Public input sought as stage set for launch of broadband strategy next month
PHOTO | FILE Information Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo (left) with CCK director-general Francis Wangusi. The new strategy will give users high speed access to data, voice and video and support application development as envisioned in the Vision 2030 blueprint.
What you need to know:
- Public asked to contribute to the draft copy, outlining key steps towards nationwide goal and integration of ICTs into the economy
Kenya is set to launch its National Broadband Strategy by mid next month, creating a roadmap to full integration of ICTs into the national economy.
The Communications Commission of Kenya at the weekeend asked the public to make contributions to the draft copy, outlining some of the key steps towards achieving nationwide connectivity.
Consumers have until January 25 to give their contributions after which the document will be finalized.
“We must have broadband to be able to offer government services online and deliver ICTs to all corners of this country. This is the strategy that will transform Kenya into a knowledge-based society, driven by high-speed nationwide broadband network,” CCK director general Francis Wangusi told the Nation in an interview.
The strategy was developed by the Ministry of Information and Communication in collaboration with CCK, with technical assistance from the United States Agency for International Development’s Global Broadband Initiative Program.
In the new strategy, Kenya hopes to achieve broadband connectivity that is always on, delivering high speed connectivity to homes and businesses in urban and rural areas across the country.
In urban areas, the minimum connectivity by 2017 is expected to be 40 Mbps while rural areas are expected to enjoy 5 Mbps by the same deadline.
This will give users high speed access to data, voice and video and support application development, part of what is envisioned in the national blueprint: Vision 2030.
“Recognising the present realities with respect to the extent of infrastructure roll out within the country, the immediate plan is to further deploy broadband through a nationwide LTE network,” the document says.
The government has already embarked on a Sh42 billion project to roll out LTE countrywide in partnership with the private sector.
According to Dr Bitange Ndemo, permanent secretary at the ministry of Information and Communications, the 4G platform will be operational by the end of this year.
