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Fwd: SA Government Goes Open Source
by Gakiria 03 Mar '08

03 Mar '08

Dear All, Came across the info below and thought it might be of interest to us. Regards Andrew ->>> SA Government Goes Open Source>>>>>> Sumayya Ismail and Sapa | Johannesburg, South Africa>>> 27 February 2007 09:32>>> >>> South Africa is joining countries such as Brazil, India and Uganda in >>> implementing open-source software in all government departments -- and >>> getting rid of widely used Microsoft Windows desktop programmes that >>> come with expensive licences. >>> >>> Open-source software can be shared by many users without a need for >>> licences. The actual code can be accessed by anyone to make changes and >>> adapt it to different situations. >>> >>> A Cabinet-approved policy and strategy to implement such software will >>> lower administration costs and enhance local IT skills, Themba Maseko, >>> head of the Government Communication and Information System, said last >>> week. >>> >>> "All new software developed for or by the government will be based on >>> open >>> standards, and government will itself migrate current software to Foss >>> [free and open-source software]," he told a media briefing at >>> Parliament. >>> >>> By April, a project office will be set up by the Department of Science >>> and >>> Technology, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and the >>> State Information Technology Agency to ensure the smooth implementation >>> of >>> the new strategy. >>> >>> Karl Fischer, the government's open-source project manager, says some >>> government departments have already been using open-source software for >>> "back-end" processes such as mail servers. >>> >>> He said the new strategy will place open-source software in all areas of >>> government. From mail servers to desktop applications such as word >>> processors, there will be a move towards Linux-operated open-source >>> software. >>> >>> Petition >>> Last year, Sangonet and other NGOs petitioned the government and >>> Minister >>> of Public Service and Administration Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi to adopt >>> an >>> open-source software policy following a declaration signed at the 2005 >>> Go >>> Open Source conference at the Sandton Convention Centre. >>> >>> The petition was endorsed by the Centre for Policy Studies, the Freedom >>> of >>> Expression Institute and the Institute for Security Studies, among >>> others. >>> >>> It urged the government "to take a stronger, direct leadership role to >>> the >>> benefit of all". The government accounts for more than 50% of the >>> country's ICT use and should set a precedent that favours open source >>> and >>> its underlying principles, it added. >>> >>> "As a developing country, South Africa, along with all the countries on >>> the African continent, needs you and our government to act as agents of >>> positive change in our society and trigger shifts in the ICT market >>> dynamics, in order to favour the supply of local ICT content, support, >>> skills and service providers, and to reduce our long-standing dependence >>> on imports and the negative effects created by this dependence," the >>> petition stated. >>> >>> It further held that in the spirit of broad-based black economic >>> empowerment, the government had a responsibility to implement >>> open-source >>> software and make it easier for other, smaller ICT users to access the >>> hardware and technical skills needed to sustain it. >>> >>> David Barnard, director of Sangonet, says it is possible the petition >>> prompted the government to implement open-source software. However, the >>> decision had been "brewing within government" for a while, he said. >>> >>> Fischer confirms that it was an internal government decision to >>> implement >>> open-source software fully. But, he added: "Obviously we do listen to >>> what >>> [civil society] have to say." >>> >>> Benefits >>> Government personnel will be trained to use the new software at the >>> Meraka >>> Institute's training centres throughout the country. Open-source >>> training >>> materials are also freely available, making them more affordable and >>> accessible to users. >>> >>> Despite these training requirements and other initial costs, Fischer >>> says >>> open-source software will be more affordable in the long term. "Our >>> hardware won't need upgrading Â… but it would have needed upgrading if >>> we >>> switched to Windows Vista. Linux will work out cheaper." >>> >>> The cost of Linux is significantly less than that of the Microsoft >>> licences the government has been paying, he says, although he declined >>> to >>> give the actual cost of the new operating system, as it will only be >>> implemented fully by December this year. >>> >>> "Because the whole open-source community is backing us, we can harness >>> the >>> whole community to help us," Fischer says. "People are very keen to help >>> out where they can Â… and where they can't, we will have to get the >>> necessary skills, and we have the funds for it." >>> >>> Pfungwa Serima, MD of Microsoft South Africa, says the software giant >>> fully supports the standards on which open-source software is based, as >>> it >>> is "in line with our software development strategy in enabling >>> interoperability between software from multiple vendors, thus allowing >>> customers to choose the application for their specific requirements". >>> >>> Judgement reserved >>> Though "on-the ground" institutions and training centres are already set >>> up, Sangonet's Barnard says he will reserve judgement until he sees the >>> initial roll-out plans. "This is a huge opportunity for South Africa to >>> make it work Â… but it may be one of those decisions that were >>> undertaken, >>> but the follow-through is just not there." >>> >>> Fischer says that along with a cut in costs, the open-source strategy >>> will >>> also foster inter-community development, transparency and sharing, and >>> build local skills to enhance and support the new software. "And, >>> instead >>> of giving money away to multinationals, we are keeping it and putting it >>> to use internally." >>> >>> However, Barnard says a major challenge is the lack of public >>> understanding of the principles of open-source software. >>> >>> "The important thing is for people to understand the economic, social >>> and >>> other values we could derive from it Â… and in the bigger mindset is the >>> creation of an information society in the country. [We need] proper >>> understanding Â… the capacity, expertise and political will to do >>> something >>> to implement it." >>> >>> However, the strategy does "look good on paper", he adds, and its >>> implementation will "say to the world that South Africa is -- in a >>> national, political and strategic way -- committed to open source". >>> >>> SAPA. >>> -- >>> >>> >> > >

