{
  "id": 8857945,
  "title": "Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom hire 3,672 new employees",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/safaricom-airtel-and-telkom-hire-3-672-new-employees",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-21T06:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital Business",
    "slug": "capital-business",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/safaricom-airtel-and-telkom-hire-3672-new-employees/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NAIROBI, Kenya – Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) added 3,672 new employees during the year ending June 30, 2026, bringing total employment to 11,660 from 7,988 the previous year, according to the Communications Authority of Kenya's Sector Statistics Report. The number of people employed by MNOs surged by 46 percent over the period, with men comprising 56 percent of the workforce and women accounting for the remaining 44 percent.\n\nThe report highlights the growing investment of mobile operators in artificial intelligence (AI), 5G networks, and other digital services. Safaricom, for instance, has significantly expanded its 5G network coverage, more than doubling it to 1,700 sites in the financial year 2025. This represents an impressive 111.7 percent increase from 803 sites a year earlier. Airtel Kenya joined the 5G network race in July 2023, initially deploying 370 sites across 16 counties and 180 wards.\n\nSafaricom has also earmarked approximately Sh65 billion for AI infrastructure, reflecting the company's commitment to embracing cutting-edge technologies in the rapidly evolving telecommunications sector.",
  "summary": "The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) fourth-quarter Sector Statistics Report shows that the number of people employed by MNOs increased by 46 per cent during the period.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}