Voice calls & SMS are still alive in Kenya’s digital age

Kenya has nearly doubled its 5G data subscriptions since June 2024 thanks to a growing smartphone user base that has now overtaken feature phones, but WhatsApp calls and TikTok DMs are far from killing off traditional voice calls and SMS in Kenya. The CA’s latest ICT sector report (Q4 2024/25) shows that these old-school services are not only alive but thriving.

By June 2025, Kenyans had logged a jaw-dropping 29.2 billion minutes of domestic calls, up from 28.9 billion in March. That’s nearly half a billion more minutes in just three months. Turns out, when push comes to shove, nothing beats picking up the phone and saying “Halo?” Safaricom took the lion share with 18.5 billion minutes (up from 18.3 billion in March 2025) followed by Airtel with 10.6 billion (up from 10.4 billion), Telkom with 34.8 million (down from 108.7 million), Finserve/Equitel with 22.3 million (down from 22.6 million), and JTL/Faiba with 13.5 million (up from 8.7 million last quarter).

SMS traffic also grew, hitting 15.25 billion messages. That’s up from 14.3 billion last quarter. Sure, most of these aren’t love texts or chatty updates. They’re bank alerts, promotional blasts, and those dreaded “Your bundle is almost finished” notifications. Still, the sheer volume proves SMS has carved out a lasting role.

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And it’s not just domestic traffic. International calling is making a comeback. Incoming calls to Kenya surged 48% year-on-year, suggesting that diaspora families are dialing home more often. Outgoing calls stayed stable, which makes sense given that many Kenyans abroad lean on OTT apps.

Roaming is also getting a boost. Outbound roaming voice and SMS traffic grew, showing Kenyans abroad are talking and texting more. Inbound roaming data dipped slightly, likely tied to fewer tourists splurging on local SIM cards.

The takeaway? While mobile data is clearly the growth engine for telcos, voice and SMS are not going anywhere. They’ve adapted, found new niches, and continue to thrive alongside WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram.

For the average Kenyan, this is a reminder that sometimes the simplest tech still gets the job done. For telcos, it means the revenue mix is more balanced than many expected. And for anyone predicting the “death of SMS,” the latest CA stats are a reality check: old habits die hard.