The small removable plastic chip traditionally used to connect a phone to a mobile network.
A physical SIM, usually nano-SIM size on modern phones, must be inserted into a phone's SIM tray to connect to a carrier. In Kenya, tourists can still buy a physical Safaricom or Airtel SIM on arrival, but it requires passport registration and a trip to a kiosk or shop — the tradeoff most eSIM buyers are avoiding.
Also known as: nano-sim, sim card
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).