Communications Authority of Kenya has released na new mobile telephone prefix “necessitated by increased demand for sim cards, mobile data and machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies that require telecommunications numbers”.
The new prefix is 01xxxxxx, which adds to the existing 07xxxxxx.
In a statement, director general Francis Wangusi said the move is aimed at ensuring sufficient and appropriate numbers are available at all times for allocation or reservation to operators.
“In view of the emergence of new technologies and numbering resource requirements, it has become necessary to introduce the new 01 prefix also with a capacity of 100 million, ” explained Wangusi.
He said that leading operators, Safsricom and Airtel, have been issued with two and three million respectively and should be available immediately to subscribers.
“The authority would like to advise consumers to be aware of the new mobile number prefix so that wherever they receive calls under the new prefix they understand that these are local numbers.
“… Introduction of new of new series of mobile number prefix will have no cost implications on the consumer.
“Instead it will encourage more innovations and investments in the sector, particularly with proliferation of new technologies that are widening the horizon for new services.”
He reaffirmed that CA was committed to ensure Kenyans would move with the rest of the world with the impending “5G mobile services, to ensure optimal use of the numbering resources in Kenya.”
“The efficient management of national scarce resources ensures availability of those resources, guarantees stability and secures the future of ICT resources.”
Kenya currently has a mobile subscriber base of 49 million, with Safaricom leading the lack with 63%. Other operators are Airtel, Telkom and Equitel.
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