Kenya’s telecommunication industry is one of the most advanced systems in Africa. This has been propelled by the rapid mobile phone adoption rate and internet usage which ranks highest in the continent.

Consequently, telecommunications companies in Kenya have developed systems and solutions to cater to the demand for information and communication technology services.

We know the few players dominating the telecommunication industry; Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom, and Jamii and Liquid Telecommunication. What we don’t know are the other hundreds of small and medium-sized companies that contribute to the telecommunications industry.

These companies not only offer solutions to ICT problems, they present opportunities for many Kenyans who never got the chance to work with the big 5.

But we can’t just list any company out there claiming to be providing ICT services. We have to use standard criteria; in our case, the company must be accredited to provide ICT services.

Communications Authority of Kenya

The Communications Authority of Kenya is the sole state body mandated to license all systems and services in the communications industry, including; telecommunications, postal, courier, and broadcasting.

It was established in 1999 to regulate the ICT industry and facilitate its development. Only companies that have been licensed by the CAK are allowed to offer official services to Kenyans and businesses both in the public and private sectors.

CAK provides licenses in various groups representing the types of ICT services a company can provide. For instance providers of network facilities, application services, content services, domain name registration services among others.

Telecommunications companies can be classified under network providers, contractors, technical personnel, and vendors. In this listing, we are focusing on network facilities providers.

The first and highest level of registration offered by CAK is the International Gateway Operators. Companies licensed under this category are allowed to provide satellite communication services across the globe or terrestrial systems across contiguous countries.

On the local level, there exist three Network Facility Operator tiers: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. These levels basically describe the network coverage that a service has.

Tier One service providers have a countrywide coverage whereas Tier Two has regional coverage. A Tier Three license allows a company to deploy communication infrastructure within a specific region using any form of technology except Satellite Communications because of its borderless nature.

Tier One companies pay 2.5 billion shillings to operate a national wide frequency and that’s above the Ksh 15,000,000 operational fee they must foot before anything. This explains why entry in the telecommunications industry is hard.

Lastly, the Submarine Cable Landing Rights License allows a company to establish and operate submarine cables systems for the provision of international connectivity services across the sea.

A company can have several licenses that allow it to provide a huge spectrum of telecommunications services.

For instance, Airtel, Safaricom, and Telkom have both Tier 1 license and International Gateway Operators license while Telkom additionally holds a Submarine Cable Landing Rights License.

Now that we understand the telecommunication accreditations, let’s list the top telecommunications companies in Kenya based on the licensing levels. Some companies will appear twice or even three times.

I will also provide the contact details for the sake of Kenyans who are seeking attachment, internship, or job opportunities and businesses in need of services.

International Gateway Operators

1. Airtel Networks Kenya Limited – Location: Parkside Towers Mombasa Road 2nd Floor, Wing A. Address: P. O. Box 73146, 00200, Nairobi. Phone: 691110019, +254734110019, +254734110000. Email: airtelbusiness@ke.airtel.com. Website – www.airtelkenya.com or www.airtel.africa
2. Commcarrier Satellite Services Limited – Location: Longonot Place 8th Floor, Kijabe Street
   Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 41093-00100, Nairobi. Phone: +25420331739, +25420331741, +254722204567. Email: info@commcarrier.com. Website: www.commcarrier.com
3. Geo-Net Communications Limited – Location: Kenya RE Towers, 10th floor, Ragati Road, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 49259 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254716023785, +254722418148, +254720246818. Email: support@geonetkenya.com, Website: geonetkenya.com.
4. Internet Solutions Kenya Limited – Location: Purshottam place, 3rd, 4th & 6th floor, Westlands Road, Nairobi. Address: P.O.Box 43588 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254203600405, +254733837356, +254722898867. Email: info@is.co.ke. Website: www.is.co.ke
5. iWay Africa Kenya Limited – Location: 15th Floor, Rahimtulla Tower, Upper hill Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi. Address: PO Box 63017-00200, Nairobi. Phone: +254713601117, +25472972000. Email: sales-ke@iwayafrica.net, Website: www.iwayafrica.com
6. Jamii Telecommunications Limited – Location: Jamii Towers, Hospital Rd, Upper Hill, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 47419 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254711054121, +254711054100, +254203975000. Email: csc@jtl.co.ke. Website: www.jtl.co.ke
7. Liquid Telecommunications Kenya Limited – Location: Sameer Business Park, Block A, Mombasa Road, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 62499 – 00200, Nairobi. Phone: +254732199000, +254731091705, +254205000000. Website: www.liquidtelecom.com
8. Mobile Telephone Networks Business (K) Limited – Location: Parkside Towers, 2nd Floor, Mombasa Road. Address: P.O. Box 12170 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254207600001, +2542076000330, +254724739502. Email: info.ke@mtn.com. Website: www.mtn.co.ke
9. Safaricom Plc – Location: Safaricom House. Waiyaki Way, Westlands. PO Box 66827, 00800 Nairobi. Phone: +254722003272, +254722005188. Career Portal. Email: hr@safaricom.co.ke Website: www.safaricom.co.ke
10. Sea Submarine Communications Limited – Location: KAM House, 1st Floor, corner of Peponi & Mwanzi Road Westlands, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 52294 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254205133100, +27761220131, +254722540643. Website: www.seacom.com
11. Telkom Kenya Limited – Location: Telkom Plaza – Ralph Bunche Road. Address: P.O. Box 30301-00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254204952460, +254 774133702, +25420343399. Email: customercare@telkom.co.ke. Website:  www.telkom.co.ke
12. Wananchi Telecom Limited – Location: 8th Floor, Block A, Gateway Business Park, Mombasa Road. Address: P.O. Box 50762 -00100, Nairobi. Phone: +25420 2804030, +254734701501. Email: info@wananchitelecom.com. Website: www.wananchitelecom.com.

