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CA: Why military bases may house some telecommunication masts

 

Communications Authority is considering moving telecommunication masts in some areas of the country to military bases and police stations to curb vandalism, Director General Ezra Chiloba has said.

Appearing before the Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration, Chiloba said masts in northern Kenyan have become an easy target of vandals and terrorists.

Lamu Senator Joseph Githuku had asked Chiloba to state measures CA was taking to avail mobile communication services in marginalised areas.

“What are you doing to improve services in areas like Boni forest where there is very poor coverage,” he posed.

Chiloba said CA is currently working with mobile network operator Safaricom to transfer masts to a military camp and police posts in the area.

“We have agreed to put up the masts in these areas since insecurity has hampered the development of critical communication infrastructure,” he stated.

In the last five years, CA has lost about 25 masts destroyed mostly in Northern Kenya.Out of the 25 destroyed masts, 12 were in Mandera County while others were in Garissa and Wajir counties.

Operators incur millions of shillings in insurance costs for the sites since they are considered riskier.

Last year in February, CA termed as timely the government's decision to classify telecommunication infrastructure facilities as critical amid rising vandalism cases.

The government gazetted several assets ranging from communication installations (including internet systems) as well as air navigation, petroleum storage and distribution systems as critical infrastructure facilities.

Such installations are now accorded enhanced security in a bid to deter vandalism after recent incidents of vandalism on power lines, telecommunication masts as well as road and railway facilities.

CA has since commenced the construction of telecommunication masts in four sub-locations in Tana River County through phase II of the Universal Service Fund (USF) to avail mobile communication services    BY  THE STAR   

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