Safaricom Targets Budget Internet Market with New Low-Cost Plans

Safaricom is expanding into Kenya’s low-cost broadband market with internet packages starting at KES 800 per month. The move targets price-sensitive consumers and sets up stronger competition with smaller internet service providers.

The telecommunications company has introduced entry-level internet packages and is piloting a pay-as-you-go service known as Wi-Fi Bamba in Kawangware, Kangemi and Kiambu Bus Park. The pilot has already attracted more than 800 active users.

The initiative is designed to serve customers looking for affordable internet access, particularly in high-traffic locations such as markets and transport hubs. Safaricom says it plans to expand the service to similar neighbourhoods across the country if the pilot proves commercially successful.

Alongside Wi-Fi Bamba, the company has rolled out Fibre Lite packages offering internet speeds of between 10 Mbps and 20 Mbps at monthly rates ranging from KES 800 to KES 2,000. The products were introduced after Safaricom doubled internet speeds on some packages in May without increasing prices.

One of the key features of Wi-Fi Bamba is its simplicity. Customers do not need installation, routers or long-term subscriptions. Users can connect directly through their devices, select a browsing package, make payment via M-Pesa and begin using the service immediately.

The expansion reflects Safaricom’s efforts to strengthen its position in Kenya’s fixed broadband market, where competition remains intense. By the end of 2025, the company accounted for 34.9 percent of fixed internet subscriptions, compared with a much larger 66.8 percent share in the mobile market.

The strategy also places Safaricom in more direct competition with smaller internet providers that have built strong customer bases in lower-income neighbourhoods. These include Poa! Internet, Ahadi Wireless and Vilcom, which collectively serve hundreds of thousands of subscribers.

With affordable pricing and flexible access models, Safaricom is seeking to attract a wider segment of consumers while intensifying competition in Kenya’s growing home internet market.