The findings underscore the need for continued investment in infrastructure, especially in improving voice quality and expanding coverage to rural regions, to ensure more reliable and equitable telecom services in Mozambique.
The Instituto Nacional das Comunicações de Moçambique (INCM) carried out a national Quality of Service (QoS) campaign between June and November 2024. The assessment was based on drive tests using commercial mobile devices installed in vehicles, replicating the experience of regular users. A total of 20 geographic areas across the South, Center, and North of Mozambique were covered, including major cities such as Maputo, Matola, Beira, Nampula, and Pemba. The study evaluated the performance of the three main operators—Tmcel, Vodacom, and Movitel—across 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. The goal was to measure the quality of voice, data, and coverage services against regulatory benchmarks.
According to standards set by Resolution nº 03_BR/CA/INCM/2022, operators are required to meet key quality thresholds. These include a call setup time of less than eight seconds, a minimum voice quality score (MOS) above 3.5, a call setup success rate (CSSR) of at least 98%, and a call drop rate of no more than 2%. Data services were expected to deliver download speeds of at least 3 Mbps on 3G and 10 Mbps on 4G, with latency below 90 ms for 3G and 40 ms for 4G. Network coverage was required to achieve at least 95% compliance in signal strength across the country.
The results showed mixed performance among the operators. In terms of network availability, Vodacom recorded the highest with 96.78%, followed by Tmcel at 91.95% and Movitel at 91.40%. However, none of the operators met the regulatory target of 99%. Voice service indicators also varied, with Vodacom achieving the best CSSR at 98.55%, meeting the regulatory target, while Movitel was close at 98.25% and Tmcel fell short at 97.65%. For call setup times, Vodacom and Movitel performed within acceptable limits, while Tmcel exceeded the eight-second threshold on 2G. Voice quality across all operators was below the MOS 3.5 standard, with Vodacom leading in 3G but still falling short. Call drop rates were lowest for Vodacom, well below the 2% limit, while Tmcel slightly exceeded the threshold in 3G.
When it came to data services, Vodacom once again emerged as the strongest performer. On 3G, Vodacom recorded an average download speed of 4.95 Mbps, just above Tmcel’s 4.91 Mbps, while Movitel lagged behind at 2.70 Mbps, below the required 3 Mbps. On 4G, Vodacom delivered 20.71 Mbps, significantly higher than Tmcel’s 14.44 Mbps and Movitel’s 13.02 Mbps. All three operators surpassed the minimum 10 Mbps requirement, though Vodacom was the clear leader.
Coverage results highlighted disparities in performance. For 2G, Tmcel achieved coverage compliance in 70% of tested areas, Movitel in 60%, and Vodacom only in 25%. In 3G, Movitel led with 65%, Vodacom followed with 60%, and Tmcel lagged at 35%. In 4G, Vodacom and Movitel performed equally well, each meeting compliance in 85% of the areas, while Tmcel only managed 40%. These results show that while Vodacom and Movitel dominate in 4G coverage, Tmcel remains behind in all areas.
Comparative insights from 2021 to 2024 revealed improvements in data speeds, particularly in 4G, with Vodacom doubling its performance over the period. However, voice quality remains a persistent challenge for all operators, none of whom reached the MOS standard. Coverage improvements were concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural areas underserved. Overall, Vodacom proved to be the most consistent operator, excelling in data speeds, call success rates, and 4G coverage. Movitel showed strength in coverage but was hampered by weak data speeds, while Tmcel underperformed across several key indicators, particularly in availability and coverage.
In conclusion, the 2024 QoS campaign demonstrated notable progress in data service performance, led by Vodacom. However, shortcomings remain in voice quality and network availability across all operators. Vodacom stood out as the most reliable provider, Movitel maintained wide coverage but limited data speed, and Tmcel ranked as the weakest operator. The findings underscore the need for continued investment in infrastructure, especially in improving voice quality and expanding coverage to rural regions, to ensure more reliable and equitable telecom services in Mozambique.
