The survey shall compute the e-government development index, which shall be used to compare Kenya with other countries on ICT use/FILE
The main objective of the survey which will be done in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) is to measure how enterprises are using technologies.
CA Director General Francis Wangusi says the data collected will inform policy makers, investors, academia and business leaders on uptake of ICTs in Kenya for future planning and regulation.
In addition, the survey shall compute the e-government development index, which shall be used to compare Kenya with other countries on ICT use.
“With the emergency of the information age, any sector that wants to remain relevant must generate relevant data to guide in decision-making and formulation of both reasonable and futuristic guidelines, regulations and policies,” Wangusi said during the launch of the survey on Friday.
“We are looking at various indicators of the usage of ICT. For example we want to know how much of the government enterprises are using the Internet. We want to know how the private enterprises for example, have an automated value chain,” Wangusi explained.
The survey will cost Sh64.4million with CA contributing Sh13million while Sh51.4millon will be by KNBS.
The survey will kick off on Monday and will take 50 days to complete.
“The authority requires accurate ICT data to inform regulatory interventions. This can only be achieved through regular research in collaboration with the national statistical office that is mandated to collect and analyze data from various market sectors,” Wangusi said.
The launch of the study comes at a time when East African ICT sector regulators are seeking the harmonization of tariffs within the region and pass the benefit of affordable communication to all citizens in the partner states.
Communications Authority of Kenya and the other regional ICT regulators are now exploring modalities to conduct a joint network cost study that will cover the whole ICT ecosystem in the near future.
In 2010, CA carried out a study which led to the decisions that saw calling rates drop.
The Telecommunications Network Cost Study 2010, culminated into the development of a five year glide path that has seen gradual lowering of the interconnection cost to the currently cap of 99 cents.
