Maurice Odhiambo owns and operates a growing WiFi hotspot business in Roysambu, Nairobi, with coverage extending to parts of Zimmerman, Thika Road Mall (TRM) and Mirema.

The Computer Science graduate from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) says his journey into the internet business began long before graduation.

“I’ve always been passionate about technology. While I was still living in Hall 6 at JKUAT, I started sharing internet with my fellow students on the same floor. That’s when I realized there was a real opportunity in providing affordable internet,” he told WiFi Mtaani.

After graduating in 2024, Maurice partnered with a friend and the two started a cyber café. As demand for internet continued to grow, they saw an opportunity to expand beyond the cyber business by providing WiFi hotspot services and later connecting homes and businesses using PPPoE.

“We started with a Safaricom 5G Smart Box, commonly known as the Mtungi, and subscribed to the 15 Mbps package. It worked well in the beginning, but as more customers joined the network, we started experiencing instability and slower speeds.”

To keep up with the growing demand, the duo upgraded from the 5G connection to a dedicated fibre link provided by Unwired Communication, giving them the reliability and capacity needed to serve a larger customer base.

Today, their network serves customers across Roysambu and continues to expand into neighbouring areas, including Zimmerman, TRM and Mirema.

The Turning Point

While the business was growing, Maurice says attracting new customers wasn’t the hardest part. The real challenge was keeping them connected with reliable internet.

“As the number of customers increased, we quickly realized that people don’t just pay for internet. They pay for a good experience. If the connection keeps dropping, they won’t stay with you for long.”

Upgrading to dedicated fibre gave the network a solid foundation, but Maurice says that alone wasn’t enough to guarantee growth.

The biggest breakthrough came when they shifted their focus from simply selling internet to building trust with customers.

“We made it a priority to respond to customer issues quickly, keep the network stable and communicate whenever there was a problem. People appreciate honesty. Even if there’s an outage, they’ll be patient if you keep them informed.”

According to Maurice, that simple change had a huge impact. Happy customers began referring their neighbours, friends and relatives, allowing the business to grow without spending heavily on advertising.

However, there was one more decision that accelerated the business even further.

“I realized that if you want to grow your WiFi hotspot business, you can’t rely on new customers alone. You have to take good care of the customers you already have because they become your best marketers.”

That lesson, he says, has played a major role in expanding the network from a handful of users to serving multiple neighbourhoods across Roysambu, Zimmerman, TRM and Mirema.

Challenges Along the Way

Like many small ISP owners, Maurice says the journey has not been without challenges.

Power outages, cable cuts, equipment failures and rising bandwidth costs are some of the issues they deal with regularly.

“There are days when everything is working perfectly, then someone cuts a fibre cable or there’s a power outage. You have to respond quickly because customers depend on the internet.”

Competition has also increased as more providers enter the market. Maurice says the best way to stay ahead is by offering reliable service instead of competing on price alone.

“If you give people stable internet and good support, they’ll stay even if someone else is slightly cheaper.”

He also notes that patience is important, especially during the first few months.

“Don’t expect to make huge profits immediately. Build your reputation first, and the customers will come.”

Maurice encourages anyone interested in the business to start with the resources they have and keep improving as they grow.

“Don’t wait until everything is perfect. Start small, learn the business and reinvest your profits.”

He also advises new entrepreneurs to choose reliable internet, invest in quality equipment and put customer satisfaction first.

“Technology will change, but one thing never changes. If you treat your customers well, they’ll help grow your business.”