Starting a new chapter
Vsquared Networks (earlier VGG Connect) now delivers affordable fibre-powered internet to Kenya’s key economic hubs, establishing a dominant footprint in Nairobi and Kiambu counties. To support its strategy of ultimately building a national footprint, the company required a modern operations platform free from vendor lock-ins that could scale without breaking the bank.
The Splynx platform, which served as the trusted “source of truth” for Vijiji Connect from the very beginning, became the essential foundation for unifying customers, data, and tools under the newly rebranded VSquared Networks.
From “Vijiji” to one of Kenya’s top ISPs
The journey began in 2018 when Fredrick Macharia, Martin Njau, and George Chomba Kariuki founded Vijiji Connect. Named after the Swahili word for villages (‘vijiji’), the startup’s mission was to bring fast, affordable internet to underserved rural and urban-fringe areas where mainstream providers were absent.
The pandemic served as a major digital wake-up call, turning their community-centric vision into a vital necessity. As people scrambled for connectivity for education and remote work, the team moved beyond a “tangle of wires” to build a dedicated fiber-optic network. This commitment sparked a phenomenal 40,000% growth rate, transforming the startup into one of the top 10 ISPs in Kenya.
As the business matured, it entered a transformative phase by merging with Vuma Fiber Limited to form VSquared Networks. Business Operations Manager Esther Ndwiga explains that the branding reflects the “two Vs” of the merged entities, while the parent company, Roku Networks, honors the six founding directors — Roku meaning “six” in Japanese.
Today, the company has scaled from managing a few dozen customers on Excel sheets to supporting over 40,000 subscribers and providing bulk capacity to 30 smaller ISPs. With a workforce of 275 employees and scalable foundation for rapid growth, VSquared is now firmly on track to reach its next milestone of 100,000 customers within the next 3–5 years.
Why VGG Connect chose Splynx and eventually built a long-lasting partnership
At the very beginning, the company quickly outgrew its manual, spreadsheet-based operations. They required a flexible OSS/BSS solution that could seamlessly integrate with evolving infrastructure, provide comprehensive customer and network management, and offer responsive support.
Key considerations in VGG Connect decision to adopt Splynx included:
- API-First Architecture: A mature system with a flexible API to enable deep integration with custom internal systems.
- Reliable Support: Access to a knowledgeable team capable of providing rapid assistance during critical migrations.
- Comprehensive Modules: A full suite of tools for managing IPAM, NAS devices, messaging, and finance.
- Scalable Pricing: A partner committed to a pricing model that remains economically viable as the subscriber base expands especially in a dynamic market.
After evaluating industry recommendations and experiencing Splynx firsthand, VGG Connect recognized Splynx as the ideal foundation for its open, modular architecture, local appearance, professional support and predictable pricing that stays cost-effective as the subscriber base grows.
And in terms of support, we typically get a response in under 30 minutes. It was a smooth transition that I’d rate a solid 9 out of 10.
And now, eight years later, VGG Connect continue to rely on Splynx to power their everyday operations under its new brand — VSquared Networks.
Delivering Real Savings Through Scalable Integration
The high-stakes merger with Vuma Fiber Limited required migrating over 18,000 customers while bridging the gap between legacy systems and modern automation. Splynx’s robust API allowed VSquared to connect their internal CRM and PowerBI analytics directly with billing and network operations.
By consolidating data onto a single platform and leveraging Splynx’s modular architecture, VSquared Networks established a centralized ecosystem to manage every facet of its ISP operations: from billing and subscriber management to provisioning, network management, and field services. This integration has streamlined daily workflows and significantly enhanced cross-departmental collaboration.
The “Core 4” Workflows
VSquared Networks focuses on four core workflows: customer management, billing, networking, and automated service control. By leveraging Splynx’s permissions system, the business segments tasks effectively—empowering the NOC team with technical network controls while the Customer Service team handles account management. This structure allows the business to scale without administrative bottlenecks.
A standout feature is automated bandwidth management (FUP control), which ensures consistent network quality by automatically regulating heavy usage according to Fair Usage Policies.
Key Integrations
The operational ecosystem is built around Splynx as the “source of truth” featuring:
- A custom-built CRM that relies on Splynx for all customer data and RADIUS authentication for network devices.
- Centralized database for 40,000+ subscribers, providing Self-Service through a Web Portal and Mobile App.
- Centralized control of IPAM and NAS devices, enabling seamless technical management of their high-density urban coverage areas.
- Integrated communication tools used for direct customer outreach and automated service notifications.
- A deep database integration with PowerBI to extract performance trends, track growth, and manage customer churn.
The result is a fully automated billing, customer, and network management process that runs through a single system. This transformation gives the leadership team to have peace of mind regarding their financial operations, providing the transparency and efficiency required to manage 275 employees and a rapidly expanding subscriber base.
Because of how Splynx handles permissions, we can easily segment tasks. Our NOC team handles technical integrations, while customer management is done purely by Customer Service.
It works very well for us because each department has exactly the tools they need to do their jobs
The results
Since implementing Splynx, VSquared Networks has grown from a local startup into one of Kenya’s top 10 ISPs, achieving massive scale through full operational automation.
40,000% growth in subscribers
Starting from zero, VSquared Networks has reached a landmark base of 40,000 subscribers. Throughout this rapid expansion, the system has seamlessly adapted, establishing a technical foundation that is already prepared to support their milestone of 100,000 subscribers.
Efficiency gains
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A Unified “Source of Truth”: A single platform manages billing, networking, and customer data, eliminating a fragmented toolstack and significantly reducing staff training time
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Seamless local integration: Native integration with Safaricom M-PESA automates payment collection and reconciliation, allowing the team to focus on strategic growth rather than manual debt recovery.
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Operational transparency: Automated workflows provide the granular visibility required to effectively manage a large workforce of 275 employees across multiple departments.
Faster, smarter customer management
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Peace of mind for leadership: Automated billing and bandwidth management (FUP control) ensure consistent service quality and financial stability without the need for manual intervention.
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API-driven flexibility: A robust and flexible API allows the Splynx to act as a customizable backbone, enabling deep integration with additional tools, like PowerBI, and bespoke internal tools tailored to VSquared’s unique operational requirements.
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Subscriber empowerment: Web and Mobile self-service portals have shifted routine tasks to customers, drastically reducing the administrative load on support teams.