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Joining Kickanet
by Joyce Joan Wangui 01 Mar '08

01 Mar '08

Hallo there, my name is Joyce Joan Wangui, ICT journalist based in Nairobi.I correspond for an online ICT news agency known as HIGHWAY AFRICA NEWS AGENCY (www.highwayafrica.ru.ac.za) whose headquarters are based in South Africa. Highway Africa is an ICT initiative that brings African journalists and ICT parctitioners to deliberate on ICT developments in the continent. The news agency is published weekly. I am writing to request that i joj the Kictanet group as well as the mailing list. Kindly le me know the criteria and how soon i can join Regards Wangui --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

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INCEPTION WORKSHOP - ELECTRONIC WASTE PROJECT IN KENYA
by Evelyne Majale 29 Feb '08

29 Feb '08

Dear all This is a reminder of the Inception Workshop - Electronic Waste Management Project that will be held on Monday 03rd March 2008. Venue: Wariara Room, Jacaranda Hotel. Time: 9.00 am to 12.30 pm. Please confirm your attendance for planning purposes. Attached please find the draft Inception Report that will be presented on that day and the final programme. Thanking you in advance. Evelyne

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Determinants of a Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Spatial Econometric Analysis of Cell Phone Coverage, by Piet Buys, Susmita Dasgupta, Tim Thomas, and David Wheeler (February 2008)
by Harry Hare 29 Feb '08

