Airtel Kenya has crossed the 24 million subscriber mark through its network campaign as expansion plans continue.
The telco amassed 3.01 million SIM card subscribers during the first three months of this year, beating giant Safaricom PLC, which recorded 1.7 million subscribers during the period.
According to the latest Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) sector statistics report, Airtel had 24.5 million active SIM card subscribers as of March this year, representing a 13.95 percent growth compared to the 21.5 million customers at the end of December last year.
On the other hand, Safaricom subscribers stood at 48.2 million in March, up from 46.6 million in December last year, translating to a 3.6 percent growth.
The figures highlight a growing demand for Airtel services as Kenyans shift to cheaper voice, data, and other communication services, as well as mobile money services.
“We are deeply humbled by the support of over 24 million customers who continue to believe in us. This is not the destination, it is part of a longer journey. We are committed to Kenya, and whilst we have made huge investments, our mission of enriching lives and driving progress is still not done,” said Airtel Kenya Managing Director, Ashish Malhotra.
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The increase in Airtel Subscribers coincides with a growth in Airtel Money, which has seen a notable increase in its market share, reaching 7.6 percent in the three months leading up to September 2024, up from 6.6 percent in June.
On the other hand, Safaricom’s M-Pesa share shrank to 92.3 percent from 93.4 percent during the review period.
From June 2023 to June 2024, Airtel Money’s share grew from 2.8 percent to 6.6 percent, while M-Pesa’s share declined from 97.1 percent to 93.4 percent.
Over the years, Airtel has steadily and heavily invested in the country, in its efforts to increase the availability of its services.
The investments span network, customer care touch points and distribution infrastructure. Through Airtel Money, the company has also endeavored to bridge the financial inclusion gap in the country with its financial services offerings.
“With the recent upgrade of our Airtel Money platform, which brings speedy, reliable, and innovative services, we are seeing more Kenyans trusting us with their financial needs and we continue to improve as we promote financial inclusion,” said Malhotra.
