Safaricom (NSE: SCOM) through the fibre to the home initiative has partnered with Kenya Alliance of Residents Association to increase security in member estates with a pilot project launched in Ngei Estate phase 2, Langata.

Safaricom is seeking to utilize its Fibre to the Home and Cloud services to power estate surveillance, a move that is expected to boost internet connections in the estate. So far, the Fiber Optic footprint has surpassed 5,000km countrywide accessing more than 200,000 households.

“With the onset of fibre optic, we are looking to diversify our service offering and give customers a wide array of services as we roll out fibre to the home in different parts of the country. We are cognizant of the increasing demand for security both in our homes and the environments we operate in and hence the reason we are happy to partner with KARA to transform lives of residents of the member states”, said Steve Okeyo, Director, Regional sales and operations, Safaricom.

 Safaricom will be sponsoring a surveillance pilot in Ngei Estate Phase Two, which is one of the fibre ready estates to help improve the estate’s security.

“We are hoping that through this initiative residents of this estate will continue to enjoy uninterrupted internet connections and also encourage other estates to invest in Home fibre,” said Okeyo.

Safaricom has sponsored a fibre connection to the estate that will be used to power surveillance of the estate’s two gates. They will also provide internet through one router at each gate and an installation of two cameras at each gate.

To address the power issue, Safaricom has provided a solar kit for each gate which contains a solar panel, a charge controller and a battery. The estate management and security firm in charge of security will have access to surveillance feeds which will be made possible by Safaricom Cloud services.

Safaricom Home fibre is available in four categories of customer pricing which are Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum, ranging from Shs. 2,500 to Shs 9,999 a month. Customers using fibre to the home enjoy unlimited fast and reliable internet, free installation within 48 hours, free router worth Kshs 10,000, dedicated customer line (400).

Safaricom will also sponsor the training of a selected number of domestic workers in Ngei estate on First Aid and safety within the home. Those who will successfully complete the four-hour course will be issued with certificates.

With over 4,600 network sites across the country and 86% of the Kenyan population covered with our 3G network, Safaricom continues to enhance efforts to improve mobile penetration from the current 88.7%.

By March this year, a total of 141,700 homes across 6 towns had been passed by Fiber which translates to a 34% penetration.