Launched two years ago, the schoolchildren’s Internet access project promoted by UNICEF is gradually taking shape. Several renowned partners continue to provide their expertise and funding. Several countries are already affected.
Liquid Intelligent Technologies signed a partnership agreement, Wednesday, December 1, with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Through this partnership, the fiber optic connectivity provider will support the project to connect schools in Africa to the Internet. Called Giga, it is carried by the UN agency. The partnership will initially focus on Kenya, but will also target other Liquid Intelligent Technologies markets, including South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
According to Ben Roberts, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, “ The UNICEF and ITU Giga initiative echoes Liquid’s vision to create a digitally resilient economy in Kenya and in Africa as a whole. There is no better place to start than our schools which shape the minds of our children, thus securing our future ”.
“ With our expertise in the digital and telecommunications landscape, we will support UNICEF in its efforts to map connectivity data from schools across Kenya by providing real-time numbers to measure impact, ” he said. -he explains.
The agreement that Liquid Intelligent Technologies signed with UNICEF comes exactly one month after the one signed by Airtel Africa with the Fund. It related to an investment of $ 57 million over five years to provide high-speed connectivity to schools and ensure their free access to learning platforms in thirteen markets of the telecoms operator such as Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Liquid Intelligent Technologies, which already claims the connection of 4,000 schools to the Internet across Africa, says it wants to increase this number to 150,000 schools across the continent thanks to the Giga project. “ This partnership with Liquid will allow our Giga team to gain a better understanding of the connectivity landscape in Kenya and across Africa. This knowledge will help UNICEF connect more schools, giving children access to the opportunities they need to thrive, ”said Thomas Davin, director of the Office of Innovation at UNICEF.