• Latest
  • All
  • How To
Safaricom 5G Speed Tests, Supported Devices, and Data Plans

Safaricom 5G Speed Tests, Supported Devices, and Data Plans

March 26, 2021
Samsung QLED TVs

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

May 9, 2025
Apple Smart Glasses

Apple Is Making Its Own Chip for Smart Glasses Coming by 2027

May 9, 2025
Safaricom

Safaricom Breaks Barriers with $3B Milestone and Bold Ethiopia Play

May 9, 2025
Private Number calls

How to Handle Private Number Calls in Kenya

May 8, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
Kenya Power EV charging stations

Kenya Power Rolls Out 45 EV Charging Stations Across the Country

May 8, 2025
Bayobab

MTN’s Bayobab Connects Uganda and Kenya with New Fiber Route

May 8, 2025
Airtel Africa Starlink partnership

Starlink Is Expanding in Africa Through New Airtel Partnership

May 8, 2025
Android FreeType patch

Android May 2025 Security Update Fixes Critical FreeType Zero-Click Vulnerability

May 7, 2025
worldcoin kenya

Court Ruling Orders Worldcoin to Delete All Kenyan Biometric Records

May 7, 2025
smartphones-2024

Smartphone Market Recovers Slightly in Q1 2025 With Apple, Vivo Leading Gains

May 7, 2025
GTA 6 Trailer 2

GTA 6 Trailer 2: Rockstar Confirms Release Date and Dual Protagonists

May 7, 2025
YouTube Premium Duo

YouTube Now Lets Two People Share a Premium Plan

May 6, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

Safaricom 5G Speed Tests, Supported Devices, and Data Plans

Kenn Abuya by Kenn Abuya
March 26, 2021
in News
Reading Time: 5 mins read
267
0

Safaricom 5G is here.

The service just went live today, having been in a test phase for the last couple of months.

The now ended launch event was conducted at the Safaricom Headquarters, with the firm’s CEO Peter Ndegwa, the ICT CS Joe Mucheru, and the Director-General of the Communications Authority of Kenya, Mercy Wanjau in attendance.

Now, on to the good stuff…

Location

There are only two 5G antennas in the country. One is at the Safaricom HQ, and another one is in Kisumu.

Both systems were used to test a conference call using a hologram, and the exercise was completed without any glitches.

So, what do the two locations tell you?

Well, first, 5G is not available for the masses yet. In fact, there are less than 100 devices that are connected to the network.

Second is that this is a pilot, meaning it will take a while before our phones start picking a 5G connection.

Are there other locations?

Yes.

Nairobi is the first obvious spot. The carrier will erect more antennas around the city.

Other areas that will be served during the first phase are Kisumu (as said, there is one antenna at the lakeside city), Kisii and Kakamega. Mombasa misses out this time around, but we know it will be served before we know it.

Safaricom adds that there will be more than 150 sites by this time in 2022.

How about those 5G speeds?

The fastest speed we have so far seen hits 1.3 Gbps (down). Up speeds are pretty normal, and match what you would get with 4G standards. This is the same thing in other countries that have had the service for a little longer.

We have a couple of screenshots from two device: Huawei Mate 30 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Check them out below.

The company has also revealed plans to later increase 5G internet speeds beyond 1,000 Mbps in later stages of the trial.

Supported devices

Basically, if you phone has a 5G antenna, then it is a viable candidate for Safaricom’s 5 network when it becomes widely available.

However, the official ones (phones that are sold in Kenya officially) are the iPhone 12s, Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the Nokia 8.3 5G.

Samsung Kenya also adds that the S20 series will receive an update that will unlock 5G capabilities. It also released the A52 5G for other markets, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it makes its way here.

Also, and as seen, the supported devices are on the high-end side, which is sad because the price range will lock a lot of enthusiasts out.

But our 5G phones did not connect to 5G. Why?

Well, for now, Safaricom has only allowed select devices to access 5G.

Many members of the media had 5G-capable phones but they could not access it.

