By Macharia Kamau
Telkom Kenya wants the Communication Commission of Kenya to speed up the process of introducing mobile phone number portability, to enhance competition in the sector and level the playing ground for operators.
Mobile number portability enables phone users to retain their numbers when changing from one network to another.
Speaking on KTN’s Financial Markets Live programme, Telkom’s new Chief Executive, Mickael Ghossein, said given the number of subscribers and operators, market conditions were ripe for the infrastructure.
"If we do not do it now, it might be costly and even difficult in the future," he said.
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Number portability is a telecommunications network feature that enables end users to retain their numbers whenever they decide to change service providers.
CCK tried to introduce the issue in 2004 but was unsuccessful due to the few number of operators then. It floated the issue in November last year following entry of two more players.
Recently, the telecommunications industry regulator said it is consulting within the industry on the issue. Ghossein reiterated that Telkom Kenya would not engage in price wars. On assuming office as CEO a month ago, he said the company would not engage in price wars.
"Our strategy will be emphasis on quality, and giving subscribers value for their money," he said.
New product
Meanwhile, Telkom Kenya launched a residential broadband product earlier in the day, which will make use of the company’s landline infrastructure.
The landline network currently in place has been under utilised especially in the recent past with the growth of mobile telephony and as an incentive for subscribers, the company has waived the application fee for a fixed line.
Subscribers to the product will get five free email addresses with large storage capacity, anti-spam and antivirus and Broadband Nyumbani’s equipment known as the Livebox, which is fitted with a Wi-Fi component.
Ghossein said the company’s move into residential broadband is part of its strategy to offer value added services to customers and maintain the lead in the data services market as it prepares for the landing of the fibre optic cables.
The company recently bought capacity Seacom, which is in addition to having a stake in the East African Marine Cable System (TEAMS) and is set to benefit from the expected surge in the number of residential Internet users once the cables go live in the coming weeks.
