Thousands of people risk an internet black-out after Kenya Power gave an order to remove fibre optic cables from their poles on Monday.
The giant electricity provider gave notice to the public warning that they would embark on an exercise of bringing down the fibre cables illegally strung on their electricity poles.
In the new order, Kenya Power plans to institute legal redress against internet providers who shall have failed to remove their cables from their posts.
The cables, Kenya Power claims, have been responsible for accidents on public roads accessed by motor vehicles as well as in private homes.
Public Notice: Caution Against Unlicensed Communication Networks on Our Electricity Poles. ^KK pic.twitter.com/3qoQv9jr8c
— Kenya Power and Lighting Company Plc (@KenyaPower) October 14, 2019
According to the Communications Authority of Kenya, hundreds of thousands of people in urban areas are served with fibre internet connections.
In 2016, Kenya Power entered into the business of using their poles to transmit Internet cables after burying of fibre optic cables proved costly.
The electricity provider would enter an agreement with Safaricom PLC and a host of other Internet service providers in the country to popularize fibre internet.
In the financial year ending on June 2016, Kenya Power had made up to Sh276 from leasing its lines for use by the various fibre internet companies.
This included Safaricom, Wananchi Group and Jamii Telecom companies. Other Internet providers in Kenya are Poa Internet Kenya, Mawingu Networks Ltd, Liquid Telecommunications Ltd, Telkom Kenya and Iway Africa Kenya Ltd among others.