Airtel’s Sh19b network upgrade war chest

Airtel Kenya is investing Sh19 billion on infrastructure expansion to increase its mobile network services through the Mobile Virtual Networks (MVNs) platform.

This follows the licensing of three companies by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to offer MVN services which will be hosted on the excess capacity of Airtel Kenya’s network. The companies, Finserve Africa Ltd, a subsidiary of Equity Bank, Zioncell Kenya and Mobile Pay Ltd who run Tangaza Pesa money transfer services are expected to spur competition and innovation within the telecommunication industry by providing consumers with a variety of choice for value. The firms will use Airtel infrastructure on a commercial basis to launch services similar to those offered by mobile telephony firms.