Kenya’s telecom industry regulator, the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) on Tuesday announced a 16 percent increase in the number of mobile phone subscribers in Kenya in the first quarter of the year.

According to data made available to Reuters, phone subscribers rose to 29 million during the period; this is as a result of a stiff competition by mobile operators to expand their network coverage across Kenya.

“The continued growth in subscriptions is a clear indication of the operators’ increasing focus to offer competitive and innovative products and services,” the CCK said in its latest quarterly report.

Kenya has 4 telecommunication operators with Safaricom commanding about 70 percent of the market.

Others are Telkom Kenya, India’s Bharti Airtel and Essar’s Yu.