Safaricom has announced a 25 percent discount on new business fibre connections for enterprises located in fibre-ready buildings, effective for the next two months. The offer was unveiled at the Nairobi edition of the Grow with Safaricom Business forum, where the company positioned connectivity as a foundation for MSME growth alongside financing, digitisation and market access. The telco cited KNBS data that more than 70 percent of small businesses fail within three years, framing the discount as a tactical nudge to lower the cost of getting online.
How this differs from last week’s consumer offer
Seven days ago, Safaricom announced a very specific discount for homes. New Home Fibre customers will get 25 percent off the first month only, valid from 1 to 31 August, and limited to four packages: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond. Safaricom even listed the reduced first-month prices, from KES 2,250 on Bronze up to KES 9,375 on Diamond. Fibre Lite, Platinum and bulk-pay were excluded.
Today’s move is aimed at businesses rather than households and is structured differently. The 25 percent applies to new fibre connections for companies already in fibre-ready buildings, and it runs for two months from the announcement date. Safaricom framed this as part of a broader SME agenda rather than a one-off onboarding sweetener.
The business angle: connectivity plus credit
Safaricom’s enterprise push has paired connectivity with working-capital tools. In May, the company refreshed MSME credit options such as Fuliza Biashara and the Taasi suite to offer more flexible till and wallet financing, suggesting a playbook that links cash-flow support to digital operations.
On the network side, the firm has also been positioning fixed and wireless alternatives for SMEs, including prior upgrades to 5G for Business that promised higher speeds and reliability for small firms that lack fibre. Together, these moves show a pattern, where discounted onboarding reduces friction and credit products keep operations running.
Why it matters
For many MSMEs, the hurdle is not just monthly fees, it is the initial step of getting connected and productive in a predictable, secure way. A time-boxed discount, targeted at addresses where fibre already exists, minimizes installation friction and speeds up activation. It also comes at a moment when home internet competition is heating up, and households just received a price nudge of their own. That dynamic could push enterprise landlords and tenants to accelerate sign-ups while the math looks good.
There is also a longer arc. Safaricom’s fixed business and home segments have been growing in recent years, and the company has periodically used promos to stimulate adoption or upgrades. That strategy, combined with MSME credit and 5G alternatives, aligns with a broader objective of locking in small businesses across connectivity and payments.
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