CCK delays unified license

The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has delayed the adoption of a unified license in the telecommunication sector because of the high volume of data that needs to be analyzed.

The new framework was expected to take effect on July 1 after much-publicized activities by the CCK, but the regulator seems to have underestimated the amount of data involved.

The unified license framework allows a company to provide multiple services under a single license. Previously, an ISP (Internet service provider) had to get a separate license to offer voice services, IPTV (Internet Protocol television) or any other value-added service that may not have been stipulated in the original license.

"CCK has received enormous input from major telecommunication operators and the public, and due to the quantity of the data, CCK was not able to beat the deadline," said Peris Nkonge, CCK acting director general. "This is a very important matter, which needs a lot of deliberations, and we do not have to rush at it."

The proposed new licensing model will have three license types for network, service and content providers.

The unified license issuance has been in discussions since 2004 when the regulator announced its intention to harness the emerging technological opportunities and address regulatory challenges.