Why ISPs want Parliament to rethink Kenya's mandatory metered internet billing proposal
A proposal that could change how Kenyans pay for home internet has entered a new stage in Parliament, and telecom operators are asking MPs to rewrite one of its most controversial provisions.
During a hearing before the National Assembly Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, internet service providers argued that the bill could raise costs, disrupt unlimited broadband packages and force expensive investments in new billing infrastructure.
The hearing marks an important step for the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2025 because lawmakers are now collecting stakeholder views before deciding whether to amend the proposal ahead of further parliamentary debate.
Why ISPs Oppose Mandatory Metered Billing
At the centre of the dispute is a provision that would require internet providers to bill customers according to the amount of data they consume rather than relying on fixed-rate or speed-based packages.
Telecom operators told MPs that making consumption-based billing mandatory would require significant investment in Deep Packet Inspection infrastructure and sophisticated billing systems capable of measuring internet usage at a much finer level. Those costs, they argued, could eventually be passed on to consumers through higher internet prices.
The operators also warned that mandatory metered billing could undermine products that many households already rely on, including unlimited fibre packages and plans priced according to connection speed rather than data consumption.
Instead of replacing the current pricing model, providers urged lawmakers to preserve consumer choice by allowing both flat-rate and usage-based options while giving customers clearer information about how much data they use.
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie, who sits on the committee, said stakeholder submissions would help identify areas requiring changes before the committee presents its recommendations to Parliament.
The Debate Comes as Broadband Competition Intensifies
The parliamentary debate is unfolding while Kenya’s home broadband market looks markedly different from a year ago.
Communications Authority data shows fixed internet subscriptions climbed to about 2.66 million during the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year after adding nearly 196,000 connections in three months.
Competition has become just as visible in pricing as it has in network expansion.
Zuku recently introduced discounted fibre pricing while keeping the higher speeds it rolled out earlier in the year. Safaricom refreshed its Home Fibre packages with faster speeds, Faiba lowered the cost of entry with new packages, Airtel expanded its residential fibre offering, and Savanna Fibre entered the market with aggressively priced plans in selected areas.
That backdrop adds another layer to the committee’s deliberations because operators are already competing through promotional pricing, faster speeds and refreshed entry-level packages rather than moving toward mandatory usage-based charging.
Why Unlimited Plans Are Part of the Argument
One of the clearest concerns raised during the hearing involves households that depend on predictable monthly internet costs.
Remote workers, schools, small businesses and families with multiple connected devices often choose unlimited or speed-based packages because they can stream, attend online classes, download updates and use cloud services without constantly monitoring data consumption.
The Bill’s current wording does not explain whether those products would continue unchanged if usage-based billing became compulsory, which is why providers are pressing for amendments before the legislation advances further.
What Parliament Could Change Next
The Bill remains under parliamentary consideration, and the committee can recommend changes before it returns to the National Assembly for debate.
One proposal emerging from the hearing would require providers to give customers clear information about their internet usage without making consumption-based billing the only pricing model available.
That distinction could become one of the most important issues lawmakers weigh as they decide whether consumer protection is better served by mandating metered billing or by preserving a market where households can choose between paying for data consumed and paying a fixed monthly price for broadband access.
Download the FREE Kaspersky Next Enterprise Security Guide here to explore the complete framework for simplifying security operations and building cyber resilience.
Go to TECHTRENDSKE.co.ke for more tech and business news from the African continent and across the world.
Follow us on WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future updates. Send tips to editorial@techtrendsmedia.co.ke
