Effects of Network Infrastructure sharing Challenges on Open Information Communication Technology Infrastructure Sharing among Mobile Service Providers in Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to investigate the effects of network infrastructure challenges on open ICT infrastructure sharing by Mobile Service Providers in Kenya. Specifically, the study investigated network sharing challenges as the main determinants to open ICT infrastructure sharing by Mobile Service Providers in Kenya. The empirical literature revealed that Open ICT Infrastructure sharing can substantially reduce capital and operational expenditure thereby increasing the speed of network rollouts, improve coverage and help meet the capacity demands of increased data traffic. Other reviews revealed that each sharing environment is different and may have pressures and priorities that change throughout the process of establishing a partnership between two operators with a view to developing a framework for Open ICT infrastructure sharing. Data was collected from employees from Safaricom, Airtel and Orange in order to study the population. A target population of 800 employees from the three Mobile Service Providers in Kenya was considered. Both Stratified and purposive sampling techniques were used to identify the respondents. A sample size of 86 respondents was used in this study using both structured questionnaires and scheduled interviews. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse data collected from respondents in this study. Network service control and Coverage, Network growth and Experience and Resources were identified as the main challenges facing Network sharing by Mobile Service Providers. It is hoped that the results obtained from this study will be beneficial to stakeholders in Mobile Service industry formulate policies that promote ICT Infrastructure sharing with a view to promoting universal access and saving on expenditures.