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Fw: [Fibre-for-africa] Article from HANA
by alice＠apc.org 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

Submarine Fiber-optic Cable Connectivity in the Balance > > HANA, 30 May 2006. > > Efforts to complete the encircling of Africa by a modern submarine fiber > optic telecommunication could suffer a major blow if the parties involved > fail to reach an agreement in the near future. By: Alari Alare Kenneth > > starts/ > > Efforts to complete the encircling of Africa by a modern submarine fiber > optic telecommunication cable could suffer a major blow if the parties > involved fail to reach an agreement in the near future. > > Following the successful implementation of SAT-3/WASC/SAFE, providing > high > quality and high bandwidth telecommunications services to Western and > Southern Africa, and with Northern Africa served by a number of other > submarine cable systems, the next logical step is to provide the East > Coast of Africa with submarine fiber-optic cable connectivity. This will > complete the encircling of Africa by a modern submarine fiber optic > telecommunications network. > > However, this could be hampered by a few factors at play, one being that > the project is a joint initiative between governments and private telcos > including the incumbents in participating countries. > > EASSy is expected to establish an undersea cable system to connect the > region with the rest of the world. EASSy should be commercially viable to > provide the owners with opportunities to benefit directly from the > international traffic. > > It is anticipated that by the time fiber cable lands at the coastal city > of Mombasa in Kenya, a backhaul (local) transmission link will have been > laid to further link Uganda through Malaba. > > According Peter K Kenduiywo Telkom Kenya, linking the hinterland will > through the East Africa Digital Transmission System (EADTS) forming the > Kenya ? Uganda backhaul (local) transmission link. > > "The basic EADTS configuration is a SDH transmission system, from > Mombasa to Malaba through Nairobi with Spurs to major towns within the > country", he said. > >>From Mombasa, it will pass through towns including Voi, Mtito-Andei, > Nairobi, Longonot, Naivasha, Nakuru, Kericho, Timboroa, Eldoret, > Muhoroni, Kisumu, Bungoma and finally Malaba to link Uganda. > > However, the project's groundbreaking, which was scheduled for March > this year, is yet to take place with well-placed sources saying that the > slim financial base is casting dark clouds over the completion of the huge > project. > > The consortium has so far raised only US$ 110 million out of the > required US$ 290 to stay on schedule. This due to the fact that some of > the members in consortium are state owned incumbent telcos struggling to > stay afloat while others heavily depend on their cash strapped governments > for financing. > > The other issue posing a lot of challenge to the success of the project is > the model of ownership. While one group is pushing for open access on > grounds of affordability, another group is pushing for a closed model > arguing that the project should be operated fully as a commercial venture. > > While giving his views to Hana, Joseph Mucheru, the immediate former > chairman of the Telecommunications Service Providers of Kenya (TESPOK) > and > a director with the biggest Internet Service Provider in Kenya, Wananchi > Online told us that EASSy should be run like a business entity, "Am not > entirely sure about the whole definitions of Open or Closed access, > stakeholders better adopt an hybrid model. This is because I think profits > are important for the sustainability of any business/project and unless > this services will be provided for free it is important to ensure a > business model is adopted and not just a social model", said Mucheru. > > However, an industry player and a member of the WGIG (Working Group on > Internet Governance) ahead of last year's WSIS Waundo Siganga also the > chairman of the Computer of Kenya has shown his support for the Open > Access model, "EASSy should adopt an Open Access Model so that all > investors have equal opportunity and rights". He adds that the World Bank > should be involved as a debt financier to the project. > > Debate is currently raging as to whether EASSy should be built along an > Open Access model, or should be closely controlled by the operators and > investors that will inject funds in it. The view of the World Bank, which > is eager to provide loan financing to the cable system, is that EASSy will > deliver better value to users in Eastern and Southern Africa if it is > built and run along the Open Access model. > > The World Bank has said it wants the cable to be accessible to anybody who > is not an investor in EASSy, but in future wants to use the cable. It says > those operators should access the EASSy system at rates and terms > comparable to those at which investors in EASSy access it. > > Under the Open Access model, EASSy would be owned by a Special > Purpose > Vehicle (SPV), meaning a company that would sell bandwidth to whoever > wants to buy it. This SPV would not offer telecoms services as that would > place it an advantage compared to other users of the EASSy bandwidth. > > The MoU partners reject this argument. Instead, they propose that new > operators intending to benefit from the cable should invest in it too. > > At one point, Mucheru posed, "The World Bank involvement in what way. And > to serve what purpose, as a bank they can either give loans or grants, and > it is not clear to me what the funding mechanism the consortium has chosen > and therefore cannot answer this question." > > He adds: "EASSy should be a business like any other and be allowed to have > competitors. This is the only way to ensure the regions benefits and does > not support another monopoly model, it can be an expensive mistake". > > What about Nepads involvement; "Nepad should not be responsible for > developing a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) managing the financing > process. They should also not be involved in choosing board members for > the EASSy SPV", says Waundo who sat on the Working Group on Internet > Governance. > > A group of big telecommunication firms are pushing for the Sat 3 model > whose monopolist structure has not helped kept the cost of > telecommunication down in the west and southern African region. > > While the battle on the model continues, Kenya Data Network (KDN) who is > also one the consortium members is busy laying out fiber optic in Kenya > hoping that by the time EASSy lands in Mombasa, they would have > completed > the project that should see fiber optic link between the port of Mombasa > traversing through Kenya's hinterland all the way to Kenya Uganda border. > > Source: Highway Africa News Agency <http://hana.ru.ac.za/> (Free > subscription is required). > > > ------------------------------------------------------ > Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director > Association for Progressive Communications > anriette(a)apc.org > http://www.apc.org > PO Box 29755, Melville, South Africa. 2109 > Tel. 27 11 726 1692 > Fax 27 11 726 1692 > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

