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Airtel (Kenya) uses 1 GSM band, 1 UMTS band, and 1 LTE band. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work with Airtel (Kenya). See the tables below for details.

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Carrier website: http://www.africa.airtel.com/

Last updated: 2024/08/05 - See latest updates

Airtel Kenya is a significant player in the Kenyan telecommunications market, operating as a subsidiary of Airtel Africa, which is owned by Bharti Airtel. It is the second-largest telecommunications services provider in Kenya, with a market share of 27.2% and approximately 16.2 million subscribers out of the total 59.8 million subscribers in the country.

Key Features and Services

  • Network Expansion: Airtel Kenya has announced plans to expand its network coverage to meet the growing demand for data services in the country.
  • 5G Initiatives: The company is also focusing on 5G network expansion, driven by strategic initiatives including price reductions and extensive network expansion.
  • Service Offerings: Airtel Kenya offers a range of services including prepaid and postpaid mobile services, Airtel Money for mobile financial transactions, and 4G data services.

History

  • Rebranding: Airtel Kenya was previously known as Kencell, Celtel, and Zain before rebranding to Airtel in November 2010.
  • Acquisition: In 2010, Bharti Airtel acquired Zain Africa's operations, including those in Kenya, for $10.7 billion, significantly increasing Bharti Airtel's global customer base.

Recent Developments

  • Mergers and Acquisitions: Airtel Kenya has considered mergers with other local operators, such as Telkom Kenya, but has backed out of such talks in the past.

Airtel Kenya continues to play a crucial role in the Kenyan telecommunications market, focusing on expanding its network and enhancing its service offerings to meet the growing demand for data and mobile financial services.


Frequency Bands

GSM

Name Interface Description
900 MHz (E-GSM) GSM

Airtel Kenya uses the GSM 900 MHz (E-GSM) frequency band. The deployment of this band is not specified in the provided information.


UMTS

Name Interface Description
B1 (2100 MHz) UMTS

Airtel Kenya uses the UMTS frequency band B1 (2100 MHz). This band is utilized for UMTS protocols. The deployment of this band is not specified in the provided information.


LTE

Name Interface Description
B20 (800 MHz DD) LTE

Airtel Kenya uses the LTE frequency band B20 (800 MHz DD). This band was deployed in 2024.


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