However, this will be resolved as soon as the carrier erects 5G routers around the city for the masses.

And as we said, you will not need a new SIM card. The one you have is totally capable of accessing the faster connection.

Which 5G spectrum has been used?

This was not clearly made obvious to us when we asked. However, it is speculated that Safaricom has used mid-band transmissions (1 GHz and 6 GHz), which hit 1 Gbps in peak speeds and can accommodate many devices over a given square area.

How much did Safaricom pay for 5G spectrum?

Asked about the license fees for 5G, DG Mercy Wanjau said that the Authority has not finished discussions about spectrum pricing.

However, this will be completed in the next two weeks or thereabouts.

Data Bundles

There is no denying that 5G, with its amazing speeds, will be a data hog. This was made obvious at launch, and one of the reason the carrier will launch the product intermittently is to protect the customer from excessive data use (speed test alone gobble up a ton of data), while it prepares 5G data plans.

Meaning, 5G data plans are on the way…

READ MORE: Safaricom 5G Launches This Week, Your Queries Answered

QUOTES

Today marks a major milestone for the country. With 5G, we aim to empower our customers with super-fast internet at work, at home and when on the move, supplementing our growing fibre network. At Safaricom, we are proud to be the first in the country and the region to bring this latest innovation to both our retail and enterprise customers empowering them to start exploring new opportunities that 5G provides.

Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom

I congratulate Safaricom on this milestone, reinforcing the country’s position at being at the forefront of innovation in the region and the world. 5G technology will usher increased internet speeds and capabilities for millions across the country, laying a strong foundation for a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

Hon. Joe Mucheru, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information and Technology

Tags: 5GSafaricomSafaricom 5G
SendShare148Tweet93
Kenn Abuya

Kenn Abuya

Kenn Abuya is a friend of technology, with bias in enterprise and mobile tech. Share your thoughts, tips and hate mail at [email protected]

Related Posts

Safaricom

Safaricom Breaks Barriers with $3B Milestone and Bold Ethiopia Play

May 9, 2025
Private Number calls

How to Handle Private Number Calls in Kenya

May 8, 2025
Emerald PostPay

Safaricom Transitions Customers to New Emerald PostPay Plans

May 6, 2025
Safaricom's Corporate PostPay

Optimizing Business Communication with Safaricom’s Corporate PostPay

May 6, 2025
Safaricom Cohort

Safaricom Hosts Spark Accelerator Demo Day, Announces Second Cohort Applications

March 23, 2025
Decode 3.0

Safaricom Introduces Video Ring Back Tones and Daraja 3.0 at Decode Summit

March 22, 2025

Latest

Samsung QLED TVs

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

May 9, 2025
Apple Smart Glasses

Apple Is Making Its Own Chip for Smart Glasses Coming by 2027

May 9, 2025
Safaricom

Safaricom Breaks Barriers with $3B Milestone and Bold Ethiopia Play

May 9, 2025
Private Number calls

How to Handle Private Number Calls in Kenya

May 8, 2025
Kenya Power EV charging stations

Kenya Power Rolls Out 45 EV Charging Stations Across the Country

May 8, 2025
Bayobab

MTN’s Bayobab Connects Uganda and Kenya with New Fiber Route

May 8, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

May 9, 2025

Apple Is Making Its Own Chip for Smart Glasses Coming by 2027

May 9, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

Introducing A Brainbox Quiz: Techweez’s Monthly Trivia Night!

5 Most Reliable Virtual Dollar Card Providers in Nigeria

More News

Starlink Is Expanding in Africa Through New Airtel Partnership

Android May 2025 Security Update Fixes Critical FreeType Zero-Click Vulnerability

Court Ruling Orders Worldcoin to Delete All Kenyan Biometric Records

Smartphone Market Recovers Slightly in Q1 2025 With Apple, Vivo Leading Gains

GTA 6 Trailer 2: Rockstar Confirms Release Date and Dual Protagonists

YouTube Now Lets Two People Share a Premium Plan

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.