A 'Kabambe' return: Telcos now tap on Cloud-based phones to spur digital access

Low income earners lack mobile phones, or are using borrowed devices according to the Kenya Housing Survey 2023/24. 

While 11.3% of Kenyans use mobile phones that they do not own, the highest reliance on shared or borrowed phones is in urban areas (11.8%) compared to 11.0% in rural areas.

To improve affordability of mobile devices, the government of Kenya has ventured into local production of phones. In partnership with telcos including Safaricom and Jamii Telecommunications, the government unveiled the East Africa Device Assembly Kenya Limited in October 2023, with a target to produce 3 million phone units annually. 

These devices cost nearly Ksh.7,500, a cost that slightly differs to that of new imported devices in the Kenyan market. 

On the other hand, other private sector players have adopted initiatives such as lipa polepole plans to increase access to mobile phones. 

However, these hire purchase plans pose a dilemma on the affordability matrix as the payment plans herein make the devices more costly for buyers – who are mostly low-income earners. 

Entry of cloud-based phones 

When the digital migration occurred years ago, feature phones were slowly – though not completely - phased out in Kenya, as more people owned smart phones. 

Commonly referred to as ‘Kabambe’ or ‘Mulika Mwizi’, feature phones available in the market today are commonly used by low income earners. Other low middle-income earners would use them as their secondary phones, alongside smartphones. 

With limited features, these phones are rarely used to access the internet. Hence why they have become the go-to gadget for those seeking ‘digital detox’. 

In a push to enable digital access while reducing cost of devices, telcos are now moving towards the cloud-based smartphone technology. 

During the 2025 Mobile Word Congress (MWC) held in Barcelona, Spain, Huawei Technologies showcased its latest 4G-enabled cloud-based phones. 

The phones, which resemble a ‘Kabambe’ in size and physical features, are connected to cloud servers located close to the cell tower to which the phone is connected. 

Unlike smartphones, these devices are not required to have a powerful processor, neither do they require advanced graphics processing chips or lots of storage space. 

Dr. Bello Moussa, the Head of ICT Strategy and Industry relations at Huawei technologies explained the cloud-phone concept and how it would enable digital access for all.

“The concept is to put all the apps in your phone on the cloud and have the functionality on the phone. This brings down the cost of the phone,” said Dr. Moussa while displaying a cloud phone worth USD 15. 

The technology, Dr. Moussa said, aims to increase connectivity, especially in rural areas. 

The Huawei cloud phones have been deployed to the Zambian market, as the telco targets other African markets including Kenya. 

“They are doing very well. In Kenya there are locally assembled phones, so we are in talks to introduce this kind,” said the ICT strategist. 

The tech giant collaborates with local Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to deploy the clod phone technology. In the case of Zambia, Huawei has collaborated with MTN. Here, the MNO purchases the phones and sells to its subscribers, offering additional services. 

“This is one way to make the phones affordable. For us to bring the cost down, we came with this idea,” added Dr.Moussa.

“The cost of smartphones is high because of the processor and storage, so if we take them out, the phone will become cheaper as the processing power and storage is in the cloud.”

According to Dr.Moussa, the future of mobile phone technology will see improvements in size, power and capabilities of the devices as artificial intelligence solutions are incorporated more. 

In 2024, Vodacom also unveiled cloud-based phones for its South African market. The phones have features like 48MB RAM + 128MB ROM with a 2.8" screen and a 1000mAh battery.  

“The cloud-based phone comes standard with popular applications such as YouTube, TikTok and Facebook, all accessed via the cloud, giving users a “smartphone lite” experience,” Vodacom said in a statement. 

The same year, CloudMosa, a leading cloud and mobile technology company also announced the launch of its Cloud Phone to serve the Indian market. 

Through this technology, telcos aim at increasing digital access while reducing the price of mobile devices.