Kenya risks losing ground in fixed line broadband communication

Growing preference for mobile communications and wireless internet connectivity in developing countries might force Kenya in losing focus on fixed line broadband and reaping its benefits in triple play services as telephone, Internet and television, fear experts, according to Kenya’s Business Daily publication.

Unless ICT companies invest in broadband, Kenya will experience a major decrease fixed line communications infrastructure, meaning that the country will not have sufficient broadband to allow for triple play services – telephone, Internet and television – the next step for country’s ICT infrastructure.

Furthermore, this will put a strain on reduced costs for end-users and service providers, a reality that can only be attained through multiple services. Consumers might miss the opportunity to save money by using a multi-purpose infrastructure as opposed to several gadgets, the current case.

“By contrast, the low diffusion of fixed telecommunications infrastructure in many developing countries will seriously delay the transition to these next generation networks (NGNs)”, says a recent ICT report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The report reveals that in developed countries, existing fixed telecommunications infrastructure is crucial for the introduction of triple play services over Internet Protocol (IP) platform.

“Fixed fibre connections to businesses will take precedence over connections to homes. But with dwindling revenues from falling prices of data and voice services, provision of television and other entertainment content to home subscribers is a fresh revenue stream,” agrees Muriuki Mureithi, the CEO of Summit Strategies, an ICT consultancy firm, who says growth of fixed broadband will be relatively slow.

Value added services through fixed broadband range from television content to voice calls and better prices for bandwidth, but quality will have the last say in pricing the service bundles.

Kenya is still far from realizing the benefits of next generation networks. Overall, fixed broadband connectivity stands at less than 2%, with home connections at 0,5%. Recent developments show a slowing growth in the fixed line infrastructure availability and more deployment of WiMax, WiFi and dial-up connectivity.