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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Are we letting the PS get away with this too?
by toby＠law-democracy.org 19 Jan '11

19 Jan '11

Hi all, Let me start by thanking Grace Githaiga (GG) for inviting me to this group. Then let me introduce myself. For those who don't know me (most of you, I guess), I am an international lawyer specialising in freedom of expression and access to information. I ran the Law Programme at ARTICLE 19 for nearly 13 years, and recently started a new NGO, the Centre for Law and Democracy (www.law-democracy.org) which focuses on foundational rights for democracy (right to participate, freedom of expression, rights to assembly and association, right to information). We specialise in providing legal and policy advice in these areas. I will restrict myself to some general comments on the debate below, because I don't really know enough about the details to make more specific comments. The US has historically been very strong on regulating against abuse of market dominance (anti-trust, promoting competition), if less vigilant in protecting consumer interests. Thus, when Microsoft started to engage in questionable competitive practices, the US government did step in and contain them. Given the global nature of this particular type of product, it may be enough for a major player like the US to take them on. When the space opens up for alternatives, like Firefox, everyone can benefit. But it was difficult even for the well-resourced US government to take on Microsoft. Looking to more national-type markets, especially in mid-size to smaller countries, it is often difficult for governments to control the anti-competitive behaviour of large international players and sometimes even national players. I have seen this is rather stark relief in some very small countries (eg the Maldives). I say this essentially being a believer in the benefits of competition, but only if subject to public interest regulation. So the questions I would be asking in relation to the below (without knowing the context) is whether these developments represent a legitimate opening up of competition and whether, in case this is needed, the government has the power/political will to take on abusive practices. I look forward to debate on the media council bill, which I understand will be the main topic of this group. Is a draft available? Toby ___________________________________ Toby Mendel Centre for Law and Democracy toby(a)law-democracy.org Tel: +1 902 431-3688 Fax: +1 902 431-3689 www.law-democracy.org

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ADVERT - 11 MONTHS UNLIMITED INTERNET @ kes 499 PER MONTH by yu
by Preston Odera 19 Jan '11

19 Jan '11

Dear Listers In todays Nation 18th January 2011 page 25 there is an Advert buy YU indicating 11 months unlimited internet @kes 499 per month + 1 month free internet when you buy the 3G compatible yu data modem for only Kes 2,599. My thought was that this could be a good offer. I nearly rushed to buy by decided to call first. I got a rude shock that it was only the 1 month free internet which was unlimited. That the Kes 499 was for 2GB and that this was contained in the small writing of the advert which was at the bottom " Fair usage policy applied" Terms and conditions apply. I cannot pretend to be a lawyer to interpret this. Listers from this advert what would be your opinion? See attached. CCK or PS what are your comments. Preston

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Another Price War
by Matunda Nyanchama 18 Jan '11

18 Jan '11

Now it is NOT the smaller guy going after the big ones. Are we going to stop this? BTW: how about the other side of the price war? Don't do we today have more people affording to call than was the case before prices came down? What would be the cumulative economic benefit of all these people that have access that they didn't? ----------------- > Price wars hit the airline industry with Fly540 undercutting Kenya Airways' >fares. Fly540 has slashed its fares on the Nairobi-Mombasa route by 30%, setting >the stage for renewed price wars as airlines seek to defend their market share. >Mombasa is one of the busiest routes in the domestic market because of tourists >and business travelers. Its new fare for the route is KES 6,540 from KES 9,540 >for a return ticket; the cheapest airline on the route. Kenya Airways (KQ) >charges KES 7,999.Airlines cashed in on the route during the December high >season. However, with the sector recording low travel numbers in January, >airlines will have to rethink their strategies to grow revenue. Fly540's move is >set to trigger a renewed pricing war in the airline sector similar to that of >the mobile telephony firms: Bharti Airtel and Safaricom. In December, KQ >increased its daily flights on the route to 14 from 10, which helped grow its >passenger numbers by 35% in December and KQ is planning to introduce bigger >planes such as Boeing 737-300 and Embraer 170s on the route. The ongoing price >battle will dent earnings of airlines, especially those that fly in fewer >regions; hence KQ is unlikely to feel the effect as the domestic market accounts >for only 4% of its revenue. KQ rivals (who in recent months have been >diversifying to the eastern Africa region) generate a significant share of their >revenues from the Nairobi—Mombasa route. Fly540, for instance, has been busy on >the expansion trail as it seeks to reduce its reliance on the Mombasa route and >now covers more than 12 destinations in Kenya and has moved to Bujumbura, >Entebbe and Dar es Salaam. Kenya is targeting KES 100bn (USD 1.25bn) from >tourism this year after surpassing the peak 2007 season in the eight months to >August—raising the business outlook for airlines flying to tourist destinations >like Maasai Mara, Mombasa and Malindi. (Sources: Daily Nation; African Alliance >Research) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.”- George Bernard Shaw ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.

