The 5G home internet race in Kenya just got a shake-up. Airtel Kenya has revamped its 5G Smart Connect unlimited plans, now offering up to 50% faster speeds at lower prices — and it looks like a calculated move to undercut Safaricom’s growing lead in the space.

Faster speeds and multi-month bundles

Until recently, Airtel’s 5G router plans looked like this:

10 Mbps at KES 3,500/month
20 Mbps at KES 5,000/month
30 Mbps at KES 6,500/month

Now, Airtel is flipping the table. Here’s the new lineup:

Up to 15 Mbps

KES 2,999 (30 days)
KES 8,100 (90 days)
KES 14,999 (180 days)

Up to 40 Mbps (replaces the old 20 & 30 Mbps tiers)

KES 4,999 (30 days)
KES 13,499 (90 days)
KES 24,999 (180 days)

That’s a KES 500 price drop on the base plan — with 5 Mbps more speed. And yes, for the first time, you can now pay for 3 or 6 months in advance. Previously, all plans were monthly-only, with no discounts for committing long-term. While it’s not fully flexible (no custom durations), the savings over time are decent.

Existing customers are already receiving SMS alerts confirming they’ve been bumped to the new plans. Anyone on the previous 10 Mbps tier (KES 3,500/month) is now automatically getting 15 Mbps for KES 2,999/month. That’s an upgrade with no action needed.

If you prefer data caps, the Smart Connect Ultra plans should be a good fit.

10GB Daily for 30 days at KES 2,999
20GB Daily for 30 days at KES 5,000

These options still offer value for users with predictable usage habits. If you’re joining Airtel 5G at home, you’ll still need to pay a KES 2,000 connection fee — available at Airtel stores countrywide. Considering the new monthly pricing, it’s a relatively small barrier to entry.

This update feels like Airtel finally stepping on the gas. Faster speeds, more flexible payments, and price cuts — all rolled out at once. While Safaricom might still lead in 5G coverage and bang for buck (KES 4,000 for 50Mbps on Safaricom 5G router is a much better deal than Airtel 5G’s KES 2,999 for 15Mbps), Airtel is clearly playing the long game with affordability and user satisfaction.

More competition? More savings? Yes, please.