Safaricom reclaims mobile voice call market share

By Nairobi Stocks Review

Safaricom’s share of Kenya’s mobile voice call market jumped to 64% in the September quarter, marking a 4% increase from the previous quarter, data from industry regulator Communications Authority show.

Kenya’s mobile voice call market is mostly saturated. Providers are trying to grow by poaching customers from rivals with aggressive promotions and marketing tactics. Being the market leader, Safaricom has become the central target of the competition.

As Airtel and Telkom stepped up their campaign for more voice business, Safaricom’s share of the market fell to 60% in the June quarter from about 68% in the March quarter.

What Safaricom’s financial statements say about voice call business?

Voice call is Safaricom’s largest revenue source currently. The business contributed 33.9% of Safaricom’s services revenue the six months through September. Mpesa and mobile internet accounted for 30.3% and 18.8% of services revenue, respectively.

Are Safaricom shares a good investment?

Safaricom shares may appeal to investors seeking dividend income from their investment. The company has paid dividend every year since going public. Moreover, Safaricom has a policy of increasing its per share dividend amount every year. As the most profitable company in Kenya, Safaricom has a track record as a reliable dividend source.

How do you buy Safaricom shares?

Safaricom shares trade on the Nairobi Securities Exchange under “SCOM” ticker symbol. To be able to buy Safaricom shares, you will first need to open a CDS account.

Once you set up the account, you will decide the amount of Safaricom shares you want to purchase and place your order. Make sure your account is adequately funded to cover the cost of purchasing the shares and the broker commission.