According to the Business Daily, leading Telecommunications firms Safaricom and Telkom have won tenders worth Sh888 million and Sh350 million respectively in a deal with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to build base transceiver stations to boost network connectivity in 78 remote sub-locations across the country.

The CA awarded contracts totalling Sh1.24 billion to the telcos to set up their networks in unserved areas and expand voice services in a bid to improve communication for residents in various parts of Turkana, Wajir, Garissa and Kwale counties.

People living in remote areas of Kilifi, West Pokot, Kajiado, Narok and Bungoma areas are also set to benefit from the partnership.

So far, the project has covered 238,082 people with the State regulator aiming to add 319,298 Kenyans to the country’s communication grid.

In total, there are 164 sub-locations in Kenya with zero network coverage.

The CA manages the Universal Service Fund to which telcos, broadcasters and couriers contribute 0.5 per cent of their annual revenues. It then uses the fund to subsidise projects that bridge the digital divide.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is the regulatory authority for the communications sector in Kenya.

Established in 1999 by the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, the Authority is responsible for facilitating the development of the information and communications sectors including; broadcasting, cybersecurity, multimedia, telecommunications, electronic commerce, postal and courier services.

This responsibility entails Managing the universal access fund to facilitate access to communications services by all in Kenya.