Topic: Kenya ready to roll out $ 500 million high-speed 4G network by 2013

NAIROBI: Kenya aims to roll out a
high-speed fourth-generation (4G)
mobile data services network by
2013, at an estimated cost of $500
million, to meet growing demand
for wireless access to the internet
in East Africa's largest economy.
Bitange Ndemo, permanent
secretary at the ministry of
information and communication,
told Reuters that all Kenyan mobile
phone firms had signed up to the
new project and it was now
awaiting approval from the ministry
of finance.
"We need to have it (the network)
before the next elections (due in
March 2013). That is what we are
targeting," he said late Thursday on
the sidelines of a US-Kenya
conference on infrastructure
projects.
So-called 4G LTE (long term
evolution) networks promise
download speeds more than five
times those of 3G and are designed
for data, rather than voice, as well
as supporting high-definition video
conferencing.
Data is seen as a major growth area
in the telecoms sector, prompting
firms to invest heavily to offset the
impact of falling voice revenues on
the back of a price war.
At present, Safaricom, 40 percent
owned by Britain's Vodafone, is the
only network in Kenya to have fully
rolled out a 3G network across the
country and is already testing the
LTE technology at five sites.
Other firms with 3G licenses are
Telkom Kenya, controlled by France
Telecom's Orange, and the Kenyan
unit of India's Bharti Airtel. Both
Orange and Airtel are in the
process of rolling out 3G networks
countrywide.
The first phase would involve
rolling out the 4G network to the
country's 47 counties at a cost of $
100 million, a figure that would rise
further in the next phase that
would see the new service
connected to the entire country's
network.
"We have finished with the study.
We have sent it to the Ministry of
Finance. We are just waiting for the
approval and then we hit the road,"
Ndemo said.
"Phase one... we will go to the
counties, and leveraging on the
existing base stations, but by the
time we cover everywhere it would
be even up to $500 million," he
said.
Mobile carriers worldwide are
increasingly upgrading to LTE
networks that support high-speed
wireless services as consumers
use tablet computers and
smartphones to surf the web.
In September, the ministry said
potential investors should have at
least a 20 percent Kenyan
shareholding and the financial and
technical capability to roll out
commercial services to the
country's 47 counties within a year
of forming a partnership with the
government.
Mobile phone users in the country
of 40 million people grew by 12.5
percent to 28.1 million in the last
quarter of 2011.
Internet users nearly doubled to
17.4 million in the period, thanks
to an increase in mobile phone
subscriptions, the industry
regulator said.
Safaricom said it was looking to
increase performance of its data
segment through increased
investments in fiber during the
release of its 2011 results last
week.
Ndemo said once the 4G project
got a green light, it would take six
to seven months to be rolled-out
countywide. The government's plan
is to give the 4G spectrum to
operators, and for the companies
to fund network deployment.
The second phase of the project
would involve connecting all the
country's mobile phone base
stations to fiber optic cable. In
addition to the mobile operators,
data network operators and
equipment suppliers would take
part in the project.
"It's an open access model. We
can't set it (the special purpose
vehicle for delivering the project)
up until we get the approval from
Treasury. They can take one month,
or two months. But it's going to be
very soon," Ndemo said.
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By My 125

I think every country have ministries,this project falls under the ministry of information n technology(kenya)-its duty is 2 ensure kenyans have modern technology n faster acess 2 internet n many more services.every ministry is allocated certain amount for its daily activities,xo sayin this money shud help the poor is out of context coz there r ministries 4 that n theyr also alocated funds(although ufisadi takes it share)

exactly. hawa wengine wa matusi wanafikiria in one direction only.

By Rufiji

Priorities za waafrika zinachekesha sana, nchi ambayo wananchi wake wanakufa kila siku kutokana na uhaba wa chakula wanatumia mabilioni kwa ajili ya mtandao. Na kuna watu hapa wanashangilia hapa wanayaona hayo ni maendeleo...

It's all about financial inclusion and development which is a key pillar in the finance ministry. Most kenyan banks last year embarked on Agency banking solutions to try and get crowds off their banking halls. It has been a great success and most financial institutions are going that way. I have just come from a session whereby money gram and western union transfers are being upgraded to enable agents offer the service at commissions of over Kes 250 per transaction.

