March 2014 - KICTANet

Telcoms face dramatic changes as CCK approves yuMobile takeover
by Grace Githaiga 29 Mar '14

29 Mar '14

Kenya’s telecommunication landscape is set for a dramatic shift following the regulator’s approval of a plan by Airtel and Safaricom to acquire their rival yuMobile. http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Telcoms-face-dramatic-changes-as-CCK-appro…

1 0

Proposed Kictanet’s input into Kenya’s Draft Cyber Security Strategy
by Grace Githaiga 29 Mar '14

29 Mar '14

Dear Listers On March 14, the GOK through the ICT Authority released a 13 page draft Cyber Security Strategy (http://www.scribd.com/doc/212456939/GOK-National-Cybersecurity-Strategy) We had considered conducting an online discussion on the draft as is usually the tradition, but this has not been possible. I therefore requested Victor Kapiyo to give us some initial thoughts that can we can build on, and which will form part of our submission. The deadline for submission is this coming Friday, March 28. We propose to send the comments by Thursday March 27, 2013. I wish to kindly request you to add/ subtract/amend by Thursday 1.00 pm (March 27, 2013). General Comments The strategy appears to be generic. It lacks specifics and glosses over several key issues: · It lacks a detailed discussion of the current context - current statistics of internet usage, threats to the internet, key bodies, resolutions, policies, directives, key public concerns, challenges facing the country, current legal and policy framework for ICT etc. · Lacks clear justification for the strategy. · Fails to identify the key players/stakeholders/institutions in governmet, private sector, civil society – and their roles and responsibilities in addressing CS issues, how they will be involved and their coordination mechanisms. · Does not provide reasons or demonstrate how and why the prioritized goals were arrived at/chosen. · The actions under the goals are few and not SMART. · It fails to discuss the current legal and policy framework to address CS on which it should be anchored. Proposals/ Recommendations The strategy should clearly articulate what the government intends to do, viz: · Enhance protection and promotion of fundamental rights and freedoms in the Bill of Rights in particular on expression, media, participation, personal data and privacy, · Promote the national values under article. 10 of the constitution – rule of law, democracy, participation, good governance etc. · Improve preparedness, rapid response and capabilities to respond - CERTs · Improve cooperation with, clarify obligations, and manage roles and responsibilities of operators of critical infrastructure and key providers of on-line services, such as e-commerce platforms, Internet payment gateways, social networks, search engines, cloud computing services, app stores. · Improve transparency and accountability in the management of the net and CS · Address public concerns over censorship / mass surveillance in a post-snowden era · Improve information sharing and cooperation - how should the info flow, which routes? · Improve the reporting and publicity of cyber-security incidents to the relevant authorities · Promote openness of the internet, GoK commitments under open government. · Regulate - who is currently covered/who is responsible? · Improve international cooperation and engagement with international instruments - EAC treaties, Budapest convention. · Set standards and common minimum requirements for government bodies and market, · Maintain the reliability and interoperability of the Internet, · Promote research, innovation and development in CS, · Improve governance of the internet, · Promote access to the internet, · Promote CS through strategic procurement, · Improve the policy and legal framework on CS, · Mainstream CS into national security agenda, · Improve coordination of CS initiatives, and · Facilitate training of law enforcement, judicial and technical personnel to address cyber threats.

3 4

Key Changes in the ICT Sector laws (Kenya communications amendment act 2009)
by Mwendwa Kivuva 28 Mar '14

28 Mar '14

On Today's Daily Nation news paper, Page 29. CCK has the advert on the changes that came to effect last year on ICT laws. It seems the Dominant telecommunications service provides has been redefined. Competition: On determination of a dominant telecommunications service provider, the threshold has been amended from 25% of the entire telecommunications market to 50% of the relevant gross market segment. The law also gives the Authority some latitude to determine other relevant considerations. ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya twitter.com/lordmwesh

1 0

Re: [kictanet] ] Digital Migration
by Network of non- formal Educational institutions 28 Mar '14

