Airtel Kenya, the local mobile unit of Indian telecoms operator Bharti Airtel, has unveiled plans to invest KES19 billion (USD186 million) in its operations over the next three years. The funds will be used to improve the quality of the cellco’s network, products and services, according to a report by Capital FM Kenya. The investment plan will cover the upgrade of Airtel’s voice and data networks, as well as the rollout of new shops, brand equity development, customer service quality improvement, staff training and community development programmes across the country. Phase one of the network upgrade – covering the cities of Mombasa, Nairobi and Kitale – has already been completed and saw legacy hardware replaced and radio network elements expanded to enhance coverage and voice quality. Phase two is currently underway to improve mobile data speeds and network stability. Nokia Networks is assisting with the upgrade project, which will also make the Airtel Kenya’s networks 4G LTE-ready by the end 2015.
