What do Kenya's draft satellite internet licensing rules require? CA comments close 6 November

Satellite services in both geostationary and non-geostationary orbits can already operate legally in Kenya under the existing telecommunications licensing framework, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) says in its draft Satellite Frequency Licensing Framework. For user terminals installed at customer premises, the draft places the licences, the frequency authorisation and the responsibility for how each terminal operates on the satellite operator.

The framework is a draft and is not in force. The CA has invited the public and the ICT industry to comment by 6 November 2026, by email to [email protected]. The draft names no satellite company.

The CA licenses telecommunications services and radio communication stations under the Kenya Information and Communications Act (KICA). Section 2.2 of the draft (page 5) cites sections 25, 35 and 36 of the Act as the basis. Section 2.1 cites Article 18.1 of the International Telecommunication Union's Radio Regulations: no private person or company may run a transmitting station without a licence from the government concerned.

The CA gives its reasons in the introduction (page 4) and section 5 (page 8). Low Earth orbit constellations have lowered barriers to entry and brought lower-cost services to consumers. They also use the same frequency bands as geostationary satellites and ground networks, which increases the potential for interference and requires more regulatory oversight, including frequency monitoring systems.

The dish at a customer's premises is a "user terminal" in the draft (section 5.1.2, pages 9 to 10). Satellite operators must hold the applicable telecommunications licences or partner with licensed companies to build the local network and serve end users. Because operators deliver their own proprietary terminals, "the responsibility of controlling the operations of the terminals lies with the satellite operators", the CA writes. That includes keeping terminals from causing harmful interference or breaking legal and regulatory provisions.

To be assigned frequencies for user terminals, an operator would need:

1. Landing Rights Authorization, which permits telecommunication signals to be sent into Kenya;
2. an International Gateway Systems and Services licence, if it builds a gateway earth station in the country;
3. a Network Facility Provider licence, if it builds ground network infrastructure;
4. an Application Service Provider licence, to deliver services to end users;
5. a Communications Equipment Distributor licence, to supply and import user terminals and provide after-sales support by supplying spares to the vendors that buy from it.

The frequency authorisation carries an annual frequency utilisation fee and lasts as long as the Application Service Provider licence. Section 4 (page 6) describes landing rights as "a prerequisite to providing satellite-based services in the country".

Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs), small-dish stations installed directly at user premises for narrowband or broadband links, are treated separately (section 5.1.3, page 10). "Entities or persons intending to use VSATs must ensure that the satellite operator holds a valid Landing Rights Authorization in Kenya," the draft says. Applicants for VSAT frequencies must hold a VSAT licence and pay an annual fee, and the authorisation lasts as long as the VSAT licence.

Terminals on vehicles, ships and aircraft, which the draft calls earth stations in motion (section 5.1.4, pages 10 to 11), also come under the rules. Operators of land-based units must hold an Application Service Provider licence, and only type-approved user terminals may be distributed and used in Kenya. Companies running such terminals on foreign-registered aircraft and ships must seek CA authorisation and obtain landing rights for the satellite system.

Type approval is in section 6 (page 13). All electronic equipment used to provide service in a satellite network must be type-approved or authorised by the CA, whether it sits in the operator's core and access network or is used by end users. Holders of a Communications Equipment Distributor licence may import, buy from local manufacturers and sell telecoms equipment, and must ensure that everything they distribute or sell is type-approved (section 4, pages 6 to 7).

The record-keeping rule is in section 7 (page 13). Licensed satellite services would have to keep a record of all terminals in their networks, with their locations and areas of operation in Kenya, and file periodic returns with the CA.

The draft attaches an annual frequency utilisation fee to the frequency authorisations for gateway stations, user terminals, VSATs, land-based earth stations in motion, mobile satellite services and broadcasting satellite feeder links. For gateway stations the fee is "as prescribed in the Frequency Fee Schedule", which the document lists as Annex 9.5.

The CA has also spoken of satellite links for the 2027 General Election. Paul Kiage, a CA deputy director, appearing before the Senate Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration in Naivasha, said CA technical staff would "identify areas requiring alternative technologies, including satellite connectivity", as quoted in a Kenya News Agency report carried by The Star on 4 November 2026. The CA has asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to identify polling stations outside 3G and 4G coverage so they can be connected before the 2027 General Election.

The consultation has 10 questions. To comment:

1. Download the CA's comment template from the open-consultations page and fill in the name of the person or organisation, a contact person, email and telephone.
2. For each point, fill in the section or question number, the current text, your comment, the text you propose and your justification.
3. Give reasons, supporting evidence and practical alternatives, and mark any information you consider confidential.
4. Email it to [email protected] by 6 November 2026.