October 2011 - KICTANet

Fwd: ISO/IEC JTC1/SC27 IT Experts come to Nairobi
by waudo siganga 05 Oct '11

05 Oct '11

Some colleagues on this list may be interested in this important international meeting coming to Nairobi from next Monday [1]http://www.kebs.org/index.php?opt=standards&view=ISOIEC_JTC1_S C_27)? I am told that together with the editing sessions, KEBS will hold an industry seminar on 14th October afternoon (see attached brochure and registration form). Kindly circulate this to others as it is an important forum to interact with the experts in this sector. Kind regards. Waudo References 1. http://www.kebs.org/index.php?opt=standards&view=ISOIEC_JTC1_SC_27

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Re: [kictanet] [NYSA:7509] The Cleanest Estate in Africa; Nyayo Embakasi Estate
by Shem Ochuodho 05 Oct '11

05 Oct '11

Bro. Haron, Yes the 'Umuganda' are a unique, great thing. But for such to have the kind of impact experienced in Rwanda, the top leadership must be truly on the driving seat. I personally experienced and heard of many good hands-on things President Kagame (my today's Africa's role model President) does. Apart from Umuganda, Rwanda to the best of my knowledge remains the only country in the world where non-biodegradable polythene bags are outlawed, and strictly enforced. Rwanda has many 'firsts' we could all learn from - place where rule of law is honoured, zero-tolerance to corruption, techno-savvy, people-centred (as opposed to political elite-centred), only world country with more female than male MPs, some of the best maintained city/countryside roads (at least they were 4 years ago when I left), very likely Africa's safest city, and possibly cleanest city, Africa's no doubt only major Internet-ready city (you can access broadband wireless Internet literally from any part of the city/Kigali), etc. The only reason: Rwanda has visionary, selfless, servant leadership which Kenya sorely lacks. Isn't this reason enough for us to replace all those pretenders we call 'leaders' in Kenya? PNU/ODM IS THE PROBLEM, G47+1 IS THE ANSWER! Rgrds, Shem Shem J. Ochuodho, MSc (Eng), PhD, LLD (Hon) Senior Advisor Ministry of Telecom & Postal Services Republic of South Sudan (RSS), Juba Commonwealth Telecom Organization (CTO/RSS) 2010 African Internaut Award Recipient Kenya Community Abroad (KCA) 2007 Excellence Award Winner AfricaOnline 2005 Industry Pioneer Award Recipient Father of Internet in Kenya (Computer Society of Kenya - CSK 2000) Cell: +249-955-021-040/+256-477-232025/+254-725-016679 Skype: shem.ochuodho ________________________________ From: Mutwiri Haron <mutwiriabuana(a)yahoo.com> To: nysa1(a)googlegroups.com Sent: Friday, 30 September 2011, 17:57 Subject: RE: [NYSA:7509] The Cleanest Estate in Africa; Nyayo Embakasi Estate Lets keep our country clean. i live in Rwanda where National cleanup 'muganda' is practised very last saturday of the month. Civil servants,youth,NGO workers,soldiers and verybody takes part.Even slum area are very clean coz this muganda thing has created an awareness of cleanliness.They say Kigali;CLEAN,GREEN AND SECURE. Why not Nairobi and all our towns and villages? CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS. Haron Mutwiri Abuana --- On Fri, 9/30/11, joseph lunani <blessedkal(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >From: joseph lunani <blessedkal(a)hotmail.com> >Subject: RE: [NYSA:7506] The Cleanest Estate in Africa; Nyayo Embakasi Estate >To: nysa1(a)googlegroups.com, mwanyagetinge(a)yahoogroups.com >Cc: newvisionkenya(a)yahoogroups.com, nvk-mageuzi(a)yahoogroups.com, progressive-kenyans(a)googlegroups.com, progressiveminds(a)yahoogroups.com, siasa-kenya(a)yahoogroups.com, thelastwordtokenya(a)yahoogroups.com >Date: Friday, September 30, 2011, 6:40 AM > > > >Mr. Oketch, > >We all agree Kenya needs direction in garbage collection and disposal. We laud the efforts of a few Kenyans that have kept sections of towns, estates and homesteads tidy & clean. Given your passion & vocation on the matter would you work with estate welfare association like Komarock etc to harmonise the disparity between the likes of Nyayo Estate & Mathare for example? > >I am certain the is goodwill but many need to be reminded that cleanliness is next to Godliness. And that they might be in a ghetto but maintain cleanliness, hygiene, plant flowers, dig trenches to ease drainage flow etc. > >I appreciate the efforts of your organisation and welcome you to our offices so as to redo your we site at no charge. Your work speaks for itself and you require a customised