NAIROBI, Kenya- In recent months, Kenyans have experienced a significant rise in dropped call rates, with telecommunication giants scrambling to maintain service quality.
As the Senate ICT Committee delves into the matter, Safaricom has pointed fingers at Kenya Power, attributing the issue to frequent power outages and network strain.
In a detailed response to the Communications Authority (CA), Safaricom emphasized that the quality of grid power supplied by Kenya Power has had a detrimental effect on their network performance.
Frequent and prolonged power outages, along with voltage fluctuations, have disrupted communication, particularly in rural areas lacking stable access to the national grid.
This disruption has been a primary contributor to the spike in dropped calls, frustrating countless users.
The CA’s 2023 report supports these claims, highlighting that in 11 out of 47 counties, Safaricom scored 66.67pc in network quality, while Airtel and Telkom Kenya lagged behind with 58.33pc and 50pc respectively.
The Senate ICT Committee, led by Nyandarua Senator John Methu, has pressed the CA on actions taken to address these concerns. The CA confirmed that they had raised the issue with mobile operators, demanding improvements in service quality.
Nairobi’s rapidly evolving skyline presents another layer of complexity for network providers. Safaricom pointed out that the surge in high-rise buildings has caused signal attenuation, as these structures obstruct signals and increase user concentration, straining the existing network capacity.
The growth of data-intensive applications, such as streaming services and social media, exacerbates this pressure.
In an attempt to mitigate poor signal quality, many building owners have installed unauthorized static repeaters.
While these devices amplify mobile signals, they also inadvertently interfere with the network, leading to more dropped calls, poor voice quality, and disrupted data transmission.
The CA has underscored the need for regulated solutions to address these urban development challenges, highlighting the negative impact of non-type approved repeaters on overall network performance.
To combat these issues, telecommunication companies must invest in constructing new sites and upgrading their infrastructure to embrace newer technologies.
This will enhance coverage, increase capacity, offer faster data speeds, and improve network efficiency.
The CA’s framework for assessing the Quality of Service (QoS) of Telecommunications Systems and Services, developed in consultation with the industry, will guide these efforts to ensure compliance and accountability.
