What about government monoploies like KPLC fleecing the public at least safcom is run well KPLC service sucks and we pay silly money to kplc

@iris - The Garvey/Gevey SIM helped many bypass the 'locking' that AT&T had on their phones even AFTER the contract expired. I bought one for a friend for a locked iPhone.

Equitel isn't riding on Safaricom's network. A ThinSIM allows a single SIM phone to be used as a dual SIM phone. Equitel uses Airtel's infrastructure for data & voice. As phones become cheaper, the dual SIM phone will become cheaper too & the ThinSIM may be irrelevant. Apple has introduced an 'Apple SIM' which is not carrier dependent i.e. you can go to any carrier.

I have a dual SIM but I end up using Safaricom [& M-Pesa] more often since they have more tills. Plus I prefer the quality voice calls on Safaricom vs Airtel/Equitel. And using Safaricom for voice/data is cheaper than Equitel for me!

Data - My spend on Voice is less than 30% of what I spend on data. That's where Safaricom beats Airtel/Orange because within Nairobi I get 4G/LTE. I spend much more on data than voice. And Airtel has missed the boat on this. Equitel at most will be a money transfer service.

GoK (CAK) didn't give the LTE bandwidth to anyone else except Safaricom. Airtel had to sue GoK/CAK to demand a share of the LTE bandwidth.
Safaricom is a sacred cow.

Though not a fan of SafCom products and exorbitant pricing, i am inclined to differ with you on this issue of 4G LTE licensing.

Airtel strategy to beating SafCom (and even making money) is whining and Crying. They need to stop that B.S and come up with super ideas like they did with UNLIMINET.

If you can't raise capital, forget about that business and concentrate on businesses you can afford.

3G is still largely unused, yet they want to rush to 4G.

GoK (CAK) didn't give the LTE bandwidth to anyone else except Safaricom. Airtel had to sue GoK/CAK to demand a share of the LTE bandwidth.
Safaricom is a sacred cow.

I don't trust GoK & its institutions.
Did Safaricom pay for the 4G/LTE spectrum it is running a trial on?

I recall the drama between the Ministry of Energy & KenolKobil. MoE [via KPC, KPC and KPRL] were favoring certain briefcase importers in the allocation of ullage. It was only after a severe/major shortage that the OMCs had a say in the management of ullage.

Safaricom is betting big on the home internet market segment with the launch of an advanced fourth generation (4G) long term evolution technology to drive its data services.

However, he added that the firm paid $75 million (Sh6.8 billion) to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), for more frequency spectrum to enable it deploy new sites to cover 15 towns and, eventually, across the country.

“We have already paid $75 million to the regulator to acquire frequency in the 800 megahertz band, which they are yet to allocate us,” Mr Collymore added.

“We are expecting to be allocated the 2 x 15MHz (frequencies), which is the capacity currently available now. Thereafter we will get another set."

Mobile phone service firm, Safaricom will pay Sh6.45 billion to have its application for a new spectrum approved.

According to the Communications Authority of Kenya director-general, Mr Francis Wangusi, this is only a tentative price and when the final price for the 4G spectrum is determined, the telecommunication firm will be required to pay the difference if it is more than the Sh6.45 billion ($75 million).

Airtel Kenya has demanded a share of the 4G broadband spectrum allocated to Safaricom by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), arguing that it is unfair for the regulator to allow the dominant telecommunications operator to launch the high-speed Internet service ahead of its competitors.

The CA, in a gazette notice published on August 19, has said that it intends to issue Safaricom with a licence to operate on the 800HZ frequency, the technical definition for the high-speed (4G) Internet spectrum.

The licence could enable Safaricom to offer high-speed Internet to its customers, as well as broadband-based TV broadcasts.

The CA has said that any objection to the intended move should be filed at its headquarters within 30 days from the date of publication of the notice.

Airtel Kenya CEO Adil El Youssefi said in an interview Wednesday that his company did not agree with the process that was followed in allocating what it termed as the best 4G spectrum to Safaricom, arguing it would entrench the company’s dominant position in the telecommunications sector.

Do you seriously think the GOK would say this in public to the Airtel crew including Merali and they just take it casually?
Merali is not a significant shareholder in Airtel anymore.
*Start Sarcasm Font* You are right, GoK officials never lie or lied to us. GoK official never steal, don't ask for kickbacks. Their policies are for the best for the country. They never scam us. GoK controlled/influenced firms make above market profits thanks to their solid management and not monopolies or favors. Folks claiming Mobitelea belonged to GoK connected folks were just jealous of some smart entrepreneurs. *End Sarcasm Font*

Yes i notice you dont trust Kenyans not only GOK alone anyway let me not digress
Please digress.





Airtel wants the spectrum for free