Wire · operational-macro
Smartphone Costs Lock 50% of Kenyans Out of the Internet
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Fusion42 · 25 September 2026 · Fusion42 review
Over 50% of Kenyans with mobile coverage do not use the internet primarily due to smartphone affordability, despite near-universal network coverage. Kenya's efforts to address this include hire-purchase schemes and local smartphone assembly, with recommendations to reduce taxes on entry-level phones to increase internet usage.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Telecom & Connectivity.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
High smartphone costs have created a hidden internet access barrier that your telecom startup can disrupt by enabling cheaper devices or financing options. Local assembly and tax breaks have opened a door to scale affordable handsets quickly and grow your user base.
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1 source · 24 Sep 2026
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