Kenya ICT Sector Q3 2025: Starlink Rise, SIM Surge, Cyber Soars

Let’s be real—life in Kenya is digital now. Phones are everywhere. Money moves through mobile. Streaming is part of the daily routine. Whether you’re upcountry or in the city, being connected just feels normal.

But the latest stats from the Kenya ICT sector Q3 2025 report show something else too. We’re growing fast, yes—but we’re also starting to hit the edges of what we’re ready for. From booming mobile numbers to a flood of cyber threats, it’s clear we’re not just connecting—we’re also getting exposed.

What Jumped Out This Quarter

• 76.2 million mobile SIMs in use—more lines than people
• 45.4 million mobile money users, up nearly 7%
• Smartphones at 42.3 million, and feature phones at 32.6 million
• A 32.6% surge in satellite internet data (hello, Starlink)
• 2.5 billion cyber threats detected—yes, billion with a B

Everyone’s Online (or Getting There)

It’s not just hype. The numbers show that more Kenyans are online than ever. We’re making calls (nearly 29 billion minutes), sending texts (over 14 billion), and streaming, scrolling, or transacting nonstop.

This growth didn’t just happen on its own. Operators ran aggressive campaigns to bring customers back, and lower-cost phones flooded the market. That combination worked. More people got access. And even more stayed online.

Starlink Is Quietly Changing Things

Fixed internet also grew, especially fibre and wireless. But the real surprise this quarter? Satellite internet use shot up, thanks mostly to Starlink. People in places where fibre isn’t even an option are suddenly getting decent internet—and using it a lot.

That shift matters. It means the digital divide is starting to close, even in small ways.

Posta’s Still Fading, But Couriers Are Busy

No shocker here: the traditional postal service continues to lose steam. Domestic letters dropped 82%, which basically confirms what we already knew—nobody’s writing letters.

But here’s the twist: international courier parcels went up nearly fivefold. Online shopping is likely behind that. People are shipping more, buying more, and clearly looking beyond borders.

TV’s Still Hanging On

While streaming eats up the headlines, TV isn’t dead yet. Cable subscriptions rose 31.5% this quarter, with Zuku and others picking up new users. It’s a good reminder that not everyone is on Netflix or Showmax—especially outside major towns.

Then Came the Cyber Threats

This is where things get serious. Over 2.5 billion cyber threats were picked up this quarter. That’s more than triple what we saw just months ago. The biggest culprits? System vulnerabilities and malware.

The national cyber response team sent out 13.2 million alerts to try and contain the damage. But the takeaway is simple: as more of us get online, we’re also becoming bigger targets.

So What’s the Real Story Here?

Kenya’s digital future isn’t just coming—it’s already here. The Kenya ICT sector Q3 2025 report doesn’t just show growth; it shows momentum. People are connected, active, and reshaping how the country works, learns, buys, and communicates.

But there’s a flip side. Growth brings risk. The more we rely on digital tools, the more we need to think about keeping them—and ourselves—safe.

This isn’t about slowing down. It’s about leveling up. Because being connected is great. But being connected and protected? That’s where we need to go next.

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