The Communications Regulatory Authority of Mozambique has completed a nationwide assessment of telecom operators’ quality of service, revealing significant disparities in performance and compliance. Movitel emerged as the worst-performing operator for data services, while Vodacom demonstrated the highest reliability.
Movitel recorded the highest rate of non-compliance with regulatory standards for data services at 74%, according to a statement from the regulator. Tmcel followed at 25%, and Vodacom had the lowest rate of non-compliance at just 6%.
The average 3G download speed in Mozambique was measured at 3 Mbps. Vodacom stood out with an average speed of 4.55 Mbps, followed by Tmcel at 3.79 Mbps and Movitel at 2.10 Mbps.
For 4G services, Vodacom again led the market with an impressive 26.57 Mbps average download speed. Tmcel achieved 11.47 Mbps, while Movitel trailed at 9.37 Mbps.
In voice services, Tmcel struggled the most with regulatory compliance, showing a 66% non-compliance rate. Movitel followed at 54%, and Vodacom was slightly better at 53%.
The success rates for completing 2G and 3G calls were: Movitel and Vodacom both achieved 95.93% and Tmcel lagged behind at 85.14%..
Coverage and network compliance
The study noted that 2G remains the dominant network technology in Mozambique, with 3G and 4G networks primarily available in urban areas.
For 2G network compliance across 31 tested areas Movitel achieved compliance in 20 locations (65%); Tmcel complied in 16 locations (52%); Vodacom met standards in 13 locations (42%).
On the 3G network; Vodacom complied in 25 locations (81%); Movitel followed with 22 locations (71%); Tmcel met targets in 13 locations (42%).
For 4G services; Vodacom complied in 24 locations (77%); Movitel followed with 22 locations (71%); Tmcel met compliance in 17 locations (55%).
The Communications Regulatory Authority emphasised the challenges of extending reliable network services across Mozambique. While Vodacom generally outperformed its rivals, particularly in 3G and 4G services, Movitel and Tmcel face ongoing issues in meeting regulatory standards.
The findings highlight the need for continuous investment and oversight to improve network quality, especially in rural areas where services remain inconsistent.
