- KICTANet - KICTANet

Ecitizen and FAQs
by Henry Okatch 17 Feb '16

17 Feb '16

Hello all, Just need some clarification from anyody who has used eCitizen.go.ke recently or in the past to register a business name. The portal only has FAQs for EVISA and not EBUSINESS (s. My current dilemma is after applying for a business name search the application status is showing 'Reserved' but it is not clear what 'Reserved' means. Does it mean that the name has already been registered or it has been reserved so that I can register it. (Maybe they relook using the word reserved and replace it with AVAILABLE or NOT AVAILABLE) Anybody on this forum who can assist with my dilemma? -- Warm Regards Henry Cell +254721899572 _______________________________________________________________________________ *Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up, it knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a gazelle or a lion. When the sun comes up, you better start running.- In "The World is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman*

4 5

Press Statement: Digital Literacy Programme Proof of Concept (POC) Implementation Press Briefing
by Phyllis Nyambura 17 Feb '16

17 Feb '16

Dear all, Today,(15th Feb) a press briefing was held at the Ministry of ICT offices, to update on the implementation of the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP). The briefing was attended by CS, MOICT, Joe Mucheru, CS Energy & Petroleum, Charles Keter, CS Education, Dr Fred Matiangi, and PS Energy, Eng. Joseph Njoroge, PS Petroleum, Andrew Kamau, PS ICT and Innovation, Ag CEO, ICTA, Robert Mugo,CEO, KICD, Dr Julius Jwan among others. Among the key points were-: 1) Successful bidders who proceed to POC are the consortium of Moi University and JP Couto, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Positivo BGH. Moi University will cover 26 counties, while Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology will cover 21 counties. 2) The commencement of the Proof of Concept (POC) starts on 22nd February 2016. 3) Free internet will be offered to all public primary schools by Safaricom 4) Interactive Digital Content from KICD is available on http://kicdinteractivecontent.ac.ke/ 5) The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), is working towards liberalization of learning content and it’s availability on multiple platforms. This is a huge opportunity for the estimated 13 billion content industry which will build applications and independent content in e-learning. Full Statement on: http://digischool.icta.go.ke/press-statement-on-the-digital-literacy-progra… or attached View Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kenyaictboard/sets/72157664118104920 View Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTRnYBiYTJY Kind Regards, Phyllis Nyambura Communication The ICT Authority Telposta Towers, 12th Floor, Kenyatta Ave P.O. Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya t: + 254-020-2211960/62 | m: + 254 (0) 789396433 | e: pnyambura(a)ict.go.ke Email: info(a)ict.go.ke or communications(a)ict.go.ke Visit: www.icta.go.ke <http://www.ict.go.ke/> Become a fan: www.facebook.com/ICTAuthorityKE <http://www.facebook.com/kenyaictboard> Follow us on twitter: @ICTAuthorityKE --------------------- <http://www.connected.go.ke> -- ICT Authority Telposta Towers 12th Floor, Kenyatta Ave PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi Kenya Tel: +254 20 2211960 www.icta.go.ke

8 12

Fwd: [Internet Policy] India's net neutrality decision
by Barrack Otieno 17 Feb '16

