Airtel Kenya has acquired a 25-year permit for the super-fast fifth-generation (5G) network, paying Sh8.4 billion ($65 million) for 100 MHz of spectrum in the 3500 MHz band. The acquisition, approved by the Communications Authority of Kenya, allows the telecoms operator to expand its network and strengthen its position in Kenya's fast-growing broadband market. This move is part of Airtel Kenya's efforts to step up investment in its mobile systems.
The 3500 MHz range, also known as C-band, is the primary global launch band for 5G, according to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association. This spectrum acquisition gives Airtel Kenya additional capacity to roll out 5G services, meeting the growing demand for high-speed connectivity in Kenya. The country's 5G subscriber base has been growing rapidly, increasing to 2.1 million in June 2026, up from 1.2 million a year earlier.
Kenya's 5G adoption is expected to continue growing as operators expand coverage to secondary towns and offer more affordable bundles, making high-speed connectivity accessible to a wider segment of the population. Safaricom launched 5G commercially in October 2022, while Airtel Kenya joined the 5G rollout in mid-2023. As of March 2024, Safaricom had expanded to 803 sites, while Airtel had 690 sites.
The spectrum purchase comes against a backdrop of regulatory uncertainty over Airtel Kenya's operating licences, which have been disputed with the regulator for over a decade. Airtel Kenya's original operating licence expired in 2015, and the company has since relied on permits inherited from YuMobile, which Airtel acquired in 2014. However, an out-of-court settlement with the Communications Authority in 2022 paved the way for renewal of the expired licence.
In August 2026, Airtel Kenya managing director Djibril Tobe announced that the company had secured a new 25-year operating licence after paying an undisclosed fee. The renewal provides long-term certainty for Airtel Kenya's operations. However, a subsequent notice by the regulator showed that applications for a Network Facilities Provider Tier 1 licence and an International Gateway Systems and Services authorisation were still undergoing approval.
Airtel's rival, Safaricom, recently announced that it secured a new 25-year operating licence. Previously, the two operators had paid Sh2.3 billion for 10-year permits each. Safaricom did not disclose the amount paid for its licence renewal, but the telco's financials for the year ended March 2026 showed it spent Sh16.3 billion on licences in Kenya during the year.
The two companies were granted temporary two-year operating licences in late 2024, pending agreement on fees, spectrum allocation, and penalties for service outages. Airtel has been operating under the temporary permit since then. With the new 5G spectrum acquisition and operating licence, Airtel Kenya is poised to strengthen its position in Kenya's competitive telecoms market.
Key points
- Airtel Kenya paid Sh8.4 billion for a 25-year permit for the 5G network.
- The 5G subscriber base in Kenya grew to 2.1 million in June 2026, up from 1.2 million a year earlier.
- Airtel Kenya secured a new 25-year operating licence in August 2026.