website that will celebrate & better showcase that. > >Regards, > >Lunani Joseph > >www.in-synque.com > > > > > >________________________________ >Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:17:59 -0700 >From: komarockswatch(a)yahoo.com >Subject: [NYSA:7485] The Cleanest Estate in Africa; Nyayo Embakasi Estate >To: mwanyagetinge(a)yahoogroups.com >CC: NewVisionKenya(a)yahoogroups.com; NVK-Mageuzi(a)yahoogroups.com; nysa1(a)googlegroups.com; progressive-kenyans(a)googlegroups.com; ProgressiveMinds(a)yahoogroups.com; Siasa-Kenya(a)yahoogroups.com; thelastwordtokenya(a)yahoogroups.com > > > > >Friends, >>When I called Mr. Ephantus Njeru to inform him that the PC Nairobi and The Consultative Team will be visiting Nyayo Embakasi Estate on the 13th October 2011 as a Best Practice for Kenyans, he told me; 'Welcome to the Cleanest Estate in East and Central Africa.' Mr. Njeru is the Estate Supervisor and he works with his colleagues Peter and Ann. >> >>I laughed and dismissed him as a typical bragging Kenyan. >> >>Outside the Kiragu & Mwangi Limited officesToday, after briefing the DC Embakasi Mr. Peter Mbugi, I went to Nyayo Embakasi Estate. My, this is the Cleanest Estate in Africa, not just East and Central Africa. And I want to challenge anybody who thinks otherwise to let us know. >>The Estate is managed by Kiragu $ Mwangi Limited- registered valuers and property managers. The Estate is one of the Flagships of the National Social Security Fund- NSSF and Phase one of the Estate was built in 1999, the same time Buru Buru Phase 5 was being built. >> >>Just look at this.... >>The Managers had a very clear vision and focused management style from the word go. They decided that they wanted to bring Muthaiga to Embakasi and that is what they have done. They have worked as a team with the Residents and this has seen clear decisions being made on the 4 key areas namely; >> >> 1. Garbage Collection >> 2. Estate Cleaning >> 3. Gardening and Tree Planting and >> 4. Estate Security.It is important to note that this is one area where even the Police confirm, there are no muggings and no theft. >>The Residents in Partnership with the Management ensures that water flows, street lights are working, and services for which they are paying are provided. And the key words here is Team Work. >>As at now, Nyayo Embakasi Estate has 2,505 units and a further 688 units will be commissioned within 3 Months. This makes Nyayo Embakasi Estate the 2nd largest Estate in Africa after one in Natal Province of South Africa. >>At optimum level next year, the Estate will boast of 4,774 units. >>If this is note a Best Practice, then I do not know what that should be. And we at The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign are truly happy to pay a visit to this Estate that is the Cleanest in Africa on the 13th October 2011. >>In the same vein, we are inviting Kenyans, if Nyayo Embakasi Estate can do it, we can also do it wherever we are. >>Congratulations and you take the Trophy hands down. >>We at KCDN firmly believe that we the People of Kenya can help Clean Kenya. >>This is a campaign for Kenya by Kenyans. Let us make it a huge success...... >>If it is to be, it is up to me. A Clean Kenya Starts With me. A Peaceful Kenya is my Responsibility. >>Disclaimer; The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign is about us Kenyans. It involves all Kenyans from the various regions, religious persuasions, political thinking and we do not discriminate against any Kenyans nor any region. >> >>Peace and blessings, >> >>Odhiambo T Oketch >> >>CEO KCDN Nairobi >> >>Nationwide Coordinator - Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign >>National Coordinator- Friends of KNH Maternity Unit >>PO Box 47890-00100, >>Nairobi Kenya. >>Tel; 0724 365 557, 0735 529 126 >>Email; oto(a)kcdnkenya.org, komarockswatch(a)yahoo.com >>www.kcdnkenya.org >>http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com >>friendsofkcdn(a)yahoogroups.com >>Facebook; Odhiambo T Oketch >>Facebook; Monthly Nationwide Clean Up Campaign >> >-- >Thanks for Supporting the National Youth Sector Alliance >To post to this group, send email to nysa1(a)googlegroups.com >http://groups.google.com/group/nysa1?hl=en?hl=en > -- >Thanks for Supporting the National Youth Sector Alliance >To post to this group, send email to nysa1(a)googlegroups.com >http://groups.google.com/group/nysa1?hl=en?hl=en > -- Thanks for Supporting the National Youth Sector Alliance To post to this group, send email to nysa1(a)googlegroups.com http://groups.google.com/group/nysa1?hl=en?hl=en

