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Fwd: Fw: Reuters.com - Kenya sees $5-$10 bln ICT investments by 2010
by Margaret Gichuki 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

--- On *Mon, 3/23/09, Reuters_News(a)reuters.com <Reuters_News(a)reuters.com>*wrote: From: Reuters_News(a)reuters.com <Reuters_News(a)reuters.com> Subject: Reuters.com - Kenya sees $5-$10 bln ICT investments by 2010 [image: Reuters] <http://www.reuters.com/> Kenya sees $5-$10 bln ICT investments by 2010<http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idAFLN25512420090323> Mon Mar 23 13:19:15 UTC 2009 * Kenya sees foreign ICT investment booming * Says multinationals interested in back-office operations By Duncan Miriri NAIROBI, March 23 (Reuters) - Kenya expects $5-$10 billion of foreign investment from communication technology firms by next year, a senior government official said on Monday. East Africa's biggest economy is set to link up with the rest of the world via broadband from June through three undersea telecoms cables. "I would comfortably estimate that next year, even with a very poor economy, we will probably see between $5-$10 billion coming," Bitange Ndemo, permanent secretary at the ministry of information and communication, told Reuters in an interview. He said international firms that had expressed interest in investing included Google <GOOG.O>, Accenture <ACN.N> and General Electric <GE.N>. "We are seeing huge interest by multinational companies who want (to) take advantage of these connections and the availability of many youths who are educated to create back offices in this country," he said. Kenya's government is fronting one fibre-optic cable worth $110 million that will link it with the United Arab Emirates. The chief executive of SEACOM, a $700 million private equity venture, said on Monday that sales of bandwidth capacity were going well ahead of its cable's completion in June. [ID:nLN478381] Analysts say enhanced telecoms infrastructure has the same growth potential as mobile telephony, which has grown exponentially in the world's poorest continent in recent years. (Editing by Daniel Wallis; editing by Simon Jessop) This service is not intended to encourage spam. The details provided by your colleague have been used for the sole purpose of facilitating this email communication and have not been retained by Thomson Reuters. Your personal details have not been added to any database or mailing list. If you would like to receive news articles delivered to your email address, please subscribe at www.reuters.com/newsmails © Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world. Quotes and other data are provided for your personal information only, and are not intended for trading purposes. Thomson Reuters and its data providers shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the quotes or other data, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

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Kenya going Open Source route...
by Gakuru Alex 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/Local/Kenya-going-Open-Source-route-185… Questions and comments are most welcome,, Alex

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Ten African countries sign alliance for e-commerce
by alice 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

Balancing Act Ten countries sign alliance for e-commerce Ten African countries have signed up to the "Pan African Alliance for E-Commerce," a new ICT based program launched by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The Alliance hopes to establish and encourage the use of “Single Window” across the continent, which is an electronic platform where traders undertake transactions online. The system is believed to reduce the need for paperwork. The main aim of the alliance is said will intensify cooperation and initiate common projects of interest to African countries and sub-regions. Senegal, Tunisia and Mauritius have such platforms, dramatically reducing the time it takes to clear customs in those countries. So far 10 African countries have signed with the alliance while a number of other countries are expected to join the alliance in the next few months Ibrahim Nour Eddine Diane, president of executive committee of the alliance, told journalists at the launching ceremony this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Cameron, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Ghana, Morocco, Gabon, Libya, Togo and Kenya were listed as the 10 countries that have signed with the alliance. It is the first of its kind on the continent, and the signatories hope to encourage more countries to create their own single windows platforms that would become part of the wider network. The Pan-African Alliance on e-Commerce seeks to set up a framework for exchange of Single Window experiences in Africa and establish a mechanism to assist countries in the development of Single Windows. It also plans to ensure Africa’s representation in international forums and contribute to the development of the concept at a global level. Putting in place a platform of resources for facilitating the establishment of regional Single Windows and improving existing projects and facilitating cooperation with other regions of the world, notably through the establishment of pilot paperless projects with countries of Asia, Europe and America is also mentioned as main target of the alliance. In addition, the alliance also acts as focal point for development partners and international institutions active in the promotion of Single Windows in Africa. (Source: Africa News)

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POLE SIGANGA
by charles nduati 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

hi Brother Waudo, I saw a funeral mesage in the nation lats week, and I believe it concerns your family, so pole sana and may God sooth your souls. Kindly let us know of the arrangements Charles CHARLES N. NDUATI GENERAL MANAGER JKUAT ENTERPRISES LTD JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY JUJA MAIN CAMPUS, THIKA P. O. BOX 79324-00200 NAIROBI, KENYA TEL: 254-067-52420 OR 254-067-52711 FAX: 254-067-52438 MOBILE:254-722728815 EMIAL:[email protected],[email protected],[email protected] www.jkuat.ac.ke

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Food for thought : ICANN should be reformed before 'privatization']
by alice 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

