Govt Advances Plans to Regulate Commercial Internet Telephony Services in Kenya

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has announced plans to hold a stakeholder validation forum as it moves forward with draft guidelines for the deployment and roll-out of commercial internet telephony services in the country.

In a notice dated September 22, the Authority said the validation exercise will take place on September 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. and will be conducted online.

CA added that it developed draft technical and operational guidelines to promote a clear, fair and effective regulatory framework for commercial internet telephony services.

“In a bid to promote a clear, fair and effective regulatory framework, the Authority developed draft technical and operational guidelines for the deployment and roll-out of commercial internet telephony services that was subjected to public and stake-holder consultation,” CA stated.

CA Reviews Public Feedback on Internet Telephony Rules

According to the Authority, the draft guidelines were subjected to public and stakeholder consultation, allowing stakeholders to submit their views and representations on the proposed framework.

Following the consultation, the CA said it reviewed the submissions received and is now proceeding with a stakeholder validation exercise.

The Authority said details of the representations received and its position on the issues raised have been published on its website https://www.ca.go.ke/published-findings.

“The Authority has since reviewed the representations received and therefore wishes to conduct a stakeholder validation exercise on September 30th, 2026 at 10:00am. Details of the received representations and the Authority’s position are available at: https://www.ca.go.ke/published-findings,” CA stated.

In addition, CA noted that the forum will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to participate in the validation of the draft technical and operational guidelines after the Authority considered feedback submitted during the earlier consultation process.

The CA has provided an online link for stakeholders to participate in the exercise.

The validation exercise shall be conducted online via this link: https://cakenya.webex.com/cakenya/j.php?MTID=m41c51d7f8f821f47f8105d94cba0212c

Proposed Guidelines Target Commercial Internet Telephony

According to CA, the draft guidelines are specifically intended to guide the deployment and roll-out of commercial internet telephony services in Kenya.

This initiative forms part of the Authority’s efforts to establish a clear, fair and effective regulatory framework for services within the country’s ICT sector.

The CA is the regulatory agency responsible for Kenya’s ICT sector, with its mandate covering areas including telecommunications, e-commerce, cybersecurity, broadcasting and postal and courier services.

It is also responsible for managing numbering and frequency spectrum resources, administering the Universal Service Fund (USF) and safeguarding the interests of consumers of ICT services.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates.

A person holding a phone displaying social media logos
PHOTO/BD