By Francis Zyder
Liquid Telecom has won the ‘Most Innovative IoT Solution’ award at the recently held World Communications Award (London) for helping thousands of fish farmers in Western Kenya and Nyanza to monitor and protect freshwater fish populations using Internet of Things (IoT).
The innovative IoT solution deployed in rural Kenya impressed the judges since it was “a real world application delivering tangible benefits to a wide array of users and an excellent IoT solution with clear benefits for farmers as well as for the healthiness of the fish industry in Kenya”.
Adil Youssefi, CEO of Liquid Telecom East Africa Region, said “We are delighted that our work with Kenyan fish farmers is being recognised on the global stage. Deploying an innovative IoT solution across Liquid Telecom’s high-speed network we are helping to transform communities across East Africa whilst also addressing food security which is central to the Kenyan government’s big four agenda.”
As part of the IoT solution Liquid Telecom Kenya connected ten pilot-phase sensors that monitor water temperature and pH values in ponds. The sensors send information and feeding instructions to farmers through an Android and iOS app. Fish deaths have fallen by 30-40% in a year – restoring fish production to protect the livelihoods of people working in the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Kenya. The programme will eventually be rolled out to 30,000 fishpond farmers countrywide in the hope to revive the fish farming industry in Kenya.
This deployment is a first for Africa and an example of a successful practical implementation of IoT technology. Liquid Telecom have provided a blueprint for other African nations to replicate and have been approached by the agricultural departments of a number of other countries who would like a similar system installed.
Mr Youssefi further added, “In total Liquid Telecom picked up three awards in one night. This included recognition for ‘Best African Wholesale Carrier’ at the Global Carrier Awards for eight consecutive years. Winning best ‘Regional Wholesale Carrier’ and ‘Most Innovative IoT Solution’ for our work in Kenya at The World Communication Awards reflects the continuing investment which we have been making in our network and the new innovations and solutions which we have been developing to enhance the value that we deliver to our customers.”