Dear All, This has just been released and is worth reading. Now, where do we, in Africa, stand in this debate? And how best could we promote the voices (if any?) of African business & Industry sectors and the Governments ? Pierre Dandjinou ICANN Should be Reformed Before "Privatization", Says New Study <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090317_study_icann_reform_before_privatizat…> http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090317_study_icann_reform_before_privatizat… * Mar 17, 2009 4:33 PM PDT * Comments: 1 <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090317_study_icann_reform_before_privatizat…> * Views: 568 Print <http://www.circleid.com/posts/print/20090317_study_icann_reform_before_priv…> Comment <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090317_study_icann_reform_before_privatizat…> By *CircleID Reporter* <http://www.circleid.com/members/501/> The Technology Policy Institute (TPI), an IT and communications policy think tank, has just released a paper proposing that "ICANN's governance structure should be dramatically reformed to make it more accountable before the current tie with the U.S. Department of Commerce is allowed to expire." The paper titled /"ICANN At a Crossroads: a Proposal for Better Governance and Performance"/ is written by Thomas M. Lenard, President and Senior Fellow at TPI, along with Lawrence J. White, Professor of Economics at the NYU Stern School of Business. The 52-page study also asserts that ICANN must have a clear focus on encouraging competition with minimal role as a regulator with respect to the creation of new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs). * * * *Executive Summary* The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)—the non-profit company that is at the center of the Internet—has operated under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) since 1998. The MOU was replaced in September 2006 by the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) between ICANN and the DOC, which expires in August 2009. At that time, a decision needs to be made about ICANN's future. Should the JPA tie with the U.S. Government be retained? Or should the link be wholly severed, as ICANN advocates? And, in either case, what governance structure would best promote Internet efficiency and innovation? This paper evaluates the structure and governance of ICANN to help inform the upcoming decision. In particular, it reviews ICANN's structure and functions, and also the structures of a number of other organizations that perform a roughly comparable range of private-sector and quasi-governmental coordination and standard-setting functions, to explore what might be applicable to ICANN. We find that although ICANN has control over extremely important aspects of the Internet, it is largely accountable to no one. No organization with ICANN's level of responsibility operates with the independence that ICANN enjoys, even under the current arrangement of nominal oversight by the U.S. Department of Commerce. ICANN's proposal for complete privatization and termination of the DOC's oversight would make the accountability problem worse. Virtually all of the organizations that we reviewed are governed by their direct users, and we believe that this would be a good model for ICANN as well; it would also be consistent with the reduced regulatory role that we envision for ICANN. Governance by its direct users—the registries and the registrars—would provide the external accountability that could allow for eventually ending ICANN's ties with the U.S. Government. However, we recommend that the new structure be permitted to operate for a while, to allow time for evaluation, before severing those ties. We also address the issue of ICANN's status as a de facto regulator. ICANN's recent proposal to expand the number of generic top-level domains (gTLDs) highlights a distinct choice between alternative regulatory approaches: On the one hand, ICANN could proceed under the assumption that the market for gTLDs is not (and perhaps cannot be) at least workably competitive (as the U.S. Government apparently believes). ICANN would then assume greater public-utility type regulatory responsibilities. Alternatively, ICANN could allow relatively free entry into the domain space, in order to bring the benefits of a competitive gTLD market to consumers. We favor the latter approach, which is consistent with our proposal concerning governance reform. For free entry to work well, however, ICANN needs a less costly mechanism for protecting the intellectual property associated with domain names in order to address the problems of defensive registrations and cybersquatting. Our specific recommendations are as follows: * The JPA should be extended beyond its current expiration date. In the absence of changes in governance along the lines that we recommend, the JPA is particularly important. If our recommended changes are adopted, they should be permitted to become established before allowing the JPA to expire. * ICANN should remain as a nonprofit organization, but its governance should be restructured, so that it is governed by and directly accountable to its direct users: the registries and the registrars. Seats on ICANN's board of directors could be rotated among the major operators in a manner that would reflect the diversity of viewpoints among registries and registrars. * ICANN should have a clear mission of encouraging competition. This implies a minimal role as a regulator with respect to the creation of new gTLDs. Instead, ICANN should adopt a relatively automatic way of introducing gTLDs, whereby any entity that meets a set of minimum technical and financial qualifications for being a registry should be able to be certified to become a registry for any gTLD that is not already taken. * For this "open entry" policy to be workable and beneficial, ICANN must also strengthen the protections for incumbent domain name holders, so that they are not subject to "nuisance" or "ransom" demands from new registries; adopting an IP registry and strengthening ICANN's "uniform dispute resolution policy" (UDRP) could be part of these improved protections. These four recommendations are complementary, and combined they would significantly further the goals of Internet efficiency and innovation. * * * *Related Links:* Lenard-White Study [PDF]: ICANN at a Crossroads: A Proposal for Better Governance and Performance <http://www.techpolicyinstitute.org/files/icann%20at%20a%20crossroads1.pdf> Press Release: ICANN Should be Reformed Before "Privatization" - Lenard-White Study Proposes New Governance Structure <http://www.techpolicyinstitute.org/news/show/23120.html> ITU Website: The Technology Policy Institute <http://www.techpolicyinstitute.org/> *Other sources:* UPDATED Mar 19, 2009 12:50 PM PDT ICANN at a Crossroads: Please Choose Carefully <http://blog.pff.org/archives/2009/03/icann_at_a_crossroads_please_choose_ca…> Mike Plage, PFF, Mar.19.2009 *Related topics:* DNS <http://www.circleid.com/topics/dns>, Domain Names <http://www.circleid.com/topics/domain_names>, Internet Governance <http://www.circleid.com/topics/internet_governance>, Policy & Regulation <http://www.circleid.com/topics/policy_regulation>, Top-Level Domains <http://www.circleid.com/topics/top_level_domains>

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The latest on Cybersquatting from WIPO
by alice 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

Latest Cybersquatting Stats from WIPO <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wipo/> http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wipo/ * Mar 16, 2009 12:23 PM PDT * Comments: 2 <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wipo/#co…> * Views: 686 Print <http://www.circleid.com/posts/print/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wi…> Comment <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wipo/#ad…> By *CircleID Reporter* <http://www.circleid.com/members/501/> Latest Cybersquatting Stats from WIPO According to latest reports from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO <http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/>), allegations of cybersquatting by trademark holders continued to rise in 2008, with a record 2,329 complaints filed under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP <http://www.icann.org/en/udrp/udrp-policy-24oct99.htm>). This represented an 8% increase over 2007 in the number of generic and country code Top Level Domain (gTLDs and ccTLDs) disputes handled and brings the total number of WIPO cases filed under the UDRP since it was launched ten years ago to over 14,000. To improve efficiency and respond to growing demand, WIPO has proposed an "eUDRP Initiative <http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/amc/en/docs/icann301208.pdf>” [PDF] to render the UDRP paperless. *Countries Involved* Since the launch of the UDRP in December 1999 through December 2008, the WIPO Center has received 14,663 UDRP or UDRP-based cases—both gTLDs <http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/gtld/> and ccTLDs <http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/cctld/>—covering 26,262 separate domain names. US, France, UK, Germany, Switzerland and Spain were the most frequent bases for complainants, while the US, the UK, China, Spain, Canada, and France were the most represented countries by named respondent party. English was the most common language for WIPO case proceedings (86%) in 2008 as the majority of domain names involved were registered with US-based registrars. Cases were also processed in 12 other languages, including (in order of frequency) Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Italian, Romanian, Russian, Hebrew and Portuguese. The character set of the disputed domain names themselves remained overwhelmingly ASCII (English alphabet), with a small number of names in Chinese, French, Hebrew, Spanish, and Swedish. *Generic TLDs Involved* The .com gTLD remained the solid leader in terms of the number of domain names included by complainants in cases filed with WIPO (79%). *Sectors Involved* According to data from WIPO, in 2008 cases covered a wide variety of sectors, reflecting prevailing public interest, business activity and upcoming events (e.g., Singapore Flyer observation wheel, Madrid 2016 Olympic bid, Montreal Jazz Festival, Golden Globes); transportation (e.g., Air France, Austrian Airlines, BMW, Lufthansa, Southwest Airlines, Subaru); hotels (e.g., Taj Hotels, InterContinental Hotels, The Sheraton/Westin Hotels); media and publishing (e.g., the BBC, Edmonton Journal, National Geographic, Harvard University Press); educational institutions (e.g., The John Hopkins University, Sydney University, Yale University, TOEFL); computers and electronics (e.g., Research in Motion's BlackBerry, computer manufacturer Gateway, Samsung); sports teams, leagues and personalities (e.g., English Premier League, the Arsenal Football Club, as well as its player Cesc Fàbregas, yachting's Volvo Ocean Race, former basketball star Dennis Rodman, Adidas); actors and personalities past (e.g., Ian Fleming, Gene Kelly) and present (e.g., Scarlett Johansson); fashion (e.g., Christian Dior, Lancôme); popular culture (e.g., Barbapapa, Bob the Builder, Marvel Comics' Xmen); numerical identifiers (e.g., 4711); and other familiar enterprises and groups such as Breitling, Canada Post, Coca-Cola, Ebay, Ghirardelli Chocolate, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Google, Hard Rock Café, LEGO, Nestlé, Ticketmaster, and Western Union. A case was also filed by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation in relation to the Monticello estate. The top five sectors for complainant business activity were biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, banking and finance, Internet and IT, retail, and food, beverages and restaurants. WIPO's complete announcement can be found here <http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2009/article_0005.html#3>. *Other sources:* UPDATED Mar 18, 2009 11:16 AM PDT WIPO Cybersquatting Report Ignores Real UDRP Trends <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090318_wipo_cybersquatting_report_ignores_r…> Antony Van Couvering, Mar.18.2009 WIPO's Misleading Release <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090317_wipo_misleading_release_domain_dispu…> Michael Geist, Mar.17.2009 Record Cybersquatting Cases As WIPO Seeks New Trademark Protections <http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/03/16/record-cybersquatting-cases-as-wi…> IP Watch, Mar.16.2009 Record cases of 'cybersquatting' in 2008: UN <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wipo/Cyb…> Reuters, Mar.16.2009 UN warns on new web domains <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/15710d0e-1172-11de-87b1-0000779fd2ac.html> FT, Mar.16.2009 *Related topics:* Cybersquatting <http://www.circleid.com/topics/cybersquatting>, Domain Names <http://www.circleid.com/topics/domain_names>, Domain Registries <http://www.circleid.com/topics/domain_registries>, Law <http://www.circleid.com/topics/law>, Top-Level Domains <http://www.circleid.com/topics/top_level_domains>

