Kenyans Using 5G Internet Increase By 13% In 3 Months

• Communications Authority of Kenya data shows that 5G subscribers increased by 13.3% in the three months leading up to September 2023
• The CA report reveals that this increase reflects a substantial increase of 59,943 subscribers from the 449,794 recorded just three months prior
• There has been a discernible decline in second-generation (2G) subscriptions, dropping by 8.1% to 14.7 million users

Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, leverages more than three years of expertise in financial, business, and technology research, providing insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Kenya's mobile data landscape has seen a remarkable shift, marked by a notable rise in fifth-generation (5G) network subscribers.

Recent data released by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) for the three months leading up to September 2023 showcases a 13.3% surge in 5G subscribers, reaching an impressive count of 509,737 users.

The upward trajectory indicates a burgeoning demand among consumers for high-speed internet, driven by the country's rapid evolution of technological advancements.

The CA report reveals that this increase reflects a substantial increase of 59,943 subscribers from the 449,794 recorded just three months prior, highlighting a palpable enthusiasm for the enhanced internet speeds offered by 5G technology.

Concurrently, there has been a discernible decline in second-generation (2G) subscriptions, dropping by 8.1% to 14.7 million users, down from the 16 million recorded in June.

Similarly, 3G subscriptions experienced a marginal dip to 10.2 million from the previous 10.3 million.

Decline in overall mobile data subscriptions

Despite this surge in 5G adoption, the CA data reveals a marginal decline in overall mobile data subscriptions, dropping by 100,000 to 49.3 million users from 49.4 million in June, indicating a 0.2% decrease.

This hints at the dominance of 5G-ready smartphones and their requirement for relatively expensive data bundles, making the technology inaccessible to most mobile users.

Cost barriers and accessibility issues

The report underscores the cost barrier, as 5G-ready phones, predominantly offered by leading tech giants such as Apple and Samsung, are priced between KSh 25,000 and over KSh 150,000.

Additionally, consumers on the 5G network face higher internet tariffs, reflecting the substantial investments made by companies in upgrading infrastructure to accommodate this advanced technology.