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Fwd: CAN ICT HELP FIGHT HIV/AIDS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE?
by constance georgina 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

Constance Georgina Khaendi Walyaro President-Citron Wood AP-Oxfam International Youth Parlaiment East Africa Region Focal Point-Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS constance(a)youthaidscoalition.org Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

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Wananchi Appoints new CEO
by Alice Wanjira 12 Jun '06

12 Jun '06

Congratulations Mucheru, Njeri and all at Wananchi best alice ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joseph Mucheru" <mucheru(a)wananchi.com> To: <alice(a)apc.org> Sent: Friday, June 09, 2006 5:06 PM Subject: [Kictanet] Wananchi Appoints new CEO > > Wananchi Online has finally merged with ISP Kenya and The Board of > Directors reports the following changes to its structure as well as > changes to the management structure, as the company prepares for its > intended Initial Public Offering. > > Njeri Rionge steps down as CEO at the end of June 2006, but remains > on the Board of Directors. > > Mr. James Gachui remains the Chairman of the board, while Sandeep > Mangat and Hamish Govani join Njeri Rionge, Joseph Kamau and Subash > Handa as Directors on the board. There will be further changes to the > board as the Company continues to enhance its Corporate Governance > structures which will be announced in due course. > > Joseph Mucheru, the Strategy and Business Development Director and Co- > founder is now the acting CEO. He is also the current Chairman of the > Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK) > and has been instrumental in providing strategic input in ICT policy > and regulations both at Wananchi Online and the Industry as a whole. > > Sandeep Mangat and Hamish Govani, who were executive Directors of ISP > Kenya, join Wananchi Online as the Corporate Sales Director and > Projects Director, respectively and both bring a wealth of industry > experience on Internet based communications for Corporates to > compliment the current retail solutions provided by Wananchi Online. > > Wananchi Online continues to enhance its Corporate brand, products > and services, business processes and continued innovative > technologies to deliver customer satisfaction to its clients. > > The Board of Directors > Wananchi Online Limited > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alice%40apc.org

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Invitation to a meeting to discuss the Kenya Information
by Alice Wanjira 11 Jun '06

11 Jun '06

(Apologies for cross posting) Dear Colleagues The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) invites you to a one-day workshop Meeting on Friday 16 June 2006 from 8:00 to 5:30 to discuss the Information Communication Bill 2006 at the Jacaranda Hotel, Gazebo Banda. The Ministry of Information and Communications finalized the ICT Policy Early this year and Cabinet approved it. Subsequently, KICTANet has Established a team to facilitate a comprehensive review of the draft ICT Bill to make substantial recommendations for those who will finalize it. The Key issues to be addressed include context, construction and implementation Of the bill. Your participation to this workshop will be highly appreciated and we look Forward to having you there. To RSVP please contact Judy Kimiti on Tel number 6751323 or Cell number 0722-716020, email jkimiti(a)email.kictanet.or.ke before 13th June 2006 Thank You Yours Sincerely, Judy Kimiti Events and logistics coordinator Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTAnet) Enclosed Agenda

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e-Govt security questions
by Wainaina Mungai 11 Jun '06

11 Jun '06

Great progress in eGovt. especially http://www.immigration.go.ke/kenyan_ppt.php...however, I came across the attached ppt detailing internet security issues and abuse of the eGovt facilities e.g. a politician's campaign website is on the govt servers ;-) etc Security will be a critical determant of the success of eGovt / Digitisation campaign. --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. > -------Original Message------- >