17 Feb '16

Another angle of the Net Neutrality debate for those who may not have read it. Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: parminder <parminder(a)itforchange.net> Date: Sun, 14 Feb 2016 16:30:36 +0530 Subject: [Internet Policy] India's net neutrality decision To: "internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org" <internetpolicy(a)elists.isoc.org> (Apologies for cross postings) This is IT for Change's take on the Indian regulator's ground breaking decision, as the main op-ed in Deccan Herald http://www.deccanherald.com/content/528549/trais-historic-decision.html *NET NEUTRALITY :* TRAI's historic decision Parminder Jeet Singh, February 13, 2016 * As most public services go digital, it makes sense to ensure access to them free of data charges, as a citizen's right.* In its ruling on “Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services”, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has held that data services over the Internet are a commodity business whereby data cannot be discriminated on the basis of the content it carries. It also asserted its regulatory control over data services, which would be provided as a regulated public utility. This is a historic decision setting a high bar for maintaining complete Net Neutrality, and thus sanctifying the Internet in the Indian law, as a model of equal and non-discriminatory communication, information-exchange and networking. The Internet was always supposed to be so, but as it became the anchor of society-wide digital transformations, and thus a carrier of untold value and riches, it has been sought to be captured by big business in an exclusive market paradigm. This decision safeguards the Internet as being first an egalitarian social artifact, providing a social and economic level playing field for all, before it is a market good. The original net neutrality concern was with the quality of service-based discrimination, making for a tiered Internet. Strong advocacy the world-over resulted in telcos losing this battle. By early 2015, it appeared evident that quality-based differentiation was simply not going to pass public and regulatory muster. Quickly shifting their strategy, even the telcos begun to profess net neutrality, but seeking such exceptions that could still enable revenues from the content providers' side, which was their main objective. They argued that price-based discrimination, including zero rating, did not violate net neutrality because all content got the same quality of service. Taking a middle ground, regulators in the US and EU, and most other countries, while ex ante outlawing quality-based discrimination, left price-based discrimination to be subjected to ex post consideration, on a case to case basis. Promoters of price-based discrimination claimed that such practices are especially important for developing countries, helping their huge unconnected population come online faster. Facebook’s grand campaign promoting its zero-rated “Free Basics” service become the most visible manifestation of this particular spin. The most striking feature of TRAI’s ruling is that it has upended this logic. Noting that jurisdictions like the US and EU had left differential pricing for ex post consideration, the TRAI held the case of a developing country like India, with a huge unconnected population, to be more (rather than less) appropriate for banning differential pricing because such conditions especially allow the telcos to, problematically, “shape the users' Internet experience”. Maintaining that “what cannot be done directly, cannot also be done indirectly”, the ruling bans even models offering deferred free data allowance for accessing specific services which can later be used for accessing full Internet. The ruling is thus perhaps the most clear and absolute anywhere in the world in fully protecting what it calls as “the unique architecture of the Internet”, and allowing no loopholes. So strong is the economic attraction of gate-keeping data services that the slightest loophole would certainly be blasted into a gaping hole by big telcos and Net businesses, disfiguring Internet’s egalitarian architecture. Rejecting the argument that TRAI should act only ex post, on a case to case basis, it went with the contrary view that “differential tariff for data services goes against the basic features of the Internet and it needs to be restricted upfront on account of the far reaching consequences that it is bound to have on the structure of the Internet and the rights of stakeholders. Once such practices are allowed, it may not be possible to quantify, measure or remedy the consequences in the short to medium term.” With TRAI clarifying that data services would remain an undifferentiated commodity, telcos should now focus on extending the infrastructure and improving overall quality of service rather than eyeing revenue potential from the content providers' side. It gives both the data and content businesses a much needed certainty. This is especially important for the telcos in view of the forthcoming spectrum auction. The regulator has said that it will now examine quality of service based discrimination, the original net neutrality issue. However, having disallowed price-based discrimination, it is unthinkable how a regulator can allow quality-based discrimination, which is a more core net neutrality violation. A similar short regulatory order on quality-based discrimination, based on TRAI's existing powers, should firmly close the matter. Some misgivings have been expressed about the exemption of closed networks from the price discrimination ban. Can a telco develop its own channels of content and applications, outside the public Internet, available only to its own customers? The regulator insists that it will ensure that this exception is not misused for specifically undermining the spirit of the ruling. This is the ‘specialised services’ issue which other countries are also considering, and would require further discussions. Special networks like for tele-health services and motor-vehicle automation are cited as possibly requiring a different treatment. Emergency situations are also exempted by the ruling: personal ones, like health and personal safety related, and collective, like floods and earthquakes. This leaves open a window for other possible public interest exceptions, like essential public services, as designated by the regulator. As most public services go digital, it makes sense to ensure access to them free of data charges, as a citizen’s right. The ruling is silent on the question raised in the regulator's consultation about alternative ways to provide connectivity for the currently excluded, which received a lot of public inputs. This is understandable because this is a regulatory decision, on something within the regulator's own power. Alternative ways for expanding connectivity has to be in the form of TRAI's recommendations to the government, and taken up separately. However, this is an important and urgent issue raised by the “Free Basics” controversy, which should be addressed comprehensively and quickly. */(The writer is with Bengaluru-based NGO, IT for Change)/* -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno

1 0

Google, AccessNow, Facebook, CIVICUS, Internews Partner With PIN To Host Africa Internet Freedom Forum In Abuja, Nigeria
by Ephraim Percy Kenyanito 16 Feb '16

16 Feb '16

https://pinigeria.org/media-centre/blog/iff2016-google-accessnow-facebook-c… -- -- Best Regards, Ephraim Percy Kenyanito Sub-Saharan Africa Policy Analyst Access Now | accessnow.org @ekenyanito PGP: E6BA8DC1 Fingerprint: B0FA394AF73DEB7AA1FDC7360CFED26DE6BA8DC1 #IFF2016: Google, AccessNow, Facebook, CIVICUS, Internews Partner With PIN To Host Internet Freedom Forum In Abuja, Nigeria Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, with support from AccessNow, Google, Facebook, Civicus and Internews, will host this year’s Internet Freedom Forum in Abuja, on March 8 and 9, 2016. The theme of the pan-African event that will host delegates from Cameroun, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, among others, is */Rights are Rights, Online or Offline. /* Internet Freedom Forum is an annual forum that creates a platform for conversations on indices around Internet Freedom around the world. Internet Freedom Forum 2016 (#IFF2016) focuses on indices around Internet Freedom in African countries and the need to codify citizens’ right online. “The Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, which seeks to codify online rights in Nigeria, will be reviewed at the forum and presented as a model for adoption by other African countries,” according to ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director at Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN). The keynote for the event will be delivered by Nani Jansen, Legal Director at Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI). She has acted in freedom of expression cases before national and international courts, and human rights tribunals, including the European Court of Human Rights, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the East African Court of Justice, the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. #IFF2016 “Several experts, Internet Freedom advocates, journalists and government officials from all across Africa have confirmed participation at the event,” according to Adeboye Adegoke, Program Manager (ICT Policy) at PIN. Some of the confirmed panelists at the event include Hon. Chukwuemeka Ujam, Vice Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications; Edet Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda; Titi Akinsanmi-Bolarinwa, Lead, Policy and Government Relations, Google; Ebele, Okobi, Head of Public Policy, Africa, Facebook; Ephraim Percy Kenyanito, Sub-Saharan Africa Policy Analyst, AccessNow; Seun Onigbinde, Co-founder, BudgIT; popular blogger, Japheth Omojuwa; award-winning journalist, Tolu Ogunlesi; ‘Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director, Enough is Enough Nigeria; and ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria. The Nigerian Minister of Communications, National Security Adviser, Director General of Department of State Security Service, and Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission have been invited to provide government perspective to the conversation. PIN’s Chief Operating Officer, Tope Ogundipe, urged interested individuals and organizations to immediately register on the event’s website, www.pinigeria.org/iff <http://www.pinigeria.org/iff>, “…because participation at the event is strictly by invitation. Successful applicants will be contacted by the #IFF2016 Secretariat at Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, and application to attend will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis until February 20, 2016”.

1 0

PRINCE 2 Training Opportunty
by Harry Hare | African eDevelopment Resource Centre 16 Feb '16

16 Feb '16

Hello All, I thought some of you might be interested in this opportunity https://africane-prince2.eventbrite.com drop me a note should you need further information. Otherwise my apologies for cross posting. Kindest Regards Harry Hare Director | African eDevelopment Resource Centre PO Box 49475 00100 | Nairobi, Kenya Kenya +254 20 4041646 | Cel +254 725 650044 Nigeria + 234 814 636 4611

1 0

Proper Regulations will guide the success of special economic zones
by Mbugua Njihia 15 Feb '16

15 Feb '16

With vibrant SEZs, Kenya’s objectives of industrial transformation will be met and it calls for more concerted effort both by public and private sector to enhance dialogue and partnership to bring to reality the Kenyan dream of a united and prosperous nation where all peoples enjoy a high quality of life in a newly industrialized economy - http://www.mbuguanjihia.com/business/special-economic-zones.html ................................................................................................................................................................. Business, more than any other occupation, is a continual dealing with the future; it is a continual calculation, an instinctive exercise in foresight. ᐧ

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Australian Treasurer proposes 'Netflix Tax' for digital imports
by Ahmed Mohamed Maawy 14 Feb '16

