The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has unveiled a new mobile numbering prefix 01xxx. CA Director-General Francis Wangusi says the new prefix takes effect immediately.
Wangusi notes that the release of the new prefix, in addition to the existing 07xxx, is informed by the increase in demand for SIM cards, mobile data, and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications.
In a statement, the official says Kenya’s leading telecommunications companies- Safaricom and Airtel- have been issued with two million and three million numbers respectively under the new prefix.
“The introduction of the new mobile numbering prefix 01 is in line with National Numbering Plan developed in 2002 by the Authority, in consultation with ICT industry operators and other stakeholders,” says Wangusi.
“In addition to the development of the National Numbering Plan, the Authority also has put in place procedures and guidelines proper management of the numbering resources such as the online platform to ease of application for numbers.”
CA has urged Kenyans to be aware of the new mobile number prefix so they would know they are local numbers whenever they receive calls with 01xxx.
Like the existing 07xxx prefix, the new 01xxx prefix will also have a total of 100 million numbers.