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Re: [Kictanet] eGov in Action?
by Andrew Limo 11 Jun '06

11 Jun '06

Thanks Harry for the compliment. Making such services interactive is the next phase in the modernization of government service delivery channels in Kenya. Your feedback and suggestions from other users invaluably help us chart the way forward. Regards, Andrew e-Govt, Kenya Harry Harry <harry(a)aitecafrica.com> wrote: st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } Dear Colleagues, Today I was pleasantly surprised when from the conform of my home office, download a passport renewal application form from the department of Immigration website (http://www.immigration.go.ke/kenyan_ppt.php) . The Department has a fairly useful site that guides visitors on how to apply for various travel and immigration documents including Visas and Passes. My further request to for the site to enable visitors to actually fill the forms online! This would have saved me another KSh 3000 to courier the forms to Nairobi from Dar es Salaam. All the same, this is a good start. For that I would like to register my heartfelt congratulations to all those involved in this initiative. Harry -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.3/360 - Release Date: 6/9/2006 _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrew.limo%40yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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eGov in Action?
by Harry Harry 10 Jun '06

10 Jun '06

Dear Colleagues, Today I was pleasantly surprised when from the “conform” of my home office, download a passport renewal application form from the department of Immigration website (HYPERLINK "http://www.immigration.go.ke/kenyan_ppt.php"http://www.immigration.go.ke/ke nyan_ppt.php) . The Department has a fairly useful site that guides visitors on how to apply for various travel and immigration documents including Visas and Passes. My further request to for the site to enable visitors to actually fill the forms online! This would have saved me another KSh 3000 to courier the forms to Nairobi from Dar es Salaam. All the same, this is a good start. For that I would like to register my heartfelt congratulations to all those involved in this initiative. Harry -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.3/360 - Release Date: 6/9/2006

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US House rejects Net neutrality rules
by Wainaina Mungai 10 Jun '06

10 Jun '06

--- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. > -------Original Message------- > From: Maja Andjelkovic <mandjelkovic(a)iisd.ca> > Subject: [wsisyouth] US House rejects Net neutrality rules > Sent: 09 Jun '06 16:47 > > House rejects Net neutrality rules > By Declan McCullagh > Staff Writer, CNET News.com > > The U.S. House of Representatives definitively rejected the concept of > Net neutrality on Thursday, dealing a bitter blow to Internet companies > like Amazon.com, eBay and Google that had engaged in a last-minute > lobbying campaign to support it. > > By a 269-152 vote that fell largely along party lines, the House > Republican leadership mustered enough votes to reject a Democrat-backed > amendment that would have enshrined stiff Net neutrality regulations > into federal law and prevented broadband providers from treating some > Internet sites differently from others. > > http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6081882.html > >

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Wananchi Appoints new CEO
by Joseph Mucheru 09 Jun '06

09 Jun '06

Wananchi Online has finally merged with ISP Kenya and The Board of Directors reports the following changes to its structure as well as changes to the management structure, as the company prepares for its intended Initial Public Offering. Njeri Rionge steps down as CEO at the end of June 2006, but remains on the Board of Directors. Mr. James Gachui remains the Chairman of the board, while Sandeep Mangat and Hamish Govani join Njeri Rionge, Joseph Kamau and Subash Handa as Directors on the board. There will be further changes to the board as the Company continues to enhance its Corporate Governance structures which will be announced in due course. Joseph Mucheru, the Strategy and Business Development Director and Co- founder is now the acting CEO. He is also the current Chairman of the Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK) and has been instrumental in providing strategic input in ICT policy and regulations both at Wananchi Online and the Industry as a whole. Sandeep Mangat and Hamish Govani, who were executive Directors of ISP Kenya, join Wananchi Online as the Corporate Sales Director and Projects Director, respectively and both bring a wealth of industry experience on Internet based communications for Corporates to compliment the current retail solutions provided by Wananchi Online. Wananchi Online continues to enhance its Corporate brand, products and services, business processes and continued innovative technologies to deliver customer satisfaction to its clients. The Board of Directors Wananchi Online Limited

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EASSY Declaration signed by Southern and Eastern Africa Ministers
by Alice Wanjira 09 Jun '06

