Airtel Kenya has applied for two major telecom licences. Together, they could reshape competition in East Africa’s largest economy. The goal is simple. Airtel wants direct ownership of its national network. It also wants full control over international data traffic.
The Communications Authority of Kenya confirmed the applications on August 31, 2026. The notice appeared in the Kenya Gazette. As a result, the regulator has opened a 30 day public comment window. A final decision will come after that.
So what exactly is Airtel asking for? The company wants a Network Facilities Provider Tier 1 licence. It also wants a licence for International Gateway Systems and Services. Both applications fall under the Kenya Information and Communications Act Cap. 411A. CA Director General David Mugonyi signed off on the notice.
The first licence is a big one. It ranks among the most comprehensive licences the regulator issues. In fact, it would let Airtel build, own and operate telecom infrastructure across the whole country, not just in select regions. That includes mobile base stations, transmission towers, fibre optic cables and microwave links. It also covers satellite equipment and data centres. In short, this is the physical backbone that keeps calls connecting and data flowing.
The second licence targets international gateways. These are the systems that connect Kenya’s networks to the rest of the world. They carry international calls and cross border data traffic. So if Airtel wins this licence, it gains direct control over that traffic. It would no longer need to rely on third party gateway providers.
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Kenya’s telecom market is one of Africa’s most competitive. Safaricom still holds the dominant position. Meanwhile, Telkom Kenya, Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Jamii Telecommunications, which runs under the Faiba brand, all fight for the rest. Airtel has pushed back through aggressive pricing and expanded data offerings. It has also grown its mobile financial services business. Still, one problem has remained. Airtel has had to depend on infrastructure it does not own.
That dependence has capped Airtel’s ambitions in Kenya for years. Owning the infrastructure would change that. It would mark a shift from simple service provider to full infrastructure operator. As a result, Airtel would control how its network expands. It would also control how much it spends to maintain that network. And it could roll out new services faster. There is another upside too. Airtel could lease its infrastructure to smaller operators. That would open a fresh revenue stream.
If both licences go through, Airtel would compete on more even footing. It would stand alongside Safaricom, Telkom Kenya, Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Faiba. This is especially true when it comes to infrastructure ownership and international connectivity.
The CA has not said when it will rule on the applications. However, the process is open to public input. Anyone who wants to support or oppose either licence can write to the Director General. They must clearly state which licence category their submission concerns. A copy must also go directly to Airtel Kenya. All submissions are due within 30 days of the gazette notice.
The timing fits a bigger pattern. Airtel is already expanding beyond mobile services. For instance, the company is building a data centre in Tatu City. Once complete, it is expected to be the largest facility of its kind in East Africa. It should go live in the first quarter of 2027. Airtel Kenya’s leadership has described its overall approach simply. The company wants to chip away at Safaricom’s lead across multiple fronts at once.
For now, these licence applications are still paperwork. They await regulatory review. But they point to something bigger. Airtel wants to build and control more of its own infrastructure. It no longer wants to depend on others to do it.
