Airtel Kenya Acquires 100MHz of 5G Spectrum for $65 Million

Airtel Africa  has announced that its Kenyan subsidiary, Airtel Kenya, has acquired 100 MHz of spectrum in the 3,500 MHz band for US$65 million, securing rights to the frequencies for a 25-year term.

The acquisition follows approval from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), subject to standard conditions. The spectrum purchase is expected to strengthen Airtel Kenya’s network capacity and support the expansion of its next-generation connectivity services, including 5G.

The investment forms part of Airtel Africa’s broader capital expenditure strategy to strengthen its network infrastructure, expand capacity and improve service quality across its markets. The additional spectrum will support the company’s efforts to expand high-speed broadband services and meet growing demand for data connectivity in Kenya.

In its wider East Africa operations, which cover Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi and Zambia, Airtel reported an 18.2% year-on-year increase in mobile services revenue in constant currency for the half year ended 30 September 2026.

The spectrum acquisition is expected to strengthen Airtel Kenya’s position in the home broadband and enterprise data markets as smartphone adoption and demand for digital services continue to grow.