Airtel Africa Subscribers Hit 50 Million, Launches Christmas Promotion in Kenya

Bharti Airtel Limited (“Airtel” has  operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa. The company is celebrating various milestones key being that its subscriber base in Africa has hit 50. Airtel acquired the former Zain Africa operations 17 months ago with 36 Million clients across the continent.

An article appearing in an Indian news site indicate that Bharti Airtel has revealed that it has more than 11.8 Million Airtel Money clients in Kenya and Zambia. The article also indicates that more than 800,000 retail agents supports Airtel Money business in both countries while also offering services like recharge vouchers, news SIM cards and handset sales.

Airtel is rolling out 3G in countries in Africa after being awarded 12 3G licenses across Africa. The operator recently launched its first 3G in Congo. The rollout in Kenya is complete with testing going on. Sources within Airtel Kenya intimate that the company will be launching 3G in Kisumu and Mombasa before unveiling the same in Nairobi. This would such a change since there is a big concentration of superior broadband within Nairobi while other towns with greater needs are not covered.

Meanwhile, Airtel has partnered or entered into strategic relationship with companies such as IBM, Ericsson, Nokia Siemens, Huawei, Spanco, Tech Mahindra and Samsung across Africa.  Airtel has also signed strategic agreements with companies like Nokia, Samsung and Blackberry to provide devices that will enable consumers access its services.

Meanwhile, Airtel Kenya has launched an end year promotion dubbed Changamsha Maisha na Airtel Friendzy. The promotion which will run from 1st December 2011 till 31st January 2012 will see customers win instant, daily, weekly and monthly cash prizes after top ups.

The grand prize will be Kshs 1 million at the end of December and January for 2 lucky winners. Airtel has also partnered with Samsung in this promotion where they will be giving 32 handsets daily for 62 days to its consumers together with the other prizes.

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