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Safaricom, Kenya’s largest telecoms company, added more broadband subscribers in the first quarter than Starlink has gained in Kenya since launch, underscoring the gap between the attention surrounding satellite internet and its current scale in the market. The telecom operator gained 83,107 fixed internet subscribers in the quarter ended March, raising its customer base to 941,501, according to the latest data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA). That compares with Starlink’s total subscriber base of 24,999 customers, which grew by just 2,717 during the period. The figures suggest that while Starlink has captured the attention of regulators, policymakers and rivals, Kenya’s broadband market remains firmly in the hands of operators that have spent years building fibre infrastructure. The data also indicates that incumbents are responding to the satellite threat with faster speeds and revised pricing, intensifying competition in a market where fibre still accounts for the majority of connections. In April, Safaricom doubled speeds on several home fibre packages without raising prices, while rivals including Zuku and Jamii Telecommunications have also revised broadband plans as operators battle for market share. Safaricom’s fixed internet market share rose to 35.4% from 34.9% in the previous quarter, extending its lead over Jamii Telecommunications (JTL), the operator behind the Faiba brand. Jamii added 23,120 subscribers, bringing its customer base to 517,270, though its market share slipped to 19.5% from 20.1%. Several smaller fibre providers also outpaced Starlink’s growth. Vilcom Network added 26,569 subscribers during the quarter, while Ahadi Wireless gained 23,363 customers. The numbers come as Kenya’s fibre providers ramp up competition to defend market share against Starlink, whose entry into the country in 2023 sparked fears that satellite internet could upend the economics of fixed broadband. Yet subscriber growth suggests fibre remains the preferred option for most households and businesses where coverage exists. Safaricom alone added more than three times the number of customers Starlink serves nationwide. However, not all broadband providers benefited from the surge in subscriptions. Poa! Internet, which targets lower-income neighbourhoods with affordable home internet packages, lost 6,788 subscribers during the quarter. Its customer base fell to 256,517, while market share declined from 10.7% to 9.7%. The divergence suggests scale is becoming more important in Kenya’s broadband market. Larger operators are using network reach, bundled services and speed upgrades to attract customers, while smaller providers face pressure from both fibre rivals and satellite entrants. The numbers point to a broadband market where scale still favours fibre operators. Starlink continues to expand in underserved areas, but the industry’s largest players are adding customers at a pace that satellite internet has yet to match.
Read MoreTable of contents Gemini models Gemini app Google Search Shopping Google Workspace YouTube Android Android XR and Intelligent Eyewear Developer tools Sub Heading 2 Google’s first half of 2026 has been defined by one word: agents. From new Gemini models and an upgraded Search experience to AI-powered shopping tools, Google has spent the first half of the year weaving artificial intelligence into nearly every product it makes. The message from Google’s annual I/O developer conference and other announcements is clear: the company wants Gemini to become the connective tissue across its ecosystem, helping users search, shop, work, create, and complete tasks on their behalf. If you missed the barrage of announcements, here’s everything Google has unveiled in 2026 so far. 1. Gemini models: Google’s biggest announcements of 2026 Google’s AI ambitions took centre stage this year, with the company unveiling new Gemini models built around reasoning, speed, and action. I. Gemini 3.5 Flash Gemini 3.5 Flash is Google’s new default AI model across the Gemini app and AI-powered Search experiences. According to Google, Gemini 3.5 Flash combines frontier-level intelligence with the ability to take action across complex workflows. The company says the model outperforms Gemini 3.1 Pro on coding, multimodal and agentic benchmarks while operating at a significantly lower cost. Google also claims it generates outputs four times faster than comparable frontier models. For users, this could mean faster responses and improved performance on multi-step tasks. The company announced the model on May 19 at its I/O 2026 developer conference and was rolled out the same day. II. Gemini 3.5 Pro Google also previewed Gemini 3.5 Pro, which it positions as the most capable model in the Gemini 3.5 family. While Gemini 3.5 Flash is optimised for speed and everyday use, Gemini 3.5 Pro is designed for advanced reasoning, complex coding, research-intensive tasks and sophisticated agentic workflows. At Google I/O 2026, CEO Sundar Pichai said the model was expected to become available in June 2026. III. Gemini Omni Gemini Omni represents Google’s next step in multimodal AI. Unlike traditional AI models that primarily process text, Gemini Omni can accept images, audio, video and text as input. Google says the model can generate videos grounded in real-world understanding and edit them through natural-language conversations. The company describes Gemini Omni as a system that can “create anything from any input,” starting with video. The first model in the Gemini Omni family, Gemini Omni Flash, is being rolled out through Google’s video creation ecosystem. Google says the model powers video generation and editing experiences in the Gemini app and Google Flow, with the broader goal of making high-quality video creation accessible to users without professional editing skills. 