Firms jostle for deals in State computer project

Technology firms are jostling for a government project aimed at centralising computer infrastructure so as to enable ministries to share information and cut costs.

By centralising services such as data storage, software and hardware, the government has created a new opportunity for ICT vendors such as chip manufacturer Hewlett Packard (HP) which says it is looking forward to supplying a full operating and management platform in finance and human resource management.

Previously, the company could only supply government departments upon request which it says took years, but with the shared services the company will be able to put a platform which is scalable, thereby providing it with a long term contract since it will have to upgrade and maintain the system.

This development has been made possible following the completion of a fibre - optic based infrastructure upgrade called Government Common Core Network that interconnects all the ministries’ offices.

Connecting all districts

The project also aims at connecting all districts headquarters and a proposed storage facility for electronic documents to be housed at Communication Commission Kenya hub in Westlands.

Apart from HP, Cisco and Microsoft want to provide software and International Business Machine (IBM) is offering cloud computing among others.

At stake is Sh81 million that the government has already set aside to roll-out the shared services projects.

Already, the state through the Kenya ICT Board has hired consulting firm, Accenture, which is supposed to advise on key ministries that can share ICT infrastructure.

HP East Africa, Managing Director, Ken Mbwaya, says East African governments can cut down on operational expenditure by over 70 per cent with the implementation of shared services.

“Tomorrow’s business will be built on converged infrastructure and HP can help bring all this together through consolidating networks, servers, storage, power and cooling systems,” Mbwaya said.

Intellectual property

Christian Keller, head of industry standard servers (ISS) said HP has invested billions of dollars on Intellectual property, open integration and in-house expertise to assist its clientele in accessing the service even via cloud computing:

“Businesses are expected to improve service levels and make IT more responsive to their needs ... Changes need to be made to address the fact that companies have too many applications, too much customization, and too much complexity” said Keller .

The new category of web enabled printing solutions designed for the cloud that will, for the first time, allow people to print from any email device to any new ePrint-enabled printer from anywhere in the world through the new HP ePrint technology.

The new solutions will also enable people to store documents or files in the cloud and print direct when needed, transform their printers into publishing platforms from which they can customise print apps, such as news and creative after school activities directly to their home or business printer and to manage and customise their full printing experience through the new HP ePrintCenter.