Zain Kuwait has once again secured three prominent Ookla Speedtest Awards for its 5G network, retaining its titles as the fastest 5G network, best 5G network, and best mobile coverage in Kuwait for the first half of 2026. This marks the second consecutive period in which the company has achieved a triple win, following its recognition in the latter half of 2025.
The latest awards, based on Ookla’s comprehensive analysis of network performance from Q1 to Q2 2026, reflect Zain’s sustained leadership in delivering high-quality connectivity across Kuwait. The company’s network achieved a Speed Score™ of 72.77, with a median 5G download speed of 514.59 Mbps and a median upload speed of 34.74 Mbps, underscoring strong performance in data throughput and responsiveness. Ookla’s Speed Score™ metric weighs download speed most heavily but also factors in upload speeds and latency, providing a rounded assessment of network speed.
In terms of coverage, Zain recorded a Coverage Score™ of 45.40, covering an area of approximately 7,844 square kilometers. This figure was based on data collected from over 37,000 devices and 43.6 million coverage scans, indicating the broad spatial reach of Zain’s network across Kuwait. Ookla’s coverage assessment focuses on real-world measurements to gauge actual service availability and connection success rates.
The operator also led the market in overall 5G experience, securing a Speedtest Connectivity Score of 82.24. This award takes into account multiple dimensions of user experience, including speed, web browsing, and video streaming performance. Zain recorded a Web Browsing Score of 96.25 and a Video Streaming Score of 87.17, highlighting the network’s ability to support everyday digital activities with consistency.
Nawaf Al-Gharabally, CEO of Zain Kuwait, emphasized the significance of these repeated accolades as a reaffirmation of the company’s commitment to maintaining high standards amid evolving customer expectations. He stated that network leadership involves not only achieving performance benchmarks but also sustaining and improving the user experience over time. Al-Gharabally pointed to Zain’s ongoing transformation under its 4WARD-Progress with Purpose strategy, aiming to build a customer-centric and future-ready technology platform.
Ookla CEO Chip Strange praised Zain’s achievements, noting the company’s role in setting industry standards for speed and reliability in the region. The recognition serves as validation of Zain’s efforts to deliver world-class connectivity and its contributions to Kuwait’s digital infrastructure.
Zain’s continued investment in network infrastructure and intelligence, including the nationwide rollout of 5G-Advanced technology in 2025, is central to its strategy for meeting the growing demands of digital services and increasing data consumption across the country. By maintaining strong benchmarks across speed, coverage, and connectivity quality, Zain aims to offer a seamless and robust digital experience to its customers in Kuwait.