This archive report was first published on 29 October 2021.
Airtel Seeks Safaricom Dominance Declaration ¶
Kenya's second-largest telco, Airtel, has renewed calls for Safaricom to be declared dominant in the country's retail mobile sector. This move comes as Airtel seeks to level the playing field for other operators.
According to Airtel Kenya, Safaricom's 64% market share has 'thwarted competition and reduced options available to consumers.' The telco has submitted its position to the Senate Committee on Information and Technology, citing the need for tougher regulatory measures to address the issue.
Airtel Kenya's Head of Regulatory, Ganson Lewela, stated that declaring Safaricom dominant is the first step towards ensuring market competitiveness. He added that the current market structure has hindered Airtel's ability to compete effectively.
However, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) has backed Safaricom, arguing that the telco cannot be declared dominant due to lack of data to guide the process. Kepsa has called for a baseline survey to establish the level of dominance across various market segments in the telecommunications sector.
Despite the opposition, Airtel remains committed to its push for Safaricom's dominance declaration. The telco has invested heavily in infrastructure for voice and mobile data services, but its share remains stunted due to the current market structure.
