Global Telecommunications solutions provider Orange has recently initiated the roll out of Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) services in the Bungoma County of Kenya. In this first phase, coverage shall be restricted to the county headquarters but the second phase, which will be launched at an undisclosed date, is billed to cover the entire sub-county as well as adjacent areas.
According to company CEO Vincent Lobry, the provision of wireless Internet in Bungoma County is part of the company’s strategy of spreading its data solutions offering into the counties and supporting its mandate to provide broadband access for all citizens. In his words; “The solution will also aid in opening up opportunities for business in these areas, as well as support the county governments to improve on their service offering through integrated ICT solutions.”
Borrowing a leaf from their colleagues in the developed world, governments of developing countries are increasingly embracing internet enabled technologies and all sorts of partnerships that improve Internet penetration and adoption in their constituencies. There is now a very real link between Internet penetration and overall human development in a region as the highest ranking countries on the Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) also have the highest Internet penetration rates.
Understanding this new imperative, Kenneth Lusaka, Bungoma County Governor asserted; “We are committed to ensuring that most of our county residents enjoy free Internet in partnership with Telkom Kenya. We will cascade to the wards and introduce the hotspots after we are through with the sub-counties.”
Global consultancy McKinsey & Co adds flesh to the ongoing argument for improving Internet adoption rates in a report titled “Online and Upcoming: The Internet’s Impact on Aspiring Countries.”
Part of the report reads; “The Internet today connects about two billion people worldwide. Half of these are living outside the advanced economies, often in countries that are quickly climbing the developmental ladder, with diverse populations and inarguably economic potentialities. One indicator of development is Internet adoption. Research by us and others has highlighted the power of the Internet to contribute to economic growth and prosperity, and provide individuals, entrepreneurs, enterprises and even governments with new ways to connect, consume and deliver products, services and content.
By Emmanuel Iruobe
