Safaricom Unveils 5G Network in Kenya

Safaricom, the largest telco provider in Kenya, launched a 5G network in five counties on 27th October 2022.

Safaricom is the first company to roll out a 5G network in Kenya. The telecom announced the roll out in march 2021, which has been actualized in five counties that are 5G ready. Users in these five counties can enjoy a super-fast and reliable network to stream, download videos, and play video games online.

Currently, Safaricom has 35 active 5G network sites spread across Nairobi, Kisumu, Kisii, Kakamega, and Mombasa, and it plans to expand to 200 sites across the country by March 2023.

Customers across these counties can purchase a router for 25000 and pay an installment fee of Ksh5,000. They will also be able to sign up for a 36-month commitment to obtain the router for free.

The introductory 5G Wi-Fi plans include 10Mbps with a usage limit of 300GB at KES 3,499; 40Mbps with a usage limit of 500GB at KES 5,999; and 100Mbps with a usage limit of 1TB at KES 14,999. Customers can continue using the internet at throttled speeds upon depletion of the allocated usage limit.

Customers with supported 5G devices will be able to connect to the 5G network and experience ultrafast 5G speeds. Smartphones that support 5G include the Samsung Galaxy S and Fold series and Huawei and Oppo 5G devices. Customers using iPhones and select 5G-capable Samsung smartphones will need to download a software update from the manufacturer to connect to the 5G network.

“We believe in the transformative power of the internet and will continue to deliver the most advanced technologies towards enabling our customers enjoy a digital lifestyle. The launch of 5G Wi-Fi is the first step in empowering our retail and enterprise customers to start exploring new opportunities that 5G provides,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO Safaricom PLC.