.png?lu=720)
11 June 2024
Kenya plans to use its more than 70,000 power transformers as internet hotspots across the country.
This will be accomplished through collaboration between the government and the Kenya Power and Lighting Company. The concept will use power lines rather than putting fibre on the ground. A government official announced that Wi-Fi hotspots will be put on Kenya Power transformers soon.
"Kenya Power has 74,000 transformers all over the country," said Eliud Owalo, cabinet secretary for information, communication, and digital economy. "Where there is a transformer in that location, we will leverage that infrastructure to have an internet hotspot."
The initial objective for the rollout was to build 25,000 hotspots.
"The 74,000 transformers will enable us (to) triple our target," said Owalo. "Rolling out fibre by digging trenches costs us approximately KSh2.3 million per km. Using this methodology, we will use KSh600,000 per km."
