A specific range of radio frequencies a mobile network uses to carry signal; a phone must support the right bands to get full-speed service.
Kenyan carriers operate on specific 4G/LTE, and increasingly 5G, frequency bands. Nearly all eSIM-compatible phones sold internationally support Kenya's main bands, but travelers with older or region-locked devices should double-check band compatibility if they're relying on 4G speeds in remote areas.
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).