ate companies and the government will share the cost to build a next-generation, wholesale LTE network. They have stated their intention to subsidize this network as a way to make advanced mobile services available to a wider population than would be possible if each provider had to pay for upgrades to LTE. This is a more efficient way to use spectrum than splitting it up among multiple networks. However, it's not certain that this plan will succeed due to disagreements among the largest carriers about the type of spectrum to use for the initial build-out. Most of this spectrum is currently used for television broadcasts. Kenya was one of the first countries in Africa to use mobile phones to transfer money, pay bills, and receive salaries. Safaricom, the former state-owned carrier, Sub-Saharan Africa offered the first mobile payment and transfer system, which it named M-Pesa. Sub- scribers that sign up for an M-Pesa account are able to receive remittances transferred to them from jobs, customers, and relatives in other countries. They can also use the money transferred to their phone to make purchases, or they can go to a local Safari- com agent to change the e-cash into hard cash. They are also able to use their phone to transfer money to relatives in small rural villages. Much of the commerce in villages and small businesses is based on mobile payments. Table 8-5 Mobile Providers in Kenya Carrier Brand Name Ownership Notes Safaricom, Ltd. Safaricom Formerly govern- Provides fixed-line, ment owned; govern- Internet, and mobile ment now owns 35%, services. Has con- Vodafone 20%, and ducted tests of LTE remaining offered and plans to introduce on the African Stock LTE in the future. Exchange. Bharti Airtel Airtel Kenya Indian conglomerate Bharti is the fourth Bharti owner of Airtel in ten years. Markets heav- ily in rural as well as urban areas. Telkom Kenya Orange Kenya France Telecom Plans to offer triple- play service (mobile, TV, and Internet access) in areas with fiber to the home. Cur- rently is developing a