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{
    "id": 244446,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/244446/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 17,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kagwe",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Information and Communications",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 229,
        "legal_name": "Mutahi Kagwe",
        "slug": "mutahi-kagwe"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I start by apologising for the request. We are going to launch the Optical Fibre Cable in Mombasa. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. (a) The commissioning of a third mobile phone operator is currently a subject of litigation in court and it may be sub-judice to discuss it here. However, once the courts make a determination on the matter, the Government will decide on the best way forward. The foregoing 1802 notwithstanding, the Government wishes to restate its firm commitment towards having competitiveness in the provision of modern and affordable mobile services in Kenya. (b) I am not aware of any vested interests that have delayed the commissioning of a third mobile phone provider other than what I have just stated. If there are vested interests, they must be with the consortium that bid for the licence; the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives Ltd. (KUSCO), Econet Wireless Ltd. and others. The Government is still committed to ensuring the provision of accessible and affordable telecommunication services to all Kenyans, and that is the reason it is engaged in the process of licensing a third mobile phone operator, additional data network operators, internet service providers and local loop operators among others. (c) Yes, I am aware that opening up this sector to competition would reduce the cost of telephone calls and create employment. Indeed, Kenyans have started to benefit from liberalisation, especially with the opening of the gateway and the granting of licences to the two mobile phone operators; Safaricom and Celtel, two days ago. The Government is also in the process of licensing the Second National Fixed Line Operator (SNO). In any liberalised economy, open competition brings about sectoral development, price reduction and improved quality."
}