The Kenya Pipeline Company has taken a major step in expanding Kenya’s digital infrastructure by partnering with Internet Service Provider Syokinet Solutions. The collaboration has resulted in the activation of a 1.6 Terabits per second data capacity on KPC’s fiber optic cable network, connecting Mombasa to Nairobi.
This development is a major advancement in Kenya’s connectivity capabilities, promising to deliver high-speed internet to homes, businesses, and community networks in the country’s two largest cities. The new fiber link is expected to provide faster gigabit speeds and improved reliability, supporting Kenya’s larger digital transformation goals.
KPC’s Managing Director, Joe Sang, emphasized the importance of this partnership in the context of the company’s business diversification strategy, stating, “Today’s launch represents a new milestone for KPC as we strive to expand and upgrade our fiber optic cable.”
He added that the collaboration with Syokinet “will unlock additional connectivity and offer high-speed internet services for homes and businesses between Nairobi and Mombasa.”
The fiber optic cable, which runs alongside KPC’s oil pipeline, promises to offer inherent security benefits and minimal downtime. This strategic positioning allows Kenya Pipeline Company to provide carriers with highly reliable, low-latency connectivity. The company plans to engage with more partners to maximize the utilization of its infrastructure.
Syokinet CEO Ian Kasyoki praised KPC’s fiber optic infrastructure, calling it “the most robust, scalable and reliable Fibre Optic Cable in the region.” He noted the potential impact of the partnership, stating, “By combining our internet services expertise with KPC’s impressive fiber infrastructure, we can enhance the quality of life by empowering customers with faster, more reliable connections.”
The activation of this high-capacity link aligns with the Kenyan government’s Digital Superhighway Project, which aims to expand the country’s digital infrastructure backbone. The project’s ambitious goals include laying 100,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable, establishing 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots in market centers, and creating 1,450 digital hubs across Kenya’s wards.
This initiative is expected to bring several benefits to Kenya’s digital landscape, including:
- Increased backbone capacity for faster gigabit connectivity to households
- Expanded reach for public WiFi services through hotspot and community network growth
- Enhanced diversity and resilience for enterprise data centers
- Greater bandwidth availability for local ISPs and community networks in Mombasa and Nairobi
KPC’s fiber optic network consists of a 96-core cable that runs along the oil pipeline. The company was licensed by the Communications Authority of Kenya in 2018 to offer dark fiber leases to telecommunications firms. The network’s topology allows for signal interception and distribution at regular intervals along the pipeline, covering the central commercial corridor from Mombasa through Nairobi to Eldoret and Kisumu.
