Kenya is exploring stronger partnerships with technology companies to accelerate digital transformation and expand access to reliable and affordable internet services across the country.
ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary John Tanui, said the government is enhancing collaboration opportunities with the players of the ICT industry to create a digitally transformed region and a growing economy.
Tanui was speaking during a meeting with the leadership of Liquid Intelligent Technologies company under the direction of Neeraj Pradhan, the Vice President and Chief Executive Officer.
Liquid Intelligent Technologies has been working on a project to deploy high-speed broadband networks to the remotest parts of the country. In their discussions with Tanui, the company leaders focused on ways of making the internet more accessible in the parts of the country which have the lowest levels of connectivity. That was part of their discussions.
The company also talked about its future potential to offer the public access to the internet through the provision of free or low-cost WiFi in such areas as public parks.
Tanui said partnerships between government and the private sector would play a critical role in strengthening Kenya’s digital infrastructure and expanding opportunities created by the digital economy.
He highlighted that better network performance is one of the ways that we can inspire new ideas and give different kinds of work, communities and people more freedom to get involved in a wider range of activities through the digital economy.
According to Tanui, government has plans to utilize such alliances to speed up the rollout of internet and broadband across the country, enhance digital infrastructure and ensure that Kenyans will have access to and benefit from technological innovation.
He pointed out that the digital transformation of Kenya will mainly depend on the ability of such partnerships to transform connectivity into concrete economic and social benefits.