Zuku fights back and EASSy cable launch June 2010.
For a moment there, I thought that all the Safaricom 3G promotions, Orange Kenya Internet cornucopia, Zain Internet splurges and KDN Butterflies had all but exhausted the rush for low cost Internet for the Kenyan consumer. Clearly, I was wrong! This week Zuku has lowered its Internet packages’ pricing considerably! Below is what they look like now:
- ProSurf (256Kbps) – Kes. 1,499.00 per month.
- SuperSurf (512Kbps) – Kes. 2,499.00 per month.
- MegaSurf (1Mbps) – Kes. 4,999.00 per month.
However, for all the above, there is a one-off installation fee of Kes. 2,999.00. More details on the new pricing and specifications can be found at the Zuku web site here.
In other news this week, an official announcement that East African Submarine System (EASSy) high speed undersea data cable is to go live in June 2010. This EASSy launch will ensure that Kenya has a third high speed undersea cable following the go live of TEAMS and SEACOM in the second half of 2009.
Key differentiators between EASSy and the other two cables is that they intend to offer more competitive pricing, smaller bandwidth packages and shorter contract periods to their customers who will then resell the same to the end-user. Hopefully, this will result in lower Internet pricing and competition between the three cables when they are all live.
The Author
18 Comments
Perfecto! Think al get myself this solution. . .
WOW! hope that their speeds are guaranteed! most ISPs* (put your disappointing isp here) promise super fast internet and only deliver slow, interrupted, annoying services!!!
Have had bad experiences myself. But if Zuku prove that they are the real deal, i will definitely sign up asap!
Does it work has anyone tried it???? ZUKU is known for ****!!!
I hope this works. Although Safcom is fast, I cannot afford to be online as much as I would like to and it’s affecting my work (most of which is done online)
I bought the Zain modem two days ago and guess what? After a terrible night of low speed and crazy connections, I now cannot connect to the network.
It’s been 36 hours and they say it’s just a slight problem with their GPRS.. blah blah.
I’d love a fast connection but I’m willing to trade that in for reliability. I need to be online, always. Anyone out there who can do this?
Give Zuku, KDN’s Butterfly and AccessKenya a shot.
is thea nobody who has had a gud experience with zain? if zuku n kdn had as much coverage as the mobile companies nobody wud bother with akina safcom
Does anyone know if KDN or AccessKenya are available in Karen? Zuku wrote and said that they are not, but hopefully one of these will have something there soon. I’m interested in the fixed WiMAX service or something comparable. Thanks.
Hey shawn. I’ve also tried inquiring if they reach Karen, but they haven’t replied to my month old email. may ask again and call later to follow up. although some reviews aren’t looking good.
http://www.kenyanpundit.com/2008/10/23/zuku-broadband-review/comment-page-1/#comment-98645
That’s a great post there, the prices quoted are quite affordable given the speeds.
But what i was wondering is… does zuku use wimax or some other kind of equipment and is their service located all over Nairobi or just in specific locations?
Anyone who has used or is using zuku please help me out on this..i sent a mail to sales@zuku.co.ke but its been a month now and nobody seems to want to reply to me.
And what about the speeds..are they consistent and nearly as fast as quoted or its a whole different story?
I want to be sure about zuku before i decide to buy their service..it seems like safcom’s overpriced high speed 3G seems to be drilling a hole in my pockets.. 300MB (1000ksh), can’t barely last me a day now!
Hello Edutchz,
Thank you for your interest in Zuku. We would like to confirm that we currently use the Wimax platform. Please see http://www.zuku.co.ke/broadband/ for our unlimited Wimax product offering that includes free wireless equipment.
Our coverage is in most environs of Nairobi, Mombasa, Nyeri and Nakuru. Our sales team will be glad to guide you through our existing network coverage.
We’ve also recently introduced our Corporate Business Solution that offers speeds of up to 20 Mbps. The current coverage is in Nairobi City and Westlands with more buildings to come. Please see http://www.zuku.co.ke/biz/ for the offering and a list of current ready buildings.
Feel free to contact us with contacts below. We’ll be glad to assist you and provide a solution.
Sincerely,
Zuku Customer Care
For Sales email sales@zuku.co.ke
For Support email support@ke.wananchi.com
Customer Support Line – 254 20 329 2200
Hey! does zuku cover the pangani area? need to know if you guys have a basestation near there asap and i will sign up with you guys even tomorrow! i need a solution like now!
Peace!
Yes there is Zuku in Ngara and Pangani areas.
Dear Zuku Customer Care
Thank you for shadding light and replying to Edutchz’s questions. However you skipped one important question Edutchz had asked. That of actual connection SPEED and I can add contetion ratios. Please respond to this if you could. I also red in earlier blog of Zuku blocking some ports. Is this true or it has changed? Another clarification i need is when one needs a bundle of TV and broadband, do you still use WiMax for that? I thought you have fibre optic?
Once again thank for clarifications you gave.
Omi
IS zuku signal at Kahawa west ?
you guys should be fare why are ur cables not in eastland areas…i would realy love to conect to zuku am in umoja2 think about it……..
For any reason do not Go for ZUKU , very very bad service , & i kown this wanachi group service since long years they just changed the name to zuku & other things reamins the same like old wananchi.
i am using tehir cable tv it is nightmare, not even a single channel comes properly for 5 Minutes
their customer service is hopeless
For all kenyans DO NOT TAKE SERVIE FROM ZUKU
Pricing and the ads look great – but customer care is cr*p! We visited – lets call them KUKU offices – on Mombasa road on 9th October – and after a wait of 2 hours, confirmed and paid for a 4MBPS fibre cable connection in Kilimani. We were informed it would take 4-5 days to connect and a max of 10 days. Sawa. As of today its been 19 days and still no connection. Our business is really hurting as we are a small start-up office and this has meant we had to get dongles and delay cabling as we await KUKU to get their act together. Funnily enough, our offices are along Kindaruma road and fibre is 50m max from our door, and we are less than 300m from KUKU tech offices. I have visited KUKU offices at least 4 times in this period – to no avail. Apparently, they’ve run out of cable? Not funny. Of course I’m livid. I’ve re-read their service contract, and never signed up to be part of their logistics. That’s just not right. When I spoke with CC, I was informed they did not know when cables would come in, and if I wanted a refund, I would have to wait for 3 weeks! Surely, that must be against some of the new laws we have, and most surprising for a private firm with such a bunch of talented, young techies at the cutting edge. If that is not private sector impunity and poor service, I don’t know what is. KUKU you really do need to style up. In all this, all the managers have ‘ducked’ leaving their subordinates to face my wrath… defn. not cool. No, I recommend them, NOT!
zuku cable tv sucks, they always have no signal. Especially on the weekends!!! They have become less reliable.