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Safaricom Limited adjusts its tariffs
by Harry Hare 05 Oct '11

05 Oct '11

This has been long coming http://bit.ly/oYOiHr Enjoy your weekend. Harry

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Re: [kictanet] SEMINAR ON IMPORTANCE OF SECURITY STANDARDS IN A GLOBALISED ECONOMY
by Esther Wanjau 04 Oct '11

04 Oct '11

Dear All, Attached please find an information brochure and registration form for the above seminar to be held on 14th October, 2011 at KICC. Please fill the form and return it by 9th October 2011. Esther

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Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Fw: CONGRATS 'UNCLE' VINT... BUT WHERE ARE THE AFRICAN OLDIES? (WAS Vin Cerf @ ihub: Internet Oldies meeting young techies)
by Barrack Otieno 04 Oct '11

04 Oct '11

Dr Ochuodho, With all due respect i find your statements to be in bad taste (Mediocrity and God help Kenya), i resisted making a post because we respect you for your role in the internet space in Kenya and for your information Stephano and co paid tribute to your role and that of Charles Musisi in the internet space in this part of the world alongside many other African oldies, i would wish to state a few things and i have no intention of starting a flame war for that matter you may correct me if i am wrong. First i was among the many young people at the i-hub for the side event after which we had a fireside chat. Our very own engineer James Rege Chair of the Parliamentary commitee on energy was at hand and he took the trouble to travel with Vint in the same car (devoid of all the Parliamentary trappings) to spend time with the youth and i can assure you they did not dissapoint. The event was one of its kind and all the young people present attested to this, to know where you are going you need to know where you have come from, why must we learn about people like Musisi from visitors from Europe?, i asked engineer Rege the same question when he told us the history of the telecom industry in Kenya and we agreed that there is need to document such information for future generations and i challenge you and the other African oldies to do the same, how else will knowledge be transfered to future generations. At another regional meeting that had Youth from all over East Africa courtesy of IDRC and Makerere University there was unanimity on the need for the Youth and oldies to work together to transfer knowledge but where are the African oldies have you abandoned us in pursuit of self actualisation?, well Egypt was a good scenario of the potential of youth and technology. It is common knowledge that the world abhors a vacuum and this is a challenge to the oldies in Africa to take your rightfull place and mentor the youth, a parent has to be deliberate in terms of making time and and investing resources to bring up great sons and daughters and as the bible describes them , they are arrows in his hands. Finally i wish to thank Vint Cerf and all those who made the the event a success, we hope to have another one soon with African oldies, God Bless Africa. Proudly Kenyan On Sun, Oct 2, 2011 at 11:52 PM, Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com>wrote: > Congrats 'Uncle Vint' and 'Uncle Stefano'..... > > But where were/are the African 'Oldies': 'Mzee' Mike Lawrie, Ibikun > Odusote, Bill Sangiwa, Tieni Bah, Prof. Venancio Mansingue, Musa Fall, > Charles Musisi, Mark Bennett, Nejib Abida, etc? > > Mediocrity the bane of Africa's problem. God help Kenya! > Shem > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga(a)hotmail.com> > *To:* shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com > *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > *Sent:* Thursday, 29 September 2011, 21:05 > *Subject:* [kictanet] Vin Cerf @ ihub: Internet Oldies meeting young > techies > > *Vin Cerf at ihub: Internet Oldies meeting young techies * > *By Mutwiri Mutuota* > > NAIROBI, Kenya, September 29- The pioneers of the information age met with > their young disciples on Thursday in an eye opening assembly held as a side > event of the ongoing 6th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Nairobi. > > The session was held appropriately at a venue where technologists, > investors, tech companies and hackers congregate in Nairobi , known as iHub, > the global IT gurus led by Google vice-president and one of the acknowledged > founders of the internet, Vint Cerf. > > “The enormous social impact of the internet was evident even before the > e-mail was invented in 1971. Now, internet and mobile technology drives the > world and the potential for industry are limitless,” Cerf stated in one of > his moving insights into the gift his invention alongside Bob Khan in the > early 70s gifted the world. > > While re-counting in detail how the thesis developed by the two computer > scientists turned to be a tool that billions transact their daily lives > almost 30 years on, Cerf challenged Africa to be at the forefront of > capitalising on the expanding cloud computing opportunities for business and > economic growth. > > As young techies gathered scrambled to store the large volume of > information being passed from the living IT icon, the