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Fwd: Are we letting the PS get away with this too?
by Odhiambo Washington 18 Jan '11

18 Jan '11

Forwarded on behalf of Harry Hare: - From: Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:22:31 +0300 To: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Are we letting the PS get away with this too? Walu good analogy with Netscape and MS IE. However 1. Did the Internet die with the death of Netscape? 2. Did the Internet numbers stay constant with the death of Netscape? 3. Did Microsoft marketshare drop? 4. Did innovation on the internet stop? Guys, let get real, this is business…natural selection comes into play. Kindest Regards Harry Hare Director * eDevelopment House : : 604 Limuru Road * Old Muthaiga : : P O Box 49475 00100 Nairobi : : Kenya T +254 20 3741646/7 : : C +254 725 650044 Training : : Research: :Consultancy: : Publishing * * -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Damn!!

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Are we letting the PS get away with this too?
by Sam Aguyo 18 Jan '11

18 Jan '11

Hello Folks, There is never a free lunch. One contributor on this list had once indicated that it would be necessary to publish the cost structure of a call by the mobile suppliers. We may be happy to eat the subsidised lunch today but pay dearly when the other food vendors are out of business. The publishing of the cost structure would make informed debates in forums like this. Sam

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KWS CORPORATE TEAM BUILDING EVENT
by Kevin 18 Jan '11

18 Jan '11

Dear Listers, Kenya Wildlife Service is organizing a major Corporate Team building event at one of the most beautiful scenic landscape in the world, Hell's Gate National Park in Naivasha on 10th and 11th June 2011 at the annual *To Hell's Gate on a Wheelbarrow* event. This is a breather opportunity for corporate organizations to re-energize and re-focus for the next half year. Hence KWS has organized a 2 night camping event offering the best corporate team building and park experience for corporate organizations' teams of not more than 10 staff per company away from the stress of the work place. The event will also incorporate the *Hell's Gate Live Concert* featuring the best Kenyan Afro-Fusion performers and a tour of the KenGen Geothermal power generating plants at Olkaria. The Corporate team building challenge will involve teams from the hospitality, horticultural, banking, insurance, manufacturing, tourism, IT, parastatals and media industries among many others. KWS will also provide sales and promotions opportunities at the Hell's Gate Corporate Expo Village during the event for all participating organizations to showcase their products and services, register members and network. Our major event partners since inception two years ago include KenGen, Safaricom, Royal Media Services, Orpower, Homegrown, KPLC among many others. We hope you will join us there. You are all welcome, bring your staff teams to compete at the most challenging team building course and support KWS Wildlife Conservation efforts in Naivasha!!! See the attached event proposal and brief. We hope to host you there! Kind regards, Kevin Wanjala | Resource Mobilization Kenya Wildlife Service (K.W.S) ,: KWS HQs | Langata Road | Langata *: P.O. Box 40241 - 00100 | Nairobi ": Mobile 0723 296 138 (: (+254 20) 6000800 | 6002345 ext 2075 7: (+254 20) 607024 (fax) 8: kwanjala(a)kws.go.ke<mailto:[email protected]> URL: www.kws.go.ke<http://www.kws.go.ke/<http://webmail.kws.org/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx> >

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Are we letting the PS get away with this too?
by Barrack Otieno 18 Jan '11

18 Jan '11

Well it is within the democratic right of the PS to comment on the issue at least he gave an opinion which i tend to agree with but need some more education on the pricing of calls, i also think CCK has attained a certain level of independence contrary to what our good friend Brainiac says, (i stand to be corrected on this) we need input from economists on the long term effects of this price changes to the industry considering the fact that we have not yet attained Universal Access, there are some parts like Archers Post in Eastern that dont have very good coverage, i have an uncanny feeling they might not be sustainable in the long run, i would love to hear the opinion of technocrats on this lists, either way the government needs to set a level playing field to guarantee stability of businesses. Best Regards On Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 12:43 PM, Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu(a)gmail.com>wrote: > The PS should have said the government will get less tax and not > derailment of the constitution implementation. > > I think this is just a way of making Kenyans guilty of swtiching to a > lower tarrif, lest the 'constitution will not be implemented'. > > Seriously, how many taxes do we pay directly and or indirectly to the > government? > > Talk about a selfish government. > > > On 18/01/2011, Joram Mwinamo <joram.mwinamo(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > low pricing = less tax collected > > > > If im paying 3 bob per minute and the govt takes 10%(just as an example) > > thats 30cts per minute for govt > > if its 10% of 1 bob thats 10 cts per minute > > > > When everyone if forced to take prices down to 1 bob.....then less > revenue > > overrall > > > > On Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 12:29 PM, > > <ashok+skunkworks(a)parliaments.info <ashok%2Bskunkworks(a)parliaments.info> > <ashok%2Bskunkworks(a)parliaments.info<ashok%252Bskunkworks(a)parliaments.info> > > > >> wrote: > > > >> On Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 12:11 PM, Joram Mwinamo < > joram.mwinamo(a)gmail.com> > >> wrote: > >> > This is more an economic discussion than it is a digital one > >> > What he means is that the price war will deny the govt of revenues > >> through > >> > Tax which is needed heavily to finance the new constitutions > >> implementation > >> > > >> > >> How will a mobile price war deny government of tax revenues ? > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Skunkworks mailing list > >> Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke > >> http://orion.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > >> ------------ > >> Skunkworks Rules > >> http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 > >> ------------ > >> Other services @ http://my.co.ke > >> > > > > > > > > -- > > Sent from my Voice Recognition Watch© > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,but that we are powerful > > beyond measure.It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.There > is > > nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel > insecure > > around you.As we let our own light shine, we consciously give other > people > > permission to do the same. > > As we are liberated from our fear,our presence automatically liberates > > others. > > > > > -- > *Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau* > > ***************************************************** > *Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the > same way to the side of a hill!* > > AND > > *It is better to die in dignity than in the ignominy of ambiguous > generosity! * > > http://smiley2.wordpress.com > http://mburu.sikika.co.ke > _______________________________________________ > Skunkworks mailing list > Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke > http://orion.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > ------------ > Skunkworks Rules > http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 > ------------ > Other services @ http://my.co.ke > -- Barrack O. Otieno Afriregister Ltd (Kenya) www.afrire <http://www.afriregister.com>gister.bi, www.afriregister.com<http://www.afriergister.com> <http://www.afriregister.com>ICANN accredited registrar +254721325277 +254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otieno

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Canada’s Cyber Security Strategy
by Matunda Nyanchama 18 Jan '11

18 Jan '11

This may be of interest to listers here. Enjoy Canada"s Cyber security Strategy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.”- George Bernard Shaw ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.

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May be of interest: Commonwealth ICT Officials to Meet in Jaipur, India, to Surmount Challenges to Rural ICT Connectivity
by Victor Gathara 18 Jan '11

