By Felix Njenga
The Institute of Energy Studies and Research (IESR) director Dr. Jeremiah Kiplagat has called on Internet Service Providers(ISP) to ensure that their engineers are compliant in matters training to ensure their safety as they do stringing under Kenya power lines.
Speaking during the training of engineers from vilcom networks the fourth largest ISP provider in the country at Ruaraka Nairobi county Kiplagat said that the institute which is an arm of Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) want to ensure that all the people working on the power lines observe very high standards of safety and working procedures to ensure that there are no incidences within the power distribution system.
” We want all the telecommunications companies especially those who operate on our poles stringing fiber cables are trained on safety and pole climbing to avoid any incidents,” Kiplagat said.
The director said that they are set to roll out a program dubbed ‘ Jua for sure’ to ensure that any technician on the poles are well trained and will check on instant if they are compliant.
He said that the ISP companies should declare which poles they are using with KPLC so as to maintain fair business and reduce loss of revenue.
” We want fair fair business practices where telecommunications companies should declare which poles they have used so that KPLC do not lose revenue as we charge them a small fee,” he said.
He warned the rogue ISP companies who are not compliant with heavy penalties and ban if they are non responsive.
” Recently we have had a lot of illegal operators on the power lines and we want to work with all ISPs which are licensed to ensure that we get rid of illegal operators,” he said.
He said that raft measures are being put up and will hold a meeting with telecommunications stakeholders so as to apply critically what needs to be done together.
He said that the ISPs are being encouraged to be using dark fibre as a move to reduce the many cables on the power lines.
” There are areas with many cables especially in the urban centers and we are encouraging the use of dark fibre as the power network can only accommodate four cables,” he said.
Agnes Limo the CEO Vilcom networks said that they are in partnership with KPLC as they string their fibre cables on their poles and it is important that their technicians who are connecting their customers to be trained on safety so that they can be able to work diligently.
” My technicians should understand how close they should be near power lines while stringing cables and understanding the guidelines put up by KPLC that they should adhere to while working and also creating a good safe environment to the public who are walking by as they work,” Limo said.
She said that the trainings have helped the company technicians as there have never been an incident near the power lines and have been doing doing refresher courses to insist on safety.
” We are ISO certified and we ensure our quality is on top, that is why we do training continuously,” she said.
She said that their VUTA Wi-Fi connectivity a low cost package has been reliable and has attracted many customers spreading wings to Lodwar part of the country.
Paul Mbuthia a trainer at IESR said that it is paramount that the ISP technicians be trained on pole climbing and safety which working in an electrified area since the pole lines are charged from 240-6600 kilowatts which can be harmful and fatal.
” They should be aware of their environment and their limit of reach while working. They should be aware of how they are climbing poles and technics right from the equipment they use and need to understand them and trust them. We train them first on theory then practicals and are able to go out there and work,” Mbuthia said.
Washington Gathenya head of safety Vilcom networks said that the trainings have helped them to be always aware of their safety and observe measures put by KPLC as they work along power cable lines.
” The trainings helps us to overcome fear and tensions as we climb poles and also maintain safety and how far we should be from the power cables as we string fibre cables,” Gathenya said.
Sydney Lesang projects and support department Vilcom networks said that they work on KPLC poles and always train to remind themselves on safety and also train new members of the company on safety measures as they work under the overhead lines.
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