MTN South Africa recently launched a potentially game-changing service called ‘Shesha@5G’, where 5G routers and SIM cards are delivered directly to customers’ homes within two hours using branded scooters. Customers order online, complete SIM registration digitally, and are connected to high-speed 5G internet almost instantly.

Ultimately, it seems like a smart, strategic move to accelerate 5G adoption by removing the traditional last-mile bottlenecks that slow down home internet installations.

Kenya’s leading mobile networks — Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, JTL Faiba, and Telkom Kenya — are all investing heavily in their 4G and 5G networks to expand reach and uptake on a national level. But there’s a clear challenge since last-mile delivery and ‘activation friction’ delays customer uptake. Most customers still have to:

1. Travel to a mobile network’s retail outlet to buy a router
2. Navigate technically complicated setup processes
3. May experience delays with SIM registration and router configuration

In a mobile-first market like Kenya, could adopting an approach similar to MTN South Africa’s Shesha@5G Model work? If so, this would entail the following:

1. Leverage Kenya’s established on-demand logistics ecosystem via the likes of Glovo, Uber, Bolt, and Jumia whilst enabling same-day or even 2–4 hour delivery windows in key urban areas and also create co-branded delivery experiences with trained, technology-enabled riders to deliver the service end-to-end. 
2. Digitize Onboarding and Setup by enabling in-app eKYC and SIM activation for the router-based internet services whilst delivering routers preconfigured for plug-and-play use and offer video or chatbot-based support for basic installation help for non-techie users. 
3. Create seamless Order-to-Activation customer journeys that Integrate ordering into apps like MySafaricom and My Airtel which can also have WhatsApp-based ordering and support (because we all know how much Kenyans love WhatsApp as an everything app!) whilst promoting the service through SMS, social media, and digital marketing campaigns

The strategic benefits for mobile networks in Kenya would ultimately be faster 4G and 5G adoption by:

1. Making the process immediate and seamless whilst reducing customer acquisition costs by bypassing retail logistics
2. Higher activation rates by removing onboarding friction
3. Better customer satisfaction through fast, modern service delivery
4. Competitive differentiation in an increasingly crowded market
5. Build brand loyalty with a convenient and digital-first onboarding experience 
6. Potential for recurrent revenue through upselling and bundled service offerings