According to the quarterly Sector Statistics report published on Friday by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) for the July–September 2024 period, there was a minor decrease in 3G broadband subscribers and data usage, but a rise in the adoption of 4G and 5G technologies.
“The country is poised for significant advancements in both 4G and 5G uptake which is driven by the continued investments and increased consumer demand for high-speed connectivity,” reads part of the report.
By the quarter’s end, there were a record 53.7 million mobile data subscribers, of which 58.1 per cent were 4G.
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Rise in 4G, 5G adoption due to online education, streaming, remote work, others
Because of the increasing need for high-speed Internet for tasks like streaming, online education, remote work, and e-commerce, 4G and 5G technology usage has been steadily increasing.
The number of active mobile (SIM) subscriptions increased from 68.9 million in the previous quarter to 70.0 million by the end of September 2024, a 1.6 per cent increase that translates into a 135.8 per cent penetration rate.
Mobile money service subscriptions climbed from 39.8 million to 40.6 million during the reference period, representing a 78.9 per cent penetration rate.
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131.5% penetration rate of mobile phone devices
A total of 68.1 million mobile phone devices were connected to mobile networks, which translates to a 131.5 percent penetration rate. Of these devices, 37.4 million are smartphones, which have a 72.6 percent penetration rate, while 30.7 million are feature phones, which have a 59.6 percent penetration rate.
The telecoms sector had considerable growth in the first quarter of financial year 2024/2025, with an increase in internet subscriptions, mobile SIM, smartphone use, and mobile money, demonstrating sustained industry responsiveness to customer needs.