Which ISP Reigns Supreme in Kenya’s Internet Speed Comparison: Faiba vs Safaricom vs Zuku

As Kenya’s digital landscape keeps growing, the demand for quality and high-speed internet keeps rising. The latest Kenya internet speed comparison by the nPerf Barometer Report (April 2024 – March 2025) offers valuable data on how well Kenya’s leading internet service providers (ISPs) perform.
From download speeds to upload performance, latency, and general quality of experience (QoE), the information paints a vibrant picture of Kenya’s internet ecosystem.
Market Leaders in Kenya Internet Speed Comparison
Faiba, Safaricom, and Zuku lead the way in the Kenyan Internet market, where speed and reliability are the measuring sticks. According to the Kenya internet speed comparison, Faiba now leads the pack with a whopping nPerf score of 53,975 points, followed by Safaricom (51,709) and Zuku (51,394). The three operators are now in a fierce competition to provide the best, fastest, and most reliable internet in Kenya.
Meanwhile, Mawingu WiFi lags far behind at a score of 24,430 and is unique in the market. This means that Mawingu targets marginalized communities or provides more basic Internet services.
Download and Upload Speeds: Faiba Takes the Lead in Kenya Internet Speed Comparison
In download speeds, Faiba leads the Kenya internet speed comparison table with a mean of 33.1 Mb/s, the best in the market. It is closely followed by Safaricom at 29.0 Mb/s, with Zuku at 25.4 Mb/s. Mawingu WiFi trails far behind at a mere 7.2 Mb/s, indicating that it needs to upgrade its infrastructure.
For upload speeds, Faiba once more is at the top with 29.7 Mb/s, as Zuku (22.8 Mb/s) and Safaricom (21.4 Mb/s) also record respectable numbers. Mawingu once more trails far behind with a mere 7.0 Mb/s.
The Kenya internet speed test comparison indicates that Faiba’s investment in high-speed infrastructure renders it the best in both download and upload speeds.
Latency: Zuku’s Edge in Real-Time Applications
When it comes to latency, Zuku has the best average of 41.8 ms, which is the best choice for gamers or video call users. The lower the latency, the better the experience of real-time applications.
While the others, that is, Faiba, Safaricom, and Mawingu, all range from 48-50 ms in latency scores, which is good enough for most activities although not optimal for low-latency use, it underscores Zuku’s advantage for those who primarily rely on live internet experiences.
Quality of Experience: Faiba and Safaricom Lead the Way in Kenya Internet Speed Comparison
In terms of general Quality of Experience (QoE), the comparison puts Faiba at a 39.3% web browsing success rate, followed by Zuku at a success rate of 38.2%, and Safaricom with a success rate of 37.3%. Mawingu underperforms in this category with a success rate of 27.4%, which could imply problems in browsing performance.
To stream on YouTube, Safaricom tops the rest with 72.1% and shows its prowess in streaming media. Faiba and Zuku are closely behind at 69.7% and 69.3%, respectively. Mawingu again has a massive gap at 48.7%, showing difficulties in providing an uninterrupted video streaming service.
Monthly Trends: Consistency in Kenya Internet Speed Comparison
During the year, Faiba, Safaricom, Zuku, and Mawingu’s performance was relatively stable with slight variations. The comparison of internet speeds in Kenya highlights that none of the providers showed sudden spikes or troughs, which is an indication of good infrastructure.
Faiba and Safaricom show stable high performance for the entire year, while Mawingu shows little development, further indicating its low infrastructure and regional focus.
Test Volume Share: Safaricom’s Dominance
By share of test volume, Safaricom is the leader with 66% of the tests, a reflection of its broad user base. Second is Faiba at 16%, while Mawingu has a contribution of only 7%. The inference is that Safaricom has the biggest market share, while Mawingu is targeting more niche or unserved segments of the market.
Key Takeaways from Kenya Internet Speed Comparison
- Faiba stands out as the overall leader in upload and download speeds and web browsing quality.
- Safaricom is the best for streaming, with the fastest YouTube performance.
- Zuku is the best due to its low latency, making it ideal for real-time applications like gaming and video calling.
- Mawingu WiFi has a basic offering, targeting the unserved areas, but it sits till it performs poorly.
The Kenya internet speed comparison is characterized by the growing rivalry in the ISP industry. Players are focusing on delivering better speeds, quality, and service stability, as customers demand.
Looking Ahead
With the expanding Internet infrastructure in Kenya, there will be growing competition and innovation among ISPs. As increasingly fast, reliable Internet services will be more of a necessity than ever, so it will compel the service providers to go the extra mile and develop new offerings that will be improved to meet the changing faces of digital consumers.
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