As the digital landscape continues to evolve, reliable internet access remains a cornerstone of modern life in Kenya.
Speed.co.ke, a locally recognized web service providing free analysis of internet performance metrics, has released updated data for the first quarter of 2025 (January to March).
In this article, we’ll explore the latest insights into Kenya’s fixed broadband performance, including download speeds, latency, consistency scores, and a city-by-city breakdown.
Whether you’re a casual user, a remote worker, or a business owner, this guide will help you understand how Kenya’s top providers and cities performed in early 2025.
Fixed Broadband in Kenya: Who Led the Pack in Q1 2025?
Fixed broadband is critical for homes, offices, and institutions requiring stable, high-speed internet.
In Q1 2025, Faiba continued its reign as the top fixed broadband provider in Kenya, delivering a median download speed of 28.12 Mbps—an improvement over its 2022 performance of 24.64 Mbps.
This growth reflects ongoing investments in infrastructure and rising demand for faster connectivity.
Here’s how Faiba compared to other major providers in Q1 2025:
|
Provider
|
Median Download Speed (Mbps)
|
|---|---|
|
Faiba
|
28.12
|
|
AccessKenya
|
10.25
|
|
Safaricom
|
9.85
|
|
Telkom
|
8.90
|
|
Unwired Comm. Ltd.
|
6.75
|
|
Liquid Home
|
6.50
|
Faiba’s dominance remains unchallenged, offering speeds nearly three times faster than AccessKenya, its closest competitor.
This makes it a top choice for bandwidth-intensive tasks like 4K streaming, large file downloads, and seamless remote work.
Latency: How Responsive Were Connections in Q1 2025?
Latency, or ping, measures how quickly your device receives a response after sending a request. Lower latency (in milliseconds, ms) is crucial for real-time applications like gaming, video conferencing, and VoIP calls.
In Q1 2025, Faiba again led with the lowest median latency at 7 ms, a slight improvement from its 8 ms in 2022.
Here’s the latency breakdown for top providers:
|
Provider
|
Median Latency (ms)
|
|---|---|
|
Faiba
|
7
|
|
Unwired Comm. Ltd.
|
9
|
|
Telkom
|
12
|
|
Safaricom
|
14
|
|
Liquid Home
|
16
|
|
AccessKenya
|
17
|
Faiba’s edge in latency underscores its suitability for time-sensitive tasks. Unwired Comm. Ltd. also performed admirably, while larger providers like Safaricom and AccessKenya lagged slightly behind.
Consistency: Which Provider Offered Reliable Service?
Reliability matters just as much as speed. Ookla’s Consistency Score measures the percentage of tests meeting a minimum of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds—thresholds that ensure a robust online experience.
In Q1 2025, Faiba maintained its lead with a Consistency Score of 54.3%, up from 49.8% in 2022, reflecting improved service quality.
Here’s how providers ranked:
|
Provider
|
Consistency Score (%)
|
|---|---|
|
Faiba
|
54.3
|
|
Telkom
|
23.8
|
|
AccessKenya
|
20.1
|
|
Safaricom
|
18.6
|
|
Liquid Home
|
17.2
|
|
Unwired Comm. Ltd.
|
13.9
|
Faiba’s high consistency score highlights its ability to deliver dependable performance across its network.
Telkom showed notable improvement, while others struggled to keep pace.
City-by-City Performance: Where Was Broadband Fastest?
Internet speeds vary by location, and Kenya’s major cities showcased distinct differences in Q1 2025. Mombasa retained its title as the fastest city for fixed broadband, with a median download speed of 16.45 Mbps, up from 13.97 Mbps in 2022, thanks to ongoing fiber-optic expansions.
Here’s how the top cities performed:
|
City
|
Median Download (Mbps)
|
Median Upload (Mbps)
|
Median Latency (ms)
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mombasa
|
16.45
|
15.80
|
15
|
|
Nairobi
|
11.90
|
13.25
|
13
|
|
Eldoret
|
10.75
|
11.10
|
14
|
|
Nakuru
|
9.20
|
9.50
|
12
|
|
Kisumu
|
8.95
|
9.80
|
19
|
Mombasa’s lead reflects its status as a connectivity hub, while Nairobi, despite being the capital, trailed slightly. Nakuru boasted the lowest latency among major cities, making it a strong contender for responsive connections.
What This Means for Kenyan Internet Users in 2025
The Q1 2025 data reaffirms Faiba as the gold standard for fixed broadband in Kenya, excelling in speed, latency, and consistency. Its improvements since 2022 suggest a commitment to meeting the growing needs of Kenya’s digital population.
Providers like Telkom and AccessKenya have made strides, but they still lag behind Faiba’s benchmarks. For users in Mombasa, fast and reliable broadband is a clear advantage, while those in Kisumu may face challenges with higher latency.
With Kenya’s fiber-optic network expanding by 53% and thousands of kilometers of cable laid by early 2025 (as noted in recent posts on X), the country is on track to enhance connectivity nationwide.
Satellite services like Starlink, which saw a massive subscription surge by mid-2024, are also boosting high-speed options, particularly in rural areas.
How Does Q1 2025 Compare to Previous Years?
Compared to Q1 2022, fixed broadband speeds have risen across the board, driven by infrastructure upgrades and competition. Faiba’s median download speed jumped from 24.64 Mbps to 28.12 Mbps, and Mombasa’s citywide speed increased by over 2 Mbps.
Latency and consistency have also improved, reflecting a maturing market. However, Kenya still trails global averages (e.g., 106.61 Mbps for fixed broadband in 2022), indicating room for growth as investments continue.
For the most current insights, tools like speed.co.ke’s Speedtest offer real-time data. As of March 18, 2025, we recommend checking live stats to see how these trends have evolved further.
Conclusion
In Q1 2025, Faiba solidified its position as Kenya’s leading fixed broadband provider, with Mombasa standing out as the fastest city. These advancements signal a bright future for Kenya’s digital economy, empowering users with better tools for work, learning, and entertainment. Stay informed about your internet options, test your own connection, and choose a provider that aligns with your needs in this fast-changing landscape.
