A Kenyan delegation recently visited Italy to participate in a high-level meeting with Infratel Italia, under the guidance of CEO Pietro Piccinetti. The aim was to explore potential collaboration to expand broadband, develop a digital superhighway, and plan smart infrastructure.
Leading the Kenyan team was John Tanui, Principal Secretary of the State Department of ICT and the Digital Economy, accompanied by Frederick Lusambili Matwang’a, Kenya’s Ambassador to Italy.
Tanui stated, “Both parties have committed to initiating a Memorandum of Understanding between Kenya and Infratel, focusing on connectivity, national infrastructure mapping, public Wi-Fi, Smart City initiatives, and capacity development.”
He highlighted key areas of focus, including large-scale fiber deployment, models for the rollout of 5G, Italy’s infrastructure cadastre for improved planning and reduced excavation, public Wi-Fi networks, strategies for digital inclusion, submarine fiber connectivity for islands and remote areas, infrastructure mapping, national backbone planning, and addressing market failures while identifying cooperative opportunities under the Piano Mattei framework.
Established by the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration, the Piano Mattei framework aims to redefine and strengthen Italy’s relationships with African nations through a non-exploitative partnership approach. The framework is designed to encourage development and economic cooperation while tackling issues such as energy security and migration management.
Tanui affirmed, “This partnership will significantly advance Kenya’s Digital Superhighway agenda and enhance knowledge exchange between our two countries.”
The Digital Superhighway initiative seeks to install 100,000 km of fibre optic cable, create 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots, and establish 1,450 digital village smart hubs.
