Safaricom Plc is set to launch a token-based home internet and public Wi-Fi service, moving into Kenya’s low-income broadband segment, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The rollout introduces $6.15 (KES 800) monthly home fibre plans and micro-priced tokens designed for households with irregular incomes, allowing users to pay for internet in small, manageable amounts. Tokenized public Wi-Fi will be available in denominations ranging from $0.12–$0.77 (KES 15–100), targeting families and small businesses that cannot afford fixed broadband.
The move intensifies competition with Wi-Fi vendors, street resellers, and budget ISPs such as Poa, Mawingu, and Vilcom, which have dominated the informal settlements. While these providers charge $9–$12 (KES 1,200–1,600) per month for entry-level packages, and street vendors sell hourly access for $0.19–$0.31 (KES 25–40), Safaricom’s offering undercuts them with more affordable, regulated, and reliable connectivity. Analysts say the telco’s entry could disrupt the informal internet market, forcing small vendors to lower prices or exit, while giving consumers access to a more stable, scalable, and regulated service.
Starting in affordable housing developments and underserved urban areas such as Mukuru Boma Yangu, the telco plans to expand into densely populated zones over time. Safaricom’s model aligns with its broader digital inclusion goals, providing flexible, low-cost access to reliable internet for low- and irregular-income households.