The sector report of the Communications Authority of Kenya indicates that the total number of mobile subscriptions has exceeded 74.9 million, surpassing the country’s population and bringing mobile penetration to 143%. Among these subscriptions, 42.3 million are smartphones, while 32.6 million are basic phones. This shift highlights an increasingly technophile consumer base, relying on mobile connections for a variety of services, from communications to digital finance.
Domestic communication activities have experienced strong growth, with voice traffic reaching 28.8 billion minutes, up from 27.4 billion in the previous quarter. In parallel, SMS traffic has slightly increased, reaching 14.3 billion. These figures reflect sustained demand for mobile call services. As for call duration, on-net calls lasted an average of 1.8 minutes, while off-net calls lasted 1.3 minutes, consistent with trends observed in the previous quarter. Airtel Networks Limited stands out by recording the highest average call time for on-net calls, at 2.9 minutes per call. This performance indicates significant consumer engagement with promotions or favorable rates offered by this network. Safaricom PLC and Jamii Telecommunications Ltd. saw their users spend an average of 1.4 minutes on off-net calls, demonstrating active communication between their customers and those of other networks.
The rise of smartphones and the intensification of call activity highlight Kenya’s growing dependence on its mobile infrastructure. This phenomenon extends beyond communication to digital services, mobile finance, and Internet access. As mobile coverage continues to expand in both urban and rural areas, the country is emerging as one of the most connected in Africa. With such momentum, it will be interesting to see how these operators will adjust their offerings to meet the ever-increasing demand. Future developments in the telecommunications sector could also influence other economic areas, including digital finance and e-commerce.
