Internet and IT Solutions Provider AccessKenya Group has now connected 400 commercial buildings on its expanding metropolitan Fibre Network in Nairobi and Mombasa. This follows an expansion plan initiated at the onset of the year to meet rising demand for fibre connectivity among its corporate clients.

AccessKenya’s Internet Division MD, Mr. Kris Senanu said that the company has invested over Sh100Million this year alone towards this expansion that will cover a 45KM stretch in Nairobi and an additional 20Kms in Mombasa. The expansion will see the company’s total fibre network coverage extend to over 350KMs in the two towns.

“Our reliability of service has contributed immensely towards the growth on our network. The past two quarters have seen a surge in the demand for fibre mostly from our corporate clients,” said Mr. Senanu. This year, the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) listed company is targeting to connect 100 buildings on its network in Nairobi and Mombasa and already 50 have been hooked.

Some of the areas already covered in Nairobi this year include Eastleigh and Industrial Area (covering Likoni and Nanyuki, Kitui and Kampala Roads). Civil works along the newly completed Thika Super highway are ongoing and the company is targeting closure by September. “We are also working towards completing coverage Athi River and in Mlolongo in the next two months,” said Mr. Njoroge.

"We want to involve property developers, architects and project so as to ensure fibre connectivity is provisioned for in the building plans and architectural designs,’ said Mr. Senanu. “This will not only make connectivity easier and properly done, but also add value to properties and facilitate efficiency in resource management,” he added.

These developments come even as recent Statistics from the Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) indicate that fibre subscriptions grew by 3.9% in the first quarter of 2012 to reach 38, 966.This represented a 118.3% growth compared to the last quarter. The company maintains that it will focus on its core business of corporate internet connectivity and will not venture into the mass market.