I am one of the techies who has been very keen on technology advancements in Kenya and I'd like to use this email to bring to your attention some issues about Safaricom's 3G network and I hope listing them here will help Safaricom achieve better results. Initially when it rolled out, I was a staunch supporter on the new development. Safaricom has been the leading innovator and is now the forefront leader on communications. When Safaricom took the lead on Seacom last year, that created a new development enviroment for some of us and put in motion projects that had been on hold due to infrastructure. One project that I had been testing for over a year was the a server based system that providing streaming video/audio via the net, especially devices using 3G mobile networks. The implications of such a project showed a lot of potential and your network would make it possible for many Kenyans to use a video on demand service from whereever there was 3G coverage. A lot of testing had gone into the project at around the time when 3G was launched and over the months. One offshoot of the project was that Kenyan businesses who have IP CCTV services in their business premises could now stream those CCTV images. And I'm sure they can use such services, using other platforms, when the service works.

In a summary and testing over time, the biggest problem that affects your data network is the ability to sustain reliable services. This has been the case ever since the service was launched and continues. The impression I have of Safaricom's data network is that of a system being run on trial and error basis and one therefore cannot build any developments around such a system. I shelved the project due to other priorities. When Orange re-launched their 3g+, though they do not offer faster speeds they are able to offer a reliable service. And I have measured that reliability against downtime versus slow speeds and at the moment I think Orange 3G+ runs a fantastic network. Unfortunately, their definition of a 3g+ service falls short of any high speed data developments but am confident that when they go 3G, they will be able to offer another chance for some of us at project development.

Safaricom, in my novice view, needs to build brand loyalty. This loyalty can only come around based on dependable services. I'm very glad that 4G is a new development on the kenyan scene but going by the 3G experience, it somehow does not generate that much interest when 3G was launched. I wish Safaricom well in its new development towards 4G and I hope the problems that have plagued the 3G network have provided Safaricom enough experience to seek better ways of service delivery on 4G.