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Liquid Telecom links agriculture researchers to Internet grid [Business Daily (Kenya)](Business Daily (Kenya) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Twenty-five Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) centres have been connected to Sh400 million fibre optic network, enabling the institution to use technology to strengthen research. "The national research body has been struggling to keep up with regional and international peers in information-sharing and access," said Boniface Akuku, the Information Management and Communication Technology Assistant Director at KALRO. The more than 480 KALRO scientists relied on shared 3G modems and cyber cafes. "My staff had no access to Internet," said Dr Patrick Gicheru the Centre Director at the National Agricultural Research Institute. The centre is one of KALRO's largest, with 70 scientists and 150 staff. However, the Wide Area Network infrastructure installed and completed in May this year by Liquid Telecom Kenya has transformed the institution's work. Liquid Telecom Kenya has also created a Virtual Private Routed Network (VPRN) for KALRO in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nanyuki and installed three different last mile technologies at five centres on VSAT. The IT firm has also installed 18 on microwave and two on fiber five VSAT two-way satellite ground stations in Perkerra, Marsabit, Buchuma, Kiboko and Transmara to give the research institute a seamless 30MB Internet network across all of its centres. "Some of the sites are remote and many of our users did not have experience beyond basic PC knowledge. After connecting the router, we had to train them on how to access the files from headquarters and basic troubleshooting," said Perez Ochieng-Rana, Head of Service Delivery at Liquid Telecom Kenya. With Kenya counting on key sectors like agriculture to feed its population, create a trading surplus, and drive growth to 2030, the country's future depends on modernising farming through research and innovation. "The success of the new Internet connection is evident in the amount of work and output we are getting from the staff," said Dr Charles Waturu, the centre director at KALRO, Thika. The new infrastructure has also enabled KALRO to create official email accounts for its staff, and seen the scientists all now accessing peer-reviewed journals and link with the international science community. The technology has additionally opened the way for better dissemination of the institution's research findings to farmers. (c) 2014 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |