Video gaming is not only a recreational activity but also a business for both gamers and game designers. Today, the video game industry is on boom globally. Neither the pandemic nor the economic slump is affecting this industry in any way. It’s a kind of recreational activity where you can participate on the global level right from the couch in your drawing room, thanks to the online gaming platforms. To play heavy-duty multiplayer video games, you need to have a fast internet connection with good downloading and uploading speed in order to avoid any hindrance while playing. A slow internet connection will result in high latency/ping (response time between two commands or operations), and that could really become annoying for a gamer totally indulged and engrossed in the game.
Unfortunately, not everyone has access to a high-speed fiber broadband connection, so they are left with only one and the most common option- the mobile internet. Luckily, most of the mobile internet connections have at least 4G/LTE connectivity. With the advent of 5G, the internet speed has increased much more. So we need to figure out which are the top 10 best SIM cards across the world to give the gamers the best online gaming experience.
1. Etisalat, UAE
UAE is the country with an average download speed of 273.87 Mbps and an upload speed of 32.97 Mbps. Even the latency rate is just 23 ms (milliseconds). The country’s fastest operator Etisalat is the best SIM card to have a great online gaming experience in every sense. It is the only wireless carrier on the planet to achieve a high-speed score of 153.05 as per the Speedtest Global Index. Etisalat has achieved this feat the second time in a row as the fastest mobile network operator on the basis of the analysis by Ookla, a testing application for fixed broadband and mobile networks. Etisalat’s fastest download speed on 5G is 9.1 Gigabits per second, again the fastest in the world.
2. SK Telecom, South Korea
South Korea has an average download speed of 214.47 Mbps and an upload speed of 23.84 Mbps, with a latency rate of 30 ms. The largest service provider in the country is SK Telecom with about 50% market share. The company commercialized the 5G network in December 2018. Currently, it has recorded the second-fastest 5G download speed of 923.2 Mbps after Etisalat. With such a great speed and low latency rate, heavy-duty mobile games such as PUBG and Fortnite or massive online battle arena games such as Arena of Valor will work smoothly without any lag.
3. Ooredoo, Qatar
In Qatar, the average download speed is 178.83 Mbps and the average upload speed is 23.42 Mbps, with a latency rate of 22 ms. Ooredoo is the largest telecom company in Qatar. It’s a multinational company operating in several other countries of North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Ooredoo’s fastest median download speed in Qatar stands at 373.98 Mbps, with a median latency of just 19 ms. Its performance in terms of average speed, latency, and coverage is quite commendable. Its Speed Score as per Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index is 145.3.
4. Telenor, Norway
Norway’s average download speed is 178.70 Mbps and the average upload speed is 23.85 Mbps with a latency rate of 32 ms as per the Speedtest Global Index. Telenor is the largest network provider in Norway, and it was the first operator in the country to launch the 5G network in March 2020. Telenor has achieved a Speed Score of 91.52 with a median download speed of 86.07 Mbps and its median upload speed is 13.10 Mbps. Apart from Norway, the company also operates in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand.
5. Zain, Kuwait
Kuwait has an average download speed of 170.67 Mbps and an average upload speed of 27.33 Mbps, with a latency rate of 22 ms. The fastest mobile internet provider in the country is Zain with the fastest recorded 5G speed between 1.0 Gbps to 1.2 Gbps. Zain’s latency is also very less, 17 ms. It has a growing number of subscribers because of its cheap plans, great coverage, and fast-paced internet. For a great gaming session, Zain would be the best choice in Kuwait, whether you live in the main city or its suburbs.
6. Cytamobile-Vodafone Cyprus
In Cyprus, the average download speed is 168.72 Mbps and upload speed is 26.72 Mbps, with a latency rate of 20 ms.Cytamobile-Vodafone is the largest mobile service provider in Cyprus. It offers 5G to its subscribers at no extra cost. The fastest recorded 5G speed of Cytamobile-Vodafone is upto 1 Gbps, but with more development of the network, it might reach up to 10 Gbps. The company’s 5G network covers 80% of the population covering all the cities, tourist places, highways, etc. So, no matter where you are in Cyprus, you will receive fast-speed 5G internet on your mobile device.
7. China Mobile, China
The average download speed is 168.28 Mbps and upload speed is 31.06 Mbps in China. The country boasts of a low latency rate of 28 ms. Despite being the most populous country in the world and having so much internet traffic, it’s a great feat achieved by this country. The largest telecom company in China, and in fact in the world, in terms of the number of subscribers, is China Mobile. It serves a whopping 945.5 million subscribers, capturing the largest share of the market in the country. China Mobile has recorded the fastest 5G speed at 212.76 Mbps in Hong Kong. The company has already built the largest 5G mobile network, serving about 260 million subscribers. It has more than 560,000 5G base stations across the country.
8. STC, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia ranks in the 8th spot with an average download speed of 164.81 Mbps and upload speed of 23.93 Mbps, with a latency rate of 34 ms. STC (Saudi Telecom Company) is the largest mobile network provider of Saudi Arabia with 10 million 5G network subscribers. Its fastest 5G internet speed is marked at 342.35 Mbps. The company already has the largest 5G network in the middle-east, serving more than 71 cities in the country. Moreover, an STC SIM card is affordable with good value for money data plans.
9. Vivacom, Bulgaria
Bulgaria, being in the 9th spot, has an average download speed of 153.72 Mbps and upload speed of 21.07 Mbps with a latency rate of just 24 ms. Vivacom is the largest service provider in Bulgaria. The company boasts of the largest 5G network in the country, providing 5G services to more than 27 big cities in the country. Vivacom’s fastest download speed recorded so far is 431 Mbps, and the average upload speed is around 60 Mbps. The good download and upload speed helps you play games with lightning-fast speed and quick response.
10. Optus, Australia
On the 10th spot comes Australia, providing an average download speed of 147.77 Mbps and an average upload speed of 17.23 Mbps with a latency rate of 27 milliseconds. Optus is the fastest telecom in Australia in terms of 5G speed, with a median downloading speed of 323.94 Mbps and a median upload speed of 22 Mbps. Optus also has the best latency of just 18 milliseconds in Australia. Thus making it the fastest and the best network in Australia for online gaming.