Nokia, Safaricom, and UNICEF connect more primary schools to the internet across Kenya

In cooperation with the UN United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Kenyan Ministry of Education and Ministry of information and communication technology (ICT), mobile network operators Nokia and Safaricom provided internet access to around 90 schools with an estimated 32,670 students in rural and urban areas. The ‘connect the unconnected’ initiative aims to support the Kenyan Government in scaling broadband connection to all schools by 2030. While schools are using Nokia’s FastMile 4G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband solution to provide reliable, high-speed connectivity is delivered over Safaricom’s 4G/LTE network. Nokia’s meshed WiFi Beacon technology is further used to boost the internet signal in selected classrooms and computer labs. ‘Children have a right to access quality education wherever they are, yet for too long, the digital divide has prevented disadvantaged children from enjoying the same benefits as their connected peers. By connecting schools to the internet – with a focus on the most disadvantaged areas – we can start to level the playing field. This allows students and teachers to gain digital skills and access the latest education materials, providing a brighter future for some of the most vulnerable children in Kenya,’ said UNICEF Kenya Country Representative Maniza Zaman.