Residents of Akiriamet area of Sigor, West Pokot County can now enjoy free internet and phone charging services following the launch of the first digital community in the country.

The Digital Community, sponsored by ATC Kenya and powered by solar in line with the company’s sustainability agenda, gives the residents a chance to learn and nurture their digital skills. The facility, a first of its kind in the country, will also enable residents to charge their phones and other gadgets free of charge. Previously, the residents had to walk for 56kms to Sigor county to charge their phones.

ATC Kenya CEO, Thomas Sonesson, in his speech, noted that the company is settled on Akiriamet owing to its marginalized nature, which in turn has seen the area remain unserved for years. 

Sonesson noted that the Digital Community will be critical in addressing the needs of the community such as education, healthcare access, financial inclusion, and career development, all these with an overall goal of improving the quality of residents’ lives through connectivity.

He added that ATC Kenya aims to bridge the digital divide through its Digital Communities program, with more set to be rolled out across the country in the coming year.

Area leaders who were in attendance thanked ATC Kenya for setting up the Digital Community noting that it will go a long way in improving security, education, and lives of the community.

They further noted that the facility will be utilized with the aim of helping the residents of West Pokot County sharpen their digital skills while maximizing the benefits of the internet. 

ATC Kenya, through the Digital Communities program, seeks to help communities overcome barriers such as limited connectivity, power outages, educational and geographic-related connectivity drawbacks.

ATC Kenya will also be rolling out the second DC project in Busho area of Kwale County before the end of 2022, with plans to construct and deploy at least 15 more in 2023 across the country.

ABOUT ATC KENYA

ATC Kenya (ATC) is a Passive Telecommunications Infrastructure provider and holds a Network Facilities Provider Tier 2 license granted by the Communications Authority of Kenya. ATC is an independent owner, operator, and developer of wireless communications infrastructure with its core business being provision of colocation space, power and related services to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and other telecommunications and broadcast providers to enable them to operate, maintain and deliver communications connectivity to the Kenyan consumer. As a tower operator, ATC has 3300+ telecommunications sites (towers) across all forty-seven (47) counties. 

In addition, as a critical telecommunications infrastructure provider, ATC Kenya plays a crucial role in narrowing the digital divide by facilitating access to connectivity through its vision of "making wireless communication possible everywhere”.