Kenya`s incumbent operator, Telkom Kenya, has launched a multimillion-shilling technology upgrading project that will see the installation of some 18 000 new digital lines.
The project, which will cost the company some 140 million Kenyan shillings, was initially expected to be commissioned by mid-February, although with 11 000 of the new lines planned for tsunami-ravaged Mombasa, some delays are now likely.
According to Telkom Kenya`s projects planning and engineering manager, Jobs Mwangome, the new technology should replace the current analogue switches, which have been in operation for the past 25 years.
He says that through the new digital exchange network, subscribers will have services previously not available, including the options of teleconferencing, call barring, low-speed dial-up data and call forwarding and billing.
Bernard Rubia, Telkom Kenya`s chief marketing officer, has also stated that the country`s Internet service provider, Jambonet, will reduce bandwidth tariffs by some 69% and Internet downloading tariffs by 29% as of 1 February.
However, the nation`s business sector has raised complaints that yet another year has gone by without the long-awaited information and communication technology policy seeing the light of day.
"A strong ICT policy would open new opportunities, as e-commerce can open export markets, offering reduced transaction costs, lower barriers to market entry and improved access to information," says Vimal Shah, group CE at Bidco.
"E-commerce eliminates geographical barriers, eliminates all paperwork and facilitates an abundance of information, which widens customer`s range of choice and promotes customer interaction."
He says that most Kenyans living in rural areas have no access to Internet services, due to poor facilities and the critical lack of a policy to encourage investment in ICT in remote parts of the country.
James Gachui, vice-chairman of the Kenya ICT Federation agrees, claiming that there is still nothing concrete to show in terms of Kenyan ICT policy chiefly because the government lacks an ICT champion to lead the process.
However Sammy Kirui, director-general of the Communications Commission of Kenya, maintains that government is committed to delivering efficient and reliable communications services.
"The main problem is that Kenya is faced with the challenge of changing its focus from traditional economic drivers to that of becoming a knowledge-based information economy," he says.
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