Jamii Telecom rides on data with mobile network launch

Jamii Telecom has taken a stab at the country’s mobile telecommunications market rolling out its own network.

This follows the company’s move to acquire a 4G license that will now see it unveil a mobile network, becoming the country’s fifth provider.

Under the banner of Faiba 4G, Jamii Telecom is angling at taking a slice of growing demand for mobile data services, entering the market with what are ultimately the lowest data bundles available.

For instance Faiba 4G is selling a 1GB data bundle valid for a day at Sh50 while Sh1,000 will get a customer 25GB worth of data valid for 30 days.

Speaking during the launch on Tuesday, Jamii Telecom chairman Joshua Chepkwony downplayed talk the firm was under cutting its competitors, stating the new mobile services injects competition into the market.

“This innovation we are doing today has been encouraged by our customers. We are determined to be proven right. We believe in what we are doing in transforming this country. The idea is to inject competition and democratize data. We are not interested in anyone’s customer,” Mr Chepkwony said.

Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom had initially protested the issuance of a 4G frequency to Jamii Telecom arguing the telecom regulator had indicated that the same would be done through an industry wide process.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) countered by arguing that the issuance was above board and that Jamii Telecom was expected to pay the full spectrum fees once the 4G pilot phase lapsed.

Jamii Telecom will offer mobile phone services with the prefix 0747.

Mr Chepkwony said with data as its primary focus, Faiba Mobile customers will be able to make free calls within the network so long as they have valid data bundles.

“Customers will have a basket of choices whether it’s Jamii or the others. I’m not undercutting anybody. I have done my costing and I’m doing what I think is value for my customer,” Mr Chepkwony stressed.

Faiba Mobile plans to charge Sh1 per SMS within and off the network, Sh2 per minute for both on and off network calls.