April 2014 - KICTANet

Re: [kictanet] Digital Migration Appeal Court Ruling: COFEK Response
by James Mbugua 03 Apr '14

03 Apr '14

Idiocy of the highest order. There is no win here only delay of the inevitable and stifling of innovation and investment. Multichoice is certainly a winner. -----Original Message----- From: "Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK)" <hotline(a)cofek.co.ke> Sent: ‎3/‎28/‎2014 6:48 PM To: "jgmbugua(a)gmail.com" <jgmbugua(a)gmail.com> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: [kictanet] Digital Migration Appeal Court Ruling: COFEK Response Dear All, This afternoon's ruling by the Court of Appeal is certainly a major win for the consumers, operators and other stakeholders on the broadcast media. Indeed the consumer movement is emboldened and we hope other sectors shall take their lesson. It vindicates our long held view that in its' current form, the CCK (and now CAK) is not the regulator envisaged under Article 34(3) of the Constitution. We are grateful that the Media Owners Association have pushed and won the fight we began in December 2012 to make the transition to digital broadcasting fair and independent to all stakeholders. We expect that the nullified Broadcast Signal Distribution license to PANG will have immediate consequences on Star Times and that the BSD to media owners will be fast-tracked. It will be futile for the Government to appeal the ruling at the Supreme Court. In light of such embarrassment to Government, it is only fair that the ICT Secretary resigns from office and that the regulator rescinds all major decisions it has made as the effect of the ruling has the potential to reverse all decisions made by the CCK since August 27, 2010 when the current Constitution was promulgated. Thank you. Japheth Ogutu, FOR: Secretary General, The Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek)

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Mobile Roaming Charges in UE to be abolished in 2015
by Vitalis Olunga 03 Apr '14

03 Apr '14

This could be of interest. http://www.mobileworldlive.com/european-parliament-backs-telecoms-reform-pa… A similar effort is taking shape in Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). Can this could be replicated in other regions in Africa, specifically EAC. Regards Vitalis Vital Networks limited

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Government Self-appraisal - ICT report?
by Walubengo J 03 Apr '14

03 Apr '14

I missed the CS / PS presentation on what the Jubilee govt has achieved over the last one year in the digital space. Anyone with a document on the same? CS Matiang'i? PS Tiampati? Plse share. I wish to interrogate and understand the same. walu.

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35 U.S. Senators led by John Thune and Marco Rubio demand answers on ICANN transition
by Michael Bullut 03 Apr '14

03 Apr '14

Greetings Listers, An interesting read *here. <http://domainingafrica.com/35-u-s-senators-led-by-john-thune-and-marco-rubi…>* *Apologies for cross-posting!* Warm regards, Michael Bullut. --- *Cell:* *+254 723 393 114.**Skype Name:* *Michael Bullut.* *Twitter:* * @Kipsang <http://twitter.com/Kipsang/> * *Blog: http://www.kipsang.com/ <http://www.kipsang.com/>* *E-mail:* *main(a)kipsang.com <main(a)kipsang.com>* *---*

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Orange and yu exit: Market Failure or Creative Destruction (Capitalism Style)?
by Ali Hussein 02 Apr '14

02 Apr '14

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

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McKinsey-Lions go digital: The Internet's transformative potential in Africa
by Gideon 02 Apr '14

02 Apr '14

McKinsey: Kenya and Senegal lead on Internet's contribution to overall GDP in Africa (iGDP) - See more at: http://dotafrica.mobi/mckinsey-kenya-senegal-lead-internets-contribution-gd… GIdeon Rop DotConnectAfrica

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Construction at Konza City to start in three months time
by Grace Githaiga 01 Apr '14

01 Apr '14

Construction at Konza City, Kenya’s pioneer technopolis, is expected to start in the next three months.The chairman of the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (Kotda) John Ngumi said companies are waiting for an ongoing survey to be completed to start construction of infrastructure. http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Construction-at-Konza-City-to-start-in-thr…

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