14 Feb '16

I think we all understand how India is significantly ahead of us in matters technology. But still, read on: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pm-modis-big-push-for-startups-3-yr-tax-… I wish we were in any way close to this Mwendwa. On Wed, Feb 10, 2016 at 8:04 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva <lordmwesh(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Thanks Moses for this. > > Allow us to hijack the thread. > > Ahmed Maawy, what are these taxes you are talking about? Most governments > have hundreds of taxes, considering even to bury someone attracts levies. > I've heard this line of reasoning for a while. Maybe we can try to debunk > it. > > Regards > -- *Ahmed Maawy* Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO) Ambassador - Open Knowledge Director - Startup Grind Mombasa Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer (KE) +254 714 960 627 Skype: ultimateprogramer swahilibox.co.ke www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/> startupgrind.com ajplus.net www.everylayer.com

5 8

Australian Treasurer proposes 'Netflix Tax' for digital imports
by Mose Karanja 14 Feb '16

14 Feb '16

Australia: Feb 10 Digital products such as books, movies, games, apps and e-books purchased by Australians from overseas could soon attract the Goods and Services Tax (GST), popularly ‘ Netflix Tax’. The Treasurer (equivalent of Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Finance) argues that this will level the playing field between Australian and overseas businesses. Importantly, for the government especially, is the possible USD60 Million tax that can be collected annually. The EU and Japan are seen as trend setters on this. This is a policy issue we may be having in Kenya very soon, if it is hasn’t started as yet. Link to the story: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/treasurer-introduces-… <http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/treasurer-introduces-…> --- Moses Karanja | @Mose_Karanja <https://twitter.com/Mose_Karanja> | PGP: 0x1529552F <https://pgp.mit.edu/pks/lookup?op=index&fingerprint=on&search=0x1529552F>

5 4

Net Neutrality around the world
by Mwendwa Kivuva 13 Feb '16

13 Feb '16

Council of Europe adopted a recommendation on the protection and promotion of freedom of expression and the right to a private life with regard to net neutrality. Users’ rights should not be restricted by means of blocking, slowing down, or discriminating Internet traffic. https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=CM/Rec(2016)1&Language=lanEnglish&Ver=o… As Free Basics was banned from India and Egypt. World Development Report by the World Bank raised concerns on the protection of net neutrality principles. http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2016… -- ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya twitter.com/lordmwesh

