MTN vs. Airtel: A 2023 Comparison of Africa’s Top Telecom Providers
MTN and Airtel are two of the leading telecommunications providers in Africa, offering a wide range of mobile services to millions of customers across the continent. With their extensive networks, diverse service offerings, and competitive pricing, both providers have established themselves as key players in the African telecom landscape.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into a comprehensive comparison of MTN and Airtel, analyzing their network coverage, data plans, voice and SMS services, mobile money services, and customer support. By examining these various factors, we aim to determine which provider is better suited for different user needs and preferences.
Comparison of their internet speed.
Both Airtel and MTN are major telecommunications providers in Nigeria, offering a wide range of mobile services, including internet access. The internet speed offered by both providers can vary depending on a number of factors, including location, network congestion, and device capabilities. However, in general, Airtel has been shown to have slightly faster internet speeds than MTN in recent tests.
According to a report by Ookla Insights, Airtel Nigeria had a median download speed of 30.35 Mbps and a median upload speed of 10.28 Mbps in Q2 2022. MTN Nigeria, on the other hand, had a median download speed of 26.30 Mbps and a median upload speed of 9.13 Mbps.
Of course, these are just average speeds, and your actual experience may vary. However, it is clear that Airtel generally offers faster internet speeds than MTN.
you can read more about Airtel VS MTN internet speed comparison here
Comparison of Data Plans and Pricing between MTN and Airtel.
from information displayed by official mtn website and official Airtel website, below is a summary of their data bundle prices
Here is a comparison of data plans and pricing for MTN and Airtel:
MTN Data Plans
| Plan | Data | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB + 500MB Bonus | 1.5GB | N500 | 3 days |
| 2GB | 2GB | N1,000 | 7 days |
| 3GB | 3GB | N1,500 | 14 days |
| 5GB | 5GB | N2,500 | 30 days |
| 10GB | 10GB | N4,000 | 30 days |
| 20GB | 20GB | N6,000 | 30 days |
| 40GB | 40GB | N10,000 | 30 days |
Airtel Data Plans
| Plan | Data | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB + 100MB Bonus | 1.1GB | N300 | 3 days |
| 2GB | 2GB | N700 | 7 days |
| 3GB | 3GB | N1,000 | 14 days |
| 4GB | 4GB | N1,500 | 30 days |
| 5GB | 5GB | N2,000 | 30 days |
| 7GB | 7GB | N2,500 | 30 days |
| 10GB | 10GB | N3,500 | 30 days |
| 15GB | 15GB | N4,500 | 30 days |
| 20GB | 20GB | N5,500 | 30 days |
Please note that these prices are subject to change, however, at the time of creating this post, this is the exact prices.
as you have seen, airtel have cheaper bundle prices
Comparison of Voice call and SMS Services prices.
sms prices
The price of SMS on Airtel and MTN varies depending on the type of SMS (local or international) and the volume of SMS being sent. Here is a breakdown of the current SMS prices for both networks:
Airtel
- Local SMS: N3.50/SMS
- International SMS: N35/SMS
MTN
- Local SMS: N4.00/SMS
- International SMS: N66/SMS
For bulk SMS, both Airtel and MTN offer discounted rates. For example, MTN’s Bulk SMS Basic plan offers a rate of N2.15/SMS for SMS volumes between 500 and 2,000.
as you can see, airtel has lower charges per sms, lets explore voice call prices below.
Voice call price
Airtel
- Local calls: N6.60 per minute (on-net) and N11.50 per minute (off-net)
- International calls: N11.50 per minute to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom
- Special offers: Airtel offers a variety of special offers that can give you discounted call rates, such as the SmartCONNECT plan, which offers free calls to all Airtel numbers for the first 30 minutes of each day.
MTN
- Local calls: N6.55 per minute (on-net) and N11.26 per minute (off-net)
- International calls: N11.26 per minute to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom
- Special offers: MTN also offers a variety of special offers that can give you discounted call rates, such as the MTN Pulse plan, which offers free calls to all MTN numbers for the first 100 minutes of each month.
Comparison of Customer Service ( Airtel vs MTN)
The quality of customer service offered by both providers can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the specific issue being addressed, the time of day, and the individual customer service representative. However, in general, Airtel has been shown to have slightly better customer service than MTN in recent surveys.
According to a survey conducted by Jumia Nigeria in Q1 2023, Airtel Nigeria had a customer satisfaction rating of 75%, while MTN Nigeria had a customer satisfaction rating of 72%. The survey also found that Airtel customers were more likely to rate their customer service experience as “excellent” or “good” than MTN customers.
Of course, these are just averages, and your actual experience may vary. However, it is clear that Airtel generally offers better customer service than MTN.
summary.
airtel beat MTN in all the test on this comparison
tabular summary of the key comparisons between MTN and Airtel
| Category | Criteria | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Speed | Median Download Speed | Airtel |
| Median Upload Speed | Airtel | |
| Data Plans and Pricing | Data Bundle Prices (Cheaper) | Airtel |
| Voice Call and SMS Services Prices | SMS Prices (Lower Charges) | Airtel |
| Local Call Prices (Lower) | Airtel | |
| Customer Service | Customer Satisfaction (Higher Rating) | Airtel |
Please note that the “winner” is based on the the tests we run on the comparison, other tests like : Data and Airtime borrowing interest is not included.
conclusion
In conclusion, both MTN and Airtel are leading telecommunications providers in Africa with extensive networks, diverse service offerings, and competitive pricing. While both providers offer similar services, there are some key differences between them. Airtel generally has faster internet speeds and slightly better customer service, and also an affordable data plans, the best provider for you will depend on your location as the information provided here is based on general report from subscribers in the whole Nigeria.