Safaricom Launches SD-WAN Service For Multi-Branch Businesses

Safaricom has launched a managed software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) service for businesses with multiple branches, with monthly packages starting at $73 (KES 9,500) per branch on a 36-month contract.

The service bundles equipment, software, maintenance and round-the-clock support into a monthly fee, allowing businesses to manage connectivity across multiple sites without paying for hardware upfront.

The offering targets businesses operating across branches, depots and clinics, where network outages can disrupt payments, customer service, inventory management and dispatch operations.

SD-WAN combines a business’s existing connections, including fibre, 4G, 5G, broadband, dedicated internet access and multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), into one centrally managed network.

When a connection fails, traffic can switch automatically to a backup link, helping keep payment terminals, stock systems and online ordering operational. The service also balances traffic across available connections, allowing secondary links to carry traffic instead of remaining idle.

It prioritises business-critical applications, such as video calls and customer payments, over less essential browsing. Security filters and threat protection are included at each site, reducing the need to purchase separate firewall hardware for every branch.

“For a business with several branches, a single connection failure can stop sales, leave staff unable to reach the systems they need and keep customers waiting. Our SD-WAN service brings those connections under one managed network for a predictable monthly fee, so businesses can expand without a large upfront investment in hardware, with Safaricom providing the support,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom.

Safaricom offers three plans with 12-, 24- or 36-month contracts. The Basic Plus plan, designed for standard branches and regional offices requiring reliable connectivity with automatic 5G backup, costs $73 (KES 9,500) per branch per month and $227 (KES 29,500) per month for headquarters equipment on a 36-month contract.

The Standard Plus plan, aimed at high-volume sites and headquarters requiring advanced threat protection, costs $109 (KES 14,100) per branch per month and $234 (KES 30,400) per month for headquarters equipment on the same term. The Advanced Plus plan for headquarters starts at $517 (KES 67,100) per month.

Longer contracts significantly reduce monthly costs. A Basic Plus branch costs $152 (KES 19,800) per month on a 12-month contract, compared with $73 (KES 9,500) on a 36-month term.

The service targets medium-sized businesses with distributed operations. Banks can use it to connect ATMs, teller systems and mobile banking services, while retailers and distributors can link point-of-sale terminals, inventory databases and dispatch teams. Manufacturers can connect production plants to head-office enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, while clinic chains can link patient records, prescription data and laboratory systems across locations.

Through its Ready Mobility offering, businesses can establish new branches using 4G or 5G where suitable coverage is available, without waiting for fibre installation. They can add fibre later as their needs grow. Equipment is configured remotely, subject to an assessment of coverage and network requirements.

Businesses can retain existing connections, including those supplied by other providers. A central dashboard displays the health and speed of each site, allowing IT teams to manage the network from one interface, while Safaricom engineers in Kenya monitor and support the service around the clock.

The SD-WAN fee is separate from connectivity charges. Final pricing and network design depend on each customer’s requirements.