3G license fee remain US$25 million in Kenya

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Even after repeated requests from the mobile networks to lower the fees for 3G licenses, ¬Kenya’s telecoms regulator, the CCK, announced that the amount will remain Sh1.9 billion (US$25 million).

Even though Safaricom acquired a license in 2007 for the full fee of US$25 million in 2007, other operators feel that the price is too high for the market. If the new operators are offered the license at a lower price, Safaricom would seek a refund.

Mobile operator Zain has also applied for a license, planning a network launch in the first half of this year. Zain had 2.4 million subscribers in Kenya while Safaricom had 13.8 million subscribers at the end of June.