Safaricom, Kenya’s biggest telecom company, is preparing to unveil a new product that could change how people access the internet.
The service, called B-Live, will be introduced today. Unlike the traditional model where customers purchase data in megabytes or gigabytes, B-Live will allow subscribers to buy internet based on time.
In practice, this means a customer can pay for, say, one hour of unlimited browsing instead of a set amount of data. The model is already popular in parts of Asia and Europe, where time-based packages often help users stretch costs while keeping access steady.
Safaricom has not yet shared the exact pricing structure, but insiders say the company hopes the product will ease pressure on consumers struggling with the rising cost of data. A senior Safaricom official, said the service was designed with affordability in mind.
Many Kenyans want to stay connected without worrying about running out of MBs after just a few minutes online. B-Live gives them the freedom to pay for time instead.
Industry watchers will be keen to see how the plan performs in a market where high data costs remain a point of public debate. Consumer advocacy groups have long called for cheaper, more flexible internet options.
At the same time, questions remain over whether time-based plans will truly save money for heavy users, or simply shift the cost structure. Analysts note that students and small businesses, who often need reliable connections for study or work, could benefit most from such packages.
Safaricom has promised to release full details of B-Live at tomorrow’s launch.
For now, the company is betting that giving people control over minutes rather than megabytes could be the next step in Kenya’s fast-changing digital economy.
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