News
Superfast internet goes live in East Africa
Stephen Tricarico (right) the technical engineer network testing services from TYCO Telecommunications, USA shows Seacom Fibre Optic technical staff engineer Ismail Abdulshakur where to click to officially commission the Seacom fibre optic under sea cable at the Swahili Cultural Centre where they have put up the landing station. Photo/GIDEON MAUNDU
Posted Thursday, July 23 2009 at 16:57
In Summary
- Fibre optic operator Seacom goes live in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda and South Africa.
- Broadband internet arrives in the east coast of Africa.
The benefits are expected to be immense with the sub-sea cable expected to provide super-fast internet connections and vastly expanded bandwidth capacity.
“No project can compete with this for the importance it holds for Kenya and for Africa,” said Mr Ward.
The forthcoming Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) Forum to be led by United States Secretary of State is a prime example of what the cable can do.
The talks are set to be streamed live to the five countries and will also feature what has until now been the stuff of movies.
Talks are on with medical service provider AAR to have a clinic at the venue that would be virtually manned by staff located at a different venue; a variant of telemedicine.
E-commerce and e-learning will also be greatly enhanced and it is this in mind that Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta allocated money to mobile ICT laboratories in all the constituencies.
Real time event streaming, high resolution and internet television and better voice, data and video services will also be among the more visible benefits.
Business Process Outsourcing firms are expected to be among the big winners as they would be able to compete on a more equal platform with their counterparts in Asian economies such as the Phillipines and India.
However analysts say it will be a challenge for the country to manage the huge broadband capacity given the dearth of skills and local content.
Seacom’s entire system will be operated and controlled through Seacom’s network operations centre based in Pune, India
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Submitted by nationhabariPosted August 06, 2009 10:28 AM
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Submitted by nyahoro
kenya and the rest of EA region is still too far a way from the west,EU and only closer to Asia ,that is a trade barier!super internet will not solve this,more direct flights and shipping liners will boost internationa trade with EA than super browers
Posted July 25, 2009 07:15 AM -
Submitted by abdufatt
that there has been an investment by seacom of approximately ksh 67 billion by seacom and yet there will be other additional players allowed to invest rubishes the argument by a grain handler at msa port who wants grain handling monopoly at the port to continue due to their investment of ksh 5billion.
Posted July 24, 2009 10:18 PM -
Submitted by kanyiham
Very surprising that none of the “esteemed” online readers has any comment on this, most of us only comment to criticize. I am HAPPY AND PROUD that Kenya and East Africa have reached this milestone. Kudos to all who played a role in the fiber optic project.
Posted July 24, 2009 05:36 PM -
Submitted by naliweliwalo
I agree with jambonairobi, paying Kshs 7,700 per MB is too much, and until the prices drop, then most people shall remain with dial-up! It is a start, and once more cables are laid down and competition improves, the prices shall drop. It is a very good start!
Posted July 24, 2009 04:57 PM
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Bravo !!! THis will promote e-learning. No need of travel far n away in the thirst for knowledge. Most importantly intercompany communication wil vastly increase trade n contacts. The young n proud wazalendo IT professional in the diaspora are u ready !!!