By Josiah Kariuki
Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Stephen Isaboke on Thursday convened government regulators and telecom industry leaders to discuss ICT service quality and network resilience.
The meeting also focused on Kenya’s preparedness for emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and 5G connectivity.
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The meeting, convened by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), focused on strengthening collaboration between the government and mobile network operators to improve connectivity and address challenges facing the country’s digital ecosystem.
Among those in attendance were Communications Authority Director General David Mugonyi, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa, Airtel Kenya Managing Director Djibril Tobe, Telkom Kenya CEO Mugo Kibati and senior officials from the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy.
Speaking during the meeting, PS Isaboke reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with telecommunications providers to ensure Kenyans have access to reliable, affordable and high-quality ICT services.
The stakeholders reviewed the state of telecommunications services in the country and explored measures to improve network performance amid growing demand for digital services across sectors such as education, healthcare, public service delivery, business and financial inclusion.
Discussions also centred on the readiness of Kenya’s telecommunications infrastructure to support emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks.
Industry leaders noted that future digital growth will depend on robust and resilient infrastructure capable of supporting data-intensive applications, cloud computing and automation.
The meeting further assessed preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with participants highlighting the importance of reliable telecommunications services in supporting broadcasting, security operations, tourism, digital payments and communication during the continental tournament.
Stakeholders also raised concerns over persistent challenges affecting network reliability, including fibre optic cable cuts, vandalism, infrastructure theft and rising energy costs.
The forum emphasized the need for stronger coordination among government agencies, county governments, security institutions, utilities and private sector players to safeguard critical telecommunications infrastructure.
Participants further underscored the importance of expanding connectivity to underserved and remote areas to bridge the digital divide and ensure more Kenyans benefit from opportunities created by the digital economy.
Both government and industry leaders committed to strengthen partnerships aimed at building a resilient, inclusive and future-ready telecommunications sector capable of supporting Kenya’s digital transformation agenda.
