As the number of mobile network technology in Kenya continues to increase, it is creating room for new international business opportunities in the local telecom industry.
Currently, Safaricom and Airtel dominate the market despite the wars on dominance between the two. The competition might however be getting stiffer following the announcement by Connectivity from Finland, a Growth Program run by the official Finnish export and investment promotion agency Finpro that it will be bringing a group of Finish telco companies to Nairobi.
The companies which have a long history in mobile innovations are looking to utilize their expertise and be part of the quickly evolving Kenyan telecom market. The companies will be will be coming into the country next week on 17th- 19th to meet with local authorities as well as connect with potential customers and partners.
Known for its long history and impressive track record in telecommunications innovation, Finish telecom businesses have introduced a number of new technologies and digital services to the global market, after the success of Nokia.
“Finland is currently at the global forefront in developing 5G network technology through its open 5G test environment that enables businesses to develop and test new technologies and business models,” Kimmo Aura, Connectivity from Finland Program Director from Finpro says. “But in addition to its strong focus on future technology, Finland has a vast pool of expertise in existing network technology. The country has a high adoption rate of mobile data, as mobile data subscriptions exceed 100%.”
The joint trip according to Finpro aims to build important connections and link Finnish expertise with the Kenyan telecom sector. They add that it is a game opening exchange with a follow-up trade mission already planned for later this year.
“Data consumption means important business opportunities for mobile operators in Kenya, as advanced data transfer capabilities enable consumers to utilize their devices in all-new ways. These include the increasingly popular mobile payment applications, as well as e-government, e-learning, healthcare and insurance services. It also calls for new business models. Finnish companies on the other hand are looking to expand and also contribute to the progress of a quickly evolving market,” Mr. Aura adds.
The company says Finnish know-how can offer plenty of benefits for the Kenyan market, especially now that the 4G network is being developed. This, they say will complement and supplant existing network technologies as operators are looking for new, innovative ways for commercial use.
The company thinks that Finnish expertise can deliver the Kenyan telecom sector solid technological solutions helping operators to increase revenue, decrease costs, access effective power solutions and optimize network usage and reach.
Well, this is interesting. It will be exciting to see how this will play out