Connectivity Providers Database

From: Anthony Mwatha <mwatha@u.washington.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <africana-l@warthog.cc.wm.edu> Date: Wed, 25 Oct 1995 04:21:20 -0400 ---------- begin attached press release -------------- PRESS RELEASE!! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!! PRESS RELEASE!! KENYA JOINS THE CYBERSPACE Kenya, being the twelfth African country to do so, has ultimately joined the Internet - the global Information superhighway. Disclosing the news, the Director of the African Regional Centre for Computing (ARCC), Dr. Shem Ochuodho, said this facility will give Kenyan researchers, educators and businessmen an opportunity never envisaged before. For several years now, researchers and businessmen and women from other parts of the world have been able to easily and readily access valuable information that has eluded their Kenyan counterparts. The facility, for instance, brings distance learning (ie. teachers and students across the country appraising themselves through a non-expensive computer network) and access to export markets to the fingertip of Kenyan academics and entrepreneurs. Kenya, despite its well developed communications infrastructure and having ventured early into electronic networking, real-time, interactive access has remained an illusion, largely due to high long-distance telephone costs. This for a while has been the case in many parts of Africa, making it today the only continent not significantly connected to the "Internet". However, this state is fast changing with recent experiences from various parts of the continent, with at least two African countries joining the net almost every month over the past 6 months. Tunisia and South Africa were the first African countries to hook onto the Internet about 3 years ago. Since then, other countries to have joined include Algeria, Egypt, Mozambique, Zambia, Ghana, Uganda, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Morocco and now Kenya. It is understood from the Nairobi-based ARCC that this historic breakthrough will mainly benefit education and commerce, to which its initial access will be directed. Kenya's entry has been made possible through the kind support of the British Overseas Development Agency (ODA). The US National Science Foundation (NSF) also offered technical assistance by sponsoring a week's visit to Kenya of a world renown networking expert, Mr. Randy Bush to conclude the set-up. For nearly 4 years now, a number of institutions have provided or had electronic mail (e-mail) service in Kenya. However, all these have been dial-up systems using ordinary telephones to link either to Europe or United States. The new service relies on a dedicated leased line rented from KPTC. As other countries move towards higher quality, greater bandwidth and more cost-effective links, it is hoped that Kenya will once again be in the frontline. ------- end press release -------