North Africa Leads the Digital Surge in the Middle East and Africa (2025)
A New Epicenter of Progress
Behind the seemingly steady rankings of Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index, North Africa has emerged as the epicenter of digital progress across the Middle East and Africa in 2025. Accelerated roll‑outs of 5G and fiber‑optic networks have reshaped the mobile and fixed‑line performance map, turning the region into a living laboratory for connectivity innovation.
Rapid Gains Across the Region
Tunisia – Early 5G Pioneer
- Launch: February 2025 (first 5G deployment in the region)
- Peak performance: April 2025 – 47th place worldwide for mobile speed
- December 2025: Stabilised at 72nd place with a median mobile speed of 57.3 Mbps
Despite a slight dip, Tunisia climbed 11 positions over the year, highlighting the positive impact of its early 5G launch while its infrastructure continues to adapt.
Morocco & Algeria – Late but Spectacular
| Country | 5G Launch | Rank Gain | 2025 Year‑End Rank | Median Mobile Speed (Q4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | November 2025 | +22 places | 39th (regional leader) | 56.27 Mbps |
| Algeria | December 2025 | +11 places | 78th | 53.62 Mbps |
- Both nations entered 5G late in the year but recorded the most dramatic improvements in the region.
Egypt – Moderate Progress
- 5G launch: June 2025
- Rank gain: +3 places (still modest)
- Median mobile speed: 44.51 Mbps – limited by shared 4G/5G spectrum usage.
Gulf Countries – Still Ahead
| Country | Median Mobile Speed (2025) | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 691.76 Mbps | #1 in the region |
| Oman | 165.07 Mbps | — |
| Bahrain | 100–300 Mbps (after regulatory minimum‑speed boost) | — |
- Highly urbanised Gulf states benefit from massive investments in standalone 5G and ultra‑fast fiber, occupying most of the global top‑10.
A Mixed Picture Across the Arab World
- Jordan: Despite being a 5G pioneer since 2023, its median speed fell to 43 Mbps.
- Iraq: Climbed to 66th place, gaining roughly +9 Mbps.
- Syria: Reached 99th place, also with a +9 Mbps improvement.
- Turkey: Holds the 61st global rank with a median speed of 66.91 Mbps, awaiting its commercial 5G launch in April 2026.
Global Context
- World leaders (primarily in the Gulf, East Asia, and North America) now post median speeds above 500 Mbps, driven by advanced 5G and ultra‑high‑speed fixed networks.
- The coordinated strategy between operators and regulators in North Africa demonstrates that targeted technology investments can rapidly elevate a country’s digital performance.
Key Takeaways
- North Africa’s 2025 digital leap is powered by late‑but‑aggressive 5G roll‑outs and fiber expansion.
- Tunisia’s early adoption set the stage, while Morocco and Algeria showcased the fastest rank gains.
- Gulf nations remain the speed champions, but the gap is narrowing as North African countries accelerate their networks.
- Policy coordination and focused infrastructure spending are proven levers for boosting national connectivity in emerging markets.
The data underscores a clear trend: with the right mix of technology, investment, and regulation, regions traditionally lagging in digital performance can quickly become global contenders.
