Airtel Kenya launches 5G network

By Peter Ochieng

Airtel Kenya has launched its highly anticipated Airtel 5G network in Kenya.

Eliud Owalo, Cabinet Secretary (CS), Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy, and Ezra Chiloba, Director General, Director General Communications Authority were among those present during the launch in Nairobi, on Thursday.

"It is a step in the right direction," CS Owalo said of the launch.

Ashish Malhotra, Managing Director of Airtel Kenya emphasized on the company’s dedication to enabling seamless connectivity, by unveiling the cutting-edge 5G network.

Currently, Airtel Kenya’s over 370 active 5G sites are strategically positioned in 16 counties and 180 wards nationwide.

Malhotra stated, “Today marks a significant milestone as we proudly introduce our 5G network, a state-of-the-art infrastructure that provides data speeds up to 10 times faster than 4G, incredibly low latency, and the ability to seamlessly connect billions of devices."

"Airtel 5G will revolutionize various sectors, such as smart cities, education, healthcare, Agri-tech, transport systems, entertainment, and more, shaping the future of Kenya," he added.

With Airtel’s 5G network, customers can now enjoy ultra-fast real-time connectivity for activities like multiplayer online gaming, live streaming, content uploads and downloads.

Moreover, businesses that rely heavily on data for web-based applications and virtual meetings will experience greater connectivity.

The Airtel 5G network will be concentrated in specific zones, including highly populated residential areas, malls, hospitals, city centers, and central business districts.

The 5G packages include 5G Unlimited 10Mbps at Sh3,500, 5G Unlimited 30Mbps at Sh5,500 and 5G Unlimited 50Mbps at Sh7,500 per month, respectively.

There are also volume-based data plans for individual homes available from Sh2,999.

Currently, Airtel Kenya’s network infrastructure spans over 3,200 sites, providing coverage to 89% of all 47 counties.

The company will be rolling out 650 additional sites this year of which 50% have been deployed.