Deputy Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda, Thomas Tayebwa on Wednesday officially launched CanalBox, a product of Group Vivendi Africa —a new ISP in Uganda. The company provides two fiber optic internet plans with speeds of 50mpbs to 200Mpbs at UGX110,000 and UGX200,000 per month respectively —compared to their competitors —providing affordable rates with bigger speeds.
“I’m happy to learn that their fiber internet rates are 5 times cheaper than the current market rates,” said Tayebwa during the launch at the Kampala Serena Hotel.
Tayebwa while praising the entry of CanalBox in Uganda, stated that the entry of such a giant player in the country is a vote of confidence in the government and its business-friendly policies, country, and people. He went on to commend the company’s efforts and looks forward to seeing the impact they will make in growing broadband internet prevalence in Uganda and supporting the country’s digital transformation and economic growth.
“Increasing affordability and access to the internet are crucial components in the government’s deliberate efforts to deepen connectivity in Uganda, and I am glad to hear that this is also a priority for GVA’s long-term investments in fiber optic infrastructure,” he said.
Tayebwa revealed that the government is committed to supporting efforts to increase broadband penetration, as part of its vision 2040, conceptualized to strengthen the fundamentals of the economy by enhancing the abundant opportunities around the country.
He noted that increasing the number of internet service providers (ISPs) not only benefits individual Ugandans, as they get to experience improved service delivery through innovation and competition but also improves the economy as a whole.
CanalBox Uganda’s fiber optic internet uses light pulses to transmit data, resulting in faster speeds and better reliability than traditional options. With its high-speed and reliable internet services, CanalBox Uganda is poised to revolutionize the internet landscape in Uganda, supporting businesses, education, and innovation.
The Chief Executive Officer of GVA, Jean-Francois Duboy said they aim to democratise broadband internet access through fibre.
“With a speed of 200 Mbps for only UGX200,000 in terms of price, speed, and value for money, we are convinced it will be game-changing,” he said. “Canal Box will now enable Ugandan families to connect to animated high-speed internet in their homes.”
Duboy added that when they entered the Ugandan market, there were only 30,000 homes in Uganda connected to fiber internet compared to Kenya’s 600,000 —11 months so far, and 5,000 more homes have been covered with a projection of another 500,000 homes in Kampala within three to four years.
Meanwhile, Tayebwa urged GVA to zero-rate all educational websites and also ban pornography.
“I GVA team to become the first company to zero-rate all educational websites, benefiting children in rural Wakiso and beyond. This will be a great opportunity for our learners. Also, ban pornography as it adds no value to our economy,” he said, adding that the protection of children and what they consume online should be a priority.
GVA has injected over UGX50 billion connecting internet homes to the internet in the districts of Wakiso and Kampala.
