5G Adoption Gains Pace in Kenya as Mobile Data Demand Surges
As more Kenyans connect to 5G networks, usage patterns are tilting toward streaming, cloud tools and other data-heavy services
Kenya added 724,753 new 5G users over the past year, pushing adoption of high-speed mobile internet deeper into homes and businesses as demand for data-intensive services grows. Official figures show the number of active 5G subscribers rose 71.7 percent to 1.74 million, reflecting faster uptake as network coverage expands and compatible devices become more common.
The increase places 5G at the centre of Kenya’s evolving mobile internet landscape, even as 4G remains dominant. The regulator counts only users actively connected to 5G networks, narrowing the figures to actual usage rather than device ownership.
The growth in subscriptions has been accompanied by a steep rise in data consumption. Users on 5G networks consumed 216,849.4 terabytes of mobile data last year, up from 56,035.1 terabytes a year earlier, indicating heavier reliance on streaming, cloud-based tools and real-time applications.
Network rollout by Safaricom and Airtel Kenya has underpinned this expansion. Safaricom had deployed about 1,700 active 5G sites by March last year, maintaining a lead after launching commercial services in October 2022. Airtel entered the market in mid-2023 and has since built out roughly 690 sites, intensifying competition and widening coverage beyond major cities.
Improved infrastructure has translated into faster mobile speeds. Data from Ookla shows average mobile internet speeds in Kenya rose from about 21 Mbps in 2024 to 45 Mbps by the end of 2025. That places the country ahead of Nigeria for the first time, where speeds reached 44 Mbps.
Kenya now ranks third in Africa for mobile network performance, behind South Africa and Morocco.
“It is clear that a 5G launch was the main driver for improvement in mobile network performance,” said Karim Yaici, head of research for the Middle East and Africa at Ookla.
Despite rapid growth, 5G remains a small portion of Kenya’s overall mobile base. 4G continues to serve the majority, with 44.2 million users, while 2G and 3G account for 10.4 million and 5.7 million subscribers respectively.
Total mobile data subscriptions stood at 61.99 million at the end of the year, underscoring the central role of mobile connectivity in accessing digital services across the country.
The pattern mirrors earlier 4G adoption, where initial uptake was gradual before accelerating as infrastructure matured and handset prices fell. For now, 5G’s trajectory points in the same direction, with usage deepening as coverage spreads and costs ease.
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