gathering also proved > to be a think tank on the next generation innovations that will maintain the > info age bubble. > > “I hope than on January 1, 2013, IPv6 will be turned on to run alongside > IPv4 to mark exactly 30 years since internet was turned on. I’m so excited > and I cannot wait for this to be realised," Cerf enthused. > > For the uninitiated, Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the next edition > that is designed to succeed the 32-bit predecessor, IPv4 and it will see the > Internet operating by transferring data between hosts in small packets that > are independently routed across networks. > > The award winning Google vice-president who joined the tech giant in 2005, > said the company had designed products specific to the needs of Africans > with the continent’s native languages incorporated to make them appeal to > all spectrums of the populations. > > “We have made it easy for African businesses to advertise on Google Ads by > developing the system that sees users pay for the adverts once they are > clicked on. This model has appealed to many enterprises particularly those > in Africa ,” Cerf offered. > > He added: “We continue to encourage more user friendly content and creating > volume for locally generated content since I believe content generated in > Africa for example should circulate within Africa, not through Europe or > America .” > > Adel El Zaim from the Global Alliance for ICT and Development in the UN > Department of Economic and Social Affairs who was also in the assembly dwelt > on the economic aspect of the advancements in information technology. > > “It is the responsibility of individual entrepreneurs to archive their data > on the internet but research on how content is being uploaded, the risks > that posses and how it is stored and privacy should be done to give the > correct picture on the risks,” said El Zaim. > > “Cloud computing should be opened up to be free to all but there is need > for reaching acceptable level of internet and mobile technology. There is > also need to understand better how technology can be used and for business > opportunity in Africa , local content products should be offered by using > local languages,” he added. > > Laura Abba, who was involved in the RINAF project mooted in the 90s that > was tailored to usher Africa into the ICT age recalled the efforts that were > spearheaded by the UN led initiative that fast tracked internet development > in the continent. > > “Today the internet is no longer about the infrastructure but the content. > When we started this project, 90 percent of content concerning Africa was > generated in Europe and other parts of the world but this has changed and > should be encouraged,” Abba told the gathering. > > Engineer James Rege, the Member of Kenyan Parliament for Karachuonyo > Constituency who is one of the first IT specialists in the country observed > that Africa and Kenya in particular was catching up in IT innovations. > > “However, there is need for democracy in communication. Development of ICT > in Africa has been hampered by political hurdles and they need to be freed,” > Rege advised. > > “Even old women in Karachuonyo have email accounts and I urge tech > companies such as Google to view Kenya as a remote part coming up and should > help it advance,” the legislator added. > > He singled out the Kenya ICT Board for the positive steps it had taken to > ensure the country was in tune with development as well as generation of > local content for the Internet. > > Kaburu Kobia, who is in charge of generating local content at the board > acknowledged more Kenyans were contributing content conversant to them > particularly in social networks such as Facebook. > > There was concern about ownership of data in the cloud. > “At Google we believe you own your data. With cloud computing, there > will be substantial amount of support since data will be shattered into > small pieces,” Cerf explained. > > Cloud computing will see shared resources, software, and information > provided to computers and other devices as a utility like the electricity > over a network. > “We need to find standards where clouds can communicate with each other, > use the high speeds between them in the backbone of the internet to transfer > data and I’m very much in favour of use of clouds for this purposes". > > “But with concerns on cyber security, we all need to ensure it is compliant > with the rules in the jurisdiction they operate with the kind of protection > people should have,” the tech sage added. > > > ----------------KICTANet----------------------------------- > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is > all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth > and rule the World! > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/shemochuodho%40yahoo.c… > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for > people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > -- Barrack O. Otieno Afriregister Ltd (Kenya) www.afrire <http://www.afriregister.com>gister.bi, www.afriregister.com<http://www.afriergister.com> <http://www.afriregister.com>ICANN accredited registrar +254721325277 +254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otieno

