New Law to Make Internet Access Available in All Buildings

All new buildings may soon have internet access if a bill proposed by the ministries of Information, Energy and Transport passes in parliament.

The proposed law which is part of the Infrastructure Protection Bill will make it a compulsory requirement for developers to have fibre cables in their building designs or plans.

This will reduce rent for tenants who have to pay exorbitant fees to landlords asking for extra fees in order to get internet cabling.

The first undersea cable to bring high-speed internet access in the country went live in 2009 and was expected to allow for aong other things, faster and eficient internet access to all Kenyans.

Since then different counties charge differently to install meters of fibre cables.  ICT cabinet secretary Fred Matiangi on Tuesday said that the demands by landlords for more money for internet access is against the ultimate goal to reduce the cost of connectivity for large internet use.

Telecommunication operators have welcomed the bill which will also penalize and ask for relocation fees from road contractors who want to move their cables.

The bill is currently at the public consultation stage.