09 Jun '06

>> EASSY Declaration signed by Southern and Eastern Africa Ministers >> By Chris Kabwato, Highway Africa News Agency >> >> Johannesburg, 7 June 2006. Government ministers from Southern and >> Eastern Africa have signed a declaration on the East Africa >> Submarine System Project known as Eassy. The declaration signed in >> Johannesburg yesterday commits fifteen countries to this project >> which is expected to see the construction of infrastructure to >> ensure cheap broadband access for countries on the eastern side of >> Africa (from Mozambique to Sudan) . The construction of the >> undersea cable is expected to be completed by the first quarter of >> 2008 according to one of the signatories, Kenyan Deputy Minister >> David Were. >> >> At a press conference chaired by Lesothos Minister of >> Communications, Science and Technology, Thomas Thabane, it was >> announced that the ministers had agreed on major areas around the >> implementation of the Eassy project. The represented countries >> were Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, >> Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somali Republic, South Africa, >> Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In a major departure from >> the precedence of the SAFE/SAT-3 which is led by national >> telecommunication companies and is a closed club, the NEPAD e- >> Africa Commission will take the lead in the development of the >> necessary protocol and in the coordination of the project. >> >> The major highlights of the declaration are that it proclaims an >> open access model (meaning anyone can join in as an investor in >> the project); it commits countries to developing and signing a >> protocol on the policy and regulatory framework for the Eassy >> project. In a related development the summit also selected Rwanda >> as the host of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). >> >> Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, South Africas Minister of Communications, >> said the open access model was critical to ensure a level playing >> field and equal access. She commended the signing of the >> declaration calling the second successful project of the e-Africa >> Commission after e-schools project. >> >> Kenyan Deputy Minister of Communications, David Were, said that >> prior to the meeting he had expected fireworks. He blamed the >> media for having created a picture of disharmony between South >> Africa and Kenya. >> >> In response to media questions on the open access model, Dr. Henry >> Chasia, Executive Deputy Chairman of the NEPAD e-Africa >> Commission, stated that all parties that wished to participate in >> the Eassy project would have to be guided by the declaration. His >> statement was in reference to the current situation with the >> monopolistic model of SAT-3 - the satellite and submarine cable >> system serving the western parts of Africa. >> >> The Eassy project is expected to cost 300 million United States >> dollars excluding additional costs of in-country infrastructure. >> According to Casaburri ninety percent of the funding for the >> project will be raised from within the continent with a debt and >> equity portion. It is understood that the World Bank has offered >> 170 million USD towards the project. >> >> The protocol on the regulatory frameworks is scheduled to be >> signed heads of states of participating countries in August this >> year. >> >> ENDS. >> >> >> Highlights of the Eassy Declaration by the 15 Southern and Eastern >> Africa government ministers who met in Johannesburg on 5-6 June 2006: >> >> 1.Resolve to contribute to the harmonious, balanced, equitable and >> sustainable development of our countries by facilitating the >> speedy construction of the regional backbone ICT infrastructure >> network and to facilitate the formation of an entity and/or >> entities to own, maintain and operate the said infrastructure on >> Open Access Principles and generally to achieve the objectives and >> principles set forth in this Declaration; >> >> 2.Note, recognise and appreciate the work that has already been >> carried out to realise the objectives and principles set forth in >> the Preamble, and in particular, to construct the NEPAD ICT >> Broadband Infrastructure Network for Eastern and Southern Africa, >> including the Eassy cable, and to this end direct the NEPAD e- >> Africa Commission, in collaboration with regional economic >> communities (SADC, COMESA, IGAD, EAC), regional regulatory >> associations and the Join Steering Committee to fast track the >> process. >> >> 3.Commit ourselves to take such actions, within our respective >> countries as are necessary to ensure an early approval by our >> Governments of a Protocol on Policy and Regulatory Framework for >> NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network for eastern and >> Southern Africa and to arrange for the earliest possible signature >> and ratification of the Protocol as may be applicable. >> >> 4.Affirm our intention to ensure that existing policy and >> regulatory frameworks within our respective countries are >> progressively adopted over time facilitate the realisation of the >> objectives of the proposed Protocol. >> >> (source: www.eafricacommission.org) >> >> Dgroups is a joint initiative of Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, ICCO, IICD, OneWorld, UNAIDS and World Bank >> --- You are currently subscribed to africtic as: eric(a)afrispa.org >> To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave- >> africtic-610699O(a)dgroups.org > > Eric M.K Osiakwan > Executive Secretary > AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) > Tel: + 233.21.258800 > Fax: + 233.21.258811 > Cell: + 233.244.386792 > Handle: eosiakwan > Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North > Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North > Blog: http://afrispa.skybuilders.com/users/Eric/blog.html > Slang: "Tomorrow Now" > > > > Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://afrispa.skybuilders.com/users/Eric/blog.html Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

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