NAIROBI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenya and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations specialized agency, on Monday launched a broadband mapping exercise aimed at bridging the digital divide and expanding universal access to high-speed internet across the country.
Stephen Isaboke, principal secretary for broadcasting and telecommunications in the Ministry of Information, Communications, and The Digital Economy, told journalists in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that the East African country has about 46 million mobile and fixed broadband subscribers.
"The mapping exercise will provide a data-driven approach to understanding Kenya's broadband infrastructure landscape and identifying gaps in coverage, quality of service, and affordability," Isaboke said.
He stressed that broadband mapping is not just a technical task but a strategic tool to better target funding for internet infrastructure in underserved areas.
Cosmas Zavazava, director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau at the ITU, said in a video message that Kenya is part of the Africa Broadband Mapping Systems initiative, which seeks to cover 11 sub-Saharan African countries. The program aims to transform broadband connectivity through harmonized mapping systems to support policymaking, digital inclusion, and strategic infrastructure investment.
Zavazava said the mapping exercise will provide Kenya with accurate broadband data to pinpoint communities still lacking reliable high-speed internet.
David Mugonyi, director general of the Communications Authority of Kenya, said the initiative will provide the country with real-time data to guide broadband investments, particularly in remote regions.
