By Macharia Kamau

Internet users should expect more from their service providers after the going live of the second fibre optic cable early next month.

Other than affordable pricing and high-speed connection, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are promising users a larger product offering to suit many users.

To date, users have not been particular about the products ISPs have been offering due to the slow and costly nature of satellite connection.

Mr Kunal Lodhia, managing director of Tangerine — a local ICT solutions provider — says the nature of connection has left many users not bothered to insist for more and are content once they are connected.

He said Internet prices were bound to come down given the number of providers in Kenya, adding that price would play a crucial role in increasing ICT uptake and none of the providers would want to price themselves out.

"As soon as beginning of next month, prices will start coming down as service ISPs realign themselves in the market," he said. "With the hurdle of speed and pricing overcome, focus will shift to users getting connectivity that suits their needs."

He said the next big task, especially for ISPs, was to give the market products relevant to their needs.

"It is upon the service providers to anticipate the needs of their clients and develop products that suit them," he said.

"Different users will have varying needs and there is no need to tie down light browsers with products that are meant for heavy browsers."

The company said it would launch over 60 products in the coming month and overhaul the pricing of products currently on offer.

"We will be adjusting our prices and pass on any benefits accrued from the undersea cable connection to the end users," said Lodhia.

Other players have started retracting their hard-line position taken by some of the ISPs. Some have indicated that prices would come down beginning next month.