Kenya Launches First Trial of Digital Radio Services in Nairobi

Kenya has officially rolled out its first trial of Digital Sound Broadcasting (DSB) services in Nairobi, marking a significant shift in the country’s radio landscape.

In a press release issued on February 13, 2026, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) announced that it “has facilitated the activation of Kenya’s first trial Digital Sound Broadcasting (DSB) for radio services in Nairobi,” describing the move as “a major step towards the future of radio.”

Radio continues to play a central role in Kenya’s media space, reaching about 98 per cent of households and supporting over 300 licensed broadcast services. However, the Authority noted that “FM frequencies in VHF Band II (87.5–108.0 MHz) are saturated in major coverage areas,” a situation that has limited room for new broadcasters and contributed to signal interference and reduced audio quality.

To respond to these challenges, the Authority developed a Digital Sound Broadcasting framework in 2023, focusing mainly on Digital Audio Broadcasting in VHF Band III (174–230 MHz) and Digital Radio Mondiale in the HF band (30 MHz). The framework followed consultations with key industry players, including broadcasters, distributors and government agencies.

In 2025, CA granted authorisation to Signet Signal Distributors Ltd and Mast Rental Services Ltd to deploy trial digital networks. According to the statement, “In January 2026, Mast Rental became the first operator to deploy a DAB+ trial network and currently carries 14 radio programmes within the Nairobi coverage area.”

The Authority said the activation of the digital signal “marks a key milestone for sound broadcasting in Kenya.” It added that digital radio will offer listeners “clearer sound, reduced harmful interference, and a wider choice of programming,” while also opening up new opportunities for broadcasters and investors through lower transmission costs and expanded capacity.