Top 5 networks in Kenya where people spend the most time on calls

According to the most recent sector performance report by the Communications Authority of Kenya, mobile phone subscriptions hit 74.9 million, exceeding the country’s population and increasing mobile penetration to 143%.

Of these, 42.3 million were smartphones and 32.6 million were feature phones, indicating that a tech-savvy consumer base is becoming increasingly reliant on mobile connections.

Smartphone penetration is presently 80.8%, with feature phones at 62.2%.

Kenya’s domestic communication activities experienced a considerable boost throughout the quarter.

Voice traffic increased to 28.8 billion minutes, up from 27.4 billion in the previous quarter, indicating a continued demand for mobile calling services.

Similarly, SMS traffic increased marginally to 14.3 billion, up from 14.1 billion in Q4-2024.

According to the research, typical call lengths were steady, with on-net calls averaging 1.8 minutes and off-net calls averaging 1.3 minutes, which was consistent with the previous quarter.

The report also notes that some operators stood out for their unique usage patterns.

Airtel Networks Limited dominated the market in on-net call time, with consumers spending an average of 2.9 minutes per call, indicating substantial in-network engagement and potentially lucrative in-network call rates or promotions.

Meanwhile, Safaricom PLC and Jamii Telecommunications Ltd. had the longest average off-net call durations of 1.4 minutes, indicating active inter-network communication among their customers.

The increase in smartphone usage and regular call activity demonstrates Kenya’s growing reliance on mobile infrastructure, not only for communication but also for digital services, mobile money, and internet access.

Safaricom PLC and Jamii Telecommunications Ltd. had the most off-net minutes/call at 1.4, while Airtel Networks Limited recorded the highest average on-net minutes/call at 2.9.

As mobile coverage expands throughout urban and rural areas, the country cements its position as one of Africa’s most digitally connected countries.

With that said, here are the mobile networks with the highest averages of time spent on a call.