• Latest
  • All
  • How To
Safaricom 5G on Infinix Zero Ultra

Kenya Lags in 5G Adoption in Africa, Forecasts Look Promising

December 7, 2023
windows bsod microsoft

Microsoft Retires the Iconic Windows Blue Screen of Death After Nearly 40 Years

June 27, 2025
xiaomi_ai_glasses

Xiaomi Steps into Smart Glasses with Its First AI-Powered Pair

June 27, 2025
Ask Photos

Google Relaunches Ask Photos with Faster, Smarter AI Search

June 27, 2025
Musk bans Hashtags

Musk Drops Hashtags From Paid Posts on X

June 27, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
YouTube

YouTube Creators Need to Be 16 or Older to Live Stream Alone

June 27, 2025
How to Install a VPN and the Best Options in Kenya

How to Install a VPN and the Best Options in Kenya

June 27, 2025
Internet router with fiber connection

Competition Authority Cracks Down on Kenyan Landlords Blocking Internet Providers

June 27, 2025
Iran cyberattacks

Cyber Attacks Soar After US Airstrikes on Iran Sites

June 27, 2025
Communications Authority ranked by ITU as best in Africa ICT regulations

Media Blackout: Communications Authority Orders Halt to Live Protest Coverage

June 25, 2025
social media protests Kenya

#SiriNiNumbers: Gen Z-Led Protests Dominate Kenyan Streets and Social Media

June 25, 2025
How to Secure Your Phone and Yourself During Protests

How to Secure Your Phone (and Yourself) During Protests

June 25, 2025
xiaomi

Xiaomi June 26 Mega Launch: From EVs to Foldables

June 24, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

Kenya Lags in 5G Adoption in Africa, Forecasts Look Promising

George Kamau by George Kamau
December 7, 2023
in News
Reading Time: 4 mins read
266
0
Safaricom 5G on Infinix Zero Ultra

Safaricom 5G on Infinix Zero Ultra

There has been significant progress in terms of 5G adoption not only in Kenya but across the continent in the past few months.

In Kenya alone, we’ve seen Safaricom and Airtel increase coverage nationwide.

Safaricom was the first telco to bring 5G to the country in October last year after several months in the testing phase. They have since increased coverage to 35 counties spreading from the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale to the northern county of Marsabit.

Safaricom not only cut the prices of their 5G wireless routers by 60% but also made their 5G data bundles even more affordable. The routers now cost Ksh 9,999 with 5G WiFi for Home Consumer starting at Ksh 3.499 for the 400GB bundle while the unlimited 5G WiFi for Business starts at Ksh 4,000(10Mbps).

Airtel which had a late start in the 5G race in the country announced its official rollout in July this year and has expanded its coverage to 32 counties in Kenya.

Its 5G data bundles start from as low as Ksh 3000 per month for the 10GB a day for home subscribers. 5G Unlimited business packages start from Ksh 3500(10Mbps) going all the way to Ksh 7500(50Mbps) per month. Their 5G router is still available for Ksh 10,000.

Airtel 5G Wifi Router
Airtel 5G Wifi Router

In terms of subscriber numbers, Safaricom reports that over 500,000 consumers are using 5G smartphones to browse on their network. Airtel has yet to report its official numbers – but we’ll update once we get official numbers from them.

In the past, 5G devices were limited to flagships and midrange devices above $500 but companies like TECNO, Infinix, and Xiaomi now have 5G-capable devices under $350.

Device manufacturers in partnership with chip makers and telcos have been working to launch affordable 5G smartphones.  The fabless semiconductor company, MediaTek has been leading at that forefront.

Kenya is the 3rd largest country in Africa when it comes to the continent’s mobile phone market ranking with 5 million smartphones shipped annually. Some of the best 5G smartphones in the country are powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity chipsets – ranging from the flagships to the midrange smartphones.

In the country, the Dimensity 9000+ powers the TECNO Phantom V Fold and the OPPO Find N2 Flip, the Dimensity 9000 for the TECNO Phantom X2 Pro, the Dimensity 8050 for the TECNO Phantom V Flip, the Dimensity 8020 for the Infinix Zero 30 5G and the Dimensity 9200+ for the Xiaomi 13T Pro in the flagship space.

