Promoting innovation through enabling regulations

Joseph Tiampati ole Musuni

Principal Secretary

Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology

Republic of Kenya

The changing technology landscape

• Before 2005 ICT Licensing was technology oriented; • Fixed Service Licenses, • Mobile Services licenses, • Voice Services, • Data Service Licenses, • Internet Service licenses, etc

• Technological development has led to convergence where traditional technology boundaries got blurred;

• One network capable of providing several services • More innovative services being developed by providers • Convergent customer devices are produced capable of providing

access to numerous services

Convergence

Change as a constant

• Convergence of technologies has led to a radical re-definition of the regulatory landscape

• Internet is driving new business models in a globalized world

• New threats and exposure through the medium of the Internet

• Impetus to bridge the digital divide through Universal Service Funds

• Technology oriented Licensing becomes untenable • Review of the ICT licensing framework becomes

necessary

Evolution of the ICT legislative framework in Kenya

1998

KPTC monopoly split to 3

institutions

KCA 1998, Liberalized

Market

1999

CCK born

New Players

Licensed

2008 Unified

Licensing

2009

Amendment of the KCA

1998

2011

KICA Cap

411A

Regulations

• Kenya Information and Communication Act

(KICA) Cap 411 A empowers the Cabinet

Secretary to make Regulations.

• Pursuant to these, the first set of Regulations

were developed in 2001.

• In 2010, 14 sets of Regulations were

developed and are currently in force by the

Commission

Scope of Regulations • Tariff regulations • Interconnection and Provision of Fixed Links, Access and Facilities • Radio Frequency Spectrum Management • Dispute resolution • Universal Access & Service • Importation, Type Approval & Distribution of Communications

Equipment • Licensing • Fair Competition & Equality of Treatment • Inspections & Enforcement • Postal & Courier • Numbering • Consumer protection • Broadcasting • E-transactions Regulations

Broadband Strategy

• To move to a knowledge based economy, the recently launched National Broadband Strategy focuses on;

• Infrastructure, connectivity and devices

• Content, Applications and innovations

• Capacity building and awareness

• Policy, legal and regulatory environment

• Financing and investment

National co-ordination in complementary infrastructure deployment

• Mobile money services Banking

Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)

• Laying fibre network using the power lines

Energy

Kenya Power

•Laying fibre network along the roads and railways •Ensuring property developers make provisions for ICT infrastructure

Transport and Infrastructure

•National Addressing System

County Governments

National Addressing system

Opportunities presented by broadband

• Economic growth and employment

• Promote business process out sourcing (BPO)

• Business opportunities and investment competitiveness

• E-government

• National Safety and security

• Distance learning opportunities

• E&M-health

• E&M-Education

• Efficient spectrum use

• Universal Access

• Broadcasting services

Mobile money transfer in Kenya

• Mobile money services have been taken up due to

a host of benefits they offer including; • Affordability

• Accessibility

• Convenience

• Instantaneous

• Ability to make small transactions

Subscribers 24,840,404

Amount Transacted in 2012 Ksh913,803,005,004

(US$10.4B)

Challenges presented by ICT’s rapid growth

• Security

• Continued convergence

• Internet/Social media

• Legal and regulatory framework

• Competition issues

…THANK YOU…

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