Kenya's 5G technological landscape experiences a significant shift with Safaricom taking the forefront in its development
As the world continues to embrace the future of connectivity, Kenya's mobile market is witnessing a significant shift towards 5G technology. Here's a breakdown of the current state of 5G in Kenya, focusing on the key players in the industry.
Safaricom, the market leader, has established a strong presence in the 5G arena. As of March 31, 2024, the company has activated 803 active 5G sites across 43 Kenyan counties. This expansion has been impressive, with a 79% growth in 5G devices on its network over the past 12 months, reaching about 669,700 devices. It's worth noting that Safaricom leads the Kenyan mobile market with 44.7 million subscribers, and approximately 1.3% of its user base is currently using 5G.
Airtel Kenya, the second-largest mobile network operator, has been quick to follow suit. The 5G journey in Kenya began with Safaricom's initial launch in October 2022, and Airtel Kenya joined the race in July 2023. As of March 2024, Airtel Kenya operates 690 active 5G sites across 39 Kenyan counties. However, the adoption rates remain relatively low, with only about 0.3% of Airtel's subscribers having adopted 5G technology.
Despite this, Airtel Kenya has shown ambition in its network expansion plans. The company announced an aggressive network expansion drive, aiming to roll out close to 1,000 sites before the end of 2024. This expansion is expected to help boost 5G adoption rates, with projections suggesting that the growth of 5G adoption in Kenya will reach 3.8% by the end of 2024 and nearly 12% by 2026.
Interestingly, over 50% of Airtel's base still relies on 2G technology, indicating a significant gap between the current and future potential of the Kenyan mobile market.
Meanwhile, Telkom Kenya and Jamii Telecommunications (JTL) are yet to launch 5G services. 4G remains dominant for Safaricom users, with over 46% on 4G networks, and all of JTL's subscribers on 4G. Overall, smartphones on Safaricom's network increased by nearly 13% to 22.9 million, with 4G devices accounting for 16.85 million of those.
As the race for 5G dominance continues, it's clear that Kenya is making strides towards a more connected future. The growth in 5G infrastructure, while slow at the moment, is expected to pick up pace in the coming years, transforming the way Kenyans access and consume digital content.
Read also:
- Prices of transit tickets in Berlin and Brandenburg are on the rise
- Linde Wins Major Engineering Design Contract for Equinor's Low Carbon Hydrogen Project at H2H Saltend, Progressing Towards a Greener Future
- Economic Growth of Nitric Acid for Electronic Applications Anticipated to Reach 5.8% by 2034
- Transportation via roads plays a critical role in India's shift towards clean energy.
