August 2011 - KICTANet

12th Strathmore University ICT Conference-ICT for Development: People, Policy and Practice
by John Matogo 26 Aug '11

26 Aug '11

Dear colleagues, Strathmore University is once again hosting the annual ICT Conference, this year's theme is ICT for Development: People, Policy and Practice. This is an invitation to you to the conference that will be held on the 2nd and 3rd of September 2011 at the University's Auditorium in Madaraka. More information on the conference is available at this address: http://www.strathmore.edu/ictconference/2011/ or by email to ict_conference(a)strathmore.edu We look forward to your participation. -- Regards, John Matogo

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Open Access Network Models Coming of Age?
by Suhayl Esmailjee 25 Aug '11

25 Aug '11

Wholesale mobile broadband network for SA? Jan Vermeulen <http://mybroadband.co.za/news/author/jan-vermeulen> August 24, 2011 No comments<http://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadband/32424-wholesale-mobile-broadband-ne…> The current model for rolling out mobile broadband in South Africa is inefficient, argues industry players South Africa’s mobile network operators, 8ta<http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/276092-8ta>, Cell C <http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/213919-Cell-C>, MTN<http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/226943-MTN>, and Vodacom <http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/227063-Vodacom>, all build and run their own networks. This involves not only putting up towers in strategic locations (which in itself can be difficult task), but also linking up those towers to a core network. Before you can do anything with a cellular tower however, you need to get a license to use radio frequency (RF) spectrum in particular frequency bands. In South Africa, operators like 8ta, Cell C, MTN, and Vodacom all have such licenses to operate their networks, but industry players are saying this isn’t always the way to most effectively make use of spectrum, especially in the lower frequency bands. Open access radio network Earlier this year (2011), Vodacom CEO Pieter Uys<http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/210077-Pieter-Uys>told MyBroadband that instead of operators battling it out for a slice of scarce spectrum, a single network<http://mybroadband.co.za/news/wireless/20324-open-access-radio-network-for-…>should be built to maximise the value of this resource. This is especially needed in the part of the RF spectrum known as the “digital dividend<http://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadcasting/17725-digital-tv-standards-battl…>” – lower frequency spectrum set to become available when South Africa completes its migration from analogue to digital TV broadcasting. [image: Pieter Uys]<http://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadband/32424-wholesale-mobile-broadband-ne…> Pieter Uys Uys said that all stakeholders, including SA government, IT companies and network operators should work together to get South Africa connected and a single open access network is a sensible way to go about doing so. Wholesale mobile broadband network an attractive option Zoltan Miklos<http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/322353-Zoltan-Miklos>, executive of converged data networks at Telkom<http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/227037-Telkom>Mobile, suggested that a possible scenario for future mobile spectrum allocation is a wholesale model. This would allow providers to buy wholesale services from a mobile operator provider rather than licensing their own spectrum and building their own network including towers. Such a model would need to serve the interest of providing national broadband coverage at competitive prices, Miklos said. [image: Zoltan Miklos]<http://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadband/32424-wholesale-mobile-broadband-ne…> Zoltan Miklos Miklos said that mobile operators are grappling with providing mobile data at prices that recover the significant capital and operational investment of rolling out their own network. One could argue such models would make more efficient use of spectrum and resources, Miklos said. Director-general of the Department of Communications (DoC), Rosey Sekese<http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/337821-Rosey-Sekese>, said that a wholesale model for spectrum is under discussion at the DoC and that they see it as a very attractive option. Sekese said that part of the issue is that incumbent operators with licenses for spectrum want more, but as private businesses they will want to roll out in the most profitable areas first. Typically these areas are found in more urban South Africa. A wholesale model that offers operators spectrum in urban and rural areas could help address this issue. Uys previously said that the lower frequency digital dividend spectrum is particularly suitable to cover rural areas, and as it is hardly profitable for operators to roll out data networks in these areas, a combined effort will make the most sense to operators and South Africa as a whole. Neutral operators the beginning? American Tower Corporation (ATC)<http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/360534-American-Tower-Corporatio…>, a wireless and broadcast telecommunications provider, bought Cell C’s tower infrastructure in 2010 with the aim to offer a “network and service provider agnostic approach” to pave the way “for a more open and competitive market.” According to ATC, they offer an infrastructure sharing model, or Infrastructure as a Services (IaaS) which gives everyone access to the same level and type of geographic coverage. “Infrastructure sharing or, to be more specific in our case, tower sharing, is nothing new,” explained CEO of ATC South Africa, Pieter Nel<http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/229877-Pieter-Nel> . “It has been happening in some form in South Africa for some time now, but we are the first independent, pro-competition service provider to adopt this network agnostic model, which has been steadily gaining popularity in other countries around the world due to the numerous benefits.” According to Nel, the trick to getting this model right is ATC South Africa’s ability to acquire or build out network infrastructure and manage and maintain it in a manner that works out cheaper for MNOs than self-provisioning the same capabilities would. ATC said that they already boast most of the major mobile network operators as clients and are currently in talks with “most of the current and future broadband solution providers.” http://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadband/32424-wholesale-mobile-broadband-ne…

