October 2007 - KICTANet

On Its Way: One of the Biggest Changes to the Internet] Internet users have key role in testing the operation of example.test in 11 languages
by alice 11 Oct '07

11 Oct '07

On Its Way: One of the Biggest Changes to the Internet Internet users have key role in testing the operation of example.test in 11 languages 9 October 2007 * MARINA DEL REY, Calif.*: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers will launch an evaluation of Internationalized Domain Names next week that will allow Internet users to test top-level domains in 11 languages. "This evaluation represents ICANN's most important step so far towards the full implementation of Internationalized Domain Names. This will be one of the biggest changes to the Internet since it was created," said Dr Paul Twomey, ICANN's President and CEO. "ICANN needs the assistance of users and application developers to make this evaluation a success. When the evaluation pages come online next week, we need everyone to get in there and see how the addresses display and see how links to IDNs work in their programs. In short, we need them to get in and push it to its limits." The evaluation is made possible by today's insertion into the root of the 11 versions of .test, which means they are alongside other top-level domains like .net, .com, .info, .uk, and .de at the core of the Internet. Next Monday, 15 October 2007, Internet users around the globe will be able to access wiki pages with the domain name example.test in 11 test languages — Arabic, Persian, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Russian, Hindi, Greek, Korean, Yiddish, Japanese and Tamil. The wikis will allow Internet users to establish their own subpages with their own names in their own language. The evaluation is being done in the 11 languages of the Internet communities that have shown the most interest in moving IDNs from concept to reality. The full introduction of IDNs will mean that people can write the whole of a domain name in the characters used to write their own language. Presently you can only use these characters before the dot, so .com, .net, .org and the like can only be written in characters from basic Latin. IDNs will change this so that literally tens of thousands of characters will be available to the world. "Right now only the ASCII characters a through z are available for use in top level labels — the part of the address after the dot," Dr Twomey added. "Users will be able to have their name in their language for their Internet when full IDN implementation makes available tens of thousands of characters from the languages of world." More information on the IDN program is available at: http://icann.org/topics/idn/ <http://www.icann.org/topics/idn/> Links to the wikis will be available on ICANN's website starting 15 October 2007. * About ICANN: * ICANN is responsible for the global coordination of the Internet's system of unique identifiers like domain names (like .org, .museum and country codes like .uk) and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that help computers reach each other over the Internet. Careful management of these resources is vital to the Internet's operation, so ICANN's global stakeholders meet regularly to develop policies that ensure the Internet's ongoing security and stability. ICANN is an internationally organized, public benefit non-profit company. For more information please visit: www.icann.org <http://www.icann.org/>. *Media Contacts: * Jason Keenan Media Adviser, ICANN (USA) Ph: +1 310 382 4004 E: jason.keenan(a)icann.org <mailto:jason.keenan@icann.org> International: Andrew Robertson Edelman (London) Ph: +44 7921 588 770 E: andrew.robertson(a)edelman.com <mailto:andrew.robertson@edelman.com> _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Consolidation in Kenyan ISP sector
by Eric Osiakwan 10 Oct '07