2. Gemini app: From chatbot to personal agent The Gemini app is evolving beyond a simple AI assistant. Google says the app is becoming more agentic, with new capabilities that can use context, learn user preferences over time, and help complete multi-step tasks across Google services. At Google I/O 2026, the company announced new agents and automation features designed to provide more personalised assistance, organise information, and proactively help users accomplish everyday tasks. Gemini Spark Google introduced Gemini Spark, a personal agent designed to complete tasks on users’ behalf. It is currently rolling out to AI Ultra subscribers in the US, with a broader rollout planned for later in the year. Spark can: Work across Google services Continue tasks in the background Handle recurring workflows Personalise assistance based on user context. Daily Brief Daily Brief is Gemini’s personalised morning digest. Drawing on information from Gmail, Google Calendar, tasks, and connected Gemini context, it organises and prioritises the day’s most important items. Beyond summarising information, Daily Brief suggests next steps and actions, helping users stay on top of their schedule and responsibilities. Over time, it can adapt to user preferences to deliver more relevant briefings. Gemini Live upgrades Gemini Live received major updates designed to make interactions more fluid and conversational. Users can switch seamlessly between typing and speaking without losing context, while a redesigned voice experience enables more natural conversations. Google also announced support for regional dialects and deeper integration of Gemini Live across the Gemini app. A redesigned Gemini experience Google introduced Neural Expressive, a new design language for the Gemini app. The refresh brings: Fluid animations Updated typography Improved haptic feedback A more visual interface across Android, iOS, and the web 3. Google Search: The biggest upgrade in years Google Search is evolving from a list of links into an AI-powered assistant. With new capabilities announced at Google I/O 2026, Google Search can answer complex questions, reason across multiple sources, and help users complete tasks directly from the search experience. Search powered by Gemini 3.5 Flash Google has integrated Gemini 3.5 Flash into its AI-powered Search experiences, including AI Mode and AI Overviews. This upgrade enables more complex queries and more comprehensive, context-aware responses across Search. Interactive answers Search will increasingly present AI-generated responses alongside traditional results, with more interactive and visually rich formats. Depending on the query, users may see dynamic layouts, visual elements such as charts or images, and explanations tailored to the context of their question. Long-running tasks Google is introducing agent-like capabilities in Search that support multi-step and ongoing tasks, allowing users to continue and track certain workflows over time. Search is increasingly designed to help users complete tasks as well as find information. 4. Shopping: Google’s buying assistant Shopping is also receiving the AI treatment. Google wants to help users move from discovery to purchase with minimal friction. Universal Cart Universal Cart is one of the biggest new Shopping announcements. It is a Gemini-powered shopping cart and agentic hub available across Google Search, Gemini, YouTube, and Gmail (with integrations rolling out progressively). Once you add a product, Google can proactively: Monitor price drops Track price history insights Surface deals automatically Alert users about stock availability Recommend alternative or similar products It is also designed to better understand shopping context, including: Relevant merchant offers and promotions Payment-related incentives within
Read MoreYoco, a South African fintech company, built its business by helping small merchants accept card payments. Now it wants to help them run their entire businesses. At its Yoco Next 2026 event in Johannesburg on Tuesday, the company unveiled more than 20 new products and features, including AI-powered business tools, loyalty programmes, savings products, accounting integrations, industry-specific software and a R250 million ($15.2 million) annual reduction in transaction fees for merchants. Carl Wazen, Yoco’s co-founder and chief business officer, said the announcements reflect a broader shift in strategy. The startup now wants to provide the software that small businesses use to manage their operations. From inventory and accounting to bookings, customer loyalty, cash flow and reporting, many business owners rely on multiple disconnected tools. Yoco’s goal is to bring those functions into a single platform. “Yoco started by giving independent businesses access to payments,” said Wazen. “Today, we are giving them the tools that used to belong only to big business, at a price built for small business.” Founded in 2015, the fintech serves more than 200,000 merchants across South Africa and offers payment devices, software, business financing and commerce tools. But executives say payments are becoming just one part of the business. “We are no longer just a payments company,” chief executive officer (CEO) Carsten Höltkemeyer told TechCabal. “We are a company that helps business owners reduce administrative burdens and simplify everyday operations through modern technology and innovation.” One of the innovations unveiled on Tuesday is Yoco AI, an artificial intelligence assistant expected to launch in the third quarter of 2026. Developed after the company acquired Dyner.ai, an AI-native operating system built to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in May, the tool will analyse transaction data, customer behaviour and business performance to help merchants make decisions about their businesses. “If you can use data to better understand your revenue streams, customer behaviour and business performance, you’re in a stronger position to succeed,” Höltkemeyer said. “We want to give merchants access to the kinds of insights and capabilities that large corporations have traditionally enjoyed.” The company’s CEO also unveiled the Yoco Connect, a hub that links accounting software, e-commerce platforms and inventory systems. It has launched dedicated software for restaurants, retailers, salons, and wellness businesses, each designed around the operational needs of its sector. For Kelly Gibberd, founder of Cape Town-based fashion retailer Me&B, managing a growing business involves far more than processing payments. Gibberd’s company employs 55 people, supports 10 local factories, operates physical stores and runs an e-commerce platform. As a manufacturer and retailer, Gibberd said rising costs and increasing competition have made operations more complex. “Manufacturing in South Africa comes with limitations; costs remain a huge challenge, and customers compare us to global fast-fashion giants like Shein and Temu,” she said. Tools that simplify inventory management, customer engagement, reporting, and cash flow management could help businesses spend less time on administration and more time serving customers, Gibberd added. Alongside the new software products, Yoco said it has reduced transaction fees by up to 40% across parts of its network. “It’s an investment in our customer base,” Höltkemeyer said. “Reducing our fees is an investment in small businesses, but we also believe the new products and services we are launching will create a much bigger opportunity for both Yoco and our merchants.”
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