The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) is advocating for special electricity tariffs for the telecommunications sector in Kenya to reduce operational costs and improve service quality. This proposal could greatly benefit major telcos like Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom Kenya.

• GSMA suggests billing electricity for critical sites at between Sh9.24 and Sh17.56 per kilowatt hour, compared to the current rate of Sh13.58.
• This initiative aims to support local telecoms in offering affordable ICT services as they transition to 5G technology.
• 70% of tower sites are currently billed under the small commercial category, hindering cost efficiency for telcos.