29 Feb '08

Some good research from the World Bank. Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre 3rd Floor, Nelleon Place Raphta Road, Westlands PO Box 49475 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cel +254 725 650044 Land +254 20 4453445 www.africanedevelopment.org <http://www.africanedevelopment.org/> My Blogg <http://egov-notes.blogspot.com/> *********************************************************** March 2008 Capacity Building Opportunities Fiber Optics: 3-6 VSAT Field Engineering: 17-19 GIS 26-28 Book Now, Limited spaces available _____ From: Hsladovich(a)worldbank.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of research(a)worldbank.org Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 8:09 PM Subject: eAlert --> WPS 4516. Determinants of a Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Spatial Econometric Analysis of Cell Phone Coverage, by Piet Buys, Susmita Dasgupta, Tim Thomas, and David Wheeler (February 2008) <http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=469435&pagePK=641652 36&piPK=64165141&theSitePK=469382> Determinants of a Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Spatial Econometric Analysis of Cell Phone Coverage <http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64165259&theSitePK=4 69372&piPK=64165421&menuPK=64166093&entityID=000158349_20080212114658> Policy Research Working Paper 4516, Piet Buys, Susmita Dasgupta, Tim Thomas, and David Wheeler (February 2008) <http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/2008 /02/12/000158349_20080212114658/Rendered/PDF/wps4516.pdf> Download Working Paper (26 pages) Most discussions of the digital divide treat it as a "North-South" issue, but the conventional dichotomy doesn't apply to cell phones in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although almost all Sub-Saharan countries are poor by international standards, they exhibit great disparities in coverage by cell telephone systems. Buys, Dasgupta, Thomas and Wheeler investigate the determinants of these disparities with a spatially-disaggregated model that employs locational information for cell-phone towers across over 990,000 4.6-km grid squares in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using probit techniques, a probability model with adjustments for spatial autocorrelation has been estimated that relates the likelihood of cell-tower location within a grid square to potential market size (proximate population); installation and maintenance cost factors related to accessibility (elevation, slope, distance from a main road, distance from the nearest large city); and national competition policy. Probit estimates indicate strong, significant results for the supply-demand variables, and very strong results for the competition policy index. Simulations based on the econometric results suggest that a generalized improvement in competition policy to a level that currently characterizes the best-performing states in Sub-Saharan Africa could lead to huge improvements in cell-phone area coverage for many states currently with poor policy performance, and an overall coverage increase of nearly 100 percent. <http://econ.worldbank.org/programs/trade> Produced by the <http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/EXTPROGRAMS/EX TIE/0,,menuPK:475531~pagePK:64168176~piPK:64168140~theSitePK:475520,00.html> Sustainable Rural and Urban Development ResearchTeam in Development Research Group ( <http://econ.worldbank.org/programs/trade> http://econ.worldbank.org/programs/rural-urban) ________________ This email was sent using the "bcc" function to various system distribution lists. Our apologies to those who receive multiple copies. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD

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Re: [kictanet] proposed new license fees for Application/Content Service Providers
by Marcel Werner 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

Dear Colleagues, There is no decision yet at CCK, only proposals. The Consultation Paper is making suggestions for these license fees. There are no decisions by CCK on this yet, as we are being consulted. My advice would be: put your opinion(s) in writing and have these delivered by 29 February, close of business, by way of petitioning the CCK. Kenya ICT Federation will also make a submission by to the CCK before deadline. I'm certain the CCK value your views. Do communicate! Once a new regulation is passed, it will be more difficult to change it. Best regards, Marcel Werner Kenya ICT Federation 2008/2/28, Marcel Werner <marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com>: > > Dear Colleagues, > > There is no decision yet at CCK, only proposals. > > The Consultation Paper is making suggestions for these license fees. There > are no decisions by CCK on this yet, as we are being consulted. My advice > would be: put your opinion(s) in writing and have these delivered by 29 > February, close of business, by way of petitioning the CCK. Kenya ICT > Federation will also make a submission by to the CCK before deadline. I'm > certain the CCK value your views. Do communicate! > > Once a new regulation is passed, it will be more difficult to change it. > > Best regards, > Marcel Werner > Kenya ICT Federation > > 2008/2/28, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com>: > > > > I second Mercer on this. > > > > On Wed, Feb 27, 2008 at 9:43 PM, Marcel Werner <marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > > Attention Colleagues, > > > > > > Are you aware that the Communications Commission of Kenya has issued > > > an important consultative document on the proposed Unified License > > > framework? Comments are welcomed by CCK, due by deadline of 29 February 2008 > > > at close of business. > > > > > > The market segments categorised in the CCK paper Applications Service > > > Providers (ASPs) and Content Service Providers (CSP) (include all Value > > > Added Service (VAS) Providers and Web-based Public Commercial Information > > > Service Providers can provide economic opportunities to Micro and Small > > > Enterprises (SME) as well as Small and Medium Sized companies (MSE). Note > > > that all these services proposedly attract a KES100,000 registration fee + > > > KES100,000 or 0.5% of turn-over charge. That will keep many players > > > out of the market. How many higher education graduates are working to > > > create a niche for themselves in the market? They should be encouraged and > > > supported! > > > > > > > > > The new regulatory framework should not place any obstacles to new > > > investors and market entrants, especially not to SME's. Therefore, the > > > proposed license fees for these two categories should be replaced by a > > > general license. Normally, such licensees does not pay license fees > > > but register with the regulatory body and subsequently receive a certificate > > > endorsing their operations in the sector. > > > > > > MARCEL WERNER > > > Kenya ICT Federation > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > kictanet mailing list > > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > This message was sent to: dmuthoni(a)gmail.com > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Muthoni > > > > My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ > > -------------------------------------------- > > Mahatma Gandhi once said:- > > > > First they ignore you, > > Then they laugh at you, > > Then they fight you, > > AND THEN YOU WIN!!! > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/marcelcwerner%40gmail.… > > > > > > > -- > MARCEL > > please send any business mail to: > marcelwerner(a)innovation-africa.net > -- MARCEL please send any business mail to: marcelwerner(a)innovation-africa.net