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Fwd: Fellowship Application Round Opens for ICANN International Public Meeting 43 in San Jose, Costa Rica
by waudo siganga 03 Oct '11

03 Oct '11

This could be of interest to some; those interested in seeking sponsorship to participate in the 43 ICANN meeting. [1]http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-30sep11-e n.htm Fellowship Application Round Opens for ICANN International Public Meeting 43 in San Jose, Costa Rica Program Ensures Global Representation at ICANN's Public Meetings 30 September 2011 MARINA DEL REY, California: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is now accepting online applications for the 15th round of the Fellowship program. Successful candidates will participate in the ICANN meeting to be held in San Jose, Costa Rica from 11-16 March 2012. The Fellowship program is open to applicants who are current residents of developing and least developed nations and interested in participating in ICANN and its supporting organizations, constituencies and stakeholder groups. Priority is given to individuals new to the ICANN environment from government and the ccTLD community, as well as those from academic, civil, business and non-profit entities, which are NOT involved in or associated with other ICANN supported travel programs. The program provides the support and opportunity for these participants to gain knowledge on how to have their voices heard in the Internet community and ICANN. More information regarding terms and conditions, as well as eligibility is available online at [2]http://www.icann.org/en/fellowships/ or email at [3]fellowships(a)icann.org regarding any questions about this process or program. The Fellowship program arranges the airfare, hotel and a stipend for those individuals selected to participate in this ICANN meeting. Recipients are expected to actively participate in and contribute to ICANN processes, both at the meeting and in the future. As always, registration for ICANN's meetings is free for anyone wanting to attend. Applications for the meeting in Costa Rica will be accepted from 00:00 UTC on 1 October 2011 until 00:00 UTC on 14 November 2011. Successful candidates will be posted on the ICANN Fellowship webpage by 22 December 2011. What Is ICANN? To reach another person on the Internet you have to type an address into your computer – a name or a number. That address has to be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN coordinates these unique identifiers across the world. Without that coordination we wouldn't have one global Internet. ICANN was formed in 1998. It is a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with participants from all over the world dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and develops policy on the Internet's unique identifiers. ICANN doesn't control content on the Internet. It cannot stop spam and it doesn't deal with access to the Internet. But through its coordination role of the Internet's naming system, it does have an important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet. References 1. http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-30sep11-en.htm 2. http://www.icann.org/en/fellowships/ 3. mailto:fellowships@icann.org

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Country Code +211/South Sudan Goes Live
by Shem Ochuodho 03 Oct '11

