Kenya: Safaricom helps clients to buy laptops

  1. Posted on Tuesday 17 November 2009 - 09:51
    Maina
    Image of Maina
    Maina Waruru, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    Kenya's largest mobile phone company - Safaricom limited - has partnered with Equity Bank limited to enable its clients buy laptops on loan and thus increase access of internet services to more Kenyans.
    farmer_southafrica_computer_fidels_zvomuya
    Under the partnership Safaricom subscribers will be getting soft loans from Equity bank, Kenya’s biggest financial institution, to buy the laptops from the GSM firm.

    According to Equity bank’s communication department, clients need a pay-slip and an account at the bank to apply for a loan which is approved in 24 hours. A letter is then given to the client to present to any Safaricom retail shop for the laptop.

    The laptop comes with a free internet modem loaded with free 40mbs bundles as an incentive given by the GSM firm.

    The loan’s terms of repayment are simple ranging from 3-12 months , at an interest rate of 12% per annum while the computers are retailing at Ksh 50,000-Ksh 120,000( $600-1600).

    AfricaNews reporter said Safaricom has shifted a lot of its attention to data services away from voice services in recent years, as competition in Kenya’s communication sector hots up. The company has so far connected up to 12 million (77% of all subscribers) customers.

    Competition in the GSm sector in Kenya has reached peak levels in recent days with new entrants Essar communications of India trading as YU network and French Telecom’s Orange, coming in, over the past year to challenge duopoly enjoyed by Safaricom and Zain.

    Over 90% of internet users in Kenya according to Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) access internet either at work place or from cyber cafes due to the high cost of internet service.

    An estimated 4 million people have access to internet in Kenya.

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