CC image courtesy of Shrutuja Shirke.
Airtel Kenya says it is delighted to open a new chapter in Kenya’s telecoms industry with the announcement it will host three mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) on its network.
HumanIPO reported last week the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) issued MVNO licences to Finserve Africa Limited, a subsidiary of Equity Bank, Zioncell Kenya Limited and Tangaza’s Mobile Pay Limited, – with the three companies having entered into an agreement to use Airtel’s infrastructure, though Orange Kenya has objected to the deal.
Airtel said it was delighted to be the mobile operator pioneering this innovation in the Kenyan telecoms Industry, clarifying the MVNO services will run on the unused capacity on its network, ensuring that it maintains seamless quality experience to consumers.
“The launch of MVNOs is in line with Airtel Kenya’s innovation and differentiation agenda,” said Airtel Kenya managing director Shivan Bhargava, who also lauded the CAK for the move.
“We believe that the entry of the MVNOs into the market will stimulate and sustain overall market growth through a new range of innovative products and service propositions that will give more choice and value to Kenyans. Additionally, their entry into the market will increase the uptake of mobile services in key segments such as mobile commerce and data thereby accelerating the inclusion of all Kenyans into the mobile revolution for sustained economic development of the country.”
The MVNO licences have been awarded under the ‘Application Service Provider (ASP)’ category of the CAK’s Unified Licensing Framework adopted in 2008. Telecom and non-telecom companies as observed from the three licensees can now leverage their existing brand assets and equity to enter the mobile industry and create value.
