Kenya’s second largest mobile services provider Airtel has purchased additional spectrum from the Communication Authority to boost its 4G network.
In a statement, the telco said it purchased 60 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum in the 2600 MHz band at a cost of $40 million.
The license for this bandwidth is valid for 15 years and will support 4G network capacity expansion in the country, both for mobile data and fixed wireless home broadband. It will also allow inclusion of 5G in the future.
As internet penetration continues to grow, operators are rushing to offer better services, aiming to attract younger consumers. Airtel and Telkom Kenya scramble for this portion of the population with significantly affordable offers. However, Kenya’s leading Telecommunications Company Safaricom is ahead of its competitors by 4G network coverage and capacity.
Although it’s not clear how far Airtel 4G network has penetrated, Safaricom has stated that it’s 4G network coverage is at 97%.
Last week, we revealed that Safaricom has the fastest internet speeds in Kenya, followed Airtel, Faiba and Telkom.
In a statement announcing the new deal, the company said, “This investment reflects our continued confidence in the opportunity inherent in the Kenya market, supporting the local communities and economies through furthering digital inclusion and connectivity.”
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