Parliament has opened investigations into mobile money services
and rates, including transaction charges, transfer fees, loans and
interest levied by telecommunication companies.
The
parliamentary Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation
says the inquiry will also look into mobile airtime and data rates,
including airtime loans and service fees.
This means
that MPs will scrutinise the charges levied on Kenyans by the four main
telcos Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom and Equitel, among others.
The
committee said the objective of the investigations is to establish
legislative and regulatory gaps affecting competition in the sector and
recommend measures to address shortcomings that to lead to
anti-competitive behaviour or restrict growth within the sector.
“Of late, concerns have been raised on the alleged abuse of dominance in the telecommunications sector.
“In
light of these concerns, the departmental committee on Communication,
Information and Innovation has resolved to conduct an inquiry on
legislative and regulatory gaps affecting competition in the sector,”
the committee headed by Marakwet West MP William Kisang said in a letter
notifying the parliamentary leadership and seen by the Saturday Nation.
The committee proposed to meet with and receive oral and written submissions from stakeholders in the telecoms industry.
“The
terms of reference for the inquiry is to inquire into the nature,
levels and extent of competition in the telecommunications sector under
the existing legal framework, with a particular focus on mobile money
services and rates, including transaction charges, transfer fees, loans
and interest,” the committee said.
The committee said
the inquiry will look at the market share of telecommunications service
providers, broadband services and rates as well as call and Short
Message Service termination fees.
“Particular focus
will be directed at the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data and SIM
application toolkit access, as well as access to telecommunications
infrastructure, including cell towers, ducts, poles and fibre,” the
committee, said.
The lawmakers also want to investigate
the provision of content services. The committee said the enactment of
the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998 liberalised the
sector to foster healthy competition and innovation to enable provision
of quality and affordable services to Kenyans.
“Parliament
has over the years amended various provisions of the Act in response to
the prevailing circumstances, including rapid developments in
technology and the promulgation of the new Constitution,” the committee
said.
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