Kenya’s telecommunications sector continues to grow rapidly, with mobile SIM subscriptions at the core of its digital transformation.
Latest quarterly statistics by the regulator, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) covering the period October to December 2024 indicate that by December 2024, active mobile subscriptions had surged to 71.4 million, reflecting a 2% increase in just three months. This growth pushed mobile penetration to an impressive 138.5%, highlighting the country’s significant dependence on mobile connectivity for communication, financial transactions, and digital services.
“This growth is mainly attributed to the busy festive season that occurs within this timeframe,” CA said, citing heightened communication needs and increased mobile activity that fueled the demand for new SIM cards.
Market leader Safaricom maintained its dominance, holding a commanding 65.7% share, while Airtel Networks Kenya followed at 29.6%. Smaller players, including Telkom Kenya and Equity Group’s Finserve (Equitel), comprised less than 5% of the market. The overwhelming preference for prepaid plans, which account for more than 98% of subscriptions, underscores the flexibility and affordability that make mobile services accessible to a broad segment of the population.
However, mobile connectivity in Kenya is more than just voice calls and messaging. The country’s mobile money ecosystem, a model for financial inclusion across Africa, expanded alongside SIM subscriptions. Mobile money users grew by 4.1% during the quarter, reaching 42.3 million, resulting in an 82.1% penetration rate. Safaricom’s M-Pesa continued to dominate, holding an impressive 92.3 percent of the market, while Airtel Money followed with 7.6%. The widespread adoption of mobile financial services has transformed how Kenyans access banking, send money, and make payments, further embedding mobile technology into everyday life.
The surge in SIM registrations has also driven a significant increase in mobile broadband usage. With digital services expanding, demand for high-speed internet has surged. Mobile data subscriptions grew by 3.2% to reach 56.1 million, with mobile broadband accounting for 78.4% of these connections. The increasing adoption of 4G and 5G networks has played a crucial role in meeting consumer demand for faster speeds, enabling online activities such as streaming movies, online learning, and remote work, thereby accelerating the appetite for high-speed internet and leading to increased uptake of advanced mobile technologies like 4G and 5G, according to the CA. Consequently, average broadband data consumption per user rose from 12.6 GB to 13.1 GB, while total broadband usage skyrocketed by 12.8 percent to 568,315.8 terabytes.
This growing demand for connectivity has spurred smartphone adoption across Kenya. By the end of 2024, smartphone penetration achieved an all-time high of 80.5%, while the use of basic feature phones dropped to 59.3%. More affordable smartphone options, along with expanded broadband coverage reaching 97% of the population, have fueled this shift. As more Kenyans come online, the potential for digital commerce, e-learning, and remote services continues to expand.
Nevertheless, the sector’s rapid growth has not been without challenges. Cybersecurity threats escalated by 27.2% during the quarter, with over 840 million incidents detected. In response, Kenya’s National e-CIRT/CC issued over 11 million advisories to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure against increasing cyber risks.
