LTE subscriptions in Kenya are forecast to hit one million by 2018, according to Pyramid Research.

Kenya plans building an LTE network in 2015, according to the country’s ministry for information and communications technologies (ICT).

But government wants to adopt a wholesale model regarding LTE whereby it partners with investors to build the network and sell capacity on to operators: a mooted move that has been opposed by Kenya’s largest mobile network Safaricom.

Nevertheless, if an LTE roll-out commences next year, it could see strong growth.

“The rollout of LTE is expected to begin in 2015 and the total number of subscriptions to reach over 1 million by 2018, which will be over 2% of total mobile subscriptions in Kenya,” the report reads.

A summary of Pyramid’s report -- 'Kenya: Steady Growth Expected as Operator Dynamics Set to Change' -- also notes that the current adoption of 3G networks in Kenya is only at 16% of the mobile subscription base.

Kenya’s mobile subscriptions stand at 31.3 million as recorded by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

The introduction; though, of next-generation LTE networks could further boost the uptake of mobile broadband over the next two years in Kenya, according to Pyramid.

“Vendors should position themselves for the expected 3G network upgrade and the rollout of LTE over the next year or two,” Pyramid notes.

The number of internet subscriptions in Kenya grew by 13% to stand at 13.1 million during the second quarter of the 2013/2014 financial year, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya CA.

And according to the CA mobile subscriptions remain the greatest contributor of internet subscriptions in the country, accounting for 99% of total subscriptions.