Nairobi — Airtel Kenya targets 53 new network sites by the end of the year in Mandera County, growing its presence in the North-Eastern Kenya.

So far, the telco has established nine sites in the devolved unit.

In total, it plans to put up 103 new sites in the counties of Garissa, Mandera and Wajir, up from the current 62.

This comes after Airtel announced earlier that it will expand its network coverage and services into the larger North-Eastern region and arid and semi-arid land (ASAL).

Currently, Airtel's network covers 89 percent of the Kenyan population, with the company having rolled out 480 new sites between December 2023 to date, bringing its total number of sites across Kenya to over 3,700.

"Our strategic vision is to ensure that every Kenyan, regardless of their location, has access to reliable, affordable, and convenient telecommunications services," the firm's Chief Commercial Officer Aashish Dutt said after opening a new customer care shop in Mandera town.

The shop, which now takes Airtel's customer care shops footprint to 41 counties nationwide, will offer SIM cards, home broadband devices and airtime purchase services.

"Our customers in Mandera will now have easy access to the support and services they need right in their own community, conveniently and affordably, eliminating the need to travel long distances in search of assistance," Goldermier Opiyo, Customer Experience Director of Airtel Kenya, added.

By Alvin Agufana