Kenya to connect counties to Internet by June

NAIROBI: The Government will connect broadband network in all 47 counties by June this year. ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said deployment of wireless broadband connectivity to the entire country will help meet targets of National Broadband Strategy. Speaking during the launch of new Radio Spectrum Management and Monitoring System at the Communications Authority of Kenya offices, Mucheru said broadband is no longer a luxury but a fundamental right. He said the Government is committed to ensuring stable connections at low cost. Already, the Government has deployed the National Optical Fibre Backbone across major towns. “In addition, international connectivity has been achieved through the landing of four submarine cables that provide quality and reliable international connectivity to the country at competitive costs,” said Mucheru. Despite the milestone, Mucheru admitted that there exists connectivity gaps between the urban and rural areas. This has therefore limited their chances of exploiting opportunities presented by innovative technologies.
Last year, a United Nations global report dubbed ‘The State of Broadband 2015,’ heaped praise on Kenya’s broadband plan for being up to date with current developments in the ICT industry.