JTL upgrades fibre network, eyes county tenders

Jamii Telecoms Ltd JTL is upgrading its entire fibre optic network at a cost of Sh261 million in a move aimed at making the infrastructure more secure and positioning itself for government’s Internet tenders to connect the Counties ahead of its rivals.

The upgrade will see the JTL fibre network moved to a superior technology (Internet Protocol /Multiprotocol Label Switching MPLS) which is more secure than the one it is currently using ( Ethernet network ), giving it a competitive edge over its rivals such Kenya Data Networks (KDN) and Telkom Kenya.

JTL is also offering services to banks who demand high security on their data.

The demand of high security networks by banks stems from the fear that the country is now more exposed to cyber crime activities such as hacking than before after it got connected to the three undersea fibre optic cables, TEAMs, Seacom and Eassy, which not only exposes the banks to risk but also their clients.

The cost of the project will be met through vendor financing where ECI Telecoms, an Israel firm will supply JTL with equipment on credit to be repaid on installments.

Joshua Chepkwony, the chairman Jamii telecoms, said the upgrade exercise which begins next week is supposed to be complete by end March and will cover Nairobi, Mombasa, Naivasha, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Kitale, Bugoma, Busia, Kakamega, Thika, Kisii and Kericho.

“The upgrade will give us a head start over our rivals, especially in the counties where banks and government will require secure internet connections due to the sensitivity of the information they handle,” said Mr Chepkwony.

He said that other than the banking institutions it is targeting, the firm has also set eyes on the government tenders –to connect learning institutions, health facilities and the administrative offices in the devolved government.

The firm intends to connect the businesses with branches across the country using its inter-city fibre network and also link the central government with its county offices.

This comes at a time when the government has started pushing some of its services online such as application of Personal Identification Number (PIN) , access of national examination results, following the progress of Passport applications as well offering judiciary services such as Courts of Appeal hearings through video conferences.

Businesses too are adopting technologies to connect their branches or conduct virtual meetings such as teleconferencing and video conferencing which is said can cut down their operational expenses by up to 30 per cent.

Other than Jamii , other firms that have invested on inland fibre and targeting similar tenders include KDN, Telkom Kenya, AccessKenya and Wanainchi online.

KDN for example intends to do an overhaul of its Nairobi network which it says has been affected by the frequent damage by road contractors and as a result affecting the quality of Internet and data services it offers to its clients and raised maintenance costs.

KDN chief marketing director Atul Chaturvedi said that the fibre optic network that has undergone numerous repairs has leakages and thus consumes a lot of power thus increasing costs.

"We are replacing the old fibre with new one and upgrading the main equipment that facilitates data transportation making it four times bigger to cater for the increasing demand," said Mr Chaturvedi.