Airtel Kenya has secured a new 25-year operating licence from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), bringing an end to years of uncertainty over the telecom operator’s long-term licence status in the country.
The licence has been issued under Kenya’s Unified Licensing Framework (ULF) after Airtel paid an undisclosed fee, according to Airtel Kenya Managing Director Djibril Tobe.
“I am pleased to tell you that we have successfully renewed our licence for another 25 years, which assures us that we are here to stay,” Tobe said.
He added that Airtel now has greater confidence in its Kenyan operations and that the approval covers a single, globally technologically neutral licence.
Airtel’s licence had originally expired in 2015. The operator subsequently continued operating under a permit inherited from YuMobile, which Airtel acquired in 2014.
The long-running licensing issue was addressed through an out-of-court agreement in 2022, which resulted in the renewal of Airtel’s expired licence through 2025. The operator was subsequently granted a temporary two-year permit running until January 2027.
The new 25-year licence gives Airtel significantly greater certainty as it plans further investment in Kenya’s telecommunications market.
The development follows a similar move involving Safaricom, which has also secured a 25-year licence under the ULF. The two operators had previously paid KES 2.3 billion each for 10-year licences.
Airtel awaits Starlink Direct-to-Cell approval
Beyond the licence renewal, Airtel Kenya is also awaiting regulatory approval for its planned partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink to introduce Direct-to-Cell satellite connectivity.
Airtel Africa has partnered with SpaceX to roll out Starlink’s satellite-to-mobile service across its 14 markets. The service is expected to initially support internet-based messaging and calls, before expanding to direct phone calls and SMS from 2028.
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