Airtel Kenya has paid about Sh8.4 billion ($65 million) for a 25-year 5G spectrum permit, in one of the biggest network investments by the country's second-largest mobile operator in recent years.

Parent company Airtel Africa disclosed that the Kenyan unit "acquired 100 MHz of spectrum in the 3500 MHz band for $65 million for a 25-year term" following approval by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Business Daily and the Nation reported.

Why the 3500MHz band matters

The 3500MHz range, also known as C-band, is the primary band used around the world to launch 5G services, according to the GSM Association. A 100MHz block in the band gives an operator room to offer faster speeds and handle more data traffic, which is key as more Kenyans buy 5G-ready phones and home internet routers.

Demand is growing quickly. CA data shows 5G subscriptions in Kenya rose to 2.1 million in June 2026 from 1.2 million a year earlier, a 75 per cent jump.

  • Safaricom launched commercial 5G in October 2022.
  • Airtel followed in mid-2023.
  • By March 2024, Safaricom had 803 5G sites against Airtel's 690.

End of a long licensing saga

The spectrum purchase comes at the tail end of a licensing dispute that has dogged Airtel Kenya for more than a decade. The firm's original operating licence expired in 2015, after which it relied on permits inherited from yuMobile, which it acquired in 2014.

A 2022 out-of-court settlement with the CA allowed a renewal through 2025, followed by a temporary two-year permit running to January 2027. Airtel and Safaricom had both been placed on temporary licences in late 2024 pending agreement on fees, spectrum allocation and penalties for network outages.

In August, Airtel Kenya managing director Djibril Tobe said the company had secured a new 25-year operating licence after paying an undisclosed fee. Safaricom has also announced a new 25-year licence; while it did not reveal the cost, its accounts for the year to March 2026 show Sh16.3 billion spent on licences in Kenya. Both operators had previously paid Sh2.3 billion each for 10-year permits.

What it means for customers

The new spectrum is expected to let Airtel widen its 5G coverage and compete harder on home and business internet, a market where Safaricom has a head start. Stronger competition in high-speed data could put pressure on prices, although Airtel has not yet announced new tariffs or rollout targets tied to the purchase.

Photos: Nation Media Group via Business Daily; Jeffrey Beall/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.