Relief as town gets first free wi-fi hooked up
Director of Digital Media and Diaspora Communication Dennis Itumbi (right) takes Governor Kinuthia Mbugua through the basics of Wi-Fi during the launch of free connectivity at Moi Road in Nakuru County on March 30, 2014. PHOTO | FILE |
What you need to know:
- The joint multi-million project between the Nakuru County government and the State House Digital Team flopped less than a day after its initial launch
- Liquid Telecom has redesigned the wi-fi network and installed new equipment at a cost of Sh36.4 million
One year after the much publicised launch of the first free town-wide wi-fi in Kenya, residents of Nakuru can breathe a sigh of relief since they can finally benefit from the service.
The joint multi-million project between the Nakuru County government and the State House Digital Team flopped less than a day after its initial launch, casting doubts on its authenticity and procurement.
Even as the free network, dubbed Nakuru Bilawaya was being launched, accessibility was confined to a mere 500-metre radius of the venue.
Since March 2014, people in the town would see an application for Nakuru Bilawaya which was being provided by Telkom Kenya on their smart-phones, but they couldn’t use it.
The story has now changed for the better with the entrance of Liquid Telecom, formerly known as Kenya Data Networks (KDN), which has taken over the contract to connect residents with free wi-fi.
REDESIGNED THE NETWORK
Liquid Telecom has redesigned the wi-fi network and installed new equipment at a cost of Sh36.4 million to serve more than 1.6 million residents of the Rift Valley region. The previous arrangement was to benefit Nakuru town only.
The wi-fi by Orange was to cover a 10km radius in the first phase before being rolled out to the estates.
County executive committee member in charge of information communication technology, Mr Stephen Maritim, said the free Internet plan — set to run at speeds of up to 1 gigabyte per second — is expected to spur development in the county by putting businesses online and connecting campuses.
Liquid Telecom chief executive officer Ben Roberts said his company took up the deal on request by the State House Digital team.
He added that there were 60 hot spots where connectivity was strongest, including shopping malls, stadiums, university campuses and Nakuru Central Business District.
“The first phase covered the CBD and its environs, while the second phase will cover residential areas and parts of Gilgil, Naivasha and Njoro,” Mr Roberts said.
On Monday this week, Governor Kinuthia Mbugua said Naivasha town would soon have free wi-fi. Speaking at the initial launch on March 30, 2014, director of Digital Media and Diaspora Communication Dennis Itumbi said free connectivity would simplify public participation in governance. Also launched was a new-look more vibrant Nakuru County government website.
