Airtel, Telkom chip at Safaricom’s mobile data market

Airtel and Telkom lines on sale in Nairobi streets. PHOTO | KANYIRI WAHITO | NMG

By OTIATO GUGUYU
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Summary

• Airtel edged up its market share to 26.8 per cent while Telkom limited rose to 5.4 percent.
• The two companies failed to merge last year to challenge the market leader with Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya citing unacceptable conditions placed on the proposed amalgamation besides delays in receiving regulatory approvals.
• Equitel lost 0.1 percentage point to post the least market share of 0.3 percent.

Airtel and Telkom made marginal gains on Safaricom in the race for mobile data customers in the quarter to September 2020 as the market for internet grew to 43.5 million subscribers.

Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) data for the July to September period shows Safaricom lost 1.2 percentage points in market share of mobile data subscriptions, but was still the undisputed leader commanding 67.5 percent of subscribers.

Airtel edged up its market share to 26.8 per cent while Telkom limited rose to 5.4 percent.

The two companies failed to merge last year to challenge the market leader with Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya citing unacceptable conditions placed on the proposed amalgamation besides delays in receiving regulatory approvals.

Equitel lost 0.1 percentage point to post the least market share of 0.3 percent.

“Safaricom PLC lost 1.2 percentage points in market shares for mobile data subscriptions to record the highest share at 67.5 percent. On the other hand, Airtel Networks Limited and Telkom Kenya Limited gained by 0.8 and 0.4 percentage points to record 26.8 and 5.4 percent shares, respectively,” CA said in the statistical data.

Mobile data makes up 98.5 percent of Kenya’s internet market and grew last year with introduction of Covid-19 curb measures including working and schooling from home as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the CA, the internet/data market experienced positive growth with rising dependence on digital platforms for work, learning, healthcare, shopping and entertainment.

CA also said that during the period home and office internet connections also jumped.