Mobile data subscription has been the main impetus for a 68 percent growth in Kenyan internet users from 3.2 to 5.4 million over a one year period.

Kenya now has an estimated 14.3 million Internet users, according to the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) first quarter report.

The industry regulator reports that mobile data/internet subscription constituted 99 percent of the total new subscriptions in the period up to September, 30, 2011.

Mobile data has boosted the growth of voice traffic which grew by 13.6 percent from the previous quarter.

The growth in voice, says the CCK report, can be attributed to promotion offerings, expansion of network coverage and reduced calling rates by some mobile operators.

Mobile money subscribers recorded a 5.9 percent growth, while total deposits grew from Sh48 billion to Sh56 billion.

Orange added most subscribers from September 2010 to September 2011, having increased its market share from 4 percent to 10.4 percent. Safaricom held its market leader position at 67 percent, while Airtel and Essar maintained at 15.7 and 6.2 percent respectively.