Kenya Airways becomes MVNO

African airline Kenya Airways this week entered the communications service provider sector after striking an MVNO agreement with African and Asian emerging markets carrier Bharti Airtel.

Airtel and Kenya Airways signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deliver an MVNO service for the airline, subject to regulatory approvals. Under the agreement Airtel will provide network infrastructure services to Kenya Airways, with the MVNO providing mobile services including customer registration, SIM issuance, billing and customer care to end users without holding a spectrum license. Kenya Airways will rely on its existing customer service and sales infrastructure such as its sales offices and customer contact centre.

Airtel said that the MVNO service will run on the unused capacity on its network, ensuring that it maintains seamless quality experience to consumers.

Kenya Airways Managing Director, Dr Naikuni, said that the roll out of a mobile service by the airline is part of a strategic direction geared at enhancing customer value while diversifying its revenue streams.

“At Kenya Airways, we are now moving towards a strategic direction that affords us an opportunity to meet our guests’ needs aboard our aircrafts and also extend the same brand value to their communication needs through an affordable option. Through this partnership with Airtel, we are optimistic that our guests will soon be enjoying a service that allows them better calling rates while in Kenya or roaming within the wide Airtel network.”

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