Telecommunications operator Safaricom said in a statement that it plans to expand its existing 3G network to cover 80 percent of Kenya’s population. The resulting expansion would push its coverage up from the present 69 percent of Kenyans covered.
It also announced expected plans to roll out 4G services to some 13 additional towns by the end of the year, up from the two cities it currently covers. The company also added that fiber optic cable connections would be extended to 10 more areas in the country.
Overall, the recent period has shown Safaricom’s capital expenditure rose 21 percent to KES 33.7 billion over the year. CEO Bob Collymore said the set-top boxes that it plans to launch “will receive TV and data services using 4G.”
He added that the company expects “free cashflow of KES 25-26 billion, down from KES 27.5 billion last financial year.”
Safaricom posted 17 percent growth in EBITDA to KES 71.2 billion from KES 60.9 billion with an EBITDA margin of 43.6 percent, up 1.4 percent.
Joseph Mayton
