The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has published applications from nine companies seeking licences to build and operate fibre-optic infrastructure across the country.
In a public notice in the Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXVII No. 237 under the Kenya Information and Communications Act (Cap. 411A), CA announced that the proposed licences fall under the Network Facilities Provider (NFP) Tier 3 category, which authorizes firms to establish and maintain telecommunications infrastructure within designated regions.
Companies Applying for Licences
Agile Carrier Kenya Ltd has applied for a license, as the company continues to plan metropolitan fibre rings in Nairobi and Mombasa to interconnect data centers and cloud hubs.
Bingwaswift Networks Ltd plans to use its licence to roll out regional fibre networks across Western Kenya counties, targeting underserved areas to improve connectivity.
The company’s focus is on strengthening broadband infrastructure for homes, businesses, and institutions in regions where access remains limited.
Boss Telecom Ltd has also applied for a licence so as to lay fibre-optic cables along major highways and transport routes, creating strong connectivity links for towns along these corridors and improving internet reliability, which will support mobile networks that require high-speed connections for advanced services.
Ikomol Connection Services Ltd plans to deliver fibre connections directly to homes and small businesses, focusing on last-mile access to make high-speed internet more affordable and widely available.
The fifth company is Jacaranda Networks Ltd, which plans to provide dedicated fibre connectivity for large organizations, including financial institutions and government offices, through multiple routes to ensure uninterrupted service for critical operations.
Kyla Networks Ltd is also applying for a licence to allow the company to expand fibre connectivity in peri-urban areas and industrial parks, creating reliable high-speed links for manufacturing, logistics, and commercial hubs.
Quinamax Networks Ltd is the seventh company, seeking to build fibre networks across coastal counties, linking key towns and connecting to submarine cable landing stations to boost international bandwidth and regional internet capacity.
Solotech Systems Ltd plans to develop fibre networks for smart city projects, integrating high-speed connectivity with systems for traffic control, security surveillance, and urban management.
Lastly, Superlite Imara Group Ltd has applied for a licence to allow the company to expand fibre connectivity to rural areas through partnerships, focusing on bridging digital gaps in remote communities and improving access to reliable internet.
Important Information
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) will review these applications under the Kenya Information and Communications Act.
Stakeholders have 30 days from the Gazette publication to submit objections or comments.
Approved firms must comply with CA’s technical standards, infrastructure-sharing rules, and rollout timelines.
Opportunities and Challenges Facing Kenya’s Fibre-Optic Expansion
The fibre-optic licensing initiative is part of Kenya’s broader Digital Superhighway strategy under Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which aims to position Kenya as a regional technology hub and attract data center investments.
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With the entry of nine new companies, competition will increase, internet costs will decline, and service quality will improve among fibre providers in Kenya.
Expanded networks will enable cloud computing, e-commerce, telemedicine, and digital learning, which will drive ahead Kenya’s digital economy.
Rural fibre rollout will bridge the digital gap, and businesses will profit from improved connectivity, which will support the whole of the country’s growth.
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However, vandalism and cable theft continue to disrupt existing infrastructure and increase maintenance expenses.
In Kenya, projects are also delayed due to wayleave approvals, which must be obtained from multiple agencies and private landowners.
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