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Re: [kictanet] proposed new license fees for Application/Content Service Providers
by Marcel Werner 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

2008/2/28, Marcel Werner <marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com>: > > Dear Colleagues, > > There is no decision yet at CCK, only proposals. > > The Consultation Paper is making suggestions for these license fees. There > are no decisions by CCK on this yet, as we are being consulted. My advice > would be: put your opinion(s) in writing and have these delivered by 29 > February, close of business, by way of petitioning the CCK. Kenya ICT > Federation will also make a submission by to the CCK before deadline. I'm > certain the CCK value your views. Do communicate! > > Once a new regulation is passed, it will be more difficult to change it. > > Best regards, > Marcel Werner > Kenya ICT Federation > > 2008/2/28, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com>: > > > > I second Mercer on this. > > > > On Wed, Feb 27, 2008 at 9:43 PM, Marcel Werner <marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > > Attention Colleagues, > > > > > > Are you aware that the Communications Commission of Kenya has issued > > > an important consultative document on the proposed Unified License > > > framework? Comments are welcomed by CCK, due by deadline of 29 February 2008 > > > at close of business. > > > > > > The market segments categorised in the CCK paper Applications Service > > > Providers (ASPs) and Content Service Providers (CSP) (include all Value > > > Added Service (VAS) Providers and Web-based Public Commercial Information > > > Service Providers can provide economic opportunities to Micro and Small > > > Enterprises (SME) as well as Small and Medium Sized companies (MSE). Note > > > that all these services proposedly attract a KES100,000 registration fee + > > > KES100,000 or 0.5% of turn-over charge. That will keep many players > > > out of the market. How many higher education graduates are working to > > > create a niche for themselves in the market? They should be encouraged and > > > supported! > > > > > > > > > The new regulatory framework should not place any obstacles to new > > > investors and market entrants, especially not to SME's. Therefore, the > > > proposed license fees for these two categories should be replaced by a > > > general license. Normally, such licensees does not pay license fees > > > but register with the regulatory body and subsequently receive a certificate > > > endorsing their operations in the sector. > > > > > > MARCEL WERNER > > > Kenya ICT Federation > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > kictanet mailing list > > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > This message was sent to: dmuthoni(a)gmail.com > > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Muthoni > > > > My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ > > -------------------------------------------- > > Mahatma Gandhi once said:- > > > > First they ignore you, > > Then they laugh at you, > > Then they fight you, > > AND THEN YOU WIN!!! > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: marcelcwerner(a)gmail.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/marcelcwerner%40gmail.… > > > > > > > -- > MARCEL > > please send any business mail to: > marcelwerner(a)innovation-africa.net > -- MARCEL please send any business mail to: marcelwerner(a)innovation-africa.net

