By Philip Mwakio
Mobile phone provider, Safaricom has launched broadband Internet service with speeds of between 3.2 and 7.2 Megabytes per second (Mbps) in Mombasa.
The firm has invested Sh1.8 billion in licence fees and infrastructure development to launch the service.
It is the only company in the country and second in East Africa to offer 3G/HSDPA after Vodacom Tanzania’s launch last year.
According to Safaricom Chief Executive Officer, Mr Michael Joseph, the G3 broadband Internet service will eliminate challenges of limited network infrastructure and expensive Internet access.
“The 3G technology will enable us offer our subscribers within the current coverage area, a wider range of more advanced data and voice services while achieving greater network capacity through improved spectral efficiency,” the CEO added.
The new service comes with a range of pricing packages from as low as Sh999.
The most inexpensive tariff for low users cost Sh1, 999 per month and lets the user download 700 megabytes of data per month.
A data bundle for business executives costs Sh3,999 and lets users download 2GB.
Small and Medium Enterprises have two data bundles with the cheapest option going for Sh6,999 per month and lets the user download 5GB and the most expensive option going for Sh10,000 and lets the user download 8GB per month.
The Standard
No doubt this looks like a very good service however the speeds have been stated incorrectly. It should read “between 3.2 and 7.2 Megabits per second (Mbps)”
Following up on this it is very unlikely that one can get the speeds as stated.
From a personal experience Safaricom have a long way to go to providing Kenyans with good & reliable internet access.
Your 3G broadband modems are costly for the poor, especially the low paid people and students…6K for prepaid modem’s much for casual workers like me who earn 100-150 shillings per day for six days a week, money dependent on house rent, food and clothing – what do i save??
But thanks, your mobile network and phone services are 100% effective!!!!
I,have 4 computers, i want to start a cyber cafe, i want to spend 3000 per month what do you have to offer?