Summit approves fibre cabling plan

Four countries in East Africa have made it mandatory for all infrastructure projects to incorporate fibre optic ducts.

The agreement between Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan is meant to deepen connectivity in the region.

During the fifth northern corridor summit in Nairobi on Friday, presidents from the four countries noted that the plan would accelerate economic integration.

“The meeting agreed that concerned ministries incorporate fibre optic access on all northern corridor integration projects where it does not exist,” a communiqué released at the end of the summit reads.

The move is a big win for the telcoms industry that has been at loggerheads with contractors and road construction authorities for disrupting their business due to fibre cuts.

For the ongoing projects, contractors will be required to expand their budget to allow the set up of fibre ducts.

“All these will be shared infrastructure meaning that any service provider will have access. Collaboration in ICT initiatives in the region will play a key role in driving integration,” Information and Communication Cabinet secretary Fred Matiang’i told the Nation.

The agreement implies that the standard gauge railway and the Lamu Port and South Sudan Ethiopia Transport projects will incorporate telcoms infrastructure.

The summit also agreed to accelerate the migration from analogue to digital television platform across the region.

Responsible ministries are now required to immediately submit technical studies and other forms of new information to the national treasuries of each country in order to facilitate financing and marketing.

During the meeting attended by Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta, Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), and Salva Kiir of South Sudan, it was agreed that the four countries operate as a “single mobile network,” in effect, abolishing roaming charges.

It will now cost the same to make calls across the four countries.