August 2010 - KICTANet

Digital to Analog Conversion
by robert yawe 19 Jun '15

19 Jun '15

Hi, When the migration from analog to digital was initially raised fear was put into the public on how there would be no option but to throw away our analog TV sets and replace them with Digital. Now that digital transmission is finally here we need to look at how to make the migration as painless as possible while at the same time we do not disenfranchise any citizens. It has been mentioned that there are over 1 million TV sets in Kenya today, that means 1 million digital to analog converters will be required over the next 2-3 years. I believe this is a great opportunity for us to go into the electronic assembly business, I would like to propose that we 1st increase duty on converters from the current 35% to 250% so as to discourage the importation of the converters. Then exempt from duty and vat all assembly stations, test equipment and components for anyone who sets up a converter assembly plant, with a 3 year tax holiday. If you setup the plant more than 200 kilometers from Nairobi or Mombasa you receive an addition 2 years tax holiday. I believe this will sort out the issue of substandard converters and will also provide an opportunity for us to develop our electronic devices assembly skills. If you make a net profit of 1,000/- there is a clean 875,000,000/- to be made, close to what the government is spending on purchase of the Malili farm. This is assuming a standard device, there is still a market for those who want high end devices with recording, tuners, USB ports, etc which would mean that the returns could be much higher than projected above. So will we move away from juts being importers and retailers or do we have what it takes to do some value add? 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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Re: [kictanet] KCSE Performance
by Jotham Kilimo Mwale 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Hi Akich, I found the list you are asking for from The Standard online home page. I have attached the document. Regards, Jotham --- On Thu, 3/4/10, Akich Kwach <kwach(a)archway-productions.com> wrote: From: Akich Kwach <kwach(a)archway-productions.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] KCSE Performance To: jokilimo(a)yahoo.com Cc: "alewela" <alewela(a)ict.go.ke>, "ke users" <ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Thursday, March 4, 2010, 1:01 AM _filtered #yiv689680575 { font-family:Wingdings;} _filtered #yiv689680575 { font-family:Cambria Math;} _filtered #yiv689680575 { font-family:Calibri;} _filtered #yiv689680575 {margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt;} #yiv689680575 P.MsoNormal { MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;FONT-FAMILY:"serif";FONT-SIZE:12pt;} #yiv689680575 LI.MsoNormal { MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;FONT-FAMILY:"serif";FONT-SIZE:12pt;} #yiv689680575 DIV.MsoNormal { MARGIN:0in 0in 0pt;FONT-FAMILY:"serif";FONT-SIZE:12pt;} #yiv689680575 A:link { COLOR:blue;TEXT-DECORATION:underline;} #yiv689680575 SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR:blue;TEXT-DECORATION:underline;} #yiv689680575 A:visited { COLOR:purple;TEXT-DECORATION:underline;} #yiv689680575 SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR:purple;TEXT-DECORATION:underline;} #yiv689680575 SPAN.EmailStyle17 { FONT-FAMILY:"sans-serif";COLOR:#1f497d;} #yiv689680575 .MsoChpDefault { FONT-SIZE:10pt;} #yiv689680575 DIV.Section1 { } #yiv689680575 OL { MARGIN-BOTTOM:0in;} #yiv689680575 UL { MARGIN-BOTTOM:0in;} Many thanks Barnabas for sharing this valuable information. Would you be having the list of top 100 candidates national and provincial categories with names of schools in which the candidates sat for their KCSE exams? If you do, kindly share it. The way the list is published in the media only gives incomplete information. Would you imagine if they announced the names of the winners during the Olympic Games and then they only play the national anthem without mentioning the countries they represent, (in our case the Index numbers represent schools). In the case of Olympic games, one has to go through the catalogue and find out which country is represented by such a flag; similarly, in the case of KCSE relults, those few who knows index numbers for various schools. I am of the view citizens should never be denied information they deserve. All in all your Ministry (MoE) and the KNEC has made good progress by incorporating ICT tools while releasing results. This has greatly saved parents and candidates the costs of running to schools, (some of them miles away) for their results. May God bless this nation to keep moving in the right direction at competitive speed. Akich Kwach ----- Original Message ----- From: Barnabas K. Sang To: kwach(a)archway-productions.com Cc: alewela ; ke users ; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 9:26 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] KCSE Performance Thought would be of interest to you. Kind regards B. K. Sang _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: kwach(a)archway-productions.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kwach%40archway-produc… -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jokilimo(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jokilimo%40yahoo.com

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ICANN head warns against putting Internet addresses under UN control
by alice 12 Oct '10

12 Oct '10

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/icann-head-warns-against-put… Alexander Dziadosz Cairo — Reuters Published on Tuesday, May. 25, 2010 8:00AM EDT The head of the U.S.-monitored organization in charge of assigning global internet addresses such as .com and .net has cautioned against proposals to put the group under UN or other international control. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), at the heart of global debate over who should run the Internet, is the closest thing the vast system of intertwined computer networks has to any central authority. Countries such as Iran and Brazil have argued ICANN, which was founded in 1998 under the aegis of the U.S. Department of Commerce and still reports partly to the U.S. government, should cede its authority to a global body such as the United Nations. “If you think of that rate, or pace, in technology, it’s just a lot more rapid than most traditional forms of policy development would be suited to,” Rod Beckstrom, the organisation’s chief executive, told Reuters on Monday. Multilateral state control could make ICANN less nimble, he said, and therefore less likely to quickly develop technologies like Arabic-language domain names that feed rapidly expanding Internet demand. “It’s hard to imagine any replacement for (the current system), and I feel I can say that somewhat objectively because I’ve worked for government as well,” he said, adding such a decision would be up to ICANN’s board of directors. Still, the U.S. government last September agreed to changes that meant ICANN would no longer report solely to the United States, part of a push to give global constituents more say. The agreement set up an international review team to monitor ICANN’s performance and it is due to issue initial recommendations at the end of the year. The deal also included guidelines aimed at making the group more transparent. In 2003 a group of nations suggested ICANN come under the authority of the International Telecommunication Union, a UN agency, but that move stumbled on the view that the private sector is better able to run the Internet’s addressing system. A contract that gives ICANN authority over much of the Internet’s basic plumbing, such as allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, is up for review next year. Mr. Beckstrom was in Cairo after Egypt became one of the first countries to win approval to use Arabic script on its national domain name, the last part of the address after the dot. ICANN approved use of non-Latin scripts in October. Egypt said this month it had launched the first domain name using Arabic letters under the name .misr – the Arabic word for Egypt, which is spelt in Arabic script. Countries including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have so far won ICANN approval to use their national language scripts on the top-level domain. ICANN is now on track to broaden the non-Latin script, top-level domain names that are available into generic names such as .org, Beckstrom said. “Of course you know .com and .net. Those are English language names that are shortened, basically. Where’s the equivalent of that in Arabic?” he said. He said ICANN might be able to introduce generic domain names in international scripts by the end of this year, but the approval process made dates hard to forecast.

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Re: [kictanet] Fwd: information on .africa and the lies surrounding an individual's push
by Njeri 06 Sep '10

06 Sep '10

They are more on this very list that claim being on the board of ICANN. That never were, not withstanding that they can be in the future. In my humble opinion, the rest is politic's. Sent from my iPhone Go to www.igniteconsulting.co.ke follow the button of what's HOT this month, our workshops Ignite Human Potential for Personal and Organizational Success. For your wellness experiencies follow this link www.ignitelifestyle.com The Ignite Experience Center can host your corporate retreats, business dinners and private functions. Call Eunice on 254 20 2532142 or 2532144 or email: events(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke for your consulting bookings and events(a)ignitelifestyle.com for your bookings on wellness therapies. On Aug 19, 2010, at 2:39 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Walu, > > Your point is noted, however .africa is not just another TLD - it is > in the same realm as .eu i.e. a regional domain that represents > multiple jurisdictions - in the same manner that .eu was granted at > the behest of the EU/EC - subsequent to a process that brought > forward the buy-in of major stakeholder in the EU, including > Governments, operators and local internet community - similarly, > Africa needs to have undergone a processs whereby there is broad buy- > in/consensus behind whoever it is that is making the pitch to ICANN. > > Having said that - I for one, will NEVER support anyone who tries to > gain leverage/support by using lies: > 1) She has never been an ICANN board member - despite repeated > brazen claims to the office > 2) She has never been given a formal (let alone written) endorsement > by the AU > 3) She feels threatened by reputable and legitimate African internet > bodies and went to great lengths to sabotage AfriNIC's proposed > Addist meeting by telling lies to the government and Ethiopia > telecoms which prompted them pulling out 2 months before the > meeting. Only to find out after consultations that they have been > fed a bunch of lies and ended up losing face both at a local and > global perspective. > > My two cents, > > Brian > > On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 12:25 PM, Njeri <njeri.rionge(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke > > wrote: > Walu, Finally common sense becomes common sense as we know it. > > I opted to saying nothing before, will continue to do so. But I > needed to note some sense in the thread and urge people to read in > between the lines closely. > > Cross the T's and dot the I's. > > Best, > > Sent from my iPhone > > Go to www.igniteconsulting.co.ke follow the button of what's HOT > this month, our workshops Ignite Human Potential for Personal and > Organizational Success. > > For your wellness experiencies follow this link > www.ignitelifestyle.com > > The Ignite Experience Center can host your corporate retreats, > business dinners and private functions. Call Eunice on 254 20 > 2532142 or 2532144 or email: events(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke for your > consulting bookings and events(a)ignitelifestyle.com for your bookings > on wellness therapies. > > On Aug 19, 2010, at 11:28 AM, Barrack Otieno > <otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> Very democratic comments Walu :-) >> >> On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 9:24 AM, Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> I really dont know who this lady is - other than having seeing her >> at the Kenyan IGF where she also pushed for the dot.Africa >> initiative. Indeed as Pierre mentions elsewhere, there's a parallel >> push @ http://www.dotafrica.org/home.html which I believe has the >> support of AfNOG, AfrNIC, AfTLD (the Af* organisations). >> >> However and I stand to be corrected - I think the ICANN process is >> quite open and transparent and we therefore cannot stop any bidder >> pushing to have a top level domain like dot.Africa (free for all >> approach that ofcourse has had its advantages and disadvantages). >> >> So whereas I support and understand the need have dot.africa under >> the family and philosophy of Af* organisations, we really have no >> control over other bidders trying to get there first. Maybe we >> should just up our game and get the domain before the competition. >> >> walu. >> disclaimer: comments shared are personal and not the view of the >> organisations I am affiliated with. >> >> >> --- On Wed, 8/18/10, Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu(a)gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> From: Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu(a)gmail.com> >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: information on .africa and the lies >> surrounding an individual's push >> To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >> Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 11:34 PM >> >> >> @ Njenga, >> It's not really about who is onlist or not, but during the just >> concluded EAIGF in Uganda one 'iron lady' has been claiming to >> speak on behalf of AU and that there are some endorsements made >> that she presented to this regional forum, which turned out to be a >> sham! >> >> I hope Brian my explanation is right. >> >> On 18 August 2010 18:24, Njenga Gathecha <njenga.mkenya(a)gmail.com> >> wrote: >> Hello all. I think the best thing to do is to have all the members >> listed somewhere and then in case of doubt, listers can consult the >> list. This would ward off cons who may seek to exploit innocents. >> >> Thanks for pointing this out now. >> >> On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 5:06 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com >> > wrote: >> >> Hi all, >> >> Just received this. Apparently she has formally been propagating >> lies about being on the ICANN board etc.... and even put up >> counterfiet letters on her website - this verges on criminal! What >> is her interest? >> >> Brian >> >> ------------------------ >> >> Brian, >> >> here is some info for you.. she constructed this whole thing on >> lies. you can judge for yourself. I did not want to spam all but I >> sent this to a few key people. check this: >> >> - there is no African Union Authority!!!! do you really believe >> that the Chairman of the AU Commission will have claimed to write >> on behalf of a non existent authority and give her a letter in that >> sense? so maybe she should explain to people why she has a 'weird' >> letter on her website. Check her website and you will see. >> >> - here is an email that tells you how she lies! she actually took >> me to the ombudsman at ICANN in 2007, complaining that I was >> preventing her from doing dot africa, copied the whole board at the >> time --- all her claims were immediately dismissed when I sent the >> letters and emails to the ombudsman, of the same caliber as the >> below that she had been sending to regional organisations and >> bodies. My fault was to have written to all organisations, as the >> Regional Liaison, to dismiss her claims of ICANN endorsement of dot >> africa and her being on the board. >> >> - she keeps saying ICANN is endorsing dot africa! how can ICANN >> endorse a TLD?? how can ICANN be judge and party???? she is >> supposed to have been at the GNSO council and ICANN and understand >> what she is talking about!!!! she has been in the ICANN process for >> the past 5 years and still has no idea how all this functions. >> >> I let you judge. The woman does not have her wits together I think. >> >> Cheers >> >> Sophia Bekele <sophiabekele(a)yahoo.com> >> >> 30/08/2006 01:48 PM >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Subject >> >> Re: >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Hello <name removed>, >> >> I hope your vacation is going well. As per discussion, I thought I >> would convey someof what is on my plate that may be of mutual >> interest. >> >> Presently, other than my private projects/business interests, I >> also serve on the board of ICANN, the international internet >> governance organization. At this stage, I have outlined few >> projects in addition to an initiative that could quickly put under >> incubation. Any or all of these could serve as a basis for mutual >> collaboration. >> >> Generally speaking the projects span ICT, public sector governance, >> regional integration, internet governance etc.. >> >> The priority project I mentioned to UN Undersecretary General was >> that of dot.africa (.Africa) which he expressed great interest. >> Thus, there will be a need to synergize and align strategies of >> possible project collaboration. >> >> Dot.Africa is an initiative supported by ICANN, that aims at >> unifying and consolidating the African Information Society and >> presence within the Internet as distinct from other Continental >> communities. As such, there now exists dot.EU (.EU), dot.Asia. >> (.ASIA) and dot.LatinAmerica (.LA) as similar ongoing initiatives. >> The present paradigm is to halt Africans marginalization in this >> age of globalization. This is actually one of the goals of NEPAD, >> which of course is an initiative that is already endorsed b the >> UN. There are no prices for guessing what would happen if >> dot.Africa is not also initiated and implemented at the same time >> that other Continental communities on the net have been put in >> place. >> >> To get this of the ground, it appears from the experiences of the >> others, a minimum of 13 countries in Africawould have to come on >> board. The endorsement for UNECA would of course be helpful. >> This initiative would require a proposal to be distributed to the >> potential participating countries. UNECA’s help would be crucial >> in communicating who might wish to participate. Countries that ha >> ve already have ongoing National policies that relate ICT as a str >> ategic tool for National development would be the primary candidat >> es. Being something that would turn into a Continental initiativ >> e, it is rewarding at best for the UNECA to play an active role in >> this initial stage. >> >> As an African representative on ICANN board, I have taken the >> initiative to coordinate and see the successful implementation of >> the project. I believe therefore, we should have a meeting to >> progress this further. I suggest we meet ASAP to get this moving, >> as time is of essence to the extent that the application for the >> domain name must be submitted before January 2007. >> >> However due to our travel schedules, we should arrange a >> teleconference meeting that is mutually convenient for all within >> the next two weeks. >> >> Regards, >> Sophia >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: njenga.mkenya(a)gmail.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/njenga.mkenya%40gmail.… >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: solo.mburu(a)gmail.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/solo.mburu%40gmail.com >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau >> >> ***************************************************** >> Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze >> all the same way to the side of a hill! >> >> AND >> >> It is better to die in dignity than in the ignominy of ambiguous >> generosity! >> >> http://smiley2.wordpress.com >> http://mburu.sikika.co.ke >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail… >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Barrack O. Otieno >> +41767892272 >> Skype: barrack.otieno >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: njeri.rionge(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/njeri.rionge%40ignitec… > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: blongwe(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com > > > > > -- > Brian Munyao Longwe > e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com > cell: + 254 722 518 744 > blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com > meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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Deteriorating Safaricom or simply broken systems??
by Odhiambo Washington 03 Sep '10

