ASP Licence Kenya — quick answers
Who regulates ASP licensing?
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) licenses Applications Service Providers under the current telecommunications market structure.
What services can fall under ASP?
Examples include voice, data, internet, vehicle tracking, MVNO/MVNE, dot KE Registry services and IoT services.
What are the official fees?
KES 5,000 application; KES 100,000 initial for 15 years or KES 300,000 for 25 years; annual 0.4% of gross turnover or KES 80,000 minimum.
Satellite-based IoT?
Satellite-based IoT and GMPCS services must be coupled with a Landing Rights Authorization.
What does CA want in the application?
A business plan, service/technical architecture, target market, coverage, three-year customer and turnover projections, funding sources and infrastructure-partner details.
Does ASP approve equipment?
No. Equipment Type Approval and commercial distributor licensing remain separate where applicable.
What is an Applications Service Provider (ASP) Licence?
The ASP licence is a service licence, not an equipment certificate. Under the revised 2026 CA market structure, it allows a licensee to provide services to end users using infrastructure leased from licensed Network Facilities Provider categories.
Examples in the current framework include voice, data, internet, vehicle tracking services, MVNO/MVNE services, dot KE ccTLD Registry services and Internet of Things services. The list is illustrative, so the actual business architecture remains important when determining whether ASP is the correct category.
Businesses that should assess ASP licensing
- IoT platform/service providers using telecommunications connectivity to deliver end-user services;
- vehicle tracking, fleet management and telematics providers;
- internet, data or other end-to-end communications service providers operating over leased infrastructure;
- MVNO/MVNE business models and related service platforms;
- technology companies entering Kenya with recurring communications-enabled services; and
- foreign service providers establishing a Kenyan operating model for regulated communications services.
A business that only sells equipment may instead have a CED/CEV and Type Approval issue. An infrastructure-owning operator may require a different Network Facilities Provider category.
ASP Licence fees and term
| Fee / term | 15-year option | 25-year option |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | KES 5,000 | KES 5,000 |
| Initial licence fee | KES 100,000 | KES 300,000 |
| Annual operating fee | 0.4% of Annual Gross Turnover or KES 80,000, whichever is higher | |
| Licence term | 15 years | 25 years |
These are the current CA regulatory fees in the revised 2026 telecommunications market structure. Professional application-support fees are separate and quoted by scope.
ASP scope: where related licences enter
| Business feature | ASP relevance | Additional route to assess |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end IoT service over leased telecom infrastructure | ASP is expressly relevant | IoT market-entry classification |
| Vehicle tracking / fleet telematics | Vehicle tracking is expressly listed under ASP | Vehicle tracking specialist review |
| Satellite-based IoT or GMPCS | ASP plus satellite condition | Landing Rights Authorization |
| Import/wholesale of communications devices | Not solved by ASP alone | CED Licence |
| Communications/radio equipment models | Not solved by ASP alone | Type Approval / Type Acceptance |
ASP application requirements and business plan
CA's current universal telecommunications licence form separates the application into the general applicant documentation and the service-specific information package.
General corporate application file
- signed cover letter addressed to the Director General;
- affidavit identifying the licence category and confirming the supporting certified documents;
- completed universal telecommunications licence application form;
- Certificate of Incorporation/registration documents or equivalent;
- ownership/shareholding documentation such as CR12 or equivalent where applicable;
- English translations for foreign-language documents; and
- other documents specified in the current Section B checklist.
ASP business plan and service information
- detailed description of services to be provided;
- technical diagram showing the business architecture's relationship with telecommunications infrastructure;
- target market / customer segment;
- intended geographic coverage;
- estimated/projected customer numbers for years 1, 2 and 3;
- projected annual gross turnover for years 1, 2 and 3 and funding sources;
- service type offerings;
- name of NFP-Tx wholesale infrastructure partner(s); and
- required numbering resources, where applicable.
How to apply for an ASP Licence in Kenya
- Classify the service. Confirm that the proposed activity fits ASP rather than NFP, CSP, CED, CEV, LRA or another licence category.
- Choose the intended term. The current framework provides a 15-year term and an optional 25-year term for ASP, with different initial fees.
- Prepare the service architecture and business plan. Define network partners, customers, coverage, forecasts and funding.
- Compile the corporate/affidavit file. Use the current CA universal telecommunications licence form and certification/notarisation requirements.
- Pay the application fee through the current CA payment channel. The current form directs applicable licence payments through eCitizen.
- Submit the complete file and respond to queries. Telecom applications should follow the submission methods stated in the current universal form.
- Complete licence issuance and annual compliance. After approval, pay the relevant initial licence fee and plan for the annual turnover-based operating fee.
Processing time
The current CA materials reviewed do not publish one fixed decision period for every ASP licence. Build the launch timetable around a complete first filing and allowance for CA clarification requests rather than a guaranteed approval date.
ASP pre-filing checklist
- ✔ The service is described in regulator terminology, not only marketing terminology.
- ✔ The applicant entity matches the entity that will contract with Kenyan customers.
- ✔ The technical diagram shows where licensed NFP infrastructure is used.
- ✔ Wholesale infrastructure partner(s) are identified.
- ✔ Three-year customer, revenue and funding figures reconcile.
- ✔ Equipment Type Approval requirements are separately mapped.
- ✔ Commercial equipment import/distribution is separately assessed for CED.
- ✔ Satellite-based IoT/GMPCS is flagged for LRA review.
Need help with an ASP Licence application in Kenya?
Dynamic Systems Advisory Limited can classify the proposed service, review the technical architecture, prepare the ASP business-plan information package and support CA filing and follow-up.
Send the company profile, service description, target customers, coverage, network/infrastructure partners, equipment used, expected launch date and whether the service involves IoT, vehicle tracking, MVNO/MVNE or satellite connectivity.
📞 254180310318 | 📧 info@typeapprovalkenya.com | 💬 Chat on WhatsApp
Official CA references
Information checked: 21 August 2026. CA licence categories, fees, forms and procedures may be revised. Confirm the current CA materials before filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is an Applications Service Provider licence in Kenya?
- The ASP licence is a Communications Authority of Kenya service licence allowing a licensee to provide end-to-end communications services to users over infrastructure leased from licensed Network Facilities Providers, subject to the licence scope.
- What services are included under the ASP licence?
- The current 2026 market structure lists examples including voice, data, internet, vehicle tracking, MVNO/MVNE services, dot KE ccTLD Registry services and Internet of Things (IoT) services. The exact licence classification depends on the proposed service architecture.
- How much does an ASP licence cost?
- The current CA schedule lists a KES 5,000 application fee. The initial fee is KES 100,000 for a 15-year term or KES 300,000 for the optional 25-year term. The annual operating fee is 0.4% of annual gross turnover or KES 80,000, whichever is higher.
- Does an ASP licence include satellite IoT?
- Satellite-based IoT and GMPCS services are expressly included only with an additional Landing Rights Authorization under the current revised market structure.
- Does an ASP licence replace Type Approval?
- No. The ASP licence authorizes the service business. Communications or radio equipment used, imported or sold in Kenya may still require separate Type Approval and, for commercial distribution, a CED assessment.
- What does the current ASP application form ask for?
- CA's current universal form asks for a business plan, service description, technical architecture diagram, target market, geographic coverage, three-year customer and turnover projections, funding sources, service-type offerings, infrastructure partners and any required numbering resources.
- How long does ASP licensing take?
- The current CA materials reviewed do not state one fixed processing period for every ASP application. Timing depends on the completeness of the corporate and technical file and the regulator's review and queries.