Safaricom Data Revenue Now Exceeds Voice, Marking Telecom Shift

In a significant milestone reflecting changing consumer behavior in Kenya, Safaricom’s mobile data revenue has surpassed voice calls for the first time. The telco reported that data accounted for 42.1% of connectivity revenue in the year ended March 2026, compared to 41.3% for voice.

Key Financial Highlights:

  • Mobile data revenue increased by 14.4% to KES 83.4 billion ($646 million)
  • Voice revenue grew only 1.3% to KES 81.8 billion ($634 million)
  • Messaging revenue declined 11.8% to KES 11 billion ($85 million)

The shift underscores the growing demand for streaming services, social media, mobile banking, and online commerce in Kenya.

  • Users consuming over 1 GB monthly data rose 22.4% to 14.5 million
  • Average monthly usage per subscriber climbed 16.6% to 4.92 GB

“Messaging revenue declined by 11.8% YoY, driven by structural changes as customers migrate toward IP-based platforms,” Safaricom noted in its financial statement.

Safaricom is focusing on expanding 4G and 5G coverage while offering more affordable smartphones to further accelerate internet adoption. The company reported:

  • Smartphones connected to their network increased 21.2% to 33.2 million
  • Active 5G devices jumped 55.5% to 1.64 million

To drive higher consumption, Safaricom has been lowering data prices—average rates per megabyte declined 12.1% during the year through promotions and targeted offers.

Strategic Outlook:

With connectivity revenue at KES 197.9 billion ($1.53 billion), narrowly ahead of M-PESA’s KES 182.7 billion ($1.41 billion), Safaricom is well-positioned to capitalize on the digital transformation sweeping across Africa.

The company’s net income rose by 24.7% to KES 119.1 billion ($922 million) for the year.