Kenya: Telecommunications sector liberalisation

8 September 2004 – According to a Reuters report, the telecommunications regulator, the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), is allowing mobile providers to operator their own international gateways as a means of improving their roaming services. In addition, the CCK will grant licenses to as many Internet backbone and VSAT service operators as possible.

The CCK said it would issue licenses on a first-come, first-served basis as long as the applicant showed the ability to provide the service. Government-owned Telkom Kenya was the monopoly provider of most of the services in the telecommunications sector, but the monopoly ended on July 1, 2004.

"This new approach provides equal opportunity to all players," the CCK said in a statement. "As such, the auction process of awarding licenses will no longer be desirable in this open market scenario."

Kenya's people and businesses have long complained of Telkom Kenya's unreliable phone and Internet services, which they see as a major deterrent to potential investors. Competition should be a boon to businesses and residents in need of telecommunications services.

Intelecon Research & Consultancy Ltd. 08/09/2004

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