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Re: [kictanet] Disturbing Advert or appropriate local content?
by Marie-Anne Kinyanjui 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

It is quite a disturbing ad... Walu, I think it would be prudent to alert the Advertising Practitioners Association - they have the power to remove controversial ads. I don't have their exact contacts but annette(a)accessleoburnett.co.ke and rmukoma(a)ibea.co.ke should be able to help. -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+mkinyanjui=nation.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Pamela Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 12:56 PM To: Marie-Anne Kinyanjui Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' Subject: Re: [kictanet] Disturbing Advert or appropriate local content? Dear Walu, You may also want to send your concern to the Chairman PSK (Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya) for some guidance, as there are regulations governing advertising of medicinal products. The email: pskkenya(a)yahoo.com, to the attention of Dr. Karanja, Chairman PSK pamela -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+pamela=cardiacimplants.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:[email protected] ] On Behalf Of alice Sent: 20 March 2009 11:38 To: pamela(a)cardiacimplants.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Disturbing Advert or appropriate local content? I guess within the scramble for customers this is one example. This is a complex issue and people are likely to respond differently to this kind of content( indeed content generally). And it also depends on whether it is on television or radio, in a cinema film, on the Internet, in the press etc. So while you may find it offensive, I may find it very informative and educative. So what harm is this advert likely to cause our youth against any benefits? difficult to know/measure and again quite complex. So important to balance "harm and offence". Re: complaints process etc both institutions are responsible at various levels. best alice (Views expressed are personal and not a reflection of any of the institutions I am affiliated with) John Walubengo wrote: > By the way Alice, your post reminds me...there's this little Advert running on FM Radio stations about "the emergency pill". I must confess that I personally find it disturbing - particular when put in the context of our listening youth. > > I have a whole thesis on why it should be pulled off air and just wondering where to submit the same. Is it to CCK or Media Council? Either way, could someone share the email contact for receiving customer complaints against Media? > > walu. > > --- On Thu, 3/19/09, alice <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: > > >> From: alice <alice(a)apc.org> >> Subject: [kictanet] African media fragmentation piles the pressure on radio and TV stations as they scramble for audiences >> To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >> Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 10:12 PM >> (From Balancing Act) >> >> African media fragmentation piles the pressure on radio and >> TV stations as they scramble for audiences >> >> Once upon a time everyone knew what television and radio >> were and they played a key role in people's lives. >> Particularly for urban Africans they were the soundtrack to >> life, the sports match in the bar and the common >> conversations about television programmes. Nowadays in the >> more liberalised of African countries there are more >> television and radio stations than you can remember the >> names of and for the smaller group of the more well-off, >> there are pay TV channels, time-shifting and DVDs. And all >> that's before you take into account SMS information >> services and the Internet which are eating away at the edges >> of the audiences. Russell Southwood looks at the >> fault-lines. >> >> Dakar will shortly have 7 television stations, not >> including the three Pay-TV channels you can get if you can >> afford them or can pirate a service. Lagos has 13 television >> stations and perhaps three main Pay-TV channels. Kinshasa >> has over 40 television stations, many of which simply show >> pirated television content. In this circumstance, no channel >> will get more than 20-30% of audience share on a regular >> basis. >> >> Pay-TV may seem a very modest presence in most countries >> but because it is widely watched in public places, it >> audience reach is understated by its subscriber numbers. >> Furthermore, piracy means that a large number of additional >> subscribers (sometimes double the number) are watching >> without paying for content. >> >> Vernacular radio has exploded and the number of radio >> stations is exponentially larger than for television >> stations as many of them are much more local. Uganda has 150 >> stations and Kenya over 90. But whilst radio might have a >> wider and deeper audience reach than television, the >> fragmentation makes it difficult for advertisers to reach >> their audiences. >> >> The standard broadcasting formats that seemed to serve so >> well in less competitive times are now being taken apart and >> put back together by the viewers and listeners themselves. >> Legitimate and pirated DVDs provide a steady stream of >> relatively cheap entertainment, particularly of films. >> Recent releases may command a better price but three >> relatively old action action movies (Bruce Lee, Stephen >> Seagal, that kind of thing) can be bought for around US$2. >> PVRs, streaming and catch-up downloads will all become a >> reality as part of the dividend of cheaper bandwidth in >> 2009. >> >> Middle class Africans are using a growing array of devices. >> Laptop use is growing as sales of this kind of computer >> begin to equal those of desktop PCs. High-end smart phones >> like Blackberries and iPhones are increasingly visible. One >> African carrier has 800,000 high-end phones on its network. >> >> These devices are not just for doing work or making phone >> calls. They have become media in their own right. Recent >> surveys show that in North Africa 3-7% of the population >> cited SMS as one of their most used daily information >> sources. Likewise the Internet is set to have a much greater >> impact with the spread of broadband subscriptions. >> >> According to Alexa.com, Facebook and You Tube are already >> amongst the Top 10 sites in the African countries that it >> analyses. Again based on survey work, between 1-8% of the >> population used the Internet daily across a range of very >> different countries. With cheaper international bandwidth, >> these figures will increase slowly but surely. Mobile >> Internet will become cheaper and play an increasingly large >> role in people's lives. >> >> Current ad spend on the Internet and SMS is tiny but ad >> money will migrate as it gets larger. This is money that >> will most likely be lost to newspapers which seem the most >> vulnerable as the media landscape's tectonic plates begin >> to shift. >> >> So what can the African broadcaster do faced with all of >> this? There are two ways to stay in the game: by using new >> media to extend the appeal of interesting content across all >> platforms and by stealing new media's best ideas and using >> them to survive. Unfortunately too few TV stations have >> invested in convincingly local TV content that might well >> provide the adhesive that would keep viewers eyeballs glued >> to the their channel. >> >> This article is a summary of a more detailed analysis in >> the recently published African Film and TV Yearbook. A list >> of contents can be found by clicking on the following link: >> http://www.balancingact-africa.com/yearbook.html >> >> The second part of the Yearbook contains a full listing of >> African film and television companies broken down by country >> as well as a section with useful international addresses for >> anyone in the sector in Africa. There is also two specially >> focused listings: one looks at Film Location Agencies and >> Screen Commissions across the continent and the other lists >> companies and education institutions providing film and >> television training. >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >> > > > > > _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: pamela(a)cardiacimplants.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pamela%40cardiacimp lants.com _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mkinyanjui(a)nation.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mkinyanjui%40nation .co.ke DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is intended for the use of the stated recipient only. 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Book your Exhibition stand now
by Joseph Ochola 22 Mar '09

