Kenya’s 5G users hit 1.5 million as adoption accelerates
The growth rate during this period was far higher than the 5.4 per cent rise seen between April and June, signalling that Kenyans are increasingly turning to advanced mobile networks for daily internet needs.
Kenya’s journey into next-generation mobile technology is picking up pace as 5G connections surpass 1.5 million users, reflecting a growing demand for faster and more reliable internet.
Between July and September, the country recorded a nearly 20 per cent increase in active 5G subscriptions, up from 1.2 million in the previous three months, showing a faster adoption rate than earlier in the year.
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The growth rate during this period was far higher than the 5.4 per cent rise seen between April and June, signalling that Kenyans are increasingly turning to advanced mobile networks for daily internet needs.
According to the Communications Authority of Kenya, 5G subscribers are defined as users with devices consistently connected to the network, highlighting active engagement rather than just ownership of compatible phones.
High device costs and pricey data plans continue to limit broader access, keeping most 5G users concentrated in urban centres and among higher-income groups.
Telecom operators Safaricom and Airtel have led the expansion of 5G through new site rollouts and marketing aimed at attracting heavy mobile data users in key towns.
“Mobile data remains a fundamental drive for internet connectivity in the country, fostering socioeconomic development and expanding access to services and information,” the CA said.
By the end of the first quarter of the financial year, mobile data subscriptions totalled 60.2 million, with 78.3 per cent of them being mobile broadband users.
Safaricom officially launched commercial 5G services in October 2022 after testing began in March 2021 in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and other high-traffic urban centres.
Airtel Kenya joined the rollout in mid-2023, initially overtaking Safaricom in the number of 5G sites. By March last year, Safaricom had increased its sites to 803, while Airtel operated 690.
Although 5G adoption is growing, 4G remains the dominant mobile technology, rising 7.5 per cent in the quarter to nearly 40 million users.
Meanwhile, 3G subscriptions declined by 22.8 per cent to 5.7 million, and 2G connections grew slightly to 13.1 million, showing a clear shift toward faster mobile networks.
Across all networks, mobile data users rose 2.9 per cent to 60.2 million, reflecting an increasing reliance on the internet for work, learning, and entertainment.
Mobile broadband consumption jumped 12.8 per cent to 674,240.3 terabytes, with the average subscriber using 14.3 gigabytes of data. The CA noted that 5G users recorded the highest usage at 40 GB, followed by 4G users at 14.1 GB.
As operators expand 5G coverage to secondary towns and introduce more affordable packages, the new technology is expected to reach a broader audience, offering faster connectivity and supporting Kenya’s growing digital economy.
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