03 Oct '11

The country code "+211" (Republic of South Sudan) went live yesterday, 1st October, 2011, 2 months ahead of the set deadline for switchover, 15th December. Below was the speech of the Chief Guest - Hon. Minister for Telecom & Postal Services. Rgrds, Shem Shem J. Ochuodho, MSc (Eng), PhD, LLD (Hon) Senior Advisor Ministry of Telecom & Postal Services Republic of South Sudan (RSS), Juba Commonwealth Telecom Organization (CTO/RSS) 2010 African Internaut Award Recipient Kenya Community Abroad (KCA) 2007 Excellence Award Winner AfricaOnline 2005 Industry Pioneer Award Recipient Father of Internet in Kenya (Computer Society of Kenya - CSK 2000) Cell: +211-977-232025/+249-955-021-040/+254-725-016679 Skype: shem.ochuodho ------ begin ------ TALKING POINTS BY HON. MAJ. GEN. MADUT BIAR YEL, MINISTER FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS & POSTAL SERVICES, RSS, ON THE OCCASION OF THE NEW COUNTRY CODE LAUNCH BY GEMTEL, QUALITY HOTEL, JUBA, 1ST OCTOBER, 2011 Hon. Ministers of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) here present Hon. Members of Parliament The Managing Director & CEO, GEMTEL Green Network, Mr. Gadafi, Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies & Gentlemen: I am most elated to be with you here today in making history at this auspicious occasion as we launch our sole and exclusive country code for the Republic of South Sudan (RSS), “+211”. Am delighted to note that the network suitably branded ‘The Roots of South Sudan’ is once more living up to expectation by being the first network to implement, test and launch this new country code. I am equally thrilled to note that close on the heels, at least one other telecom operator will also be doing the same within a week from now! Just like a national flag, the country-code is a national monument that will live with many generations to come in the future. It is no doubt one of the strongest symbols of our sovereignty, freedom and independence, and the full recognition by the whole world of South Sudan as a Full Member of the Community of Nations. Ø The historic signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 heralded a new beginning in South Sudan. While on the whole this milestone enabled us to reap peace dividends including the experience of this unique event, the opportunities created also brought about implementation pressures and challenges. On formation of government, we committed ourselves to providing basic services to the people, such as clean water, reasonable housing, healthcare, education, good roads, efficient transport, security, and equally important too, modern telecommunications and postal services. That today even in some of the very remotest villages of South Sudan you can make a phone call is itself a clear testimony that with the continued cooperation and partnership of all major actors, including the private sector, even the said challenges can be overcome as today attests. Ø As the dynamics of the global and regional economies evolve, information and communication has become an indispensible pillar for competitiveness as well as a growth-engine. South Sudan has to play catch-up with the global trends, and today marks a major milestone. Recognizing the importance of communications & ICTs in socio-economic development, wealth generation, job creation, poverty alleviation, and citizen’s access to government services, the Government promptly issued policy and regulatory guidelines to stimulate sector growth. It is our declared policy to promote investment, private sector development, and to espouse partnerships (including public-private-people-partnerships) that are recognized as important elements in meeting the millennium development goals (MDGs). This is part of why from day one, we decided that private enterprise was the way to go for our telecommunications sector, hence the five licensed operators. Ø In anticipation of a positive referendum vote, the Government tasked me to travel to Guadalajara, Mexico to to meet the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and also to attend the meeting of its highest decision-making body (Plenipotentiary), which convenes every four years. The Secretary-General, himself an African (heading this oldest UN Agency for the first time since inception in 1865) assured me that should the People of South Sudan vote for separation, he would issue the country code within 48 hours (i.e. two days). In fact, when this happened, he long beat the self-set deadline; he instead issued the country code within 2 hours of the UN General Assembly recognition of South Sudan. The ITU also was one of the VERY first organizations to congratulate our President and the People of South Sudan. To deepen our friendship further, I am pleased to inform my countrymen and women, and indeed our friends here present that yesterday, a very high-powered delegation from the ITU ended a 3-day visit to South Sudan – yet another historic visit as we join the Global Community. Ø The one question most people ask me these days is “When are we going to use our country code?”. To ease the pressure on our engineers and ensure the new code is implemented with razor-precision, I ensured the public that the country code will become operational by 15th December. Indeed, that is the absolute deadline I gave to the operators also. I am much delighted that the Green Network has broken that set record by leaps and bounds. It is now incumbent upon each and every one of us to inform our friends and allies of the transition to our new country code. You will recall that we now have a very easy, and lucky number ‘211’; don’t forget the 1st month of the year 2011 was when South Sudanese voted decisively for separation! And today we launch also the new code on first day of the month. I want to request all of us here present today to give a hearty clap to ITU for having favoured us with our number of choice. Few nations enjoyed this privilege! Ø In the same vein, join me in congratulating Gemtel for once more leading the way to hasten the implementation of this new country code. Finally, I want to request you to join me also in congratulating and indeed thanking the Government and People of Uganda for having permitted us to use their “+256” code at a time our own then regulator could not! Ø Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen: I cannot sit down before I inform you that we have also received our Alpha-numeric Country Codes “SS” (Alpha-2) and “SSD” (Alpha-3) from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and will soon be advising you of arrangements to implement our Internet domain (dotSS). As you may have heard, these Alpha-codes have many applications, including the national currency (SSP) and passports (SSD), among others. In the same vein, we are advanced with arrangements to join the Universal Postal Union (UPU) that will permit Juba to have its own International Postal Exchange for mail and parcel delivery. Ø As for today, enjoy our new country code. Long live the Republic of South Sudan. Long live President Salva Kiir. Long live Gemtel. South Sudan Oyee!.. +211 Oyee!.. Gemtel Oyee!.. The People and Friends of South Sudan Oyee!.. Shukran! --- end ----

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Vin Cerf @ ihub: Internet Oldies meeting young techies
by Grace Githaiga 02 Oct '11

