Safaricom’s mobile data business has overtaken voice calls for the first time, marking a major shift in Kenya’s telecommunications market as consumers increasingly spend on internet services rather than traditional airtime.
The company’s latest financial results show Safaricom data revenue accounted for a larger share of connectivity earnings during the financial year ending March 2026.
Safaricom Data Revenue Surpasses Voice
According to Safaricom’s FY26 results, mobile data contributed 42.1% of connectivity revenue, slightly ahead of voice services at 41.3%.
Data revenue rose 14.4% year-on-year to KES 83.4 billion, while voice revenue grew only 1.3% to KES 81.8 billion.
The milestone highlights changing consumer behaviour in Kenya as internet usage increasingly replaces conventional telecom services.
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Shift Toward Streaming and Mobile Internet
Safaricom said growth in streaming, social media, mobile banking and online commerce contributed significantly to rising internet consumption.
At the same time, traditional messaging services continued weakening as customers migrated toward internet-based communication platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.
Messaging revenue fell 11.8% during the year to KES 11 billion.
Safaricom described the decline as part of wider global industry changes driven by over-the-top internet communication services.
Smartphone Adoption Accelerates
The growth in Safaricom data revenue was also supported by rising smartphone penetration and broader network adoption.
Smartphones connected to Safaricom’s network increased 21.2% to 33.2 million devices during FY26.
Meanwhile, active 5G devices grew 55.5% to 1.64 million users as the company expanded next-generation mobile internet coverage.
The number of customers consuming more than 1GB of data monthly rose 22.4% to 14.5 million users.
Average monthly consumption per subscriber also increased 16.6% to 4.92GB.
Lower Prices Drive Higher Usage
Safaricom continued lowering mobile data prices during the year in an effort to stimulate usage growth.
Average pricing per megabyte declined 12.1% as the company expanded targeted promotions and discounted data offers.
However, higher usage volumes more than compensated for lower pricing, allowing Safaricom data revenue to continue expanding despite cheaper internet packages.
Industry analysts say the model reflects broader telecom strategies globally, where operators focus increasingly on usage growth rather than higher unit pricing.
Competition Intensifies Across Telecom Sector
The shift from voice to internet services reflects wider pressure facing telecommunications operators across Africa.
Younger consumers are spending more time online through streaming, digital payments, social media and cloud-based communication platforms.
As a result, telecom firms are increasingly competing not only with each other but also with broadband providers, streaming platforms and financial technology companies.
Safaricom has responded by expanding digital services around mobile data, home fibre internet and M-PESA financial products.
Connectivity Remains Safaricom’s Largest Business
Despite M-PESA’s continued expansion, connectivity services remained Safaricom Kenya’s largest revenue segment.
The company reported connectivity revenue of KES 197.9 billion during FY26, slightly ahead of M-PESA’s KES 182.7 billion.
Safaricom’s overall net income rose 24.7% to KES 119.1 billion during the financial year.
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Broader Industry Transformation
The rise in Safaricom data revenue mirrors structural changes occurring across global telecom markets.
Traditional voice and SMS services are increasingly being replaced by internet-based communication, entertainment and financial ecosystems.
Telecom operators are therefore repositioning themselves as digital infrastructure providers rather than purely voice communication businesses.
Outlook for Safaricom Data Revenue
Analysts expect Safaricom data revenue to continue growing as smartphone adoption, 5G expansion and internet usage accelerate across Kenya.
The company is also expected to deepen investments in mobile broadband infrastructure, digital services and AI-driven customer platforms as competition within East Africa’s telecom market intensifies.
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