Zain Kenya has announced a 25% reduction in Internet access charges for an unlimited Internet package.
The new service is being launched at a time when players in the telecommunications industry are gearing up to exploit the opportunities that are expected to be opened up in the data business following the arrival of the fibre optic cable at the Kenyan coast a few weeks ago.
Zain Kenya Managing Director Rene Meza says the company is now focusing on growing the data business by ensuring widespread access to the Internet which will make Internet affordable and in turn spur growth in the key sectors of the economy while creating new areas of entrepreneurship.
Following the reduction, customers who sign up for the service will now enjoy unlimited Internet for Ksh 2,995 per month down from Ksh 3,999 and will also receive a free USB modem.
In addition, customers who subscribe to the service which is only accessible to post paid users, will now pay a deposit of Ksh 5,000 down from Ksh 10,000.
They will however be required to sign up for a minimum of 12 months to enjoy the unlimited Internet access.
Energy kiosks
Meanwhile the United Nations Industrial Development organization (UNIDO) deputy director Yoshiteru Uramoto is urging the government to invest in energy kiosks as a way of dealing with the looming power crisis.
The organization also asked investors to target rural areas as they plan their investments due to untapped resources in the rural areas.
Speaking during the signing of a 640 million shillings deal between UNIDO and the ministry of industrialization for the completion of the Kenya integration project phase 2, Uramoto said the looming power crisis in the country following the closure of Masinga dam and the anticipated closure of Kamburu dam would be contained by investing in more than 3000 energy Kiosks.
The Kiosks are estimated to contribute at least 50 megawatts of power to the national grid and would require a capital of just 1.9 billion shillings.
Uramoto also commended the green energy initiative launched Thursday by the prime minister saying that over 100 million shillings had been set-aside in the KIP phase 2 projects to finance renewable energy projects
