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Tag: International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

  • Global Innovation Centre to be set up in Nairobi

    Global Innovation Centre to be set up in Nairobi

    Kenya and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) have Friday agreed to collaborate on a wide range of areas in the ICT sector, including support towards setting up a Global Innovation Centre in Nairobi.

    In discussions held between the Principal Secretary, State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Prof Edward Kisiang’ani, and the ITU Secretary General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the specialized UN agency in the field of ICTs, pledged to provide technical support in the establishment of the Centre.

    The establishment of the centre is already underway at the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) with the technical support of the ITU.

    In discussion held on the sidelines of the ongoing World Radio Communications Conference 2023 (WRC-23) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Prof Kisiang’ani briefed the ITU chief on the government’s digital transformation agenda that has seen digitization of more than 15000 government services.

    The ITU Secretary General thanked Kenya for its support and undertook to work closely with the Kenya in supporting the ambitious digital transformation agenda.

    The Ag Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya, Christopher Wambua, and the Secretary of the National Communications Secretariat, Vincent Adul accompanied the Prof Kisiang’ani in the talks.

  • Kenya to complete fibre optic project in 2027

    Kenya to complete fibre optic project in 2027

    Government has begun rolling out an extra 100,000 Km of fiber optic cable, to be completed by 2027.

    Information Communication Technology Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo says government is also rolling out 25,000 public WI-FI hotspots, to be completed in the next five years.

    Speaking during a High-level session of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) council meeting at Geneva Switzerland noted that 1,450 digital village, hubs across the country will be set up to ease access to digitally enabled services and commercial opportunities.

    “We seek to digitalise all government services by the end of this year; We are setting up at least two world-class data centers; and we are lowering the cost of calls and data bundles.” Said CS Owalo.

    Additionally, the CS said government is equipping the youth with digital skills for digitally enabled jobs and linking them to jobs, as well as sensitizing everyone on the digital revolution.

    Today, 98pc of Kenyan population has access to cellular mobile and broadband services but about 1.7 million are not covered.

    While he cited low access to smart digital devices as a challenge, he promised that the Ministry of ICT is working with the private sector to produce affordable smart devices, to cost an average of Ksh 5,648 (40 USD) to be on the market by 31 December.

    “Accordingly, we are deliberately reviewing our regulatory instruments to encourage increased private sector investment and participation in ICT in Kenya from across the globe.” The CS remarked.

    Adding that: “Kenya highly appreciates ITU’s initiatives in global digital transformation. We will continue to leverage the various digital transformation programmes by ITU to augment our own strife for sustainable and meaningful universal connectivity in Kenya.“