CA notes the issues raised by members on the list on the above subject. Allow us to clarify the matter.

Yes it is true that Safaricom has been granted a license for Frequency in the 800MHz band. The award was tied to the security tender . It should be noted that when the Government of Kenya (GOK) approached Safaricom to rollout the National Survelillance, Communications and Control system, Safaricom in return negotiated with GOK for the assignment of the 4G frequencies in the 800 MHz band. This is the reason there was no competitive bidding in the process. It is also the understanding that the network will be shared amongst different players, a fact that will mitigate the competition issues that might arise. The frequency fee payable by Safaricom for these frequencies is USD 56.25 million.

Hope this shades some light into the issue.

Rachel Alwala

Assistant Director/Communications and External Affairs

Communications Authority of Kenya

PO Box 14448

Nairobi 00800

Tel: +254 703 042000

Email: alwala@ca.go.ke

Website: www.ca.go.ke

From: KICTAnet Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Reply-To: KICTAnet Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 5:24
To: Rachel Alwala <alwala@ca.go.ke>
Cc: Ali Hussein <ali@hussein.me.ke>
Subject: [kictanet] Safaricom allocated license for 800mhz

Listers

FYI. See attached Kenya Gazette Notice.

This license for the 800mhz seems to have been allocated solo without a bid. It will enable them to go commercial on LTE 4G and home broadband......furthering their dominance with assistance from the state?

Confusing signals? On one side CA is bent on 'taming' Safaricom. On the other it is issuing new licenses without a bidding process? I can't pretend to know the process of how this comes about but would appreciate a step by step explanation by anyone who is familiar with this process. I'm sure there is a valid explanation to this..

Ali Hussein

Hussein & Associates

+254 770 906375 / 0713 601113

Twitter: @AliHKassim

Skype: abu-jomo

LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim

Blog: www.alyhussein.com

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