Satellite internet providers operating in Kenya face a new set of licensing and spectrum rules after the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) published a draft framework for public input.
The regulator has developed the Satellite Frequency Licensing Framework, 2026, which sets out how satellite services will be licensed and authorised to use spectrum in the country.
CA says the framework is meant to clarify the rules for the segment as it works to build a responsive licensing regime and manage spectrum more effectively.
The authority has asked industry players and the public to weigh in on whether the proposed requirements are clear and proportionate.
It also wants feedback on whether the rules address emerging issues in satellite services, and is open to proposals on additional elements to include.
Comments are due by November 6, 2026, and must be submitted through a prescribed template via frequencyreturns@ca.go.ke.
The consultation paper is available on CA’s website.
The move comes as satellite broadband gains ground in Kenya, led by low-earth-orbit operators such as Starlink, which began offering services in the country in 2023.
The entry of such players has widened internet access in remote areas poorly served by fibre and mobile networks.
It has, however, raised questions over spectrum allocation and whether satellite firms should face the same regulatory obligations as mobile network operators.
Telcos have in markets across the continent pushed for a level playing field, arguing that satellite providers compete for the same customers.
A dedicated framework is expected to give operators and investors greater certainty on the rules governing satellite spectrum, a resource growing more contested as more constellations target African markets.
CA regulates Kenya’s telecommunications, broadcasting, cybersecurity, e-commerce and postal sectors.
It also manages the country’s numbering and frequency spectrum resources and administers the Universal Service Fund.
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By Nixon Kanali
Tech journalist based in Nairobi. I track and report on tech and African startups. Founder and Editor of TechTrends Media. Nixon is also the East African tech editor for Africa Business Communities. Send tips to kanali@techtrendsmedia.co.ke.