What is Safaricom

Safaricom, a prominent telecommunications company in Kenya, plays a pivotal role in connecting people through various services. Beyond facilitating traditional phone calls and texts, Safaricom is a key player in providing internet services, enabling individuals to stay connected and access information. Many Kenyans rely on Safaricom for their communication needs, making it an integral part of the country’ telecommunications landscape.

Safaricom and Airtel are big phone companies in Kenya. They recently started using something called 5G, which makes internet on phones faster. Safaricom began this in October 2023, and Airtel Kenya joined in July 2023.

In the last few months, they’ve set up more places with 5G. Safaricom’s 5G works in 35 out of 47 counties, and Airtel Kenya has it in 32 counties. This means more places in Kenya can enjoy faster internet on their phones.

To use 5G and enjoy fast internet, you need a special phone that works with 5G. Also, you have to be in a place where 5G is available. Many phones that support 5G have been around for a while, and lately, more of them are being made.

A company called Mediatek makes chips for smartphones, and they’ve teamed up with others to make 5G better. Most of the phones in the country that can use 5G have a Mediatek chip inside.

5G Router

5G routers are like magical devices that bring super-fast internet to your home or office. Picture them as special boxes that work without cables – they use 5G, a super quick way to connect to the internet. Unlike traditional routers, 5G routers tap into the airwaves, allowing you to enjoy speedy internet without any messy wires.

These routers are like the superheroes of internet connection because they make everything faster. Whether you’re browsing websites, streaming videos, or working from home, 5G routers ensure that you get a smooth and quick internet experience. It’s like having a powerful wizard ensuring your internet is always at its best!

5G Router Package and Bundles

If you have a 5G smartphone and you’re in an area with 5G, you can use regular bundles for internet on your phone. But here’s the cool part – both companies also offer a 5G WiFi business model. This means they provide a special router to connect your home or business wirelessly to 5G, and you pay a monthly fee for this service. It’s like having fast internet everywhere in your place without any cords.

Check out how much Safaricom’s 5G packages cost:

check out how much Airtel 5G packages cost

About the Coverage

When it comes to coverage, it’s a bit of a tiebreaker. In all my travels around Kenya, I haven’t found Airtel Kenya’s 5G, even though I use Airtel Internet for my data. Airtel’s 4G is everywhere and works well, but in most places I’ve been, Safaricom’s 5G is there.

This makes sense because Safaricom had more time to set up and make their 5G strong, and they have the resources for it. Airtel is trying, but Safaricom is the leader in the market. To be fair, people who tried Airtel’s 5G have good things to say, but I haven’t been that lucky.

When Safaricom started 5G, it was in certain towns and cities. By April 2023, they expanded to 21 counties, aiming for over 400,000 smartphone users with 5G-ready phones. Airtel, at the beginning, said their 5G is in 16 counties and plans to add 650 more sites this year to reach more places.

Coverage keeps getting better, and who knows what areas will be covered in the next 6 months. Just make sure the places you care about are well-covered by the 5G provider you want to go with.

About the Speeds

Talking about speeds, I haven’t tried Airtel Kenya’s 5G myself, but those who did say they’re happy. They mention speeds as high as 300Mbps, which is pretty impressive for a phone network. Personally, I’ve used Safaricom’s 5G, and I usually get speeds between 100-150Mbps, which feels plenty fast for me. But to be honest, even the 50-60Mbps I got on 4G LTE didn’t give me many problems.