Guides & FAQs
Short answers to the questions that cost site visits.
Each guide opens with the answer, then explains the reasoning. Written for people who are ordering material or licensing a network this week, not for a search engine.
FTTH & Fibre Optics
Cable pricing, splicing, span ratings and how fibre actually reaches a building.
FTTH & Fibre Optics4 min read
Choosing an ADSS span rating without guessing
Measure the longest pole to pole distance on the route, then specify the next rating above it. A 100 metre span cable on a 120 metre gap is the wrong cable for that section.
Read guide
FTTH & Fibre Optics3 min read
Single mode or multimode for a campus backbone
Use single mode for links leaving a building or likely to be upgraded. Keep multimode for short, fixed internal links where compatible optics already exist.
Read guide
FTTH & Fibre Optics2 min read
Consumables that stall installations
Order sleeves, cleaning materials, labels, ties, patch cords and spare connectors with the main hardware. Each item is cheap, and each can stop a crew.
Read guide
FTTH & Fibre Optics6 min read
Fiber Optic Cable Buying Guide: ADSS vs Duct, Single-Mode vs Multimode
The right fibre cable for a Kenyan install comes down to two decisions made before you order anything: ADSS or duct construction, and single-mode or multimode core. Get either wrong and you'll be re-pulling cable, not just re-terminating it.
Read guide
FTTH & Fibre Optics5 min read
How FTTH Works in Kenya: A Plain-English Guide to Fibre-to-the-Home
FTTH (Fibre-to-the-Home) in Kenya works by running fibre cable from an ISP's OLT (Optical Line Terminal) through a splitter network to an ONT box installed at the customer's premises, which converts light signals into a usable internet connection.
Read guide
FTTH & Fibre Optics5 min read
Fusion Splicer Buying Guide: Core Alignment vs Fixed V-Groove
The choice between a core-alignment and a fixed V-groove fusion splicer comes down to splice volume and precision requirements, not just upfront cost. A machine that is false economy for a daily-use ISP technician can be exactly right for an installer who splices occasionally.
Read guide
FTTH & Fibre Optics4 min read
GPON vs GEPON: Which Fibre Network Technology Should Kenyan ISPs Choose in 2026?
GPON generally suits Kenyan ISPs planning to scale, thanks to a wider vendor ecosystem and better bandwidth management, while GEPON can be a lower-cost entry point for a small, tightly-controlled network.
Read guideNetworking Gear & MikroTik
Router sizing, RouterOS setup, structured cabling and switch power budgets.
Networking Gear & MikroTik5 min read
MikroTik Router Configuration for Small Business: Step-by-Step Setup Guide (2026)
Setting up a MikroTik router for a small office takes five core steps: connect and reset to defaults, configure the WAN connection, set up LAN and Wi-Fi, secure the admin login, then apply basic firewall rules.
Read guide
Networking Gear & MikroTik5 min read
Best Router for 50+ Users in a Kenyan Office: MikroTik hAP vs CCR Compared
For 50+ concurrent users, a home-grade router will bottleneck. Kenyan offices at this size typically need a MikroTik CCR-series router or an hAP paired with a managed switch, sized by concurrent connections rather than headline speed.
Read guide
Networking Gear & MikroTik5 min read
GPON OLT Buying Guide: Sizing Ports to Subscriber Capacity
An 8-port GPON OLT can typically serve several hundred to over a thousand subscribers depending on your splitter ratio, making it the standard entry point for a WISP scaling past a handful of pilot customers.
Read guide
Networking Gear & MikroTik4 min read
CAT6 vs CAT6A: Which Structured Cabling Standard Fits Your Office?
CAT6 is enough for most Kenyan offices running gigabit networks today, while CAT6A costs more but future-proofs cabling for 10-gigabit runs and longer cable distances. The choice comes down to run length and how long you plan to keep the cabling in the wall.
Read guideISP & WISP Business
CAK licensing, equipment lists and realistic budgets for starting an ISP.
ISP & WISP Business6 min read
Network Facilities Provider (NFP) Licence in Kenya: Tier 1, 2 and 3 Fees Explained (2026)
Kenya's Network Facilities Provider (NFP) licence is split into three tiers by geographic coverage, and the fees rise sharply at each level. A Tier 3 (single-county) licence costs a fraction of Tier 1 (national), which is exactly why most new WISPs should not apply for national coverage on day one.
Read guide
ISP & WISP Business6 min read
WISP Equipment List: What You Need to Launch a Wireless ISP in Kenya
A minimum WISP setup in Kenya needs a tower or elevated mounting point, a backhaul link to your upstream provider, a sector antenna for client distribution, a core router, and backup power. Everything else is scale, not a starting requirement.