10 Oct '07

Consolidation in Kenyan ISP sector The Kenyan ISP sector is consolidating, with many companies buying up their competitors and new foreign owners entering the market. Pressure on margins from the switch to DSL broadband has been one of the key drivers of consolidation. Gateway Online, ISP Kenya, Nairobinet and Net2000 were a few of the casualties of the consolidation movement taking place in the market, with most of them either running out of steam in the rapidly competitive market or being bought by larger Kenyan operations. And then, late last year, the buying started again. This time, the bigger boys who managed to survive the rout of the earlier buying spree were the target, and the buyers were not Kenyan. In 2006, a South African firm acquired a controlling stake in Interconnect, a local Internet service provider. As part of the deal, IS injected Sh300 million in fresh capital in to the ISP. "There was no way we could have continued on our own. For many Kenyan grown ISPs, getting access to cheap bandwith and financing makes it harder to survive in the market," said Tejpal Bedi, Managing Director of IS Kenya. Much of the investment, Sh100 million, was set aside to upgrade systems. The company planned to roll-out new technologies and services, hoping to maintain its share of the corporate market by offering cost effective virtual private networks to organisations. "The only way we could maintain our market was by partnering with the South Africans and diversifying our product line, which costs money," said Mr Bedi. The acquisition was touted as part of the South African company's growth strategy to gain a footprint in the local and the greater Eastern and Central African market. "We will ensure the product mix is right for the Kenyan market, by deploying our proven services in Kenya," said IS business development director Ermano Quartero, at a function to announce the deal. The company that bought Bedi's company is one of the leading converged communications service providers in South Africa, boasting a client base at the time of the Interconnect aquisition that included 80 per cent of South Africa's top 250 listed companies. A few months later, the industry was abuzz with the biggest acquisition yet. The target was Africa Online, one of the largest ISPs in sub-Saharan Africa - and the South Africans were after it again. Telkom South Africa eventually won what was an acrimonious battle for the Kenyan-born company. "With the decline of the voice market we are extending and defending our core profitable services. This acquisition fits that objective," said Africa Online's new Chief Executive Officer John Joseph. Telkom SA has plans to invest Sh300 billion over the next five years in projects aimed at gaining the company a foothold in key African markets. Formerly the giant of the Kenyan ISP industry, the South Africans took on a company that was cash-strapped and had struggled with periods of losses over the last few years under it ownership by London firm African Lakes. The situation may get worse for the few small ISPs still fighting for market share. Smaller ISPs have traditionally been dial-up providers, an industry currently being affected by a shift in consumer preference. Although over 50 per cent of users still use dial-up access, use of the service is estimated to be decreasing by 30 per cent while mobile and wireless Internet access is increasing by 40 per cent annually. Up from just under 4,000 users in 1996, Kenya's Internet market grew by its largest margins last year, and now includes 200,000 users. The cost of international bandwidth, still expensive and accounting for most of ISPs' operating costs, has largely limited more rapid growth. (source: Business Daily) Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

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.asia regional internet domain has officially opened for business
by Dorcas Muthoni 09 Oct '07

09 Oct '07

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7033924.stm i remember someone talking of .eac regional internet domain a while back, not a bad idea -- Muthoni -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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AFNOG 2008 ANNOUNCEMENT & WORKSHOP APPLICATION
by Dorcas Muthoni 08 Oct '07

