KETRACO to commercialize fiber network business

The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) has announced plans to venture into the Internet service provision business.

This after the firm was granted a network facility provider tier 2 license by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

KETRACO currently uses optical ground wire technology for its operations, which has the capacity to transmit data.

The transmission firm plans to lease out excess fiber capacity to network operators and generate revenue from the same.

In a notice in the dailies, the state agency says its seeking an operator to operate the services.

“KETRACO requires an operator to design, supply, install, operate manage and commercialise its fiber network on a revenue sharing arrangement,” KETRACO said in the notice.

KETRACO has a transmission network of 1,115 kilometers with a further 7,000 kilometers of transmission lines expected over the next five years.

With its transmission lines passing through remote parts of the country, the firm will be able to expand the country’s fiber optic network.

The Communications Authority estimates that there are 27,561 fiber subscriptions in the country.

Kenya Power has also ventured into the Internet fiber business as part of an initiative to grow its revenues.