Airtel

History

2023: 5G Network Launch

In early July 2023, operator Airtel announced the launch of a fifth generation (5G) high-speed mobile network in Kenya. The deployed infrastructure covers the entire country on the east coast of Africa.

Airtel Kenya has deployed more than 370 active 5G points, the company's managing director Ashish Malhotra said. They are located in 180 districts across the country.

Kenya launches 5G network

Today we mark a major milestone as we are proud to introduce our 5G network, a state-of-the-art infrastructure that delivers data speeds 10 times faster than 4G, incredibly low latencies and the ability to seamlessly connect billions of devices, Malhotra said.

It is assumed that the new 5G infrastructure will revolutionize various sectors, such as smart cities, education, health care, agricultural technologies, transport systems, entertainment, etc. In the first phase, the 5G network targets specific areas, including densely populated residential areas, shopping malls, hospitals, city centres and key business areas. Territories where appropriate services are available will receive special labeling.

Our 5G launch puts Airtel at the forefront of the tech revolution, signalling a commitment to progress, innovation and empowerment. 5G provides benefits that transform businesses and create opportunities to further unlock Kenya's potential, says Anthony Shiner, commercial director at Airtel.

As of March 2023, in Kenya, out of 47.96 million mobile data subscribers, 15.8 million are 2G, 10.6 million are 3G, approximately 21.2 million subscribers are 4G. Airtel Kenya plans to strengthen its position in the 5G segment to provide high-speed communication services to the population.^[1]

Notes