The newest mobile data standard, currently limited mostly to Nairobi and other major Kenyan cities.
5G in Kenya is available in parts of Nairobi and a handful of other urban centers, mainly from Safaricom. Outside cities, including virtually all safari parks and rural coastal areas, 4G is the realistic ceiling, so 5G availability shouldn't factor into most travelers' eSIM decisions.
4G / LTE
The mobile data standard that provides most of Kenya's everyday browsing, streaming, and navigation speeds.
Airtel Kenya
Kenya's second-largest mobile network, strong in cities but with materially less rural and national-park coverage than Safaricom.
APN (Access Point Name)
The network gateway settings a phone uses to connect to mobile data — usually automatic, but sometimes needs manual entry.
Carrier Lock (SIM Lock)
A restriction that ties a phone to a single carrier, which can prevent installing a different eSIM.
Coverage Map
A visual representation of where a carrier's network signal reaches, often shown by strength or generation (4G/5G/3G).
Data Roaming
The setting that allows a SIM or eSIM to connect to mobile data while outside its home network's coverage area.