Barclays has rolled out internet connection to its banking halls in what is aimed at improving cutomer experience to enrich service value.
In conjunction with Liquid Telcom Kenya, the bank has invested sh7.6 million that makes Barclays the first bank in Kenya to offer its customers free Internet access in its branches.
The project is aimed at enabling Barclays’ customers to access Internet banking services and other online content for free via WiFi through a secure network that is fully independent from the bank’s fibre connection, at speeds of 2Mbps.
Liquid Telecom has provided connectivity for Barclays Bank of Kenya for 9 years, with the latest extension in the partnership coming as part of Barclays’ investment in value addition services for its customers to increase their exposure to its online banking options and improve the overall customer experience.
Barclays is keen to encourage its customers to use its digital platforms to do their banking, and is rolling out the free WiFi to help clients to explore its online facilities at the same time as they attend to banking needs in physical branches.
But while there is notable uptake of WiFi for banking halls globally, the innovation has been relatively slow to come to Kenya, as banks have been concerned about cyber-attacks and the security threat it posed to their banking systems, at a time when banks and financial institutions remain prime targets, according to Serianu Limited, an IT security consulting firm.
Among the Barclays branches in Nairobi that have been connected in the first phase of connections are Moi Avenue, Queensway, Hurlingham, Westlands, Sarit Centre, Village Market, Yaya Centre, Barclays Plaza and Muthaiga.
The second phase of the project will see more Barclays’ branches in Nairobi and across Kenya connected to WiFi.
Liquid Telecom currently has 80 per cent of Kenyan banks on its fibre optic network. The data and IP services provider is expected to rollout free WiFi for more banks in coming months, with orders placed for more than 60 further banking hall free WiFi connections.
