Overall mobile data consumption rose by 6% to 800 million GB in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring growing demand for faster internet and smartphone adoption.
Kenyans’ appetite for faster and more reliable internet connectivity continues to grow, driving a significant shift away from legacy mobile technologies and increasing pressure on telecommunications companies to expand and modernise their networks.
According to the latest sector statistics report released by the Communications Authority of Kenya, subscriptions to 2G and 3G mobile technologies continued their downward trajectory in the third quarterly statistics report, while adoption of 4G and 5G services maintained steady growth.
The regulator’s data shows that 2G subscriptions declined from 10.4 million in December 2025 to 9.7 million by March 2026. Similarly, 3G subscriptions fell from 5.6 million to 5 million over the same period. In contrast, 4G subscriptions increased from 44.1 million to 45.9 million, while 5G subscriptions rose from 1.7 million to 1.9 million.
The migration to faster networks is being driven by growing smartphone adoption and rising demand for data-intensive services. As more consumers upgrade their devices, mobile data consumption has surged, with Kenyans using approximately 800 million gigabytes of data during the quarter, a six per cent increase from the previous three months.
The increased consumption is also evident at the individual level. According to the Communications Authority, average mobile broadband usage per subscription rose from 14.6GB to 15.1GB during the quarter, with 5G users recording the highest average consumption at 53.5GB.
The transition to more advanced mobile technologies has coincided with a significant rise in smartphone penetration, with smartphones now outnumbering feature phones in the country. As of March 2026, Kenya had more than 50 million smartphones in use, compared with 28.5 million feature phones, highlighting the rapid pace of the country’s digital transformation.
For telecommunications operators, the growing demand for high-speed connectivity presents both an opportunity and a challenge, requiring substantial investment in network infrastructure and capacity expansion.
Safaricom has remained at the forefront of network investment, spending more than KSh500 billion in capital expenditure over the past decade. During the financial year ended March 2026, the company invested KSh55.8 billion in capital expenditure, with KSh38.6 billion directed towards network expansion and modernisation.
The Communications Authority also reported strong growth in fixed broadband services. Total fixed internet subscriptions increased from 2.5 million to 2.7 million within three months, with fibre optic connections accounting for the largest share at 1.5 million subscribers.
Industry efforts to reduce installation costs and adopt more open network strategies have contributed to a doubling of fixed broadband speeds since May, a development expected to further accelerate growth in the sector.
The increased demand for fixed broadband services has also been supported by growth in international internet bandwidth capacity, which expanded to 28,130.3 Gbps during the quarter.
“This growth was driven by increasing user demand for more capacity and faster internet speeds,” the Communications Authority said in its report.
The latest figures underscore Kenya’s ongoing digital transformation, with consumers increasingly embracing smartphones and high-speed connectivity, while telecommunications operators face mounting pressure to invest in the networks that will support the country’s next phase of economic and technological growth.
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