An Airtel shop in Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Summary
- Nokia will modernise its telecom network in Kenya, with high-speed 4G gear, and for the deployment of 5G-ready mobile internet services equipment.
- Airtel upgrade started in June and will cover hundreds of sites across the country as it seeks to strengthen its network after recording sharp growth in subscriber numbers over the past three years.
Airtel Kenya has signed a three-year deal with telecom equipment maker Nokia for revamp of its network to include deploying fifth-generation (5G) mobile internet services.
Airtel said the deployment of 5G-ready networks will help it capitalise on burgeoning mobile Internet use in the country and put in a race with Safaricom
on who will be the inaugural operator to offer commercial and superfast services in the region.
Nokia will modernise its telecom network in Kenya, with high-speed 4G gear, and for the deployment of 5G-ready mobile internet services equipment.
Safaricom said the firm had completed testing and trials for the upgraded network in preparation to launch Kenya’s first 5G mobile internet services this year.
The Airtel upgrade started in June and will cover hundreds of sites across the country as it seeks to strengthen its network after recording sharp growth in subscriber numbers over the past three years.
“We are in the midst of rolling out our network to enhance coverage,” said Airtel Kenya chief executive Prasanta Das Sarma.
Both Airtel and Safaricom are aiming to rev up their data business to offset sluggish growth in mobile calls, where they are seeing a small revenue growth due to saturation.
Mr Sarma said the Airtel deal with Nokia will include upgrading it's existing 2G, 3G, and 4G radio access networks (RAN) in urban and semi-urban areas, highways, tourist spots, and central business districts.
Nokia’s network infrastructure, he added, will also offer Airtel Kenya the option to smoothly transition to 5G when necessary.
Under the contract, Nokia’s regional head Rajiv Aggarwal added the firm will supply Airtel Kenya with telecom gear for both indoor and outdoor coverage, including base stations and radio access products. The improved network will provide higher data speeds using additional 4G spectrum bands.
Safaricom chairman Michael Joseph had earlier said the firm had completed testing and trials for the upgraded 5G network as the company seeks to capitalise on burgeoning mobile Internet use in the country.
Chipmaker Qualcomm has indicated that 5G could achieve browsing and download speeds of about 10 to 20 times faster than those offered through 4G.
That would allow a consumer to download a high-definition film in a minute or so. Mobile gamers will also notice less delay — or latency — when pressing a button on a controller and seeing the effect on screen.
Similarly, mobile videos should be near instantaneous and glitch-free while video calls would become clearer and less jerky under the 5G network.
Subscribers who want to use the service will however need to acquire new handsets.
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