Category Archives: ISP Kenya

Battle for Africa Online

Telkom (South Africa) looks to emerge the winner in the battle for Africa Online after the African Lakes board (parent company) have accepted Telkom (SA)’s bid of £9.72 million (£25 per share) beating out Africa Telecoms Company (ATC) [which comprised Wananchi Online, Schneider Media and East Africa Capital Partners] who had offered £5.04 million (£18.50 per share)

While ATC had commited to move the company headquarters to Naiorbi, Telkom have not indicated their intentions for Kenya, as the Ethiopian and Malawian operations will be disposed of.

Meanwhile ATC will go ahead with its plans for laying out consumer broadband infrastructure to Kenya and other pan-African markets.

Telkom now an ISP

Jambo Telkom, a subsidiary of Telkom has started offering internet connections as an internet service provider (ISP) and competing against other ISP’s like wananchi and Africa online.

Simple: All you need is a Telkom telephone line and a computer with a modem installed. Dial 9444 with your modem then enter the username jambo and password jambo and your are connected directly to the internet (at 56kps max). Charges are the normal local call rates.

Jambo was originally licensced in 2002 and at the time regulators assured other ISP’s that Jambo would not be subsidized by Telkom to drive them out of business.

Read about the long tortured history of ISP’s in Kenya here (DOC file).