Last Friday, the government formed a committee with members drawn from Ministry of Information, E-government Secretariat and the Communications Commission of Kenya to map out the regions to be connected to the infrastructure.
Initially, the fibre optic cable network was to cover all the district headquarters. So far, 37 districts have been covered. However, the promulgation of the Constitution saw the creation of the devolved units of government. As a result, a need to reroute the infrastructure and spread it across counties arose.
The committee, which comprises technical experts and policy makers will also be charged with harmonising the existing information technology (IT) resources in various ministries. At the moment, each ministry has its own budget to rollout IT infrastructure. But the Information PS Bitange Ndemo says this has created room for duplicity and resulted in the slow pace of implementing the IT services countrywide.
The last mile
“We must cover all counties by June this year. The national fibre optic infrastructure reaches 37 of the 47 counties. E-Government Secretariat would connect the remaining 10 and work with telecommunication firms to do so before June,” said Dr Ndemo.
“The government fibre optic network will provide the intercity connectivity while the private sector is expected to offer the last mile connection.”
He said that the private sector would provide the links between the government Internet grids and the end users in what is commonly referred as the “last mile”. This, Dr Ndemo says, will be through wireless technology such as Wimax, fibre optic connections or 4G.
The project is expected to create business opportunities for infrastructure firms such as Jamii Telecoms Limited, Kenya Data Network, Safaricom, Telkom Kenya and AccessKenya, among others.
Key government departments with big contract cheques are the Treasury, Judiciary, police, Prisons Department, Ministry of Lands, Immigration Department and Kenya Revenue Authority.
The Treasury, for example, needs the fibre optic cable infrastructure to rollout services such as Integrated Information System (IFMIS), a software that combines budget preparation and execution, accounting, financial management and reporting activities on an integrated platform.
The system allows for the government books of accounts to be updated in real time as transactions are input by users for processing. This makes relevant information available to stakeholders on a timely basis.
The platform will not only create transparency but also reduce corruption and lower administrative costs.
Other than connecting end users to the government’s Internet grid, the private firms will also partner with the state to deploy platforms such as IFMIS in all counties.
The battle for IT government tenders, including the supply of computer related hardware and software involves suppliers such as Oracle, NetApp, IBM, CISCO, Seven Seas Technologies Ltd and MFI.
Some of the firms have already started positioning themselves for the government and private sector tenders in the counties.
Jamii Telecoms has embarked on an upgrade of its fibre optic infrastructure.
The company says that the Sh261 million project would make its network more secure and position it for the government Internet tenders to connect the counties ahead of its rivals.
The upgrade will see the Jamii Telecoms’ fibre network moved to a superior technology (Internet Protocol /Multi-protocol Label Switching), which is more secure than Ethernet network currently in place, giving it a competitive edge over its competitors such Kenya Data Networks and Telkom Kenya.
Mr Joshua Chepkwony, the chairman Jamii Telecoms, said the project that began last week would be complete by the end of next month.
It will cover Nairobi, Mombasa, Naivasha, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Kitale, Bugoma, Busia, Kakamega, Thika, Kisii and Kericho.
“The upgrade will give us a head start over our rivals, especially in the counties where banks and the government will require secure Internet connections due to the sensitivity of the information they handle,” said Mr Chepkwony.
The Multi-protocol Label Switching benefits to enterprises include better performance, lower costs, greater flexibility to accommodate new technologies, security and durability.
IT experts say that the technology could enable a business with branches countrywide running a Wide Area Network reduce its operating costs by between 30 and 50 per cent, while maintaining a high level of reliability and service. Other than the government tenders, Jamii Telecoms also targets universities.
Safaricom plans to hold a county workshop with stakeholders end of this month to chart a roadmap for deployment of technology to support devolution.
“Our vision is to create smart cities in all counties jointly with county governments that will provide access to shared government services,” said Sylvia Mulinge, the general manager, enterprise business unit at Safaricom. “This will be delivered through working with government agencies like State Law Office, Kenya Revenue Authority, National Health Insurance Fund and National Social Security Fund to create virtual service centres.”
Added Ms Mulinge: “We are putting together a coalition of technology partners to position technology as one of the key drivers of devolution.”
Safaricom, Cisco and Jamii Telecoms have secured part of the contract to rollout a pilot tele-presence facility that links the Nairobi and Mombasa law courts.
Plans are under way to implement the project countrywide. Use of the tele-presence technology is expected to speed up delivery of justice, cut travel, boarding and security expenses the government incurs every time the judges travel to hear cases out of Nairobi.
Virtual meetings
Businesses too are adopting technologies to connect their branches or conduct virtual meetings through video conferencing, which is said can cut down their operational expenses by up to 30 per cent.
AccessKenya, on the other hand, said last week it would connect 100 new buildings in Nairobi and Mombasa with high speed Internet in the next 12 months. The company has set aside Sh100 million for the project as it races to reverse its falling revenues.
At the moment, the firm uses wireless technology to deliver Internet services to its clients in these areas.
As a result, this compromises its ability to compete effectively with firms such as KDN, Telkom Kenya and Safaricom, which deliver the service through fibre optic cables. Unlike the wireless technology, fibre connections offer clients a dedicated amount of bandwidth, especially the heavy users.
Entry strategy
Access Kenya managing director Jonathan Somen said that the move is in line with the firm’s long-term growth plan to increase its corporate client subscriber base.
“The expansion, which will cover additional areas along Thika Road, Outering Road, Mlolongo and Lower Kabete, is aimed at delivering fast Internet speeds to clients in more than 100 new buildings as well as furthering the company’s reach to new clients,” said Mr Somen.
He said that the there is “massive untapped demand” for fixed broadband connections for corporate customers.
Mr Somen told the Business Daily that AccessKenya would continue to pursue corporate solutions as its core business as it widens its reach.
“We are continuously expanding our network coverage countrywide. Our entry strategy in new towns is via wireless networks because they allow for faster deployment at a low investment, while still offering excellent service,” said Mr. Somen
---
Autor(en)/Author(s): Okuttah Mark
Quelle/Source: Business Daily Africa, 07.02.2012
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
