Africa Business Communities
Liquid Telecom wins prestigious changing lives award at this year's AfricaCom awards

Liquid Telecom wins prestigious changing lives award at this year's AfricaCom awards

At the annual AfricaCom awards in Cape Town, Liquid Telecom and the Office of the President (Kenya) picked up the award in the Changing Lives category for providing free wifi to homes and businesses in Nakuru County, Kenya.

This special award recognises an inspiring initiative that has significantly impacted African communications in the community and contributed to economic and social development. It was the most hotly contested category of the night with the work of ten companies shortlisted including Ericsson, Orange and WIOCC. 

The Nakuru wifi project is the first of its kind in Kenya, and sees Nakuru join Kigali in Rwanda and Tshwane in South Africa as the first major urban centres in Africa to enjoy access to free public wifi. 

Launched in April 2015 and named “BILAWAYA” (Swahili slang meaning “WIRELESS”), the wifi network covers a 10-kilometre radius from the CBD, with a capacity of 1 Giga byte per second (gbps). It is available in major streets, markets, transport terminus and stadia – as well as the university campuses.

BILAWAYA provides people with wifi-enabled devices free access to the Internet (with the exception of unlawful activities such as streaming or downloading of offensive content or content that violates copyright). In addition, a portal has been created to provide a wealth of valuable and practical advice for Internet novices, as well as the more experienced.

The hugely positive response to the free wifi network has triggered demand for wifi services across Kenya; Liquid has already been approached by five other County Governments to implement a similar solution after hearing of the success and popularity of Bilawaya.

Meanwhile the Nakuru County Government has already been asked to extend the network to other areas within the County to meet demand. Plans are at an advanced stage to connect Naivasha and Gilgil towns as well as Egerton University in Njoro and more streets and public areas in Nakuru town.

Dennis Itumbi, Director of Digital Communications in the Office of the President of The Republic of Kenya, said “This network is a first for our country and has far exceeded our expectations. Every day I see how it is changing lives for the better. Our people are hungry for digital access and all the knowledge that brings. We will be extending the network to the second and third biggest towns in Nakuru County – and indeed to other Counties – very shortly.”

Ben Roberts, CEO of Liquid Telecom Kenya, said “Congratulations to the President and all of his team who spearheaded the Bilawaya project in Nakuru. Every day we see for ourselves how it is Changing Lives.”

www.liquidtelecom.com

 

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