Technology

Project links 896 public secondary schools to Internet

cs

ICT secretary Joe Mucheru. FILE PHOTO | NMG

About 896 public secondary schools are now connected to internet following a project by Communications Authority (CA) aimed at helping educational facilities to deliver learning content using ICT platforms.

The Education Broadband Connectivity Project by CA will see 8,500 public secondary schools connected over the next five years in a project billed to cost the Authority Sh8.5 billion.

“As the ICT industry regulator, we are cognizant of what is required of us to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Of priority is the need to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation,” said CA director-general, Francis Wangusi.

“The SDGs also stipulate that the least developed countries ought to significantly increase access to Internet and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to Internet by 2020.”

The Authority in 2016 contracted Liquid Telecom, Comcarrier Satellite Services and Xtranet Communications for the project financed the Universal Service Fund (USF).

Telcos contribute 0.5 per cent of their annual revenue to the USF to bridge the digital divide in Kenya. The CA had by July 2017 collected Sh5.3 billion for the USF and by the end of last year, it had disbursed about Sh2.1 billion.

In addition to the project, the CA has also spent Sh1.25 billion to expand voice services to 78 sub-locations in marginalised parts of the country. The contract was awarded to Safaricom and Telkom Kenya last year.

Among the counties benefiting from the voice project include Turkana, Samburu, West Pokot, Baringo, Kwale and Tana River.