Economy

CA project links 843 schools to Internet

ca

The Communications Authority of Kenya offices in Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Three companies hired by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to connect 896 public secondary schools to high-speed Internet have completed most of the Sh837 million project.

The Authority in 2016 contracted Liquid Telecom, Comcarrier Satellite Services and Xtranet Communications for one of the projects implemented using money from the Universal Service Fund (USF).

About 94 per cent (843) of the schools are now online and the Authority says the remaining 53 schools are expected to have high speed Internet by mid-month.  

Telcos contribute to 0.5 per cent of their annual revenue to the USF, money which is supposed 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.