The Journey from Expensive SIM Cards to a Booming Mobile Sector in Kenya
From the days when SIM cards cost more than houses, Kenya’s mobile market has grown into a sprawling network that touches the lives of millions every day
In the late 1990s, having a mobile phone in Kenya was a luxury few could afford. A SIM card often cost over KSh 200,000, more than the price of a small home in Eastlands, Nairobi.
Mobile ownership was limited to the wealthy elite.
The Early 2000s: Safaricom Makes Mobile Affordable
Everything changed around 2000, when Vodafone acquired a stake in Safaricom. The company launched the 0722 prefix in 2001 and dropped SIM prices to about KSh 2,500. By 2002, SIMs cost less than KSh 100, opening mobile access to millions of Kenyans.
Safaricom expanded across multiple 07xx prefixes, including 0722–0729, 0700–0709, 0710–0719, and 0740–0790. Today, they also operate 0110–0115 under the new 01xx series.
Airtel Steps Up
Airtel Kenya, which initially used 0730–0739 prefixes, received 0100–0102 after the 01xx block was introduced in 2019. Safaricom had 0110–0111 at the same time, later expanded to 0112–0115. This expanded the market significantly, giving Kenyans more options and flexibility.
Digital Numbering and IoT Growth
Numbers are no longer preloaded on SIMs. Customers can select numbers instantly at the point of purchase, easing logistics and offering choice. Some prefixes are now reserved for IoT and enterprise solutions, reflecting Kenya’s expanding digital ecosystem.
Kenya Mobile Subscribers 2025: Latest Market Snapshot
The sector’s growth is evident in 2025:
- Safaricom serves over 50 million customers in Kenya (as of July 2025).
- Airtel Kenya has surpassed 24 million subscribers, adding 3 million in Q1 alone — nearly 14% quarterly growth, the fastest in the market.
- Telkom Kenya maintains roughly 1.2 million subscribers.
- Overall, Kenya has 76.2 million active SIMs, with Airtel contributing nearly 60% of all new SIM additions in Q1.
Airtel’s rapid growth is reshaping the market. Investments in new network masts in underserved areas have improved coverage, attracting new customers and challenging traditional loyalties.
Timeline of SIM and Number Evolution
| Period | Key Developments |
|---|---|
| 1997–2000 | SIMs >KSh 200,000; limited access |
| 2001–2002 | Safaricom drops SIMs <KSh 100; 07xx prefixes expand |
| 2019–2021 | 01xx prefixes introduced; Airtel (0100–0102), Safaricom (0110–0111) receive allocations |
| 2022–2025 | Digital provisioning; IoT/M2M prefixes; Airtel drives fastest growth |
| July 2025 | Safaricom: 50M users; Airtel: 24M+; Total SIMs: 76.2M; Airtel contributes ~60% of Q1 net additions |
Takeaway
From prohibitively expensive SIMs to over 76 million active mobile subscribers today, Kenya’s telecom market has transformed. Digital number selection, IoT adoption, and fierce competition between Safaricom and Airtel signal a market that is more accessible, innovative, and dynamic than ever.
Go to TECHTRENDSKE.co.ke for more tech and business news from the African continent.
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