March 9, 2017

Summary

Facebook to make data cheaper in Kenya. The Silicon Valley giant has partnered with a local internet service provider for cheaper browsing.

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Facebook to make data cheaper in Kenya

Facebook to make data cheaper in Kenya

Facebook has partnered with a local internet service provider to launch low cost internet in Nairobi and its environs.

The partnership with Surf and the US tech giant will see Kenyans get cheaper data under the Facebook Express Wifi that cost 40 megabyte (MB) at Sh 10, 100 MB at Sh 20, 300MB at Sh 50, 25 gigabyte (GB) at Sh 200 and 3GB at Sh 500.

The Facebook Express Wifi is currently only available in selected environs.

Mobile data subscriptions account for 99 per cent of the total internet subscriptions in Kenya and Facebook’s latest entrance in the data market is a thorn in the flesh for local telecoms namely; Safaricom, Airtel and Orange who have been at cut throat competition to control the market share.

According to  the first quarter of the 2015/16 Financial report by the communications authority of Kenya (CA), the Internet/data market, registered 21.6 million subscriptions up from 19.9 million in the last quarter. The number of Internet users grew to 31.9 million from 29.6 million in the previous quarter. Consequently, the portion of the Kenyan population accessing Internet services reached 74.2 per 100 inhabitants up from 69.0 per 100 inhabitants recorded in the previous quarter

Mobile phone penetration in Kenya currently stands at 88 percent with 37.8million subscribers up from 36.1 million in the previous quarter.

According to Google’s Consumer Barometer, smartphone uptake in Kenya is stood at 44% in 2016 with Social media (58%), search (39%), email (30%) and video (26%) being the most popular activities by smartphone users on a weekly basis.

Kenya Leading In Internet Usage In Africa

Last year, Kenya was second after S.A in internet usage in Africa.

 According to Pew Research, the growth was attributed to increased affordability of Internet services and also on the growth of e-commerce.

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