Airtel Kenya Subscriber Growth Outpaces Safaricom, Signaling a Market Shift That’s Catching Attention Across the Telecom Sector

Airtel Kenya just hit a major milestone. For the first time ever, the telco has crossed the 24 million mark in active SIM subscriptions—adding over 3 million new users in just three months. That’s not just a bump; it’s a big leap that puts Airtel ahead of rival Safaricom in terms of new customer growth during the first quarter of 2025.

Fresh data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) shows Airtel Kenya subscriber growth at nearly 14 percent between January and March. That’s compared to Safaricom’s 3.6 percent growth over the same period, which brought its total subscribers to 48.2 million.

So while Safaricom still holds the lion’s share of the market, Airtel’s growth rate is starting to turn heads—and possibly shift some long-standing habits among Kenyan mobile users.

Why Are More Kenyans Picking Airtel?

Much of this momentum comes down to one thing: accessibility.

Airtel has been busy putting up new network masts in areas that were previously underserved. These efforts aren’t just about meeting coverage targets—they’re about meeting users where they are, quite literally. The telco was required to improve its reach in over 100 sub-locations across the country. Although it didn’t hit that mark by the original deadline, the CA granted a two-year extension, giving Airtel until 2027 to finish the job.

Still, progress is clearly being made—and it’s paying off. More people are signing up. More people are staying.

Airtel Kenya Subscriber Growth Outpaces the Market

Kenya’s entire mobile sector added nearly 5 million new SIM cards in Q1, bringing the total to 76.2 million. But Airtel’s contribution stood out: over 3 million of those were from Airtel alone. That means the company was responsible for nearly 60 percent of the total new additions in the market.

It’s a sharp contrast to the slower growth seen from other providers like Equitel, Telkom, and JTL. And while some of those numbers include people with multiple SIM cards, the trend suggests that more users are actively choosing—or at least trying out—Airtel’s services.

Airtel’s Message Is Hitting Home

Ashish Malhotra, Airtel Kenya’s Managing Director, said the company is grateful for the support of its growing user base. “This is not the destination—it’s part of a longer journey,” he said.

That sentiment reflects Airtel’s bigger play: long-term loyalty. It’s not just about attracting users with competitive data bundles or cheaper call rates. It’s about building a network that people can rely on, wherever they are in the country.

If Airtel can keep that promise—and keep improving service quality—then this wave of Airtel Kenya subscriber growth might not be a one-off.

What Happens Next?

Of course, growing fast brings its own challenges. Airtel still has to meet its full coverage obligations and ensure the customer experience keeps pace with demand. But right now, the company has momentum—and a growing share of public attention.

If it can build on this progress, Airtel Kenya subscriber growth could end up being more than a quarterly headline. It could signal a real shift in how people across the country think about their mobile provider.

And in a market long dominated by one major player, that kind of shift could change everything.

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