Orange Kenya has denied it is to exit the country and said it will invest over KSh2.5 billion (US$28.8 million) to roll out a 3G network across the country, expanding the National Optic Fibre Backbone and launching the Multi Service Access Node (MSAN).
HumanIPO reported last week the company met members of the government to decide whether the company would continue managing the country’s National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI) programme, which has seen uptake below 50 per cent despite KSh5 billion (US$57.7 million) investment, after Ministry of ICT cabinet secretary Dr Fred Matiangi informed the company of his ministry’s intention to cancel the contract after suggestions France Telecom is looking to dispose of its operations in the country.
However Orange Kenya chief executive officer (CEO) Mickael Ghossein denied talk of an exit and said the company was still investing in Kenya.
“We are putting in more capital to meet growing demand for our services to the market and provide our customers with superior services,” Ghossein said.
“We are also constructing and managing the National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure (NOFBI) on behalf of the government and currently we have five operators using the network. We have constructed a total of 5,200 kilometres of duct fibre.” he said.
The company said cables continue to carry internet and private data traffic within and outside the country, as a result supporting Kenya’s broadband agenda as well as the realisation of the National ICT Master Plan and Vision 2030.
“To serve our customers better, we have opened 10 new sales and customer service shops bringing the total outlet to 35, we have 10,000 new points of sales and 100 franchise shops,” Ghossein said.
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