[Kenya] Safaricom launches Internet-ready Commercial & residential addresses initiative

Safaricom (NSE: SCOM) has announced that it will be partnering with real estate developers in an initiative that will see the launch of new  smart and internet ready addresses in different parts of the country.

Under the initiative that will be spearheaded by its enterprise arm; Safaricom Business, the integrated communications solutions provider will invest in fiber and all other infrastructure to smart addresses, with the facility owners only required to pay for internet bandwidth.

“Jiji Smart is a proposition that has been informed by the fact that the internet has revolutionized how we communicate, both in business and in social circles. We are therefore leveraging on our capabilities in fiber and 4G to offer high speed internet for those living in specific addresses,” said Rita Okuthe, General Manager, Safaricom Business.

The inaugural project will be at The Hub Karen, a 20-acre development in Karen that will comprise; in phase 1; of a shopping mall of 330’000sqft including retail, medical suites, offices and a wellness centre. The Hub Karen is scheduled to open in November 2015. Safaricom Business will be the lead provider for the integrated communications services for seven years.

Ms. Okuthe said, “With technological advancements, tenants in malls or offices no longer need to invest in their own cabling and other requisite ICT infrastructure. They would prefer to move into a smart building, thereby cutting down on capital expenditure and reducing the time needed before starting to do business”.

“We are excited to be the first to partner with Safaricom in introducing this new technology to Kenya. Jiji Smart is a key differentiator that will make The Hub Karen stand out among malls. We are not only offering ready and smart facilities, but are going ahead to introduce change to the entire shopping experience among the growing number of Kenyans who use smart devices”, said Philippe Cauviere, the Group Real Estate Development Manager at The Hub Karen.

He said, “Statistics show that a majority of Kenyans access the internet through their mobile phone. We have also learnt that the number of smart devices has been growing exponentially over the last four years and therefore we wish to tap on these developments to offer an innovative way to shop”. 

The Hub Karen is already under construction, with the expected completion and occupation by November 2015.

www.safaricom.co.ke