Meeting to set agenda on telcoms services access

Universal Service Advisory Council will hold its first meeting this Friday to set the agenda on hastening access to telecommunication services in marginalised areas.

The event marks the first step towards implementation of the Universal Service Fund since the council was appointed on May 9, 2014.

Operators are required to remit 0.5 per cent of their gross revenue to the fund, which is expected to raise Sh1 billion apart from a similar amount set aside by the Communication Authority of Kenya.

“The estimated amount to close the identified access gap is $876 million (Sh77 billion),” said Information Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i last week.

This is backed up by a study conducted by the industry regulator that indicates close to 1,120 sub-locations out of 7,149 have no access to basic communication services.

Areas that might be the first to benefit from the fund are Garsen, Lamu and Moyale. Residents of these regions cannot access radio and television channels other than KBC besides poor quality of service from the mobile operators. 

The authority said the new board will play an oversight role ensuring marginal areas have access to services.

“They will come up with a policy to guide implementation of the USF fund as they steer communication and broadcast operators to hasten payment of dues,” CA director general, Mr Francis Wangusi said.