Airtel Kenya has announced that it will invest Kshs.19 billion in improving its operations in Kenya over the next 3 years. The investment will cover network upgrades for its voice and data services, shops, and brand equity development, customer service quality improvement staff training programs and community development programs.
Utilization of the investment has already started in Mombasa, Nairobi and Kitale where phase one of Airtel’s network upgrade program has started. This involves a comprehensive change of old hardware and expansion of radio network elements which should result in better voice quality for Airtel customers. Phase two of the upgrade which is currently underway, and undertaken by Nokia Networks, will improve data speeds and offer a stable and faster internet. The upgrade will also be done in all major towns in Kenya with an aim of making the network 4G ready by the end of this year. Airtel will also invest in new base stations which will see its signal reach more people.
The company also plans to open 23 new shops across the country. Part of the investment will be dedicated to The Airtel Internet for Schools project that has so far connected over 250,000 students in 130 schools in the country to free internet.
Airtel currently has 6 million customers and this investment should by all accounts add them significant numbers.