Harnessing untapped ICT potential in rural Kenya

The Kenya Data Networks will roll out an Sh210 million initiative geared to expanding its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) reach. The project dubbed Digital Village Constituency Cluster targets rural population. Through the project, KDN will install VSat base stations in each of the country's constituency. "Our aim is to ensure that we help Kenyans harness the untapped potential in the rural areas while enabling them acquire relevant ICT skills for the sake of development," said Kai Wulff, the Managing Director at KDN. "KDN will use its butterfly product to broaden distribution of local content in what will be a watershed in the quest to bridge the rural-urban digital divide." Under the programme, each constituency cluster will consist of minimum eight (8) digital units serving commercial, developmental and educational activities within a 15 km radius. They will access the Internet through a dedicated wireless infrastructure guaranteeing reliable single hop connectivity. Wulff said in a statement that KDN will kick-start the initiative from March 17, through a pilot project connecting 40 constituencies in collaboration with ICTvillage.com and the Youth Enterprise Development Fund amongst other organisations. Source: All Africa and i4d

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