Malhotra shared, “Ksh. 21.5 billion is what we require for incremental investments in the coming two to three years from a network perspective alone. But that’s not the only investment that we will make, there are others happening in regard to building more shops, bringing more affordable routers and so on.”
Earlier this year, Airtel had outlined its vision to bolster its network infrastructure, aiming to construct a total of 349 network sites by year-end, with an additional 300 sites in the pipeline. This strategic endeavor seeks to address connectivity challenges that have historically impacted the user experience.
Presently, Airtel boasts an extensive network infrastructure of over 3,200 sites that cover a remarkable 89% of the country, spanning all 47 counties.
Airtel’s recent acquisition of an additional 2,600 megahertz spectrum for $40 million enabled the company to roll out its 5G mobile broadband network, joining Safaricom as the second operator to introduce this cutting-edge technology to Kenya. While the response to the 5G technology has been promising, Malhotra acknowledged the low penetration of 5G-enabled smartphones in the country, primarily attributed to the devices’ cost.
Presently, Airtel has established 370 5G network sites, with plans to add 120 more within the next three months, placing them ahead of Safaricom, which currently operates 205 such sites. In a competitive move, Safaricom aims to boost its 5G network site count to 800 by the end of March 2024.
Airtel’s commitment to investing in network expansion, coupled with the drive to make cutting-edge technology accessible to a broader population, sets the stage for intensified competition and innovation within Kenya’s flourishing telecom market.
August 9, 2023
Delino Gayweh
Serrari Financial Analyst
photo source Google
