[kictanet] KENYA ICT BOARD EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR BANDWIDTH CAPACITY SUPPORT TO THE BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING (B.P.O) INDUSTRY

[Lucy Gachui Odhiambo]

PRESS RELEASE

 

KENYA ICT BOARD  EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR BANDWIDTH CAPACITY SUPPORT TO THE
BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING (B.P.O) INDUSTRY  


 


Nairobi, 13th January  2010


The Kenya ICT Board, the state corporation charged with developing and
promoting the Business Process Outsourcing Sector ( BPO) has further
extended the deadline for bandwidth capacity support to the BPO Industry.

 The board through the Government of Kenya has received credit from the
International Development Association (IDA) to fund this initiative aimed at
assisting industry players meet the cost of internet connectivity.

The first phase of capacity support ran from 1st July 2007 to Feb 2009.
During this time, USD 508,937.29 (circa Ksh 40m) out of a budgeted amount of
USD7M was disbursed.  It is predicted that the extension of this support
will significantly increase the uptake of the subsidy by industry players
and give the industry the necessary boost to grow and be able to compete on
a global scale.

This subsidy, funded by the World Bank will  now be extended from March 1,
2009 to 31st March 2010. This is the final extension in response to the
board's request on behalf of the industry with an aim to mitigate the high
prices of internet access in the country which is reducing albeit slowly
following the landing of the Teams and Seacom fibre optic cables.

 The capacity support will be disbursed effective immediately and will close
on March 31st 2010.

Eligibility for the bandwidth capacity support is open to all BPO operators
in Kenya who currently offer outsourcing services. The Kenya ICT Board will
audit the companies and oversee the disbursement of the funds to the BPO
operators upon receipt of applications from operators.

 

Mr. Paul Kukubo, CEO Kenya ICT Board says, "Increasing Kenya's
competitiveness in the global BPO sphere is vital for the growth of the
industry. With the fibre Optic cables now in place, Kenya has become a
significant competitor in the global BPO space. We expect the cost of
internet connectivity to drop significantly. But this will take some time.
This extension of bandwidth capacity support will help the industry reduce
operating costs and thus increase global competitiveness in the short term."


The criteria and procedure for bandwidth capacity disbursement remains:

 

Step 1: BPO companies to register with Kenya ICT Board as a BPO operator by
completing a registration form available at Kenya ICT Board Offices and on
our website (www.ict.go.ke)

 

Step 2: Sign a "BPO Capacity Purchase Scheme MOU Agreement" with the Kenya
ICT Board. The MOU documents are available at Kenya ICT Board Offices - 12th
Floor Telposta Towers, Koinange Lane.

 

Step 3: Audit and verification of the required submissions will be carried
out. Upon completion, the capacity support will be provided.

 

Step 4: Post award, monitoring and Evaluation will be carried out
consecutively and concurrently by a Kenya ICT Board at regular intervals 

 

 

-ENDS -

Enquiries

 

Lucy Odhiambo Email:  <mailto:lodhiambo at ict.co.ke> lodhiambo at ict.co.ke  0737
839047 or 

 

Haji Tomno  Email: htomno at ict.go.ke Tel: +254 020 2089061/2211960

 

About Kenya ICT Board:

The Kenya ICT Board was established by HE President Mwai Kibaki, as a state
corporation under the State Corporations Act Cap. 446 on 19th February 2007.


The achievement of an information-based society is one of the main
priorities of the Government towards the realization of national development
goals and objectives for wealth and employment creation. ICT is one of the
fastest growing sectors in the country. Harnessing of ICT will therefore
help the Government to realize a number of its key public policy objectives.

The objectives of the Kenya ICT Board include: To develop, launch and
sustain a globally compelling brand marketing campaign for Kenya ICT, To
develop and promote competitive ICT industries in Kenya, To develop world
class Kenyan ICT institutions and  To increase ICT access.

 

 <http://www.ict.go.ke/> www.ict.go.ke 

 

 

 

 

Lucy Gachui Odhiambo 

Communications Manager 

Kenya ICT Board

12th Floor Telposta Towers

Koinange Lane

PO Box 27150 - 00100
Nairobi, Kenya

Cell 0737- 839047

Tel: 254-020-2093040

 <http://www.ict.go.ke> www.ict.go.ke

 

 

 

 

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