Network Facilities Providers Tier 1

1. Airtel Networks Kenya Limited – Location: Parkside Towers Mombasa Road 2nd Floor, Wing A. Address: P. O. Box 73146, 00200, Nairobi. Phone: 691110019, +254734110019, +254734110000. Email: airtelbusiness@ke.airtel.com. Website – www.airtelkenya.com or www.airtel.africa
2. Safaricom PLC – Location: Safaricom House. Waiyaki Way, Westlands. PO Box 66827, 00800 Nairobi. Phone: +254722003272, +254722005188. Career Portal. Email: hr@safaricom.co.ke Website: www.safaricom.co.ke
3. Telkom Kenya Limited – Location: Telkom Plaza – Ralph Bunche Road. Address: P.O. Box 30301-00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254204952460, +254 774133702, +25420343399. Email: customercare@telkom.co.ke. Website:  www.telkom.co.ke

Network Facilities Providers Tier 2

1. Alan Dick & Company (East Africa) Limited – Location: Muthithi Rd, Nairobi. Address: 12907 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254722570112, +254203742821, +254203742821. Website: www.alandick.co.ke
2. Bandwidth and Cloud Services Group Limited – Location: Citadel Building, Muthithi Rd, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 856 – 00606, Nairobi. Phone: +254202667249, +254702273535, +254711405460. Email: info@bcs-ea.com. Website: www.bcs-ea.com
3. Bell Western Limited – Location: Jetro Chambers, Westlands. Address: P.O. Box 49670-00100, Nairobi. Phone: 4440169/+254722526777. Email: info@bellwestern.com. Website: www.bellwestern.com
4. Commcarrier Satellite Services Limited – Location: Longonot Place 8th Floor, Kijabe Street
   Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 41093-00100, Nairobi. Phone: +25420331739, +25420331741, +254722204567. Email: info@commcarrier.com. Website: www.commcarrier.com
5. Fourth Generation Networks Limited: Address: P.O. Box 46941–00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254203258252, +254203258000, +254722720720.
6. Frontier Optical Networks Limited – Location: Royal Offices, 5th Floor, Mogotio Road, Westlands, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 2115 – 00606, Nairobi. Phone: +254728906769, +254203742859, +254736791003. Website: www.fon.co.ke.
7. Geo-Net Communications Limited – Location: Kenya RE Towers, 10th floor, Ragati Road, Upper Hill, P.O. Box 49259 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254716023785, +254722418148, +254720246818. Email: support@geonetkenya.com, Website: geonetkenya.com.
8. Harun International Limited – Location: Address: P.O. Box 10972 – 00400, Nairobi. Phone: 2226327, 3311183.
9. Internet Solutions Kenya Limited – Location: Purshottam place, 3rd, 4th & 6th floor, Westlands Road, Nairobi. Address: P.O.Box 43588 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254203600405, +254733837356, +254722898867. Email: info@is.co.ke. Website: www.is.co.ke
10. iWay Africa Kenya Limited – Location: 15th Floor, Rahimtulla Tower, Upper hill Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi. Address: PO Box 63017-00200, Nairobi. Phone: +254713601117, +25472972000. Email: sales-ke@iwayafrica.net, Website: www.iwayafrica.com
11. Jamii Telecommunications Limited – Location: Jamii Towers, Hospital Rd, Upper Hill, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 47419 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254711054121, +254711054100, +254203975000. Email: csc@jtl.co.ke. Website: www.jtl.co.ke
