Integrated telecommunications services provider Orange intends to adopt the pole position in the local data market with an intensive rollout of its 3G mobile telephony network. The company has officially been awarded a 3G spectrum license by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), paving way for an immediate and intensive roll out of high speed internet access for all its GSM customers that should be complete by mid next year.
Orange has already set up a number of 3G sites within all major urban areas country wide and successfully tested them over the past twelve months. The new roll out of the 3G network is expected to boost Orange’s Internet access services as a occupying a lead position in providing data services is a key plank in the company’s strategic plan to increase its competitiveness.
This latest development comes at a time when global demand for data is on the rise and Orange CEO Mickael Ghossein said the operator was committed to introducing new innovative products and services that would meet the dynamic needs of this market. He added: These initiatives are informed by consistent research that we have conducted into the local market needs and established our consumers’ preferences. We are determined to leverage on Orange technological advancements to ensure that our customers here benefit as wellâ€.
Ghossein reiterated that Orange will continue offering reliable internet services at a competitive price, to ensure that they boost their day to day productivity. To maintain its steady data market share growth, Orange intends to invest over KES3bn (EUR30m) to roll out a superior 3G network in the country. With the upward increase on data consumption; provision of innovative services via high speed broadband is the next frontier for competition in the telecommunication sector. The new 3G network promises higher internet download and upload speeds while at the same time provides a platform for value addition services such as mobile TV, video on demand and video conferencing,†explained Ghossein.
Recent statistics from the CCK indicate the population of internet subscribers in Kenya rose from an estimated 400,000 users in June 2008 to 3.1m as June 2010. This figure is expected to rise rapidly as the internet’s use for social and business needs increases.
Speaking at the awarding ceremony, CCK Director General Charles Njoroge encouraged Orange to diversify its product offering with the new technology and introduce new services that would cater for the varying needs of telecommunications consumers.
