and Africa fall outside terrestrial network coverage. As discussed in our recent article, cellular networks are critical to connecting individuals and businesses as internet access in Africa is predominantly mobile. Before we can start discussing 5G, connecting communities with the internet in general is a priority. Affordable 4G smartphones and targeted financing for under-served demographics are key for bridging the digital divide and reducing poverty, as a World Bank study found that 4G coverage can help cut poverty by up to 4.3%.
5G technology can potentially replace fixed internet access in situations where the cost of fiber deployments is high and rolling out traditional fixed broadband networks isn’t commercially viable. However, in countries like Indonesia, satellite technology may be a more effective solution for connecting remote areas. While 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and satellite technology can complement each other, the adoption of satellite technology is currently limited by factors such as coverage, device affordability, and service cost. As revealed in our recent article, Starlink outperforms GEO satellites and is a suitable replacement for fixed networks in rural areas. While it may not match the leading cable or fiber providers in terms of median speeds or multi-server latency, satellite internet provides a viable alternative in places where cable and fiber access networks are unavailable. This is mainly due to a more consistent distribution of download performance across Speedtest samples, unlike FWA and DSL-based services, where performance is impacted by the distance from the cell site or exchange/DSLAM.
Fixed and mobile network operators across the globe widely use Speedtest data to enhance Internet quality, improve accessibility, and inform network expansion. The United States Federal Communications Commission and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission rely on Speedtest data to ensure accountability of telecommunications entities and allocate funds for rural and urban connectivity development. Ookla also licenses data to NGOs and educational institutions to help bridge the digital divide between areas with and without modern Internet access. Our mapping data is used to track results and determine whether broadband infrastructure can handle growth as more people connect devices and technologies demand more bandwidth. We are also actively involved in discussing best practices for ensuring digital transformation and connectivity for all in the APAC region, Central Asia, and Europe. If you are interested in working with us, please reach out.
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.
Roaming is a significant revenue stream for Gulf operators, especially as the region is becoming an important tourist destination. Travelers increasingly expect network experiences abroad to match or exceed what they have at home. This article uses Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence® data to assess the mobile experience of inbound roamers visiting select Gulf countries – Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E. – in 2024, comparing their experience across different destinations and their respective home networks.
Key Takeaways:
Travelers to Qatar, the U.A.E., and Kuwait enjoy top speeds over 5G. Median download speeds over 5G reached 381.05 Mbps in Qatar, 374.60 Mbps in the UAE, and 240.37 Mbps in Kuwait in 2024.
Generally, travelers experience slower mobile speeds when roaming in the Gulf region than on their home networks. However, exceptions include Russian travelers in the U.A.E., Pakistani tourists in Saudi Arabia, and Saudis and Indonesians in Qatar who experience notable speed improvements.
Visitors from outside the Gulf typically experience slower speeds than those from within it. This could be due to more favorable agreements between regional operators to keep fees low and encourage usage when traveling within the region. In contrast, high roaming charges and speed caps for travelers from Europe, Asia, or the United States would constrain usage and speed.
The Gulf region is rapidly becoming a popular global tourist destination, creating opportunities to increase roaming revenue
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is experiencing a tourism boom, rapidly becoming a popular global tourist destination. According to Fitch Ratings, the tourism sector contributed around USD 130 billion to GCC’s GDP in 2023, with projections to surpass USD 340 billion by 2030, equating to 10% of total GDP. This growth is fueled by the GCC’s ambitious goals to diversify their economies beyond oil and enhance their global standing.
Unlike Europe and other parts of the Middle East, the Gulf region recovered quickly from COVID-19. In 2023, passenger traffic at its airports exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 8%. The region’s appeal is not just its warm weather, beaches, and shopping; it also offers modern amenities and top-notch services for both business travelers and vacationers. The straightforward entry visa process and the introduction of a unified tourist visa further facilitate travel.
Mobile connectivity through roaming is important for the travel experience. It allows travelers to stay connected with family and friends, use mapping and navigation tools, locate attractions, read restaurants’ reviews, and share experiences on social media. With 5G, roamers can access high-speed internet, stream HD videos, and make lag-free video calls. However, 5G roaming is still in its nascent stages, and not all hosting operators provide access to its full capability.
Most inbound roamers originate from Asian countries, the Gulf region, and the U.S.A.
We used Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence® to assess the mobile network performance for inbound mobile roamers to Gulf countries during 2024, comparing it with their home network performance. Based on Speedtest samples, the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia are the top roaming destinations for international travelers, followed by Kuwait and Qatar. Bahrain and Oman saw fewer roamers.
Indonesia accounted for 14.4% of total inbound roamers in 2024, with most heading to Saudi Arabia. The latter received the second-highest number of inbound roamers, behind the U.A.E., likely linked to the Hajj and Omra pilgrimages. Saudi Arabian visitors were also prominent within the region (8.0% of total samples), with the U.A.E., Bahrain, and Qatar being favored destinations.
Outside the Gulf, the U.S.A. had the most travelers to the GCC who activated roaming services and ran speed tests (7.9%), followed by India and Austria at 5.6% and 5.3%, respectively. Other Asian regions, such as Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Pakistan, also contributed strongly to the roaming cohort. Egypt is the largest non-GCC Arab country, contributing to the visitor pool (4.2%).
Our findings also reveal that among the top 10 countries contributing to roamers in the Gulf region, Austria, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong had the highest proportion of 5G users. On the other hand, travelers from Pakistan, India, and Egypt were the least likely to use 5G while roaming.
5G Share of Inbound Roamers Speedtest Sample, Top-10 Countries of Origin
Speedtest Intelligence® | 2024
5G Share of Inbound Roamers Speedtest Sample, Top-10 Countries of Origin
The following sections provide additional insights into network performance for international roamers visiting the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar in 2024. For each country of origin and destination, we include the median download speed for roamers during travel and compare it with the median download speed on their home networks.
Saudi Arabian and Russian Roamers Enjoy Top 5G Speeds in the U.A.E.
Over 37% of the Speedtest sample roaming in the U.A.E. came from India, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Russia, and Hong Kong. Network experiences varied significantly between these countries. Saudi Arabian and Russian travelers experienced the fastest download speeds for all technologies and 5G. Saudi visitors had comparable roaming experiences to their home countries. At the same time, Russian tourists saw more than a threefold increase in median download speeds in the U.A.E compared to their home networks. On the other hand, travelers from Austria, India, and Hong Kong experienced comparatively lower performance.
Network Performance By Technology for Roamers in the U.A.E and Comparison with Home Network for All Technologies
Speedtest Intelligence | 2024
Network Performance By Technology for Roamers in the U.A.E and Comparison with Home Network for All Technologies
French and American Tourists Enjoy Excellent 5G Performance in Saudi Arabia
Most travelers to Saudi Arabia are religious pilgrims, with a significant number from Indonesia and Malaysia comprising 38.7% of total inbound roamers in 2024, as captured in Speedtest data, reported the best mobile experience and 5G download speeds when visiting Saudi Arabia. Median download speeds reached 78.46 Mbps for all technologies and 153.66 Mbps for 5G among American visitors, while French tourists experienced speeds of 49.33 Mbps and 153.79 Mbps.
Saudi operators delivered a more moderate performance to travelers from Malaysia, Pakistan, and Egypt, with median download speeds below 50 Mbps across all technologies. However, there were notable improvements over 5G for users from Malaysia and Pakistan, with speeds reaching 90.97 Mbps and 112.68 Mbps, respectively. Interestingly, Indonesian operators appear to enforce a uniform speed cap of 10 Mbps across all networks in Saudi Arabia, suggesting a restriction from the home operator rather than the host network.
Generally, inbound roamers experience similar or worse network conditions in Saudi Arabia compared to their home networks, with Indonesians feeling the most restricted due to the speed cap. Pakistanis are the only exception among the top six countries in Speedtest samples, with median download speed increasing from 19.38 Mbps at home to 27.22 Mbps when roaming.
Network Performance By Technology for Roamers in Saudi Arabia and Comparison with Home Network for All Technologies
Speedtest Intelligence | 2024
Network Performance By Technology for Roamers in Saudi Arabia and Comparison with Home Network for All Technologies
Inbound roamers from Saudi Arabia enjoy the fastest 5G network speeds in Kuwait
Saudi visitors enjoyed fast 5G speeds at 240.37 Mbps, though ‘all technologies’ speeds were around 40% lower than their 5G speeds and about 30% less than what they would have experienced back in the Kingdom. The other major tourist groups in Kuwait saw a decline in median download speeds compared to their home countries, most notably those from the United States.
Network Performance By Technology for Roamers in Kuwait and Comparison with Home Network for All Technologies
Speedtest Intelligence | 2024
Network Performance By Technology for Roamers in Kuwait and Comparison with Home Network for All Technologies
Qatar offers exceptionally fast 5G speeds to its inbound roamers from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Many travelers to Qatar come from Saudi Arabia and the U.S.A., representing an aggregate of 36.2% of total roamers. There is also a huge difference in speeds experienced by roamers, with those coming from neighboring countries enjoying the best performance. Saudi and Kuwaiti visitors experience a median download speed of 381.0 Mbps and 227.1 Mbps over 5G, respectively. By contrast, those from Austria would have experienced a much more modest speed of around 36 Mbps on both ‘all technologies’ and 5G.
Comparing the network experience of visitors in Qatar to their home networks, travelers from Indonesia and Saudi Arabia saw significant improvements, with roaming-to-home download speed ratios of 1.7 and 1.5, respectively. On the other hand, those from Kuwait, the U.S.A., and Austria likely experienced a decline in network performance.
Network Performance By Technology for Roamers in Qatar and Comparison with Home Network for All Technologies
Speedtest Intelligence | 2024
Network Performance By Technology for Roamers in Qatar and Comparison with Home Network for All Technologies
Operators generally offer good mobile roaming experience in the Gulf region, but there is room to make it more accessible
This analysis shows that Gulf operators provide excellent mobile experiences to roaming customers. Kuwait, Qatar, and the U.A.E. tend to offer top speeds for all technologies and 5G, especially for tourists coming from within the region.
Performance differences between countries and operators can stem from technical and commercial factors. Roamers’ experience can degrade if home operators impose data speed and usage limitations to manage costs, prevent bill shocks, or favor certain operators for roaming. Host operators can also restrict roamers’ full-capacity access to avoid network congestion.
To ensure optimal visitor experiences and maximize potential revenue from increased traffic, some guest and host operators should review roaming agreements, offer speed-tiered tariffs, and alleviate speed caps. Domestic operators can also address roaming charge concerns by offering local SIMs. For instance, tourists arriving in the UAE receive a free local SIM at Dubai airport. Maintaining roaming high charges and applying speed or data caps might push users towards eSIM options, where operators have less control over their experience.
Ookla provides unique insights into inbound and outbound roamers’ experiences and conducts country-level and operator-level benchmarks. If you want to learn more about Speedtest Intelligence, please contact us.
Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.
