The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) formulated a Licensing and Shared Spectrum Framework for Community Networks, with contributions from KICTANet, the entire community, and other partners (the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, and supported by the United Kingdom’s Digital Access Programme)

CA has released the guidelines, application forms, and compliance forms for operators to apply for the community network license under the Unified Licensing Framework. The documents currently on the CA website are;

  1. Community Network and Service Provider-CNSP License
  2. Community Network and Service Provider – Compliance Return Form
  3. Application Form For Community Network and Service Provider License 1-TL-8.0

Community networks are now under the regulatory ambit in Kenya. The license application fee is Ksh1000, with an annual renewal fee of KSh5000. The license is valid for 10 years. The community network will be limited to a subcounty. This is considered affordable compared to the lowest fee in the Network Facilities Provider license where an initial license fee is  Sh200,000.

If any community networks operator or prospective operator needs support in applying for the license, they can contact CA or KICTANet for help.

Find More details on Comunity Networks from the KICTANet website https://www.kictanet.or.ke/category/community-networks/

Best Regards

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Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva