Safaricom has taken the lead over Airtel Kenya in the race to expand fifth-generation (5G) network technology, according to the latest figures revealed in Safaricom’s annual report. By the close of March 2024, Safaricom had successfully activated a total of 803 5G sites, surpassing Airtel’s count of 690.
This milestone underscores Safaricom’s vigorous strategy in deploying 5G infrastructure, which is intensifying the rivalry between the two telecommunications giants within Kenya’s burgeoning data market. The progress marks a significant shift from the previous year when Airtel had the upper hand with 370 5G-enabled locations, compared to Safaricom’s 205.
Safaricom’s rapid expansion involved the activation of 598 new 5G sites within a year, slightly exceeding its initial target by three sites. As a result of this expansion, Safaricom has now broadened its 5G network coverage to 43 of Kenya’s 47 counties, a substantial increase from the 23 counties covered in 2023.
Meanwhile, Airtel Kenya has also been expanding its 5G network but at a slower pace, adding 320 new sites over the same period. This expansion has enabled Airtel to extend its 5G services to 39 counties. Despite its efforts, Airtel fell short of its ambition to inaugurate an additional 100 5G sites and to extend its reach to 32 counties and 221 wards. The competitive landscape in Kenya’s telecom sector is clearly being reshaped by Safaricom’s aggressive 5G rollout, positioning the company as a leading force in the country’s next-generation connectivity.
Since the initial activation of its 5G services in March 2021 and the official launch in October 2022, Safaricom has made significant strides in broadening its network coverage.
The company’s annual report reflects a commitment to enhancing customer experiences by providing ultra-fast internet speeds for various uses, including work, home, and mobile connectivity. This commitment is supported by Safaricom’s intention to augment its already expanding fibre network infrastructure.
“Our goal is to persist in empowering our customers with super-fast internet across multiple settings, by complementing our extensive fibre network,” the report stated.
In its pursuit to retain leadership in the market, Safaricom has disclosed ambitious plans for the upcoming year, aiming to increase the number of its sites to over 1,700.
The introduction of 5G technology offers a significant speed advantage over the more commonly available 4G. However, the adoption of 5G is challenged by the need for more advanced smart devices and costlier data plans, which remain out of reach for a majority of African consumers.
Airtel Kenya, which ranks as the country’s second-largest telecommunications provider, entered the 5G arena in mid-2023 with the rollout of its own 5G mobile broadband network.
In a strategic move in June 2024, Airtel Kenya introduced a 5G-enabled router, which could potentially bypass the barrier of requiring expensive 5G-capable smartphones for subscribers. This innovation is anticipated to accelerate the adoption rate of 5G network services, which had been relatively sluggish.
According to statistics released by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), the nation’s telecommunications regulator, there was a significant 74% surge in the number of mobile data subscribers transitioning to the 5G network. The figures climbed from 373,537 to 653,716 over the course of the year leading up to March 2024. This notable increase indicates a growing interest and uptake of 5G connectivity among Kenyan mobile users.