Most of this agents use 3G enabled POS devices to upload and download data. Upgrade to faster 4G technology will see offer an incentive to the financial providers to offer more and more products using this technology. Already safaricom is opening up it's mpesa system to integrate with core banking systems with the advent of 4G.

By FJM

Bukyanagandi, nimecheka sana, kuna mdau ana-suggest ICT Tanzania ni kama haipo? Pamoja na ukubwa wake, sasa hivi mikoa yote Tanzania iko linked na Fibre optic. Hizi publicity Kagame kidogo aingie mkenge maana aliamini the best link ilikuwa Kenya, alikuja kushtuka at 11th na kesho yake watu wake waliamkia office za ZANTEL. Sasa hivi Rwanda iko linked na TZ na Kenya ameichukua kama 'backup'. Kwa kifupi ICT ya Tanzania iko swafi, na naongea kutoka jikoni.

Go Go kenya, Nadhani ikija kwa maneno ya vision2030, kenya inaonyesha mfano mwema wa kuigwa, ambao Rwanda na Uganda pekee is learning. Pia inaonyeshaha mpangilio na raslilmali kubwa mno inazo kutekeleza mipango yake. Hii ni habari tamu. kenya has laid to date four undersea fibre optic cables. Kama jinsi mwanajF alivosema hapo awali, a nation and its character is a reflection of its people. Naona kuwa ili Afrika isonge mbele, lazima tuanze miradi kama hizi. ICT ya Tanzania is way below standard ukilinganisha na Kenya. Ndio mtu mwingine akili maji akaanza kukemea Konza city na tatu city/silicon valley.

By Certified

It's all about financial inclusion and development which is a key pillar in the finance ministry. Most kenyan banks last year embarked on Agency banking solutions to try and get crowds off their banking halls. It has been a great success and most financial institutions are going that way. I have just come from a session whereby money gram and western union transfers are being upgraded to enable agents offer the service at commissions of over Kes 250 per transaction.

Most of this agents use 3G enabled POS devices to upload and download data. Upgrade to faster 4G technology will see offer an incentive to the financial providers to offer more and more products using this technology. Already safaricom is opening up it's mpesa system to integrate with core banking systems with the advent of 4G.

Certified with the systems you have just mentioned, there is nothing to be re-invented, but to be followed and implemented in all african states. Kenya is showing the way to the future

Hongereni sana Kenya...mmeanza kuvumbua project za ku fund general election

By FJM

Bukyanagandi, nimecheka sana, kuna mdau ana-suggest ICT Tanzania ni kama haipo? Pamoja na ukubwa wake, sasa hivi mikoa yote Tanzania iko linked na Fibre optic. Hizi publicity Kagame kidogo aingie mkenge maana aliamini the best link ilikuwa Kenya, alikuja kushtuka at 11th na kesho yake watu wake waliamkia office za ZANTEL. Sasa hivi Rwanda iko linked na TZ na Kenya ameichukua kama 'backup'. Kwa kifupi ICT ya Tanzania iko swafi, na naongea kutoka jikoni.

Mkuu nakwambia wakati mwingine huwa nashikwa bumbuwazi nikisoma mambo yao ambayo wakati mwingine wanaweka chumvi mno, kwa mfano niliwahi kuona wanazungumzia kuhusu Fibre optic nchini mwao, nilitaka kujibizana nao lakini nikaona hamna haja-yaani hawana habari kwamba ring circuits za fibre zimekwisha zunguka Tanzania nzima siku nyingi tu. Kumbuka Kenya inaingia karibu mara mbili na ushee kwenye eneo la TANZANIA na wala atukwenda kuwaomba French au British Telecomms watusaidie katika azma yetu ni waswahili tu wanao tandika cable hizi, wanajua vizuri ku-kutofautisha kati ya single na multi mode cables zinahitajika kufungwa wapi na kwa madhumuni gani wamejifunza jinsi ya kuzi-splice to a surgical precision.

