Skip to Content »

Wireless Federation » archive for 'Kenya'

Zain Kenya slashes cross-network call rates (Kenya)

  • September 29th, 2008
  • 6:00 am

Zain Kenya is working on to cover up its loss of first half 2008 where it lost around 20% of its subscriber base. Zain Kenya introduces a flat cross-network tariff ‘Vuka’ of KES8, a 50% reduction from the KES16. Safaricom is charging KES10 for on-net and KES25 for off-net calls where as Orange instigated services last week with a tariff of KES7 for on-net calls and KES14 for off-net calls. Managing Director of Zain Kenya, Rene Meza said we are gaining 500,000 customers a month.
Considering the last two years cross-network call charges in Kenya have been ripped from over KES50. Most recent steep reduction in cross-network tariff had been made possible by Zain’s movement to the KES4.42 standard interconnection charge set by sector regulator the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) for January next year, Meeza added.

Telkom Kenya lowers call cost (Kenya)

  • September 18th, 2008
  • 6:55 am

Telkom Kenya instigated its new commercial brand, Orange, to offer mobile phone, Internet and wireless services. Chief executive Dominique Saint Jean said that this is an important point in Telkom Kenya’s growth plan. This has set to lead in a new round of price wars. As it sets the lowest charges of Sh14 per minute for calls outside its network and Sh7 per minute for calls within its network. Currently, Safaricom Charges Sh25 per minute for calls outside its network and Sh10 for calls within its network, while Zain charges sh16 for calls outside its network and Sh7 within its network. The Communication Commission of Kenya’s intervention restricting the inter-network rate to Sh30 per minute also played a major role in bringing the charges down. Also Telkom Kenya will be offering a privileged tariff of sh3.50 per minute to a group of 5 family and friends numbers.

Telekom Kenya launches as third Kenyan mobile operator (Kenya)

  • September 17th, 2008
  • 8:08 am

Telekom Kenya, launches it’s mobile services, under the name of Orange. It expects to add nearly 1.5 million fixed and mobile subscribers in a year. “If things go well, we may exceed that,” says Telkom Kenya Chief Executive Dominique Saint-Jean.

Telekom Kenya’s 51 percent stake was bought by France Telecom, late in 2007 for the amount $390 million. It has since spent more than 5 billion shillings ($70 million) for infrastructure upgradation.

   

Safaricom and Telekom Kenya sign a GSM interconnection deal (Kenya)

  • September 17th, 2008
  • 7:16 am

The Kenyan mobile operator, Safaricom signs a GSM interconnection deal with Telekom Kenya, country’s third mobile network, expected to launch today.
The interconnection according to the telcos will allow the subscribers to make calls and send SMS within the networks.
“The agreement which has been under negotiation for the past two months prescribes a mobile termination interconnection rate of 5.27 shillings for voice termination services,” the statement said.
The new agreement will broaden the area of cooperation among both the firms, as they already are in a fixed - line interconnection agreement.
Safaricom’s CEO Michael Joseph emphasises the entry of Telekom Kenya to the mobile market will bring more competition to the Kenyan mobile market and will also benefit the customers as the present operators strive to improve their services.
The interconnection agreement will ensure a fairplay among the operators.

   

Telekom Kenya unviels it’s new mobile phone service, begins operation tomorrow (Kenya)

  • September 16th, 2008
  • 8:30 am

Telekom Kenya has officially unvieled the new mobile telephone service in Kenya. This will make the company the fourth entrant to the mobile market in Kenya after Safaricom, Zain and Econet Wireless.
With the investment of Sh8 billion, the company will be rolling out the network in Mombasa and Nairobi, eventually covering the whole nation.
The CEO of Telekom Kenya promises to give it’s competitiors a run for their money with affordable network tariffs rate along with other services.

