Technology

Community web model takes off in Kiambu County

internet

Until recently, many rural Kenyans had no alternative to 4G data bundles and some could not even get signal. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Residents of Ting’ang’a in Kiambu County can now enjoy unlimited Wi-Fi connection following the entry of Poa — a community Internet service provider — in the locality.

The community Internet model enables the building of multiple access points across vast areas, solving one of the country’s largest connectivity disparities between the digital ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’.

More than 20,000 residents in the peri-urban village will access the Internet — within a radius of 48 square kilometre — at a monthly cost of Sh1,500.

The launch of Poa in Ting’ang’a is the first in a drive for village connections that will eventually provide millions of rural users with a cheaper, unlimited alternative to 4G data bundles.

Ting’ang’a, which sits in a coffee and dairy farming zone, joins Kibera, Kawangware, Jamhuri and Kabiria in Nairobi where the service currently exists.

“African Internet has for too long been dominated by the challenge of a digital divide with the rich and urban fully connected, but low income and rural Kenyans lack Internet infrastructure and have poor access to affordable services,” said Poa CEO Andy Halsall.

Poa’s new home service provides installations in a matter of days in the villages it connects, charging less than half the cost of 4G data bundles from the country’s telcos.

The Internet service provider also plans to create a public Wi-Fi hotspot in the village square.

“Our mission has always been to develop the technology and infrastructure to connect the unconnected, initially in Nairobi’s slums and now across the country’s villages,” said Chris Rhodes, Poa’s Chief Operating Officer.

READ: Facebook switches on 600 Wi-Fi hotspots in Kenyan towns

Mr Rhodes said that beyond the provision of low-cost Internet access, the plan is to create jobs for residents.

Studies show that providing home and business Internet services considerably accelerates economic growth as small businesses access new markets and information, and families are able to better identify opportunities.

Mr Halsall noted that until recently, many rural Kenyans had no alternative to 4G data bundles and some could not even get signal.

“This is because it is not financially practical for mobile operators to provide the 4G infrastructure in rural areas. Yet, from Ting’ang’a, we will be expanding rapidly across Kiambu County and then into other counties with an Internet offer that could bring many thousands of rural Kenyans online,” he said.

Ting’ang’a has six schools, five primary and one secondary, as well as several community centres. Poa is also planning to create a public Wi-Fi hotspot in Ting’ang’a’s village square.