Orange Telkom Kenya has today been awarded spectrum licence for 3G services, making it the third company in Kenya to do so.

Safaricom and Bharti Airtel (former Zain) acquired 3G spectrum licences services in 2007 and July 2010, respectively, from the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK). 
3G offers higher data speeds, more security, and a wider variety of services compared to the preceding technologies. 

Presenting the licence to Telkom Kenya CEO Mickael Ghossein, CCK Director General Charles J.K. Njoroge said roll out of 3G services by Orange Telkom Kenya would enhance the level of competition in the high speed mobile data market and create more choice for the consumers.

He said increased competition in the mobile broadband market would bolster the level of innovativeness in the local mobile telecommunications industry and the penetration of high speed Internet services.

The Director-General decried the low penetration of Internet services in the country, saying the mobile platform had potential to drive Internet development, including broadband.

“Out of the 7.8 million Internet users in the country, mobile data/Internet subscriptions through 2G and 3G accounted for 99 per cent of the total subscriptions by June 2010.. If this trend is anything to go by, mobile broadband has the best chance of becoming Kenya’s main broadband Internet access medium in the future,” said Mr. Njoroge.

He challenged mobile operators to leverage on the spectrum already assigned to them to offer new and more advanced services, including 4G.

Telkom Kenya CEO thanked CCK for reducing the price of spectrum for 3G, saying the reduction had come  at a time when the demand for internet was on the rise, while revenues and volumes from voice services, are shrinking.

Mr. Ghossein said the licence would enable Orange Telkom to diversify its 3G service offerings. Telkom Kenya has been providing 3G services using CDMA technology. 
By June 30, about 20 % of the Kenyans had access to the Internet, compared to mobile penetration of 51.2%.