Kuhusu raisi Kagame, jamaa huyu ni makini sana hawezi kuingizwa kwenye mkenge na watu ambao wako obsessed na publicity STUNT zisizo na tija. Haya ya mambo ya kusema Tanzania ICT haipo wana maana gani! Inawezekana wenzetu wakawa wanaji-equate kwenye league ya makampuni yalioko Silicon Valley na Hydrabald, je ni kweli wamekwisha fikia kiwango hicho? nakubali wamefanikiwa kutengeneza program (application Program) ya M-Pesa ambayo kusema kweli ni killer app.program na imesaidia sana katika mambo ya ku-transact PESA, I salute 'em for that; however, the question is: Has M-Pesa anything to do with ICT? I thought ICT is strictly a DATA Communication entity, repeate "commmunication" Hivi kuna nchi yoyote duniani zama hizi ambayo haina wizara/idara inayohusika na mambo ya ICT, kama wewe si raia wa Tanzania unawezaje kujua kinacho endelea jikoni kwa jirani yako - Tanzania siyo nchi ya kuhitisha press conference ovyo ovyo kila ikitaka kufanya kitu kuhusu maendeleo yake - who needs it.

By Bukyanagandi

Mkuu nakwambia wakati mwingine huwa nashikwa bumbuwazi nikisoma mambo yao ambayo wakati mwingine wanaweka chumvi mno, kwa mfano niliwahi kuona wanazungumzia kuhusu Fibre optic nchini mwao, nilitaka kujibizana nao lakini nikaona hamna haja-yaani hawana habari kwamba ring circuits za fibre zimekwisha zunguka Tanzania nzima siku nyingi tu. Kumbuka Kenya inaingia karibu mara mbili na ushee kwenye eneo la TANZANIA na wala atukwenda kuwaomba French au British Telecomms watusaidie katika azma yetu ni waswahili tu wanao tandika cable hizi, wanajua vizuri ku-kutofautisha kati ya single na multi mode cables zinahitajika kufungwa wapi na kwa madhumuni gani wamejifunza jinsi ya kuzi-splice to a surgical precision.

Kuhusu raisi Kagame, jamaa huyu ni makini sana hawezi kuingizwa kwenye mkenge na watu ambao wako obsessed na publicity STUNT zisizo na tija. Haya ya mambo ya kusema Tanzania ICT haipo wana maana gani! Inawezekana wenzetu wakawa wanaji-equate kwenye league ya makampuni yalioko Silicon Valley na Hydrabald, je ni kweli wamekwisha fikia kiwango hicho? nakubali wamefanikiwa kutengeneza program (application Program) ya M-Pesa ambayo kusema kweli ni killer app.program na imesaidia sana katika mambo ya ku-transact PESA, I salute 'em for that; however, the question is: Has M-Pesa anything to do with ICT? I thought ICT is strictly a DATA Communication entity, repeate "commmunication" Hivi kuna nchi yoyote duniani zama hizi ambayo haina wizara/idara inayohusika na mambo ya ICT, kama wewe si raia wa Tanzania unawezaje kujua kinacho endelea jikoni kwa jirani yako - Tanzania siyo nchi ya kuhitisha press conference ovyo ovyo kila ikitaka kufanya kitu kuhusu maendeleo yake - who needs it.

Bukyanagandi, as much as you're one of the people I respect on this forum, I'm afraid to say that you're being liberal with the facts here. As it stands now, there are four cables connecting Kenya and two connecting TZ. Kenya has over 5,000 kms of terrestrial fibre cable across Kenya while the latest info on the Chinese funded TZ one is that there are only about 3,600 kms laid across the country (the main backbone across Kenya was actually completed 7 years ago). If you want to know where Kenya stands on IT vis-à-vis the rest of the world, google the term "silicon savannah" and read up on the sector.

By kshaka

Bukyanagandi, as much as you're one of the people I respect on this forum, I'm afraid to say that you're being liberal with the facts here. As it stands now, there are four cables connecting Kenya and two connecting TZ. Kenya has over 5,000 kms of terrestrial fibre cable across Kenya while the latest info on the Chinese funded TZ one is that there are only about 3,600 kms laid across the country (the main backbone across Kenya was actually completed 7 years ago). If you want to know where Kenya stands on IT vis-à-vis the rest of the world, google the term "silicon savannah" and read up on the sector.

