ICT CS Eliud Owalo says government surpassed internet connectivity roll-out target

 

ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalod release one-year status report on 31st July 2023, in Nairobi.[Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

The government has surpassed its target of rolling out fiber optic cables in different parts of the country, to ensure a stable and reliable internet connection.

This is according to Information, Communication and, Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo.

While releasing the ministry’s one-year perfomance report on Monday, July 31, the CS said they have passed their target of 5,000 km of fiber optic cables by an extra 280km.

“Our target for June 2023 was 5,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable. I am happy to report that we have surpassed that target and we have managed as we speak to realize a rollout of 5,280 kilometers,” CS Eliud Owalo, said.

According to the report, the government was tasked to roll out a minimum of 100,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable in different parts of the country.

He noted that the component of the work done consists of the one done by the government and a part rollout by the private sector.

“The private sector has managed to roll out 2,500 kilometers while as a government we have managed to roll out 2780 kilometers of fiber optic cables,” Owalo said.

 The Ministry has promised to partner with the private sector that has shown interest like Kenya Power, Kenya Pipeline, KETRACO, and others to meet its goals and objectives in enhancing connectivity.

Owalo also noted that the ministry has managed to mark out parts of the country that desire prioritization in the roll-out plan.

The report further indicates the ministry has outperformed in the operationalization of a total of 25,000 free WI-FI hotspots target.

“Our target was to operationalize two Wi-Fi hotspots per county by June 2023. As we speak we have surpassed a total of 421 free public WI-FI hotspots as of July 31. In regard,194 Wi-Fi has been established in partnership with the county government in markets and around the bus terminal,” Owalo added.

Additionally, the Ministry has established 172 Wi-Fi connections as part of the community innovation hubs and identified 14,690 public Wi-Fi hotspots spread across the country.

The Ministry has also set a target of creating a total of 1450 digital laboratories with an aim of creating digital skills and digital jobs.

“In this regard, our target was to create 290 hubs annually, as we speak I am happy to report that we have already met the threshold of 174 digital laboratories,” he added.