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Airtel is gearing up to launch its super-fast 5G mobile broadband network next month, directly competing with Safaricom, its dominant rival that introduced the service in October last year.
During a press briefing in Nairobi on Wednesday, Sunil Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel (Airtel Kenya’s holding firm), revealed that the company is in the advanced stages of rolling out 5G and expects to launch early next month.
Mittal stated, “We are almost ready to launch our 5G services, and it will happen in the early part of next month. We are in the final stages of the 5G launch process.” He also mentioned that Airtel has already deployed 4G networks throughout Africa, including Kenya.
In February, Airtel had announced its initial rollout of 5G would target select high-end neighborhoods in Nairobi, where residents possess compatible devices and have the purchasing power to sustain the service.
Compared to the widely available 4G, 5G technology offers significantly faster speeds. However, it requires more expensive smartphones and data plans, which are beyond the financial reach of the majority of Kenyans.
Safaricom, the first provider to offer 5G services, has also focused on areas with a high concentration of affluent and middle-class subscribers. These areas include Kileleshwa, Muthaiga, Karen, Lavington, Two Rivers Mall in Nairobi, as well as Greensteds International School in Nakuru.
Most 5G-ready phones fall within the price range of Sh25,000 to over Sh150,000 and are considered mid to high-end devices, making them unaffordable for the majority of consumers.
Currently, supported smartphones include 5G-enabled devices from the Samsung Galaxy S and Fold series, Huawei, Oppo and Tecno. Apple iPhone users and select Samsung device owners need a software update from the manufacturer to access the superfast network.
Airtel has plans to expand its network by adding 349 network sites, aiming for completion by the end of this year, with an additional 300 sites in the pipeline. This expansion aims to address connectivity issues that have long affected Airtel users.
Mittal shared that Airtel’s network infrastructure currently covers over 3,200 sites.
