Project: Telecommunications

This project, which involves laying down fibre optic cable, is central to the Kenyan government’s plans to revamp its telecommunication sector. The cable will cover the Central, Western, Coast and North Eastern provinces, totaling 5,000 km.
Fibre optics is a medium for carrying information from one point to another in the form of light and it is much cheaper than the traditional copper form of transmission.Rapid development of the country’s

Rapid development of the country’s fibre optic network will help it achieve middle income status, as laid out in the government’s Economic Blueprint, Vision 2030. Under the plan, Kenya will rival countries like India in the business process outsourcing sector.

A fibre optic cable will increase internet and data connectivity, bring down telecommunications costs and make it easier for companies to compete on the international market. It will also give access to e-learning opportunities to people in the remotest areas of the country, who might not otherwise have received any training.

The government contracted a global communications company based in France and specializing in broadband communications and convergence activities. The company was contracted to deliver, install, commission, test and provide long term technical support to the project. To cover their investment, ATI provided Payment Default by a Sovereign Obligor insurance to the company and the project is now well underway, with completion expected by the end of 2009.

Maximum Sum Insured: $10.6 million