NAIROBI, Kenya — The Communications Authority of Kenya has unveiled proposed guidelines that could significantly tighten how internet service providers install and manage network infrastructure, in a move aimed at improving service reliability and public safety.
In a statement issued Monday, the regulator invited public feedback on the draft standards, citing widespread complaints over poorly installed fibre cables that have led to slow speeds, frequent outages, and hazardous wiring across estates and business districts.
“Your internet experience doesn’t start at your phone; it begins with the cables right outside your home or office,” the authority said.
“When installations are poorly done, the result is slow speeds, frequent outages, and even safety risks.”
The proposals introduce uniform national standards governing the design, installation, labelling, maintenance, and protection of fibre optic and telecommunications cables.
The regulator said the framework also seeks to promote infrastructure sharing, open access, and environmental sustainability in network deployment.
At the core of the draft rules is a push to eliminate disorderly overhead wiring and substandard trenching practices that have become common in urban areas.
Under the new requirements, all contractors must be licensed, and all network designs must be pre-approved before installation. Service providers will also be required to submit route documentation within 30 days of completing works.
For underground infrastructure, trenching in urban areas must reach a minimum depth of 600 millimetres, with maintenance access points installed every 150 to 200 metres and clearly labelled with operator details.
The guidelines further require ducts to include spare capacity to support future expansion and call for better coordination between telecom projects and major infrastructure works such as roads, railways, and power lines to minimise repeated excavation.
On aerial fibre installations, the authority is proposing stricter compliance with safety clearances in coordination with the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority and electricity utilities.
In a notable shift, all new developments, including affordable housing projects, will be required to integrate broadband infrastructure at the construction stage.
This includes ducts and internal conduits from building entry points to individual units, in line with the upcoming Building Code 2025.
The regulator has set May 20 as the deadline for public submissions on the consultation paper, with the final rules expected to take effect on July 1, 2026, upon publication in the Kenya Gazette.
If adopted, the framework could mark a turning point in Kenya’s digital infrastructure planning, addressing long-standing concerns about safety, service quality, and the visual clutter of unmanaged cable networks.
