AccessKenya Group has today announced that it plans to spend Kshs 120 million in 2013 to expand its fibre network. This pales in comparison to Ksh 2 billion which Safaricom is going to spend in building its data network.
Access Kenya MD Kris Senanu says that the company has faith that fibre networks will solve the poor connectivity problems in the country. The company is looking to spend the Kshs 120 million in 2013 towards expanding fibre solutions majorly focused at the corporate sector in Kenya.
Senanu said;
“We continue to sign up clients onto our fibre network and our expansion is entirely demand – driven. This not only underscores the need for strategic investment in the deployment of fibre technologies, but also signals the maturity of the Kenyan market in internet usage and consumption.”
Senanu also revealed that the increase in the uptake of fibre among the Kenyan corporate and high-end residential clients has driven the AccessKenya’s turnaround seeing the company make profit for the first time in a few years. Senanu also revealed that Access Kenya Group is also going to focus on product diversification and enhanced customer service so as to firm its grip on market share.
Fixed internet connectivity rose by 81.7 percent in the second quarter of 2012 compared to the previous year, according to CCK. Internet subscription in Kenya now stand at 7.7 million up from 4.2 million in 2011. Mobile internet still dominate the subscription with Fixed networks struggling.
According to the statistics, fibre subscription has grown by 26.7 percent to reach close to 50, 000 subscriptions up from 22,000 in the same period in 2011.
AccessKenya spent over Ksh 100 million from late 2011 to early 2012 while extending to over 400 Kms in Nairobi and Mombasa. The company has also opened offices in Kisumu and Nakuru to serve its clientele in western and rift valley regions ahead of the actualization the county system of governance.