Internet users in Kenya could soon have to deal with higher costs if a proposal requiring service providers to charge customers according to the amount of data they consume becomes law.
The proposal has raised concerns among telecommunications companies, which argue that introducing consumption-based billing across the industry would require major investments in new technology and systems.
The concerns were raised on Thursday, August 13, when representatives from a telecommunications company appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation.
The company told lawmakers that requiring all internet providers to measure and charge customers for every unit of data used could increase the cost of internet services.
Providers would need to install additional infrastructure and sophisticated billing systems capable of tracking data consumption.
According to a statement from Parliament following the meeting, operators would have to invest in Deep Packet Inspection infrastructure and advanced billing systems to measure the amount of data consumed by each customer.
The providers warned that the cost of making these changes could eventually be transferred to consumers through higher internet charges.
The proposal could also affect the way Kenyans currently buy internet services. Many customers use packages that are based on internet speeds rather than the exact amount of data consumed.
These packages allow customers to pay a fixed amount every month and use the connection without worrying about being charged for each megabyte.
Telecommunications companies warned that such packages, including unlimited plans, could come under pressure if consumption-based billing becomes a legal requirement.
A change in the billing system could have an impact on different groups of internet users.
Families with several people using the same connection could face challenges in managing their monthly internet expenses if charges depend directly on data consumption.
The same could apply to businesses that depend on stable internet connections for daily operations.
Schools and people working from home could also be affected, especially where large amounts of data are required for online meetings, learning, file transfers and other activities.
Providers are therefore asking lawmakers to consider a system that gives consumers more choice.
They want customers to be able to select between different billing models while also receiving clear information about how much data they use.
The companies maintain that fixed-price internet packages based on speed should continue to be available.
They argue that such packages give customers predictable monthly costs and should not be removed through legislation.
The debate comes as the National Assembly Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation examines the proposed changes under the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie said the views presented by stakeholders would help the committee identify areas that may require changes before the proposals are taken forward.
The discussions are expected to help lawmakers balance consumer protection with the costs that internet providers would incur if a new billing system is introduced.
MPs have been urged to consider amending the proposed provision so that consumers can access information about their data usage without making consumption-based billing the only available option.
For millions of Kenyans who depend on internet services for communication, education, business and entertainment, the outcome of the parliamentary discussions could determine how they pay for connectivity in the future.
The main concern raised by providers is that while greater transparency on data use may benefit consumers, forcing one billing model on all users could increase operating costs and eventually make internet access more expensive.