Super! will be BACK, when 'am DONE -cheers.

By Kabaridi

Go Go kenya, Nadhani ikija kwa maneno ya vision2030, kenya inaonyesha mfano mwema wa kuigwa, ambao Rwanda na Uganda pekee is learning. Pia inaonyeshaha mpangilio na raslilmali kubwa mno inazo kutekeleza mipango yake. Hii ni habari tamu. kenya has laid to date four undersea fibre optic cables. Kama jinsi mwanajF alivosema hapo awali, a nation and its character is a reflection of its people. Naona kuwa ili Afrika isonge mbele, lazima tuanze miradi kama hizi. ICT ya Tanzania is way below standard ukilinganisha na Kenya. Ndio mtu mwingine akili maji akaanza kukemea Konza city na tatu city/silicon valley.

Kwenye red: I wish ungekuwepo wakati team ya Rwanda imekuja Tanzania. They could not believe it walipopewa facts na wakalinganisha na jirani. Kagame habahatishi na sasa hivi TTCL wako kazini Kigali. Tatizo letu I must admit, hatupigi kelele na kuweka every details before the god's panel. Hapo pa kupiga kelele nawapa 5 Kenya. Nirudie, Tanzania ICT iko swafi, hutaji jingonge!

By Bukyanagandi

Has M-Pesa anything to do with ICT? I thought ICT is strictly a DATA Communication entity, repeate "commmunication" Hivi kuna nchi yoyote duniani zama hizi ambayo haina wizara/idara inayohusika na mambo ya ICT, kama wewe si raia wa Tanzania unawezaje kujua kinacho endelea jikoni kwa jirani yako - Tanzania siyo nchi ya kuhitisha press conference ovyo ovyo kila ikitaka kufanya kitu kuhusu maendeleo yake - who needs it.

Hehehehe... As if m-pesa system can work without data being transmitted over communication channels.

By Certified

Hehehehe... As if m-pesa system can work without data being transmitted over communication channels.

Mkuu, nakuomba usome vizuri nilicho andika humu husikurupukie MAMBO, mimi sijuhi ulewa wako katika fani ya communication ni wa kiwango gani! Kwani M-Pesa inahitaji kitu gani kuwasiliana na simu nyingine, can you send M-PESA raw!!!!! Hamna popote humu nimesema M-Pesa haitaji mawasiliano. Kwani kwa mawazo yako unafikili M-Pesa ina-occupy slot gani katika seven OSI layers ? Don't try to be bigger than your HEAD, sorry.

By Bukyanagandi

Mkuu, nakuomba usome vizuri nilicho andika humu husikurupukie MAMBO, mimi sijuhi ulewa wako katika fani ya communication ni wa kiwango gani! Kwani M-Pesa inahitaji kitu gani kuwasiliana na simu nyingine, can you send M-PESA raw!!!!! Hamna popote humu nimesema M-Pesa haitaji mawasiliano. Kwani kwa mawazo yako unafikili M-Pesa ina-occupy slot gani katika seven OSI layers ? Don't try to be bigger than your HEAD, sorry.

Boss!! Let's keep things simple. You said that mpesa is not a part of ICT. You went further and said ICT encompasses only data communications. Explain to me like a two year old why you said that and I will come up with my remarks on the same. Wow!! Ati you can't send mpesa raw!!! Have come across the term electronic cash.

Our fiber optic cable- National ICT Backbone (NICTBB) ikiishakamilika itakuwa 10,000Km, sasa hivi tunakaribia kukamilisha Phase II....nchi karibia zote za jirani pamoja na Seychells tumeshazi-connect wanalipa pesa TTCL...

Hapa wakiwa wanaweka hiyo Fiber optic cable chini ya maji ya Ziwa Victoria...

Hii hi project nyingine ya private companies...

hehehehe

relax guys, Kenya is sitting pretty comfortable by whatever measure in ICT and related fields.

