Nairobi, May 27 -- Mobile phone operators will for the first time face financial penalties and business sanctions for dropped calls and poor internet connection, putting pressure on telecoms firms to upgrade networks.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has proposed new rules that mark a shift from the regulator's previous approach of issuing warnings and compliance notices for operators in breach.

In draft proposals, the CA is also seeking to raise the minimum performance score for telcos to 90 percent from the current 80 percent, while introducing quarterly penalties for non-compliance.

The new compliance standards look set to trigger fresh investments for a sector that has splashed billions of shillings in network upgrades, n...