Kenyan operators ask govt to lower 3G prices

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Due to the sustained pressure from the operators, Kenyan government is considering a reduction in the cost of 3G licenses.

Earlier on January 7, 2010 the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) had rejected calls from Telkom Kenya and Zain to lower the USD25 million fees on the grounds that Safaricom had already paid the full amount for a concession. The operators opposed the government decision on the grounds that that the current fee would prove prohibitive to the deployment of 3G services.

According to Ndemo, they will do everything possible to ensure that they have created the necessary competitive environment, even if it means that they revise the cost to reasonable levels and if they decide that they are lowering, they would have some mechanisms to ensure that Safaricom does not lose its money.