The number of data subscribers controlled by each of the country’s three mobile network operators – Safaricom, Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya – as well as the respective market shares changed during the last quarter according to new industry statistics released by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
Overall, the report states that the number of mobile data/Internet subscriptions rose to 24.7 million up from 23.7 million posted during the previous quarter representing growth of 3.8 per cent.
(TOP: Facebook Growth and Partnerships Eastern & Southern Africa Manager, Naheed Hirji – right – shows Airtel Kenya CEO Adil El Youssefi the simplicity of accessing Internet.org on Airtel Network).
The latest report, which covers the period from January to March 2016, indicates that Airtel Kenya recorded an increase in mobile data subscriptions by 11% up from 4,626,639 in the second quarter to 5,146,993 in the third quarter.
Airtel Kenya’s Data market share also recorded a 3.1 percentage point growth, increasing from 18% to 21.1%. Safaricom’s mobile data/Internet subscriptions declined by 2.2 percentage points compared to the previous quarter whereas Orange Kenya lost 2.8 percentage points to record 11.2 per cent market shares.
Airtel’s performance can be attributed to a number of factors – primarily investment in network expansion for 3G, improved penetration as well as a focus on innovation through different offers to customers. As a business, Airtel Kenya continues to differentiate itself in data and digital innovation – providing superior offerings to meet the current and future needs of its customers.
Last year, the Company announced that it invested Kshs 18 billion to expand capacity for its network in key locations across the country, as it seeks to deliver best-in-class experience that include stronger and faster data speeds that will enrich consumers’ experience on Airtel.
During the period, and as has been the trend, mobile data/internet contributed the largest share of 99.4 per cent of the total data/internet subscriptions. Similarly, the number of data/internet users grew from 35.5 million users reported last quarter to 37.4 million users during the quarter under review. This translated to internet penetration levels of 87.2 per cent during the period under review. According to the Access Gap Study Report released early in the year, 94.4 per cent of the Kenyan population has access to 2G network services whereas 78 per cent of the population has access to 3G services. The increased expansion of 3G services in the country explains the massive use of mobile data/internet services.
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