The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) will purchase equipment for the cellular network coverage in 12 counties that have poor mobile network connectivity.
The towers will be built in Garissa, Kitui, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo ,Samburu,Narok, Lamu, Turkana, Taita Taveta, Wajir and West Pokot.
The authority further called for firms to commence the construction of communication towers that host Base Transceiver Station (BTS) equipment and the launch of backhaul transmission links to operators’ Base Station Controllers (BSCs) and the central systems to be built within two years.
According to CA, this aims to increase mobile network coverage in areas where residents have to struggle to get network coverage to use their phones, browse the internet, and access mobile money services.
“The scope of the project is 67 sub-locations in 12 different counties which have been identified as potential candidates for Phase 3 Cellular Mobile Infrastructure Development project, the project is based on the tower co model that separates telecommunications mobile passive infrastructure and telecommunications mobile active infrastructure,” said CA in a tender call.
The level saw 14 sub-locations in West Pokot connected to mobile networks in April this year including schools to support the rollout of the new competency-based curriculum (CBC).