KENET, the Kenyan NREN, has been awarded the Building Opportunities/Leveraging Technologies (BOLT) grant worth $200,000 by the Internet Society Foundation. The BOLT Grant Program is designed to support teams of innovators, technologists and researchers in relevant non-profit organizations working to expand the possibility of Internet connectivity and access globally (see BOLT Grant Website for further details). This is done through the development of prototypes and pilots that will bring into reality innovative solutions to Internet connectivity particularly among communities where current technologies are unavailable or not readily accessible.
The BOLT Program objectives include advancing internet development, improving internet access and connectivity around the world and promoting responsible innovation which is in line with the vision of the Internet Society Foundation, that The Internet is for everyone.
KENET will use the BOLT grant to connect up to 20 institutions in the neighborhood of rural universities on KENET last mile fiber. The 20 beneficiary institutions include secondary schools, libraries and hospitals that are within 10 KM radius of anchor universities. This is part of KENET’s mission to enhance digital inclusion through affordable connectivity services (see https://www.kenet.or.ke)
KENET is excited for this opportunity to use innovative and sustainable solutions to make a significant contribution to the development of digital learning and research environments of Kenya, and to consequently promote Internet development and responsible innovation.
This story was originally posted on the KENET website: https://www.kenet.or.ke/content/kenet-awarded-200000-bolt-internet-access-gap-grant