Telecom service provider Airtel has invested US$2.73mn to upgrade its 3G network coverage in Kenya
According to the company, the upgrade of all sites in Mombasa and Kitale has been completed and Nairobi’s upgrade is in progress.
Mobile broadband service provider Nokia Networks has partnered with Airtel for the project, added Airtel.
Adil El Youssefi, managing director of Airtel, said, “We have invested US$2.73mn in this exercise and plan to continue investing significantly in the network to provide our customers with the best possible user experience across the country. The project will increase the reach and coverage of Airtel’s 3G network, enabling our customers take full advantage of what Airtel has to offer.”
With the growing demand for data services alongside the increasing proliferation of smartphones, the upgrade project will enhance indoor coverage penetration, added Youssefi.
“The network upgrade also makes Airtel’s network 4G LTE ready. In November 2014, Airtel launched 4G in Seychelles and Rwanda, making the two countries amongst the first in sub-Saharan Africa to commercially deploy the 4G network technology. In India, Airtel was the first operator to launch the 4G service, making it one of the first countries in the world to commercially deploy this technology,” noted the managing director.
Airtel currently has the widest 3G network in Africa, with a presence across 17 markets.
