Kenyans React After Safaricom Increases Wi-Fi Speeds 5 Times: "Give Quality Services"

• Kenyans have expressed mixed reactions to reports Safaricom increased Wi-Fi speeds
• Starlink's entry into the Kenyan market has intensified competition in the telecommunications sector
• Safaricom clarified that while it has increased the speeds of its Wi-Fi packages, the prices remain unchanged
• Kenyans on social media shared varied reactions, with some praising the competition for driving improvements

Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has more than three years of financial, business, and technology research expertise, providing insights into Kenyan and global trends.

Kenyans have shared mixed reactions following news that Safaricom had increased its Wi-Fi speeds.

The news of the update was first broken by TUKO.co.ke following a response by Safaricom detailing the new speeds for the company's Wi-Fi packages.

Starlink's entry into the Kenyan market has disrupted the telecommunications sector by offering high-speed internet packages at competitive prices.

Contrary to social media reports, Safaricom clarified that it had not reduced the prices of its internet packages but instead increased the speeds associated with each package, as shown below:

New speeds for Safaricom Wi-Fi

Safaricom listed the speed changes as shown below:

• Bronze package, from 10Mbps to 15Mbps
• Silver, from 20Mbps to 30Mbps
• Gold, from 40Mbps to 80Mbps
• Diamond, from 100Mbps to 500Mbps

The increase in Safaricom's internet speeds positions the company to better compete with Starlink, which offers unlimited broadband internet plans with speeds of up to 100Mbps.

How Kenyan's reacted to Safaricom's move

TUKO.co.ke sampled some top reactions from Kenyans on X:

@muchira_wanjiku said:

"I see competition is actually making companies and systems work! Yaaani bila pressure no one is willing to give the extra mile and give quality services. Anyway, ni sisi na any service provider or company, we wl keep anyone on toes!"

@LilithBlack25 said:

"It's personal at this point."

"Safaricom are on the receiving end of cancel culture."

@LDegaire said:

"Increasing internet speeds without addressing the cost factor makes no sense. Kenyans want good internet speeds at affordable price."

@petersanyaone said:

"So they were capable of increasing😆."

@kwachiffu said:

"Sasa bado connection ifike mashinani."

@wariithi said:

"Internet consumers will take whatever is of value on the table....they are the ultimate beneficiary."

Other stories about Starlink vs Safaricom

• Safaricom has assured Kenyans that they do not have to worry about M-Pesa payments to its rival internet service providers.
• Starlink announced plans to allow mobile phone users a direct connection to the satellite internet via advanced Evolved Node B.
• Safaricom has raised concerns about Starlink's entry into the Kenyan market and urged the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to regulate satellite internet providers.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke