February 2010 - KICTANet

FW: Safaricom partners with KPLC to expand its data footprint
by Pius Walela 02 Feb '10

02 Feb '10

Its been a long time coming ….for growth the sheer infrastructure and reach of KPLC is un paralleled ..to me it was a question of when Safcom would make its move . Strategic partnerships foster competitive advantages and are essential for security. Another feather in mighty Joseph’s cap. From: kictanet-bounces+pwalela=strathmore.edu(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+pwalela=strathmore.edu@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Harry Hare Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 2:41 PM To: Pius Walela Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Safaricom partners with KPLC to expand its data footprint This is a very interesting development, bringing to fore the potential that KPLC have as a game changer with its fiber. http://tinyurl.com/ybbhsmn Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre eDevelopment House : : 604 Limuru Road Old Muthaiga : : P O Box 49475 00100 Nairobi : : Kenya T +254 20 3741646/7 : : C +254 725 650044 Training : : Research: :Consultancy: : Publishing ________________________________ Strathmore University provides all-round education in an atmosphere of freedom and responsibility. This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for use by the recipient(s) to whom it is addressed and may contain confidential information. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender immediately and permanently delete this email and/or any files attached to it from your computer. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Strathmore University. The University accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss or damages incurred, or suffered, resulting, or arising, from the use of this email and/or its attachments. The University warrants neither the integrity of the e-mail nor its freedom from errors, viruses, interception or any other form of interference. …………………………………………………………………. Website: www.strathmore.edu

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Kenyan BPO fails to snap up the subsidy, why?
by Rebecca Wanjiku 01 Feb '10

01 Feb '10

Read more here... http://bit.ly/bnRo1r Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/

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Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Re: Kenyan BPO fails to snap up thesubsidy, why?
by Edwin Onchari 01 Feb '10

01 Feb '10

Thanks Mwende, Your views capture the intent of the society. Our membership is quite varied, there are those players that indeed are focused on getting business - "onshore" (Kenya); "nearshore" (east and the larger African continent) or "offshore" (EU and North America) or a combination of the above. The society's strategy then has to incorporate all these aspirations. The onshore market challenge is that of lack of sensitization, most local companies do not see clearly the benefits of outsourcing their non-core functions. Most BPO/ITES startups lack the capital to effectively do this(and there are many reasons to this), which is where the KBPO Society and the government come in. Capacity building to address the above models must be there and it need not only focus on local business but international as well. For example, the EU (in particular; Netherlands and Denmark) have expressed strong interest in partnering in ITO, we cannot afford to ignore these. Key partners in the US and UK have expressed the same. We are not focusing on stealing the market share from India, but from the global outsourcing market; local outsourcing marketing being a part of it. Mwende, KTDA and the society (members) can work together in developing this local market. Please do let me know when and where you are available to map this further Kind regards, Edwin M Onchari CEO- Kenya BPO Society +254-(0)720 755 951 eonchari(a)kenyabposociety.or.ke www.kenyabposociety.or.ke Blogs: http://kenyabposociety.blogspot.com/2010/01/key-to-unlocking-kenyas-outsourc ing.html http://kenyabposociety.blogspot.com/2010/01/discounted-medical-cover-for-ind ustry.html -----Original Message----- From: Mwende Gatabaki [mailto:mgatabaki@ktdateas.com] Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 11:15 AM To: Edwin Onchari Cc: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions; Harry Hare Subject: RE: [ke-internetusers] Re: [kictanet] Kenyan BPO fails to snap up thesubsidy, why? Edwin; To be honest, the BPO industry needs to re-think its strategy and re-design the concept of outsourcing to meet today's needs and move away from the 1990's ideas. For example: If I (on behalf of KTDA) wants to outsource business processes, services, or support or Infrastructure or data center etc, who can I call? - a local? Guess who - Safaricom! Safaricom has de-mystified the whole concept of outsourcing and found their niche right here locally - they are busy tailoring their products and services to address this niche. - once done, they will go global - I see them monopolizing the so called "BPO industry" the same way they have done with the mobile. The moral of the story: Stuck in the ideas of 1990's, the Kenya's BPO is still trying to compete with India's (and others) BPOs - which have since matured and moved to new heights. Clearly, it's like "Yu" going for Safaricom's share of the mobile cake! Mwende -----Original Message----- On 2/1/10 7:57 AM, "Edwin Onchari" <eonchari(a)kenyabposociety.or.ke> wrote: > Hi all, > > The lack of business can and will be addressed on 2 fronts: > 1. marketing - The Society is developing a model that will bear fruit > mid-year (June/July) for key international markets (North America, UK) and > throughout the year for the local market beginning this month (February). We > are also developing marketing strategies for the EU market that is more > targeting ITES operations. > 2. Capacity- this includes what Charles is talking about, fiber, ease of > doing business, but most important (especially for international clients) > data security policy. This policy is being developed (requirements document) > in collaboration with our partners in key markets and once information > collection is complete, we'll develop a data security guideline for the > industry and assist local players comply with this ahead of the June/July > marketing initiative. > > Kind regards, > > Edwin M Onchari > CEO- Kenya BPO Society > +254-(0)720 755 951 > eonchari(a)kenyabposociety.or.ke > www.kenyabposociety.or.ke > Blogs: > http://kenyabposociety.blogspot.com/2010/01/discounted-medical-cover-for -ind > ustry.html > > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+eonchari=kenyabposociety.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=kenyabposociety.or.ke@lists.kictanet.o r.ke > ] On Behalf Of charles nduati > Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 7:45 AM > To: eonchari(a)kenyabposociety.or.ke > Cc: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net; kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenyan BPO fails to snap up the subsidy, why? > > hi all, > > Nick has hit the nail right on the head > > As JKUAT, we have also taken on this challenge and signed on with African > BPO Academy and BCI to start offering BCI's certifications so that our > graduates know what it takes to take Kenya where it ought to be in BPO > space. > give us the support by sending your staff for trainibg which we are also > offering at Nairobi CBD. > > regards > > charles > > On Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:26 EET nicholasnesbitt wrote: > >> this biggest concern for this industry is the lack of business. not the > lack of talent or the high costs. It's the cost of overcoming perceptions, > reaching out to new prospects, convincing them that kenya is a worthwhile > outsourcing destination. Marketing! Spreading the word. >> >> I have just spent a week in the UK meeting with some of the largest > outsourcers in the world. They have never heard of Kenya as an outsourcing > destination. Very interested now, but completely unaware. We stopped > marketing Kenya as a BPO destination before we had built international > recognition and credibility, which raises questions in these prospects' > minds about our commitment as a country to making Kenya an outsourcing > destination... >> >> Nicholas A. Nesbitt >> Chief Executive Officer >> KenCall EPZ Ltd >> P.O. Box 27507 - 00506 >> Sameer Industrial Park, Mombasa Road >> Nairobi, Kenya >> >> +254.20.660.2000 (office) >> +254.20.660.2222 (fax) >> +254.721.458.458 (cell) >> +253.733.458.458 (cell 2) >> >> nnesbitt(a)kencall.com >> www.kencall.com >> >> BEST Non-European Contact Centre 2008 >> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: eonchari(a)kenyabposociety.or.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eonchari%40kenyabpo soci > ety.or.ke > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.432 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2647 - Release Date: 01/26/10 > 19:36:00 > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40africanedev elopme > nt.org African eDevelopment Resource Centre eDevelopment House : : 604 Limuru Road Old Muthaiga : : P O Box 49475 00100 Nairobi : : Kenya T +254 20 3741646/7 : : C +254 725 650044 Training : : Research: :Consultancy: : Publishing _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.432 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2647 - Release Date: 01/31/10 19:35:00

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MOBILE WEB EAST AFRICA
by Lucy Gachui Odhiambo 01 Feb '10

01 Feb '10

Dear All, The board is proud to endorse the first chapter of Mobile Web East Africa. The event, organized by All Amber, is already highly successful in west Africa and will run from 3-4th Feb at Intercontinental Hotel. The CEO will present on the topic: Harnessing the potential of the internet and applications on mobile devices The presentation will include . A synopsis of the Kenyan Government's approach to driving the expansion of the mobile sector for the benefit of the populace . Where does the mobile device (and its many beneficial services) sit within the current Government strategic thinking? . What approach has been adopted to drive the realisation of the potential of the mobile device particularly in relation to the mobile internet and applications? . Supporting the Private Sector- encouraging the entire mobile ecosystem to expand This event, will be different from others in the past in that it will be 'round table' format. The event will feature scheduled "Discussion Periods" lasting just under an hour and will have a mixture of traditional panel discussions and 'interactive roundtable discussions'. Speaking about the same event held very successfully in west Africa , Stephane Boyere, Program Manager Web Foundation, had this to say. "A very interactive conference, with a great number of people from different backgrounds." The cost per delegate USD475. The discounted cost per delegate applicable for NGO, Mobile start ups, Government officials, Developmental organization, and academia is USD 238. The event is kindly sponsored by Symbiotic, Safaricom, Access Kenya, BrandKey, Ushahidi, World Wide Web Foundation, IEEE, Biz Community among others. Please see attached agenda and visit their website www.mobileeastafrica.com for more details. Sincerely, Lucy Gachui Odhiambo Communications Manager Kenya ICT Board 12th Floor Telposta Towers Koinange Lane PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cell 0737- 839047 Tel: 254-020-2093040 <http://www.ict.go.ke> www.ict.go.ke It is our mission to champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment

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Meeting Reminder, iHub Discussion, Tomorrow, 6pm, 4th Floor Teleposta Towers, MMU
by Phares Kariuki 01 Feb '10

01 Feb '10

There will be a Skunkworks Meetup on the 2nd of February 2010. This will be the first meeting this year, and it's an honor that we will be discussing iHub, Nairobi's new Tech Innovation Hub... http://whiteafrican.com/2010/01/25/ihub-nairobis-tech-innovation-hub-is-here The meeting will be coordinated by Erik Hersman, who is a co-founder at Ushahidi (www.ushahidi.com) who is also behind the concept of iHub. Meeting starts at 6pm, Teleposta Tower's, 4th Floor, Multimedia University... Profound gratitude to Multimedia University, who have hosted the Skunkworks meetings for the last year and have been more than gracious hosts over the period. -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki | T: +254 734 810 802 | E: pkariuki(a)gmail.com | Twitter: kaboro | Skype: kariukiphares |

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Re: [kictanet] Kenyan BPO fails to snap up the subsidy, why?
by charles nduati 01 Feb '10

01 Feb '10

hi all, Nick has hit the nail right on the head As JKUAT, we have also taken on this challenge and signed on with African BPO Academy and BCI to start offering BCI's certifications so that our graduates know what it takes to take Kenya where it ought to be in BPO space. give us the support by sending your staff for trainibg which we are also offering at Nairobi CBD. regards charles On Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:26 EET nicholasnesbitt wrote: >this biggest concern for this industry is the lack of business. not the lack of talent or the high costs. It's the cost of overcoming perceptions, reaching out to new prospects, convincing them that kenya is a worthwhile outsourcing destination. Marketing! Spreading the word. > >I have just spent a week in the UK meeting with some of the largest outsourcers in the world. They have never heard of Kenya as an outsourcing destination. Very interested now, but completely unaware. We stopped marketing Kenya as a BPO destination before we had built international recognition and credibility, which raises questions in these prospects' minds about our commitment as a country to making Kenya an outsourcing destination... > >Nicholas A. Nesbitt >Chief Executive Officer >KenCall EPZ Ltd >P.O. Box 27507 - 00506 >Sameer Industrial Park, Mombasa Road >Nairobi, Kenya > >+254.20.660.2000 (office) >+254.20.660.2222 (fax) >+254.721.458.458 (cell) >+253.733.458.458 (cell 2) > >nnesbitt(a)kencall.com >www.kencall.com > >BEST Non-European Contact Centre 2008 >

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Nairobi Super Highway Proposal
by robert yawe 01 Feb '10

01 Feb '10

Hi, It was sad to read about the KQ pilot who was robbed on Uhuru Highway and later died from injuries inflicted by the thieves. This is an opportunity to kill many birds with one stone. I want to make a proposal to all parties out there that we turn the entire mombasa rd, Uhuru Highway and Waiyaki way into a digital super highway. How you ask? We have fiber optic cable laid along the length of the road from Athi River interchange to the Limuru Interchange. Then install solar powered wifi equipment and web-cams atop the street lights and also on any building with a fibre node along the stretch. The WiFi will turn the whole of the road into a hotspot which will enable tourists to use their WiFi enabled phones as they drive from & to the airport as well as business traveler and Yawe. Through the link we can feed country specific information such as weather, animal sightings, culture etc. In addition the links should enable the mounting of multimedia display boards along the road that can have content streamed to them remotely. This two areas will provide the revenue for maintaining the infrastructure. Traffic information can also be provided through the display boards to enable drivers decide if they want to remain in the jams especially when the president has been allowed out of statehouse. With the webcams the police will have a better view of what is happening on the road and can fine errant drivers such as the matatus that obstruct at the Shell near DHL. We can also connect the traffic light controllers to the police allowing the lights to be controlled remotely therefore leaving the extra traffic policemen to be redeployed. I have provided this information with no non-disclosures anyone out there who can pick it and run with it is welcome to do so. If you feel you would like to invite me to participate please feel free to do so. "don't hide your light under a bushel" Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Broadband my foot
by robert yawe 01 Feb '10

01 Feb '10

Hi, I notice the 3G discussion has come to an abrupt end, as usually, but I feel I need to share my frustration with all the GSM providers. I live in South C but frustratingly I can only use my phone (Safaricom, Orange GSM & Orange CDMA) from a particular corner of the house, if this is the service available in Nairobi how much worse is the condition outside the City. Many of you raised concerns about the 3G license issue and I said this should not be the issue, CCK needs to enforce service delivery levels for the GSM providers. I am forced to carry 4 modems with me if I am to get any miningful work done when I am at home as the providers services are erratic. As I write this the Orange Internet Nowhere service is offline. My Safaricom bambanet working but only working at edge speed, it normally would not work at all but I found a solution by purchasing an external high gain antennae. The other providers modems unfortunately do not have a facility for plugging in an external arial. CCK can you please do your work of monitoring the network operators performance, if you cannot monitor this in Nairobi how will you be able to do it nationally. Maybe we should devolve CCK. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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