Safaricom increased its share of Kenya’s fixed internet market to 35.5% and grew its subscriber base to 941,501 customers in the three months to March 2026, according to sector statistics released by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

The CA’s third-quarter 2025/26 report shows Safaricom added more than 83,000 new fixed broadband customers between December 2025 and March 2026, lifting its market share from 34.9% in the preceding quarter.

The latest figures underline the importance of fixed broadband in Kenya’s telecoms sector as operators compete on network coverage, pricing and bundled services amid rising demand for home and small-business connectivity.

According to the CA, other key fixed internet providers include Jamii Telecommunications Limited (Faiba) with a 20.1% market share, Wananchi Group (Zuku) at 11.1% and Poa Internet Kenya Limited at 10.7%.

The regulator said affordability continues to shape consumption patterns in the market. “Most fixed internet subscriptions in Kenya are on speeds between the 10 and 30 Mbps bands, mainly due to their affordability and reliability for most subscribers,” the Communications Authority noted in its report.

Safaricom has aligned its entry-level fibre offering around a 15 Mbps package, as operators adjust product structures to capture price-sensitive households and increase broadband penetration, according to the statement accompanying the data.

Despite the subscriber gains, the CA’s report points to continued headroom for growth. The statement notes that while Kenya has more than eight million households connected to electricity, only 2.7 million currently have fixed internet subscriptions.

Safaricom reported that in its financial year ending March 2026 it recorded 32% growth in fixed broadband subscribers and a 12% increase in revenue from the segment, highlighting the contribution of home and enterprise internet services to its overall business performance.

The company said it has adjusted its fibre deployment model to expand connectivity beyond traditional higher-income neighbourhoods, citing lower installation costs and technology-led rollout approaches. It also said existing customers have received doubled internet speeds at no additional cost, while solutions such as WiFi Bamba are being used to expand affordable home fibre connectivity in lower-income communities, including the Affordable Housing Project in Mukuru, Nairobi.

Safaricom further said it is piloting tokenisation models that would allow customers to purchase short-term, high-speed internet access within fibre-enabled zones, and noted a partnership with Huawei on Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) solutions aimed at improving in-home and business connectivity experiences.

Beyond last-mile connectivity, the CA attributed improvements in the broader sector to investments in international capacity. According to the regulator, Kenya’s international internet bandwidth increased by 16.4% to 28,130.3 Gbps during the period under review.

“This growth was driven by increasing demand for higher capacity and faster internet speeds. Notably, SEACOM expanded its capacity by 53.3 per cent to 10,500.0 Gbps. Consequently, total utilized bandwidth capacity grew by 3.0 per cent to 17,758.824 Gbps,” the report noted.

Industry watchers will be tracking whether faster entry-level packages, new purchasing models and expanding international capacity translate into higher fixed broadband take-up, especially outside traditional fibre corridors and among lower-income households. The next CA sector statistics release is expected to provide further clarity on whether the market’s growth momentum continues into subsequent quarters.

Safaricom Plc has grown its share of Kenya’s fixed internet market to 35.5% and increased its subscriber base to 941,501 customers in the three months to March 2026, according to new sector statistics published by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

The regulator’s third-quarter 2025/26 report shows Safaricom added more than 83,000 fixed broadband customers between December 2025 and March 2026, lifting its market share from 34.9% in the previous quarter.

The gains come as Kenya’s fixed broadband market continues to evolve, with operators competing on speed upgrades, pricing and network expansion aimed at reaching underserved segments.

CA data shows Jamii Telecommunications Limited (Faiba) held 20.1% of the fixed internet market, followed by Wananchi Group (Zuku) at 11.1% and Poa Internet Kenya Limited at 10.7%.

The regulator attributed much of the demand to mid-tier speed packages. “Most fixed internet subscriptions in Kenya are on speeds between the 10 and 30 Mbps bands, mainly due to their affordability and reliability for most subscribers,” the Communications Authority noted in its report.

