Bharti Airtel has launched its first pan-Africa customised 3G smartphone for $53, in a bid to tap the growing mobile internet users and drive data revenues in the region. The launch comes as part of the company?s strategy to migrate its existing and new customers from the traditional feature phones to Android smartphones, so that they can avail of Airtel?s 3G networks. The company is anticipating high uptake within the first six months of operations.
The smartphone, called Airtel Red, works on the Android KitKat operating system and has a memory of 4 GB and 512 MB RAM with 32 GB external memory capacity. It features a 1300mAh battery life, front and rear 3 mega pixel camera, and a Qualcomm dual core central processing unit (CPU). The device is sold at a price of $53 subject to various governments levies and is available at local retail outlets. At present, it is available in the Seychelles, Uganda and Burkina Faso, while the 14 other countries where Airtel operates are expected to witness launch of this device over the next few weeks.
The company is driving the new smartphone campaign to help accelerate data adoption in sub-Saharan Africa, currently witnessing one of the strongest increases in mobile data use in the world. Airtel currently has the widest 3G network in Africa, with a presence across 17 markets.
