Safaricom race to dominate home Internet market : The Standard

Safaricom is poised to take lead in the fixed data market by the end of this year surpassing Wananchi Online that has held the top position for close to two decades. Data from the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) indicates that Safaricom has more than doubled its number for fixed data subscribers, up from 48,267 recorded in 2017 to 109,925 as at the end of 2018. This has seen its share in the lucrative market segment soar from 16.7 per cent in 2017 to 29.6 per cent recorded in December 2018 on the back of increased investment in fibre infrastructure and rising demand for high-speed data. Wananchi Online’s Zuku currently remains at the top registering 35,300 new subscribers.

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The service provider’s market share, however, registered a marginal rise of 1.3 per cent over the year under review. Data from the Communication Authority of Kenya indicates the number of fixed data subscribers in Kenya rose from 99,643 as at the end of December 2017 to 175,824 recorded at the end of last year. Going by the trend recorded over the past two years, Zuku is set to lose the top spot in one of the few remaining market segments in the telecommunications industry not dominated by Safaricom. In 2017, Safaricom revamped its Home division and last year surpassed 5,000 kilometres of fixed fibre across the country with 141,700 homes passed by the network. “Our eyes are set on the changing Kenyan home composition by serving the desire for Internet democratization and flexible work and play plans for the new discerning professional category of customers,” said the firm in the latest annual report. The firm is further leveraging on its TV and Internet Box device as well as partnerships with Showmax, Iflix and Kwese to drive revenue from video streaming services.   

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Safaricom CEO Bob CollymoreCommunication Authority of KenyaCA