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Fwd: Extended deadline CALL_FOR_PAPERS ACG13 Conference
by waudo siganga 25 Aug '11

25 Aug '11

Could be of interest to some, especially those with an interest in creating computer games ----- Original message ----- From: "J.W. Hellemons" <J.W.Hellemons(a)uvt.nl> To: "'Johanna Hellemons'" <J.W.Hellemons(a)tilburguniversity.edu> Cc: "'Aske Plaat'" <aske.plaat(a)gmail.com>, "'Giel van Lankveld'" <gielvanlankveld(a)gmail.com>, "'Remi.Coulom(a)univ-lille3.fr'" <Remi.Coulom(a)univ-lille3.fr> Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:20:34 +0000 Subject: Extended deadline CALL_FOR_PAPERS ACG13 Conference Dear reader, We extended the deadline for the paper submission to September 10, 2011. Please find in the attach the CfP ACG13 with the new dates. Best regards, Johanna Hellemons

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Need for Representation
by robert yawe 25 Aug '11

25 Aug '11

Hi, I have been fortunate to attend a number of discussions on the ongoing bills in parliament and it is disappointing that as the ICT fraternity we have missed the opportunity to be enshrined in the new laws as has been done with other groups. A case is point is in the Urban Areas and Cities Bill in relation to the parties to be involved in the conferment of a city, with the vision 2030 objective of making Kenya a knowledge based economy the lack of participation by the ICT fraternity in in this decisions means that the way-leave and related issues that are being experienced today shall continue for the foreseeable future. Here is an extract from the bill; Application for conferment of city status. 8. (1) The board of a municipality may, upon a resolution, apply to the county executive committee for consideration for the conferment of city status. (2) Where the executive committee approves the application, the county governor shall constitute an ad hoc committee to consider the recommendation and advise as appropriate. (3) The ad hoc committee shall comprise of relevant professionals in good standing nominated by the following institutions ― (a) the Institute of Surveyors of Kenya; (b) the Institute of Planners of Kenya; (c) the Architectural Association of Kenya; (d) the Law Society of Kenya; (e) an association of urban areas and cities; (f) the Institute of Public Accountants of Kenya; and (g) the business community. Other areas that are lacking our input is in issues such as the need for GIS without it being make explicit that this must be in digital form. In the Elections Bill 2 areas are wanting for our input one is the format for maintaining the voter register and the other is in the recall of MPs where one of the reasons is not appearing in the constituency for an extended period his utilising tele-presence technology for example or a broadcast media should qualify towards appearance. (2) A member of Parliament may be recalled on any of the following grounds— (a) mismanagement of public resources; (b) desertion of the electorate without reasonable cause, including— (i) continual absence from the constituency or county; The ship has sailed on this one, but the lesson to learn should not be wasted. 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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COFEK contact information
by Ory Okolloh 25 Aug '11

25 Aug '11

Anyone from COFEK on the list? Trying to get the Sec General's email address so I can send an invitation to an event their way. Ory

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Two Publications: Letter to Prime Minister & Riddles of my Mother
by Matunda Nyanchama 25 Aug '11

25 Aug '11

For those interested, our sister company has recently released the following publications. Letter to the Prime Minister by Justus Siage Riddles of my Mother by Amos Tabalia. Both can be bought online; copies of the former are already available in Kenyan book stores. Have a good day. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda; Skype: okiambe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be prepared to face ICT Security failures & know how to respond when they happen! Call: +1-888-587-1150 or info(a)aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk I have a workstation…" - Anonymous ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.

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Digital Villages Visit Embu Aug 26th. Confirmed participants
by warigia bowman 24 Aug '11

