Safaricom announced today the availability of 5G Wi-Fi to provide its customers with superfast internet at home and at work, complementing its expanding fiber network.
In March of last year, Safaricom became the first service provider in Kenya to announce 5G trials, and this advancement now allows customers in 5G-ready areas to enjoy fast and reliable internet connectivity for their homes and businesses.
“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.
Customers in 5G-ready zones can get 5G Wi-Fi by purchasing a 5G router for KES 25,000 plus a KES 5,000 setup fee and choosing one of three packages. Customers will also be able to sign up for a 36-month contract in order to receive the router for free.
The introductory 5G Wi-Fi plans are as follows: 10Mbps with a 300GB usage limit for KES 3,499; 40Mbps with a 500GB usage limit for KES 5,999; and 100Mbps with a 1TB usage limit for KES 14,999. Customers will be able to continue using the internet at throttled speeds after the allocated usage limit has been reached.
Customers using supported 5G smartphones will also be able to access the 5G network and enjoy superfast 5G speeds. Supported smartphones include 5G- enabled devices from the Samsung Galaxy S and Fold series, as well as Huawei and Oppo 5G devices. Customers using iPhones and select 5G-capable Samsung C2 – Safaricom Internal devices will require a software update from the manufacturer to access the 5G network.
Plans are also underway to provide 5G data packages for mobile internet customers and leverage the Lipa Mdogo Mdogo device-financing solution to avail more affordable 5G smartphones.
Currently, Safaricom has 35 active 5G sites spread across Nairobi, Kisumu, Kisii, Kakamega and Mombasa, and it plans to expand to 200 sites across the country by March 2023. To check available 5G zones or get the 5G Wi-Fi, customers can visit internet.safaricom.co.ke.