08 Oct '07

AFNOG & AFRINIC JOINT ANNOUNCEMENT, MAY/JUNE 2008 9th AfNOG MEETING AfriNIC-8 MEETING The African Network Operators' Group (AfNOG) and the African Network Information Centre (AfriNIC) are pleased to announce that the 9th AfNOG Meeting and the AfriNIC-8 Meeting will be held Rabat, Morocco, in May /June 2008. ABOUT THE ENTIRE EVENT AfNOG and AfriNIC are jointly organising a two-week event that includes the AfNOG Workshop on Network Technology (offering advanced training in a week-long hands-on workshop), several full-day Advanced Tutorials, a one-day AfNOG Meeting, and a two-day AfriNIC Public Policy Meeting and Annual General Meeting. In addition, several side meetings and workshops will be hosted in collaboration with other organizations such as the AAU and ISOC. Further information about the event may be found at < http://www.afnog.org/afnog2008/> and <http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/>. TIMETABLE Unix Boot Camp 24 - 25 May 2008 (Saturday - Sunday) AfNOG Workshop 26 - 30 May 2008 (Monday - Friday) AfriNIC IPV6 W/shop 31 May - 1 June 2008 (Saturday - Sunday) AfREN Meeting 31 May - 1 June 2008 (Saturday - Sunday) AfNOG Tutorials 1 - 2 June 2008 (Sunday - Monday) AfriNIC LIR W/shop 2 June 2008 (Monday) AfNOG Meeting 3 June 2008 (Tuesday) AfriNIC-8 Meeting 4 - 5 June 2008 (Wednesday - Thursday) Africa INET Day 6 June 2008 (Friday) VENUE The Workshop, Tutorials, AfREN Forum, IPv6, LIR (24 May - 2nd June 2008) will be held at Mohammadia Engineering Institute, Rabat. All Conferences (3 - 6 June 2008) will be held at the Golden Tulip Farah, Rabat, Morocco. ABOUT AfNOG AfNOG (see <http://www.afnog.org/>) is a forum for cooperation and the exchange of technical information between operators of Internet-connected networks in Africa. AfNOG has organised an event like this one every year since 2000. ABOUT AFRINIC AfriNIC (see < http://www.afrinic.net/>) is a Regional Internet Registry (RIR), responsible for Internet resources Mangement in Africa region. AfriNIc organises two Public Policy meetings every year (see <http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/>). AfNOG WORKSHOP ON NETWORK TECHNOLOGY The AfNOG Workshop on Network Technology aims to offer advanced training to people who are in the process of developing and enhancing an Internet-connected network with regional and international connectivity. The target audience includes senior and mid-level technical staff of commercial Internet service providers (ISPs), academic networks, government networks, or NGO networks. This workshop builds on the experience of previous AfNOG workshops held annually from 2000 to 2007 in eight different African countries, and also the Internet Society's INET workshops, held annually from 1993 to 2000 at eight locations around the world. The workshop's instructors are an international team with many years of experience operating large networks and teaching about network operations. The workshop is divided into four parallel tracks: SA-E - Unix System Administration (in English), focused on using a Unix-like operating system as a platform for delivery of Internet services. SS-E - Scalable Internet Services (in English), focused on the design and operation of email, web, and other Internet services, in ways that can scale to handle large numbers of end users. SI-E - Scalable Network Infrastructure (in English), focused on the design and operation of networks using routers and switches, in ways that can scale to handle large numbers of interconnected sites. SI-F - Infrastructure Reseaux IP (en francais), similar to SI-E, but given in French. Further information and online application form for the workshop can be found at <http://www.afnog.org/afnog2008/workshop/online_application.html> AfREN MEETING The Africa Research and Education Networking community will be holding a two-day meeting on 31 May and 1 June 2008. The meeting will discuss issues of interest to the NREN community such as coordination on activites in the region, advocacy, bandwidth consortia, regional RENs etc AfNOG TUTORIALS AfNOG will offer 1 to 2 full-day(s) tutorials on advanced topics. Tutorials take place in a classroom-style environment, and may include a hands-on practical component. Tutorials are non-commercial in nature, and most are technically oriented. They are intended to offer advanced training on technology already deployed or soon to be deployed on networking and related services provisioning for ISP operations. 