Kenyan startup scoops ICT award in Thailand

Their product, Kio Kit- a wireless lockable charging device -was rated first in the Global SME Category of Awards. The Kio Kit can hold and charge 40 tablets, each of which can run for eight hours on a single charge.PHOTO: COURTESY

An innovation by a Kenyan hardware and service startup BRCK, emerged top in the in the Global Telecom World Award in Bongkok, Thailand.

Their product, Kio Kit- a wireless lockable charging device -was rated first in the Global SME Category of Awards. The Kio Kit can hold and charge 40 tablets, each of which can run for eight hours on a single charge.

 It is suitable for rural areas without reliable power supply and with limitation in access to digital technology learning platforms.

The annual Telecoms World Award events is organised by International Telecommunication Union ITU. ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao, said in keeping with ITU Telecom World’s focus on SMEs and their role within the broader ICT ecosystem, these Awards recognised excellence and innovation in ICT solutions with social impact from SMEs and corporations alike.

The Kenyan start-up is also the innovator of a product called “the BRCK”, a rugged modem designed for harsh environments with limited connection and power.

What makes it noteworthy is that it can hop between different types of connections such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi and 3G or 4G.