Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts

Safaricom Lunches 4.5G LTE Network In Kenya

Safaricom is a leading communications company in Kenya with the widest and strongest coverage. According to mobilityarena the telecom giants has launched their 4.5G network in the Kenyan cities of Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. The 4.5G is also called 4G Plus or LTE Advanced. 4.5G networks provide faster mobile data speeds than regular 4G networks.

UNDERSTANDING 4.5G NETWORK

4.5G is quite and slightly different from the regular 4G network in terms of speed as it's faster and more robust. It's known Carrier Aggregation. In other words, a 4.5G network makes use of multiple 4G LTE frequencies at the same time to provide faster speeds. For instance, a 4.5G (4G Plus) network can combine LTE 1800, 2100 and 2600 MHz bands together.

HOW FAST IS 4.5G?

4.5G networks speeds is up to 150 Mbps. Although some networks like Vodafone Ireland, have been known to up this to great 225 Mbps, which is up to three times faster than regular 4G. In Nigeria, Ntel launched the country’s first 4.5G network in 2016, offering a theoretical maximum speed of 230 Mbps. Of course, theoretical maximum speeds are not often attainable in everyday usage due to several factors.

SAFARICOM 4.5G COVERAGE AREAS

Cities where the network is available are Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu. The operator also revealed that parts of Kisii, Naivasha, Kitui, Machakos, Kakamega and Kericho are also covered

REQUIREMENTS FOR GETTING AND USING 4G PLUS ON SAFARICOM

✔ First of all, you need a smartphone, mifi or dongle that supports or compatible with 4G Plus in order to use a 4.5G network. The same goes for mobile broadband dongles and Wi-Fi modems.

✔ After that, you are almost set to enjoy the services. If you are subscribed to a data bundle on Safaricom, 4G Plus is automatically available to you if you are within coverage area.
However, if your device is not compatible with a 4.5G network, it will fall back to regular 4G, 3G or 2G, depending on available coverage area.

How To Unsubscribe From PRS Services On Safarcom Network In Kenya

Some customers of Safaricom network are complaining of unnecessary reductions on their line because of Premium Rate Service (PRS) subscription they are not aware of and most of the affected subscribers are trapped as they don't know how to unsubscribe from the service which is draining so much money from their airtime.

This ugly situation started months ago when one Premium Rate Service provider Cheza Games subscribed customers to their gaming services and made deductions to their airtime in Kenya. The same experience that most Nigerians are going through in the hands of network providers in terms of unsolicited messages and deduction of airtime regularly.

Meanwhile, the good news for Kenyans is that Safaricom is committed to investigating the matter and promised to give customers illegally subscribed to the service refunds for any amounts charged. This means that Cheza Games would pay these refunds. It is reported that Cheza Games started refunding some customers yesterday. Meanwhile you can unsubscribe yourself from the plan by following below steps.

HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM PREMIUM RATE SERVICES ON SAFARCOM NETWORK
✔ If you are on Prepay, dial *100*5# while those on Postpay should dial *200*5#
✔ Once you dial that, a list of options will be presented to you as shown below

✔ Now select Premium Rate Services Inside Premium Services
✔ After that, select My Subscriptions (This will list all the Premium services you are subscribed to)
✔ Finally, you have the option to unsubscribe to each or all of them

Meanwhile, if you wish to subscribe again to any of them in the future, just follow the first and second step to continue.

Latest Safaricom Kenya Data Bundles, Price and Activation Code

Safaricom Kenya network has released new data plans, the prices and activation code. The data bundles that i will be discussing here are the daily, weekly, monthly and 90 days data bundles meant for all the Safaricom network subscribers in Kenya. Also available on this article is the internet APN Settings for Safaricon network

The data plans are plans are structured in such a way to suit your internet need at a particular time and for a particular reason. According to Safaricom, subscribers will get some extras from the monthly data bundles like free SMS but the network hinted that however, if you choose to browse the regular method with your airtime, you will be charged slightly more than what you would be charged when you purchase a data plan.

KENYA SAFARICOM DATA PLANS, PRICE AND ACTIVATION CODES

DAILY DATA PLANS AND PRICE
Data Bundle
SMS
Price
7 MB
7 SMS
Ksh 5
15 MB
15 SMS
Ksh 10
35 MB
35 SMS
Ksh 20
60 MB
60 SMS
Ksh 30
150 MB
150 SMS
Ksh50

WEEKLY DATA PLANS AND PRICE
Data Bundle
SMS
Price
5 MB
N/A
Ksh5
10 MB
N/A
Ksh 10
30 MB
N/A
Ksh30
65 MB
N/A
Ksh 50
130 MB
N/A
100

MONTHLY DATA BUNDLES AND PRICE
Data Bundle
SMS
Price
350 MB
N/A
Ksh 250
1 GB
N/A
Ksh 500
3 GB
N/A
1000
7.5 GB
N/A
2000
12 GB
N/A
3000

90 DAYS DATA BUNDLES AND PRICE
Data Bundle
SMS
Price
6 GB
N/A
3000
16 GB
N/A
6000
30 GB
N/A
9000

 Alternatively, to access any of the above data bundles, just dial *544# on your Safaricom line to access the data menu and subscribe to your preferred data bundle.

POSTPAY SAFARICON DATA BUNDLES AND PRICE
The below data bundles are for postpay customers and the validity period is also stated below

BundlePrice (Ksh)Validity Period
40MB
50
90 Days
80MB
100
90 Days
200MB
250
90 Days
500MB
500
90 Days
1.5GB
1000
120 Days
3GB
1999
180 Days
8GB
3999
180 Days
25GB
11499
180 Days
APN CONFIGURATION FOR SAFARICOM KENYA
APN Setting is very vital when it comes to browsing as no network will connect to the internet without the right APN settings. This is why many network providers now send the configuration automatically on people's mobile phones once the SIM card is inserted on it and Safaricom is also applying this method.

Alternatively, you can simply dial *445# or send a blank text to 445 to get the configuration settings sent to your phone in case you didn't receive it immediately you insert your line on your phone.

Meanwhile, if you want to set it up manually, I gat your back. Just go to settings > Network Settings > APN
Then use below settings:

APN: Safaricom
Username: saf
Password: data

Save and make it your preferred or default APN. Now you are all set to browse the internet with your mobile phone.

HOW TO CHECK DATA BALANCE WITH SMS
  • Go to Messages and create a "New Message".
  • Type the word "balance".
  • Send to 200.
  • Await response from Safaricom confirming your balance.

READ ALSO...

All Data Plans In Nigeria, Price And Subscription Codes

4G LTE COVERAGE AND SERVICES
Safaricom currently have 4G LTE services in the capital Nairobi and Mombasa while other cities are enjoying 3G and 2G networks. Hopefully, the 4G LTE will hit more cities soon.

COMPARING PRICE OF KENYA DATA PLAN AND PRICE OF NIGERIA DATA PLANS
Surprisingly, Kenyans are paying more for data than Nigerians. Checkout my simple calculation.
Kes1 Kenyan Shillings is equal to N3.12 Nigerian Naira so you can see that Kenyans are paying more for data than Nigerians. The 3GB plan costs Kes1000 which is equivalent to N3,120 Nigerian Naira while in Nigeria, subscribers get a normal 3.5GB for N2500 and sometimes below.

What do you think? Hmmmmm