22 Mar '09

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Short-Term ICT Consultancies in Southern Sudan
by Shem Ochuodho 21 Mar '09

21 Mar '09

Opportunity has arisen for 2 short-term experts on Video-Conferencing and Government E-Mail System Development in Southern Sudan. Any communication should be addressed to the contacts given on the attachments. Shem J. Ochuodho, MSc (Eng), PhD, LLD (Hon) Senior Advisor Ministry of Telecom & Postal Services Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), Juba Cell: +249-955-021-040/+256-477-232025/+254-734-137371 Skype: shem.ochuodho

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FW: 13th Executive Course on Telecom Reform, 20 - 24 April 2009, Cape Town, South Africa
by Edith Adera 21 Mar '09

21 Mar '09

FYI - for those interested in this course supported by IDRC. Edith adera ________________________________ From: CPRsouth [info(a)cprsouth.org] Sent: March 20, 2009 7:22 AM To: Khaled Fourati Subject: 13th Executive Course on Telecom Reform, 20 - 24 April 2009, Cape Town, South Africa Please forward this call to those interested in Telecom Reform in your organisation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 13th Executive Course on Telecom Reform will be held from 20 - 24 April, 2009, in Cape Town, South Africa. It is being offered by the Edge Institute and the University of Cape Town Business School. Themed, ‘Connectivity and Convergence: Alternative Regulatory Strategies for Telecommunications’, the course is designed to enhance the strategic thinking of a select group of senior decision-makers in telecom and related sectors in Africa and elsewhere. After having been offered in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America, this executive programme is now being offered in Africa to meet the challenges it faces in this sector. Target delegate profiles include decision-makers in telecommunications and related sectors in Africa including government; regulatory agencies; operators; unions, ICT journalists, consumer groups and NGOs active in the sector Confirmed faculty members include Rohan Samarajiva, CEO of LIRNEasia, Alison Gillwald, Associate Director, the Edge Institute and Tracy Cohen, former Councillor on the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. Further details, including registration information, are available at http://www.gsb.uct.ac.za/gsbwebb/EMEBrochure.asp?intpagenr=583. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you and regards CPRsouth

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Nathan and the Mobile Operators
by Alex Gakuru 20 Mar '09

20 Mar '09

Interesting article...http://manypossibilities.net/2009/03/nathan-and-the-mobile-operat…

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African media fragmentation piles the pressure on radio and TV stations as they scramble for audiences
by alice 20 Mar '09

20 Mar '09

(From Balancing Act) African media fragmentation piles the pressure on radio and TV stations as they scramble for audiences Once upon a time everyone knew what television and radio were and they played a key role in people’s lives. Particularly for urban Africans they were the soundtrack to life, the sports match in the bar and the common conversations about television programmes. Nowadays in the more liberalised of African countries there are more television and radio stations than you can remember the names of and for the smaller group of the more well-off, there are pay TV channels, time-shifting and DVDs. And all that’s before you take into account SMS information services and the Internet which are eating away at the edges of the audiences. Russell Southwood looks at the fault-lines. Dakar will shortly have 7 television stations, not including the three Pay-TV channels you can get if you can afford them or can pirate a service. Lagos has 13 television stations and perhaps three main Pay-TV channels. Kinshasa has over 40 television stations, many of which simply show pirated television content. In this circumstance, no channel will get more than 20-30% of audience share on a regular basis. Pay-TV may seem a very modest presence in most countries but because it is widely watched in public places, it audience reach is understated by its subscriber numbers. Furthermore, piracy means that a large number of additional subscribers (sometimes double the number) are watching without paying for content. Vernacular radio has exploded and the number of radio stations is exponentially larger than for television stations as many of them are much more local. Uganda has 150 stations and Kenya over 90. But whilst radio might have a wider and deeper audience reach than television, the fragmentation makes it difficult for advertisers to reach their audiences. The standard broadcasting formats that seemed to serve so well in less competitive times are now being taken apart and put back together by the viewers and listeners themselves. Legitimate and pirated DVDs provide a steady stream of relatively cheap entertainment, particularly of films. Recent releases may command a better price but three relatively old action action movies (Bruce Lee, Stephen Seagal, that kind of thing) can be bought for around US$2. PVRs, streaming and catch-up downloads will all become a reality as part of the dividend of cheaper bandwidth in 2009. Middle class Africans are using a growing array of devices. Laptop use is growing as sales of this kind of computer begin to equal those of desktop PCs. High-end smart phones like Blackberries and iPhones are increasingly visible. One African carrier has 800,000 high-end phones on its network. These devices are not just for doing work or making phone calls. They have become media in their own right. Recent surveys show that in North Africa 3-7% of the population cited SMS as one of their most used daily information sources. Likewise the Internet is set to have a much greater impact with the spread of broadband subscriptions. According to Alexa.com, Facebook and You Tube are already amongst the Top 10 sites in the African countries that it analyses. Again based on survey work, between 1-8% of the population used the Internet daily across a range of very different countries. With cheaper international bandwidth, these figures will increase slowly but surely. Mobile Internet will become cheaper and play an increasingly large role in people’s lives. Current ad spend on the Internet and SMS is tiny but ad money will migrate as it gets larger. This is money that will most likely be lost to newspapers which seem the most vulnerable as the media landscape’s tectonic plates begin to shift. So what can the African broadcaster do faced with all of this? There are two ways to stay in the game: by using new media to extend the appeal of interesting content across all platforms and by stealing new media’s best ideas and using them to survive. Unfortunately too few TV stations have invested in convincingly local TV content that might well provide the adhesive that would keep viewers eyeballs glued to the their channel. This article is a summary of a more detailed analysis in the recently published African Film and TV Yearbook. A list of contents can be found by clicking on the following link: http://www.balancingact-africa.com/yearbook.html The second part of the Yearbook contains a full listing of African film and television companies broken down by country as well as a section with useful international addresses for anyone in the sector in Africa. There is also two specially focused listings: one looks at Film Location Agencies and Screen Commissions across the continent and the other lists companies and education institutions providing film and television training.

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Re: [kictanet] Disturbing Advert or appropriate local content?
by Kanja Waruru 20 Mar '09

20 Mar '09

Walu, i have been told many times a good adv is the one that provokes and gets the audience attention. this one is a good adv because it grabbed Walu's attention and we are now debating it. but to answer you the media council is very much alive and kicking and you can contact Ms Esther Kamweru on email info(a)mediacouncil.or.ke website:www.mediacouncil.or.ke regards. Kanja --- On Fri, 3/20/09, John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Disturbing Advert or appropriate local content? > To: kanjawaruru(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Friday, March 20, 2009, 2:18 AM > > Complex is indeed the term. And depending on your > scientific convictions on when life actually begins i.e. is > at conception or after birth? Then this emergency pill > could be "abortion over the counter" and last time I checked > abortion was still illegal in Kenya. What media is > therefore doing is promoting the culture of death and > impunity that is already rampant in our society. > > But that's my thinking and If I can get the correct email > for Media Council I can submit more details/points. Makali, > Kanja is this Media Council thing still active or was it > overtaken by the new Kenya Communication Amendment Act > (2008)? > > walu. > --- On Fri, 3/20/09, alice <alice(a)apc.org> > wrote: > > > From: alice <alice(a)apc.org> > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Disturbing Advert or > appropriate local content? > > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Date: Friday, March 20, 2009, 12:38 PM > > I guess within the scramble for customers this is one > > example. > > > > This is a complex issue and people are likely to > respond > > differently to > > this kind of content( indeed content generally). And > it > > also depends on > > whether it is on television or radio, in a cinema > film, on > > the Internet, > > in the press etc. So while you may find it offensive, > I may > > find it very > > informative and educative. > > > > So what harm is this advert likely to cause our youth > > against any > > benefits? difficult to know/measure and again quite > > complex. So > > important to balance "harm and offence". > > > > Re: complaints process etc both institutions are > > responsible at various > > levels. > > > > best > > alice > > > > (Views expressed are personal and not a reflection of > any > > of the > > institutions I am affiliated with) > > > > > > > > > > John Walubengo wrote: > > > By the way Alice, your post reminds me...there's > > this little Advert running on FM Radio stations about > > "the emergency pill". I must confess that I > > personally find it disturbing - particular when put in > the > > context of our listening youth. > > > > > > I have a whole thesis on why it should be pulled > off > > air and just wondering where to submit the same. > Is it to > > CCK or Media Council? Either way, could someone share > the > > email contact for receiving customer complaints > against > > Media? > > > > > > walu. > > > > > > --- On Thu, 3/19/09, alice <alice(a)apc.org> > > wrote: > > > > > > > > >> From: alice <alice(a)apc.org> > > >> Subject: [kictanet] African media > fragmentation > > piles the pressure on radio and TV stations as they > scramble > > for audiences > > >> To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > >> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > >> Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 10:12 PM > > >> (From Balancing Act) > > >> > > >> African media fragmentation piles the > pressure on > > radio and > > >> TV stations as they scramble for audiences > > >> > > >> Once upon a time everyone knew what > television and > > radio > > >> were and they played a key role in > people’s > > lives. > > >> Particularly for urban Africans they were > the > > soundtrack to > > >> life, the sports match in the bar and the > common > > >> conversations about television programmes. > > Nowadays in the > > >> more liberalised of African countries there > are > > more > > >> television and radio stations than you can > > remember the > > >> names of and for the smaller group of the > more > > well-off, > > >> there are pay TV channels, time-shifting and > DVDs. > > And all > > >> that’s before you take into account SMS > > information > > >> services and the Internet which are eating > away at > > the edges > > >> of the audiences. Russell Southwood looks at > the > > >> fault-lines. > > >> > > >> Dakar will shortly have 7 television > stations, not > > >> including the three Pay-TV channels you can > get if > > you can > > >> afford them or can pirate a service. Lagos > has 13 > > television > > >> stations and perhaps three main Pay-TV > channels. > > Kinshasa > > >> has over 40 television stations, many of > which > > simply show > > >> pirated television content. In this > circumstance, > > no channel > > >> will get more than 20-30% of audience share > on a > > regular > > >> basis. > > >> > > >> Pay-TV may seem a very modest presence in > most > > countries > > >> but because it is widely watched in public > places, > > it > > >> audience reach is understated by its > subscriber > > numbers. > > >> Furthermore, piracy means that a large number > of > > additional > > >> subscribers (sometimes double the number) > are > > watching > > >> without paying for content. > > >> > > >> Vernacular radio has exploded and the number > of > > radio > > >> stations is exponentially larger than for > > television > > >> stations as many of them are much more > local. > > Uganda has 150 > > >> stations and Kenya over 90. But whilst radio > might > > have a > > >> wider and deeper audience reach than > television, > > the > > >> fragmentation makes it difficult for > advertisers > > to reach > > >> their audiences. > > >> > > >> The standard broadcasting formats that seemed > to > > serve so > > >> well in less competitive times are now being > taken > > apart and > > >> put back together by the viewers and > listeners > > themselves. > > >> Legitimate and pirated DVDs provide a steady > > stream of > > >> relatively cheap entertainment, particularly > of > > films. > > >> Recent releases may command a better price > but > > three > > >> relatively old action action movies (Bruce > Lee, > > Stephen > > >> Seagal, that kind of thing) can be bought > for > > around US$2. > > >> PVRs, streaming and catch-up downloads will > all > > become a > > >> reality as part of the dividend of cheaper > > bandwidth in > > >> 2009. > > >> > > >> Middle class Africans are using a growing > array of > > devices. > > >> Laptop use is growing as sales of this kind > of > > computer > > >> begin to equal those of desktop PCs. > High-end > > smart phones > > >> like Blackberries and iPhones are > increasingly > > visible. One > > >> African carrier has 800,000 high-end phones > on its > > network. > > >> > > >> These devices are not just for doing work or > > making phone > > >> calls. They have become media in their own > right. > > Recent > > >> surveys show that in North Africa 3-7% of > the > > population > > >> cited SMS as one of their most used daily > > information > > >> sources. Likewise the Internet is set to have > a > > much greater > > >> impact with the spread of broadband > subscriptions. > > >> > > >> According to Alexa.com, Facebook and You Tube > are > > already > > >> amongst the Top 10 sites in the African > countries > > that it > > >> analyses. Again based on survey work, between > 1-8% > > of the > > >> population used the Internet daily across a > range > > of very > > >> different countries. With cheaper > international > > bandwidth, > > >> these figures will increase slowly but > surely. > > Mobile > > >> Internet will become cheaper and play an > > increasingly large > > >> role in people’s lives. > > >> > > >> Current ad spend on the Internet and SMS is > tiny > > but ad > > >> money will migrate as it gets larger. This > is > > money that > > >> will most likely be lost to newspapers which > seem > > the most > > >> vulnerable as the media landscape’s > tectonic > > plates begin > > >> to shift. > > >> > > >> So what can the African broadcaster do faced > with > > all of > > >> this? There are two ways to stay in the game: > by > > using new > > >> media to extend the appeal of interesting > content > > across all > > >> platforms and by stealing new media’s best > ideas > > and using > > >> them to survive. Unfortunately too few TV > stations > > have > > >> invested in convincingly local TV content > that > > might well > > >> provide the adhesive that would keep viewers > > eyeballs glued > > >> to the their channel. > > >> > > >> This article is a summary of a more detailed > > analysis in > > >> the recently published African Film and TV > > Yearbook. A list > > >> of contents can be found by clicking on the > > following link: > > >> http://www.balancingact-africa.com/yearbook.html > > >> > > >> The second part of the Yearbook contains a > full > > listing of > > >> African film and television companies broken > down > > by country > > >> as well as a section with useful > international > > addresses for > > >> anyone in the sector in Africa. There is also > two > > specially > > >> focused listings: one looks at Film Location > > Agencies and > > >> Screen Commissions across the continent and > the > > other lists > > >> companies and education institutions > providing > > film and > > >> television training. > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > > >> kictanet mailing list > > >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > >> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > >> > > >> This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at > > >> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: kanjawaruru(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kanjawaruru%40yahoo.com >