24 Aug '11

Here is the confirmed participant list. We have room for one more. Friday 8:30 sharp, silver springs hotel. Bring 500 fuel money (if you can) and some money for lunch. Warigia Bowman AUC Peter Mathara AWCAS Victor Gathara Consultant Andrew Gakiria KIE Mike Njogu from network of nonformal educational institutions Jeff Maina NNEI Barry from Voice of Africa Wainana Mungai Citizen Yours, Rigia On Wed, Aug 24, 2011 at 3:19 PM, warigia bowman <warigia(a)aucegypt.edu>wrote: > Dear friends > > The van appears to be nearly full. We can fit ONE more person in the van on > Friday. Please advise if you are interested. > > We will meet at Silver Springs Hotel at 8:30 a.m. sharp. My cell is > 0720481444. Please be on time, as we have a long day ahead of us. > > Thanks, Rigia > > Warigia Bowman AUC > Peter Mathara AWCAS > Victor Gathara Consultant > Andrew Gakiria KIE > Mike Njogu from network of nonformal educational institutions > Jeff Maina NNEI > Barry from Voice of Africa > Wainana Mungai Citizen > > On Sun, Aug 21, 2011 at 6:45 PM, warigia bowman <warigia(a)aucegypt.edu>wrote: > >> Dear colleagues >> >> I would like to do one final viewing of DVs and pashas before I depart to >> revolutionary Egypt. I have my company's safari van available, so there is >> plenty of room. >> >> *Please let me know if you want to come this Friday, August 26th, 2011.*If you come it would be great if you can pitch in for fuel. I will provide >> the driver and the vehicle. >> >> We will go to Muranga and Embu. >> >> Embu Visit >> >> Pashas >> 2. Gicira Wakurira, embu cty, manyatta const, embu town >> >> Safaricom Tier 1 >> 1. Eagle sight communications, Ndia const., embu town center >> 2. Eim computer systems, manyatta const., embu town >> 3. Kinpost computer center, manyatta const., embu town >> 4. Kinpost cyber, manyatta const., embu town, morning glory plaza, 1st >> floor >> Safaricom Tier 2 >> >> 2. Doka Heartwood, embu town center, igembe >> 3. Eaglesight communications, (also tier 1), kigumo, embu town center >> 5. Eim computer systems (also tier 1), siakago, embu town (safaricom >> question-why is location info different?) >> 10. Harry's stationers, Ishiara, embu >> 11. Scope, Ndia, Embu >> 12. Klassical dealers, Siakagi, Embu town >> 13. Matecom, Tigania East, Embu Town Center >> 14. Netlink data services, igembe, embu town center >> >> Muranga Visit >> >>> >>> *ICT Board Pashas*: >>> >> >> >>> 1) Lucy Kinyanjui, Somewhere in Muranga >>> >>> There is also another pasha in Maragua. >>> >>> Cheers Rigia >>> >> >> >> >

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Where and When to Meet: Digital Villages Visit Muranga and Embu on Aug 26th
by warigia bowman 24 Aug '11

24 Aug '11

Dear friends The van appears to be nearly full. We can fit ONE more person in the van on Friday. Please advise if you are interested. We will meet at Silver Springs Hotel at 8:30 a.m. sharp. My cell is 0720481444. Please be on time, as we have a long day ahead of us. Thanks, Rigia Warigia Bowman AUC Peter Mathara AWCAS Victor Gathara Consultant Andrew Gakiria KIE Mike Njogu from network of nonformal educational institutions Jeff Maina NNEI Barry from Voice of Africa Wainana Mungai Citizen On Sun, Aug 21, 2011 at 6:45 PM, warigia bowman <warigia(a)aucegypt.edu>wrote: > Dear colleagues > > I would like to do one final viewing of DVs and pashas before I depart to > revolutionary Egypt. I have my company's safari van available, so there is > plenty of room. > > *Please let me know if you want to come this Friday, August 26th, 2011.*If you come it would be great if you can pitch in for fuel. I will provide > the driver and the vehicle. > > We will go to Muranga and Embu. > > Embu Visit > > Pashas > 2. Gicira Wakurira, embu cty, manyatta const, embu town > > Safaricom Tier 1 > 1. Eagle sight communications, Ndia const., embu town center > 2. Eim computer systems, manyatta const., embu town > 3. Kinpost computer center, manyatta const., embu town > 4. Kinpost cyber, manyatta const., embu town, morning glory plaza, 1st > floor > Safaricom Tier 2 > > 2. Doka Heartwood, embu town center, igembe > 3. Eaglesight communications, (also tier 1), kigumo, embu town center > 5. Eim computer systems (also tier 1), siakago, embu town (safaricom > question-why is location info different?) > 10. Harry's stationers, Ishiara, embu > 11. Scope, Ndia, Embu > 12. Klassical dealers, Siakagi, Embu town > 13. Matecom, Tigania East, Embu Town Center > 14. Netlink data services, igembe, embu town center > > Muranga Visit > >> >> *ICT Board Pashas*: >> > > >> 1) Lucy Kinyanjui, Somewhere in Muranga >> >> There is also another pasha in Maragua. >> >> Cheers Rigia >> > > >

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Video Conferencing Schools
by Network of non- formal Educational institutions 24 Aug '11

24 Aug '11

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Korogocho Video Conferencing School start
by Network of non- formal Educational institutions 24 Aug '11

24 Aug '11

Jambo Toto is one of the slum schools that have been connected with video conferencing facilities and will start tonight with 25 form one students. The program give a chance to slum children and community to benefit from technology it also reduce on cost and improve on quality of education. Jane Muriuki

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