Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), a state corporation that transports, stores and delivers petroleum products to consumers, but that also has a network infrastructure license, says it has onboarded a leading Tier III internet service provider (ISP), Syokinet Solutions, to activate 1.6 terabits per second (Tbps) data capacity on KPC’s fibre optic cable which runs from Mombasa to Nairobi.
The new high-capacity fibre link will, it is claimed, bring fast gigabit internet speeds and unparalleled reliability to homes, businesses and community networks in Kenya’s two largest cities, representing a major advance in Kenya’s digital infrastructure and connectivity goals.
Managing Director Joe Sang says the launch “represents a new milestone for KPC as we strive to expand and upgrade our fibre optic cable in line with our long-term business diversification strategy”.
He suggests that the strategic partnership with Syokinet will unlock additional connectivity and offer high-speed internet services for homes and businesses between Nairobi and Mombasa.
Indeed, the partnership with Syokinet will provide increased backbone capacity on KPC’s fibre, with benefits that include faster gigabit connectivity to households as well as expanded reach for public Wi-Fi services through hotspot and community network growth.
The new fibre link will also see increased diversity and resilience for enterprise data centres, and greater bandwidth availability for local ISPs and community networks in both Mombasa and Nairobi.
The connectivity launch aligns with the Kenyan government’s Digital Superhighway Project via which it aims to increase broadband connectivity across the country through laying 100,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable, establishing 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots in market centres across Kenya, and creating 1,450 digital hubs in every ward.
KPC obtained a Network Facility Provider (NFP) – Tier 2 network infrastructure license in 2018 from regulator the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to lease fibre optic cable along its pipeline network in Kenya from Mombasa to Nairobi – Nakuru – Kisumu and Eldoret towns.
Over the years KPC says it has signed lease agreements with all the country’s leading operators and ISPs to use its fibre optic cable network.
