The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), is the latest government agency to join the lucrative connectivity business after it launched its cheap internet service in Nairobi on Thursday, April 7.
In an event attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Information and Computing Technology (ICT), Joe Mucheru, Kenya Pipeline launched its fibre optic cable (FOC) that will run parallel to the oil pipeline from Mombasa, through Nairobi to Kisumu and Eldoret.
KPC Managing Director Macharia Irungu noted that the launch of the FOC is in line with Vision 2030 and would help to make the lives of Kenyans better and improve the business environment that is heavily reliant on ICT.
CS Mucheru lauded the move, given that Kenya was leading the digital space in the East African region. He hinted that KPC would be considered by the government to transmit data.
"This is the future, and you are laying foundations for where Kenya is going. The benefits of having this kind of connectivity cannot always be seen, but they exist," he remarked
"Two weeks ago we launched the peace cable in Mombasa with 16 terabytes. The next step is to take it from the coast to serve it to everybody else, and I am glad that KPC has made these developments," CS Mucheru remarked.
According to the corporation's Marketing and Business Development Manager Grace Njoroge, the Communication Authority approved the company's bid to commercialize internet services in 2018.
She assured prospective clients who include business entities of stable internet access, inviting them to sign up for the service.
"In 2018, we obtained a tier-two network infrastructure license from CAK after which we began the commercialization journey," she stated.
"I invite every business that leverages on technology for development or advancement to consider the most superior and reliable and most scaleable fibre optic cable for your broadband connectivity," Njoroge remarked.
Fibre optics is a technology that uses glass threads to transmit data with each thread having the capacity to transmit messages modulated into light waves. The technology is used to transmit huge amounts of data over long distances in a cost-effective manner.
The cable installed from Mombasa to Nairobi will be used to meet KPC's internal internet connectivity needs. On the other hand, the Nairobi- Sindet, Sindet-Kisumu and Sindet-Eldoret will be sold to the public. The three commercial lines will contain 192, 96 and 96 cores respectively.
Also present was the CAK Director-General,Ezra Chiloba, and Petroleum and Mining Principal Secretary (PS) Andrew Kamau.
The launching of the FOC comes against the backdrop of an ongoing fuel shortage, which the company has dispelled.
"The only thing I can assure you is that Kenya Pipeline is full of product that I don't know where to take it. As we sit here, I have 200 million litres of premium motor gasoline (PMS)160 million litres of diesel and 60 million litres of jet fuel," he stated.
