Setting up 3G on my iPad In Kenya
Recently I travelled to Kenya with my iPad and I was surprised by the lack of availability of a mini SIM. Yet I am sure that the plethora huawei modems all have a mini sim in there.
Not being game to open one of those USB devices up I decided to try out a normal SIM.
Getting a SIM
Kenya is a land of mobile telephony but I had not idea which carrier to choose. I ended up in a Zain (Airtel) store at WestGate in Nairobi and opted to buy the airtel SIM.
I learnt much to my dismay that Safaricom has better coverage out bush, though it is more expensive than Airtel - So if you are going to be out of Nairobi heaps I would go with safaricom.
Setting the SIM up for 3G data
SIM cards are cheap and activation is superfast without much hassle 50/- will buy you a SIM (A$.60)
Once you get the SIM easiest thing is to put it in a mobile activate, add credit choose bundle etc. I just got a mobile internet 1GB = 1GB free offer that expired in 6 months with Airtel and a 1 Month 2GB with Safaricom. These SIM's can be topped up by sending credit to them via another phone (I was not sure how this worked so did not bother.) Whilst in the phone I also disabled all other services (Voice mail etc).
Cut the SIM
Don't be scared. Pop the tray out and you can see the size required. Usually means you need to cut quite close to the metal part on 3 sides and remember where the slant cut is as that is the side you leave more off and create your own slant to fit the tray
Setting Up the iPad
If you need to you configure APN settings manually
For Airtel
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 17.0px; font: 12.0px Arial}
APN Name Airtel
Server ke.celtel.com
User name internet
Password internet (if this does not work type in password)
“leave blank” or if forced to input use “internet”
Proxy IP none or 0.0.0.0
Port 8080 (try with none)
For Safaricom
#445 whilst it is in the phone gets the settings - if you do not have them (try the following not sure which will work)
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'}
APN: safaricom
Username: saf
Password: data
OR
APN: web.safaricom.com
Username: web
Password; web
5 comments
All the best!
@ Betty
Mobile network and it's usage is amazing in Kenya, everyone but everyone has a mobile or two, but at least one phone and 2-3 sim cards for different providers to benefit from various offers and cheap rates. Wi fi is also widely available and more wi fi zones are being introduced. There are many Internet providers both mobile network operators and Internet companies. Rates are fair for unlimited Internet and you create your own wi fi zone at home with the router :)
Hope you will enjoy Kenya the way we do!
