Kenya to help South Sudan lay fibre network
What you need to know:
- The two countries on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding to start laying the fibre optic cable along the Juba-Nadapal-Eldoret proposed road.
- The project, which is to be funded by the World Bank would run concurrently with the construction of the northern corridor road network.
- The road network will cost Sh79 billion to be financed by the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Chinese Exim Bank, the European Investment Bank and the government of Japan.
Kenya will help South Sudan lay a fibre-optic network this year to link the capital Juba with Eldoret and ultimately to the submarine cables in Mombasa.
The two countries on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding to start laying the fibre optic cable along the Juba-Nadapal-Eldoret proposed road.
“This project part of our several infrastructural integration plans with South Sudan and we hope to engage in more similar initiatives that will help improve the lives of the young nation. ICT will open up the country to more opportunities and we are proud to have given the first fibre optic cable to our neighbours,’’ Kenya ICT cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i said.
The project, which is to be funded by the World Bank would run concurrently with the construction of the northern corridor road network.
Its completion is expected to drastically improve Internet speeds in South Sudan as well as reduce connectivity costs.
South Sudan Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Rebecca Okwaci said the bilateral ties between the two countries have a longer future through such partnerships.
WE ARE EXCITED
“We don’t have even a single inch of fibre optic so we are very excited by this gesture that will be the first of its own in our land. It will also go a long way to enhance connectivity between south Sudan and the outside world since our country is land locked.
Kenya has stood with us through difficult times and we hope this relationship will last longer from such partnerships,’’ she said after signing the MOU on behalf of South Sudan.
She said that through the project, South Sudan government hopes to cut by half the cost of Internet by reducing reliance on satellite bandwidth which is still considered very high.
The road network will cost Sh79 billion to be financed by the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Chinese Exim Bank, the European Investment Bank and the government of Japan.
The Government of South Sudan is expected to contribute Sh2.2 billion towards the project that will form her shortest access to the sea.
