In a bid to lure more subscribers for its money transfer product, Airtel Kenya has added more distribution channels to its list while reducing transaction fees at the same time.
The outlets of this money transfer product also, known as Airtel Money will take the form of banks, Nakumatt and Pesa Point.
According to Airtel Kenya Managing Director Rene Meza, in order to increase the uptake of the service, more than 6,000 agents have been recruited countrywide and the number is expected to grow to 8,000 by the end of the year.
The telco has also revised the rates at which it applies charges for money transfer. The rate will be $0.269 for money sent to on-net and off-net subscribers. According to the data furnished by the Central Bank of Kenya, $33.334 million worth of value are exchanged on mobile transfer platform per day while the number of money transfer transactions carried out nationwide stands at 1.1 million.
The preceding announcement to this move is the roll out of the telecom’s 3G mobile internet technology this September.
Meza also stated that technical and billing trials in Nairobi and Mombasa stand to be completed within the next two months thereby laying the groundwork for the launch of this technology that is understood to present customers more choices in terms of mobile payments.
Currently, Airtel provides data services by the use of older technology whilst the roll of 3G services is tipped to make it possible for the telco and offer high speed internet to its users.
The only company that offers 3G services in Kenya is Safaricom while tests by other companies are ongoing.
