5G vs. Fiber - Is Safaricom's New Wi-Fi the Ultimate Upgrade?

  

The Internet Dilemma in Kenya

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more Kenyans have shifted to online work, streaming, and gaming, resulting in a greater demand for a stable internet connection in Kenya. 

Safaricom emerged as the second-best internet service provider in the country, following Faiba. According to a report by NPerf, a French internet monitoring company, Safaricom ranks second in terms of download speed, achieving 29 Mbps. The upload speed is 21.42 Mbps, and the latency is recorded at 48.93 ms.

What exactly is Safaricom 5G WI-FI?

Safaricom 5G is a home and office internet service that utilizes 5G wireless technology to deliver fast internet speeds. To get Safaricom 5G, simply visit any Safaricom, Quickmart, or Hotpoint store to purchase it.

After purchasing the 5G router, you can select from the available packages. These packages include 10 Mbps for KES 2,999, 50 Mbps for KES 4,000, 100 Mbps for KES 5,000, and 250 Mbps for KES 10,000. Safaricom offers three types of routers: Baicells, Huawei CPE 5, and Nokia 5G Gen 2. I would recommend the Huawei CPE 5 5G router for anyone unsure which one to choose, as I have personally used it and found that the 5G reception is excellent.

The 5G router is meant for those who live in areas where there is no fibre connection, or just want home or office WI-FI on the go. Also, those who live in rural areas and don’t have a fiber connection, this is a good option.

Fibre Internet: The Tried and Tested Option

Since Safaricom began laying its own terrestrial fiber cable in 2013, the company has connected approximately 370,000 homes and 32,000 businesses for the financial year 2024. 

This realization that the company could use its own network meant that data prices would decrease, as fiber connections were both unlimited and affordable.

Many Kenyans to this day stick with Safaricom internet due to several reasons, including stability, good customer service, affordable prices, and reliability, since they have very minimal downtimes, and stable speeds even at peak hours.

Speed Test Showdown: Fiber vs 5G

I have been fortunate enough to use both Safaricom fiber internet and their new 5G packages. I am currently using both. The fiber internet has been exceptional with minimal lag, and speeds have been consistent throughout, including peak hours. 

One thing that keeps me on Safaricom fiber internet, or Fiber to the Home as they like calling it, is the good customer service. Let’s say you encounter an issue, you just have to dial 2222, which is a dedicated phone number for fiber users, or simply dial *400#. Fortunately, I don’t encounter many issues, and if I do, it’s resolved quickly.

On the other hand, I have been using their 5G internet for 2 weeks now, and the experience has been seamless. Speeds have been consistent. I paid for the 10Mbps package, and it hasn’t stumbled a bit, I think, since I stay in a 5 G-enabled zone.

However, this one time when the internet just disappeared during the weekend, I reached out to their customer service, and they were able to resolve the issue and even compensated me with bundles.

I have tested both options, and 5G has an advantage over fiber internet, and this is mainly because the fiber package I am using offers a speed of 7.5 Mbps, while the 5G service provides 10 Mbps. When I attempted to stream 4K videos, I was surprised to find that the 5G connection handled some of them without any issues, whereas the fiber connection struggled and experienced hiccups during playback.

 Coverage & Availability

Safaricom fiber internet is available in most urban towns across the country and is expanding rapidly due to increasing demand. Their fiber service is not restricted to individual homes; it is also offered to estates and apartments. In fact, they provide special packages specifically designed for apartment residents, which are more affordable and budget-friendly.

On the other hand, 5G is expanding rapidly, with over 780,000 smartphones now available on the Safaricom network and over 1,000 sites across the 47 counties. The company aims for full 5G coverage by 2029; the 1.1 million users are a demonstration that there is an appetite for 5G connectivity in the country.

From what I have observed, I would recommend fiber internet since it’s well established by Safricom and there are other players too, like Zuku; however, if you are always on the move and want a fast and reliable internet connection, then you can consider the 5G router.

The Price question: Are you getting value?

Before you even decide which option to choose between fiber or 5G WI-FI, you must factor in cost and choose the most reliable and affordable one. Using Safricom as an example, their fiber packages are relatively cheaper than their 5G packages, and you get more value with fiber.

The exciting part is that there are no setup costs, Safaricom installs the internet in your home for free, and gives you a free router plus a discount for the first month.

5G internet can be a bit pricey, but it offers good performance. However, it comes with a fair usage policy. For example, the 10Mbps package I use has a data limit of 250 GB. This means that if I exceed 250 GB of data, I will need to renew my plan.

While this amount seems reasonable to me, others may find it quite limiting. That’s not to say that the fiber plans don’t have data caps; they do, but they are much better compared to 5G data caps.

Reliability in Daily Life

Reliability between the two systems is crucial. With a fiber connection, a power outage can leave you stranded. In contrast, the 5G router from Baicells features a built-in battery, allowing it to remain operational for up to three hours during a power outage.

Sometimes 5G signals can fluctuate depending on where you live, and this can be a deal breaker if you highly depend on 5G connectivity. At the same time, if there is no 5G connectivity in your area, Safaricom 5G routers can dial down to 4G connectivity, which has better coverage.

Who Should Choose  What?

For students, gamers, remote workers, and those who live in rural areas, the 5G router is well-suited for them, given the good speeds and mobility.

If you’re looking for a more affordable internet solution, consider fiber. It offers fast and reliable service at a great price. There are various providers available, so if you're not satisfied with one option from Safaricom, you can easily switch to another. 

Additionally, if you have a permanent residence, fiber is the best choice for you. Many apartments lack fiber connectivity and usually rely on generic internet, which can be inconsistent at times.

Final Verdict: Is 5G Final Upgrade or Just Hype?

The dilemma of choosing Safaricom 5G WI-FI or just sticking to a normal fiber connection narrows down to personal preference; both have their advantages and disadvantages. 

Fiber internet is generally much cheaper than its 5G counterpart, and it offers reliable, fast connections. However, there are some downsides: during a power outage, you will lose access to the internet, which is a common issue in urban areas. Additionally, fiber is often limited in availability to rural regions and may experience occasional downtimes.

On the other hand, 5G is ideal for individuals who are frequently on the move and require a reliable internet connection while traveling, provided that their location has good 5G reception.

However, there are some downsides to consider: 5G packages tend to be expensive, have limited geographical coverage, involve a high cost of entry, and lack widespread use cases and awareness.