Safaricom unveils new prefix numbers in race to grow customers

Safaricom has today announced the introduction of SIM cards with the 0110 and 0111 prefixes at all Safaricom Shops and Dealer Outlets countrywide.

This comes barely nine months after the regulator, Communication Authority, announced that the prefix 07xx had been exhausted.

With the unveiling of the new prefixes, Safaricom now has the capacity to add 2 million additional customers to its network. Currently, the service provider has over 34.5 million customers.

The new-prefix sim cards will be available free of charge with customers only required to activate their lines with a top-up of KES 50 airtime.

Safaricom has also rolled out a new numbering system that provides its customers with the freedom to choose their own number rather than pre-assigned mobile phone numbers.

“The new 0110 and 0111 prefixes alongside our new numbering system are part of our “For You” commitment to be Simple, Transparent and Honest. We continue to invest in additional enhancements and services to better meet the needs of our customers as they evolve and to also provide them with even more freedom and flexibility,” said Sylvia Mulinge, Chief Customer Officer, Safaricom.

The new prefixes were allocated by the Communications Authority of Kenya in 2019 after the exhaustion of the 07XX prefixes with Safaricom receiving 2 million of the new prefix while Airtel was allocated 3 million.

Other Safaricom prefixes include 070X, 071X, 072X, 074X, 0757, 0758, 0759, 0768, 0769 and 079X.