Safaricom has today announced the availability of 5G Wi-Fi to empower its customers with super-fast internet at home and work, complementing its growing fibre network.

Safaricom Officially Launches 5G Services

Safaricom became the first service provider in Kenya to announce 5G trials in March last year, and this development now empowers customers in 5G-ready areas to enjoy fast and reliable internet connectivity for their homes and businesses.

“We believe in the transformative power of the internet and will continue to deliver the most advanced technologies towards enabling our customers 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,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO Safaricom PLC.

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Setup and Pricing

Those who are in 5G-ready zones can access 5G Wi-Fi by purchasing a 5G router at KES 25,000 plus a setup fee of KES 5,000 and selecting from three packages on offer. You will also have the option of signing up for a 36-month contract that will enable you to receive the router for free.

The introductory 5G Wi-Fi plans include:

• 10Mbps with a usage limit of 300GB at KES 3,499
• 40Mbps with a usage limit of 500GB at KES 5,999
• 100Mbps with a usage limit of 1TB at KES 14,999.

Customers will continue using the internet at throttled speeds upon depletion of the allocated usage limit. Those using supported 5G smartphones will also be able to access the 5G network and enjoy super-fast 5G speeds.

Supported smartphones include:

• 5G-enabled devices from the Samsung Galaxy S and Fold series
• Huawei and Oppo 5G devices.
• iPhone users and select 5G-capable Samsung devices will require a software update from the manufacturer to access the 5G network.

Plans are also 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.

5G-Ready Zones

Currently, Safaricom has 35 active 5G sites spread across Nairobi, Kisumu, Kisii, Kakamega and Mombasa, and it plans to expand to 200 sites across the country by March 2023. To check available 5G zones or get the 5G Wi-Fi, customers can visit internet.safaricom.co.ke.

Over the years, Safaricom has consistently invested in its network, with its 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G in aggregate covering over 99% of Kenya’s population, while its fibre network has connected over 200,000 homes to fast and reliable internet.