January 2015 - KICTANet

Re: [kictanet] Fw: [isoc_ke] The battle for control of Kenyan Digital airspace
by cdohnio 29 Jan '15

29 Jan '15

I know for a fact that the broadcastors were given a chance to form their own distribution network in 2009/10 and they couldn't agree on ownership and shareholding. That they are doing everything in their power to frustrate our migration effort because they couldn't get along strikes me as profoundly unfair. The airwaves belong to the public and are held in trust by the government on our behalf. Are we saying that KTN, Ciitizen and NTV are the only stations with good content? Radio Africa has proven that there are people willing to distribut their content for free to reach us the public. Let the stations take themselves of the air, see how long before some other channels come in to fill the void. All the best, princelySid *Twitter:* @princelySid | *Website: *cdohnio.blogspot.com

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Positions at Communications Authority
by Grace Githaiga 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

ListersThis was posted/edited on CA's fb wall yesterday. Thought they were cancelled? Or did staff loose the case? Those interested have up to February 9. http://www.ca.go.ke/images/careers/CA%20Job%20Vacancies%20Ad.pdf

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Blow as acting Konza techno city boss Catherine Adeya quits
by Mwendwa Kivuva 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

Listers, we should note that Catherine Adeya was one of the few active CEOs on KICTANET. http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Blow-as-acting-Konza-techno-city-boss-quit… A top official who has been at the helm of the Konza Techno City project has opted out amid claims of resource constraints and slow progress. Dr Catherine Adeya-Weya, who has been the acting chief executive officer of the Konza Technopolis Development Authority for two years, said she had decided to quit and let someone else come in and lead the project. It was, however, clear from her statements that bureaucratic tendering, resource constraints and the slow pace of takeoff had largely influenced her decision. "I just felt someone else needs to take over this project after acting for almost two years. I may have considered staying if confirmed, but I may not have wanted it. For a project of this magnitude, we require the right calibre of staff, and a proper and sufficient recurrent budget. ''What I was being paid as chief executive was less than what I used to earn in my former role in the private sector and so it is hard to attract the high calibre staff with that remuneration," Dr Adeya-Weya said at a joint press conference in Nairobi with board chairman, Mr John Ngumi, on Tuesday. *PERFORMED WELL* Mr Ngumi said Dr Adeya-We ya had performed well despite being in an acting capacity for the entire period. He, however, added that the authority was prepared to continue with the little available resources since insufficient funding was a normal challenge in all government projects. The chief executive's term was to end in February, with an option to apply when the position was announced in November last year. She, however, chose not to, sparking speculations around her withdrawal from the team she has led for months. Mr Ngumi said: "In my view, Catherine has had one of the toughest jobs. Anybody who has worked in the private sector knows how hard it is to start a startup. It is harder in the public sector where you have all manner of stakeholders, and you got to deal with constraints and criticism. "She is an example of what we should have in public service and we, as the board, would have loved her to apply. I have implored her to remain involved in Konza at advisory role to the project." ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya "There are some men who lift the age they inhabit, till all men walk on higher ground in that lifetime." - Maxwell Anderson

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Safaricom caps Internet Bundles sharing
by Ali Hussein 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

Listers I found this article extremely interesting for two key reasons:- 1. Are Safaricom customers (resellers) out-innovating the giant? Some savvy Kenyans have found a way to sell data cheaper than Safaricom. How about that? 2. Would you categorize Safaricom's behavior as Anti-Competitive or justified to ensure certain levels of 'service'? http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Safaricom-targets-data-re… Judge for yourself. Ali Hussein +254 770 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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Are such Money earning websites real?
by Brian Ombati 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

http://earn4youth.com/?ref=50131 -- Regards, Brian Ombati,

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Blog Post: African DNS Exchange and Mentorship Programme.
by Bob Omondi 26 Jan '15

26 Jan '15

Dear listers, Just sharing in case you haven't seen this, Please read a blog post by ICANN's Africa team about the DNS Exchange and Mentor-ship Programme here: https://www.icann.org/news/blog/the-africa-dns-business-exchange-and-mentor… Regards Bob.

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Software Engineers - Wanted!
by Ngigi Waithaka 26 Jan '15

26 Jan '15

Listers, We are looking to hire a couple of trainee software engineers. Requirements: 1. Very good understanding of Enterprise Java. Show proof of code written for whatever prior project done. 2. Very high IQ. Figure out a way to prove it. 3. Education. We take from whichever background as long as 1&2 above are met Send your proofs (code/projects done) and CVs to ngigi(a)at.co.ke -- *Regards,* *Wait**haka Ngigi* Chief Executive Officer | Alliance Technologies | MCK Nairobi Synod Building T + 254 (0) 20 2333 471 |Office Mobile: +254 786 28 28 28 | M + 254 737 811 000 www.at.co.ke

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Airtel writes to regulators over Safaricom's market share
by Ali Hussein 24 Jan '15

24 Jan '15

Listers This is interesting. Airtel Kenya has written to Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and Competitions Authority of Kenya (CAK) asking that Safaricom be declared a dominant player in the market. Airtel Kenya, which is targeting a bigger share of the country’s voice, SMS, data and mobile-money transfer business, claims Safaricom has been using its dominance to prevent others from growing their business. It is asking the two regulators to intervene and stop the telecommunications sector’s slide into a monopoly where the market leader, allegedly has freedom to do whatever it wishes. Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2000148531/airtel-writes-to… I'm curious as to what remedies there are in the act to reverse safaricom's dominance. *Ali Hussein* Tel: +254 770 906375/ 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> Blog: www.alyhussein.com Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with.

