Kenya has formally taken its first main step into the way forward for sound broadcasting by activating a trial for digital radio providers in Nairobi.
This milestone, introduced by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) on in the present day, coincides with the worldwide celebration of World Radio Day.
Journalists throughout Kenya celebrated World Radio Day 2026 beneath the theme “Radio and AI: Innovation that Empowers, Ethics that Encourage, Belief that Endures,” specializing in combine rising applied sciences into the nation’s most trusted medium.
The regulator famous that lthough sound broadcasting stays one of many nation’s most important media platforms—reaching roughly 98% of properties and supporting 300 licensed providers—the transfer addresses a rising technical disaster.
“Particularly, conventional FM frequencies in VHF Band II (87.5–108.0 MHz) have turn into “saturated” in main protection areas, resulting in elevated interference and comparatively poor audio high quality for listeners,” CA famous.
The transition started in earnest in 2023 when the Authority developed a framework for Digital Sound Broadcasting (DSB), specializing in Digital Audio Broadcasting in VHF Band III (174–230 MHz) and Digital Radio Mondiale within the HF band (30 MHz).
Following in depth stakeholder engagement, the CA granted authorization in 2025 to 2 licensees, Signet Sign Distributors Ltd and Mast Rental Providers Ltd, to deploy trial networks.
Consequently, in January 2026, Mast Rental grew to become the primary operator to deploy a DAB+ trial community, which at the moment carries 14 radio programmes inside the Nairobi protection space.
This shift is anticipated to supply vital benefits for each broadcasters and traders by offering wider protection and decrease limitations to entry.
By separating content material provision from sign distribution, the brand new system permits broadcasters to deal with “compelling content material” whereas the flexibility to hold a number of providers on a single channel lowers transmission prices.
Moreover, the framework creates area for brand spanking new entrants, together with neighborhood broadcasters, by offering reserved capability at “nominal carriage prices”.
For the common shopper, this know-how guarantees clearer sound, decreased interference, and a far wider selection of “area of interest, regional and thematic providers,” alongside potential value-added information like station data.
Wanting forward, the DSB know-how is meant to initially “complement, not exchange, current FM providers”.
Crucially, no analogue switch-off date has been set, making certain continuity for all listeners as digital platforms are rolled out in phases, beginning with the Mombasa–Nairobi–Kisumu hall.
The Authority will now conduct a 12-month monitoring and analysis interval to make sure sufficient sign protection, inexpensive receivers, and public training.
By becoming a member of the worldwide frontier of digital radio, Kenya goals to work with regional our bodies to help harmonized approaches that “improve interoperability and funding”.
