Orange launches mobile services in Kenya

Telkom Kenya launched GSM mobile services in September becoming the country’s first integrated provider of mobile, fixed-line and Internet services, and was subsequently rebranded to Orange reflecting its majority acquisition by France Telecom late last year.

Orange Kenya has signed a national roaming agreement with the country’s largest mobile operator Safaricom, while broadband Internet will be initially available in the cities of Nairobi and Mombassa until the network is progressively rolled out before the end of the year.

According to Mobile World database, Safaricom and Zain Kenya collectively counted 14.3 million subscribers as of June 2008, a penetration rate of 39 per cent. A fourth company backed by Econet Wireless plans to launch by year-end offering mobile and enhanced 3G services in Nairobi and surrounding areas.