9th AfNOG MEETING The 9th AfNOG meeting will be held in Rabat, Morocco, on 3 June 2008. AfNOG conferences provide a forum for the coordination and dissemination of technical information related to backbone/enterprise networking technologies and operational practices. The meetings are informal, with an emphasis on relevance to current and future African backbone engineering practices. The AfNOG 2007 conference in Abuja, Nigeria, drew over 165 participants, mainly consisting of network engineering staff from national service providers, and members of the research and education community. People interested in making a presentation or chairing a panel discussion at the AfNOG meeting are invited to to submit a proposal, following the instructions at <http://www.afnog.org/afnog2008/conference/ > AfRINIC-8 MEETING The AfriNIC-8 meeting will be held in Rabat, Morocco, on 4 and 5 June 2008. AfriNIC Meetings are open to everyone and provide an excellent opportunity to take part in Internet policy discussions. These policies, which describe how Internet Number Resources should be managed and distributed, are developed by the community. The meeting will include tutorials, presentations, update on the various working groups and the AfriNIC Public Policy Meeting. The two day meeting will be preceeded by a two-day IPv6 training. The meeting will focus on the IPv6 protocol and its deployment, especially in Africa and the issue of the exhaustion of the IPv4 pool of address space. There will be an opportunity to discuss the challenges which our region will be facing with the exhaustion. Further information is available at < http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/>. ISOC - INET AfRICA MEETING The Internet Society will be organizing an INET Africa Conference on 6 June 2008 in conjunction with the AfriNIC 8 and AfNOG 9 meetings in Rabat, Morocco. This meeting will focus on technical as well as policy aspects surrounding Internet standards development and applications, with special attention on localisation and education initiatives, and efforts to further internationalise the Internet. The meeting is also expected to open discussion on Internet governance issues of importance to the continent. Issued jointly by AfNOG and AfriNIC ------ AfNOG 2008 WORKSHOP ON NETWORK TECHNOLOGY - APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION Please see < http://www.afnog.org/afnog2008/workshop/> for information about the AfNOG 2008 Workshop on Network Technology. If you have questions regarding this announcement and application, they may be addressed to: < workshopinfo08(a)afnog.org <http://mail.openworld.co.ke/src/compose.php?send_to=workshopinfo08%40afnog.…>> WHERE TO APPLY - You can fill in an application on line, at < http://www.afnog.org/afnog2008/workshop/online_application.html> - You can download a copy of the application form from < http://www.afnog.org/afnog2008/workshop/application-form.txt>, or request a copy via email to <applications08(a)afnog.org <http://mail.openworld.co.ke/src/compose.php?send_to=applications08%40afnog.…>>. Then fill it in off-line, and email it to <workshop-apply08(a)afnog.org <http://mail.openworld.co.ke/src/compose.php?send_to=workshop-apply08%40afno…>>. The "Subject" line of the message should contain your surname or family name in the following format: Subject: AfNOG Workshop Application: <your-family-name> WHEN TO APPLY Application forms must be submitted no later than 7 December 2007. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance to the program and the amount of financial aid available (if any) on or about 31st January 2008. INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED ON YOUR APPLICATION Please ensure that all of the contact information you submit is and accurate, or we will not be able to contact you. Please give detailed answers to the questions about your work and your experience. If your are applying for financial assistance from AfNOG, please do not forget to answer the questions about other funding sources available to you. A. PERSONAL DATA FAMILY NAME (LAST NAME, SURNAME) ONLY: Full Name: Employer/Organization Position/Title: Business Address: Business Telephone: Alternate Telephone: E-mail address: Fax: Date of birth: Nationality: Name as it appears on passport or other travel document: Passport number: Country issuing passport: Date passport was issued: Date of passport expiration: Knowledge of English /French: Please rate your knowledge in these categories: Listening/comprehension: minimal / fair / good / excellent Reading: minimal / fair / good / excellent Speaking: minimal / fair / good / excellent Writing: minimal / fair / good / excellent Please indicate with an asterisk (*) the most reliable addresses and telephone/fax numbers above which can be used to reach you. B. COURSE OF INSTRUCTION Instructional track applied for (Please select only one track; the tracks will run concurrently): [ ] SA-E - UNIX SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION [ ] SS-E- SCALABLE INTERNET SERVICES [ ] SI-E - SCALABLE NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE [ ] SI-F - INFRASTRUCTURE RESEAUX (French Track - equivanent to SI-E) Please indicate your specific interests within the area you have chosen: C. TECHNICAL SKILLS 1. Are you a UNIX user? How much have you used it? 2. Have you been a UNIX system administrator? Describe your experience (length of time, versions, etc.). 