03 Sep '10

Last evening I loaded KES 2,300 worth of credit on a Safaricom data line (0720 332211) and sent an sms to 446 to purchase a 300MB bundle. With their br0ken systems (the whole of yesterday) they could not allocate me the bundle immediately, even though they promptly deducted the KES 999. Because I could not get the confirmation of bundle allocation (CS kept telling me to wait for 20, 30, N minutes for the confirmation to come) I decided to just plugin the SIM card and use it, hoping the bundle had been allocated but only the confirmation sms was delayed. I ended up using KES 800 of my balance airtime after they deducted the KES 999 (instead of the bundle!!) and I got to know that only today when I called CS and they gave me the shocking news - you have only KES 500-and-something airtime on that line!! The whole of yesterday their system was broken down. I suffered the same during the day. I loaded 2500 on a different number and sent "activate" to 448 for a 1GB Bundle. I could not get the confirmation after about 10 minutes and called CS, who told me that they were experiencing problems and I should wait for about 2 hours. I had to buy 500 and top up and just use it like that without purchasing a bundle, while waiting for the 2+ hours... Is there a way for redress with Safaricom? They've literally stolen from me, by deducting my KES 999 and not allocating me the bundle "within the required time" (or isn't there something like this?), making me to use my reserved airtime instead! There must be better ways of dealing with this from Safaricom, or any other provider for that matter. It is simply not acceptable, and I do feel that when I buy a commodity (like the bundle) I should get it immediately, unless there is a condition that stipulates that the provider is at liberty to decide when to give it to me. I also believe that it's the obligation of the provider to notify me when they have a problem that would affect the services I buy from them. Safaricom, I want my money back, as small as it is! -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "If you have nothing good to say about someone, just shut up!." -- Lucky Dube -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "If you have nothing good to say about someone, just shut up!." -- Lucky Dube

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Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Zain Kenya makes another move
by Wainaina Mungai 30 Aug '10

30 Aug '10

This is a very aggressive and most likely, a huge loss-making move in the short-run. I hope Zain has a well crafted (*sustainable*) longterm strategy. If they are simply 'playing politics' against a 78% market leader (Safaricom), then they will eventually price their way out of the Kenyan market. Kencell losses *>>>* Celtel losses *>>> *Zain losses *>>> *AirTel losses *>>> oblivion (or market leadership)* My opinion is not influenced by my 'Safaricom shareholder/MPESA user' status ;-) Wainaina On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:43 AM, Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: > BY MICHAEL KARANJA > Updated 13 minutes ago > > NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 30 - Mobile telephony operator Zain Kenya has > introduced Sh5 and Sh10 denomination airtime vouchers as it steps up > its efforts to capture the mass market. > > The introduction of the new vouchers is seen as a move to make the > operator more accessible to the low-end market after a change in > strategy following the entry of its new shareholders, Bharti Airtel. > > Zain Kenya Managing Director Rene Meza said the move is aimed at > complementing its recent 50 percent reduction of call charges. > > “We are offering a wide range of scratch card denominations to suit > the needs of all individuals. Access to telecommunication services is > no longer a luxury but an integral part of each Kenyan’s > socio-economic needs,” Mr Meza said. > > .... > > Read more: > http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/Kenyabusiness/Zain-Kenya-makes-another-… > Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives > > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers >

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Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Zain Kenya makes another move
by Wainaina Mungai 30 Aug '10

30 Aug '10

I like the comparisons here. Safaricom's success lies in the sustainable BoP focused strategy they rolled-out awhile back; so does Equity's success. Zain's strategy should therefore be a calculated shift from elitist to a BoP focus...not a simple anti-Safaricom or "Vuka" campaign. Wainaina On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 2:11 PM, Johnstone Ole Turana < jturana(a)ke.nationmedia.com> wrote: > Economics aside, the ongoing price wars mirrors the yesteryears customer > battle between Equity Bank and the other banks. When Equity entered into > conventional banking, it broke down all the entry barriers- ‘free account’, > no charges for account maintenance (we all can recall the punitive minimum > balance extortion), and banking the mwananchi. Big banks fought this and > gave Equity one year or so-after all banking was high cost, high end game > not for the villages with erratic income. Few years down the road the > others have abandoned the exclusivity banking and embraced the Bottom of the > Pyramid (BoP) customer. > > At least now I know for sure I can call and have a decent chat, cross the > t’s and dot the i’s which is good for my provider. > > > > Cheers > > Ole Turana > > > > *From:* ke-internetusers-bounces(a)bdix.net [mailto: > ke-internetusers-bounces(a)bdix.net] *On Behalf Of *Solomon Mburu Kamau > *Sent:* Monday, August 30, 2010 1:58 PM > *To:* Sam Gatere > *Cc:* ke-users; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Zain Kenya makes another move > > > > I always find ot interesting to see people always giving pessimistic views > on an investment. I'm not a shareholder of either Safaricom or Zain, but > find this trend welcome. Zain(Airtel) will make losses in the first round, > but then, let's wait and see what they want to offer to the Kenyan market, > as long as the consumer is the winner. > I don't think the consumer is worried about the losses Zain made, but > he/she wants to communicate using the most affordable pricing in the market. > The rest, to him, are just politics of the corporate world. > > Me thinks > > On 30 August 2010 13:37, Sam Gatere <sam.gatere(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Moaning about safaricom could be one of the strategies employed here... but > we have to give a little grace to the dominant player where dealing with 15 > million plus clients is no easy task! However it would also be important to > look at the difference in mind set between Western Investors and those from > the East. The former (West) have no problems making 10 bob profit per call > while their counterparts seem not to mind making 50 cents! We also need to > look at this whole price war from a birds eye view before narrowing down to > Kenya. Airtel has 15 networks across the continent while Safaricom is only > in Kenya. Should Airtel make Nairobi their Africa hub (of which I think it > is) they will definitely up their game in by investing more to make their HQ > a profitable one. Possibly We will see this war move on to the Data arena in > not to long. > > > > Sammy. > > > > > > > > On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 12:50 PM, Andrea Bohnstedt < > andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> wrote: > > That's really the key issue, isn't it? They won't make money anytime soon > - there's the low rates, but also the fact that they'll have to invest > heavily in network and systems. Easy to moan about Safcom's customers > service - but they manage 16m clients. I'm curious to see if Zain will grow > their customer service at the same speed to accommodate all those new > subscribers. > > I also suspect that it'll be mostly very very price sensitive people who > will change - again not the clientele that will earn the company much money. > > > In 2008, when Zain had the Vuka tariff (KES8 on and off net, if I remember > correctly), the company made nearly USD90m losses. Last year, USD46m losses. > > > I found Mickael Ghossein's statement that 'the market is in a mess' quite > telling. I suspect in this battle of the elephants, Orange and Yu are in > most peril - which could easily contract the market again where subscribers > have less choice. > > Full disclosure: I'm a client with both big companies. There's only so much > a girl can put into her handbag. > > On 30 August 2010 12:31, Wainaina Mungai <wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org> wrote: > > This is a very aggressive and most likely, a huge loss-making move in the > short-run. I hope Zain has a well crafted (*sustainable*) longterm > strategy. > > > > If they are simply 'playing politics' against a 78% market leader > (Safaricom), then they will eventually price their way out of the Kenyan > market. > > > > Kencell losses *>>>* Celtel losses *>>> *Zain losses *>>> *AirTel losses > *>>> oblivion (or market leadership)* > > > > My opinion is not influenced by my 'Safaricom shareholder/MPESA user' > status ;-) > > > > Wainaina > > On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:43 AM, Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > BY MICHAEL KARANJA > Updated 13 minutes ago > > NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 30 - Mobile telephony operator Zain Kenya has > introduced Sh5 and Sh10 denomination airtime vouchers as it steps up > its efforts to capture the mass market. > > The introduction of the new vouchers is seen as a move to make the > operator more accessible to the low-end market after a change in > strategy following the entry of its new shareholders, Bharti Airtel. > > Zain Kenya Managing Director Rene Meza said the move is aimed at > complementing its recent 50 percent reduction of call charges. > > “We are offering a wide range of scratch card denominations to suit > the needs of all individuals. Access to telecommunication services is > no longer a luxury but an integral part of each Kenyan’s > socio-economic needs,” Mr Meza said. > > .... > > Read more: > http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/Kenyabusiness/Zain-Kenya-makes-another-… > Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives > > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrea.bohnstedt%40rat… > > > > > -- > Andrea Bohnstedt > Publisher > +254 720 960 322 > www.ratio-magazine.com > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: sam.gatere(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sam.gatere%40gmail.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: solo.mburu(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/solo.mburu%40gmail.com > > > > > -- > *Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau* > > ***************************************************** > *Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all > the same way to the side of a hill!* > > AND > > *It is better to die in dignity than in the ignominy of ambiguous > generosity! * > > http://smiley2.wordpress.com > http://mburu.sikika.co.ke > > > > > > DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is > intended for the use of the stated recipient only. It may contain > confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No > confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If > you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all > copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the > sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, > print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended > recipient. > > Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author and > do not necessarily represent those of the *Nation Media Group*<http://www.nation.co.ke> > *.* > > To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or visit > http://mobile.nation.co.ke to read news on your mobile phone. > > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > >

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Innovation Policy
by Barrack Otieno 30 Aug '10

30 Aug '10

Dear Listers, Just wondering, in light of our evolving information society do we have such a policy in place. If so what does it say with regard to ICTs and innovation and who are the key stakeholders? -- Barrack O. Otieno +41767892272 Skype: barrack.otieno

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Searchable List Archives
by Odhiambo Washington 28 Aug '10

28 Aug '10

Hello Members, It is now possible to do a search (using keyword(s)) on ALL the lists hosted by KICTANet. This search facility is not as advanced but serves the purpose. List archives are accessible from a link which appears as a footer on the e-mails you receive from the list (to which you are subscribed), but is typically http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/LISTNAME/, e.g. http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/ Some list archives are restricted to membership only, so you may not access them unless you are a member of that list and has an e-mail address/password combo to access them. -- Best regards, List Administration

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Mobile Innovation Workshop - Nairobi.
by Muchiri Nyaggah 27 Aug '10

27 Aug '10

Hi Listers. On September 4th, 2010, Semacraft is hosting a workshop on 'How to Innovate Mobile Services for the Bottom of the Pyramid'. Facilitated by Niti Bhan from the Aalto University Design Factory (http://aaltodesignfactory.fi <http://aaltodesignfactory.fi/> ), the focus of the workshop will be on equipping participants with the understanding on market segmentation at the bottom of the pyramid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottom_of_the_pyramid) and how to innovatively develop services on the mobile platform for this space. You can book your place at http://www.bookwhen.com/semacraft Spread the word and see you there. Kind regards, Muchiri Nyaggah Director @muchiri +254 722 506400 Semacraft.com

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