Airtel clocks 10 years, assures reliable service

BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes AIRTEL Africa team along with its partners are working hard to provide customers with reliable voice, data and mobile money services during the current difficult times, says company Chief Executive Officer, Raghunath Mandava. Mr Mandava said Airtel Africa’s mobile money services provided customers with exclusive assured float and that a growing number of strategic partnerships enabled cross-border money transfers. “Airtel Africa has also launched a virtual card, further boosting financial inclusion,” he said in a statement yesterday. As the company celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month, Mr Mandava said Airtel Africa had supported social transformation across the continent by enabling millions of people to accessed data services and be part of the financial system. Airtel Africa, he said, provided voice services to 110.6 million customers, data services to 35.4 million customers and mobile money services to 18.3 million customers. “Our vision is to enrich the lives of our customers. I want to take this opportunity to thank all our colleagues, partners, suppliers and distributors for their support as we have worked together to deliver on our purpose.  In these challenging times, the Airtel Africa team along with our partners are working hard to provide our customers with reliable voice, data and mobile money services,” Mr Mandava said. He said the company had achieved significant growth, reaching more than 110 million customers, bridging the digital divide and increasing financial inclusion.  “The anniversary follows another recent milestone for Airtel Africa, when the company was listed on the London and Nigerian stock exchanges.  “Airtel Africa employs more than 3,300 people across Africa, with another 1.6 million people earning through working with Airtel Africa as entrepreneurs and in its distribution network,” Mr Mandava said. Bharti Airtel established its presence in Africa when it acquired Zain Telecom’s Africa operations in June 2010. The Sun