The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is ramping up its efforts to regulate the Internet after uncovering 132 illegal Internet service providers (ISPs) nationwide. These unlicensed operators, which have proliferated in 15 counties, raise concerns about user safety and fair competition in the market.
The investigation revealed that the highest concentrations of these illegal providers are found in Mombasa and Kwale counties, where 38 unlicensed ISPs operate. Kilifi is home to 12 illegal ISPs, while the combined total for Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga, and Nyeri is 23. Other affected counties include Nakuru and Narok with 17, Nairobi with 13, and Machakos and Kajiado with 12.
The CA has voiced significant concerns regarding the risks posed to consumers by these unregulated providers, emphasising the potential disruption to fair business practices. Many illegal ISPs are simply resellers of internet bandwidth acquired from licensed providers, which disadvantages users and leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and service failures due to the lack of legal protections.
Licensed ISPs have reported losses due to unfair competition from these unlicensed operators. The CA has acknowledged that identifying and cracking down on these illegal providers has become more complex. Many have shifted from visible infrastructure, such as traditional wireless antennas, to fibre networks, making them harder to monitor.
Currently, six authorised ISPs, including Safaricom, Liquid Telecom, Airtel Kenya, Telkom Kenya, Jamii Telecom (Faiba), and Bluestreak Horison (Tandaa), supply the bandwidth sold by these illegal operators. Safaricom leads the market with a 36% share, followed by Jamii Telecom at 23%, Wananchi Group at 15%, and Poa Internet at 13%.
In its ongoing crackdown, the CA has taken legal action against 33 illegal providers, conducted enforcement on 29 others, and issued compliance notices to 111. As the authority strengthens its oversight, it aims to ensure that Kenyan internet users are protected and served by legitimate providers that meet regulatory standards.
