Kenya Plans Tougher Telecom Rules to Improve Network Quality
Kenya telecom network quality standards could soon become much stricter as regulators move to penalize operators that fail to provide reliable services across the country.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has proposed new regulations that would allow it to impose fines and other sanctions on telecom companies that do not meet higher network performance standards. The move follows years of consumer complaints about dropped calls, slow internet speeds, and inconsistent connectivity.
Kenya Telecom Network Quality Standards Set to Rise
Under draft proposals released in May 2026, the regulator wants to increase the minimum network quality compliance score from 80% to 90%.
The higher benchmark is designed to push telecom operators to improve both voice and data services. If approved, only providers that achieve near-optimal performance levels will meet the new compliance requirements.
The proposed framework also introduces stricter monitoring measures. Regulators say the changes are necessary because mobile connectivity has become essential for banking, business, education, and communication.
County-Level Assessments Will Increase Accountability
One of the biggest changes involves how telecom performance will be measured.
Instead of evaluating operators based on nationwide averages, the CA plans to assess service quality at the county level. This means telecom companies will no longer be able to offset poor performance in rural areas with stronger results in major cities.
Under the new system, regulators can impose penalties in counties where operators fail to meet the required standards.
The approach aims to ensure that consumers in underserved regions receive the same quality of service as those in urban centres such as Nairobi and Mombasa.
Major Telecom Operators Face Compliance Challenges
Recent quality-of-service reports show that Kenya’s largest telecom companies may struggle to meet the proposed standards.
For the fiscal year ending June 2025, Telkom Kenya recorded a compliance score of 52.76%, a sharp decline from 67.6% the previous year.
Airtel Kenya achieved 81.14%, while Safaricom remained the strongest performer with 89.72%.
Despite leading the market, Safaricom would still fall short of the proposed 90% compliance threshold.
If the regulations take effect today, all three major operators would fail to meet the new requirements.
Consumers Could Benefit from Better Connectivity
The proposed reforms could have a significant impact on consumers, particularly in rural and remote areas where network quality often lags behind urban centres.
Reliable mobile connectivity has become increasingly important as more people depend on digital services, including mobile money, remote work, online learning, and e-commerce.
By enforcing county-level standards, the regulator hopes to encourage telecom companies to invest more heavily in network infrastructure across the country rather than focusing primarily on high-revenue urban markets.
Industry Faces Pressure to Improve Services
Telecom operators continue to face rising infrastructure and operating costs. However, regulators believe stronger enforcement is necessary to improve customer experiences nationwide.
The proposed rules signal a shift from warnings and compliance notices toward direct enforcement measures. If implemented, they could reshape how Kenya telecom network quality is measured and managed in the years ahead.
For telecom companies, the message is clear: network performance will face greater scrutiny, and consistent service delivery across every county will become increasingly important.