Within that bracket, Safaricom has set 15 Mbps as the entry-level speed on its most affordable fibre package, according to the statement accompanying the CA data.

The CA figures also point to room for further growth in household penetration. According to the statement, Kenya has more than eight million households connected to electricity, but only 2.7 million have fixed internet subscriptions.

Safaricom said its fixed broadband segment recorded 32% growth in subscribers in the financial year ended March 2026, alongside a 12% increase in revenue from the segment. The company did not disclose absolute revenue figures in the statement.

In response to shifting demand, Safaricom said it has changed its fibre deployment model to lower installation costs and expand connectivity beyond higher-income neighbourhoods. The company also said existing customers benefited from doubled internet speeds at no additional cost, while new offers such as WiFi Bamba are being used to support lower-cost home fibre connectivity in lower-income areas, including the Affordable Housing Project in Mukuru, Nairobi.

Safaricom further said it is piloting tokenisation models that would allow customers to buy short-term, high-speed access within fibre-enabled zones. It also cited a partnership with Huawei on Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) solutions aimed at improving in-home and business connectivity experiences.

Beyond last-mile competition, CA data shows international capacity continues to expand, supporting higher usage and faster speeds. According to the Communications Authority, Kenya’s international internet bandwidth increased by 16.4% to 28,130.3 Gbps. “This growth was driven by increasing demand for higher capacity and faster internet speeds. Notably, SEACOM expanded its capacity by 53.3% to 10,500.0 Gbps. Consequently, total utilized bandwidth capacity grew by 3.0% to 17,758.824 Gbps,” the report noted.

For the Kenyan market, continued growth in fixed broadband subscriptions is likely to intensify competition among fibre and fixed wireless providers, particularly in mid-speed packages where affordability is shaping consumer choices, while higher international capacity could help operators sustain service quality as usage rises.

Looking ahead, sector watchers will track whether operators convert the gap between electrified households and fixed internet subscriptions into new connections, and whether new models—such as short-term access products—translate into meaningful growth in adoption across lower-income and peri-urban areas.

Kenya’s mobile money subscriptions rose by about two million in the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, pushing total subscriptions to 53.4 million, according to sector statistics released by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) covering January to March 2026.

The CA statistics show mobile money subscriptions increased from 51.4 million in the previous quarter to 53.4 million, representing quarterly growth of 3.9%. The figures point to continued expansion of digital financial services as mobile money remains a major channel for payments and transfers in the economy.

Agent network growth outpaced subscription growth during the quarter. The number of registered mobile money agents increased from 501,399 to 602,470, a rise of 20.2% or about 101,000 new agents, according to the CA.

The Q3 data matters for Kenya’s business landscape because mobile money agents act as the primary cash-in and cash-out infrastructure for households, informal businesses and micro-enterprises. A growing agent footprint typically supports transaction volumes, improves service availability beyond major towns, and can lower operational friction for small merchants that rely on daily liquidity.

The CA data also shows market concentration remains high. “Safaricom remains the market leader in the mobile money market, accounting for 89.1% of mobile money subscriptions,” the report said.

In the same update, the narrative around platform capacity and usage was linked to Safaricom’s recent technology upgrades. “The company’s continued investment in converged digital solutions has been supported by the M-PESA Fintech 2.0 platform upgrade, which has significantly enhanced system capacity,” the report said, adding that the upgrade is intended to support higher transaction volumes and enable additional digital financial products.

According to figures cited in the release, Safaricom’s Kenya ecosystem processed “approximately 46.41 billion transactions valued at KSh 41.68 trillion” in FY26. The report also said transaction volumes continue to be driven by frequent, low-value transfers. “During FY26, Safaricom facilitated approximately 17.1 billion Kadogo transactions, accounting for 36.8% of total M-PESA transaction volumes,” it said.

Beyond transfers and payments, the CA update pointed to growing consumer uptake of mobile-linked investment and insurance products within the M-PESA ecosystem. As of 15 June 2026, the report said Ziidi Trader had recorded “approximately 688,000 opt-ins and over 103,000 active traders,” facilitating “533,000 trades involving 171 million shares and a traded value of approximately KSh 1.9 billion.”

In savings and investment, the report described Ziidi MMF as the most mature product, with “approximately 7.7 million opt-ins,” “2.42 million active investing subscribers,” and assets under management of “approximately KSh 19.8 billion.” For a Shariah-compliant option, it said Ziidi Shariah had “approximately 836,000 opt-ins,” more than “102,000 investing subscribers” and assets under management of “approximately KSh 154 million.”

On insurance, the report said Tuunza had “approximately 759,000 opt-ins,” with “87,000 customers purchasing cover,” covering more than “205,000 lives” through over “7,100 active policies.”

At the lower end of savings products, it reported Ziidi Pochi had “approximately 1.46 million opt-ins,” nearly “196,000 active saving users,” and assets under management of “approximately KSh 318 million.” It also said Ziidi Biashara had recorded “approximately 25,000 opt-ins.”

For Kenya’s financial services and capital markets, the continued expansion of mobile money into savings, investment and insurance points to deeper competition for customer deposits and investment flows, while also widening access for first-time investors and informal earners who typically transact in small amounts.

The next milestones will be reflected in subsequent CA quarterly sector statistics, which are expected to show whether subscription gains sustain and whether agent growth translates into higher activity, as mobile money providers expand product offerings beyond payments.

Mobile money subscriptions in Kenya increased by about two million in the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year (January–March 2026), pushing total subscriptions to 53.4 million, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

The CA’s latest sector statistics show subscriptions rose from 51.4 million in the previous quarter to 53.4 million, representing quarterly growth of 3.9%. The regulator said the increase reflects continued uptake of digital financial services across the country.

Agent networks expanded at a faster pace than subscriber growth during the quarter. Registered mobile money agents rose to 602,470 from 501,399 in the prior quarter, a 20.2% increase equivalent to about 101,000 additional agents, the CA statistics show.

The latest figures underscore the central role mobile money continues to play in Kenya’s payments and financial services landscape, supporting everyday transactions for households and micro and informal businesses. The expansion of agent networks is also significant for cash-in and cash-out availability, particularly in areas where traditional banking coverage is limited.

The CA statistics further indicate that Safaricom remained the largest player in the market, accounting for 89.1% of mobile money subscriptions during the quarter. The report attributes continued scaling of mobile money usage to ongoing investments in technology capacity within the ecosystem.

“Safaricom remains the market leader in the mobile money market, accounting for 89.1% of mobile money subscriptions,” the Communications Authority of Kenya said in its Q3 sector statistics for FY2025/26.

The regulator’s report also references activity levels within Safaricom’s M-PESA platform, stating that in FY26 the Kenya ecosystem processed approximately 46.41 billion transactions valued at KSh 41.68 trillion. The CA report notes that transaction volumes continue to be driven by small-value payments, citing approximately 17.1 billion “Kadogo” transactions in FY26, which it said accounted for 36.8% of total M-PESA transaction volumes.

Beyond payments and transfers, the CA statistics point to continued product expansion into savings, investment and insurance via mobile money-linked offerings. As of 15 June 2026, the CA report said Ziidi Trader recorded about 688,000 opt-ins and more than 103,000 active traders, facilitating about 533,000 trades involving 171 million shares with a traded value of about KSh 1.9 billion.

In money market investing, the CA statistics show Ziidi MMF had about 7.7 million opt-ins, with 2.42 million active investing subscribers and assets under management of about KSh 19.8 billion. The CA also reported that the Shariah-compliant Ziidi Shariah had about 836,000 opt-ins, more than 102,000 investing subscribers and assets under management of about KSh 154 million.

On the insurance side, the regulator said the Tuunza product had about 759,000 opt-ins, with 87,000 customers purchasing cover, covering more than 205,000 lives through over 7,100 active policies.

For smaller-scale savings, Ziidi Pochi had about 1.46 million opt-ins, with nearly 196,000 active saving users and assets under management of about KSh 318 million, the CA report said.

