(Ecofin Agency) - In November 2021, Telkom signed an agreement with Ericsson and NEC XON to expand its 4G network in Kenya. The company, which aims to become an integrated telecom operator, made its broadband network coverage one of its top priorities to compete with market leader Safaricom.

Telecom operator Telkom Kenya announces the completion of the first phase of its 4G/LTE network expansion project. The first phase, carried out in partnership with Ericsson and NEC XON, targeted Kenya’s Coastal and Lowest East regions, where 224 new sites were built.

By 2023, Telkom intends to add 2,000 4G sites in the framework of a national expansion program estimated at US$100 million. The expansion program is a key step in the telecom company’s strategic restructuring plan, unveiled in August 2020, to become an integrated telecom operator and a tech firm. 

“We remain cognizant of the integral role our Mobile Data network plays in keeping our customers connected. We are on course with our long-term terrestrial network expansion plan which will see us scale up to 80% of our network to 4G, increase our network footprint across the country, and get more Kenyans online,” explains Telkom Kenya’s CEO, Mugo Kibati.  

Ultimately, the program is expected to enable Telkom Kenya to upgrade 80% of its network to 4G and improve its footprint. It will help it attract new users and generate additional revenue in a Kenyan market dominated by Safaricom, which controls 64.2 percent of mobile subscriptions, against 26.8 percent for Airtel and 6 percent for Telkom.

Isaac K. Kassouwi