[UgaBYTES] New dawn as Teams cable lands at Coast

[Cleopa Timon Otieno]

Kenya is now on the super highway to a major technological take-off after
the much-awaited East African Marine System (Teams) fibre optic cable landed
in Mombasa.

The cable, launched by President Kibaki a few days ago at Fort Jesus,
connects the East African region to worldwide cable networks.
In Kenya, the cable will improve Internet connectivity and reduce the cost
of data transmission — and create thousands of jobs, especially in the
telecommunications sector.

East Africa has been the only region in the world that lacked fibre optic
connection to global communications networks. Previously, satellite
technology was the only means of connecting to the other parts of the world.
President Kibaki said the Teams cable would empower Kenyans and other East
Africans to become fully digital citizens of the 21st Century. "It redefines
modernity and efficiency and is a big step in the delivery of quality
service in ICT," he said.
He added: "I am directing the Ministry of Information and Communications to
come up with programmes for training the development of youth nationwide to
catch the first generation of truly digital Kenyans."

He asked all the ministries to adopt ICT in their strategic plans to realise
the full benefits of technology.
Land based infrastructure

Teams is a Government-initiated project that connects the region to the
world’s fibre optic communications backbone via Fujaira in United Arab
Emirates. The cable is expected to attract up to $10 billion (Sh790 billion)
worth of investments in special economic zones in the next three years.

With affordable and efficient ICT infrastructure, Kenyans will also be able
to venture into the field of business process outsourcing, a rapidly growing
global industry.

However, businesses and individuals will have to wait for another one month
before they can get connected to the cable.
"In addition to the marine installation that we are celebrating here today,
the next step is full completion of the construction of the land-based
infrastructure. This will make ICT the main pillar of our national economic
blueprint for the new millennium Vision 2030," he said.

Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said connection to the
fibre optic cable had made Kenya part of the global village.
"This cable will make communication services more affordable to most
Kenyans," he said.

Uganda’s Information minister Aggrey Awori said landing of the cable would
enable his country embrace the technology as soon as possible.



-- 
Cleopa Timon Otieno
www.ugunja.org , www.kenyatelecentres.org
P.O.Box 330-40606, Ugunja
Cell: +254-720-950-220
skype: timonson1
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