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[Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Internet Governance: ICANN, Security And Nation States]
by alice 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

Hi All Despite our current troubles we still hope that ICANN will choose Kenya to celebrate its birthday at the ICANN Africa meeting scheduled for November 2008. Note dates for this years IGF have changed. Now taking place in December. alice -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Internet Governance: ICANN, Security And Nation States Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 20:48:23 +0100 From: Anne-Rachel Inné <annerachel(a)gmail.com> Reply-To: africann(a)afrinic.net To: africann(a)afrinic.net Intellectual Property Watch 28 January 2008 Internet Governance: ICANN, Security And Nation States By Monika Ermert for /Intellectual Property Watch/ The future of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will remain an important topic in Internet governance in 2008, the tenth anniversary of the private global coordination body for Internet addresses and domain names. Yet Internet governance experts also expect security in its different facets to be on the rise in Internet governance debates and point to the further growing interest of nation states in exercising their sovereign governance rights in cyberspace. And it is increasingly the case that governance of the Internet can affect access to online content. The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) <http://www.intgovforum.org/index.htm> organised by the United Nations - which in December will hold its third gathering in New Delhi - likely will see more issues related to cybercriminality, anonymity and privacy, said Jeanette Hofmann, researcher at the Centre for Analysis of Risk and Regulation at the London School of Economics, and at the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung, and member of the IGF Advisory Group. New ICANN Board Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush announced a "busy year" <http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-03jan08.htm> and a "birthday party" to take place at the annual meeting of ICANN, which will be held not in the United States but in Africa in November 2008. The location for the birthday party may be seen as a small symbol for ICANN's emphasis on its declared internationality. It has been the United States' privileged position in ICANN and root server oversight that gave the primary original impulse for the Internet governance debate that has evolved so much over the past few years. Weakening US Influence over Internet? More and more governments have called for change in the oversight structure for this tiny yet core part of the Internet and will call for that again in the newly launched consultation of the US Commerce Department National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on "The Continued Transition of the Technical Coordination and Management of the Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System." The consultation (deadline for statements 15 February) is part of the midterm review of the "Joint Project Agreement (JPA)" - the current agreement that binds ICANN to US government oversight - and may allow the full privatisation of domain name system (DNS) coordination after 2009. ICANN posted its comment to the NTIA in January, declaring: "The JPA is not longer necessary. Concluding it is the next step in transition of the coordination of the domain name system to the private sector." ICANN's Board wrote to NTIA official Suzanne Sene and said the JPA had been a necessary instrument in ICANN's formative years. "But now," the board said, "the JPA contributes to a misperception that the DNS is managed and overseen on a daily basis by the US government. Ending the JPA will provide long-term stability and security for a model that works." The Board underlined that the JPA would not affect the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) contract that allows the US administration to check on changes in the root zone, the heart of the DNS. The incoming US administration could withdraw from ICANN oversight, yet control over changes in the root zone, where vital information on the Internet address system is kept, might be too sensitive for any US administration. In fact, the US keeps arguing that it has to ensure the stability and security of the system that underlies a billion-dollar economy and has long become a key critical infrastructure. "The whole issue of security is drawing more and more attention, not only from nation states, but also from civil society," said Hofmann. The relationship between surveillance and privacy, data protection and transparency remains to be clearly worked out, she added. Identity management and authentication mechanisms rose much higher on the Internet governance agenda last year, and are expected to continue to do so, Hofmann said. Fight for IP Rights Intellectual property issues are in some aspects also intermingled with security. Whether the registries for country-code domains (such as .uk for the United Kingdom) should be granted special rights over new country-code-oriented top-level domain address zones, and be able to ask to be allocated the right to manage these zones via a fast track procedure, is one of ICANN's questions in this regard. Observers warn against possible domain islands under strict state control. At least some observers have followed anxiously developments in Russia where some in the administration have been reported to have shown interest in walling off the "Russian Internet." ICANN has accepted that there is a strong demand for ccTLDs in native scripts from a number of countries like China and several Arabic states and a special working group has started talks about the possible fast track procedure. But ICANN Chair Dengate Thrush spoke of a single procedure for all new top-level domains coming up. The introduction of new TLDs is a major issue for ICANN this year. Meanwhile, the longstanding fight over how personal data of individual domain name holders should be published in the so-called Whois databases of domain name registries and registrars might calm down, Hofmann said. ICANN staff finalised the procedure for dealing with exemptions for registries and registrars from jurisdictions with strong privacy regulation. Even if the United States keeps pushing for open Whois, registries and registrars from other countries can point to the need to adhere to their own national laws. Yet according to a representative for the registrars in ICANN's Generic Name Supporting Council it is not that easy at all. It was all but clear what registries and registrars had to present to be eligible for the exemptions as the procedure reads that only a lawsuit or administrative procedure against them allowed to apply for exceptional treatment. Also, settlements of disputes over ownership of domain names will continue to be important at ICANN and at the World Intellectual Property Organization. Debate over Governance Structure Changes may also come in 2008 to the institutional structure of Internet governance debates, Hofmann said. While the IGF was established as a focal point for the wider Internet governance debate - and ICANN will be kept under observation - she felt that there was a shift of a lot of discussion to intergovernmental institutions, back from self-governing bodies like the Internet Engineering Task Force (a peer standardisation body for all Internet protocol-related standards) to the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU has, for example, become more involved in security issues, last year announcing a global cybersecurity agenda <http://www.itu.int/osg/csd/cybersecurity/gca/> after years of rivalry with ICANN. More structural manoeuvring on who does what in Internet governance is expected this year, according to Wolfgang Kleinwächter, special advisor to the IGF Chair Nitin Desai. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has invited UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon to give a keynote at its June meeting on the "Future of the Internet Economy" <http://www.oecd.org/site/0,3407,en_21571361_38415463_1_1_1_1_1,00.html>, and Kleinwächter said this could be used by Ban for positioning of the UN in Internet governance. /Monika Ermert may be reached at info(a)ip-watch.ch <mailto:[email protected]>./ _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Re: [kictanet] Kenya loses the ICANN meeting scheduled for November2008
by Leonard Mware 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