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Discounted Rates to attend the 1st East African WiMAX Conference & Expo 24-26 March 2009, Safari Park Hotel Nairobi
by John Mwangi 19 Mar '09

19 Mar '09

Dear AITEC Supporter, Due to the great interest that the upcoming conference has received from the market we have been requested by a few of privately sponsored delegates to lower the registration fee in order to accommodate every one for the conference. In this regard we have revised our rate for the 3 day conference to 17,400 inclusive of 16% VAT. Please take this early opportunity and register before Friday the 20th March 2009 deadline. I have attached the final conference programme and the booking form for your consideration, kindly email back the registration form duly filled to confirm your participation. Very limited spaces are available so please hurry. I look forward for your feedback and to assist you with your booking. Kind regards, John Mwangi Managing Director AITEC East Africa Showbe Plaza Muranga Road PO Box 13891-00800, Nairobi, Kenya * (Office) +254 20 2121028 * (Cell) +254 721 860 228 * <mailto:[email protected]> johnm(a)aitecafrica.com <http://www.aitecafrica.com/> www.aitecafrica.com

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Kenya National BPO Week - 7th to 9th April 2009
by Peres Were 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

'Under the auspices of the Ministry of Information and Communications' Proud Sponsors Include: cid:3320036433_125206 For Bookings Contact Joe or Grace Studio House, along Argwings Kodhek road, 2nd floor E-mail: <mailto:[email protected]> secretariat(a)kenyabposociety.or.ke Website: <http://www.kenyabposociety.or.ke> www.kenyabposociety.or.ke Tel. No. /020-2391301/ 0722-663176/ 0733-917518

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WIPO-Proposed New gTLD Trademark-Based Post-Delegation Procedure
by alice 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center has released a detailed proposal for a trademark-based post-delegation dispute resolution procedure involving new gTLD registries. http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/resources/icann/index.html. WIPO's proposed post-delegation procedure addresses registry behavior that causes or materially contributes to trademark abuse, whether through the TLD itself or through domain name registrations in the TLD, as further described in item 2 of the letter. Sincerely, WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center PS You may also wish to refer to our new Press Release at http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2009/article_0005.html. ------ World Intellectual Property Organization Disclaimer: This electronic message may contain privileged, confidential and copyright protected information. If you have received this e-mail by mistake, please immediately notify the sender and delete this e-mail and all its attachments. Please ensure all e-mail attachments are scanned for viruses prior to opening or using. _______________________________________________

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join the liveblog on management of African ccTLDs
by Rebecca Wanjiku 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

join liveblog on beckyit.blogspot.com Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/

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Kenya National BPO Week 7th to 9th April 2009
by Peres Were 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_Kenya.png> px Proud Sponsors Include Under the Auspices of the Ministry of Information and Communications For bookings contact: Joseph or Grace Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society. Studio House, along Argwings Kodhek road, 2nd floor E-mail: secretariat(a)kenyabposociety.or.ke Tel. No. /020-2391301/ 0722-663176/ 0733-917518

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Secure ICT 2009 Conference Nairobi, Kenya
by Evans Kahuthu 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

