So. Safaricom just SPAMMED me via SMS to tell me that they have available at their Safaricom Shops limited quantities of the Huawei Ascend Y550 Android smartphone. What made this SPAM extra interesting is that the Huawei Ascend Y550 is an entry-level 4G smartphone being sold for only Kes. 13,999.00.

Unless I am mistaken, this is the most inexpensive 4G smartphone in Kenya at the minute which is a huge boon given that the majority of 4G smartphones in Kenya have hitherto been high-end models retailing for at least Kes. 40,000.00. Incidentally, Jumia Kenya is also selling the same device here albeit for Kes. 14,999.00 which is Kes. 1,000.00 more than Safaricom’s offer.

Safaricom obviously has a vested interest in launching more and more inexpensive 4G smartphones given that they are the only mobile network in Kenya that supports this technology and they need to start reaping the windfall of the massive investment they have made in rolling it out.

However, as much as 4G is the next and greatest Internet ‘thing’ in Kenya since Safaricom launched with limited coverage in December 2014, the majority of Kenyans are perfectly happy with 3G, ‘as is’.

In addition, 3G coverage across Kenya via Orange, Airtel and Safaricom is still a work in progress as many rural parts of the country are still not on it yet. That being said, it would be great to see a sub-Kes. 10,000.00 4G smartphone in Kenya within the next few months so as to drive greater adoption across the board.