Airtel’s Kenya fibre bet generated zero revenue before shutdown
Airtel Africa’s Kenyan wholesale fibre business generated no revenue during its two years of operation before the telecoms group moved to shut it down, despite continued growth in the country’s fixed internet market. Airtel Kenya Telesonic Limited, the group’s wholesale internet and fibre subsidiary, reported zero revenue in both 2024 and 2025, according to its […]
Airtel Africa's Kenyan wholesale fibre business, Telesonic Limited, reportedly generated no revenue in its two years of operation, despite the country's fixed internet market experiencing growth. The company reported a net loss of Ksh16.1 million in 2025, up from Ksh2.9 million the previous year, with accumulated losses reaching Ksh19.08 million by year-end.
Kenya's fibre market expanded during the same period, with subscriptions reaching 1.4 million in December 2025. Bharti Airtel, Telesonic's parent company, cited "strategic, operational, and commercial considerations" for the shutdown, but did not specify the reasons. Telesonic held a Network Facilities Provider Tier 2 (NFPT2) licence, which was fully amortised by the end of 2025, contributing significantly to the sharp increase in losses.
The closure does not mean Airtel is exiting Kenya's telecoms industry, as its other subsidiary continues to operate. The regulator approved the shutdown on February 6, 2026, and Telesonic is expected to be removed from the register by December 2026. The case underscores the challenge of generating revenue in a growing connectivity market despite the demand for fixed connectivity.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
