Kenya, today, marked a significant milestone as President William Ruto unveiled the East Africa Device Assembly Kenya Limited (EADAK), a joint venture between local mobile network operators Safaricom, Jamii Telecommunications, and Chinese company Shenzhen TeleOne Technology.
We reported in June that the venture is in alignment with the Kenyan President’s goal to produce affordable smartphones locally, positioning Kenya as a hub for the most affordable smartphones in Africa.
This development marks the inauguration of Kenya’s first locally assembled smartphone plant, a move aimed at democratising smartphone access in the country.
EADAK’s assembly facility has the capacity to produce up to 3 million mobile phone devices annually. These devices will be available nationwide at Faiba and dealer stores, Safaricom outlets, and the Masoko online platform, all at an affordable price of $50, ITWeb reports.
EADAK Chairman Joshua Chepkwony emphasised the significance of this assembly plant, stating that it aligns with the government’s agenda to increase digital inclusion. The achievement of affordability was realised through collaborative efforts, including business partnerships and supportive government regulations.
Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, highlighted the company’s commitment to expanding 4G coverage and empowering Kenyans with affordable, high-quality smartphones. This initiative also aims to create job opportunities and stimulate economic growth.
The initial devices to be launched are the 4G-enabled Neon 5″ “Smarta” and 6.12″ “Ultra” mobile phone handsets.
These smartphones are the result of a joint venture between Safaricom, Faiba, and EADAK, with more locally assembled devices expected to join the product range in the coming months, including a tablet.
With a production volume of 21,000 phones per month, these smartphones are part of the government’s broader digital literacy program, which has trained 300,000 people in 2023, according to a TechCabal report.
Additionally, the government plans to expand fiber connectivity to previously underserved areas as part of its digital transformation agenda.
While low-cost smartphones are not new to the Kenyan market, the Neon Smarta and Neon Ultra, available for $50, have been introduced as a result of this joint venture.
The Smarta, with a 5-inch display, and the Ultra, with a 6.5-inch display, both come with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and 4G support. Customers purchasing from Safaricom will receive single SIM variants.
HMD Global, known for manufacturing Nokia-branded devices, had also pledged to start assembling its devices in Kenya to address high smartphone prices. However, updates on this initiative from HMD Global in Nairobi remain uncertain.
