Safaricom Plc is set to introduce a flexible ‘pay-as-you-go’ model for its Home Fibre internet service, moving away from the standard fixed monthly subscription. This new model will allow customers to buy internet access for various durations, including hourly, daily, and weekly periods.
The initiative will enable more Kenyan households and small businesses to afford and access reliable broadband connectivity, as initially reported by Techish Kenya. This is especially beneficial for those who may not require or cannot afford comprehensive monthly packages.
Historically, Safaricom Home Fibre customers have been required to pay for their internet service through monthly subscriptions. The packages range from the Bronze entry-level option, with a monthly price of around KES 2,999, to the high-speed Platinum tier.
The new pay-as-you-go model enables customers to purchase short-term access, aligning better with their changing or frugal usage patterns. These flexible plans, offering hourly, daily, and weekly access, will be particularly attractive to renters, students, transient users, and low-income households who do not need a full 30-day connection.
Safaricom currently serves more than 400,000 fixed broadband customers across the country, but the company sees substantial potential for further expansion in this market. Growth is expected to be stimulated by the new pay-as-you-go model, which is designed to remove barriers for consumers who have previously been deterred from adopting fiber due to concerns over cost or long-term commitment.
To lower costs and expand service accessibility, the company is also exploring the adoption of AI and 5G Fixed Wireless Access technologies. Additionally, the company plans to support a pay-as-you-go rollout with “tokenization” technologies in the latter half of the current fiscal year.
Safaricom has already introduced time-based mobile data bundles as part of broader initiatives in Kenya’s telecom sector aimed at expanding internet service options. An example is the B-Live service, which gives mobile internet users hourly access, with one-hour browsing costing KES 20 and three-hour sessions priced at KES 50.
Expanding its pay-as-you-go model from mobile services, Safaricom is applying this flexible, usage-based billing model to its Home Fibre offering, moving away from traditional fixed monthly plans. Promoters argue this approach empowers users with cost control and prevents them from paying for days they don’t use the service. However, critics caution that the success and fairness of these plans depend entirely on careful pricing and structure to guarantee genuine value for consumers.
This strategic action puts Safaricom in a stronger competitive position against other low-cost internet providers and unofficial Wi-Fi vendors. Many of these competitors already offer inventive, flexible access solutions to areas not adequately covered by conventional broadband infrastructure.
Safaricom’s upcoming pay-as-you-go Home Fibre plans have the potential to significantly disrupt Kenya’s fixed broadband sector. By offering more choices, lower initial expenses, and adaptable internet access tailored to short-term demands, these plans could significantly alter the market. As Safaricom prepares for a broader launch, consumers and market analysts will be keenly observing details such as pricing, geographical coverage, and adoption rates.
