Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Equitel has announced the launch of 5G services in the country.
“Building on the success of the previous 4G launch, Equitel in partnership with Airtel is once again revolutionizing the virtual telecommunications landscape by being the first successful MVNO offering 5G services in Africa, ushering in a new era of lightning-fast connectivity for customers,” the operator said in a statement yesterday.
According to Equitel, the 5G service is available in over 370 locations across the country including Mombasa, Nakuru, Nairobi, Athi River, Kisumu, Kakamega, Siaya, Eldoret, Bungoma and others.
“To enjoy Equitel 5G services, customers need to have a 5G capable device supported by a 4G-LTE SIM card,” Equitel says. “If a customer is still using a 3G SIM card, they are requested to visit their nearest Equity branch, where dedicated Equitel representatives will be on standby to assist with the seamless transition.”
Equitel, operated by Finserve Limited, the fintech subsidiary of Equity Bank Kenya’s holding company, accounts for over 1.5 million of the country’s over 65 million prepaid mobile subscribers as per the latest quarterly statistics from the industry regulator, the Communications Authority of Kenya. This makes it the fourth-largest mobile telephony operator in the country by subscriber base. Safaricom, the market leader, had 43 million subscribers followed by Airtel Kenya with 19 million subscribers and Telkom Kenya with 2 million subscribers.
Per the same stats from the regulator, Equitel accounts for just 1.6% of the country’s mobile data market, behind Telkom Kenya at 2.5% and ahead of Jamii Telecommunications Limited (JTL) at 1.3%. Safaricom is still the market leader in the local data market with a 62% share of the market while Airtel Kenya is a distant second with a 33% share.
Both Safaricom and Airtel have rolled out their 5G mobile networks in Kenya.
Equitel is a virtual mobile network operator (MVNO) riding on the Airtel Kenya network.
