Kenya power has ventured into the internet market. The company is set to connect users to its optic network. This move is bound to bring stiff competition in a field that had been dominated by three communication companies for a long time.
Kenya power now has a subsidiary called Kenya Power International Limited that is mandated to handle the company’s telecommunication business, fiber optic being one of its major roles.
The internet market in the country for some time had been a domain for three companies, Jamii Telecoms, Wananchi as well as Safaricom and the entry of Kenya Power is a move that will shake the three giants.
According to Ben Chumo, the Kenya Power Managing Director, the new business direction will be responsible for what he called the development of fiber-to-the-home adding that already necessary infrastructure has been put in place and that there lines will be along power lines.
Since 2010, Kenya Power has succeeded in fixing over 1,800 kilometers of optical fiber that run along its high-voltage power lines. Up to date, a total of 24 counties in the country out of the 47 counties have been connected and the companies aim is to connect the whole country.
In the financial year that ended June 2015, Kenya Power earned a total revenue of 259.4 million and the income is projected to hit a billion by the year 2017.
Currently, the giant telecommunication company, Safaricom, has connected 6,047 homes to its underground fiber network and its target is to close the year with 2,000 more customers while Jamii Telecom’s Jamii Faiba on the other hand enjoys a total of 7,486 customers connected to its fiber infrastructure of more 4,000 kilometers all over the country. Telkom Kenya with a total of 4,500km of fiber optic network spread across the country is also in the business.
Article by Juma Fred.