Country to Build Sh15 Billion Fibre Optic Cable Link

(The Nation (Kenya) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Kenya has decided to go it alone in the construction of a Sh15 billion fibre optic undersea sea cable system connecting it to the rest of the world.

Fibre optic cables are hair-thin glass fibre for the transmission of data in the form of light. According to the Government, the envisaged Eastern Africa Submarine System (EASSy) cable project driven by 15 telecommunications firms from 13 Eastern Africa countries was taking too long.


EASSy was aimed at establishing an undersea cable system connecting Mtunzini, located just north of Durban, in South Africa to Port Sudan, in Sudan a distance of about 9,900 km.

Information and Communication permanent secretary, Bitange Ndemo, said Kenya would begin would begin discussions with Djibouti, one the countries involved in the construction of the cable network.

It is believed that a link to Djibouti will connect Kenya to the rest of the world. Apart from Kenya and Djibouti, other countries involved in the project are South Africa, Sudan, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Botswana, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Dr Ndemo lamented that three-years since the project was envisaged nothing had been done apart from the holding of numerous meetings. "The costs of the meetings is almost half the total cost of the project," he added.

Dr Ndemo spoke at an East African Regulatory, Posts and Telecommunications organisation meeting held in Nairobi yesterday.

The PS said Kenya needed the cable more than any other country saying many foreign companies had expressed interest to invest in the country but were holding back due to connectivity problems.

He, however, denied that the decision would put Kenya on collision course with other ESSAy members adding that one had to take the lead.

"Somebody has to take control and start the project or else we will not get anywhere," he added.

The fibre optic cable would be used to connect Nairobi and Mombasa to open up employment opportunities to thousands of youths in ICT.

The money, the PS said would be raised using the Nairobi Stock Exchange where the public would buy shares.

A meeting involving players in the industry has already been organised to deliberate of raising funds and will be attended by among others Kenya Data Networks, Celtel and Telkom Kenya.

"The cable should be ready by next year to enable the country benefit from the technology," Dr Ndemo said.