ICT sector to attract more foreign investment- East Africa

Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) has plans to integrate the Information Communication Technology (ICT)sector so that it can attract more Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into the region.

The director general of Communication Authority of Kenya (CA), Mr. Francis Wangusi, told media in Nairobi that "the six partner states that is including Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda have small fragmented markets that have limited appeal to foreign investors and this six partner states have already developed draft policies which will be domesticated by each country."

The regional trading bloc has already made an interesting progress towards developing One Area Network for the telecom sector. Tanzania and Burundi will be soon joining the initiative towards EAC One Area Network that expel mobile telephone roaming charges. Whereas, so far, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have already joined the EAC One Area Network.

Mr. Francis Wangusi, further stated that, "the EAC countries have also started the responsibility to integrate and harmonise all ICT sector laws so that it could create a better regional market of over 160 million consumers."

The integrated tariffs on voice calls within the partner states will help to promote regional integration which will enable and benefit the region in reducing the communication cost. 

Further, the East Africa's plan to combine together the ICT will help the region to attract maximum foreign investment.