Safaricom was the first telco in Kenya to roll out 5G in the country. The company officially rolled out 5G in Kenya back in October and has seen great adoption across the country. Safaricom has confirmed that it has expanded 5G coverage in Kenya to more towns. The company says 5G is now available in 35 out of 47 counties in Kenya. Keep in mind that this does not mean that Safaricom has full coverage in all the 35 counties. For instance, even though Safaricom 5G is technically available in Nairobi, it is not available in all areas just yet. The main reason for this is because 5G networks use high frequencies that have a very short range and weak penetration compared to 4G. Safaricom thus needs more 5G base stations than 4G ones if it is to cover the same areas covered by 4G.
It might take a bit longer for us to see better 5G coverage across the country but this is a good start. Having it present in 35 counties in just one year is commendable. Safaricom also has to stay ahead of competition from Airtel, the second largest telco in subscriber numbers. Airtel rolled out 5G in Kenya back in July with coverage available in Nairobi. The company has not made any major announcements since then so it is safe to assume coverage is still limited to select areas in Nairobi.
For Safaricom, being first on the market was advantageous as the company had over 370,000 5G users by June. 5G offers faster data speeds and might mean more data use for not just social media browsing but for gaming, IOT connectivity etc. This was revealed by the Communication Authority of Kenya back in June. “The uptake of mobile broadband has continued to increase as consumers desire faster Internet speeds,” the agency said. The number of 5G handsets from the major manufacturers has also been on the rise for the last 12 months.
Slashed 5G Router Prices
To get more people to use 5G in their homes, Safaricom has announced that it has slashed 5G Wi-Fi router prices from Ksh 25,000 to Ksh 10,000. “As a digital lifestyle enabler, we are excited about a 5G future, which makes it possible to close the digital divide in underserved communities, provide access to critical services such as healthcare or spur economic growth by connecting small businesses to new opportunities. By increasing 5G coverage, we are enhancing Kenya’s best internet network and empowering our customers to start exploring the possibilities of 5G,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom PLC.
Safaricom has also revised the 5G Wi-Fi packages giving more data at reasonable prices.
Safaricom 5G Wi-Fi Packages
| Price (Ksh) | Data | Validity |
| 3,499 | 400 GB | 30 Days |
| 5,999 | 800 GB | 30 Days |
| 9,999 | 1500 GB | 30 Days |
To check available 5G zones or get 5G Wi-Fi, you can go to https://internet.safaricom.co.ke/5g-wireless/coverage.