New Phone Numbers to Start With 01** As Government Launches New Prefix

Safaricom and Airtel subscribers will soon be issued with new mobile number prefix. The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) on Tuesday released a new mobile numbering prefix 01******* which has the capacity to handle 100 million subscribers.

CA Director General Francis Wangusi on Tuesday said that the mobile numbering system will be effected immediately and has been necessitated by the increasing demand for sim cards, mobile data and emerging technologies that require telecommunication numbers.

“The introduction of the new mobile numbering prefix 01****** is in line with the National Numbering Plan developed in 2002 by the authority in consultation with ICT industry operators, the public and other stakeholders,”

” The plan provides for all existing and emerging services like Internet of Things (IoT), Machine to Machine communications services,” said Wangusi in a statement.

According to the regulator’s plan, each of the prefix provides for a capacity of 1 million numbers.

The Director General says that the new mobile phone prefix will come at no extra cost.

In addition to the numbering plan, CA has also laid down procedures and guidelines for the proper management of numbering resources such as an online platform to ease application for the numbers.