Read guide
ISP & WISP Business5 min read
How Much Does It Cost to Start an Internet Business in Kenya? (2026 Budget Framework)
Starting a small ISP or WISP in Kenya needs budget across four categories: CAK licensing, core network equipment, backhaul and bandwidth commitments, and three to six months of working capital. Founders consistently underestimate the last one, not the first three.
Read guideSecurity, Power & Structured Cabling
CCTV costs, backup power and the cabling that carries both.
Security, Power & Structured Cabling3 min read
Sizing a PoE budget so cameras do not brown out
Add the maximum wattage of every powered device, add twenty percent headroom, then choose a switch whose total PoE budget exceeds that figure.
Read guide
Security, Power & Structured Cabling3 min read
Why the 90 metre rule decides your cabinet positions
Horizontal copper runs stop at 90 metres of permanent link, with 10 metres left for patch cords. Cabinet placement follows that limit.
Read guide
Security, Power & Structured Cabling4 min read
Calculating recorder storage before buying disks
Multiply stream bitrate by camera count, recording hours and retention days. Convert the result to terabytes and add margin for motion and system overhead.
Read guide
Security, Power & Structured Cabling5 min read
CCTV System Buying Guide: Analogue vs IP, DVR vs NVR
The core CCTV decision is analogue vs IP cameras paired with a DVR or NVR recorder. IP/NVR systems cost more upfront but deliver sharper footage and easier remote viewing, while analogue/DVR systems remain a solid, simpler choice for straightforward coverage needs.
Read guide
Security, Power & Structured Cabling5 min read
Best Power Backup Solutions for Routers and Networking Gear During Load Shedding
A small UPS can keep a router, ONT and switch running for 8 to 15 minutes on a basic entry-level unit, or considerably longer on a higher-capacity model. Sizing it correctly means matching backup runtime to your actual load, not just buying the biggest box available.
Read guide
Security, Power & Structured Cabling5 min read
Solar Power Backup vs UPS for Networking Equipment: Which Is Better in Kenya?
A standard UPS is cheaper upfront and simpler for a home or office router, while solar backup pays off at remote or off-grid sites, like WISP towers, where grid power is unreliable or absent.
Read guide
Security, Power & Structured Cabling5 min read
PABX System Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Setup for Your Office
Choosing a PABX system for a Kenyan office comes down to two decisions: analogue or IP, and how many extensions you actually need. Most small offices are well served by a modest IP setup that scales more easily than legacy analogue systems as the team grows.
Read guideStarlink & Satellite Connectivity
Pricing, setup and how Starlink compares to fibre and terrestrial wireless.
Starlink & Satellite Connectivity6 min read
Starlink Kenya Price 2026: Kit Cost, Monthly Plans and Is It Worth It for Businesses?
Starlink in Kenya requires an upfront hardware kit plus a monthly subscription, with pricing tiers by use case. Residential, Roam and Business plans differ mainly in priority bandwidth, data allowances and permitted commercial use, not just price.
Read guideStarlink & Satellite Connectivity5 min read
Starlink vs Fiber Internet in Kenya: Which Is Better for Your Business in 2026?
Fibre generally beats Starlink on cost-per-month and consistency once it's available at your location, while Starlink wins where fibre can't reach yet. The real decision usually comes down to location, not which technology is "better."
Read guideStarlink & Satellite Connectivity6 min read
How to Set Up Starlink for Your ISP or Resale Business in Kenya
Whether you can commercially resell a Starlink connection comes down to which plan tier you are on, not a general "is it legal" question. Starlink's Residential plan is generally not intended for commercial resale or network-sharing, while its Business-tier plans are built specifically for that use case.
Read guide
Starlink & Satellite Connectivity5 min read
Fiber vs Wireless Internet in Kenya: Choosing the Right Connection for Your Business
The right internet connection in Kenya depends less on which technology is fastest on paper and more on what is actually available at your address: fibre where it reaches, terrestrial wireless as a fast-to-install middle ground, and satellite where nothing else reaches yet.
Read guide Reference Desk
About this section
How often is new technical content published?+
New guides are added as questions repeat at the technical desk, which works out to a steady stream across fibre, networking, ISP business, security and Starlink rather than daily filler.
Can ECA Networks answer a question that is not covered here?+
Yes. Send the site details to the technical desk and the answer usually arrives the same working day, and often becomes the next guide.
Have a technical question not covered here?
Send your site details or specification requirements directly to our technical desk for a same-day answer.