Starlink and 5G are both pacesetters in internet connectivity, with both offering low latency and fast internet connection up to 500 Mbps. Nowadays, staying connected is crucial, and having a dependable Internet Service Provider (ISP) is more important than ever.
Imagine you’re in Lagos, trying to upload a large file, or maybe you’re in Nairobi, about to make a Zoom call – that you can’t afford to freeze mid-sentence- with investors. Two names to consider in the conversation in Africa would be: Starlink and 5G.
Choosing the best internet provider that would work for you might sometimes feel like a herculean task— especially when all the stats and technical terms are difficult to follow. To make your selection process easier, I spent a lot of time comparing both technologies, talked to people who have tested them in both urban and rural areas, and would like to share the results to aid your decision-making.
Understanding Starlink
Starlink is a satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s technology company, SpaceX. Starlink uses a network of more than 3,500 satellites to deliver internet access to almost every part of the world with a visible view of the sky. SpaceX’s Starlink operates a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network— instead of wires or towers, it uses a constellation of satellites to beam down signals to your dish at home, office, or wherever you’re set up. As of release time, Starlink is available in at least 18 African countries with plans to expand to 23 African countries before the end of Q4 2025.
How fast is Starlink in Africa?
In Nigeria, Starlink has an average download speed of 49.6 Mbps— which is considerably very low for one of Starlink’s biggest markets in Africa with over 65,00 subscribers. Botswana has the highest average download speed in Africa, with 106.5 Mbps, followed by Eswatini with an average of 86.2 Mbps, and Rwanda’s average speed reaching 85.5 Mbps.
Other African countries have an average download speed between 79.5 Mbps and 47 Mbps— Madagascar records the lowest average download speed at 44.2 Mbps. The average speed is not constant: it can either be lower or higher depending on different contributing factors.
An important upside of the LEO satellite system is its proximity to Earth, which reduces signal travel distance and results in low latency— low latency rate signifies smooth internet experience, therefore, the lower the better.
Kenya has the lowest latency in Africa at 53 ms, followed by Nigeria at 61 ms and Rwanda at 67 ms. Despite having a high average download speed, Botswana has a high latency rate of 184 ms. South Sudan records a latency rate of 94 ms, Burundi hits 104 ms, and Malawi settles at 152 ms. Sierra Leone has the highest latency rate of 251 ms.
Note: the lower the latency rate, the smoother your internet will run.
Understanding 5G
5G is built on the same technology smartphones use to access the internet. A nearby tower sends a signal to a wireless gateway, which broadcasts it as a WiFi signal to a router or smartphone.
Unlike previous generations (3G, 5G), 5G utilises more advanced radio spectrum, denser phone towers (especially in cities), and smarter signal processing. The idea is straightforward: when you are close to a good tower, your internet responsiveness and speed would be out of this world.
How fast is 5G in Africa?
Unlike Starlink, it becomes very tricky to evaluate 5G speed in the continent due to the presence of multiple ISPs with differing levels of infrastructure and service across the continent.
MTN Nigeria (NG) 5G records an average speed between 200 Mbps and 1Gbps and a latency rate of 15 ms in major cities with wide coverage and exceptional reception, while Airtel NG average speed in urban centres in Lagos and Abuja is between 200 Mbps and 700 Mbps with a latency of 20 ms. Speed and latency in other parts of the country get considerably lower, and the service is nonexistent in most rural areas.
Safaricom continues to push the boundaries in Kenya with an average download speed of 260 Mbps and reaching up to 1,000 Mbps at its peak. Airtel also has a stake in the market and comes a bit behind Safaricom. Vodacom leads in South Africa with an average download speed of 260 Mbps, followed by MTN 5G with a median speed of 195 Mbps and Telkom with 166 Mbps.
While the 5G technology is breaking ground and offering fast internet connectivity, only 1.2 per cent of Africans currently have access to 5G networks compared with a global average of over 20 per cent.
Best situation to use each
Frankly, both Starlink and 5G are great options— each with its strengths and weaknesses. To make your selection process easier, here are scenarios where you should lean on one over the other;
Use Starlink when:
- You live in a rural area, a remote village, or anywhere the 5G doesn’t reach.
- You have a clear view of the sky, without tall buildings or trees blocking your dish.
- You want a stable connection in regions with unpredictable reception.
- You have access to an electricity supply.
Use 5G when
- You’re in an urban area or suburb with a strong signal
- You need low latency. Either gaming, live streaming, or other activities.
- You don’t want to install bulky hardware
- You benefit from good service, and you deal with large files frequently.
Lastly, there is no universal winner if you live in a dense city in Lagos. Nairobi, or Cape Town, with a strong 5G coverage, 5G will most probably win the day with a faster speed and lower latency. But if you’re in a remote town, rural area, or somewhere with poor 5G coverage, Starlink becomes the hero.