3 Have you used/administered TCP/IP networks? Describe. 4. Have you set up and/or administered any of the following? Please give details. - bind or any other nameservers - sendmail/smail/exim/postfix - majordomo/mailman or other list manager - apache/IIS web systems 5. Have you configured or otherwise managed any of the following? Details, please. - routers - switches - network monitoring - noc D. DESCRIPTION OF ROLE IN NATIONAL NETWORKING ACTIVITIES Bearing in mind that this information will be used to determine whether to admit you to the workshop, please provide in the format of your choice the following information about yourself. Please be sure that it is sufficiently clear, well organized and adequate for this purpose. 1. A description of your current employer, your position, your duties and responsibilities, and how they relate to current and future data networking activities in your country. 2. A brief description of your computing and networking environment (operating systems, networking software, modems, etc.), including the connectivity of your organization to the Internet and your country's connectivity to the international Internet. 3a. Scope of your institution (check all categories that apply): [ ] Commercial Network Provider [ ] Academic Network Provider [ ] NGO Network Provider [ ] Other (Specify)______________ 3b. Approximate number of full time staff at your institution:________ 4. How your training and current work prepare and qualify you for the track you wish to attend. 5. How you expect to use the knowledge you gain at the workshop after you return to your country. 6. If you have previously attended AfNOG/INET Workshops for Developing Countries, a. Year and track you attended: b. A precise description of how you have used the training you have received in the past: c. The significant advances in networking which have occurred in your country specifically because of your knowledge and effort: E. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Your application must contain the following complete information if you wish to be considered for financial support to attend the workshop. The Workshop fee is US$1,600. This includes accommodation and meals. Applicants are usually expected to provide their own funding (from whatever sources). However AfNOG or its sponsors may make a limited financial assistance available to deserving candidates. Even if you request financial assistance you might not receive any, and your acceptance into the Workshop will be conditional on your ability to provide all or most of the funding yourself. Although you may be well qualified and in great need of financial assistance, the maximum funds AfNOG or its sponsors may provide is US$1,000 in financial assistance for BOTH WORKSHOP FEES AND AIRFARE. Payment for the workshop may be made by funds transfer, bank / certified cheque or in cash. Further details will be provided in the admission letter to successful candidates. NOTE : YOUR ACCEPTANCE INTO THE WORKSHOP MAY BEPEND ON YOUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SOME OR ALL THE WORKSHOP FEES. 1. Are you are requesting financial aid from the AfNOG Workshop for attending the workshop and meetings? [ ] Yes [ ] No 2. If you are requesting financial aid to cover the workshop fee, please provide a complete list of funding sources in the following form. The list should contain all sources of funds that are available to you for payment of the workshop fee. The amounts should total U.S.$1,600. 1. Your Institution -- U.S.$ __________ 2. Your Government -- U.S.$ __________ 3. From international organizations -- U.S.$ __________ 4. Your personal contribution -- U.S.$ __________ 5. Amount you ask from AfNOG -- U.S.$ __________ (less than $1,000) _________________________________ TOTAL Income = U.S.$1,600.00 (PLEASE SELECT ONLY ONE - WORKSHOP FEES OR AIRFARE) 3. Will you need financial assistance for airfare? If so, how much will you or your institution be contributing? [ ] No, assistance for airfare not needed. [ ] Yes, assistance needed. (less than $1,000) Amount of your contribution: U.S.$_________ 4. If you are requesting financial support for airfare, please provide a good estimate of round trip, lowest economy excursion airfare between your place of residence and Cassablanca, Morocco, in May 2008. (Flights from Africa terminate at Cassablanca, connection to Rabat can be made by bus or train). 1. Airfare: 2. Airline: 3. Type of fare: 4. City of departure: 5. Source of your estimate: Signature (your name as you would sign it): __________________________ Date:___________________ _______________________________________________ afnog mailing list http://afnog.org/mailman/listinfo/afnog