FYI, You are invited to attend the 1st annual Information Communication Technology & Network Security (Secure ICT) Conference, September 8 and 9, 2009 at the Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi Kenya. Secure ICT 2009 is a "must attend" event for those tasked with protecting personal or confidential information in a rapidly changing technological environment. The security of ICT infrastructure is of critical importance as Enhanced high-speed Internet is coming to East and Southern Africa as early as June 2009 by way of a new undersea fiber optic cable linking the continent to India and Europe (Seacom;Eassy;Teams). This conference will bring security experts to provide information technology and communication professionals and managers with the latest information on cyber security threats, trends, tools and strategies for protection of critical information technology and communications assets. The conference will offer two concurrent tracks, Information Security Management and Incident Response and Information Security Technology and Operations. The sessions on these two track have been carefully selected to address the specific needs of ICT managers and technical staff. For more information, please visit our website http://secureict.co.ke Sincerely, Evans Kahuthu

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Fw: Grants for African college students
by John Walubengo 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

for the interested universities... walu. --- On Thu, 3/12/09, Juma, Calestous <calestous_juma(a)harvard.edu> wrote: > From: Juma, Calestous <calestous_juma(a)harvard.edu> > Subject: Grants for African college students > To: "'david.dickson(a)scidev.net'" <david.dickson(a)scidev.net> > Date: Thursday, March 12, 2009, 6:17 AM > BOSTON, MA-- One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is beginning a > summer grant program in which up to 100 teams of university > students from around the world will distribute thousands of > XO laptops to children in Africa this summer. > > Partnering with schools and non-governmental organizations > in Africa, undergraduate and graduate students from around > the world will provide educational opportunities that > facilitate self-expression and exploration for children. > > OLPC is providing each team with 100 XO laptops, related > hardware, and up to $10,000 for operating costs. Student > teams will have the opportunity to attend an orientation > workshop in Kigali, Rwanda from June 8-17. > > Afterwards, they will spend nine weeks in an African > nation, working directly with local community partners to > integrate the XO into primary education. > OLPC founder and Chairman Nicholas Negroponte said that the > new program "represents a determined effort by OLPC to > engage university students worldwide in bringing an > education revolution to children living in some of the most > remote places on Earth. > > By empowering students from a multitude of countries and > cultures to act as agents of change, the belief that all > children have a right to quality education -- regardless of > where they happen to live -- will spread across the > globe." > > To date, OLPC has put over 500,000 XO laptops into the > hands of children all across the world. The One Laptop per > Child association developed a low-cost laptop -- the > "XO Laptop" -- to revolutionize how we educate the > world's children. > > OLPC's mission is to provide educational opportunities > for the world's poorest children by providing each child > with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with > content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, > self-empowered learning. > > The OLPCorps program features a high level of local > community involvement, as local schools and NGOs will > sustain the project for years to come. > *** > One Laptop per Child - Africa Grant Program Students have > played a pivotal role in every revolution, except > learning. That will change in 2009. Through One Laptop > per Child, student teams from around the world will each > deploy 100 XO-laptops throughout Africa this summer. If you > are an undergraduate or graduate student with an interest in > education, technology or capacity building, our summer grant > program will provide you with unprecedented hands-on > experience. > > Student Teams will: • travel to one of the 53 African > countries of their choosing for 9-10 weeks • participate > in a 10-day orientation in Kigali, Rwanda at OLPC's > office• receive up to $10,000 per team for operating > costs• deploy 100 XO laptops, including hardware and > support• collaborate with up to 100 other teams as part of > a life-long global network empowering a generation • send > a representative to MIT/OLPC's all-expense paid summit > from October 10-12, 2009. > > OLPCorps Africa Members will be active members of our > innovative 1 to 1 laptop-learning project and hold key roles > as leaders in our grassroots movement. The OLPC summer > grant program, which is a full-time commitments, begins June > 8. Teams will work closely with the One Laptop per Child > team to design and implement XO deployments, join a uniquely > African OLPC network, and lead a growing social movement. > How to apply: For more information on OLPCorps Africa and > specific application requirements, please visit our website: > http://laptop.org/en/participate/get-involved/OLPCorps.shtml. > Proposals must be received by March 27th. Contact OLPCorps > (OLPCorps(a)laptop.org) with any questions or concerns.

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[Fwd: [i-network] Introducing the Uganda ICT Consumer Protection Association]
by alice 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

*Introducing the **Uganda ICT Consumer Protection Association (UICPA)* Following a series of discussions on various mailing lists and especially on the I-Network ICT Mailing list for the past 2 to 3 years in regard to ICT services and products in Uganda, a few individuals decided to explore the idea of bringing together grieving ICT consumers. These individuals have now set up the Uganda ICT Consumer Protection Association. The association recognises the existing institutions and channels of dealing with consumer concerns and will work collaboratively with these institutions with the aim of improving ICT services and goods for the consumers. >From Internet services to voice services and all the way to hardware products, the situation is running out of control, and the few bodies mandated to protect consumers like the Uganda Communications Commission and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards seem to be overwhelmed by their wide mandates, limited budgets and inadequate human resources. The association is membership based and membership is open to all ICT consumers and stakeholders. The association aims at achieving the following: 1. Providing a collective platform / voice through which ICT consumers concerns can be addressed, for example billing complaints 2. Addressing poor quality of voice and data services 3. Addressing ICT goods and services pricing irregularities that result in loss of money by consumers 4. Evaluating performance of the universal service fund under the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC). 5. Addressing the high failure rate of hardware, for example promotional mobile phones As a start, the association has been duly registered and letters of introduction were sent out in February 2009 to various stakeholders informing them of the set up of the new association including Uganda Communications Commission, Ministry of ICT, Uganda National Bureau of Standards and Uganda Consumer Protection Association. *How will these aims be achieved?* The association will provide complementary activities and services to the already existing channels and institutions for addressing the above 5 issues. This will be done through 3 main approaches: 1. *Awareness creation:* The association shall carry out awareness creation and sensitisation activities within ICT consumers. This shall be aimed at making them more aware of their rights as ICT consumers, provide them with information on the channels and institutions that provide solutions and redress for complaints raised and above all work with service and goods providers to ensure that information regarding customer care, access, availability and reach are easily available and known by ICT consumers. 1. *Advocacy:* The association shall carry out advocacy for better, revised and new consumer laws as well as the upholding and consideration of ICT consumers in Uganda. The advocacy shall be based on the consumers’ experience and emergent issues that shall arise as the association carries out its aims. The advocacy activities shall also seek to get better terms from goods and service providers in the country to allow ICT consumers and providers enjoy mutual benefits. 1. *Collective Voice:* The association shall register and take note of issues, complaints and compliments from ICT consumers regarding ICT goods and services in the country. The association shall seek redress for ICT consumers on a collective basis where issues with service and goods providers have been reported to providers, relevant government authorities and yet no action has been taken. The association shall use its strength in numbers to seek for a solution for these issues. The association shall provide a forum to ICT consumers to discuss and share information on issues affecting ICT consumers in the country. The association shall use this forum and the knowledge generated at the forum to carry out advocacy and awareness activities as part of the development of the ICT sector in Uganda. For more information on the association and how it can help you please contact the association Plot 53 Kira Road Kamwokya Bukoto Email: report(a)ictconsumer.or.ug Web: _www.ictconsumer.or.ug <http://www.ictconsumer.or.ug/>_ -- Wire Lunghabo James Linux Solutions Blog: http://www.computerworld.co.ug/blogs/wire-james => Share One Computer among 10 users working simultaneously <= => Reduce computer electricity bills by 60% <= => Lower your expenses on computer servicing by 50% <= => Significantly Reduce IT support costs <= **** Contact Linux Solutions today for the ideal solution **** "For Exceptional Services, Innovative and High quality Products" Office: +256-312-278767 Cell: +256-712-726609 Visit web site <http://d2.dgroups.org/iicd/i-network> Click here <mailto:[email protected]> to unsubscribe The email is intended only for the recipients. The owners of the Dgroups cannot be held responsible for the contents of the email message.

