If you are an Airtel subscriber in Kenya, there is exciting news as the company is gearing up to launch its 5G network. Until now, Safaricom has held the monopoly on 5G in the country since its introduction last year. Airtel 5G coming to the market is good news as having more players might help reduce the data prices around 5G. Safaricom currently has a dedicated monthly 5G bundles starting from Ksh 1,000 for 15GB valid for a month.
A recent report by the Communication Authority of Kenya revealed that there are over 373,000 5G users in Kenya, up by 24%. All these are Safaricom subscribers and Airtel definitely wants a share. Airtel has sent out invites to the event will take place tomorrow evening in Nairobi. Airtel has not yet revealed if this launch will mean commercial availability of 5G and in which areas.
Safaricom is still expanding its 5G network and last I checked it was available in about 20 out of the 47 counties. 5G expansion is never as fast as 4G so it might take a few more months before it is availability covers a significant portion of the population in Kenya.
Safaricom has been the sole provider of 5G services in Kenya since its rollout last year. However, Airtel Kenya’s entry into the 5G arena signifies a major shift in the teleco market. With Airtel Kenya’s launch, consumers will have a choice when it comes to selecting a 5G service provider, which may lead to increased competition and better offerings for users. This development is likely to result in increased affordability and accessibility of 5G services, empowering more Kenyans to leverage the benefits of advanced connectivity.
5G devices are still pricey in Kenya and they have to come down if its adoption is to rise significantly. Phone manufacturers should be aiming to have 5G smartphones under Ksh 20,000 in the coming months. I believe this is key if more people are to adopt 5G in Kenya. 5G roll out is still very expensive for the telcos and they need to make their money back in some way and for this, they need a good number of their subscribers to have 5G devices.
Also Read: Airtel Kenya Expands Network Coverage to Meet Growing Demand