The day we will realize that our 'hardware' is basically the same (Mzungu, Jaluo, Kikuyu, Kamba, and Luhya etc 'hardware') and that the 'software' we pack is the problem, then we will respect one another. The 'software' we pack is basically programmed by the environment we live in hence we need to teach our children to respect fellow human beings regardless of tribe or race. The kind of environment we live, that is, at home, office and with our friends (the company we keep) greatly affect our attitude and behaviour towards others. Yes, Walu, we can make a difference if we start with ourselves! L ----- Original Message ---- From: "Wanjira, Alice Munyua" <wanjira(a)cck.go.ke> To: mleonardo(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 8:14:10 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya loses the ICANN meeting scheduled for November2008 Walu and all And its not just the ICANN meeting, we have lost UPU among many others. alice -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+wanjira=cck.go.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke on behalf of John Walubengo Sent: Wed 27/02/2008 19:56 To: Wanjira, Alice Munyua Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya loses the ICANN meeting scheduled for November2008 Hey all, Apologies for having to resurrect this post. I had not appreciated the full impact of Kenya missing out on the above opportunity until after I attended the recent Internet Governance Forum (IGF) preparatory meeting in GVA. I was totally overwhelmed by the dissapointment felt by all delegates, but especially the AFRICAN delegates who had voted for Kenya to hold the above conference. The lose was definately more AFRICAN than KENYAN. How ironic! It pains me to note that as other nations and states are fighting about partitioning and sharing the Internet (the ultimate resource) we are still busy fighting about and partitioning "ancestral" land. I want to be the first one to stand accused for having surrendered my country to a small group of politicians who seem determined to drive the remaining little sense of our nationhood out of our minds. And I want also want to remind each of us, that it is time reclaim our right to be Kenyan - the Pride of Africa? Each of us must take up this challenge in their own little way (use your business, networks, friends on both sides, influence, whatever) in order to pull us away from that point of no return. Sorry Alice i now this is not ICT but I just didnt know how important Kenya was until i stepped out of it after Dec 31st 2007 and really needed to ventilate abit. walu. --- waudo siganga <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com> wrote: > I concur with your suggestions Njeri. It's unfortunate to > lose > hosting the ICANN meeting in November but let's try and > make the > best of it. > > Kind Regards, > Waudo > On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:59:52 +0300, "Njeri Rionge" > <njeri.rionge@igniteco > nsulting.co.ke> said: > > Colleagues, > Kenya needs to get the decisions around the National > Coalition > or whatever the solution agreed upon as soon as > possible. > ICANN is limited on planning time as regards managing > the > possible insecurity of holding a meeting in a location > where > security is a concern for the larger internet > community. In > fact this should be said the other way, we cannot > (ICANN) risk > having a meeting in a location where the internet > community > will not attend, due to the current status which today > seems > not clear since the media itself has now been quiet on > the > possible security issue, although indicates a possible > forward > improvement which is not indicative of stability etc. > ICANN > public meetings are very critical in engaging > participants > from an Internationalization perspective. Therefore, > the > decision for the cancellation was based on the turn of > events > that took place in Kenyan. > So, like Alice I am hopeful that we can at list host > the 10th > Anniversary Internet party which can possibly be held > away > from the actual ICANN conference and broadcasted to the > rest > of the world from Kenya, although they are no > guarantees. This > is harder to do and in fact affects budgets etc. > This said, the party was all planned for the Kenya > meeting > this November 2008. Which currently has