The price drops are wlecomed. We have always advocated for affordable real broadband in Kenya. Remember Safaricom controls over 70% of mobile data.
But they should stop those archaic practices of "expiring" data.
On other news ...
Telecoms operator
Safaricom
has applied for a digital broadcasting licence as it aims to take
advantage of the convergence coming with digital TV migration to deepen
its presence in the wireless Internet market.
Francis Wangusi, the director general of the
Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), said Safaricom applied for the
licence two weeks ago complete with approval for a set-top box — the gadget that converts analogue signals to digital.
“Safaricom is the latest firm that has sought type
approval for a set-top box. They have also applied for a digital
broadcasting licence but we have yet to approve that,” Mr Wangusi said,
adding that the regulator was still considering the possible impact of
television signals on the quality of telecoms services.
Bob Collymore, the Safaricom chief executive said
they are mainly interested in using the set-top boxes to deliver
Internet to households that own a TV set. He has in the past spoken of
selling Internet and TV as a package.
If awarded a licence, he said, Safaricom would
deepen its plan to establish a presence in the emerging broadcasting
sector by taking competition to the doorsteps of the mainstream media.
Mr Wangusi said the CA had approved Safaricom’s
set-top box, giving it an advantage in capturing the emerging home
Internet market.
Safaricom plans to sell the universal set-top box
in the local market, meaning buyers will also have access to all
free-to-air TV channels.
The telecoms operator’s approach to the emerging
digital broadcasting dispensation is similar to that of Africa Digital
Network (ADN), the company owned by the three media houses that have
been at war with the government over digital migration.
ADN, which has a self-provisioning licence, plans
to import universal set-top boxes for which consumers will not pay
monthly fees, but come with add-ons such as wireless Internet access.
Broadcasters and telecommunication service
providers have never been in direct competition but the ongoing switch
to digital broadcasting appears to be setting the stage for broader
technology-driven changes in the market that may in future see Safaricom
offer some TV content.
In the new digital dispensation, telecommunication
companies such as Safaricom, Wananchi Group, and Telkom Kenya can offer
broadcast services such as video on demand, taking competition a notch
higher.
Broadcasters, on the other hand, have a chance to
offer Internet services to home users and earn extra revenue.
Competition is particularly expected to intensify in key areas such as
Internet service provision as well as dissemination of new