Kenya to assist counties with free Wi-Fi to public

The Kenyan government is scaling up the last few miles of optic connections across the country’s 47 counties, in order to boost Wi-Fi networks. This is according to a report via Telecompaper.

The report revealed that Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary, Sammy Itemere, had stated that plans were underway to have national and county governments partner in opening up at least three centres in the country for the provision of free Wi-fi connections to the public.

The report further stated that Itemere had said the government will be partnering with the private sector in order to develop fibre-optic infrastructure to facilitate the creation of a digital economy. Itemere said, within the TelecomPaper report, that the state had also begun reviewing an ICT policy and legal framework as a strategy to position the country as a digital economy.

The report revealed that Itemere pointed out that under the 2013-2018 National ICT Master Plan, the government seeks to classify ICT as a-stand alone economic sector projected to create jobs and contribute eight per cent of the gross domestic product. He said the government is also intensifying efforts to develop high-end and tertiary level ICT workforce that will service the ICT sector. The personnel will also propel the existing and upcoming businesses to ICT platform to gain competitive advantage.

Staff Writer