In the midrange market, we have the Dimensity 8050 for the TECNO Camon 20 Premier and the Infinix Note 30 VIP, the Dimensity 7200 for the Vivo V27, the Dimensity 7050 for the OPPO Reno10 5G and the Dimensity 1080 for the Redmi Note 12 Pro+.

While all these are significant steps to accelerate 5G adoption, the country still lags behind its counterparts in Africa. Close to 28 countries out of 54 have 5G with over half of them rolling out commercially and the rest in the trial phase.

The countries leading in Africa in terms of 5G network subscriptions are South Africa and Nigeria – each having 5 million subscriptions and 1.8 million subscriptions respectively. Kenya comes in third with over 500,000 subscribers. To be fair, South Africa had an early start launching 5G in 2020 while Nigeria launched 5G in September 2022.

But there’s a silver lining in the clouds. According to MediaTek, analysts expect Kenya to account for more than half of Africa’s handful of 5G mobile subscriptions in 2026.

The Big Picture

There’s a strong demand for high-speed connectivity, especially with the youth who are data-hungry when it comes to consuming multimedia content(video streaming, music, gaming, live sports, cloud storage), mobile and cloud-based gaming.

5G rollout has had its challenges too including limited 5G network coverage, and the high cost of 5G devices and most of them are satisfied with the previous 4G and 3G networks.

Differences Between Safaricom Home Fibre, 4G Wi-Fi and 5G Wi-Fi

The future is looking bright as mobile operators and enterprises are working together to unlock 5G’s superior capabilities. There’s a sizeable market opportunity which heavily depends on policies that enable network investments which include regulators availing more spectrum for faster 5G adoption.

It is still imperative for Africa to keep up with the global 5G adoption which can be done using the phased approach which is a sustainable way to ensure consumers and enterprises enjoy enhanced connectivity.

Scaling 5G across Africa will still need collaborations between stakeholders which includes cost-effective network deployment, partnerships between consumers and enterprises to bring relevant localized use cases, and coming up with programs that make 5G devices more affordable for the mass market.

Tags: Airtel 5GMediaTekSafaricom 5G
SendShare149Tweet93
George Kamau

George Kamau

I brunch on consumer tech | [email protected]

Related Posts

Infinix GT 30 Pro

Infinix Unveils the GT 30 Pro with 120 FPS Certification for PUBG

May 22, 2025
Safaricom 5G for Business

How Safaricom 5G is Revolutionizing Enterprise Connectivity

May 17, 2025
home internet wifi prices in kenya

List of Home Internet Service Providers in Kenya with 2025 Prices

January 25, 2025
MediaTek Dimenisty 8400 chip revealed.

MediaTek Unveils Dimensity 8400

January 2, 2025
Google Pixel 10 series

Google Pixel 10 to Feature MediaTek Modem and Tensor G5 Chipset

December 17, 2024
the process of setting up an Internet service provider (ISP) in Kenya

How to become an ISP in Kenya

August 20, 2024

Latest

windows bsod microsoft

Microsoft Retires the Iconic Windows Blue Screen of Death After Nearly 40 Years

June 27, 2025
xiaomi_ai_glasses

Xiaomi Steps into Smart Glasses with Its First AI-Powered Pair

June 27, 2025
Ask Photos

Google Relaunches Ask Photos with Faster, Smarter AI Search

June 27, 2025
Musk bans Hashtags

Musk Drops Hashtags From Paid Posts on X

June 27, 2025
YouTube

YouTube Creators Need to Be 16 or Older to Live Stream Alone

June 27, 2025
How to Install a VPN and the Best Options in Kenya

How to Install a VPN and the Best Options in Kenya

June 27, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

Microsoft Retires the Iconic Windows Blue Screen of Death After Nearly 40 Years

June 27, 2025

Xiaomi Steps into Smart Glasses with Its First AI-Powered Pair

June 27, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Abductions and Arrests! Kenyan Government’s Fear and Hate of X Users Makes No Sense

Actors and Film Crews Are Worried About Veo 3 Taking Their Jobs

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

More News

Competition Authority Cracks Down on Kenyan Landlords Blocking Internet Providers

Cyber Attacks Soar After US Airstrikes on Iran Sites

Media Blackout: Communications Authority Orders Halt to Live Protest Coverage

#SiriNiNumbers: Gen Z-Led Protests Dominate Kenyan Streets and Social Media

How to Secure Your Phone (and Yourself) During Protests

Xiaomi June 26 Mega Launch: From EVs to Foldables

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.