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WiMAX vs. 3G cellular showdown
by Dorcas Muthoni 08 Oct '07

08 Oct '07

Will WiMAX be a 3G killer, or is it vice versa? Take a look at this nice article: http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/hiner/?p=556&tag=nl.e101 -- Muthoni -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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lunch is free
by Rebecca Wanjiku 08 Oct '07

08 Oct '07

just to be clear, lunch is on KICTANet, you dont have to worry about costs, but you must confirm with me if planning to come, regards Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/

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lunch today
by Rebecca Wanjiku 08 Oct '07

08 Oct '07

hi, just to remind you about the lunch today, Jacaranda at 12.30, it will be served at the Gazebo banda regards Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/

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Fwd: Invitation to the World Bank Public Forum
by Edith Adera 05 Oct '07

05 Oct '07

FYI >X-SBRS: None >X-IronPort-AV: E=Sophos;i="4.21,236,1188792000"; > d="jpg'145?scan'145,208,145";a="249671832" >Subject: Invitation to the World Bank Public Forum >X-Mailer: Lotus Notes Release 6.5.4 CCH5 September 12, 2005 >From: kmuthembwa(a)worldbank.org >Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 16:29:17 +0300 >Disposition-Notification-To: kmuthembwa(a)worldbank.org >X-MIMETrack: Serialize by Router on WBLN0014/Facility/World Bank(Release >7.0.2 HF82|November > 07, 2006) at 10/05/2007 09:31:11 AM >Bcc: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke > > >Apologies for cross posting > > (Embedded image moved to file: pic13694.jpg) > >

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FW: [fyi] infoDev Releases Survey of ICT Use in Education in Africa
by Edith Adera 05 Oct '07