Industry-wide, the CA statistics suggest Kenya’s mobile money market is increasingly evolving from a payments channel into a broader digital finance distribution layer. For Kenya’s banking, insurance and capital markets, this trend may intensify competition on customer acquisition and product distribution, while increasing the importance of partnerships and regulatory oversight around consumer protection, data, and product suitability.

Looking ahead, CA’s subsequent quarterly releases will be watched for whether agent expansion remains elevated and whether growth in savings, investment and insurance activity continues to scale alongside core payments and transfers.

Kenya’s active mobile subscriptions rose to 84.1 million in the third quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year (January–March 2026), a 7.4% increase from the previous quarter that pushed mobile penetration to 157.7%, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

The CA’s latest sector statistics show Safaricom PLC expanded its lead in the mobile subscriptions market by adding about 5.5 million subscriptions during the quarter, raising its total subscriber base to 57.9 million from 52.4 million. Safaricom’s market share stood at 68.9%.

Airtel Networks Kenya had 23.2 million subscribers, representing 27.6% of the market, the CA data shows. Equitel (Finserve) recorded 1.51 million subscriptions (1.8%), while Jamii Telecommunications (Faiba) had 883,944 subscriptions (1.1%). Telkom Kenya posted a decline, losing 160,464 subscribers during the quarter to end at 584,438 subscriptions, equivalent to 0.7% market share.

The figures offer a snapshot of the competitive dynamics in Kenya’s telecommunications market, where mobile connectivity underpins consumer spending, e-commerce, digital lending, transport and last-mile payments. Multiple SIM ownership and the use of separate lines for data, business and mobile money continue to contribute to penetration levels above 100%.

The regulator attributed the quarterly increase in subscriptions to operator-led efforts and broader market shifts. “The Communications Authority attributed this robust growth primarily to customer win-back campaigns run by operators during the reference period,” the CA statistics report said. The CA also cited “falling device costs, the expansion of high-speed mobile network infrastructure and the growing necessity of mobile-based economic and social services in Kenya.”

The CA data also points to an accelerating shift toward smartphones. Smartphones accounted for 63.7% of total mobile phones connected to networks during the period, according to the regulator, reflecting the rising importance of app-based services and internet-driven consumption.

In mobile broadband, Kenya had 62.6 million subscriptions as of March 31, 2026, the CA said. Safaricom led the segment with a 62.7% share, down from 64.3% in the prior quarter, indicating competitive pressure in data even as the operator retained a clear lead.

In fixed data, Safaricom held a 35.4% market share, followed by Jamii Telecommunications at 19.5%, Wananchi Group at 10.4% and Poa Internet Kenya at 9.7%, according to the CA. Other providers included Ahadi Wireless (9.2%), Vilcom Network (6.0%) and Mawingu Networks (3.7%). Starlink had a 0.9% share in the period covered by the report.

Mobile money remained concentrated around the market leader. The CA said the mobile money sub-segment grew to 53.4 million active subscriptions, with Safaricom holding an 89.1% share.

Usage metrics continued to show dominance by the two largest operators. Domestic voice traffic shares were Safaricom (64.96%) and Airtel (34.88%), with Telkom (0.07%), Equitel (0.05%) and Jamii (0.04%) accounting for the remainder, according to the CA. For SMS traffic, Safaricom accounted for 93.96% while Airtel held 6.01%, with the other operators near zero.

For Kenya’s business landscape, the latest CA numbers underline sustained demand for connectivity and the growing role of smartphones and broadband in consumption patterns. The report also suggests that while Safaricom remains the dominant player across several indicators, shifts in data-market share and continued subscriber gains by rivals will be closely watched for signals of pricing pressure, network investment cycles and new product bundling.

The next market test will come in subsequent CA quarterly updates, which will show whether the subscriber gains—linked by the regulator to win-back campaigns and device affordability—are sustained and whether competition tightens further in mobile broadband and fixed internet.