Airtel Africa to Liquidate Kenya Wholesale Fibre Unit: What Happens Next?

Airtel Africa has formally initiated the process to liquidate Airtel Kenya Telesonic Limited, its wholesale fibre and data infrastructure unit, after the company generated zero revenue for two consecutive years.

The decision follows accumulated losses of KSh19.08 million by December 2025, with the company’s net loss widening from KSh2.9 million in 2024 to KSh16.1 million in 2025.

The board resolved to voluntarily wind up the company after determining that it could no longer maintain operations as a going concern.

With Telesonic now being wound up, the process will involve completing the company’s regulatory closure while Airtel Africa continues operating its main telecommunications business in Kenya.

Telesonic Liquidation Process Underway

Airtel Kenya Telesonic had been established to provide wholesale connectivity and fibre infrastructure services to telecommunications companies, large businesses and other customers requiring high-capacity data connections.

However, the unit failed to generate revenue in either 2024 or 2025, while its financial position deteriorated. By the end of 2025, Telesonic had only KSh284,275 in cash against liabilities of about KSh19.26 million. This included KSh18.5 million owed to its sister company, Airtel Networks Kenya Limited.

The company also surrendered its Network Facilities Provider Tier 2 licence to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) on February 6, 2026. The Registrar of Companies is expected to strike Airtel Kenya Telesonic Limited off the register by December 2026, completing the formal liquidation process.

What Happens to Airtel’s Wholesale Fibre Business?

The immediate consequence is the closure of Telesonic as a standalone Kenyan company. Its exit comes after failing to secure sufficient business in a wholesale connectivity market that already has established operators with extensive fibre networks and long-term relationships with carriers, enterprises and technology companies.

Safaricom, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Seacom and Bayobab are among the established players competing for wholesale and enterprise connectivity customers in Kenya.

Airtel Africa’s wider Telesonic business, however, is not being liquidated. The wholesale brand continues to operate in other African markets, where Airtel manages extensive terrestrial fibre infrastructure and participates in major connectivity projects including the 2Africa submarine cable.

Airtel Kenya Operations Will Continue

The liquidation of Telesonic does not mean Airtel Africa is leaving the Kenyan telecommunications market. The company’s main Kenyan subsidiary, Airtel Networks Kenya Limited, continues to operate mobile telecommunications services, Airtel Money and Airtel XStream Home Fiber.

This means Airtel customers will continue to have access to their existing mobile services, including voice, data and mobile money.

The distinction between the two companies is important. Telesonic was focused on wholesale fibre and data infrastructure, while Airtel Networks Kenya operates the group’s broader consumer and business telecommunications operations.

Airtel’s Focus Shifts to Consumer Connectivity

With the wholesale Telesonic operation being wound up, Airtel’s Kenyan strategy remains focused on areas where it already has an established customer base and network infrastructure.

One of these areas is Airtel XStream Home Fiber, which provides fixed broadband connectivity to residential and business customers.

The company can continue expanding this retail fibre service without maintaining Telesonic as a separate wholesale entity. The closure therefore removes a loss-making corporate structure while leaving Airtel’s consumer fibre offering operational.

Airtel is also continuing to expand its mobile network, including 4G and 5G connectivity, as it competes for customers in Kenya’s telecommunications market.

Airtel Africa is also maintaining its investment in Kenya’s digital infrastructure through Nxtra by Airtel Africa. The group is developing a large data centre at Tatu City, designed to support businesses requiring cloud computing, data storage and other digital infrastructure services.