Kenya is now among 11 countries that are set to benefit from the $16.5 million (approximately KES 2.1 billion) fund pledged by the European Union (EU) to back the Africa Broadband Mapping Systems (Africa-BB-Maps) project.
The initiative is also part of the EU’s plan to expand the subsea blue cable project from Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania, as announced by the European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, in Nairobi.
During the launch event of the Africa-BB-Maps, she revealed that the European Union will mobilise about $330 million (about KES 42.6 billion) towards the project, with several African countries, including Kenya, set to benefit.
“The EU private sector is mobilising $330 million in this initiative. In Kenya, the EU is connecting 1,000 primary schools with broadband,” she stated. “The $16.5 million to be invested in Africa Broadband Mapping Systems will benefit 11 countries, including Kenya.”
The Africa-BB-Maps initiative (2025–2028) is a four-year programme led by the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with funding from the European Union (EU). Its goal is to create or enhance harmonised national broadband mapping systems across 11 Sub-Saharan regulatory authorities. Alongside Kenya, the beneficiary countries include Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
The Nairobi launch signalled the launchning of Kenya’s operational rollout of the Africa-BB-Maps initiative.
According to David Mugonyi, Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya, broadband remains vital to the nation’s economic growth. He pointed out that just 47.5% of Kenyan hoapplyholds have Internet access, with penetration falling to 26% in rural areas. He emphasised the urgency of bridging this digital divide, highlighting the necessary to connect 164 sublocations that currently lack 3G and 4G coverage.
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