Safaricom has emerged as the new leader in 5G sites deployment, surpassing its main rival Airtel Kenya for the first time. This shift underscores an aggressive expansion strategy that highlights the intensifying competition between the two telecom giants in the rapidly growing data market.
According to Safaricom’s latest annual report, the company has successfully activated 803 5G sites as of March 2024, a figure that notably exceeds Airtel’s current count of 690 sites.
This reversal from the previous year’s standings, where Airtel led with 370 sites compared to Safaricom’s 205, demonstrates the latter’s commitment to technological advancement and market dominance.
Safaricom’s Ambitious Expansion
Safaricom’s remarkable progress is evident in the addition of 598 new sites over the past year, slightly surpassing their initial target of 595. This expansion has extended their 5G coverage to 43 out of Kenya’s 47 counties, a substantial increase from the 23 counties served in the previous year.
Also Read: Airtel Africa commences construction of Nxtra by Airtel, first data centre in Nigeria
The company’s ambitious plans don’t stop there, as they aim to more than double their 5G presence in the coming year, targeting over 1,700 sites. This aggressive growth strategy is aimed at maintaining their market leadership and providing customers with superior internet speeds for work, home, and mobile use.
Airtel Kenya’s Response
On the other hand, Airtel Kenya has not remained idle in this technological race. The company has activated 320 new sites during the same period, expanding its 5G footprint to 39 counties, up from 16 in the previous year.
While this growth is commendable, it falls short of matching Safaricom’s rapid expansion.
Nevertheless, Airtel continues to innovate, recently unveiling a 5G-enabled router that could potentially accelerate the adoption of this new technology by eliminating the need for expensive 5G-ready smartphones.
The Promise and Challenges of 5G
The rollout of 5G technology in Kenya represents a significant leap forward in internet connectivity. The 5G network offers speeds that far surpass the widely available 4G, promising to revolutionize how Kenyans access and use the internet.
However, the technology does come with its challenges. The need for high-end smart devices and the current high cost of 5G data bundles present barriers to widespread adoption, particularly among lower-income users.
Despite these hurdles, the uptake of 5G services in Kenya has been encouraging. Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) reveals a 74% growth in mobile data subscribers using 5G networks over the 12 months leading up to March 2024.
The number of 5G subscribers has risen from 373,537 to 653,716 during this period, indicating a growing appetite for high-speed internet services among Kenyan consumers.
Driving Technological Advancement
The competition between Safaricom and Airtel Kenya in the 5G space is driving rapid technological advancement in the country. Safaricom’s strategic focus on expanding its 5G network complements its growing fiber network, aiming to provide comprehensive high-speed internet solutions across various use cases.
The company’s commitment to empowering customers with super-fast internet capabilities is evident in its aggressive expansion plans and investment in infrastructure.
Innovation in the 5G Market
As the 5G race continues to heat up, both companies are likely to introduce more innovative products and services to attract customers and increase adoption rates.
Airtel’s introduction of the 5G-enabled router is one such example, potentially opening up 5G access to a broader range of users who may not have 5G-compatible smartphones. This kind of innovation could be crucial in overcoming the current limitations to widespread 5G adoption.
