The Kenyan government, through the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Authority, has proposed changes to the nation's Wi-Fi and fibre optic standards in a bid to improve internet connectivity and accessibility across the country.
The proposed amendments are enshrined within the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and carry implications for internet users and service providers alike.
Among the most impactful changes are a shift towards metered billing for internet services, the standardization of fibre optic infrastructure deployment, and the introduction of new requirements for data collection.
The bill proposes unlimited internet packages to a metered billing system where customers will be charged based on their data consumption, from the current flat rate.
In the proposed changes, the internet providers would be required to collect and store detailed user information, such as full names, ID numbers, and addresses, and to submit annual billing system reports to the Communications Authority of Kenya.
Each customer will be assigned a unique meter number that they can use to track their data and usage and generate an invoice.
The new standard has minimum requirements for design, planning, deployment, operation, maintenance, management of backbone, last-mile fibre optic cable, and metro.
The new standards will apply to entities designing, planning, developing, and operating fibre optic infrastructure within the borders of Kenya.
The proposed changes come after Nairobi County Revenue Chief Officer, Tiras Njoroge, in February 2025, stated that the internet providers should ensure that all fibre optic installations on the county road reserves are approved and all the wayleave fees are paid in full.
The ICT Authority has also opened a window for public input on these draft standards. Details of these new standards were formally announced via a notice published on MyGov on Tuesday, July 1.
The Authority urged Kenyans to submit feedback on these proposed updates to the national internet infrastructure standards.
“In accordance with the constitution, the ICT Authority invites members of the public to submit any comments that they may have on the draft standards,” read the notice.
The authority urged Kenyans to submit their input via email or through the official postal address on the ICTA website before July 14, 2025.