18 Jan '11

Kenya not mention in the Press Release though. Victor Commonwealth ICT Officials to Meet in Jaipur, India, to Surmount Challenges to Rural ICT Connectivity Providing an enabling environment for increased provision of access, applications, content and services in rural areas. January 13, 2010 LONDON - Some one hundred Ministers, regulators, Universal Service Fund Administrators, telecom operator CEOs, and other senior stakeholders in the information and communication technologies (ICTs) sector from across Asia and the Commonwealth will meet in Jaipur, India, from 17-19 January 2011. They will work together to devise faster, effective and more robust strategies for providing ICT connectivity in unserved and underserved rural areas. The meeting will be the 4th annual Connecting Rural Communities Asia Forum 2011 organised by the London-based Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO). The conference will be addressed by African and Asian ICT ministers, including Hon. Ignace Gatare, Minister in Charge of ICTs, Office of the President, Rwanda; Hon. Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa, Minister of Communications and Transport, Zambia; Hon. Abdourahim Agne, Minister of Telecommunications, ICT and Transport, Senegal; Dr Edmund Katiti, CEO of the NEPAD e-Africa Commission; Mr. Shankar Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Government of India; and Mr. Sam Pitroda, Advisor to the Prime Minister of India on Public Information and Innovation, Government of India. Stressing on the need to connect rural communities, the CEO of CTO, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, said, "Providing network access to rural communities is one of the recommendations of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), and supports the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) defined by the UN. Self-sustaining growth in broadband access and other more basic connectivity channels must be achieved in underserved and unconnected regions. However, this can only be accomplished through continuous and fruitful collaborations between a variety of public and private sector partners. It also involves sharing best practices among ICT stakeholders across continents to ensure successful and speedy implementation of ICT strategies. This CTO conference will enable Governments, policy makers, ICT regulators, operators, equipment manufacturers, software vendors, call center operatives, financiers, academics and consultants, and infrastructure developing companies to meet to discuss and evaluate the achievements, challenges and opportunities in connecting rural communities." Dr Spio-Garbrah stated that, amongst other challenges, ICT roll-out in rural areas can entail considerable investment. "However, in the developing countries, these challenges can be even more daunting. There are many constraints of unreliable power, poor road networks, low broadband capacity, illiteracy, lower incomes, and diverse socio-political dynamics. As a result, some have questioned the financial merits of investing in rural ICTs, and whether rural communities provide the necessary return on investment. The conference will help to highlight the latest technological solutions, innovative business models, and the Public-Private-Peoples' Partnerships needed for improved rural connectivity. In particular, participants will examine the growing use of mobile phones as platforms to deliver a growing range of mobile applications, content and services to rural dwellers," he said. The conference will cover topics on key issues concerning the strategies for improving governance and public services delivery through ICTs, the disparities in rural and urban access, a review of recent developments in Asia and globally, and Rural ICT Policy 2.0. Other issues to be discussed include developing national goals and strategies for providing connectivity, applications and content in rural areas, operators' strategies in improving rural dwellers' access to services, the development of effective distribution networks for rural areas and its challenges, tried and tested approaches to pricing and profitability, and the business case and strategies for rural broadband access. Other subjects to be debated by participants are the benefits of 3G and broadband wireless availability in the rural communities, the importance of WiMax, m-Content developments, the impact of cultural gaps and capacity-building challenges for both voice and non-voice operations, and the benefits and perceived risks of running rural Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs). Speakers and panelists include high-profile representation from public and private sector organizations, such as the NEPAD e-Africa Commission, the Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd., the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana, the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), the Nigerian Communications Commission, the National Communications Commission (NATCOM) of Sierra Leone, and the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC). India's ICT sector will be heavily represented through participation by executives of the Telecom Export Promotion Council (TEPC), the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), BSNL, Idea Cellular Ltd., Reliance Communications, City Cell Bangladesh, the GSMA, the Communications & Manufacturing Association of India (CMAI) and Coral Telecom. Other major global and Asian private sector executives attending are from Tejas Networks, Research in Motion, WiMAX Forum, Microsoft, Alvarion BWA Wireless Solutions Pvt Ltd, the Asia Pacific Telecentre Network (APTN) Secretariat, ICT Agency of Sri Lanka, C-DOT, GTL, VIOM, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Google India, Luna Ergonomics, elLoka Techsolutions Pvt Ltd, and the Centre for Development Finance. Other delegates will represent Hungama Mobile, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Government of Rajasthan, SourcePilani, eGram IT, Source for Change, B2R Technologies Pvt. Ltd, NASSCOM Foundation, the Universal Service Obligation Fund, Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, the Commonwealth Centre for e-Governance, Reuters Market Light, Thomson Reuters, Reliance Foundation, UDAAN, EKO Financial Services, EkGaon, NComputing India, Phoenix Software and the Drishtee Foundation. About The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) The CTO is an inter-governmental organisation which provides technical assistance services to its member countries through research and studies, consultancies and advisory services, capacity building and training workshops, and through knowledge-sharing events. With a history dating back to 1901, the CTO is a partnership between the Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth governments, regulators, businesses, civil society organizations and other ICT stakeholders. The CTO's mission is to reduce global poverty through the more efficient utilization of ICTs, and its development agenda reflects the priorities set in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For further information visit www.cto.int <http://www.cto.int> . CONTACTS For media enquiries, please contact: Rumana B. Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist T: + 44 (0) 208 600 3800, E: rumana(a)cto.int <mailto:[email protected]> For CTO Services, please contact: Bashir Patel Director of Programmes and Business Development T: + 44 208 600 3802, E: b.patel(a)cto.int <mailto:[email protected]> -###- ________________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star. The service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit: http://www.star.net.uk ________________________________________________________________________ DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the UK Government's fight against world poverty. Find out more at http://www.dfid.gov.uk.

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Recommendation
by Kevin 17 Jan '11

17 Jan '11

Please add Mr. Ian Mwathi (imwathi(a)gmail.com) to the the KictaNET mailing list. He is the new Marketing and Business Development Manager at Kenya Wildlife Service. Thanks Kevin Wanjala

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