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Broadband Powers Spectrum Management for the Communications Authority of Kenya

Published on August 20, 2025
Broadband Powers Spectrum Management for the Communications Authority of Kenya
The launch was graced by Broadband’s Founder and Managing Director, the Director General of the Communications Authority, and the Sales Director of Africa at Rohde & Schwarz.

In 2021, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) officially commissioned a state-of-the-art Radio Frequency Spectrum Management and Monitoring System. The launch, presided over by then Cabinet Secretary for ICT, Innovation, and Youth Affairs, Mr. Joe Mucheru, marked a pivotal milestone in strengthening Kenya’s communications infrastructure.

The system, known as Simba 2, represented the second phase of CA’s investment in advanced spectrum monitoring solutions. Its primary purpose was to give the regulator full visibility of spectrum utilization, ensuring that Kenya’s rapidly expanding digital ecosystem remained efficient, secure, and reliable.

Radio frequency spectrum is the invisible backbone of modern communication, powering everything from mobile networks and broadcasting to emergency services and aviation. As Kenya’s demand for connectivity continues to grow, the risk of harmful interference, congestion, and misuse of frequencies increases.

To address these challenges, CA needed a system capable of:

  • Detecting and analyzing signals in real time

  • Locating emitters through advanced geolocation techniques

  • Ensuring compliance with licensing and technical regulations

  • Protecting critical services such as aviation and emergency communications

  • Supporting spectrum planning and allocation for future technologies, including 5G

By investing in Simba 2, the regulator reinforced its capacity to safeguard the integrity of Kenya’s airwaves, creating a level playing field for operators while paving the way for the deployment of new wireless innovations.

Broadband Communication Network Ltd (BCNL) was awarded the Simba 2 turnkey project, building on the success of the first phase. The team delivered a robust network of two fixed spectrum monitoring stations and three mobile units capable of operating across VHF, UHF, and HF frequencies.

The system significantly expanded CA’s monitoring coverage and reach. The fixed stations enhanced central region oversight, while the mobile units introduced HF monitoring capability in Western Kenya, a major advancement in addressing long-distance signal monitoring requirements.

Broadband’s role went beyond deployment. As a trusted partner, BCNL provided end-to-end integration of hardware, software, and training, ensuring that CA had not just the technology but also the expertise to operate and sustain the system effectively.

The commissioning of Simba 2 stands as a clear example of how strategic partnerships between regulators and technology providers like Broadband Communication Networks Ltd can deliver lasting national impact. By ensuring the efficient use of spectrum, Kenya is not only protecting its present communication landscape but also laying the foundation for the technologies of the future.