Kenya to test undersea cable this week

LISTED telecoms firm Safaricom has announced that the testing of the 15, 000 kilometer undersea cable to link South Africa and East Africa will be on Thursday this week.

Speaking in Nairobi where the company announced the implementation of an ambitious upgrade of its retail network in the country, Chief Commercial Officer Peter Arina said the testing will last for a period of four days there after, the services will go live.

Arina said Safaricom is the only company offering the state-of-the art internet connection in the country.

He said the new retail outlet opened in central business district would bring closer a wide range of products and services to the firm’s PostPay subscribers in the city centre.

The plan will see the company set up 16 new state-of-the-art retail centres in various parts of the country during its current financial year at a cost of $5 million.

The company has already concurrently upgraded 10 of its units and rolled out 13 new state-of-the-art Retail Centres bringing the total number of shops to 23 countrywide.

The expansion is in line with Safaricom’s quest to meet the needs and demands of its fast growing subscriber base which currently stands at over 13 million, the highest in the market.

Currently, the company has 23 retail centres spread across Kenya’s eight provinces. The firm intends to increase its footprint further in Central, Rift Valley, Eastern and North Eastern provinces to match its coverage, which is buttressed by the country’s widest 3G network.

The facility cost some $455 000 to upgrade and will offer targeted high-end customers convenience, comfort and speed. Branded Safaricom Premier, similar units are planned for Nairobi and key cities across Kenya.

“Safaricom is focused on adding value to its subscribers’ experience by offering a one-stop shop experience that allows them to make an informed decision when making their purchases.

For the busy executive or businessperson, we have taken the queues out of the equation. With this unit, they will have time to experience any Safaricom service before actually purchasing it, in a conducive and quality environment that befits their value to us”, Mr. Arina said.

The telecommunication’s firm has also announced an extension in opening and closing hours at its Safaricom Retail Centres. The shops will from now be open from 7.30am to 6pm in the evening. The next phase will include a 24 hour shop in Nairobi to match the ever increasing needs of our customers.

The move is aimed at giving individual and corporate customers a window for
more quality interaction with the firm.

Services available at the Safaricom Retail Centre include PostPay, data and M-PESA.  It also sells a variety of the latest mobile handsets and data enabled devices at attractive prices and with warranty.

Mr. Arina said the firm would continue to introduce innovative products and services tailor-made to suit its subscribers’ needs.

ITNewsafrica.com Kenya