Safaricom’s Data Revenue Surpasses Voice Calls as Internet Usage Reshapes Telecom Business

By Francisca Okoye,

Safaricom has recorded a major shift in its revenue structure, with mobile data overtaking voice calls for the first time as consumers increasingly spend on streaming, social media, and internet-based services.
According to the company’s financial results for the year ended March 2026, mobile data contributed 42.1% of connectivity revenue, slightly ahead of voice services at 41.3%.
The milestone highlights how changing digital consumption habits are reshaping Africa’s telecom sector.

Data Growth Offsets Slowing Voice Revenues
Safaricom’s mobile data revenue rose 14.4% to KES 83.4 billion ($646 million) during the period, while voice revenue grew marginally by 1.3% to KES 81.8 billion ($634 million).The results reflect growing demand for:
Video streaming
Social media platforms
Mobile banking
E-commerce services
Analysts say telecom operators across Africa are increasingly relying on internet services to offset slowing growth in traditional voice and SMS businesses.

Messaging Revenue Declines as Users Shift Online
The transition away from traditional telecom services was also reflected in messaging revenues.
Safaricom reported an 11.8% decline in SMS revenue to KES 11 billion ($85 million), attributing the drop to migration toward internet-based messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.
The company noted that the trend mirrors broader global shifts in consumer communication behaviour.

Internet Consumption Continues to Rise
The company also recorded strong growth in internet usage across its network.
Subscribers consuming more than 1GB monthly increased 22.4% to 14.5 million
Average monthly data usage per customer rose 16.6% to 4.92GB
Smartphone connections increased 21.2% to 33.2 million
Active 5G devices climbed 55.5% to 1.64 million
Safaricom said wider 4G and 5G coverage, alongside growing smartphone adoption, are accelerating internet penetration in Kenya.

Lower Data Prices Driving Higher Consumption
The telecom operator also used pricing incentives to stimulate higher internet usage.
Average rates per megabyte declined 12.1% during the year as the company expanded promotional offers and targeted data bundles.
Despite lower pricing, heavier internet consumption helped sustain growth in the data segment, which is now emerging as one of Safaricom’s fastest-growing business lines alongside its mobile money platform, M-PESA.

Telecom Industry Shifts Toward Digital Services
The results underscore a broader transition underway across Africa’s telecom industry, where operators are increasingly evolving into digital service providers rather than traditional voice companies.
The shift is intensifying competition around:
Mobile internet
Home broadband
Digital financial services
Content consumption
Industry analysts say operators capable of scaling data infrastructure and digital ecosystems are likely to remain better positioned for long-term growth.

Profitability Strengthens
Safaricom’s overall connectivity business remained its largest revenue segment, generating KES 197.9 billion ($1.53 billion) during the year.
Meanwhile, net income rose 24.7% to KES 119.1 billion ($922 million), reflecting stronger demand across digital services.

Digitnomics Insight
Safaricom’s results highlight a structural shift in Africa’s telecom industry: connectivity is increasingly being monetised through data, digital platforms, and online services rather than traditional voice calls. As internet usage deepens, telecom operators are becoming central infrastructure players in the broader digital economy.