Faster Internet speeds as Safaricom upgrades

Safaricom subscribers can now access the Internet at much faster speeds following a US$3 million upgrade of the operator’s 3G network in Nairobi.

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore (image: Safaricom)

Subscribers in the firm’s Data Belt, an area served by 80 3G base stations covering Langata, Lavington, Westlands, Upperhill, South C, South B and parts of Industrial Area which have high Internet usage, will now enjoy faster speeds that can potentially go up to 21Mbps. Safaricom upgraded and has been testing its data network in these areas for the last two weeks.

“At Safaricom, our aim is to ‘democratize’ the internet and bring it to as many Kenyans as possible. With the launch of this upgrade that allows for faster speeds, we are demonstrating true leadership in this quest,” said Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore during an experiential launch of the upgrade at the Michael Joseph Centre at Safaricom House.

Collymore said the move was a direct response to consumer concerns and promised that the firm would continue listening and acting upon user feedback.

Before the upgrade, the maximum speeds for a subscriber was at 7,2 Mbps while the maximum capability of a 3G base station was 14 Mbps. Following the latest upgrade, which cost about Sh1 million per site, the user experience in terms of Internet speed is expected to at least double. Average user Internet speed is currently between 700 Kbps to 1,5 Mbps during busy hours.

With the upgrade and use of high speed modems now available at Safaricom Shops, the user will enjoy average speeds of between 2,5 and 3 Mbps during peak hours and maximum speeds in excess of 17 Mbps off-peak — a massive improvement.

Actual speeds may however not reach the maximum level as 3G is a shared resource and speeds are eventually dependant on usage levels at any given time.

Safaricom plans to further extend the data upgrade to the rest of Nairobi with another 50 sites earmarked for an identical revamp in the next three months before the programme  is taken to the rest of Nairobi and other key towns in Kenya, starting with Mombasa.

Safaricom was the first Kenyan operator to commercially launch a 3G network in October 2007, defying market convention and ensuring that its subscribers accessed high-speed mobile data.

The technology was initially available in and around Nairobi but was later rolled throughout the country within a year. Last week, the firm announced the installation of over 120 3G base stations in Western Kenya as part of an ongoing strategy to revamp its network capability in the region.

Out of every 10 Kenyans who use the Internet regularly, 9 of them access it through the Safaricom network.

Brian Adero