Airtel Kenya to launch fiber-to-home service, date unconfirmed

Move aligns with Airtel Africa’s broadband expansion strategy

Safaricom leads Kenya's fiber market with 36.5% share

Airtel Kenya plans to enter the fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) market, a move announced on Tuesday, September 9, during the groundbreaking ceremony for a new data center in Tatu City.

“In days to come, months to come, we will launch our home hardware. It is work in progress," said Ashish Malhotra, managing director of Airtel Kenya. He did not provide a specific timeline for the commercial launch or confirm if new regulatory approvals would be needed.

The initiative comes amid rising demand for high-speed connectivity, driven by remote work, online education, and a surge in digital usage. Fixed broadband is a key strategic priority for parent company Airtel Africa. The group established a dedicated fiber optic subsidiary in February 2024 and deployed an additional 3,300 km of fiber during the 2024-2025 financial year, expanding its continental network to 78,700 km.

Airtel Africa has already launched FTTH services in the Seychelles and secured a fixed network license in Gabon in January 2025. In Kenya, beyond mobile data, the company currently offers a fixed wireless service for 2,000 Kenyan shillings (about $15.5) per month, providing unlimited data at 15 Mbps.

According to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), the country's fixed internet market had 1.85 million subscriptions as of March 31, 2025, with 1.13 million of those being fiber-optic connections. Safaricom dominates the segment with 678,118 subscribers, holding a 36.5% market share, followed by Jamii Telecommunications (22.5%), Wananchi (14.4%), and Poa Internet (14.1%).

Isaac K. Kassouwi