Saudi Arabia Ranks Among G20's Top Five in Mobile Internet Speed, 5G Hits 320 Mbps

Saudi Mobile Internet Speeds Hit 216 Mbps, Cementing G20 Top-Five Position

The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) of Saudi Arabia has released its 'Internet of Saudi Arabia 2025' report, showing the kingdom's mobile internet median download speed rose to 216 megabits per second (Mbps) in 2025, up from 203 Mbps a year earlier. This performance places Saudi Arabia among the five fastest G20 countries for mobile internet, a leap that underscores the rapid expansion of the country's digital infrastructure.

The report details that median 5G download speeds reached 320 Mbps with a latency of 24 milliseconds, while fixed broadband median download speeds jumped to 151 Mbps from 120.4 Mbps, and upload speeds hit 73 Mbps with latency of just 8 milliseconds. Total internet data traffic across the kingdom amounted to 69 million terabytes, evenly split between mobile and fixed networks. Local data traffic accounted for 56% of the total, with the remaining 44% being international traffic—reflecting a robust domestic content ecosystem.

On a per-capita basis, mobile data consumption averaged 53 gigabytes per month, roughly three times the global average. Regionally, Riyadh dominated data traffic with 30.6%, followed by Makkah (20.5%) and the Eastern Province (16.8%). The report also highlighted that IPv6 adoption reached 67%, and the number of Saudi networks (autonomous system numbers, or ASNs) has grown to around 200, signaling advanced network maturity and readiness for future digital services.

Inside the Numbers: What Saudi's Internet Report Reveals About Its Digital Trajectory

A Leap in Mobile and Fixed Speeds

The 13 Mbps year-on-year increase in mobile speeds and the even sharper 25% rise in fixed broadband speeds reflect sustained investment by Saudi telecom operators—primarily stc, Mobily, and Zain—in upgrading infrastructure. The jump in fixed speeds to 151 Mbps positions Saudi Arabia competitively for remote work, high-definition streaming, and cloud-based enterprise services. The report’s Ookla-derived metrics confirm that the kingdom’s networks are not just fast but also reliable, with 5G latency matching advanced digital applications’ requirements.

Data Consumption Reflects Digital Maturity

The 53 GB monthly mobile data consumption per user, triple the global average, is a clear indicator of a digitally immersed population. This figure dwarfs many advanced economies and suggests that Saudis are heavy users of video streaming, social media, online gaming, and cloud applications. The equal split between mobile and fixed data traffic—50% each—indicates that both mobile connectivity and home broadband are essential, but mobile remains the dominant access mode for internet services, likely driven by the country’s young, smartphone-centric demographic.

Regional Concentration Mirrors Economic Activity

With Riyadh generating nearly a third of all data traffic, followed by Makkah and the Eastern Province, the internet usage pattern maps closely onto economic and population centers. This concentration underscores the importance of robust infrastructure in these hubs, where businesses, government services, and innovation ecosystems operate. For telecom operators, capacity planning in these regions will be critical to avoid congestion as data demand continues to climb.

IPv6 and Network Growth Signal Infrastructure Depth

The 67% IPv6 adoption rate and nearly 200 ASNs illustrate a modern, decentralized network architecture that can support the Internet of Things (IoT), smart city projects, and future 5G-Advanced or 6G rollouts. IPv6’s vast address space is essential for connecting billions of devices, and Saudi Arabia’s progress here enhances its ability to attract technology companies that rely on seamless connectivity, further supporting Vision 2030 goals.

What Telecom Operators and Digital Businesses Should Do Next

• For Telecom Operators: With per-user mobile consumption at 53 GB per month and rising, operators should accelerate capacity expansion in high-traffic zones like Riyadh (30.6% of traffic) and Makkah (20.5%). Investing in edge computing and small-cell densification will help maintain speed leadership as 5G usage intensifies.
• For Digital Content Providers: The dominance of local traffic (56%) suggests a strong appetite for Arab-region content. Streaming services, cloud gaming platforms, and e-commerce firms should prioritize local server presence to reduce latency and improve user experience, leveraging the already low 8 ms fixed-line latency.
• For Corporate IT and Cloud Services: The 151 Mbps fixed-line speeds and IPv6 readiness make Saudi Arabia an attractive location for hosting regional data centers and offering Software-as-a-Service. Enterprises planning digital transformation in the Gulf can use the report’s metrics to justify infrastructure investments in the kingdom.
• For Policymakers and Regulators: The progress validates CST’s spectrum management and regulatory approach. To sustain momentum, timely allocation of mid-band and millimeter-wave spectrum for 5G-Advanced and future 6G, along with incentives for rural deployment, will be key to bridging the gap between major cities and less connected areas.
• For Consumers and Small Businesses: With mobile speeds of 216 Mbps and fixed at 151 Mbps, households can seamlessly run multiple 4K streams, online gaming, and video calls. Choosing a 5G-capable router for home use could provide fiber-like speeds, given the 320 Mbps median 5G download rate, especially in covered urban areas. The report confirms that Saudi Arabia offers some of the fastest, most affordable mobile data in the G20, making it feasible to rely on mobile broadband as a primary internet connection.