The latest quarterly statistics report from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) shows that Kenya’s telecommunication sector continued to grow in Q2 2022 (October-December 2022). Here are some of the key highlights from the report:
The total number of mobile (SIM) subscriptions increased by 0.4% to reach 65.7 million, representing a penetration rate of 122.9%, making mobile subscriptions to be the leading sub-sector in Kenya’s telecommunication sector.
The number of machine-to-machine (M2M) subscriptions, which enable devices to communicate with each other without human intervention, rose by 5.7% to reach 1.5 million. This reflects the increasing adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in various sectors such as agriculture, health, transport, and energy.
The number of mobile data subscriptions grew by 0.8% to reach 47.8 million, representing a penetration rate of 89.3%. Mobile data remains the main driver of internet access in Kenya, accounting for over 99% of all internet subscriptions2.
The penetration rate of feature phones increased by 2.3 percentage points to reach 68.1%, while that of smartphones increased by 10.9 percentage points to reach 60.2%. This indicates that more Kenyans are upgrading their devices to access more advanced services and applications. The telecommunication sector however still has a significant number of feature phones.
The number of registered mobile money agents increased by 3.5% to reach 318,607, while the number of mobile money subscriptions increased by 3.3% to reach 38.6 million2. Mobile money remains a key enabler of financial inclusion and the digital economy in Kenya, facilitating transactions worth over Kshs.4 trillion ($36 billion) in Q2 alone.
The number of outgoing domestic letters declined by -43.7%, while that of outgoing domestic courier items declined by -13.8%. This reflects the reduced demand for postal and courier services due to the shift towards digital communication platforms such as email and social media.
The number of licensed commercial free-to-air TV stations increased by six stations from Q1 reaching a total count of three hundred six stations [306] while licensed commercial FM radio stations increased by eight stations [8] reaching one hundred eighty [180] stations 2. This shows that there is still room for growth and diversity in Kenya’s broadcasting sector.
The number of licensed community free-to-air TV stations remained at nine [9], while that of licensed community FM radio stations increased by eight [8] reaching sixty-three [63] stations. This indicates that community media is gaining more recognition and support as a platform for promoting local content and participation.
The number of outgoing domestic letters declined by -43.7%, while that of outgoing domestic courier items declined by -13.8%. This reflects the reduced demand for postal and courier services due to the shift towards digital communication platforms such as email and social media.
The number of licensed commercial free-to-air TV stations increased by six stations from Q1 reaching a total count of three hundred six stations [306] while licensed commercial FM radio stations increased by eight stations [8] reaching one hundred eighty [180] stations. This shows that there is still room for growth and diversity in Kenya’s broadcasting sector.
The number of licensed community free-to-air TV stations remained at nine [9], while that of licensed community FM radio stations increased by eight [8] reaching sixty-three [63] stations. This indicates that community media is gaining more recognition and support as a platform for promoting local content and participation.
The number of digital terrestrial television (DTT) subscriptions increased by 1.1% to reach 4 million, while that of digital satellite television (DTH) subscriptions increased by 3 % to reach million, and that of cable television subscriptions decreased by -4 % to reach thousand [59K] . This shows that digital migration is progressing well in Kenya, with more viewers accessing diverse and quality content.
The number of microwave links deployed decreased by -18.2%, while that of fixed links decommissioned decreased by -45.2%. This reflects the ongoing transition from legacy technologies to modern ones such as fibre optic cables and wireless systems.
The number of FM sound broadcasting frequencies assigned decreased by -58.8%. This indicates that the demand for new frequencies has reduced due to the saturation of the market and the availability of alternative platforms such as online streaming and podcasts.
The number of .co.ke domains increased by 1.8% to reach 100,420. This shows that more Kenyans are embracing online presence and e-commerce opportunities.
The total cyber threats detected decreased by -10.1%, while the total cyber threat advisories decreased by -33.1%. This suggests that Kenya’s cyber security posture has improved due to enhanced awareness, capacity building, and mitigation measures.
In summary, quarter Q2 of 2022/2023 witnessed a surge in demand for ICT services, especially mobile voice and data, as Kenyans engaged in various social and economic activities such as national exams, school holidays, and festive celebrations. The operators in the telecommunication sector responded by offering attractive promotions and discounts to entice and retain customers. The ongoing deployment of the 5G network and the arrival of the PEACE cable will boost Internet connectivity and speed, especially in high-density areas and for enabling smart devices in various sectors such as manufacturing and healthcare.
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