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Shortly after MTN tightened its grip on Nigeria’s fixed broadband market, Airtel Kenya, the country’s second-largest telco by subscriptions, is preparing to launch a home fibre service. This move positions the company to compete directly with Safaricom, Zuku, and Jamii Telecom’s Faiba in Kenya’s broadband market.
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Managing director Ashish Malhotra confirmed that the fibre service would be launched “soon.” While speaking at the groundbreaking of Airtel’s 44MW data centre in Tatu City, Malhotra said the new product would form part of Airtel’s expansion beyond mobile services. Furthermore, he noted that “Airtel Fibre is something that we will embark upon in the course of time. We will have a launch for that and invite you soon.”
Rising Demand for High-Speed Internet
Moving forward, Kenya is witnessing a surge in broadband demand, fueled by remote work, online learning, and streaming. TechPolyp notes that as of March 2025, the country had 1.86 million fixed broadband subscriptions. Significantly, the development regarding Kenya’s broadband market rose from 1.3 million a year earlier, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya.
Additionally, Safaricom leads Kenya’s broadband market with 678,118 subscriptions, or 36.5% of the market. Closely, Faiba follows with 418,309 (22.5%), while Zuku and Poa Internet control 14.4% and 14.1%, respectively.
Although Airtel has no fibre presence yet, it already offers a fixed wireless product introduced in 2024. Moreover, it is priced at KES 2,000 for an unlimited 15 Mbps plan. Consequently, this service provided a stepping stone into the home broadband market.
Kenya’s Broadband Market: Leveraging Mobile Momentum
TechPolyp particularly observes that Airtel’s push into broadband comes as its mobile business grows rapidly. In addition, the company added 3 million new subscribers in Q1 2025, surging its base to 24.5 million. This development gave Airtel 32.2% market share, while Safaricom dropped to 63.3% from nearly 70% two years ago.
It is, however, notable that fixed broadband is becoming increasingly important as voice and mobile data growth slow in Kenya’s broadband market. Analysts opine that Airtel could use its wide distribution and financial muscle to pressure smaller rivals like Zuku and Faiba.
Moving forward, Airtel’s entry into fibre marks a turning point for Kenya’s broadband market. Particularly, now that competition is set to intensify as the operator leverages its growing mobile base, nationwide reach, and upcoming data centre capacity. Nevertheless, for consumers, Airtel’s arrival could translate to more affordable, faster internet options. However, it signals a more brutal battle to defend market share in one of Africa’s most dynamic broadband markets against contenders.
