This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
On July 7, 2020, Telkom and Loon announced that mobile Internet service via the Loon technology to Kenyans will be available starting July 2020.
The project partners have almost completed their network integration tests, which have seen them successfully assess service quality across their infrastructure and respective networks.
During one field testing session in late June, they registered an uplink speed of 4.74 Mbps, a downlink speed of 18.9 Mbps, and latency of 19 milliseconds.
Even with Loon’s advanced machine learning algorithms, the companies say there are times when certain impediments such as wind patterns and restricted airspaces could result in intermittent service availability.
However, as Loon gains more experience flying in Kenya and dispatches more balloons to the service region, it is expected that service consistency will increase.
The service will initially cover a region spanning nearly 50,000sq. km., including the areas of Iten, Eldoret, Baringo, Nakuru, Kakamega, Kisumu, Kisii, Bomet, Kericho, and Narok.
According to Telkom Kenya’s Chief Executive Officer, Mugo KIBATI, “This is an exciting milestone for Internet service provision in Africa and the world, more so that the service will pioneer in Kenya.”
Loon’s Chief Executive Officer, Alastair WESTGARTH, states, “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 utilising a fleet of around 35 or more separate balloons that are in constant motion in the stratosphere above Eastern Africa.