12. Kenya Education Network – Location: University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library, First Floor. Address: P.O. Box 30244-00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254732150500, +254703044500. Email: info@kenet.or.ke. Website: www.kenet.or.ke
13. Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited – Location: Block B Kawi House, Popo lane, Off, Red Cross Rd, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 34942 – 00100 Nairobi. Phone: +254719018000, +254719189797, +254732128000. Email: info@ketraco.co.ke. Website: www.ketraco.co.ke.
14. Kenya Pipeline Company Limited – Location: Kenpipe Plaza,Sekondi Road, Off Nanyuki Road,Industrial Area, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 73442 – 00200, Nairobi. Phone: +254722207678, +254202606500. Email: info@kpc.co.ke. Website: www.kpc.co.ke.
15. Kenya Towers Limited – Address: P.O. Box 10643 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254178486174, +254178486174.
16. Liquid Telecommunications Kenya Limited – Location: Sameer Business Park, Block A, Mombasa Road, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 62499 – 00200, Nairobi. Phone: +254732199000, +254731091705, +254205000000. Website: www.liquidtelecom.com
17. Mobile Telephone Networks Business (K) Limited – Location: Parkside Towers, 2nd Floor, Mombasa Road. Address: P.O. Box 12170 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254207600001, +2542076000330, +254724739502. Email: info.ke@mtn.com. Website: www.mtn.co.ke
18. Sea Submarine Communications Limited – Location: KAM House, 1st Floor, corner of Peponi & Mwanzi Road Westlands, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 52294 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254205133100, +27761220131, +254722540643. Website: www.seacom.com
19. Simbanet Com. Kenya Limited – Location: Imara Daima, Gateway Business Park, Block A, 8th Floor, Mombasa Road. Address: P.O. Box 50762 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254734701501, +254202804030, +25420828758. Email: info@simbanet.net, Website: www.simbanet.net
20. Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited – Location: Stima Plaza, Kolobot Road in Parklands, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 30099 -00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254732170170, +254703070707. Website: www.kplc.co.ke
21. Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited – Location: The Riverfront, 4th floor, Prof. David Wasawo Drive, Off Riverside Drive. Address: P.O. Box 100560 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254202714815, +254716025745, +441133606060. Website: www.vodacom.co.ke
22. Wananchi Group Kenya Limited – Address: P.O. Box 10286 -00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254719028777, +254732132777, +254787610195
23. Wananchi Telecom Limited – Location: 8th Floor, Block A, Gateway Business Park, Mombasa Road. Address: P.O. Box 50762 -00100, Nairobi. Phone: +25420 2804030, +254734701501. Email: info@wananchitelecom.com. Website: www.wananchitelecom.com.
24. Wiafrica Kenya Limited – Address: P.O. Box 75987 – 00200, Nairobi. Phone: +254722748081, +254770640077, +254736044359.

