Liquid Telecom has laid 4,200 kilometres of fibre optic network in Kenya, connecting 39 out of the 47 counties to date, the company has said.
To date Ksh18.1 billion, has been channeled towards the expansion, largely fueled by government and private institutions such as banks expanding their services to the counties. . Liquid Telecom now claims 80% of the banks in Kenya are connected to its fibre network, linking ATMs as well as providing secure inter-office connections from rural branches to head office.
The Voice and IP provider says there had been a sharp surge in communication needs, including access to core databases, approvals of transactions, email and information sharing within ministries and sub counties across many locations.
Ben Roberts ,Liquid Telecom Kenya CEO says the company has connected 25 parastatals plus their branches across the country, including 25 centres for Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, four centres for the Kenya Water Institute, Kenya Industrial Property Institute, Kenya Ports Authority, as well as all the tea estates under the Kenya Tea Development Authority.
The firm is also tapping revenue from telephone operators providing 3G services in the counties.
“Internet offers unprecedented opportunities for economic growth in developing countries. By providing access to information, connecting people to businesses everywhere, and opening up new markets, the Internet can transform the very nature of an economy and support economic development,” says Mr Roberts.
The CEO says the increased fibre access in the counties will enable government institutions cut down on administrative costs.
“It is imperative to create an Internet infrastructure that will enable counties to access institutional intranet facilities, parastatals to provide services to the people, and business people to flourish. Internet is a key requirement for this to happen,” says Mr Roberts.
According to the World Bank, a 10% increase in broadband use correlates to a 1.38 % increase in GDP growth .