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BLOW AS AUTHORITY WITHDRAWS MEDIA OWNERS LICENSE, FREQUENCIES REPOSSESSED, DECODERS BANNED
by James Mbugua 22 Jan '15

22 Jan '15

Fed up with three media houses that have delayed the digital migration process and abused their outlets to slander rivals GOtv and Startimes, the Communications Authority has cracked the whip; withdrawn the license of the three media houses to transmit digitally, halted the issuance of a digital signal distribution license to them and asked KRA to prohibit any importation of set top boxes by the three media houses....read more here http://nairobitech.blogspot.com/2015/01/authority-repossesses-ntvctvktn.html Below is the full statement issued by CAK director-general Francis Wangusi PRESS STATEMENT BY MR. FRANCIS WANGUSI, DIRECTOR GENERAL, COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF KENYA (CA), ON THE ADVERTISEMENT BY NATION MEDIA GROUP, STANDARD GROUP AND ROYAL MEDIA SERVICES, RELATING TO MEDIA TRANSMISSION SERVICES 21ST JANUARY 2015 It has come to the attention of the Authority that three media houses, namely Nation Media Group Limited, Standard Group Limited and Royal Media Group Limited have jointly been running a misleading advertisement on Television and Radio since Friday 16th January 2015. The said advertisement purports that Startimes and GOtv are illegally carrying their content thereby infringing on copyright and neighbouring rights. The advertisement goes farther to instruct consumers not to purchase Startimes and GOtv pay-tv set-top boxes to watch CITIZEN Television, NTV, KTN and QTV. In addition, the advertisement allege that the three media houses are the exclusive vendors of Free-To-Air set-top-boxes that can enable the public to view their channels The Authority is gravely concerned by the misleading content in the advertisement and wishes to advise the industry and the general public as follows: 1. The advertisement by the three media houses is misleading to the public, is offensive to the market. It is equally in gross violation of the legal and regulatory framework governing the sector; 2. The tone of the advertisement, its content and timing is intended to cause confusion and disrupt the digital migration programme; 3. The digital migration framework allows for the distribution of the ‘Free-to-Air’ signals on the digital platform under the “must-carry principle” . This was supported by the ruling of the Supreme Court of Kenya in September 2014 . It allowed for the availability of Free-to-Air channels to the public through all set-top-boxes (FTA and Pay TV). The advertisement dissuading consumers from purchasing set-top-boxes from other suppliers approved by the Authority is therefore misleading to the public and portrays anti-competitive conduct by the three media houses. Consumers need not be constrained to purchase a specific set top box to view the content of the three broadcasters whose content is Free-to Air; 4. The Authority has type-approved more than 65 set top boxes which are available in the market today. GOTV and Startimes set top boxes are duly type-approved by the Authority and are therefore authentic decoders in the local market authorized to carry the Free-to-Air Channels of the three media houses under the auspices of the “Must Carry Principle; 5. The sale of set top boxes in Kenya is a free market. Consumers can purchase type approved set top boxes from any vendor registered by the Authority. The full list of approved set top boxes and registered vendors can be freely accessed on the Authority’s website; 6. The Authority has neither received any application nor granted any type-approval of any set top box model from the three broadcasters, individually or collectively, for sale in Kenya. It is therefore illegal to purport to advertise set-top-boxes that have not been type-approved by the Authority; 7. The Authority has also received a formal complaint from Gotv and Startimes that the three media houses have refused to Air their digital-migration related advertisements which is potentially an anti-competitive conduct prohibited by law. While this complaint has not been investigated, the Authority notes with concern that it has itself been a victim of such refusal to carry advertisements both in the electronic and print media owned by the three media houses, yet the advertisements are aimed at educating the public on digital migration. In view of these gross violations by the three media houses as enumerated above, the Authority has decided to take the following administrative actions: 1. Withdraw the temporary authorization granted to the consortium by the three media houses (under the consortium identified as Africa Digital Network). Subsequently the Authority shall reposes the frequency spectrum resources allocated with immediate effect; 2. Decline to continue with the process of issuance of a Network Facilities Provider Tier 2 License for self-provisioning to the three media houses, pursuant to Gazette Notice Number 9088 dated 19th December 2014. This is on account of the above violations of the legal and regulatory framework. The process shall therefore await the ruling and determination of the Competition Authority of Kenya and the Board of the Communications Authority of Kenya on the violations by the three media houses. 3. Liaise with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) to bar the importation of set top boxes by the three media houses considering the purported set top boxes are not type-approved by the Authority; and 4. Invite the Competition Authority of Kenya to investigate the cartel-like behavior and anti-competitive conduct and take appropriate regulatory remedies. We further wish to inform the public that registered vendors have in stock different models of approved Free-to-air and Pay-TV set top boxes that are readily available locally for purchase. More than 1.2 million set top boxes have been purchased since migration in Kenya began. At the moment, the market has more than 1.5 million set top boxes in stock. As we progress into the second phase of the analogue switch-off in the country, consumers are encouraged to purchase set top boxes of their choice ahead of switch-off in order to enjoy digital television. The withdrawal of the temporary self-provisioning authorization granted to the consortium and the repossession of the the allocated resources does not in any way prejudice the availability of the services of the three broadcasters. The broadcasters are at liberty to avail their content on the digital platform through the existing licensed Broadcast Signal Distributors. Let me reiterate that the Authority does not condone contraventions of the Act by any of its licencees. The Authority will continue to execute its regulatory mandate with a view to ensure successful migration of Kenyans from the analogue to the digital platforms and ultimately for the growth of the ICT sector in Kenya. Issued on 21st January 2015

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IGFSA Fellowship to support work of the IGF Secretariat
by Grace Githaiga 22 Jan '15

22 Jan '15

Might be of interest to some of you. https://www.igfsa.org/igfsa-fellowship-to-support-work-of-the-igf-secretari…

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