Press Release.

Monday 29/11…Exactly a week after the launch of the Airtel Brand in Kenya, the local mobile services provider has literally hit the ground running with the release of an extra 2.5million lines covering five number prefixes.

Launched just last week globally, the new Airtel brand comes with a promise to meet the emerging needs of customers with innovative, affordable and relevant solutions to empower consumers, giving them the freedom to do what they choose and provide them with the tools to meet life’s daily challenges.

And in what is being billed as a clear indication of the firm’s bid to further raise completion in the mobile market, Airtel Kenya has now unveiled new mobile number prefixes in the range of 0739, 0786, 0787, 0788 and 0789.

Speaking when he confirmed the release of the new number ranges, Airtel Kenya Managing Director Rene Meza confirmed that increased demand for Airtel Kenya lines in the market in recent days had necessitated the release of the new prefixes.

Recent network upgrade works had also facilitated the unveiling of the new prefixes, with the company now confirming its capacity to handle increased traffic on its network. “At Airtel Kenya, we are walking the talk as we seek to ensure that Kenyans feel free to talk at the most affordable rates and the release of these numbers is a further confirmation of the swelling demand for our network services across the country,” Meza said.

And added: “in anticipation of a spike in Airtel Kenya services, we have just completed the first phase of our network optimization project to enable us sufficiently absorb the growing number of subscribers”. The release of the new numbers to the market will complement the existing range of 0731, 0732, 0734, 0735, 0736, 0737, and 0738 number ranges.

Locally, Airtel Kenya has also announced the launch of a new ultra low cost handset package which effectively provides a mobile phone free of charge to all new subscribers. The package, launched in conjunction with Nokia, will be priced at Kshs 1850 and includes a brand new Nokia 1280 mobile phone, a free SIM card and the equivalent value in free Airtel talk time and SMS text messages.

The offer now available at all Airtel Kenya dealer outlets, Meza said, is geared at connecting unconnected Kenyans and will also allow the new Airtel subscribers to enjoy an equivalent amount in free talk time over the first 12 month period once they load any amount of Airtel credit to the SIM card.

“We’re driven by the vision of making mobile communications affordable and available for all.  Access to mobile communications will give people the freedom to achieve their goals in life, transforming how people communicate and how communities interact.

And added: “Delivering on that opportunity through affordable and available mobile communications for everyone is our focus and this new Airtel package effectively removes the cost of entry for even the poorest people in the most remote areas.”

Airtel is partnering with world class telecommunications infrastructure suppliers to extend its networks to rural areas which are at present disconnected from the world and ensure that Airtel has the best quality network in Kenya.

About Airtel in Africa

Airtel is the new brand name for the 16 Zain operations across Africa which were acquired by Airtel International in June 2010.  Airtel is driven by the vision of providing affordable and innovative mobile services to all.  Airtel has African operations in: Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.  Airtel International is a Bharti Airtel company.  For more information, please visit www.airtel.com