BUSINESS

Coronavirus: This could be the right time to get home internet


The demand for home internet and wireless connectivity in Kenya might go high as more Kenyans work and learn remotely due to global concerns over the current coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

As we have previously mentioned, the disrupted business environment, as a result of this pandemic, has made it essential to provide everyone in the organisation with any time, anywhere access. People are now using applications like video conferencing that are eating up a lot of data. 

Usage of e-learning and messaging tools is also growing rapidly placing additional load on these Internet-based applications and platforms and generating additional traffic. And with more people staying at home, online media consumption is poised to increase as well according to a report by Internet Society.

Get home internet now

Some regulators, ISPs, and content providers have had to take drastic measures to reduce the load on internet infrastructure during peak hours to prevent a stalemate. Locally, Safaricom announced that it will be doubling its internet speeds for its home fibre packages. Safaricom Home fibre customers will be getting this double speeds at no extra charges, meaning they will continue paying their normal fees but for a much faster connection.  If you pay for 5Mbps, you will now have 10Mbps, 10Mbps you will now have 20Mbps…. And there’s so much more you can do with these new speeds. 

This also means you will not have to be worried about your bandwidth being strained hence making it easy for you to have that video conferencing call with your team without being disconnected, your kids taking their online classes with ease, as well as entertainment now that schools have closed and much more. 

The report by Internet Society notes that ‘’Core Internet infrastructure providers should be able to easily absorb the increase in traffic and demand, especially if the growth is gradual over a period of days, weeks, or months.’’

‘’ Cloud infrastructure providers should also have sufficient additional compute, storage, and bandwidth capacity to enable their customers, including the e-learning, messaging, and videoconferencing tool providers, to scale their systems as necessary,’’ it says. 

The world is going through what is being called the world’s biggest work-from-home experiment. If you have always wanted to get Safaricom home internet then this could be the right time to do it. 

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Nixon Kanali

Tech journalist based in Nairobi. I track and report on tech and African startups. Founder and Editor of TechTrends Media. Nixon is also the East African tech editor for Africa Business Communities. Send tips to nkanali@techtrendske.co.ke.

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