been scheduled > to > happen in another unannounced location. I am hoping > that a > country in the Sub Sahara will put in a bid quickly > enough, > otherwise we will hold the meeting in a location that > has > already held this meeting before.... > Njeri, > On 2/5/08 8:35 AM, "alice" <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: > > Hi All > > > > Despite our current troubles we still hope that > ICANN will > choose Kenya > > to celebrate its birthday at the ICANN Africa meeting > scheduled for > > November 2008. > > Note dates for this years IGF have changed. Now > taking place > in December. > > > > alice > > > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > > Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Internet Governance: > ICANN, > Security And > > Nation States > > Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 20:48:23 +0100 > > From: Anne-Rachel Inné <annerachel(a)gmail.com> > > Reply-To: africann(a)afrinic.net > > To: africann(a)afrinic.net > > > > > > > > Intellectual Property Watch > > > > > > 28 January 2008 > > > > > > Internet Governance: ICANN, Security And Nation > States > > > > By Monika Ermert for /Intellectual Property Watch/ > > The future of the Internet Corporation for Assigned > Names > and Numbers > > (ICANN) will remain an important topic in Internet > governance in 2008, > > the tenth anniversary of the private global > coordination > body for > > Internet addresses and domain names. > > > > Yet Internet governance experts also expect security > in its > different > > facets to be on the rise in Internet governance > debates and > point to the > > further growing interest of nation states in > exercising > their sovereign > > governance rights in cyberspace. And it is > increasingly the > case that > > governance of the Internet can affect access to > online > content. > > > > The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) > > [1]<http://www.intgovforum.org/index.htm> organised > by the > United Nations - > > which in December will hold its third gathering in > New Delhi > - likely > > will see more issues related to cybercriminality, > anonymity > and privacy, > > said Jeanette Hofmann, researcher at the Centre for > Analysis > of Risk and > > Regulation at the London School of Economics, and at > the > > Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung, and > member > of the IGF > > Advisory Group. > > > > New ICANN Board Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush > announced a > "busy year" > > > > [2]<http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-03jan08.ht > m> and a > > "birthday party" to take place at the annual meeting > of > ICANN, which > > will be held not in the United States but in Africa > in > November 2008. > > The location for the birthday party may be seen as a > small > symbol for > > ICANN's emphasis on its declared internationality. It > has > been the > > United States' privileged position in ICANN and root > server > oversight > > that gave the primary original impulse for the > Internet > governance > > debate that has evolved so much over the past few > years. > > > > Weakening US Influence over Internet? > > > > More and more governments have called for change in > the > oversight > > structure for this tiny yet core part of the Internet > and > will call for > > that again in the newly launched consultation of the > US > Commerce > > Department National Telecommunications and > Information > Administration > > (NTIA) on "The Continued Transition of the Technical > Coordination and > > Management of the Internet's Domain Name and > Addressing > System." > > > > The consultation (deadline for statements 15 > February) is > part of the > > midterm review of the "Joint Project Agreement (JPA)" > - the > current > === message truncated ===> _______________________________________________ > 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 > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: wanjira(a)cck.go.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wanjira%40cck.go.ke -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mleonardo(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mleonardo%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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AfDB YPP - with link
by Harry Hare 27 Feb '08