There are currently
four fibre optic cables in Kenya which have
a capacity of over 3.8TB/s. They include;
· TEAMS (The East African Marine System)-
1.28 TB/s
· SEACOM- 1.28 TB/s
· EASsy- 1.2 TB/s
· LION- Owned by Telkom Kenya
The entire country has full satellite coverage
and there are over 20,000km of terrestrial
cables running across the country. There are
also last mile solutions which offer services
such as Wi-Fi, Wimax, Broadband and LTE
(testing).

By Certified

Boss!! Let's keep things simple. You said that mpesa is not a part of ICT. You went further and said ICT encompasses only data communications. Explain to me like a two year old why you said that and I will come up with my remarks on the same. Wow!! Ati you can't send mpesa raw!!! Have come across the term electronic cash.

Mkuu mbona unielewi? mimi nazungumzia ni kitu gani kinaendelea between your handset/mobile, pc and all DCEs kabla havija tuma DATA husika, vifaa hivi vinazungumza kwanza vyenyewe kwa vyenyewe vitu kama:kuomba kutuma, kukubaliwa, hiko busy, kasi/speed, hakuna mawasiliano nk ninacho zungumza humu ni signalling/handshake kabla ya kutuma data husika. Ujanua kabisa nazungumzia mambo ya communication lakini sijuhi una tatizo gani, wewe unafikili bila mambo hayo kukamilishwa kwanza kuna DATA yoyote inaweza kutumwa kwenye media yoyote!!!

By Bukyanagandi

Mkuu mbona unielewi? mimi nazungumzia ni kitu gani kinaendelea between your handset/mobile, pc and all DCEs kabla havija tuma DATA husika, vifaa hivi vinazungumza kwanza vyenyewe kwa vyenyewe vitu kama:kuomba kutuma, kukubaliwa, hiko busy, kasi/speed, hakuna mawasiliano nk ninacho zungumza humu ni signalling/handshake kabla ya kutuma data husika. Ujanua kabisa nazungumzia mambo ya communication lakini sijuhi una tatizo gani, wewe unafikili bila mambo hayo kukamilishwa kwanza kuna DATA yoyote inaweza kutumwa kwenye media yoyote!!!

bukyagandi am no IT expert, likewise to certified as his name tells alot about his intellectual background. However its obvious theres a relationship between good internet service and Mpesa service delivery.
Read this pluck, trying to cut the impasse between you two:
Hosting M-Pesa servers locally should also
eliminate disruptions that occur whenever
the undersea fibre optic cable is damaged
and reduce the time taken to restore the
system in the event of such a damage.
Safaricom has in the past three weeks been
forced to reroute its international traffic to
satellite platform after its main link to the
global network of highspeed Internet, the
TEAMs cable was damaged in deep sea.
Safaricom has a 22.5 stake in TEAMs and
uses the bandwidth to connect to other
parts of the world including Germany where
the M-Pesa servers are currently hosted.

Good move

By Bukyanagandi

the question is: Has M-Pesa anything to do with ICT? I thought ICT is strictly a DATA Communication entity, repeate "commmunication"

My friend, I believe in keeping things simple and clear. You have to communicate in a way the intended audience will understand and appreciate your contributions. The above quote is what you typed and i have an issue with it. Let me explain.

1. What is ICT?

Acronym for "Information and Communication technology" ICT covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit or receive information electronically in a digital form.

2. What is m-pesa?

M-pesa is a web based money transfer system (application) that enables users to transfer cash electronicaly via various communication channels. Mobile phones, laptops and PC's are used as input and output devices in this architecture.

I rest my case.

By Certified

Hehehehe... As if m-pesa system can work without data being transmitted over communication channels.

Data transmission grows by leaps and bounds hence need for robust efficient data networks. M pesa imeshika kweli Kenya, Huduma nyingi unalipia kupitia m pesa, umeme,maji, bill supermarket, mutu ya mkono(vibarua wa mjengo), kinyozi etc. Hivi majuzi mfumo wa kuhamisha pesa kutoka benki account yako hadi m pesa account yako umezinduliwa .yote haya ni data transmission.