Telecommunications service provider Orange has touched off a fierce battle on the internet frontier by unveiling a 3G Wi-Fi broadband internet sharing device leveraging on SMEs, Small and Medium Enterprises.
The plug-and-play device has an imbedded billing interface to enable management of the time and volume spent by each user and allows up to 20 end users to access internet using Wi-Fi.
The gadget, christened Orange Surf and Pay device, was unveiled at a time when the company is focusing on tailor made products and services for different market segments in Kenya, with the device targeting SMEs.
“Despite the sector contributing to 18.4% of the country’s GDP and employing over 5 million people, the SME sector continues to experience constraints that include limited access to information and technology. Orange is keen on playing its role to support this important sector to improve its business processes while also facilitating new and innovative ways to encourage revenue generation,” said Telkom Kenya CEO, Mickael Ghossein.
The gadget, which won Best New Service Category (2011) at AfricaCom Awards, is convenient for use by small start up businesses: small hotels, restaurants, business centres, cyber cafes and other small sized businesses.
It is also ideal for schools and apartment blocks as it allows for the sharing of broadband internet costs with others using a payment interface that is both flexible and secure.
“The value proposition for this plug and play device is its cost efficiency, simplicity as well as flexibility,” he said, adding that the product also allows for regulation of speeds, change of passwords thus enhancing security, as well as the possibility of having more than one tariff plan.
The device, which comes with 4 hour back up battery, a SIM Card and free 10GB worth of data, will retail at KSh 36,950 and is available at all Orange shops as well as partner outlets countrywide.
“To use the Orange Surf and Pay device customers will be able to purchase existing pre paid data bundles through the Orange portal while plans are underway to have post paid packages on offer,” added Ghossein.
According to the Oxford Internet Institute, preliminary research shows that the majority of businesses in Kenya are investing in internet connectivity, as competition and cost cutting measures take centre stage in the running of a successful outfit.
