The evolution of Italy’s digital infrastructure has reached a significant level of maturity, as clearly shown by the latest annual monitoring conducted by Altroconsumo.
Through the analysis of the data collected during all of 2025 via the CheBanda application, an accurate ranking of mobile service providers was compiled, based on the real experience of over nine thousand users.
The parameters considered are not limited to simple peak speed, but also encompass the smoothness of web navigation, the stability of video streaming, and the effectiveness in file transfer, offering a faithful snapshot of the quality of service offered across the country.
Vodafone is the fastest operator in Italy, according to Altroconsumo
From the analysis of the data, an undisputed winner emerges that solidifies its position at the top of the market. Vodafone indeed takes the first place in the overall ranking with a score of 81,643 points, clearly distancing its direct competitors.
The operator stands out for excellent performance both on the 4G network and on 5G, guaranteeing high standards in every area of use. The superiority of its infrastructure allows users to benefit from an average download speed that reaches 201 Mbps in 5G, a value that almost doubles the average of the other competitors.
The battle for the podium between Fastweb and TIM
Behind the leader, the competition becomes extremely tight. Fastweb and TIM are contending for second place with an alternation of results that depends closely on the technology used.
If you look at the 4G network, Fastweb manages to prevail, offering faster browsing. However, as soon as 5G comes into play, TIM regains ground, overtaking the rival and demonstrating greater efficiency on the newer frequencies.
This dynamic reflects the different investment strategies of the two giants, which nonetheless remain solid options for those seeking a balance between coverage and speed.
In fourth place sits WindTre, while at the end of the line of the main national operators we find Iliad, which despite steady growth still cannot match the performance of traditional competitors in terms of raw speed and overall signal quality.
The unstoppable rise of the 5G network
A particularly relevant finding that emerged from the investigation concerns the diffusion and impact of 5G technology. Compared with previous measurements, the use of the next-generation network has risen from 30% to almost 38% of the total tests conducted.
This increase demonstrates not only more widespread geographic coverage, but also a greater availability of compatible devices among consumers.
The tangible advantages are evident: 5G download speed is on average three times higher than that recorded on 4G. In this context, Fastweb stands out as the operator with the largest percentage of tests conducted under 5G coverage, a sign of broad service availability for its customers, followed by WindTre and TIM.
How are the tests conducted?
The validity of these results lies in the method used. 9,376 volunteers who used the CheBanda app enabled the collection of objective measurements in everyday usage contexts.
The scoring system incorporates several variables, weighing not only the speed of downloading and uploading data, but also the absence of interruptions during viewing multimedia content and the responsiveness in loading web pages.
This approach, according to Altroconsumo, provides a dynamic and realistic overview, capable of reflecting the actual satisfaction of the end user in the landscape of Italian mobile telephony.
