Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) on Thursday launched a fibre optic cable that will run from the port of Mombasa through Nairobi to Kisumu and Eldoret in western Kenya.
KPC, which supplies fuel to Kenya and neighbouring countries, has been working on the fibre optics infrastructure since 2018 when it was granted a Tier 2 Network Infrastructure License by the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA).
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT, Innovation & Youth Affairs Joe Mucheru lauded KPC’s move to invest in fibre optics infrastructure because it will expand the digital economy.
KPC Managing Director Macharia Irungu said the new investment would help generate a revenue stream for the company as well as expand Kenya’s economy in line with Vision 2030.
“We purpose to improve internal communication infrastructure for the country, diversify into the data communication sector to create a new revenue stream, and utilise technology as a business driver for both ourselves and our customers,” he said.
“KPC is laying the foundation where Kenya is going. The fibre optic will allow us to build our businesses and grow our economy,” he said.
CA Director General Ezra Chiloba termed the new fibre optic cable as progress for Kenya.
“We must connect every Kenyan because connectivity has become a survival need. We know in the future, every aspect of our lives is going to converge around ICT,” he said.
KPC says it has adopted a dark fibre business model for its new investment. The State Corporation will offer fibre optics services to companies and organisations with high levels of Internet demand who in turn will extend to their last-mile customers.
KPC will charge $22 per kilometre per fibre core with installation fees attracting a one-off charge of $200 per site. Rack space co-location charges shall cost $850 per cabinet yearly in addition to a one-off installation charge of $3,900 per cabinet.