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IGF liveblog session
by Rebecca Wanjiku 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

If you would like to follow the live sessions from Mauritius, please visit beckyit.blogspot.com Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/

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Two major blunders on KTN's "the presenter"
by Maina Samson 16 Mar '09

16 Mar '09

Just observed some two blunders with KTN's concluded "the Presenter" show. Who else did? 1. Calling a commercial break while on stage already holding the envelop containing the name of the winner. That, to me, is supposed to be the most transparent stage and even if its good to create some suspense, create it with Cameras on the envelop. Otherwise it will become very hard to convince the genera viwers other than those in the Lyco regency that nothing happened to the envelop during that break. Nevertheless, Fahreed Khimani is a great MC, so are Melly and the Yu CEO. 2. Taking a commercial break as indicated in (1) above to advertise "Orange- together we can do more" just when the Yu CEO is busy on stage trying to capture the crowds with his good MC talent. If I were doing the programming, zain, Safcom or Ornage would not have featured anywhere. For all goodness sake, Yu were the sponsors!!!!!! Regards, Samson Major

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media bias consequences,,, a good example
by Gakuru Alex 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

[Throughout KCA discussions most, including our learned friends, were erroneously made to believe the media that this was just but terrible, no-good, plain "anti-media law." Now (save for into the third month) it's good continue emerging. The author's embarrassment and belated admission of the positives leaves one wondering what the ordinary (wo)man on the street thinks of the law? Does it make a classic "media misinformation" research case? I had hoped that un-biased content obligations by this law were highlighted. This gives information consumers the opportunity to make their most informed and independent view of all media features --AlexG] ---- March 15, 2009 Nairobi-Kenya In Kenya’s recent legislative history, fewer pieces of legislation have enjoyed as much bad press as the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill (now Act) 2008 (The KCAA). Admittedly, when a colleague in the industry recently asked me to articulate the positive aspects of the Act, I was embarrassingly surprised that I did not already have something I could e-mail him right away. A lot of the material that was out there seemed to harp on one perceived shortcoming in the Act or the other. In order to atone for my somewhat unbalanced analysis of the Act (but without recanting my previous opinions about its shortcomings), I took the time to prepare this feature-length commercial about its positive virtues.... <http://michaelmurungi.blogspot.com/2009/03/ten-reasons-to-spare-positive-th…>

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Conficker/Downadup Evolves To Defend Itself]
by alice 14 Mar '09

14 Mar '09

Conficker/Downadup Evolves To Defend Itself Worm develops ability to disable antimalware tools, switch domains more frequently By Tim Wilson, DarkReading <http://www.darkreading.com/> March 12, 2009 URL:http://www.darkreading.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=215900041 The enigmatic Conficker worm has evolved, adopting new capabilities that make it more difficult than ever to find and eradicate, security researchers say. In a blog published late last week <https://forums2.symantec.com/t5/Malicious-Code/W32-Downadup-C-Digs-in-Deepe…>, researchers at Symantec said they found "a completely new variant" of Conficker, sometimes called Downadup, that is being pushed out to machines previously infected with earlier versions of the worm. The new variant, which Symantec calls W32.Downadup.C, appears to have defensive capabilities that weren't present in earlier versions. While it spreads in the same manner, "Conficker.C" can disable some of the tools used to detect and eradicate it, including antivirus and other antimalware detection tools. W32.Downadup C also can switch domains at a much greater rate, Symantec said. "The Downadup authors have now moved from a 250-a-day domain-generation algorithm to a new 50,000-a-day domain generation algorithm," the researchers reported. "The new domain generation algorithm also uses one of a possible 116 domain suffixes." A report from CA about Conficker.C <http://www.ca.com/us/securityadvisor/virusinfo/virus.aspx?id=77976> confirms Symantec's findings, although the CA researchers said the jump from 500 to 50,000 domains will not occur until April 1. The ability to quickly switch domains will make it difficult for Internet security organizations, such as ICANN and OpenDNS, to block the domains used by the worm, industry experts note. The new variant emerges just as some vendors have come out with tools they say will eradicate the worm. Enigma Software today issued a new, free tool <http://www.enigmasoftware.com/> that it says will remove Conficker.A and Conficker.B from infected machines. A spokesman says the company has begun work on the new variant. And BitDefender also is offering a free tool <http://www.bdtools.net/> it says will remove all variants of the worm. Perhaps the most disconcerting aspect of the worm is that although it has reportedly infected hundreds of thousands of machines, it does not, as yet, seem to have a purpose. Although it has been contacting domains and spreading itself through various means, security experts say it has yet to be given a task -- such as distributing spam or launching a DDoS attack -- and researchers are still uncertain as to what it might be used for. And some experts say there may be other exploits that behave like Conficker/Downadup. "BitDefender Labs has been seeing an increase in worms, like Downadup, that have a built-in mathematical algorithm, generating strings based on the current date," says Vlad Valceanu, BitDefender's senior malware analyst. "The worms then produce a fixed number of domain names on a daily basis and check them for updates. This makes it easy for malware writers and cybercriminals to upgrade a worm or give it a new payload, as they only have to register one of the domains and then upload the files." /Have a comment on this story? Please click "Discuss" below. If you'd like to contact/ Dark Reading's /editors directly, send us a message <mailto:[email protected]>/ Copyright © 2007 CMP Media LLC <http://www.cmpnet.com/> _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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