2 1

(no subject)
by Nanjira Sambuli 11 Feb '16

11 Feb '16

Yes indeed! Cell C has been a case study in a number of papers on zero-rating as a strategy for late market entrants to gain market share. I hypothesise that it's the case with Airtel as well, though at the same time, they are calling for regulation of the very OTTs they also zero-rate... Telco business is intriguing business! Regards, Nanjira. Sent from my iPhone. > On 11 Feb 2016, at 19:29, kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote: > > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > You can reach the person managing the list at > kictanet-owner(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Interesting Article Re SA, Cell C and Zero-Rating As a Tool > to Combat Market Dominance (Ebele Okobi) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:23:35 +0000 > From: Ebele Okobi <ebeleokobi(a)fb.com> > To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: [kictanet] Interesting Article Re SA, Cell C and Zero-Rating > As a Tool to Combat Market Dominance > Message-ID: <D2E2267C.35345%ebeleokobi(a)fb.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/663/140682.html > > Why Cell C is fighting for unregulated OTT services > By: Stuart Lewis<http://www.bizcommunity.com/Search/196/663/s-Stuart+Lewis.html> > > Founded in 2001, seven years after its two biggest competitors, Cell C is still largely a new kid on the block. However, in its stand against the regulation of OTT services like Whatsapp, it has drawn a line in the sand, with Vodacom and MTN on one side and itself, OTTs and the South African consumer on the other. To understand why it makes perfect sense for Cell C to do this, you have to understand the industry that it is operating in. > The South African mobile market is divided into two kinds of operators: those that own infrastructure, and those that piggyback off of infrastructure built and owned by other companies. The four largest players in the country are, in order, Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom - all of whom built and maintain their own real world network of cellphone towers and other connections. > > > > > > The rest of the market is divided up between Neotel (those guys who are constantly digging cable trenches across busy roads) and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) like FNB Mobile and Virgin Mobile. MVNOs sell phones and contracts but use infrastructure built by other networks. For the most part, they are hosted on Cell C's network. > > As of April last year, the South African mobile network was estimated to consist of around 80 million connections, though this has undoubtedly grown significantly since then. Vodacom still controls the largest market share, though their subscriber base has largely stagnated and is starting to decline. > > MTN is rapidly closing in on Vodacom, however, and has grown steadily over the last four years. Cell C is growing at a significantly faster rate and is starting to capture much more of the market but still lags behind its much older competitors. > > Cell C is dwarfed by these two companies who are either the biggest African mobile operator, like MTN, or owned by the world's second largest telecommunications company, like Vodacom. It also only entered the South African market long after MTN and Vodacom were already household names so it is constantly playing a game of catch-up. > > In order to make up the deficit in infrastructure and customer base, Cell C has to be innovative and follow the demand in the industry rather than protect its profits. "Cell C is the challenger network," said Cell C's chief legal officer, Graham Mackinnon, in a recent radio interview. > > "We've had to come up with products that are very customer-friendly in order to attract customers to ourselves... We have worked out a model that says it would be best to embrace change, to embrace the OTTs and try and find ways to satisfy our customers." > > All their rhetoric around the OTT hearings has focused on the "anti-consumer" practices of MTN and Vodacom and how embracing rather than regulating OTTs will benefit consumers, thereby positioning themselves as the network on the consumer's "side". > > Putting the rhetoric aside, Cell C has recognised where the future of mobile usage is going and has realised that by pre-empting that growth they can steal a march on their competitors and maybe even grow past them. To this end, they offered zero-rated Whatsapp leading up to the OTT meeting in parliament to "show their support" and now offer a R5/30 days Whatsapp bundle. > > Since Whatsapp is the most used social platform in South Africa with upwards of 16 million users, this is an incredibly smart move. It also supports the next two most popular platforms - Facebook and Facebook Messenger - with its free Facebook offer. Cell C is openly and unapologetically targeting these platforms. > > We should not even begin to think that Cell C's positioning of itself as a crusader for our right to access these kinds of services means that it is in this battle for anything more than an increased market share and customer base. But for now, its interests align with the greatest benefit to the South African consumer. > [Description: Description: Description: cid:[email protected]] > > Ebele Okobi | Head of Public Policy, Africa > m. +44 (0) 771 156 1315 > 2 Stephen St | London | W1T 1AN > ebeleokobi(a)fb.com > > > > From: Ebele Okobi <ebeleokobi(a)fb.com<mailto:[email protected]>> > Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 8:16 PM > To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:[email protected]>> > Cc: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke<mailto:[email protected]>> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: Re: [global-nn] Colonialism in the Digital World > > I just wanted to say that we at Facebook STRONGLY reject the sentiments expressed by Marc Andreesen last night regarding India. > > He does not speak for us. > > Ebele Okobi | Head of Public Policy, Africa > m. +44 (0) 771 156 1315<tel:+44%20(0)%20771%20156%201315> > 10 Brock Street | London<x-apple-data-detectors://0/1> | NW1 3FG > ebeleokobi(a)fb.com<mailto:[email protected]> > > [6F376569-CC77-422B-BAD3-794055B1E02B] > > On Feb 10, 2016, at 7:20 PM, Ali Hussein via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > > Listers > > The issue of Net Neutrality is becoming pretty hot.. Marc Andreessen sparked a furious tweet storm by suggesting that India would have been better off under British rule because of the recent decision on Internet pricing and 'free' access. > > See link below. > > Africa needs to define its own Net Neutrality rules..And this needs to be done yesterday. > > Ali Hussein > Tel: +254 713 601113 > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: <director(a)ipop.org.pk<mailto:[email protected]>> > Date: Feb 10, 2016 4:42 PM > Subject: Re: [global-nn] Colonialism in the Digital World > To: <azrak_khan(a)hotmail.com<mailto:[email protected]>>, <global-nn(a)lists.riseup.net<mailto:[email protected]>> > Cc: > > > Famed venture capitalist criticized India net neutrality rule and tweeted India would have done better economically under the British Empire. > > http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-10/marc-andreessen-pro-colon…<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.bloomberg.com_news_…> > > Arzak > > Sent by Outlook<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__taps.io_outlookmobile&d…> for Android > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:[email protected]> > https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.kictanet.or.ke_m… > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.kictanet.or.ke_m… > > 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. >

1 0