Barclays Bank introduces free Internet in banking halls

Barclays Bank CEO Jeremy Awori during an investor briefing on the bank's half-year performance on August 13, 2015. Barclays Bank has introduced free Internet in its banking halls to improve customer experience. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• In conjunction with Liquid telecom, Barclays has already connected 10 branches within Nairobi.
• The free Internet project has cost Barclays Sh7.6 million.
• The bank hopes to expose its customers to its online banking options and improve overall customer experience.

By WINFRED KURIA
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Barclays Bank has introduced free Internet service in its banking halls in a move to improve customer experience.

Customers will surf the net freely and access entertainment websites such as YouTube for as long as half an hour as they wait to be served.

However, users will be restricted from downloading heavy files.

The project has cost the bank Sh7.6 million.

SECURITY

The wireless connection has been established on a network that is fully independent from the bank’s fibre connection. With awareness of possible Internet misuse and mischief, Barclays has put parental and automatic security controls to curb illegal activities.

The institution becomes the first bank in Kenya to offer its customers free Internet access in its branches.

“With the Wi-Fi project, we’re helping Barclays differentiate the customer experience. In allaying the security concern that has long worried banks over free Wi-Fi in their premises, we have set up a Wi-Fi network that is totally independent from the Internet connection the bank uses to undertake its core business.” said Ben Roberts, CEO of Liquid Telecom Kenya.

In conjunction with Liquid Telecom, Barclays has already connected 10 branches within Nairobi.

The second phase of the project will see more Barclays branches in Nairobi and across Kenya connected to Wi-Fi.

ONLINE BANKING EXPOSURE
The bank hopes to expose its customers to its online banking options and improve overall customer experience.

The sector has come a long way, from the time using phones in the banking hall was illegal to now, when a Wi-Fi connection is an essential customer need.

Kenya's uptake of Wi-Fi has, however, been slow, with fears of cyber-attacks posed to the institutions. Even with the growth of Internet connection in banking halls, the entities remain prime targets of these attacks.

Moreover, the development has been launched at a time when 99 per cent of Internet connections in Kenya are made through mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, according to mobile web development firm mobiForge.

A Wi-Fi connection today has become essential to businesses, especially in the service industry, including restaurants, hotels and public transport.