The Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) has issued a directive on unauthorized Information and Communication Technology (ICT) terminal equipment.
In a notice shared on Tuesday, October 15, the communications regulator reminded all vendors and manufacturers of any equipment intended for connection to the Public Switched Telecommunication Network (PSTN) within Kenya to ensure compliance with the Type Approval process before it can be sold, distributed, or used in the country.
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Manufacturers, vendors, and importers of all type-approved equipment, service providers, and the general public have since been reminded that failure to comply with the Type Approval requirement may lead to legal penalties as outlined in the ICT sector laws.
The Authority is tasked with the mandate to safeguard consumer health and safety. It has therefore warned all responsible bodies and individuals to take precautions to avoid the penalties.
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“Failure to comply with the Type Approval requirement may lead to legal penalties as outlined in the ICT sector laws,” the Authority sated in part.
The complete list of type-approved equipment is available on the Authority’s official website at https://www.ca.go.ke/licensee-register.
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Among the equipment listed in the type-approved category include smartphone brands, routers, modems, tablets, and vehicle trackers.
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Requirements in Applying for Type Approval
To apply for type approval, the following requirements are mandatory:
- Type approval application form (CA/F/STA/TA 1.5).
- Letter of agency from the manufacturer or principal distributor. The letter should state other countries where the equipment is typed and in service.
- Technical manual containing information on the operations, programming and specifications of the equipment in English.
- User manual written in the English language.
- Declaration of Conformity issued either by the equipment manufacturer or accredited laboratory, where applicable.
- Test results on safety and other relevant parameters in English, issued by accredited laboratories. Evidence of laboratory accreditation tests from an accreditation body that is a signatory of ILAC should be provided.
- Compliance certificate for vendors duly issued by the Communication Authority for vendors and certified by a commissioner of oaths.
- Equipment sample complete with associated accessories and attachments where applicable.
The directive came days after Chief Government Advisor Moses Kuria announced that the government will soon be targeting Kenyans who own phones imported into the country with no record of having paid applicable taxes by automatically blocking them from activating any network on the phones.
The former Cabinet Secretary explained that the move is aimed at maximizing revenue collection in the telecommunications market as the state looks for alternative revenue streams.
“We will automatically block from activating on any network any mobile phone imported into the country with no record of having paid applicable taxes,” Kuria said in a statement.
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The Communication Authority of Kenya
The Communication Authority of Kenya is the regulatory agency for the ICT industry. Its responsibilities are in telecommunications, e-commerce, cyber security, broadcasting and postal/ courier services.
Additionally, the Authority is responsible for managing the country’s numbering and frequency spectrum resources, administering the Universal Service Fund (USF) as well as protecting interests of users of ICT services.
At the same time, the Authority facilitates trade in ICT through clearance of permits for type-approved imported equipment through the Kenya Trade Network Agency (Ken Trade) and the National Single Window System (TradeNet System/Trade Facilitation Platform).
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