Internet service provider UUNet is extending broadband VSAT services across Kenya in a bid to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) increase business efficiency, says Joseph Mwaura, manager at UUNet.
The high-speed satellite communications are already helping over a dozen SMEs trade in the towns of Naivasha, Nakuru, Kisumu and Mombasa and Nanyuki, says Mwaura. He believes more areas of Kenya will be connected in the next few weeks.
The technology gives SMEs 10 times faster Internet access speeds than the dial-up system, cutting operational costs by up to 30%, claims Mwaura.
"The technology boosts download rates to 18Mbps, which speeds up business operations considerably."
Traders can communicate efficiently with counterparts at a global level, says Mwaura, adding that most of the SME traders source their business from international markets.
"Broadband VSAT would significantly impact the efficiency of conducting business and enable them to reach an international customer base at a lower cost."
The technology also allows the majority of SME traders to do their business in the remotest areas of Kenya, which gives them the opportunity to trade at the source, says Mwaura.
The technology supports any Internet Protocol-based application, and companies using broadband VSAT will enjoy all the communication power they need to support business applications, such as voice over Internet Protocol, virtual private networks, demanding enterprise resource planning systems and video conferencing, he notes.
"Crucially, in a region where PC penetration levels are among the lowest in the world, this technology is set to play a key role in helping SMEs, which would otherwise not be able to afford access to ICT tools."
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