Telecommunication companies in Kenya 2018

With the growing tech ecosystem in Kenya, telecommunication services are core infrastructures. Mobile payments, mobile coverage, internet services, and networking are some of the services that are helping speed up innovation and developments in the country.

A number of telecommunication companies have dedicated their time and resources to research and development of the best platforms for the growing market. These companies range from mobile operators, internet service providers, satellite, and data transmission companies.

The following list consists of top ten companies in Kenya based on the services they offer, revenue, market domination and value to customers.

List of top ten telecommunication companies in Kenya

#1 Safaricom PLC

Safaricom Public Limited Company formally Safaricom limited is the leading mobile operator in Kenya. It was started in 1997 as a subsidiary of Telkom Kenya. Today, the company is owned by the government of Kenya (35%), Vodacom UK (35%), Mobitelea Ventures Limited (5%) and the Public (25%).

The company has a number of business segments and subsidiary companies with Mpesa being the flash ship.

Safaricom PLC products

• Mpesa – Mobile payment service
• Masoko – An E-commerce platform
• M-Kopa – Solar-Powered lighting kit
• Till number – Buy goods and services
• Paybill Number – Bill pay service
• Little-ride – A taxi-hailing app
• Digital TV – The Safaricom Big Box
• Songa – A music streaming web and mobile app
• M-Shwari – Micro-credit mobile loan
• M-Pesa1Tap – A debit card connected to Mpesa account

Subsidiary companies

• Essar Telecom Kenya Ltd
• One Communication Ltd
• IGO Wireless Ltd
• Packet Stream Data Network
• Insta connect Ltd

#2 Airtel Networks limited Telecommunication Company

Airtel is the closest competitor to Safaricom PLC. It is a mobile operator company in Kenya which is part of the Indian based Bharti Airtel Company. The company has undergone a number of rebranding since its entrance into the African market with names like Kencel, Celtel, and Zain.

#3 Telcom Kenya Limited

“Telkom Kenya is the sole provider of landline phone services in Kenya. It was previously a part of the Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC) which was the sole provider of both postal and telecommunication services. In 1999 KPTC was split into the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), the Postal Corporation of Kenya (POSTA) and Telkom Kenya”

Telkom Kenya mobile operator rebranded from Orange Kenya in a bid to get a share of the increased number of Kenyans using mobile phones for data and calls.

The other companies in the top ten include internet service providers and Mobile data providers.

#4 Finserve Africa Limited

#5 Sema Mobile Services

#6 Mobile Pay Limited

#7 Wanachi Group – Zuku

#8 Liquid Telecom

#9 Jamii Telecommunications Ltd – Faiba

#10 MTN Business

Bonus:

#11 Afrisec Telecoms

#12 Indigo Telecom Limited

#13 Broadband Communication Networks Limited