05 Oct '07

>You may find this of interest > >FYI > > infoDev Releases 'Survey of ICT Use in Education in Africa' > http://www.infodev.org/en/Article.136.html > > (more information below) > >Regards, > -Mike Trucano, infoDev > > > >[ http://www.infodev.org/en/Article.136.html ] > >==================== >Highlight >==================== > >infoDev Releases Survey of ICT Use in Education in Africa >Results from 53-country research project highlight 'new phase' of >activity, from >pilot projects to government policy development > >1 October 2007 | Washington, DC, United States > >Landmark research project documents technology use in the education sector all >53 African countries, identifies new trends and old challenges. > >infoDev has released initial results from a landmark Survey of ICT and >Education >in Africa, which seeks to gather together in a single resource the most >relevant >and useful information on ICT in education activities in Africa. > >During the first half of 2007, a research team supported by infoDev and >coordinated by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) sought to document the major >developments in each African country related to technology use in education in >order to create the first consolidated look at this fast-changing sector >and provide preliminary answers to three broad questions: > 1. How are ICTs currently being used in the education sector in Africa, >and what are the strategies and policies related to this use? > 2. What are the common challenges and constraints faced by African >countries in this area? > 3. What is actually happening on the ground, and to what extent are > donors >involved? > >infoDev and its partners hope that this publication is a first step in a >larger, >on-going, systematic, coordinated initiative to track developments in >technology >use in the education sector to help inform a wide variety of stakeholders >interested in the topic as they seek solutions to larger, more fundamental >educational and development challenges in the years ahead. > >==================== >Report Highlights >==================== > >The Summary Report from this research initiative notes that "The process of >adoption and diffusion of ICT in education in Africa is in transition", >finding >that: > > "There appears to be the beginnings of a marked shift from a decade of > experimentation in the form of donor-supported, NGO-led, small-scale, > pilot > projects towards a new phase of systemic integration informed by national > government policies and multi-stakeholder-led implementation > processes," remarking that "this shift from projects to policies, and the > more systematic development that that implies, would not be possible > without > the growing commitment to ICT in education on the part of government > leaders > across the continent". > >While implementation varies widely throughout the continent, and with a >country >like South Africa, with its extant infrastructure and more mature economy a >clear outlier in terms of being able to implement its ICT in education agenda, >the report finds that "all but a handful of countries surveyed already have a >national ICT policy in place or under development", concluding that a "new >phase >of ICT for education in Africa is occurring within national, and emerging >regional, policy frameworks that are providing the basis for partnerships and >donor participation." Over three hundred notable ICT in education >initiatives on >the continent are included in the survey. > >======================================== >ICT and Education in Africa: > Some notable "macro trends" >======================================== > > *Public-private partnerships* are important mechanisms enabling the > implementation of ICT in national education systems in > Africa. These PPPs > take many forms: from complex partnerships between companies (Typcially > involved in IT), goverment ministries, development agencies, > schools and > civil society organizations more straight forward bilaterla > partnerships > between IT companies and national ministries of education. > The need for *digital content development* relevant to local > curricula is > becoming more urgent as ICT use becomes more widespread. > Interest in *open source software* and operating systems is growing > rapidly in Africa, but this growth is constrained by a lack of > sufficient > human resource capacity to support such systems and applications. > A number of prominent *regional initiatives* have emerged (with varying > degrees of success) explicitly focused on ICT use in education, > including > NEPAD e-Schools, SchoolNet Africa, and the African Virtual University, > complemented by increasing African participation in global ICT in > education programmes. > *National Research and Education Networks (NRENs)* are slowly emerging, > especially in North, East and Southern Africa, to enable collaboration > between universities. > *Internet connectivity* remains a major challenge, both within > countries, > and between Africa and the rest of the world, and several major > initiatives are emerging to help address this issue. > *Wireless networks* are developing rapidly throughout the > continent, and > of increasing relevance to the education sector. > >======================================== >Coming Soon: 53 Country Reports >======================================== > >infoDev will also be releasing the working versions of 53 individual Country >Reports developed as a result of this survey process. These reports should be >seen as ?snapshots? that were current at the time they were taken during the >first half of 2007. It is expected that certain facts and figures presented in >some of the Country Reports may become dated very quickly; ICT use in >education >is at a particularly dynamic stage in Africa, and there are new >developments and >announcements happening on a daily basis somewhere on the continent. > >The country reports pay particular attention to the following themes: > ICT Policies for Education > ICT Infrastructure for Education > ICT Activities and Initiatives in Higher Education > ICT Activities and Initiatives in Primary and Secondary Schools > ICT Activities and Initiatives in Non-formal Education > Gender Equity and ICT in Education > Factors Enabling and Constraining ICT Use in Education > >It is anticipated that these reports will serve as the building block for an >on-line database (in a wiki format) that will be updated collaboratively over >time, to be released later in the year. As such, all individual country >reports >are considered to be evolving "works-in-progress". > >======================================== >For more information >======================================== > > The full version of the Survey of ICT and Education in Africa: A Summary > Report Based on 53 Country Surveys, is available at > infodev.org/en/Publication.353.html. > The working versions of the Survey of ICT and Education in Africa: 53 > Country > Reports will be available in one consolidated document at > infodev.org/en/Publication.354.html. Individual versions of the country > reports will appear in wiki format later this year on the infoDev web > site. > infoDev and COL recently released The NEPAD e-Schools Demonstration > Project: > A Work in Progress (A Public Report), which highlights lessons learned to > date from the pan-African, public-private partnership to introduce ICTs in > education and is available for download at > infodev.org/en/Publication.355.html > infoDev is completing a similar survey of ICT use in education in > the Caribbean; background information on this project can be found at > infodev.org/ict4edu-Caribbean. > > Survey of ICT and Education in Africa > A Summary Report, Based on 53 Country Surveys

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Safaricom share sale on as court case flops
by alice 05 Oct '07

