Orange has today launched its 42Mbps HSPA+ link in Nairobi. With this, the subscribers can get faster speeds. The sad bit in all this is that no one will get to enjoy the speeds. Less than 800 Kenyans would get to experience anything above 3Mbps because of lack of devices but also majorly because of the discriminatory policies of the telcos.
Safaricom launched its 42Mbs network in April and I raise the issue of preference which even Orange proved that is not backed by any analysis but just narrow discriminatory mindset which sees Runda, Parklands, Kileleshwa, Lavington, CBD and other affluent areas as the only areas which can have superior data infrastructure. Every provider including JTL, KDN and AccessKenya are concentrating on these areas. You wonder why the mass-market providers like Safaricom, Airtel, Orange and Yu do not see it best to be innovative.
The Orange Kenya 42Mbps link will be available in the affluent areas and the modem will go for Ksh 10,000. The cellular provider revealed that up to 55 base stations have been activated with more expected. The provider also foolishly revealed how they plan to roll-out the 42Mbps to other towns when they have not even covered Nairobi in any better way. Orange Kenya 3G is also still in few areas bringing into question the strategy which dictates the roll-out of 42Mbps while some Kenyans still rely on 256Kbps links.
Orange Kenya also revealed that they have so far invested around 40 million Euros in the 3G roll-out since 2011.
“The new Orange Internet Everywhere 42 Mbps modem will also automatically connect to 21 Mbps speeds while in a 3G coverage area or switch to EDGE if a user totally moves to a non 3G area, the new plug and play device is also compatible with varied Operating Systems,” explained Orange Kenya CEO, Mikhael Ghossein.
Orange also announced that its 3G network is now live in Eldoret, Malindi and Nakuru adding to Kisumu, Mombasa and Nairobi.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
