- Kenya among 11 African countries set to benefit from the €15 million EU-backed Africa Broadband Mapping Systems project.
- The initiative will provide harmonised broadband maps to guide investment and bridge digital gaps.
- EU also funding broadband connections in 1,000 Kenyan primary schools and expanding subsea cable infrastructure.
Kenya will share in Sh2.3 billion (€15 million) from the European Union for the Africa Broadband Mapping Systems (Africa-BB-Maps), a project launched in Nairobi to create harmonised broadband maps for 11 African countries.
EU Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger said the EU’s private sector is mobilising €300 million for broadband connectivity, adding that in Kenya alone, the bloc is connecting 1,000 primary schools to broadband.
“The 15 million euros to be invested in Africa Broadband Mapping Systems will benefit 11 countries, including Kenya,” Geiger stated.
The project will cover Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Kenya will further benefit from the expansion of the subsea blue cable linking Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Communications Authority Director General David Mugonyi noted that internet access in Kenya remains limited, with only 47.5% of households connected, and just 26% in rural areas.
“There is a need to eliminate this digital divide and facilitate the 164 sublocations which lack 3G and 4G internet to get connected,” he said.
Broadcasting and Telecommunications PS Stephen Isaboke stressed broadband’s role in achieving Kenya’s digital ambitions.
“From education and healthcare to entrepreneurship and social inclusion, broadband has become an indispensable enabler in shaping modern economies,” he said.
Officials said the broadband maps will be publicly accessible and used to identify gaps, guide investment, and support Kenya’s 2030 broadband targets.
“By developing harmonised, validated, and publicly accessible broadband maps, we shall be able to make informed decisions that optimise infrastructure investments and policy interventions,” Isaboke added.
Kenya’s participation in Africa-BB-Maps marks the operational start of the project, expected to boost digital inclusion and close connectivity gaps.
