Airtel Uganda

Airtel Uganda Limited is a mobile communications and information technology services provider in Uganda. The company also offers mobile funds transfer and banking services known as Airtel Payments Bank. Airtel Uganda Limited is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa PLC.[3]

Airtel Uganda Limited
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryTelecommunications
PredecessorZain Uganda
Celtel Uganda
FoundedJune 8, 2010 (2010-06-08)
HeadquartersKampala, Uganda
Area served
Uganda
Key people
Manoj Murali
Managing Director[1]
ProductsMobile Telephony
Broadband
Internet services
Revenue US$44.9 million (2016)[2]
ParentAirtel Africa

Location

The headquarters of Airtel Uganda are located in Airtel Towers, on Clement Hill, in the Central Division of Kampala, the county's capital and largest city. The coordinates of the headquarters are 00°19'09.0"N, 32°35'43.0"E (Latitude:0.319167; Longitude:32.595279).[4]

History

Airtel entered the Uganda Market on June 8 2010 when Bharti Airtel acquired 16 Zain Africa operations.   

In 2013, Airtel fully acquired Warid Telecom Uganda in the first ever in-country acquisition in the telecommunications sector. With this, Airtel further consolidated its position as the second largest mobile operator in Uganda with a combined customer base of over 7.4 million and market share of over 39% cementing its position as the number 2 mobile telephone network, behind market leader MTN Uganda.[5]

In 2018, Airtel hit the 10 million customer mark.[6] This milestone cemented Airtel’s position as the fastest growing telecom in Uganda. In January 2019, Airtel Uganda achieved 100% 4G LTE across all its sites in Uganda,[7] translating the national broadband policy into reality.

With 2000 masts[8] as of April 2020.

Overview

Airtel Uganda, is one of the leading telecommunication service providers in Uganda with an estimated 10 million subscribers by December 2020 offering communication products and services; 2G, 3G and 4G wireless voice, data services and mobile commerce through Airtel Money.

Airtel Money

Airtel Uganda launched Mobile Commerce in 2012.[9] Currently the Airtel Money platform is a primary contributor to financial inclusion and a key point for financial inclusion with over 5 million customers as at end of March 31, 2019.

Investment

Airtel is a long term investor with a single largest foreign direct investment from India to Uganda. The company is among the leading tax payers in Uganda.

In 2019, Airtel was recognised as Uganda’s biggest taxpayer for compliance in remitting taxes to Uganda Revenue Authority.[10] Airtel Uganda paid UGX136 billion in the financial year 2018/19 winning the Excel Award.

Infrastructure Investment

Airtel invests in local ICT and telecom infrastructure; 2,000 sites and over 3,900 kilo meters of fiber across Uganda covering 95.9%, core and transmission networks and mobile financial services platform.

Governance

VG Somasekhar is Managing Director of Airtel Uganda since September 2017. Previously he worked as Director - Special Projects, Airtel Africa. He also worked as the Managing Director for Airtel Uganda from December 2010 to February 2014 where he successful led the Airtel-Warid merger in 2013. He thereafter joined the Africa HQ office as the Executive Operations Director & SBU Head – Leader markets; and served in this role until July 2015.[11]

People

99% of Airtel staff are Ugandan, with over 40% being women.

License renewal

In December 2020, print media reported that Airtel Uganda had paid USD:74.6 million to the Uganda government in exchange for a 20-year National Telecom Operator's License. The basic license cost USD:63.2 million and Value Added Tax (VAT) came to USD:11.4 million. As a condition for the license, that is effective on 1 July 2020, the telco has until 1 July 2025 to extend coverage of both voice and data to at least 90 percent of Uganda's geographical territory.[12][13]

See also

References
  1. Airtel leadership (September 2017). "Airtel Uganda Leadership". Kampala. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  2. Olingo, Allan (6 September 2017). "Bharti Airtel's regional units post $181.2 million in losses". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  3. Khisa, Isaac (12 September 2017). "Airtel Uganda records Shs160 billion net profit". The Independent (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  4. Google (11 July 2016). "Location of Airtel House, 40 Wampewo Avenue, Kampala, Uganda" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  5. Kulabako, Faridah (23 April 2016). "Airtel buys Warid Telecom". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  6. Reporter, C. E. O. (8 June 2020). "10 years and 10 million customers- Airtel Uganda marks a decade of transformation in Uganda". CEO East Africa. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  7. admini. "Airtel Uganda's Role in the Transformation of the Sector from Telecom to Digital – theinsider.ug". Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  8. Ugandacommunicationscommission (15 April 2020). "UCC ED applauds Airtel as telecom celebrates 2,000 masts". Uganda Communications Commission Blog. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  9. FM, Capital (2 February 2012). "Airtel Money launches in Uganda". Capital Business. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  10. "URA recognises large tax payers, Airtel tops list". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  11. Techjaja Staff (8 August 2017). "Airtel Uganda shakes up executive, Managing Director Anwar Soussa is Out". Techjaja.com. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  12. Javira Ssebwami (18 December 2020). "Airtel Uganda gets new 20-year national telecom operator licence". Kampala: PML Daily. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  13. Taddewo William Senyonyi (20 December 2020). "Airtel Gets 20-Year New Operator Licence, Uganda Earns Shs272.6bn From Deal". Kampala: Uganda Business Focus. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
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