Safaricom’s $6 Fiber plan challenges Kenya’s Estate internet providers

Kenya’s broadband market is shifting into a more competitive phase as pricing pressure builds across fixed internet services.

The change is being driven in part by Safaricom, which is moving further into the country’s lower-cost internet segment with entry-level fibre and wireless packages starting at about KES 800 ($6) a month. 

The development marks a notable shift for a company that has long dominated Kenya’s mobile market but faced tougher competition in fixed broadband.

Smaller internet service providers have built strong positions in low-income estates and dense urban neighbourhoods, where demand for affordable and flexible connectivity has remained high. 

At the same time, more households are moving away from mobile data bundles toward shared or fixed home internet.

This change is reshaping how providers structure their offers, with price-sensitive customers increasingly driving competition in urban and peri-urban areas.

Wi-Fi Bamba pilot targets low-income neighbourhoods 

At the centre of Safaricom’s push is Wi-Fi Bamba, a pay-as-you-go internet service currently being tested in parts of Nairobi and Kiambu, including Kawangware, Kangemi and Kiambu Bus Park.

The pilot has attracted more than 800 active users, according to the company, as it tests demand in busy, high-density locations. 

The service is designed for quick access, allowing users to connect directly from their devices, select a package and pay through M-PESA without installation or long-term contracts.

Connectivity is delivered through wireless access points linked to Safaricom’s fibre-backed base station network.

Low-cost broadband competition intensifies 

Safaricom has also expanded its entry-level broadband offerings through Fibre Lite and Wi-Fi Bamba, with speeds between 10 Mbps and 20 Mbps priced from KES 800 ($6) to KES 2,000 ($15) a month.

In May, the company doubled speeds across these packages without increasing prices, adding pressure in the budget segment. 

Fibre Lite is currently available in selected affordable housing developments and lower-income estates, while Wi-Fi Bamba remains in pilot phase.

The company says a wider rollout will depend on the commercial success of the current trial across similar neighbourhoods.

Smaller ISPs face growing pressure 

If expanded, Safaricom’s low-cost internet push would bring it into closer competition with providers such as Poa! Internet, Ahadi Wireless and Vilcom, which have spent years building customer bases in underserved communities. 

Data from Kenya’s Communications Authority of Kenya shows Safaricom held 34.9% of fixed internet subscriptions in 2025, behind Jamii Telecommunications Ltd. at 20.1% and Wananchi Group at 11.1%.

The rest of the market remains fragmented, with smaller providers serving specific estates and neighbourhoods. 

Together, estate-based internet operators serve hundreds of thousands of subscribers, reflecting strong demand for affordable broadband.

Safaricom’s entry into this space adds new pressure to a segment that has so far been shaped by local providers competing on price, coverage and flexibility.