   

France Telecom shifts it’s focus back on Africa (France)

  • September 16th, 2008
  • 7:20 am

According to France Telecom’s chief executive Didier Lombard, FT is planning to shift it’s focus back on Africa, by making acquisitons in Anglophone countries.
The French group now plans to return to its strategy of small deals in high-growth emerging markets.
The telco according to Mr. Lombard, will largely remain unaffected by the economic slowdown, and suggests it could increase its payout to shareholders.
The cashflow generated in 2008 seems to be “a little bit better” than the predicted €7.8bn ($11.07bn). FT is also looking forward to raise the free cashflow ratioreturned to the investors above the targeted 45%, still a hint.
France Telecom, for the first time in history, paid out an interim dividend to shareholders last week, and Mr Lombard said: “It’s a kind of friendly attitude towards our investors and I am sure that the board will want to continue in the same way.”
France Telecom which operates in 13 African countries, mostly the western parts of the continent, last year made an important and significant acquisition by purchasing a controlling stake in Telkom Kenya, Kenya’s leading telecoms company, for $390m.
“Now we are looking at all the African territories and probably we will discover that we continue in the same direction,” said Mr Lombard.
There are no specific targets. France Telecom faces stiff competition in Africa from MTN and Vodafone. Mr Lombard denies the acquisitions of a leading African mobile operator, such as MTN or Orascom of Egypt, “because the value is already in the price”.
France Telecom’s focus will be on building new infrastructure and offering new services as it did in Niger. “It’s a very profitable situation, but we created value ourselves, We are not a bank, We are a telco.”
The telco rules out the sale of Orange UK’s underperforming fixed-line broadband business, as t is important to retain it if France Telecom were to compete against BT in providing telecoms services to companies.

   

Econet Wireless makes a move to pilot its network (Kenya)

  • September 10th, 2008
  • 12:32 pm

Econet Wireless Kenya will start testing its network later this month. Ericsson is working with operator for the launch of network. The Ericsson team has been working round the clock to ensure the delivery and installation of a functional network service within the shortest possible time, Thomas Sonesson,Vendor’s Managing Director, said. Econet is ready to compete with the two well-established cellular players, Safaricom and Celtel and also with wireline operator Telkom Kenya who set to roll out a mobile network soon. According to Michael Foley,Econet Wireless Kenya’s managing director, there are a lot of challenges in building a business from the bottom up. Our plan is to give our customers a unique offering and offer better service than our competitors.

Zain Kenya customers enjoys Ramzan with inspirational quotes!

  • September 5th, 2008
  • 7:18 am

Zain is looking forward to become  a world-class mobile service provider. In a move to accompalish the goal, Zain has launched a specialized offer for Muslim holy month of Ramzan. Throughout September, Zain Kenya customers will be able to receive  inspirational quotes from the Koran via SMS. Customers can avail this service by sending a text message with the word “Ramadhan” to 786 for a one-off fee of 100 Kenyan shillings. “In the spirit of supporting and showing solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters, we will offer this special service throughout the fasting period,” said Rene Meza, Zain Kenya managing director. Zain will also donate food through some of the country’s mosques during the breaking of the fast, Meza added.

Zain plans an investment of $364.2 million for the Kenyan network upgradation (Kenya)

  • September 5th, 2008
  • 5:37 am

Zain, one of Kenya’s leading mobile operator, is planning to invest 25 billion shillings ($364.2 million) for capacity upgradation of the upcoming Kenyan network.

Over the period of next three months, the Kenyan operator is intended to spend 3 billion shillings ($44 million) for the improvement of rural communication and upgradation of data system.

“The investment will further improve the quality of the company’s communication in rural areas,” said Managing Director Rene Meza.
“The new development is aimed at strengthening the company’s state of the art network in high traffic areas.”, he added.

The operator has already shedded 33 billion shillings in capital expenditure since beggining of the set up.

Telekom Kenya and Econet Wireless are also expected to launch the GSM services by September and November respectively.

   

France Telecom plans to spend KES 8 billion for Telkom Kenya’s infrastructure (Kenya, France)

  • September 2nd, 2008
  • 10:07 am

France Telecom is planning to spend nearly KES 8 billion annually for the infrastructure of Telkom Kenya.
According to Peter Reinartz, deputy CEO of Telkom Kenya, ‘Our investment rate today, for 2008, 2009 and years to come is around KES 8-KES 10 billion per year.’
Telkom Kenya’s 51% stake was bought by a consortium led by France Telecom for USD 390 million.
Since then the firm has spent nearly KES 5 billion for upgrading company’s infrastructure. Telekom Kenya aims to become the country’s leading integrated telecommunications provider.