27 Feb '08

Dear All, Not sure there are any young professionals in this forum to take advantage of this opportunity. If not, probably we could pass this on. Please note the deadline for application (March 15th 2008) http://www.afdb.org/portal/page?_pageid=473,970775 <http://www.afdb.org/portal/page?_pageid=473,970775&_dad=portal&_schema=PORT AL> &_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL Regards Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre 3rd Floor, Nelleon Place Raphta Road, Westlands PO Box 49475 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Cel +254 725 650044 Land +254 20 4453445 www.africanedevelopment.org <http://www.africanedevelopment.org/> My Blogg <http://egov-notes.blogspot.com/> *********************************************************** February 2008 Capacity Building Opportunities VSAT Field Engineering: 5-8 Records Management: 13-15 Fiber Optics: 26-29 Book Now, Limited spaces available

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Re: [kictanet] Synchronizing Time Locally - NTP.KENIC.OR.KE
by Eric Osiakwan 27 Feb '08

27 Feb '08

Loud Applause.............KENIC ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Vincent Ngundi <vincent(a)kenic.or.ke> Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:55:47 +0300 >Dear All, > >FYI. > >In 2005, KENIC in line with its mandate to promote ICT's in the >Kenya, set up a GPS enabled NTP Server, ntp.kenic.or.ke, at the Kenya >Internet eXchange Point (KIXP) to provide date and time integrity for >computers. Most service providers have implemented time >synchronization on their systems utilizing network time servers >located in foreign countries. However, the time synchronization >services are not extended to their clients due to unreliable >connectivity and prohibitive costs associated with international >links. Consequently, most of their clients are oblivious of the >services' existence. > >Implementation of NTP services for the local Internet community >utilizes the Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, and is >expected to retain 0.5% of the current Internet traffic (NTP traffic) >locally therefore enabling the service providers to extend the NTP >services to their clients. Organizational expenses saved from >operational failures and data losses due to time inconsistencies >would be impossible to estimate. Consequently, date and time >integrity and accuracy on computerised data information is essential >for computer forensics procedures. The increased local content >traffic is essential in promoting the development local content and >local hosting and ensuring the operational stability of the Internet >in Kenya. > >Some of the organisations utilizing the local NTP services include >some Government bodies, ISP's, banks, corporates, and some >educational institutions. > >The local NTP server is synchronized to at least 5 satellites at any >one time thus making it the most accurate time source in the country. >Instructions on how to configure NTP services on various operating >systems can be found at: http://www.kenic.or.ke/index.php? >option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=87 > >Kind Regards, > >----------------- >Vincent Ngundi >Administrative Manager >KENIC - The Kenya Network Information Center >http://www.kenic.or.ke >vincent(a)kenic.or.ke >[T] +254 20 4450057/8 >[F] +254 20 4450087 > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org >Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.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://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" --

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