28 Mar '14

Dear All Anyone with the updates on the digital migration case? Jane ---------- Sent from my Nokia phone ------Original message------ From: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke> To: "Jane Muriuki" <nnfeischools(a)yahoo.com> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 8:25:53 AM GMT+0300 Subject: [kictanet] Orange and yu exit: Market Failure or Creative Destruction (Capitalism Style)? Listers Jaindi Kisero's article on the imminent departure (demise?) of two telcos in Kenya make compelling reading. http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/mobile-phone-firm-pullout-market-failu… The article basically explores the possibility that market failure is what we are experiencing in Kenya. According to Wikipedia Market Failure is a concept within economic theory describing when the allocation of goods and services by a free market is not efficient. That is, there exists another conceivable outcome where a market participant may be made better-off without making someone else worse-off. (The outcome is not Pareto optimal.) Market failures can be viewed as scenarios where individuals' pursuit of pure self-interest leads to results that are not efficient – that can be improved upon from the societal point-of-view.[1][2] The first known use of the term by economists was in 1958,[3] but the concept has been traced back to the Victorian philosopher Henry Sidgwick.[4] Market failures are often associated with time-inconsistent preferences,[5] information asymmetries,[6] non-competitive markets,principal–agent problems, externalities,[7] or public goods.[8] The existence of a market failure is often the reason for government intervention in a particular market.[9][10] Economists, especially microeconomists, are often concerned with the causes of market failure and possible means of correction.[11] Such analysis plays an important role in many types of public policy decisions and studies. However, some types of government policy interventions, such as taxes, subsidies, bailouts, wage and price controls, and regulations, including attempts to correct market failure, may also lead to an inefficient allocation of resources, sometimes called government failure.[12] Thus, there is sometimes a choice between imperfect outcomes, i.e. imperfect market outcomes with or without government interventions. But either way, if a market failure exists the outcome is not Pareto efficient. Mainstream neoclassical and Keynesian economists believe that it may be possible for a government to improve the inefficient market outcome, while several heterodox schools of thought disagree with this.[13] While Creative Destruction alludes to free-market economics as a description of processes such as downsizing in order to increase the efficiency and dynamism of a company or economy. The case of Orange and yu in my humble opinion is the stuff of Business School studies at Strathmore and others for years to come. The questions that the country now needs to ask include:- 1. How will the demise of two major multinationals in Kenya going to affect the country's FDI outlook? Kenya is quickly gaining a reputation as a graveyard for MNCs who come here without appreciating the GLOCAL Principle. 2. What are the market dynamics that are going to be unleashed by a a defacto duopoly that now exists? 3. What impact will it have going forward on the attractiveness of Kenya as a destination for tech giants and Startups alike? 4. Is the regulatory environment being optimally executed to protect both investors and consumers alike? 5. Lastly - the more things change the more they remain the same? Seriously The way this is going I won't be surprised if Airtel also throws in the towel seeing as they haven't turned a profit since their entry into the country. Ali Hussein +254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim Blog: www.alyhussein.com "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein Sent from my iPad _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/nnfeischools%40yahoo.… 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.

2 1

Aligning government agencies and funds for effective output in Kenya's ICT space
by Mbugua Njihia 28 Mar '14

28 Mar '14

There is no time like the present to put in the effort that will tip the scales and see wide scale adoption both locally and across the region of home grown technology based solutions. I have spoken widely about the role of intellectual property protection and that of government as a consumer of services, but have been challenged to give actionable steps that could possibly deliver the possibilities. Using the analogy of elephant hunting versus ant stomping, I would simply align the mandates of key government agencies and streamline their activities as the shortest route to ROI is best. - http://www.mbuguanjihia.com/business/aligning-government-agencies-funds-eff…

1 0

Net Neutrality is like puppies - you can only say you love them
by Ali Hussein 27 Mar '14

27 Mar '14

Listers Mr. Luigi Gambardella, the Executive Chairman of ETNO, Europe's TESPOK, shared his disdain for Net Neutrality with this diatribe below. What has net neutrality to do with puppies? More than you would imagine. Recently, while exchanging views with an acute and well-informed observer of European politics, I was told: "I share most of the telecom industry's concerns on how the debate is evolving, but net neutrality is like puppies. You can only say that you love them." Read on:- http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142405270230372540457946128195805… This is the organization that was basically behind the Africa Position at WCIT12 which was the position that was taken by the team at the then CCK. Ali Hussein +254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim Blog: www.alyhussein.com "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein Sent from my iPad

1 0

Re: [kictanet] [ISOC_KE] Fwd: Who should Pay for Netflix? - For and Against Neutrality
by McTim 27 Mar '14