Network Facilities Providers Tier 3

1. Able Wireless Company Limited – Address: P.O. Box 42256 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254202453048, +254735460073.
2. Amazi Group Limited – Address: P.O. Box 29717 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254722513656
3. Azanuru Technologies Limited – Address: P.O. Box 44560 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254739839381, +254733272621, +254710656958
4. Balozi Distributed Antennae System Limited – Address: P.O. Box 10643 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone:+254202899000
5. Blue Streak Horizons Net Limited – Address: P.O. Box 1880 – 80108, Kilifi. Facebook Page
6. Boma Wireless Company Limited – Location: Ouru Power Building, Kisii. Address: 38625 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254701439410, +254774075782, +254 727512657. Email: info@bomatechnologies.co.ke. Website: www.bomatechnologies.co.ke
7. Brand Technologies – Location: Mburu Gichua Rd, Nakuru. Address: P.O. Box 17144 – 20100, Nakuru. Phone: +254726758854.
8. Cable One Limited: Location: Amani Plaza, Third Parklands Avenue, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 5770 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254-777247364, +254-732247365, +254-782247366. Email: info@cableone.co.ke. Website: www.cableone.co.ke
9. Cable Television Network (Mombasa) Limited – Location: Archbishop Makarios Rd, Mombasa. Address: P.O. Box 86005 – 80100, Mombasa. Phone: +254412221594, +254723332842, +254412222057.
10. Coolight Technologies Africa Limited – Address: P.O. Box 52783 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254722700980
11. Dr. Wireless Limited – Address: P.O. Box 9517 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254787524179, +254205236801.
12. Embarq Limited – Location: Close to KMA Centre, Mara Road, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 19214 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254202619800, +254725001010, +254735001010, +254 792 565571. Website: www.embarq.co.ke.
13. Emerging Markets Communications (K) Limited – Location: Woodley/Kenyatta Golf Course HILL KENYA RE Towers, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 61752 – 00200, Nairobi. Phone: +254202733233, +254722207203, +254722207249.
14. Equator Datanet Kenya Limited – Address: 27534 – 00506, Nairobi. Phone: +254722297244
15. Fiberlink Limited – Location: Ecobank Tower, Muindi Mbingu St, Nairobi. Address: 71141 – 00610, Nairobi. Phone: +254725475364, +254202000500, +254202000501. Website: www.fiberlinklimited.co.ke
16. Hirani Telecommunication Limited – Location: Mellow Heights, On Ngara Road, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 33347 – 00600, Nairobi. Phone: +254717 166 038, +254734 701 989. Website: www.hiranitelcom.co.ke
17. Horyal Services Limited – Address: P.O. Box 68845 – 00610, Nairobi. Phone: +254722382015
18. Icon Wireless Limited – Address: P.O. Box 27775 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254727488003
19. Industrial Technology Trading Company Limited – Address: P.O. Box 14273 – 00800, Nairobi. Phone: 44400011
20. Intellect Group Limited – Address: 14029 – 00800, Nairobi. Phone: +254720552222, +254713039943, +254204442010.
21. Klass Image Limited – Location: Le MAC Towers, 7th Floor, POB 39140-00623, P.O. Box 72755 – 00200, Nairobi. Phone: +254722553992, +254721434666. Email: info@klass-image.com. Website: www.klass-image.com
22. Masaba Services Limited – Location: 17 Jacaranda Ave, Valley Arcade Address: 420 – 00517, Nairobi. Phone: +254722701903, +254202400809. Email: info@masabaservices.com. Website: www.masabaservices.com.
23. Mawingu Networks Limited – Location: The Oval, Ring Rd Parklands, Nairobi. Cedar Mall, 2nd floor, Rumuruti Road, Nanyuki. Address: P.O. Box 3168 – 10400, Nanyuki. Phone: +254705100600, +254720787216, +254712205000. customercare@mawingunetworks.com. Website: www.mawingunetworks.com.
24. My Isp Limited – Location: Maksons Plaza, Parklands Road, Westlands Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 14748 – 00800, Nairobi. Phone: +254789656023, +254203569999. Website: www.myisp.co.ke
25. Network Infrastructure Kenya Limited – Address: P.O. Box 30333 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254203258222.
26. Next Thing Networks Limited – Address: P.O. Box 2932 – 00200, Nairobi. +254727339186, +254722989001. Email: info@nextthingnetworks.co.ke. Website: www.nextthingnetworks.co.ke
27. Poa Internet Kenya Limited – Address: P.O. Box 42713 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254731445662, +254722757453. Website: www.poa.co.ke.
28. Sky Broadband Kenya Limited – Address: P.O. Box 32735 – 00600, Nairobi. Phone: +254716247332
29. Syokinet Solutions Limited – Location: Katani Rd., Syokimau. Address: P.O. Box 136 – 00519, Mlolongo. Phone: +254726815478, +254722603473, +254776370355. Email: info@syokinet.co.ke. Website: www.syokinet.co.ke
30. Valleypoint Telecoms Limited – Location: Valley View Office Park Tower A, 4th floor, room A46, City Park drive Parklands. Address: P.O. Box 2017 – 00606, Nairobi. Phone: +254202637156, +254789888588. Email: info@valleypointtelecoms.co.ke Website: www.valleypointtelecoms.com

Submarine Cable Landing Rights Operators

1. East African Marine System Limited – Address: P.O. Box 30025 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254202333288, +254727821345, +254711883126.
2. Sea Submarine Communications Limited – Location: KAM House, 1st Floor, corner of Peponi & Mwanzi Road Westlands, Nairobi. Address: P.O. Box 52294 – 00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254205133100, +27761220131, +254722540643. Website: www.seacom.com
3. Telkom Kenya Limited – Location: Telkom Plaza – Ralph Bunche Road. Address: P.O. Box 30301-00100, Nairobi. Phone: +254204952460, +254 774133702, +25420343399. Email: customercare@telkom.co.ke. Website:  www.telkom.co.ke

Who did i miss out?