The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Telkom Kenya has recorded a sharp decline in its mobile subscriber base, losing more than 160,000 customers in the first quarter of 2026, according to sector data for the period January to March.
The company’s active subscribers dropped from 744,902 to 584,438, pushing Telkom Kenya further down the rankings to become Kenya’s fifth-largest mobile network operator. The drop highlights the continued pressure facing smaller players in an increasingly competitive telecom market dominated by larger firms.
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During the same period, Kenyans added a record 5.7 million SIM cards, raising the country’s total active mobile subscriptions to approximately 84 million. Despite the overall growth in SIM usage, market share continues to consolidate around the biggest operators.
Safaricom remains the dominant player, accounting for about 58 million active subscriptions, maintaining a strong lead over its competitors in both voice and data services.
DStv Faces Continued Subscriber Decline
In the pay-TV sector, DStv has also reported further losses in Kenya, shedding an additional 22,000 subscribers. The decline adds to a broader downward trend affecting its parent company, MultiChoice, across the African continent.
Since 2023, MultiChoice has lost more than 2.8 million subscribers, including over 589,000 in South Africa alone last year, reflecting sustained pressure on traditional satellite television services.
Shift in Consumer Behaviour
Industry analysts link the decline in pay-TV subscriptions to changing viewing habits, as more consumers shift toward streaming platforms that offer on-demand content, flexibility, and lower costs.
The trend is placing growing pressure on traditional broadcasters and pay-TV providers, who are now being forced to rethink their business models in response to evolving digital consumption patterns across Africa.
