Sharing one phone's mobile data connection with other devices over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a cable.
Tethering your Kenya eSIM's data to a laptop or a travel companion's phone works the same as it would with any SIM, though heavy hotspot use burns through data allowances quickly — worth budgeting extra GB if you plan to work from a laptop via hotspot during your trip.
Also known as: tethering, hotspot
4G / LTE
The mobile data standard that provides most of Kenya's everyday browsing, streaming, and navigation speeds.
5G
The newest mobile data standard, currently limited mostly to Nairobi and other major Kenyan cities.
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).