This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
July 2020 marked a significant milestone for internet service provision in Kenya, as Telkom and Loon successfully completed network integration tests, paving the way for high-speed internet services to be launched in the country.
According to Telkom Kenya's Chief Executive Officer, Mugo Kibati, the new service will offer upload speeds of up to 4.74 Mbps, download speeds of up to 18.9 Mbps, and latency of 19 milliseconds, making it an exciting development for internet users in Kenya.
Loon and Telkom are working together to ensure a seamless user experience, with plans to dispatch more balloons to the service region to increase consistency in service. The mobile internet service will be available from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm and will initially cover a region spanning nearly 50,000 square kilometers, including areas such as Iten, Eldoret, and Kisumu.
With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the new service is expected to have a significant impact on online education and other crucial interventions in the country. Loon's Chief Executive Officer, Alastair Westgarth, expressed his excitement about the launch, saying, “We could not be more excited to launch service in Kenya. This is the culmination of years of work and collaboration between Loon, Telkom, and the government.”
Loon and Telkom are utilizing a fleet of around 35 or more separate balloons that are in constant motion in the stratosphere above eastern Africa. As the service gains more experience flying in Kenya, it is expected that service consistency will increase, bringing about positive impact and connecting targeted communities to emergency services.
