Airtel Kenya Launches 5G Network

Airtel launched its 5G network in Kenya on Thursday, becoming the second telecommunications company to do so after Safaricom.

“Today marks a significant milestone as we proudly introduce our 5G network. Airtel 5G will revolutionize various sectors such as smart cities, education, healthcare, agritech, transport systems, entertainment, and more, shaping the future of Kenya,” said Airtel Kenya’s Chief Executive Officer, Ashish Malhotra.

Airtel’s 5G network will be available in 16 counties, with 370 active 5G sites spread across 180 wards. It is in specific zones, including central business districts, highly populated residential areas, city centres, and hospitals.

A 5G network offers lower latency, higher capacity, and increased bandwidth than 4G. With the launch of this advanced network, Airtel customers can now enjoy faster internet connectivity.

Airtel Kenya, the second largest telco in Kenya after Safaricom, has also introduced a 5G home broadband enterprise for SME unlimited packages.

Airtel Kenya’s network infrastructure covers over 3,200 sites, reaching 89 per cent of the country across all 47 counties.

In February of this year, the company announced plans to expand its network coverage to meet the growing demand for data services in the country. The company stated that the new expansion would add 349 sites currently being deployed by the end of the year, with an additional 300 sites in the pipeline. This represents Airtel’s commitment to enhancing connectivity and improving service quality.

According to the Communication Authority of Kenya, there are currently close to 400,000 5G subscribers in Kenya. Additionally, 4G has 21 million subscribers, while 3G and 2G have 10 million and 15 million subscribers, respectively.