Safaricom Kenya has recently launched a fixed wireless connectivity product named Home 5G Wi-Fi. This is the first fixed wireless 5G deployed commercially in East Africa.
Kenyans can now enjoy super-fast internet connection. The Home 5G Wi-Fi packages are valid for 30 days. The packages are regulated so that if a subscriber does not exhaust their subscription in 30 days, they cannot be rolled over to the next month.
Also, if a subscriber exhausts a bundle before the 30-day window, they can still browse till the month ends, but at reduced speeds. Or they could purchase another bundle and continue to browse at full speed.
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See the list of Packages below.
- Package Price in KES Speed in Mbps Fair usage volume in GB
- Basic 3500 10 300
- Standard 6000 40 500
- Extra 15000 100 1000
With a speed of 100 megabytes per second, the company states that home 5G Wi-Fi is the next evolution for home internet services that will offer customers high-speed and reliable internet connectivity.
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How To Opt In For Safaricom’s Home 5G Wi-Fi
The first thing you will need to purchase is a router. The Home 5G Wi-Fi is valued at KES 25K. Subscribers will also pay a one-off setup fee of KES 5000, which will cover delivery and set-up of the router, as well as the provision and registration of the SIM card to be used in your 5G router. This brings the cost to KES 30,000.
But an alternative to this is signing a 36-month contract with Safaricom for free Home 5G Wi-Fi service. This will be subject to credit vetting and the terms and conditions of the contract. Subscribers will also require a 5G smartphone to connect to this product.
Currently, iOS devices cannot access the 5G network in Kenya. The Samsung Galaxy S22 series has, however, been updated to connect to Safaricom 5G. All other 5G devices should be able to work with the 5G fixed wireless connection.
Home 5G Wi-Fi uses Safaricom’s 5G network, which is not in many places right now. Customers who are already served will be able to buy a router and a bundle of their choice to experience the product.
Regions where Home 5G Wi-Fi coverage is available.
- County Area Place/Estate
- Kajiado Oloitoktok Ol Tukai
- Kakamega Sichirai Kakamega State Lodge
- Kiambu Kiambu Town Riverview estate, Golden Palm, Silver Gardens
- Kiambu Ruaka Two Rivers Mall
- Kiambu Ruiru Jerusalem, Mugutha, Murera, Murera Matangi
- Kisii Kisii CBD Kisii CBD, Kisii Bus terminus, Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kisii University
- Kisumu Kisumu CBD Kiboswa, Maseno University, Lower Riat Estate, Kisumu Airport, Mamboleo Estate, Kisumu CBD, Kisumu Bus Station
- Machakos Kamulu Kamulu Stage
- Machakos Athi River Baraka Gardens Estate, Acacia Estate, Osoit Gardens Estate
- Mombasa Likoni Mombasa Hospital, Fort Jesus
- Nairobi Kilimani Yaya Centre Mall, Kiluwa Apartments, Silverstone Apartments, Yaya Apartments, Kasuku Court, Abi Allan Apartments, Mango Court Apartments
- Nairobi Langata Uhuru Gardens
- Nairobi South C ark View Estate
- Nairobi Rongai Rangau
- Nairobi Westlands Safa says HQ
- Thika Juja Juja South Estate, Murema Estate, Sunset Park, Oak Park Estate
Observation
Speaking at the launching ceremony, CEO of Safaricom PLC, Peter Ndegwa, says, “We believe in the transformative power of the internet and will continue to deliver the most advanced technologies towards enabling our customers to 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.”
Safaricom Chief Technology Officer Morten Bangsgaard says, “5G is the first mobile technology that can react faster than humans. Has been used with success in smart cars, and could brake faster than a human can.”
Also speaking at the launch, the Head of Sthe Safaricom Customer Team at Nokia, Ramy Hashem, said; “First presented about 5g in 2015 where the key things about 5G where its reliability, smart devices, and how quickly will react to your requirement or devices. Ability to give a slice of technology for given entities.”
The company is in partnership with Nokia (NOKIA.HE) and Huawei (HWT.UL) for equipment to power its 5G network.
Safaricom first announced it had started piloting 5G services in March 2021. At that time, there were only two base stations in the country: in Nairobi at the carrier’s headquarters and in the lakeside city, Kisumu. By the end of 2021, Safaricom had added 2005G sites across Kenya.
5G can support up to 1 million connected devices per square kilometre compared to 4G, which can only support up to 100,000 connected devices in a similar area. This makes 5G suitable for providing super-fast internet speeds in high-density areas and for linking thousands of connected devices, such as in manufacturing and supply chain management for businesses.
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About Safaricom
Safaricom PLC is a listed Kenyan mobile network operator headquartered at Safaricom House in Nairobi, Kenya. It is the largest telecommunications provider in Kenya and one of the most profitable companies in the East and Central Africa region. The company offers mobile telephony, mobile money transfer, consumer electronics, ecommerce, cloud computing, data, music streaming, and fibre optic services. It is most renowned as the home of MPESA, a mobile banking SMS-based service.