Wi-fi is finishing touch
Kenyan mobile network operator Safaricom has moved to boost home internet security across Kenya, after getting a bargain on its supply of Wi-Fi routers and cutting the price of an upgrade. Huawei’s fourth-generation (4G) Wi-Fi router will now retail for up to 40% less. Huawei routers will now retail for 6,999 Kenyan shillings (48.50) down from Sh10,999 (€76.32) while Adrian routers will go for Sh9,999 (€69) instead of the previous Sh15,999 (€111).
This, reports Kevin Rotich in All Africa is a policy aimed at quickening home internet connectivity in the country. “This end month, jibambe na 4G Wi-Fi! Enjoy a 40% price drop on Safaricom 4G Wi-Fi routers and indulge in the online experiences you love,” Safaricom said on its Facebook page.
It says the routers can be purchased directly from the MySafaricom app, Safaricom shops, or dealers, as well as through a USSD code. The routers come with 30 GB of free data for a period of 30 days. Only last year, under network director James Matei, pictured, the telco rolled out 5G networks in five counties, enabling customers to access faster internet speeds in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisii, Kakamega and Kisumu. Faster than a 4G network, clients will be able to download, stream and play video at ‘neck-breaking speeds’, wrote Rotich.
Safaricom currently has 35 active 5G sites spread across Nairobi, Kisumu, Kisii, Kakamega, and Mombasa. It also has plans 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.
Last year Safaricom began to upgrade its existing 4G for homes and businesses fixed wireless access that could feasibly run at 100Mbps. The so-called 5G Wi-Fi to 35 active 5G sites in Nairobi and a handful of other locations so far. By March 2023 however, it plans to reach 200 sites across the country.
Nokia had previously created network slices on hybrid 4G-5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) network, in trials with African mobile operator Safaricom. The trials were piloted on its live commercial network and this was the first time that 4G/5G network slicing had been successfully achieved in Africa. The trial used a multi-vendor network environment and included a radio access network (RAN), transport and core. The trial also tested the effects of software upgrades to a range of Nokia’s products and services and the system passed.
The successful trial allowed Safaricom to support new types of enterprise network services, including fast lane internet access and application slicing. The telco can also create secure slices of FWA connections to enterprise locations, as well as to private or public application clouds.