Safaricom Leads Kenya’s Evolving 5G Landscape

Kenya’s mobile landscape is undergoing a significant transformation with the rapid deployment of 5G technology. 

Safaricom, the country’s leading telecommunications operator, is spearheading this growth, surpassing its competitor Airtel Kenya in the number of active 5G sites nationwide.

According to Safaricom’s annual report for the year ending March 31, 2024, the company boasts an impressive network of 803 5G sites across 43 Kenyan counties. 

This represents a remarkable surge from just 205 sites at the close of March 2023. In comparison, Airtel Kenya currently operates 690 5G sites, covering 39 counties. 

While Airtel briefly held the lead in mid-2023 with 372 sites, Safaricom’s aggressive expansion has reshaped the competitive terrain.

Safaricom’s Ambitious 5G Expansion Plans

Safaricom’s vision for the future is clear: ubiquitous 5G access for Kenyans. 

The company plans to significantly expand its network to over 1,700 sites by the end of the next financial year. 

This ambitious target aims to empower customers with blazing-fast internet speeds at work, home, and on the go, seamlessly complementing their growing fiber network infrastructure.

Airtel Kenya Responds with Network Expansion Drive

Airtel Kenya is not conceding defeat. In June 2024, the company announced a large-scale network expansion initiative, aiming to roll out close to 1,000 new sites before the end of the year. 

This project, touted as the biggest in Airtel Kenya’s history, prioritizes improving indoor coverage in urban areas and bridging the digital divide in rural communities. 

Notably, the initiative places a special emphasis on enhancing network coverage in Kenya’s northeastern region.

Kenya’s 5G Journey: A Tale of Rapid Deployment and Evolving Adoption

Kenya’s 5G story began in October 2022 with Safaricom’s pioneering launch of 35 initial sites. 

Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom’s CEO, unveiled ambitious plans to add a further 700-1,000 sites, aiming for a total of 2,000 5G sites by the end of 2025. 

Airtel Kenya joined the race in July 2023 with approximately 370 sites, nearly doubling that number within a year.

Despite the rapid infrastructure rollout, the uptake of 5G services remains relatively low. 

Market intelligence from Omdia suggests that only around 1% of Kenyan mobile subscriptions were on 5G networks by the end of March 2024. 

However, projections indicate a promising trajectory, with estimates forecasting growth to 3.8% by the close of 2024 and nearly 12% by 2026.

Read More: Safaricom Phones on Loan in Kenya

Market Landscape: Safaricom Leads in Subscribers, Airtel Trails in 5G Adoption

Safaricom reigns supreme in the Kenyan mobile market with a staggering 44.7 million subscribers, followed by Airtel Kenya with 19.9 million. 

Telkom Kenya and Jamii Telecommunications (JTL) hold significantly smaller market shares, boasting 1.5 million and 545,000 subscribers, respectively. 

Notably, neither Telkom Kenya nor JTL has launched 5G services yet.

Interestingly, the adoption of 5G technology varies significantly between operators. 

As of March 2024, approximately 1.3% of Safaricom’s user base had embraced 5G, compared to a mere 0.3% of Airtel’s subscribers. 

4G remains the dominant technology, with over 46% of Safaricom users and all of JTL’s subscribers relying on 4G networks. 

Surprisingly, over half of Airtel’s customer base still utilizes 2G technology.

A Glimpse into the Future: A Brighter Outlook for 5G in Kenya

Safaricom’s annual report revealed a promising statistic: a 79% growth in 5G devices on its network year-on-year, reaching approximately 669,700 devices. 

Overall, smartphones on Safaricom’s network increased by nearly 13% to 22.9 million, with 4G devices accounting for the majority at 16.85 million.

As Kenya’s 5G landscape continues to evolve, the fierce competition between Safaricom and Airtel Kenya is driving rapid infrastructure development. 

While current adoption rates are modest, the increasing availability of 5G services and compatible devices suggest a bright future for high-speed connectivity in Kenya. 

This technological leap has the potential to revolutionize.

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