02 Oct '11

Vin Cerf at ihub: Internet Oldies meeting young techies By Mutwiri Mutuota NAIROBI, Kenya, September 29- The pioneers of the information age met with their young disciples on Thursday in an eye opening assembly held as a side event of the ongoing 6th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Nairobi. The session was held appropriately at a venue where technologists, investors, tech companies and hackers congregate in Nairobi, known as iHub, the global IT gurus led by Google vice-president and one of the acknowledged founders of the internet, Vint Cerf. “The enormous social impact of the internet was evident even before the e-mail was invented in 1971. Now, internet and mobile technology drives the world and the potential for industry are limitless,” Cerf stated in one of his moving insights into the gift his invention alongside Bob Khan in the early 70s gifted the world. While re-counting in detail how the thesis developed by the two computer scientists turned to be a tool that billions transact their daily lives almost 30 years on, Cerf challenged Africa to be at the forefront of capitalising on the expanding cloud computing opportunities for business and economic growth. As young techies gathered scrambled to store the large volume of information being passed from the living IT icon, the gathering also proved to be a think tank on the next generation innovations that will maintain the info age bubble. “I hope than on January 1, 2013, IPv6 will be turned on to run alongside IPv4 to mark exactly 30 years since internet was turned on. I’m so excited and I cannot wait for this to be realised," Cerf enthused. For the uninitiated, Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the next edition that is designed to succeed the 32-bit predecessor, IPv4 and it will see the Internet operating by transferring data between hosts in small packets that are independently routed across networks. The award winning Google vice-president who joined the tech giant in 2005, said the company had designed products specific to the needs of Africans with the continent’s native languages incorporated to make them appeal to all spectrums of the populations. “We have made it easy for African businesses to advertise on Google Ads by developing the system that sees users pay for the adverts once they are clicked on. This model has appealed to many enterprises particularly those in Africa,” Cerf offered. He added: “We continue to encourage more user friendly content and creating volume for locally generated content since I believe content generated in Africa for example should circulate within Africa, not through Europe or America.” Adel El Zaim from the Global Alliance for ICT and Development in the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs who was also in the assembly dwelt on the economic aspect of the advancements in information technology. “It is the responsibility of individual entrepreneurs to archive their data on the internet but research on how content is being uploaded, the risks that posses and how it is stored and privacy should be done to give the correct picture on the risks,” said El Zaim. “Cloud computing should be opened up to be free to all but there is need for reaching acceptable level of internet and mobile technology. There is also need to understand better how technology can be used and for business opportunity in Africa, local content products should be offered by using local languages,” he added. Laura Abba, who was involved in the RINAF project mooted in the 90s that was tailored to usher Africa into the ICT age recalled the efforts that were spearheaded by the UN led initiative that fast tracked internet development in the continent. “Today the internet is no longer about the infrastructure but the content. When we started this project, 90 percent of content concerning Africa was generated in Europe and other parts of the world but this has changed and should be encouraged,” Abba told the gathering. Engineer James Rege, the Member of Kenyan Parliament for Karachuonyo Constituency who is one of the first IT specialists in the country observed that Africa and Kenya in particular was catching up in IT innovations. “However, there is need for democracy in communication. Development of ICT in Africa has been hampered by political hurdles and they need to be freed,” Rege advised. “Even old women in Karachuonyo have email accounts and I urge tech companies such as Google to view Kenya as a remote part coming up and should help it advance,” the legislator added. He singled out the Kenya ICT Board for the positive steps it had taken to ensure the country was in tune with development as well as generation of local content for the Internet. Kaburu Kobia, who is in charge of generating local content at the board acknowledged more Kenyans were contributing content conversant to them particularly in social networks such as Facebook. There was concern about ownership of data in the cloud. “At Google we believe you own your data. With cloud computing, there will be substantial amount of support since data will be shattered into small pieces,” Cerf explained. Cloud computing will see shared resources, software, and information provided to computers and other devices as a utility like the electricity over a network. “We need to find standards where clouds can communicate with each other, use the high speeds between them in the backbone of the internet to transfer data and I’m very much in favour of use of clouds for this purposes". “But with concerns on cyber security, we all need to ensure it is compliant with the rules in the jurisdiction they operate with the kind of protection people should have,” the tech sage added. ----------------KICTANet----------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World!

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