By James Ratemo
Kenya Data Networks has signed a Sh1.5billion deal with Alcatel-Lucent to upgrade its broadband network across the region.
The money is part of the Sh15.6billion ($200million) KDN intends to use to expand its infrastructure and capability in the region.
The agreement covers the supply, integration, installation and deployment of Alcatel-Lucent’s advanced optical networking, and optical switching solutions for KDN’s transport network across Kenya and in East Africa.
The deployment of the Alcatel-Lucent solution will start from Mombasa to Nairobi, before extending to the major links connecting Kenya with neighboring countries.
"Our objective is to continue providing our customers with a wide range of beneficial, easy-to-use carrier, business and residential services...this will provide us with a cost-effective transmission solution without service interruptions," said Kai Wulff, CEO of KDN.
Kai said home and office users can use the company’s Wi-fi connection (butterfly) for free.
The new venture will see KDN leverage on Alcatel-Lucent’s Triple Play Service Delivery Architecture to give mobile, residential and enterprise customers more speed, higher quality, and unequalled stability for triple play services along with guaranteed quality of service for business critical applications, and future mobile services.
Once deployed, KDN’s expanded network will cover 12 metro areas across Kenya. The expanded network will enhance KDN’s state-of-the-art IP infrastructure with more resilience, more capacity, and more flexibility. It also sets a new benchmark for high performance and Quality of Service, two key components required to offer reliable triple play services at non-blocking speeds, simultaneously to both business and residential users.
