[kictanet] CCK urges more Internet access

[A. Wanjira Munyua]

CCK urges more Internet access
By James Ratemo and Edith Fortunate

The Government has promised to expand Internet infrastructure.

Communications Commission of Kenya Director General, Mr John Waweru,
says low uptake of the Internet poses the risk of Kenya lagging
behind in reaping the benefits from the fast evolving digital economy.

Waweru was speaking in Nairobi when he received a CCK-commissioned
study that found there are more than 2.7 million Internet users in
the country. This figure is in contrast to an earlier International
Telecommunications Union's estimate of only 1.5 million.

Nairobi Province has the highest concentration, taking over 80 per
cent of the Internet users followed by Coast at a paltry 9.4 per cent.

A local ICT and management consultancy firm in Nairobi, Netcom
Information Systems, Conducted the study — Internet Market Study —
from last October.

There are more than 50 Internet service providers (ISPs), 20 public
data network operators, six Internet back-bone and gateway operators
and over 20 local loop operators.

Only about 20 per cent of the users are spread in the small towns,
the study says.

Releasing the report, Netcom Director, Prof Timothy Mwololo, said the
cost of bandwidth and leased-line tariffs had remained high despite
liberalisation of the sub-sector.

The study recommends licensing of more ISPs to provide Internet
access and switching services.

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