27 Mar '14

FYI, Luigi represents European incumbent telcos as Chair of ETNO : European Telecommunications Network Operators. He was the proponent of the "sender pays" model during the run up to WCIT. In other words, the Internet should be like the telephone billing system. His "free lunch" idea disregards the fact that you already pay for Internet access AND the fact that Netflix already pays for their access. Acknowledging the fact that fiber needs to be deployed to consumer is perhaps the first step in reaching agreement. Fiber deployment would certainly be in the public interest and is necessary in building the information Society. Google (and now others) can make profits at gigabit speeds. Luigi clearly doesn't want this as it would eat into his members profit margins (97% in the USA, probably similar in the EU): http://www.technologyreview.com/news/514176/google-fibers-ripple-effect/ In general, there is plenty that the dominant Internet providers can do to provide better deals without much effort, she says. Cable companies like Time Warner Cable and Comcast have the technical capacity to speed up service, and also plenty of room to lower prices, given the estimate from one analyst--Craig Moffet of the Wall Street firm Bernstein Research--that they typically make 97 percent profit margins on Internet services. -- Cheers, McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel On Sat, Mar 22, 2014 at 11:17 PM, Ali Hussein <ali(a)3mice.com> wrote: > Listers > > Apologies for cross posting. > > I find the blog by Reed Hastings pretty interesting especially after his > recent deal with Comcast. > > *Ali Hussein* > > +254 0770 906375 / 0713 601113 > > Twitter: @AliHKassim > > Skype: abu-jomo > > LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim<http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> > > Blog: www.alyhussein.com > > "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will > have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein > > Sent from my iPad > > Begin forwarded message: > > *From:* "Luigi Gambardella" <luigi.gambardella(a)gmail.com> > *Date:* March 22, 2014 at 7:53:10 PM GMT+3 > *To:* "ali(a)3mice.com" <ali(a)3mice.com> > *Subject:* *Who should Pay for Netflix?* > *Reply-To:* luigi.gambardella(a)gmail.com > > > <http://feaf.espsrv.com/f/rnl.aspx/?khc=stztw1a9ij=uxci&=u_w/5c6-:=6b-&x=pp&…> > > <http://feaf.espsrv.com/f/rnl.aspx/?khc=stztw1a9ij=uxci&=u_w/5c6-:=6b-&x=pp&…> Se > non legge correttamente questo messaggio, cliccare qui<http://feaf.espsrv.com/f/rnl.aspx/?khc=stztw1a9ij=uxci&=u_w/5c6-:=6b-&x=pp&…> > > *Who should Pay for Netflix? * > > Dear friends, > > I'd like to share with you a great blog post by Jim Cicconi, in response > to Reed Hasting's recent blog. > > I share the view that there is a fundamental misunderstanding in the net > neutrality debate. While sharing the principle of Open Internet, we cannot > accept an interpretation of this principle as "free Internet, free lunch". > > I believe that also in Europe we should avoid implementing any measure > going against innovation, better services and that at the end would > restrict the freedom of the users. > > Luigi Gambardella > > > > *Who should Pay for Netflix? * > > *Posted by: Jim Cicconi > <http://feaf.espsrv.com/f/tr.aspx/?&x=pv&8Ud0h=ro_yvx&x=pv&9c:=z_vxkha=8jjey…> > on March 21, 2014 at 4:08 pm* > > I saw Reed Hasting's blog<http://feaf.espsrv.com/f/tr.aspx/?&x=pv&8Ud0h=ro_yvx&x=pv&9c:=z_vxkha=8jjey…> > < > http://blog.netflix.com/2014/03/internet-tolls-and-case-for-strong-net.html<http://feaf.espsrv.com/f/tr.aspx/?&x=pv&8Ud0h=ro_yvx&x=pv&9c:=z_vxkha=8jjey…>> > yesterday from Netflix asserting in rather dramatic fashion (with > diagrams) that ISPs should build facilities (he said provide, but those > facilities have to be built) to accept all of Netflix's content - indeed > all of the content on the Internet - without charge. Failure to do so, > according to Mr. Hastings, was a violation of "strong net neutrality rules" > and bad public policy. I thought it might be helpful to unpack those > assertions so we could get right down to the core of Netflix's rather > radical proposition -- that people who don't subscribe to Netflix should > nonetheless pay for Netflix. Here are some undisputed facts upon which > everyone should agree. > > First, let's all accept the fact that the advent of streaming video is > driving bandwidth consumption by consumers to record levels. Increased > bandwidth consumption and faster broadband networks like our Gigapower<http://feaf.espsrv.com/f/tr.aspx/?