05 Oct '07

Safaricom share sale on as court case flops Published on October 4, 2007, 12:00 am By Evelyn Kwamboka The public sale of Sh30 billion worth of Safaricom shares is on after a judge dismissed a case seeking to block it. Three MPs allied to the Orange Democratic Movement had sought to stop the initial public offer (IPO) of the leading mobile telephone provider until the Privatisation Act 2005 is enforced. The MPs also wanted the court to allow them to file an application seeking to compel Finance minister, Mr Amos Kimunya, to appoint a date for coming into force the Privatisation Act. But on Wednesday, the judge said the case was incompetent after it failed to enjoin Telkom-Kenya, which owns 60 per cent stake in the company, and Treasury Permanent Secretary, Mr Joseph Kinyua, as parties in the suit. "Even if I were to toss a coin, it would be improper to exercise the court's discretion in favour of granting a temporary stay (stoppage)," High Court judge, Mr Justice Joseph Nyamu, said. The judge indicated that just like in the referendum case of 2005, the court would not restrain the public participation in the largest public offer. "The case before me has no legs and it cannot lift itself from the threshold stage and crawl to the next stage for the above reasons," the judge ruled. The MPs are Prof Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu Rural), Mr Omingo Magara (South Mugirango) and Mr Mwandawiro Mghanga (Wundanyi). But immediately after the ruling was delivered, the MPs' advocate, Mr James Orengo, told the court he would appeal the decision. MPs did not disclose material facts The Safaricom IPO is expected to be the largest in local history. The Government has said it would sell it next month to raise about Sh30 billion to help plug a Sh110 billion budget deficit for the current financial year. "It is not therefore in dispute that the IPO has serious financial implications for the country," the court said. The MPs had sought orders quashing the Government's decision, through the Finance ministry, to offer to the public 25 per cent of Safaricom shares, through an IPO at the Nairobi Stock Exchange until the Privatisation Act 2005 is enforced. They also wanted the court to allow them to file an application seeking to compel Finance minister, Mr Amos Kimunya, to appoint a date for the coming into force of the Privatisation Act. The Government, through Telkom — where it owns 100 per cent stake — has 60 per cent shares in Safaricom. The court upheld that Safaricom was not a public entity only as regards the Procurement and Disposal of Assets, but a corporate body. Justice Nyamu said he could not grant the MPs any orders because they were guilty of delaying the commencement of the proceedings against Kimunya without explanation. This, he said, was because the Privatisation Act 2005 was assented to on October 13, 2005, yet the MPs were commencing the suit only two months to the sale. "Courts of law are not involved in policy and governance issues and cannot hold to ransom public authorities and other bodies who must be allowed to undertake their duties of good public administration without undue delay," the judge said. The case was also dismissed on the grounds that the MPs did not disclose material facts despite the fact that one source of the undisclosed information was available in Parliament. The information touches on Kimunya's request to Parliament for the approval of the list of the Privatisation Commission directors. "There was nothing to stop the applicants from seeking an order for the information to be provided at the threshold stage," said the judge. No foul play Justice Nyamu took issue with the MPs, saying some of them served in parliamentary committees that must have taken part in the passage of the Privatisation Act 2005. "In a rigid separation of powers regime, they should not be allowed to again have a second bite at the sherry," he said in a 69-page ruling. He said it was absurd for the MPs to suggest that public companies be restrained from selling their shares. He saw no problem with this provided the sale complied with the Memorandum of Articles of Association and other provisions of the Companies Act. On the issue of the minister refusing to appoint a date when the Act would be enforced, the court said Parliament gave Kimunya the discretion to determine or appoint a commencement date. "What the minister has done or is in the process of doing cannot be said to be unreasonable and in my finding, it is well within his discretion," said Justice Nyamu. By way of an affidavit, Kimunya demonstrated to the court that he was trying to put in place the necessary structures before commencement of the Act. The court said since the Act had not commenced, its provisions would not regulate the sale of Safaricom shares. "The minister is only concerned with policy and the necessary on the issues of policy is done by Parliament," he said. The court observed that as per the evidence before it, the issue of accountability and transparency was well taken care of by the Procurement Act and Regulations. The court said there was no evidence of any foul play in the share sale or undervaluation, and that the intention to offload the stock at the bourse would be managed by experts. Through its advocate, Prof Githu Muigai, Safaricom had argued that the decision to list the shares was a policy decision with merit and the court had no jurisdiction to intervene. He said there was no connection between the alleged failure by Kimunya to appoint a commencement date for the Privatisation Act 2005 and the Safaricom IPO. Muigai said there was also no legal basis for stopping the sale of shares. "The applicants, as MPs, helped in incorporating transitional provisions and having made their bed, they must lie on it," he argued. On the State's part, Deputy-Solicitor General, Ms Muthoni Kimani, told the court that Kimunya had not disregarded the law in disposal of public assets. http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143975467 <http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143975467>

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