This archive report was first published on 9 October 2019.
Published on October 9, 2019
Safaricom to Continue Offering 4G Network for Now ¶
Leading mobile firm Safaricom has stated that it will not phase out its Fourth Generation (4G) network in favor of 5G technology anytime soon.
The company's Network Director, James Maitai, explained that the 4G network still has a long way to go in terms of technological advancements and that the company is investing heavily in it.
According to Mr. Maitai, the company will start by phasing out its 2G network, but there are no plans to discontinue the 4G network in the near future.
"We would wish to improve our services to the most advanced technology in the market, and this is what the company envisions," Mr. Maitai said, adding that the telco is investing heavily in the 4G network because it is efficient and better.
However, Mr. Maitai noted that the company is doing trials with the 5G network and is working to acquire the necessary spectrum.
Despite the potential benefits of 5G technology, Mr. Maitai stated that the company is not seeing it as a customer-oriented product at the moment.
"The downside of the 5G is that it consumes a lot of energy and runs on a higher data capacity," he said.
Mr. Maitai also highlighted the company's efforts to improve customer experience, including the introduction of affordable smartphones, user-friendly apps, and inexpensive data and voice services.
He noted that the company has already launched Voice Over Long-Term (VOLTI), which enables customers to make calls using the 4G network.
Mr. Maitai also emphasized the importance of security, stating that the company values security and has brought in Jitambulishe to minimize frauds.
