The hype about 5G connectivity appears to have dwindled, but it is slowly gaining momentum again, at least locally. The rebound of 5G is being occasioned by the recent rollout of Safaricom 5G sites in 21 new counties, which means that close to half of Safaricom subscribers can now find locations where they can use 5G Internet. If you are one of those Safaricom subscribers who are ready to experience the fastest and most reliable internet connection in Kenya, then here are the three requirements you need to have before you can fully access the benefits of Safaricom 5G connectivity.
Owning a 5G enabled smartphone
The first and most obvious requirement is to have a 5G enabled smartphone. This means that your phone has the hardware and software capabilities to support 5G technology. Not all phones are 5G compatible, so you need to check if your current phone can handle 5G or if you need to upgrade to a new one.
To find out if your phone is 5G enabled, you can check the specifications of your phone model online or in the user manual. You can also visit any Safaricom shop and ask for assistance from the staff. They will help you identify if your phone is 5G ready or not.
If your phone is not 5G compatible, don’t worry. You can still enjoy Safaricom 5G by buying a new 5G enabled smartphone from any Safaricom shop or online store. There are many options available for different budgets and preferences. Some of the popular 5G enabled smartphones in Kenya are:
- Samsung Galaxy S21 and above series
- Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
- OPPO Reno8 T 5G
- Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G
- vivo V23 5G
- Nokia 8.3 5G
- And many more
These are just some examples of the many 5G enabled smartphones that you can choose from. You can also check out the full list of 5G enabled smartphones on Safaricom’s website or app.
Ensuring your sim card is 5G enabled
The second requirement is to ensure that your sim card is 5G enabled. This means that your sim card has the necessary features and settings to access 5G network services. Not all sim cards are 5G enabled, so you need to check if your current sim card can work with 5G or if you need to replace it with a new one.
To find out if your sim card is 5G enabled, you can dial *100# or *200# on your phone and follow the prompts. You can also visit any Safaricom shop and ask for assistance from the staff. They will help you verify if your sim card is 5G ready or not.
If your sim card is not 5G compatible, don’t worry. You can still enjoy Safaricom 5G by replacing your old sim card with a new one at any Safaricom shop or agent. The process is simple and fast, and it will not affect your contacts, airtime, or data balance. All you need to do is:
- Visit any Safaricom shop or agent with your original ID and old sim card
- Request for a new 5G enabled sim card
- Fill in a sim replacement form and pay a nominal fee of Kshs.50
- Receive your new 5G enabled sim card and activate it on your phone
That’s it! You are now ready to enjoy Safaricom 5G with your new sim card. By the way, a 4G sim card is already a 5G enabled sim card.
Residing or going to a 5G area/hotspot
The third and final requirement is to reside or go to a 5G area/hotspot. This means that you need to be in a location where Safaricom has deployed its 5G network infrastructure and coverage. At the time of writing this article, there were only 21 counties that had Safaricom 5G connectivity, so you need to check if your current location or destination has a 5G signal or not.
To find out if your area has 5G coverage, you can use the Safaricom network coverage map on their website or app. If your area does not have 5G coverage yet, don’t worry. You can still enjoy Safaricom 5G by traveling to a nearby location where there is a 5G signal available. If you are in Nairobi for example, and your location doesn’t have Safaricom 5G connectivity yet, then you may want to visit Safaricom centers and shops in Village Market, The Hub, and Buruburu Shop. Those are the Safaricom test centers that Safaricom set up to allow Nairobians to enjoy the high-speed offerings promised by 5G connectivity.
