Kenya, 5 November 2025 - Mauritius-based telecom operator Axian Telecom has finalized the purchase of a 99.63 percent stake in Wananchi Group Holdings Ltd, the company behind the Zuku and Simbanet brands. The transaction, completed for an undisclosed sum, stands among the most significant mergers in East Africa’s broadband sector this year.
The acquisition was executed through Axian’s subsidiary, Axian Telecom Fibre Ltd (Yas), granting the group majority ownership of one of Kenya’s longest-standing internet providers. Wananchi has faced growing competitive pressure in recent years from dominant players such as Safaricom Home Fibre and Poa Internet.
Wananchi Group manages the Zuku brand, which serves residential broadband and pay-TV customers, and Simbanet, which provides enterprise connectivity services across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Malawi. Yas forms part of Axian Telecom Holding and Management PLC, which already operates in Tanzania, Madagascar, Comoros, Senegal, and Togo.
“Wananchi’s extensive network and local market experience align well with our goal to expand broadband access across the continent,” said Hassan Jaber, Chief Executive Officer of Axian Telecom. “This partnership opens the door for innovation and greater digital inclusion in the markets we serve.”
Axian Telecom Fibre CEO Bertrand Lacroix emphasized the company’s long-term vision to extend reliable, high-speed internet connectivity throughout Africa. “We’re determined to deliver quality broadband to millions more users,” Lacroix said. “Our rapid growth, doubling our fixed broadband base and achieving strong revenue and EBITDA performance, reflects the resilience of our business model.”
The move comes as Zuku’s market share in Kenya continues to erode, even as overall demand for home and business internet surges. According to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Zuku’s share of fixed broadband subscriptions fell to 12.7 percent by June 2025, down from 15.4 percent earlier in the year, a steep drop from the more than 60 percent it once held in 2016.
Currently, Safaricom Home Fibre dominates the market with approximately 34.3 percent, followed by Poa Internet at 12.5 percent, with JTL’s Faiba and other smaller regional providers gaining traction through affordable and community-based offerings.
Kenya’s fixed broadband segment remains among Africa’s fastest-growing, buoyed by rising internet penetration, the growth of remote work, and increasing demand for streaming and cloud services.
The CA reports that the number of fixed broadband connections reached 2.14 million by mid-2025, underscoring the sector’s continued momentum despite intensifying competition.