&x=pv&8Ud0h=ro_yvx&x=pv&9c:=z_vxkha=8jjey…>service in Austin, Texas (and soon Dallas) are requiring all service > providers to drive more fiber into their networks to create the capacity > necessary to deliver those services to consumers, whether the service > providers are delivering a wireless or a wireline product. This phenomenon > was at the heart of our Project VIP<http://feaf.espsrv.com/f/tr.aspx/?&x=pv&8Ud0h=ro_yvx&x=pv&9c:=z_vxkha=8jjey…>investment announcement in November 2012 and it is true of companies like > Cogent, Level 3 and CDNs like Netflix as well. > > Second, we should accept that companies must build additional capacity to > handle this traffic. If Netflix was delivering, for example, 10 Terabytes > of data in 2012 and increased demand causes them to deliver 20 Terabytes of > data in 2013, they will have to build, or hire someone to build, the > capacity necessary to handle that increased volume of traffic. That > increase in traffic from Netflix is, by the way, not only the result of a > likely increase in online viewing by existing subscribers, but also due to > an increase in Netflix's customer base (it announced a 33% increase in > subscribers from 2012 to 2013 - good for Netflix). > > Third, if Netflix is delivering that increased volume of traffic to, say, > AT&T, we should accept the fact that AT&T must be ready to build additional > ports and transport capacity to accept the new volume of capacity as a > consequence of Netflix's good business fortune. And I think we can all > accept the fact that business service costs are ultimately borne by > consumers. > > Mr. Hastings blog post then really comes down to which consumers should > pay for the additional bandwidth being delivered to Netflix's customers. > In the current structure, the increased cost of building that capacity is > ultimately borne by Netflix subscribers. It is a cost of doing business > that gets incorporated into Netflix's subscription rate. In Netflix's > view, that's unfair. In its view, those additional costs, caused by > Netflix's increasing subscriber counts and service usage, should be borne > by all broadband subscribers - not just those who sign up for and use > Netflix service. > > When Netflix delivered its movies by mail, the cost of delivery was > included in the price their customer paid. It would've been neither right > nor legal for Netflix to demand a customer's neighbors pay the cost of > delivering his movie. Yet that's effectively what Mr. Hastings is > demanding here, and in rather self-righteous fashion. Netflix may now be > using an Internet connection instead of the Postal Service, but the same > principle applies. If there's a cost of delivering Mr. Hastings's movies > at the quality level he desires - and there is - then it should be borne by > Netflix and recovered in the price of its service. That's how every other > form of commerce works in our country. It's simply not fair for Mr. > Hastings to demand that ISPs provide him with zero delivery costs - at the > high quality he demands - for free. Nor is it fair that other Internet > users, who couldn't care less about Netflix, be forced to subsidize the > high costs and stresses its service places on all broadband networks. > > As we all know, there is no free lunch, and there's also no cost-free > delivery of streaming movies. Someone has to pay that cost. Mr. Hastings' > arrogant proposition is that everyone else should pay but Netflix. That > may be a nice deal if he can get it. But it's not how the Internet, or > telecommunication for that matter, has ever worked. > > http://www.attpublicpolicy.com/ > > * Per cancellarsi cliccare qui | Unsubscribe*<http://feaf.espsrv.com/f/oou.aspx/?&x=pv&8=nt_xr1&x=pv&8:&x=pv&ii=q1&x=pv&8…> > > > [image: MailUp] <http://feaf.espsrv.com/r> Email inviata con MailUp<http://feaf.espsrv.com/r> > <http://feaf.espsrv.com/r> Con MailUp la cancellazione e' sicura<http://feaf.espsrv.com/p> > > > _______________________________________________ > isoc mailing list > isoc(a)orion.my.co.ke > http://orion.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc > >

5 6

Safaricom now abandons plan to purchase yuMobile
by Grace Githaiga 27 Mar '14

27 Mar '14

Safaricom has pulled out of a deal in which it was to acquire the core assets of Essar-owned yuMobile citing delays in getting approvals from the industry regulator. http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Safaricom-now-abandons-plan-to-purchase-yu…

3 2

Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Please save the date May 5-6, 2014 in Cotonou (Benin Republic) - Dates à retenir 5-6 mai 2014 à Cotonou (République du Benin).
by Bob Omondi 26 Mar '14

26 Mar '14

Dear Listers, Just in case you missed this announcement for the ICANN event planned for May 5-6. Regards Bob. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Yaovi Atohoun <yaovi.atohoun(a)icann.org> Date: Tue, Mar 25, 2014 at 1:04 PM Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Please save the date May 5-6, 2014 in Cotonou (Benin Republic) - Dates à retenir 5-6 mai 2014 à Cotonou (République du Benin). To: AfrICANN list <africann(a)afrinic.net> Dear all, (Français plus bas) A workshop on Domain Names, Trademark and Rights Protection in Africa is scheduled for *May 5-6, 2014 in Cotonou (Benin Republic)*. Participation is open to: Registrars; Registries ; ccTLD registries; UDRP specialists; TMCH Experts; Representatives from global, regional and national Intellectual property right protection agencies; Registrants and end users; African business sector representatives ; Chambers of commerce representatives. Registration and other information will be provided Soon. Thanks === Bonjour à tous Un atelier sur "Les Noms de Domaine, les Marques Déposées, et la Protection des Droits en Afrique est prévu pour *les 5-6 mai, 2014 à Cotonou (République du Benin*). La participation est ouverte aux Registraires; Registres; Registres ccTLD; Spécialistes de UDRP; Experts TMCH; Représentants d'agences de propriété intellectuelle et de protection de droit au niveau national ,régional et mondial; Les propriétaires de noms de domaines et les utilisateurs finaux; Représentants du secteur des affaires en Afrique,; Représentants de Chambres de commerce. Des informations complémentaires vous parviendront incessamment. Merci - Yaovi Atohoun Stakeholder Engagement and Operations Manager - Africa ICANN - www.icann.org Mobile : +229 66015649 / 97891228 Skype : yaovi.atohoun.icann _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

2 1

Signing ceremony for DotAfrica Domain
by Ephraim Percy Kenyanito 26 Mar '14

26 Mar '14

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi Everyone, Apologies for cross posting. FYI the signing ceremnony for the dotAfrica has just taken place an hour ago. You can have a look at some of the pictures here https://twitter.com/ekenyanito/status/448775676674703360 - -- Regards, Ephraim Percy Kenyanito. Author| Researcher| Humanitarian| Cellular: (+254)-786-19-19-30/ (+254)-751-804-120 Skype: ekenyanito Website:http://about.me/ekenyanito Twitter: https://twitter.com/ekenyanito -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.22 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Thunderbird - http://www.enigmail.net/ iQIcBAEBAgAGBQJTMtIKAAoJEAz+0m3muo3ByX4P/Aw75SwGKuhVj8JwKEtRD8Z1 yr3EB+MIz3B2/3LrmMWPGjRNDICRA8MGXSYS7JQrEmTdwZgpXEcIKKaWq/UVxELi lDC5LqbK18ZOXl+MFLvuVV++TZ5ihpW0+FqR1fZHQqgLFFkW78DJM4aCEcwBc7RA u+SGNSPI0WD3Jfrcj4iduTW2tnViR89R0S7+jE4JHANrO12TyQbghaYDanVjihTv LtiEYMgamIBDkDE+NDIjCWuX7uT5MzioGSsXoZzgO2+P4Q5FNGVcUuhEm++nQJUM RNsceeASJL9HkYmCg4ral8ek7xXthpUlewTzikKwn7ee2WqPUrah/2mrNkp/tOJX NTJtquvVejVhFoZGdHfV61+ps3S4prs5IU5B3n4nW0L4SEinPDbnxMgMnP4VJvGQ uLXSLVwi5am2HQw0y25T9e8i3XIN59zkJQT1AbxgcvQq9EsvUd5BI69TSlg897/C G9HwYDetTwv91PhV6BvrB/X6OxC3m9KUJ/JCCnY9HHwsjNQSnEmx0hg/Ngcx52Rf igj63d2tpkTFZ21w8oqRFIkRftcmhZGHfVDa+/szl8lJUExVfnxw3mwlMovhnKBU +UEWNwvvsU5nwCGg36s8tSEsiJcJgQ/oMqQZowXPTe1Q3WqLWVmTSWpCKdNd6W8h ev7Unp/AgTmb+O0b5u8p =nAFR -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

1 0