Airtel expands 5G network coverage to 39 counties in Kenya
TLDR
- Airtel expands 5G network in Kenya to cover 39 counties and 285 wards, with 690 operational sites.
- Managing Director Ashish Malhotra highlights positive market response, emphasizing digital inclusion commitment.
- Plans to launch additional 1,000 sites by year-end, aiming for a total of 1,690 5G sites; 13.3% rise in 5G users to 509,737 from June to September 2023.
Pan African network operator Airtel has expanded its 5G network to cover 39 counties and 285 wards in Kenya, with over 690 operational sites, driven by a rise in 5G network users in the country.
Airtel Kenya's Managing Director, Ashish Malhotra, stated that the positive market response has strengthened the company's commitment to digital inclusion. The company plans to launch an additional 1,000 sites by the end of the year, increasing the total to 1,690 5G sites.
According to Communication Authority data, the number of 5G network users in Kenya rose to 509,737 in the three months leading up to September 2023, a 13.3% increase from the 449,794 users in June of that year.
Key Takeaways
In recent years, Kenya has seen a significant increase in the adoption of 5G technology. Safaricom launched the country's first 5G service in October 2022, following a year of testing, and expanded its 5G network to 35 counties by November 2023. In February 2024, Equitel, a mobile virtual network operator, partnered with Airtel to launch 5G services, making it Africa's first mobile virtual network operator to offer 5G. At the beginning of 2024, Kenya had 22.71 million Internet users, with a penetration rate of 40.8%. According to Globalmonitor, the Kenyan telecom market has grown significantly in recent years and is expected to continue growing through 2025, driven by a growing population, improved communication services, and increased smartphone adoption.
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