Telkom says its not retrenching, wants action against Safaricom

Mobile phone network service operator Telkom has renewed calls that Safaricom be declared a dominant player.

The operator has, at the same time, said its engagement with consulting firm Mckinsey was not aimed at staff layoff.

Safaricom holds over 60 per cent of the country’s mobile phone subscriber base, yet industry regulator the Communications Authority insists this does not make it dominant.

Safaricom, on its part, has accused Telkom of failing to invest and grow its base and instead want it punished for doing the same.

Speaking during a periodical update on the business, Telkom CEO Aldo Mareuse also allayed fears that it was planning to send home staff based on a recommendation by consulting firm McKinsey.

The engagement, the CEO insisted, was more on looking at ways to grow their customer base and realign investments.

Telkom also says it is in talks with two firms over partnerships to allow it to sell high speed internet capacity from two undersea data cables that are about to land in the country.