Kenya’s Digital Transformation Accelerates with Record Subscriber Numbers
Kenya has achieved a significant milestone in its digital journey, reaching 61.994 million internet subscribers by the end of Q4 2025 – representing a 2.9% increase from the previous quarter. This growth is primarily fueled by widespread smartphone adoption and the expanding reach of 4G/5G networks.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) reports that smartphone users now constitute 48.7 million, up 9.1% from the prior period. Meanwhile, feature phone usage declined by 2.6% to 24.6 million, indicating a clear shift in consumer preferences toward more advanced mobile devices.
Key Drivers of Growth:
- Affordability initiatives: Safaricom’s “Lipa Mdogo Mdogo” program allows customers to purchase smartphones through daily or weekly installments, reducing the financial barrier for low-income earners.
- Demand for digital services: The need to access mobile money platforms like M-Pesa and Airtel Money, along with e-commerce and online banking solutions, is driving adoption across all demographics.
- Network infrastructure improvements: Continued expansion of 4G/5G coverage is providing faster, more reliable internet experiences that appeal to a wider range of users.
4G/5G Dominance in Kenya’s Internet Landscape:
These advanced networks now account for 73.9% of all internet subscribers, with 44.2 million on 4G and 1.7 million on 5G. Older technologies like 2G and 3G continue to decline as users migrate to faster alternatives.
Data consumption patterns further demonstrate this shift: while total usage reached 755,095 TB in Q4 2025, 93.4% of it was driven by 4G/5G networks – with 624.8 TB consumed via 4G and 80.5 TB through 5G.
The average mobile broadband consumption per subscription reached 14.6 GB, with 5G users showing the highest usage at 46.5 GB – highlighting the demand for richer digital experiences enabled by these faster networks.