Kenya's 5G Development Advances as Safaricom Assumes Pioneering Role
In the heart of East Africa, Kenya is witnessing a fierce competition in the telecommunications industry, as two major players, Safaricom and Airtel Kenya, race to expand their 5G networks.
Safaricom, the market leader with 44.7 million mobile subscribers, initiated the 5G journey in Kenya back in October 2022, starting with just 35 sites. A year later, the company has established 803 active 5G sites across 43 Kenyan counties, surpassing Airtel Kenya, which currently operates 690 5G sites across 39 counties.
Safaricom aims to expand its 5G network to more than 1,700 sites by the end of the next financial year, and plans to operate more than 2,000 5G sites in Kenya by 2025. This ambitious expansion is a response to Airtel Kenya's aggressive network expansion drive, aiming to roll out close to 1,000 sites before the end of 2024.
While the competition is driving rapid infrastructure development, adoption rates remain relatively low. As of March 2024, only about 1% of all mobile subscriptions in Kenya were 5G, but projections suggest growth to 3.8% by the end of 2024 and nearly 12% by 2026. Safaricom's annual report showed a 79% growth in 5G devices on its network over 12 months, reaching about 669,700 devices. Airtel Kenya, which joined the 5G race in July 2023, nearly doubled its number of sites to 690 a year later.
Interestingly, over 50% of Airtel's base still relied on 2G technology, while all of Jamii Telecommunications (JTL)'s subscribers are on 4G. 4G remains dominant for Safaricom, with over 46% of its users on 4G networks.
Despite the rapid expansion of 5G infrastructure, the increasing availability of 5G services and compatible devices suggests a promising future for high-speed connectivity in Kenya. The future of this race remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the competition between Safaricom and Airtel Kenya is fueling innovation and faster internet speeds for Kenyans.
Read also:
- AI-Enhanced Battery-Swapping Station in Southeast Asia Officially Opens Its Doors
- Industries Under Jeopardy Due to Multi-Accounting: Prevention Strategies Revealed in 2024
- Web3 Esports undergoes transformation as Aylab and CreataChain collaborate for a radical change
- New GPS tracking system, DropBlock, unveiled by RoGO Communications, specifically designed for wildland firefighters.
