The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has introduced a new framework that will change how special phone numbers, commonly known as short codes, are allocated and managed.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Under the new framework for telecommunications Numbering, Naming, Addressing and Identification (NNAI) resources, short codes will now be allocated based on the service they provide rather than being tied to a specific telecommunications operator.

The changes mean that organisations offering similar services will be able to access short codes under a service-based system, marking a shift from the previous operator-specific approach.

“It is notified to the public that the Authority has issued an enhanced framework for administration and management of telecommunications numbering, naming, addressing and identification resources in Kenya,” CA stated in a notice published on Tuesday, September 8.

📌 What You Need to Know

“Allocation of telecommunications short codes will be services-based as opposed to the previous framework in which they were telecommunications operator-specific,” it added.

The authority said the framework is intended to improve the administration and use of Kenya's telecommunications numbering resources and ensure short codes are allocated in a more organised manner.

Short codes are abbreviated phone numbers that provide access to specific telecommunications services, unlike regular mobile numbers used to make calls or send messages.

For example, 116 is used for the Child Helpline, while 112 and 999 serve as Kenya’s national emergency numbers.

The short codes can generally be used for services such as customer support, alerts, subscriptions, information services, mobile transactions, promotions and public services communication.

In its notice, the authority said the new framework will only apply to newly assigned short codes, with short codes already assigned under the previous framework not affected.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke