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Announcement: 4th East Africa Internet Governance forum
by Alice Munyua 19 Apr '11

19 Apr '11

(Apologies for cross posting) The fourth EA-IGF will take place on 21 and 22nd July 2011 in Kigali, Rwanda, hosted by the Government of Rwanda, coordinated by the Rwanda Information and communication Technology Association (RICTA). The forum will bring together participants from government, industry, technical community, civil society among others to discuss internet governance issues that are unique to the East Africa region. The forum aims at creating a community of practice that will become a sustaining foundation for meaningful participation of East African stakeholders in internet public policy processes at the national, regional and global levels. RICTA invites all East African internet stakeholders to attend. Details on venue and programme will be shared later. For more information about the EA-IGF please visit: www.eaigf.or.ke --

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Software testing - internships anyone?
by Andrea Bohnstedt 19 Apr '11

19 Apr '11

Hey all, Roland Omoresemi and Tezza Solutions have quietly been doing some very interesting work for Kenya's ICT industry and its outsourcing potential - have a look here: http://www.ratio-magazine.com/201104193912/Kenya/In-Brief-Building-Human-Re… Roland is now looking for some more corporates who would be willing to take on an intern (or three, I guess) for one to two months. Any takers? You'll get some quality services out of it. If you're interested, get in touch with Roland directly: roland(a)tezzasolutions.com Regards, Andrea -- Andrea Bohnstedt <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt> Publisher +254 720 960 322 www.ratio-magazine.com Find/post East Africa careers<http://www.ratio-magazine.com/careers/index.php> Find/post conferences, workshops, trainings, other business events<http://www.ratio-magazine.com/businessevents/index.php>

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Re: [kictanet] Airtel (non) response to customers
by Victor Bwire 18 Apr '11

18 Apr '11

I read about how Airtel responds to customer issues and thought someone from the company gave an answer-which I seem not to remember I had a very simple request to Airtel- changing from number from a post paid to prepaid and since November, 2010 today, whenever I call or visit them, they ask me to write to the below email- which as you can see has some automated responses- the nothing happens- but they continue charging me for the post paid rates, though I stopped using the number last year. Could anybody advice me what to do Regards Victor ________________________________ From: customercare(a)ke.airtel.com [customercare(a)ke.airtel.com] Sent: 13 April 2011 07:38 To: Victor Bwire Subject: Your Query to Airtel Kenya Customer Care Division Dear Customer We are pleased to inform you that your query has been logged for resolution and you will be contacted in less than 24 hours. In the event that you have not been contacted after 24 hours please call the Customer Service Operations Team Leader on 0733560000. Yours sincerely Airtel Kenya Customer Services Parkside Towers, Mombasa Rd P.O Box 42964 00100 Nairobi Tel 0733100710/700/720; Fax (020) 6911104 Visit our website at: http://africa.airtel.com/kenya/ ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+victor=article19.org(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [kictanet-bounces+victor=article19.org(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] on behalf of Alice Munyua [alice(a)apc.org] Sent: 18 April 2011 09:26 To: Victor Bwire Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] new gTLDs: New Applicant Guidebook Discussion Draft published GAC Scorecard Response and New Applicant Guidebook Discussion Draft Following the direction set by ICANN Board to advance the new gTLD Program towards launch, ICANN posted the New gTLD Applicant Guidebook – April 2011 Discussion Draft<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/comments-6-en.htm> and ICANN's reply to the GAC Comments<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/board-notes-gac-scorecard-clean-15…>[PDF, 275 KB] (regarding the GAC's Scorecard of new gTLD issues<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/gac-scorecard-23feb11-en.pdf> [PDF, 332 KB]). In addition, six Explanatory Memoranda<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/comments-6-en.htm> related to the GAC-Board discussion points were published to explain rationale for several current positions. These publications meet the current Board timeline for new gTLDs set during the recent ICANN Silicon Valley meeting but more importantly, they describe many substantive changes in the Guidebook intended to address GAC concerns with the new gTLD Program. This recent set of substantive consultations between ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee and the ICANN Board of Directors lays the groundwork for improving the effectiveness of governments' role in future ICANN policy discussions. The Board's draft timeline<http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/draft-timeline-new-gtlds-18mar11-en.pdf> [PDF, 117 KB] shows the key milestones to be met on that path. Keeping with the draft timeline, ICANN plans to post a final version of the Guidebook by 30 May 2011, in time for consideration of the New gTLD implementation program at an extraordinary meeting of the ICANN Board to be held on Monday, 20 June 2011, at the ICANN meetings inSingapore<http://singapore41.icann.org/>. The comment period will remain open until 15 May 2011. GAC Comments on the Board Response to the GAC Scorecard following San Francisco meeting<http://gac.icann.org/system/files/20110412_GAC_comments_on_the_Board_respon…>

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new gTLDs: New Applicant Guidebook Discussion Draft published
by Alice Munyua 18 Apr '11

18 Apr '11

/GAC Scorecard Response and New Applicant Guidebook Discussion Draft/ Following the direction set by ICANN Board to advance the new gTLD Program towards launch, ICANN posted theNew gTLD Applicant Guidebook -- April 2011 Discussion Draft <http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/comments-6-en.htm>andICANN's reply to the GAC Comments <http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/board-notes-gac-scorecard-clean-15…>[PDF, 275 KB] (regarding theGAC's Scorecard of new gTLD issues <http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/gac-scorecard-23feb11-en.pdf>[PDF, 332 KB]). In addition,six Explanatory Memoranda <http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/comments-6-en.htm>related to the GAC-Board discussion points were published to explain rationale for several current positions. These publications meet the current Board timeline for new gTLDs set during the recent ICANN Silicon Valley meeting but more importantly, they describe many substantive changes in the Guidebook intended to address GAC concerns with the new gTLD Program. This recent set of substantive consultations between ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee and the ICANN Board of Directors lays the groundwork for improving the effectiveness of governments' role in future ICANN policy discussions. The Board's drafttimeline <http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/draft-timeline-new-gtlds-18mar11-en.pdf>[PDF, 117 KB] shows the key milestones to be met on that path. Keeping with the draft timeline, ICANN plans to post a final version of the Guidebook by 30 May 2011, in time for consideration of the New gTLD implementation program at an extraordinary meeting of the ICANN Board to be held on Monday, 20 June 2011, at the ICANN meetings inSingapore <http://singapore41.icann.org/>. The comment period will remain open until 15 May 2011. GAC Comments on the Board Response to the GAC Scorecard following San Francisco meeting <http://gac.icann.org/system/files/20110412_GAC_comments_on_the_Board_respon…>

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e-ProMIS solution
by robert yawe 15 Apr '11

15 Apr '11

Hi, Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a demonstration of the governments e-ProMIS system and to say the list I was totally blown away. However much we bash GOK as relates to application of technology its all based on a lack of information and if only we had a platform to regularly interact with the government the energy we dissipate on such activities would be better utilised working to improve on the initiatives. Even as the various committees and task forces burn expensive fuel, the units within government are burning the fuel adjusted power to develop solutions that will make devolution seamless and reduce corruption to a road site activity. For those who us planning to become governors we need to make sure that our objective is to serve and not blunder. After the demonstration I spoke to the officer in-charge of the application development and he is willing and able to give a comprehensive demonstration of the system to those who are interested and invitation I would like to extend to all listers. Would those who are interested send me an email message with the subject "e-promis" based on the responses I will then plan for an appropriate time and location. As is my mantra we need to meet half way so be prepared to cough up to cover any costs that might arise. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Call for project write-ups in ICTs and Climate Change
by Edith Adera 15 Apr '11

15 Apr '11

Listers, Please find attached a call for "project write-ups" on ICTs and Climate change. Please could I ask you all to circulate to your appropriate lists or contacts. Many thanks Edith

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Publication of Piece on protecting the Internet from Dictators
by warigia bowman 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

Dear Friends I just want to thank you for your assistance in helping me with the piece on the Egyptian Internet Shutdown. I got a lot of press interest from it. It is going to be published in the Cairo Review here: http://cairoreview.aucegypt.edu/BowmanTF.html They have misspelled my name, but they are working on fixing it. The piece fully cited with attribution is available on my blog. www.democratizingegypt.blogspot.com Yours, Rigia On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 10:05 AM, Francis Hook <francis.hook(a)gmail.com>wrote: > In today's Business Daily is the story about the looming exit of Charles > Njoroge from CCK. > > > http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate+News/Change+of+guard+looms+at+… > > Looking at CCK's Mandate (http://www.cck.go.ke/about/what_we_do.html) and > thinking of some aspects of that story (e.g. his appraisal score) and also > looking at recent positive developments (anti-competition, lower tariffs, > MNP, converged licences, etc), when reviewing Mr Njoroge's tenure vis a vis > that mandate, what is the rationale behind his proposed removal? I > understand we cannot all be privy to the details of his appraisal but > perhaps it merits some open discussion, more so when looking ahead and > trying to read the tea leaves in terms of possible revisions/amendment of > various sector regulations. > > --- > Francis Hook > +254 733 504561 > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: warigia(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/warigia%40gmail.com > >

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Extension of the deadline for IGF workshop proposal submissions
by Alice Munyua 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

Dear all, Please note deadline for submission of workshop proposals for the IGF taking place in September 27-30 in Nairobi has been extended to April 22nd. best Alice ---------------------- The Sixth Annual IGF Meeting will be held in Nairobi on 27-30 September 2011 at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) Gigiri. The proposed main theme of the meeting is: '*Internet as a catalyst for change: access, development, freedoms and innovation*'. The call for workshop proposals deadline has now been extended to 22nd April 2011 Steps to submitting proposals see here: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/w2011 and below Thank you and looking forward to those proposals. p.s no payment required to propose and organize a workshop during the IGF Best Alice ------------------ *Steps to submitting proposals* * Log in to the IGF Website with your username and password * If you do not have a username and password you can register here: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/user/register * Once you have logged in click the menu item: Workshops ---> New Proposal. * Once your proposal is submitted you can edit your proposal by going to the "Manage your proposals" menu item under the Workshops menu The template for submitting can be viewed below. Proposals should respect the organizational principles and criteria for the selection of workshops. The Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) will assess the proposals. The final schedule will be determined in light of the number of proposals submitted. *Organizational Principles* * The guiding organizational principle for holding workshops is the multi-stakeholder approach. Geographical diversity is an equally relevant factor. * All proposals fulfilling the selection criteria and using the template will be posted on the IGF Web site. * Proposals should preferably be submitted in English. *15 April 2011* is set as the final deadline for submitting proposals. * Interested parties are encouraged to submit their proposals as early as possible, as the selection process will take place on an ongoing basis. An early decision will facilitate the planning of workshops. * The rooms reserved for workshops and all equipment, including a screen and a PC or laptop for projections and a projector (XGA/SVGA Data), will be available free of charge. Details related to the logistics will be made available in due course. No Secretariat funding is available for the organization of workshops. * Workshops should have a plan of incorporating remote participation into their sessions and organizers should identify a remote moderator. The workshops will be Web cast and have live transcription. * There will be no interpretation provided for workshops. If interpretation is desired the workshop organizers are free to make their own arrangements in coordination with the IGF Secretariat. The organizers will be responsible for all associated costs. *Selection criteria* * Relevance to the main themes and sub-themes. Priority will be given to proposals related to the main themes and relation to the theme questions. * Demonstratively proposed or organized following the multi-stakeholder principle (e.g. at least three relevant stakeholder groups being represented in the organization of the workshop). * Capacity to improve understanding of the IGF themes and topics. * Proven experience, expertise and capacity to manage the staging of the workshop, including the raising of funds necessary to do so. * Timeliness, completeness and adherence to deadlines. * The provision of background papers. * Developing country support * Gender balance * Balance of speakers to participant discussion in the design of the workshop; that is, the degree of interaction planned * Youth participation * Suitability for remote participation, for example linkages to a hub event. * A name of a remote moderator is also required for each workshop. *Content and format* * They are two general workshop types: *- Feeder workshops:* which will focus on the specific issues relevant to the Nairobi meeting themes and will act as leaders to the relevant main sessions. These workshops should also address themselves in part to one or some of the questions of its main session. As was done in previous years in the relevant main sessions, the moderators of these sessions will call on the feeder workshop rapporteurs to relate the viewpoints expressed in the workshops. Each feeder workshop will be asked to assign a rapporteur whose role will include attending the relevant main session, giving a brief overview of the session's discussions and take part in a one hour round table session that will immediately proceed the main session on that topic. They should also be available to act as a resource to the moderators of the relevant main session. To the extent possible participants from the feeder workshops are also encouraged to attend the main sessions related to the feeder workshops in order to broaden the discussions on the sub-themes of the sessions. * - Other workshops:* Workshops on other topics of relevance to Internet Governance. (More details to both these types of workshops are available in the draft programme paper <http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/2011/programmepapers/ProgrammePaper.24.02.11…>.) * Workshops dealing with topics that are addressed in the main meeting will not be scheduled at the same time as the main meeting. * Workshops should explore a theme from different angles and different stakeholders' perspectives. Pure advocacy workshops will not be considered. * All workshops will be Webcast and have realtime transcription. * Workshops should respect the general format of meetings and should be structured to be interactive, allowing a large portion of their time for open discussion and interaction with meeting attendees, such as a Q&A session. They could include keynote presentations, moderated panels and discussions both from the floor and from remote participants. Workshops should be designed with the format that is most appropriate to the particular topic under discussion. * Template for submitting proposals * An online form will be made available shortly for the submission of workshop proposals containing the following questions: *Question 1:* Title of proposed workshop. *Question 2*: Please provide a concise description of the proposed workshop. *Question 3:* Which of the five broad IGF Themes <http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/content/article/104-general/788-th…> or the Cross-Cutting Priorities does your workshop fall under? *Question 4a:* Have you, or any of your co-organizers, organized an IGF workshop before? *Question 4b:* If so, please provide the link(s) to the report(s): *Question 5:* Provide the names and affiliations of the panellists you are planning to invite. *Question 5b:* Name of Remote Moderator. *Question 6*: Provide the name of the organizer(s) of the workshop and their affiliation to various stakeholder groups. (Please note that workshops are expected to adhere to the multistakeholder principle, including geographical and gender diversity and to provide different perspectives on the issues under discussion.) Proposals should not exceed *1000 words*. Workshop organizers are encouraged to read the draft programme paper <http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/2011/programmepapers/ProgrammePaper.21.03.11…> before submitting their workshops. *Additional information* * **Contact Person: Contact person's phone number: Contact Person's E-mail Address:* *Reporting*

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Business Daily - Corporate News Three directors join CCK to ease tension
by muriuki mureithi 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

Hi listers Follow the link http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate+News/Three+directors+join+CCK+t o+ease+tension/-/539550/1144090/-/yd2g7jz/-/index.html cheers Muriuki Mureithi what chance gathers , she easily scatters !! Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Re: [kictanet] BELATED HACKBATTLE 2010 (Question that have come up)
by Gichuki John Chuksjonia 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

Hi Kictanet members, Skunkworks, and Security members, as always, kindly when replying, do not reply to all, but to your respective mailist, unless your are registered to all. Several questions have come up, and its good that i answer them here so that everyone gets a clear picture of the contest. Are there going to be prizes? Yes there will be, but it will mostly depend on the sponsorship we get. We are currently to struggling to get it. Will there be vulnerabilities that can be exploited? We are currently setting up the infrastructure the way Kenyan Banks do. If you have been involved with most of them like i have, you will see they favor obscurity over real security. So the answer is several vulnerabilities will be there, but it will be hard to find them. So you will have to sweat harder. How do i hack the network? Kindly use the same methodology you use when doing any security pentest except DOS since that will get you banned. How come you don't want to release the IPs to the public? I would love to, but we want maintained order during the contest and also maintain the load since the servers cant handle 60 hackers at the same time messing up kernels etc. What do i do if get to a typo during the test? Here i will just ask you a question. Instead of typing w.x.y.z, and type mod.go.ke, how long will it last before a black van shows at your door? We will not defend you if you attack other networks instead of the contest infrastructure Can i do the tests from ihub floor? Yes, you can, i believe the internet there is pretty fast. Can a Ugandan company sponsor? Yes, the contest is meant for EAC, which means East African Community which Uganda is a part of. For more questions, dont be afraid to ask, publically or privately, i will still answer them. With regards, ./Chucks . -- Gichuki John Ndirangu, C.E.H , C.P.T.P, O.S.C.P I.T Security Analyst and Penetration Tester jgichuki at inbox d0t com {FORUM}http://lists.my.co.ke/pipermail/security/ http://chuksjonia.blogspot.com/

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Fwd: V2030 Awards update: Education and training most popular sector for ICT companies in V2030 Award competition
by Paul Kukubo ICT Board 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

Listers > Education and training most popular sector for ICT companies in V2030 Award competition > > The Call for Applications for the V2030 Awards closed on April 11. Over 170 companies participated in the online process. All applications were received on an online platform set up by the Kenya ICT Board that allowed applicants to create an account and fill out their application over time. > > Of the companies that participated in the Call for Applications, 82 successfully completed the process. If applicants responded to all the questions, attached supporting documents and clicked on the final ‘submit’ button — their proposal is considered complete. > > The Kenya ICT Board has convened a team of seven independent judges representing the ICT private sector, academia, public sector and civil society. The judges began their work on April 13 and will review each complete proposal against the criteria outlined in the call for applications. To ensure integrity in the process, Deloitte Consulting are auditing the review process. > > > The winners of the V2030 ICT Innovation Award will be announced on April 20 at the Connected Kenya Summit in Diani, www.connected.go.ke. > > Each winner will receive USD 1000 courtesy of Accenture Consulting who are the award prize sponsors. > > Some stats > > Of the companies that participated in the applications process, 47% responded to the Education and Training sector. Water and Sanitation received no applicants, while Tourism received only three. Considering the important role tourism plays in the Kenyan economy, the results from the award competition shows that the opportunities in tourism are yet to be tapped. > > See more stats and graphics online>> > > > > For more info contact Kaburo Kobia > Project Manager, Local Digital Content > Kenya ICT Board > > Telposta Towers, 12th Floor, Kenyatta Ave > P.O. Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya > t: + 254-020-2093040 | m: + 254 (0)729466260 | e: kkobia(a)ict.go.ke > > Visit: www.ict.go.ke > Become a fan: www.facebook.com/tandaakenya > Follow us on twitter: @tandaakenya > --------------------- > Our Vision: Kenya becomes a top 10 global ICT hub > Our Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment > > > Paul Kukubo CEO

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FW: Press Release on update on Mobile Number Portability
by Walubengo J 13 Apr '11

13 Apr '11

fyi. --- On Wed, 4/13/11, Wambua, Christopher <Wambua(a)cck.go.ke> wrote: From: Wambua, Christopher <Wambua(a)cck.go.ke> Subject: FW: Press Release on update on Mobile Number Portability To: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com>, "Walubengo J" <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> Cc: "CPR team" <CPRteam(a)cck.go.ke> Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2011, 3:34 PM Please share this listers P R E S S R E L E A S E Resolution of Mobile Number Portability hitches The Commission yesterday 12th April 2011 convened a meeting of the Technical, Process and Legal Working Groups of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) to review the progress of the exercise that begun about two weeks ago. The meeting also came in the wake of receipt of complaints from some porting subscribers who had failed to switch over to their preferred network smoothly. The main objective of the meeting was to resolve the disputes with a view to ensuring that mobile subscribers enjoy seamless service as they exercise their right of choice. All mobile operators including M/s Porting Access Kenya (i.e. the Porting Service Provider) attended the meeting. The following are the main issues discussed and agreed on in yesterday’s meeting: 1. Technical hitches: It was reported that some networks have been experiencing some technical glitches in implementing Mobile Number Portability (MNP), leading to overshooting of the agreed porting timelines and unsatisfactory customer experience. As a result of the technical challenges, some ported numbers were not accessible in the recipient networks, resulting in non-seamless customer experience. Assurances were given that the causes of the glitches had been identified and to a large extent resolved, and that the pending ones would be sorted out by the end of today (13th April 2011). 2. Inadequate knowledge on the part of operators’ customer care representatives: It was acknowledged that some customer care representatives of the mobile operators are not fully conversant with the porting procedures. This has resulted in misinformation of porting subscribers at the mobile operator customer outlets, which in some instances has in turn led to abortion of porting requests. Operators reported that they had already put in place measures to address this problem. It was agreed that mobile operators would ensure that their customer care representatives were well versed with the porting procedures. 3. Creation of a single point of contact: It was noted that the prevailing multiple points of contact of the technical teams in the various mobile networks was hampering speedy resolution of technical challenges, leading to frustrating delays and fuelling distrust. To address this concern, the four mobile operators exchanged names of the first point of contact in their respective technical teams. 4. Need for good faith and mutual trust: The importance of acting in good faith and maintaining mutual trust was acknowledged and underscored. The mobile operators resolved to avoid unnecessary suspicion and misunderstanding, and agreed to cooperate to ensure that Mobile Number Portability is implemented to the letter. 5. Strict adherence to the MNP implementation framework The meeting resolved on the need to strictly follow the implementation framework, both regulatory and contractual, of MNP in order to avoid unethical practices and blatant violation of MNP guidelines and licence conditions. In this regard, it was resolved that all mobile service providers would observe provisions relating to: · Prohibition of attempts to win back customers at the point of porting or to prevent them from porting out · Full disclosure of the terms and conditions as well as implications of porting to the customer · Strict adherence to timelines provided for in the MNP implementation framework · Consumer information on the step by step porting procedures. On account of the success realized during the meeting, the Commission has deferred the CEOs’ meeting scheduled to be held this afternoon to provide industry players with time to implement the resolutions agreed upon in yesterday’s meeting. When convened, the CEOs’ meeting shall review the progress made in implementing MNP in the context of resolutions agreed on in yesterday’s meeting. Furthermore, I wish to confirm that there has not been any sabotage among operators in the implementation of MNP as has been reported in sections of the media. I would like to assure Kenyans that most of the technical glitches are now under control and we shall continue monitoring progress to ensure that deadlines are met. As at this morning, the existing backlog of porting requests had been cleared. I also wish to correct the wrong perception that the success of MNP is only seen in the number of subscribers crossing between networks. The real success of MNP is the freedom of choice and flexibility that it offers to subscribers in being able to change service providers without any inhibition of any nature. Since inception of the service, more than 8,000 subscribers have made porting requests (this figure covers up to today morning). Charles J.K. Njoroge, EBS Director-General

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Fwd: UNESCO debate on mobile phones and development:
by Alice Munyua 13 Apr '11

13 Apr '11

"Do mobile phones contribute more to social impact than to economic impact in developing countries?" -------- Original Message -------- Two new interviews have been added to the debate which UNESCO has launched on the WSIS Platform of Communities website on the question "Do mobile phones contribute more to social impact than to economic impact in developing countries?" The interviews are with: ·Jenny Aker, whose research into the impact of mobile phones in Africa has been highly influential ·Ken Banks, who developed the innovative and widely-used grassroots FrontlineSMS platform. You can find the interviews - and participate in the debate - by emailing wsiscommunity-invitation(a)unesco.org and asking to register to the Platform. The Platform of Communities website is at http://www.wsis-community.org/. Your contributions to the debate will help develop thinking about mobile phones and development in the run-up to this year's WSIS Forum. Sent by: David Souter 145 Lower Camden, Chislehurst, BR7 5JD, United Kingdom Landline: +44 (0)20 8467 1148 Cellphone: +44 (0)7764 819974 Email: david.souter(a)runbox.com Managing Director, ict Development Associates Visiting Professor in Communications Management, Business School, University of Strathclyde Visiting Senior Fellow, Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics Associate of the International Institute for Sustainable Development

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BELATED HACKBATTLE 2010
by Gichuki John Chuksjonia 13 Apr '11

13 Apr '11

Hi Kictanet members, Skunkworks, and Security members, kindly when replying, do not reply to all, but to your respective mailist, unless your are registered to all. Now, the dates for the belated Hackbattle2010 have been set, as from 25th to 29th of April and 30th will be the presentation dates. We will have hackbattle 2011 at the end of the year. The scenario will be two servers Natted to an FW on public IPs, and two workstations behind the DMZ. The registered guys will have to hack their way into the network, and collected files, they will be asked with the right MD5 checksums. The first collector of all checksums, from both servers and one workstation, will be the winner of the contest. To register, send email to hackbattle.ke(a)gmail.com, with your name, the hacker handle that you will want to use. and the IP range. The contest is hosted by ihub, so all sponsors will be needed to contact Bernard Owuor Adongo <bernard at mlab d0t co d0t ke>, and also me with jgichuki at inbox d0t com. For those who had already asked about the sponsorship, i will be sending you the information later in the day. Rules: 1. Any techi involved with the infrastructure set up will be disqualified for the contest 2. Every registered techi will be needed to have a full report of his actions 3. Any changes of the file to mess up with the checksum, will be considered as a disqualification. 4. Any tyme of DOS will have your IPs blocked 5. Teamwork is allowed, but remember you will have to share the prizes 6. Winners will have to show how they hacked on 30th, in ihub just before the Ubuntu party. 7. The registration will only be allowed from EAC members. 8. Trying to social engineer moderators will be considered as a cool 9. How to win, hack the infrastructure the fastest Yours, ./Chucks -- -- Gichuki John Ndirangu, C.E.H , C.P.T.P, O.S.C.P I.T Security Analyst and Penetration Tester jgichuki at inbox d0t com {FORUM}http://lists.my.co.ke/pipermail/security/ http://chuksjonia.blogspot.com/

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Cyber Schooling
by robert yawe 13 Apr '11

13 Apr '11

Hi, Have a new truly broadband link courtesy of Safaricom Business which allows me to watch streaming video with minimal stoppages, if this can be achieved with the stream travelling thousands of kilometres imagine the performance if the content was local. That was an aside, the post is on the growth of cyber schooling in the US today, the reasons for this might be peculiar but as Kenyans we should be able to adopt the concept to meet our unique situation. This can solve the issue of over crowding in our public schools as class rooms can be setup anywhere such as DVs, post offices, CDF offices and governors mansions. The issue of shortage in teaching personnel can also be resolved with this application of technology by having student teachers and university students participate as tutorial assistants without having to leave campus. Dr. Ndemo, I believe this is a killer project for the 4G network that you are about to roll out, can we hack it? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42535801#42535801 Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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2011 IGF Call for workshop proposals
by Alice Munyua 13 Apr '11

13 Apr '11

(Apologies for cross posting) Dear all, The Sixth Annual IGF Meeting will be held in Nairobi on 27-30 September 2011 at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) Gigiri. The proposed main theme of the meeting is: '*Internet as a catalyst for change: access, development, freedoms and innovation*'. The call for workshop proposals deadline is on Friday 15th April and it would be great if we could get a few Kenyan proposed workshops, along the following key themes: 1. IG4D / Internet governance for development (IG4D) 2. Emerging Issues 3. Managing critical Internet resources 4. Security, openness and privacy 5. Access and diversity 6. Taking stock and the way forward Steps to submitting proposals see here: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/w2011 and below Thank you and looking forward to those proposals. p.s no payment required to propose and organise a workshop during the IGF Best Alice ------------------- Steps to submitting proposals see here: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/w2011 ad below -------------------------------------- *Steps to submitting proposals* * Log in to the IGF Website with your username and password * If you do not have a username and password you can register here: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/user/register * Once you have logged in click the menu item: Workshops ---> New Proposal. * Once your proposal is submitted you can edit your proposal by going to the "Manage your proposals" menu item under the Workshops menu The template for submitting can be viewed below. Proposals should respect the organizational principles and criteria for the selection of workshops. The Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) will assess the proposals. The final schedule will be determined in light of the number of proposals submitted. *Organizational Principles* * The guiding organizational principle for holding workshops is the multi-stakeholder approach. Geographical diversity is an equally relevant factor. * All proposals fulfilling the selection criteria and using the template will be posted on the IGF Web site. * Proposals should preferably be submitted in English. *15 April 2011* is set as the final deadline for submitting proposals. * Interested parties are encouraged to submit their proposals as early as possible, as the selection process will take place on an ongoing basis. An early decision will facilitate the planning of workshops. * The rooms reserved for workshops and all equipment, including a screen and a PC or laptop for projections and a projector (XGA/SVGA Data), will be available free of charge. Details related to the logistics will be made available in due course. No Secretariat funding is available for the organization of workshops. * Workshops should have a plan of incorporating remote participation into their sessions and organizers should identify a remote moderator. The workshops will be Web cast and have live transcription. * There will be no interpretation provided for workshops. If interpretation is desired the workshop organizers are free to make their own arrangements in coordination with the IGF Secretariat. The organizers will be responsible for all associated costs. *Selection criteria* * Relevance to the main themes and sub-themes. Priority will be given to proposals related to the main themes and relation to the theme questions. * Demonstratively proposed or organized following the multi-stakeholder principle (e.g. at least three relevant stakeholder groups being represented in the organization of the workshop). * Capacity to improve understanding of the IGF themes and topics. * Proven experience, expertise and capacity to manage the staging of the workshop, including the raising of funds necessary to do so. * Timeliness, completeness and adherence to deadlines. * The provision of background papers. * Developing country support * Gender balance * Balance of speakers to participant discussion in the design of the workshop; that is, the degree of interaction planned * Youth participation * Suitability for remote participation, for example linkages to a hub event. * A name of a remote moderator is also required for each workshop. *Content and format* * They are two general workshop types: *- Feeder workshops:* which will focus on the specific issues relevant to the Nairobi meeting themes and will act as leaders to the relevant main sessions. These workshops should also address themselves in part to one or some of the questions of its main session. As was done in previous years in the relevant main sessions, the moderators of these sessions will call on the feeder workshop rapporteurs to relate the viewpoints expressed in the workshops. Each feeder workshop will be asked to assign a rapporteur whose role will include attending the relevant main session, giving a brief overview of the session's discussions and take part in a one hour round table session that will immediately proceed the main session on that topic. They should also be available to act as a resource to the moderators of the relevant main session. To the extent possible participants from the feeder workshops are also encouraged to attend the main sessions related to the feeder workshops in order to broaden the discussions on the sub-themes of the sessions. * - Other workshops:* Workshops on other topics of relevance to Internet Governance. (More details to both these types of workshops are available in the draft programme paper <http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/2011/programmepapers/ProgrammePaper.24.02.11…>.) * Workshops dealing with topics that are addressed in the main meeting will not be scheduled at the same time as the main meeting. * Workshops should explore a theme from different angles and different stakeholders' perspectives. Pure advocacy workshops will not be considered. * All workshops will be Webcast and have realtime transcription. * Workshops should respect the general format of meetings and should be structured to be interactive, allowing a large portion of their time for open discussion and interaction with meeting attendees, such as a Q&A session. They could include keynote presentations, moderated panels and discussions both from the floor and from remote participants. Workshops should be designed with the format that is most appropriate to the particular topic under discussion. * Template for submitting proposals * An online form will be made available shortly for the submission of workshop proposals containing the following questions: *Question 1:* Title of proposed workshop. *Question 2*: Please provide a concise description of the proposed workshop. *Question 3:* Which of the five broad IGF Themes <http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/content/article/104-general/788-th…> or the Cross-Cutting Priorities does your workshop fall under? *Question 4a:* Have you, or any of your co-organizers, organized an IGF workshop before? *Question 4b:* If so, please provide the link(s) to the report(s): *Question 5:* Provide the names and affiliations of the panellists you are planning to invite. *Question 5b:* Name of Remote Moderator. *Question 6*: Provide the name of the organizer(s) of the workshop and their affiliation to various stakeholder groups. (Please note that workshops are expected to adhere to the multistakeholder principle, including geographical and gender diversity and to provide different perspectives on the issues under discussion.) Proposals should not exceed *1000 words*. Workshop organizers are encouraged to read the draft programme paper <http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/2011/programmepapers/ProgrammePaper.21.03.11…> before submitting their workshops. *Additional information* * **Contact Person: Contact person's phone number: Contact Person's E-mail Address:* *Reporting*

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FW: Introducing Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) on Kictanet:
by Stephen Mutoro 13 Apr '11

13 Apr '11

From: Stephen Mutoro [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, April 04, 2011 9:13 AM To: 'kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke' Subject: Introducong Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) on Kictanet: Importance: High Sensitivity: Confidential Dear Alice & Others: Greetings from Cofek and I. We are very grateful to have been invited on this forum. Clearly, we have a lot to learn from you as we offer our counter views and lessons. Please allow us to make our maiden submission here. Indeed, we must hasten to mention that at Cofek we are keen to discuss issues and not personalities. We hope this forum will live to this expectation. As a credible and umbrella federation of consumer organizations, we are equally realistic - we are well aware that sustainable consumer benefits are best reaped when the market is fair, just, competitive and predictably stable. Bottom line, we hope we can agree to disagree on certain matters without being personal! >From the foregoing, we are friends of all service providers. This is because without any of them, the consumer is in serious trouble. On telecommunications sector for instance, the Cofek Sector Unit responsible is a "friend" of all MSPs (Yu, Orange, Airtel and Safaricom and any other). We had the first meeting with MSPs on 25th January and hope to host another one before end of April. We will, therefore, be disappointed if the arguments posted on this forum appear to suggest that perhaps one or other MSP is better than the other without credible supporting evidence. Remember, they are all in business to make money. They wil apply different formula and strategy to this end. Cofek has no problem with their reasonable profits. Without regret, however, we are ever ready and willing to take drastic action, including seeking legal redress, should any of them go against Article 46 of the Constitution as well as Kenya Information and Communications Act (2009). It is for this reason that Cofek's first point of entry into the sector is with the quality and performance of regulatory regimes, in this case the CCK. We are interested to be assured that the CCK board of directors and management does not only comply with the law but is one that can be relied upon to deliver against world benchmarks. On occasions, we will be keen to discuss various issues - such as the tariff structure and promotions, innovations, consumer IEC, possibility of a 5th operator and why not?, MNP among others. In so doing, we work closely with media houses for instance Cofek will be on KTN Business Live discussing MNP at 2.00 pm today. In a nutshell, we are pleased to be on this forum and wish each of you a great week ahead! Kind regards, Stephen Mutoro Secretary General, COFEK www.cofek.co.ke ------Original Message------ From: alice@apc. org To: stephen(a)cofek.co.ke ReplyTo: alice@apc. org Subject: Kenya ICT Action Network. Sent: 2 Apr 2011 1:55 PM I read your opinion article featured on standard newspaper April 1st and welcome your views and analysis. I would like to invite you to join a multi-stakeholder forum called KICTANet that discusses ICT policy and regulatory issues. Thank you Alice

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GAC written comments on new gTLDs following San Francisco meetings
by Alice Munyua 13 Apr '11

13 Apr '11

Dear all, For those who are following ICANN's introduction of new gTLDs process, attached GAC's written comments on new gTLDs, which builds on the boards written response to the GAC score card, meeting in San Francisco and consultations with the ICANN community. best Alice

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Airtel accuses Safaricom of sabotaging Mobile Number Portability
by Stephen Mutoro 13 Apr '11

13 Apr '11

Hi. Interesting development this must be. We would be happy to have your views on this article below appearing on "Airtel Kenya" Facebook page (which we are unsure if it is the company's official page). Kind regards, Stephen Stephen Mutoro Secretary General Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) Natu Court, Block F-45 Ngong Road/Ring Rd Kilimani Junction P.O Box 2733-00200, City Square, NAIROBI, Kenya Tel. 254-20-3861718, 3861719, 2300859 Fax. 254-20-3861719 Cellphones: 0715555550, 0736965590, 0770700007 E-mail: <mailto:[email protected]> hotline(a)cofek.co.ke Website: <http://www.cofek.co.ke/> www.cofek.co.ke ************************* Restoring Consumer Pride and Confidence! airtel accuses Safaricom of sabotaging Mobile Number Portability by Airtel Kenya <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Airtel-Kenya/122273904502736> on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 3:46pm April 12, 2011. The success of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in Kenya is at risk with reports indicating that some operators may be employing under hand tactics to sabotage the MNP process, barely a week after its launch. While lauding the Communications Communication of Kenya for making MNP a reality at an event to welcome the very first customers moving to airtel from other networks today, Managing Director Rene Meza raised a red flag saying several anti-competition tactics were being used to block customers seeking to move to its network. He said that whereas initial technical hiccups in the implementation process had been deemed to be normal and expected, it is now emerging that some operators are reluctant to address the bottlenecks expeditiously, going against the spirit of MNP project of giving the customer freedom to own their number and move to the network of their choice within the stipulated terms. "How do you explain several complaints received from customers who have opted to move their number to airtel from Safaricom being unable to receive calls from Safaricom numbers for several days, while they are able to communicate on all platforms on the airtel network with the same number?" posed Mr. Meza. He said contrary to the regulations issued by the Communications Commission of Kenya, some operators, especially Safaricom, were still trying to woo back customers who had already ported out of their network. "It is amazing that after completing the 48 hour porting process, some players had deliberately declined to de-activate the old sim cards from their network. In essence, what this means is that the customer has not completely moved to his network of choice but is still held captive by Safaricom, an act that is anti patriotic and gross abuse of dominance by Safaricom clearly designed to beat efforts of the Government to fully liberalize the sector" he said. Prior to the implementation of MNP, all operators had expressed commitment to ensure the service was implemented smoothly, a move that was seen as another milestone in Kenya's telecommunication sector. Largely seen as the next frontier in the battle for subscribers, the successful implementation of MNP is a test-case for CCK's commitment to overseeing reforms in Kenya's telecommunication sector. Mr. Meza added: "We have referred the matter to CCK since we feel that if the anti-competition tendencies are not weeded out at the onset, customers may not get a chance to enjoy real freedom and benefits of MNP. - END -

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Safaricom Points to Porting Anomalies, Seeks Quick Resolution by Regulator
by muriuki mureithi 12 Apr '11

12 Apr '11

@SafaricomLtd: Safaricom Points to Porting Anomalies, Seeks Quick Resolution by Regulator: http://bit.ly/iejzoq Shared via Tweetcaster Muriuki Mureithi Consultant member. Society of telecommunications consultants Summit Strategies ltd Www.summitstrategies.co.ke Sent from my Samsung Mobile

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Re: [kictanet] EMS Services - The Lethargy (Final Update)
by Odhiambo Washington 12 Apr '11

12 Apr '11

On Tue, Apr 12, 2011 at 13:47, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo(a)gmail.com>wrote: > I hope EMS Kenya <http://www.emskenya.co.ke/> is not part of the Postal > Services Corporation for which Bobby Yawe is pushing to be appointed as > Director General (or is it Postmaster General) because if it is, then > surely, Maj. General (Rtd) should really be deployed elsewhere and let Bobby > take over the running of that corporation. > > Sample this: > > I have this gift I'd like to send to my friend in Oz (Australia). It weighs > only 900g (0.9kg). > I have made several inquiries and found that EMS Kenya have very > competitive rates, so I decided I'd like to use them to deliver this > package. Never mind that my informers tell me the parcels take at least a > month to arrive! > [cut the long story short] As I promised to update, I have just received the magic call from the EMS Operations Centre. The gentleman has informed me that he was unable to locate 2Kg Bumba Box from any of their branches. I wish these guys could do two things: 1. Realize that efficiency in service delivery will make us get out of the "third world" classification into the 2nd or 1st 2. That it's only us (read the service delivery agents) who can make (1) happen. We keep talking about efficient services in the West, yet we see why ours are sluggish and do nothing about it, like this Head of marketing! The gift cost me (so far) KES 10k. DHL will charge me KES 10,511 for 1kg while UPS will charge me KES 8,157. I wouldn't mind EMS charging me KES 4,900+VAT even if the package arrives after 1 month, for it's not medicine, but there you go! DHL and UPS are all non-Kenyan companies. Now you can see why we require International Aid to develop ourselves!! My next stop in this route is to call the Postmaster General to tell me why things are like this, since he's being paid to deliver a service to Kenyans. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Damn!!

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EMS Services - The Lethargy
by Odhiambo Washington 12 Apr '11

12 Apr '11

I hope EMS Kenya <http://www.emskenya.co.ke/> is not part of the Postal Services Corporation for which Bobby Yawe is pushing to be appointed as Director General (or is it Postmaster General) because if it is, then surely, Maj. General (Rtd) should really be deployed elsewhere and let Bobby take over the running of that corporation. Sample this: I have this gift I'd like to send to my friend in Oz (Australia). It weighs only 900g (0.9kg). I have made several inquiries and found that EMS Kenya have very competitive rates, so I decided I'd like to use them to deliver this package. Never mind that my informers tell me the parcels take at least a month to arrive! Now, my process started by wanting to know why EMS Kenya, on their Bumba Box Rates<http://www.emskenya.co.ke/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Item…>service, does not have options for 500g and 1000g like other courier services do. For starters, it was not easy to find the phone contacts for their Nairobi "office" on their website. It's not listed. So I called one of the listed offices (KSM) and was given the contact number for Nairobi branch. I called and sought to know why they don't have the 0.5kg and 1kg boxes and I was referred to the office of the Head of Marketing. She told me that it's just that the Bumba Box Rates were designed like that! She did not appear to take seriously my suggestion that having those two added to the package might lead to more uptake of the service. He suggestion was that I can use their "normal security envelope". If you have looked at the Bumba Box Rates<http://www.emskenya.co.ke/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Item…>, you'll see that my package falls within the 2kg category. This costs KES 4,900+VAT to send to Oz. On the other hand, their "normal security envelop" charges KES 4,015+VAT for 1kg to the same destination. I therefore find it cost effective to find more money to buy additional gifts, so that my package weight can come upto 2kg or thereabouts, and send it using the Bumba Box. However, as it stands now (and as it has been for some time now, based on what the Head of Marketing told me) they DO NOT have the Bumba Boxes at the moment!!!! Reason? The supplier has been promising to deliver the boxes for quite sometime now, but hasn't. When I suggested to her to just tell this supplier to F*** off (sorry for the vulgar language) and get a different one, she informed me that it's only their Procurement Department who can do that. I then remembered the bureaucracy and the accompanying lethargy in the once KPT&C. Kumbe haiishi!!! She (very honestly) knows that they have not had these Bumba Boxes for some time now, and could not give me any time frames (even a week) within which these boxes could arrive. Now, I just wonder, what is she "Head of Marketing" for if she has no power to "push" the Procurement Depart to "deliver". Does she not take the Procurement Department as contributing to her failure?? How could it be acceptable to hire and maintain staff to run a service that has no legs?? EMS Kenya not having the Bumba Boxes is a lame service to me, even though they have the audacity to tell me that I can use their "normal security envelops". At this point in time, I was given the contacts of some staff at the EMS Centre whom I could talk to in order to get "help". Yes, I will still pay the KES 4,900+VAT, but I have to impress upon this fellow to see if he can retrieve some 2Kg Bumba Box that could be lying somewhere within their network (maybe in Kisumu, Mt. Kenya, Coast, Eastern), for I am sure there must be one still remaining somewhere. If the fellow does me this "favor", I am sure to ultimately send my 2Kgs to Oz. I have my fingers crossed for now, hoping he will manage to "mop up" (as he calls it) one such box and then give me a call so that I can head to their EMS Centre and dispatch my package. I promise to send an update on this. Their logo has this caption: "*Going beyond the extra mile*":) I am sure all of us have seen so many meaningless (since the organizations don't even have a semblance of the same) *Mission statements* and *Vision statements*. They're simply fashionable to have, hanging conspicuously at the reception/lobby area. One more vote for Robert Yawe to take over the running of this sleeping giant. I hope Dr. Ndemo is reading this, and listening too... -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Damn!!

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FW: [DigAfrica] Rwanda revokes Rwandatel licence, seeks third mobile phone operator
by Edith Adera 11 Apr '11

11 Apr '11

FYI ________________ Edith Ofwona Adera Senior Program Specialist ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water Program International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera eadera(a)idrc.or.ke<mailto:[email protected]> | www.idrc.ca<http://www.idrc.ca/> | www.crdi.ca<http://www.crdi.ca/> ________________________________ From: DigAfrica(a)yahoogroups.com [DigAfrica(a)yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of chifu_wa_malindi [chifu2222(a)gmail.com] Sent: 11 April 2011 21:41 To: DigAfrica(a)yahoogroups.com Subject: [DigAfrica] Rwanda revokes Rwandatel licence, seeks third mobile phone operator Rwanda revokes Rwandatel licence, seeks third mobile phone operator By BERNA NAMATA Posted Monday, April 11 2011 at 00:00 Rwanda will issue a new mobile phone operator licence to fill the gap left by Rwandatel whose mobile license was revoked over failure to implement its licence requirements last week. This will be the third time the company is changing ownership since 2005 after Terracom, the American firm that initially took over from the state, also failed to meet its licence obligations. Until last week, the Rwandan telecom industry had three mobile operators — MTN Rwanda, a subsidiary of South African MTN Group; Rwandatel, majority-owned by Libyan consortium LAP Green; and Tigo Rwanda, owned by Millicom International Cellular. Industry analysts say Rwandatel's operations were crippled by mismanagement and the financial difficulties faced by its parent company LAP Green. While LAP committed itself to invest $87 million in the first year, and another $177 million over five years from 2007, industry regulator Rwanda Utilities and Regulatory Agency (Rura) said approximately 40 per cent of this amount was invested in four years. Rwandatel has also been sued by MTN Rwanda over an accumulated interconnection fee estimated at $3 million. Rwandatel's commitments included upgrading the network, but this has not been done for the data and mobile segments, according to Rura. Attempts to reach Rwandatel for a comment were fruitless as the company is neither picking calls nor responding to emails. However, in a recent interview, Rwandatel's communications manager Cleophas Kabasiita told The EastAfrican that the company would appeal against the regulator's notice. "It is a decision the management did not agree with as we felt it was unwarranted and unjust, especially at a time when the quality of our network has improved," she said. But RURA says the decision to revoke Rwandatel's license is final. Though Rwandatel's fixed telephony and Internet services will remain operational, since they are covered by a separate licence, Rura said the tender process for a new mobile operator will begin soon to sustain growth in the industry. "We feel three mobile operators are enough to cover the market but now that we have two, we will have to speed up the process. It should be this year, after consultations with policy makers," Regis Gatarayiha, acting Director General of Rura told The EastAfrican last week. While the country was gearing up for a fourth mobile operator this year, Rura said it has suspended the decision until there is stability in the performance of the market. The country has 32 per cent mobile penetration, the second lowest in the East African Community region after Burundi. Rura said the current mobile phone subscribers is about 3.62 million, out of a population of approximately 9 million people, which is too small to allow the fourth operator. "We think there are things that need to be fixed in this market before we can achieve good penetration rate; we have realised that some companies are not really competing and if competition is not perfect, definitely they are not going to look for the unconnected," Mr Gatarayiha said, adding that the existing telephone companies are fighting over the same market segment in the urban areas. While Rwandatel's exit is expected to have a negative impact on the country's targets of achieving 60 per cent penetration by 2012, Mr Gatarayiha noted that with aggressive competition in the industry, the target can still be achieved. As at September 2010, statistics from Rura showed that Rwandatel had 535,710 subscribers, putting it third behind MTN Rwanda with 2.3 million and Tigo Rwanda, the new market entrant, with 685,000 users. To allow operators to lower prices and deepen mobile penetration, Rura has commissioned a study of the telecommunications industry to propose new interconnection fees. Done by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the study, financed by the World Bank, is expected to be complete in May. "We see the cost of interconnection as a barrier for operators to be able to price off net tariffs that are affordable to the Rwandan population. Today operators are paying each Rwf40 (less than a dollar) a minute for inter-connection, a figure not based on the actual cost that operators incur," Mr Gatarayiha said. Rura is also considering a framework that will allow operators to share infrastructure in a bid to lower costs. "We think if new entrants were able to access the infrastructures already deployed around the country at a cost, the rollout would move quicker." The regulator has also suspended mobile number portability, a service that was expected to commence this year, to allow operators to consolidate their market share. http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/1142008/-/item/1/-/m6406az/… __._,_.___ Reply to sender<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Re%3A%20Rwanda%20revokes%20Rwandatel%20licence%2C%20seeks%20third%20mobile%20phone%20operator%20> | Reply to group<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Re%3A%20Rwanda%20revokes%20Rwandatel%20licence%2C%20seeks%20third%20mobile%20phone%20operator%20> | Reply via web post<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwNzhvb2c5BF9TAzk3M…> | Start a New Topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZ2FtY24yBF9TAzk3M…> Messages in this topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/message/8695;_ylc=X3oDMTM0cXRpYW9nB…> (1) Recent Activity: * New Members<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJmcm1lZThzBF9TAz…> 2 Visit Your Group<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNG1scDFmBF9TAzk3MzU5Nz…> Dig Africa site welcomes you to join us at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/Digafrica on IT in Africa Feel free to join at our google group digital africa http://groups.google.com/group/digitalafrica Thanks. Chifu Moderator [http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/yg/logo/us.gif]<http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkcmpvMDFrBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5M…> Switch to: Text-Only<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Change%20Delivery%20Format:%20Traditional>, Daily Digest<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Email%20Delivery:%20Digest> • Unsubscribe<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscribe> • Terms of Use<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> . __,_._,___

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Fwd: [Vacancies] Bi-lingual (French-English) webmaster, journalist, operations manager in Accra
by warigia bowman 11 Apr '11

11 Apr '11

Job people might want. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Africa ICT & Telecom Network <mail(a)ictafrica.ning.com> Date: Mon, Apr 11, 2011 at 6:08 PM Subject: [Vacancies] Bi-lingual (French-English) webmaster, journalist, operations manager in Accra To: "warigia(a)gmail.com" <warigia(a)gmail.com> Africa ICT & Telecom Network <http://ictafrica.ning.com/> An Africa Business Community - www.africabusinesscommunities.com A message to all members of Africa ICT & Telecom Network Africa Business Communities is looking for bi-lingual (French-English): *- webmaster* *- online journalist* *- online operations manager* for the Accra office (Asylum down) Please note that we are looking for people who are *perfect in French* in both *speech* and *writing*. That means that we in fact are looking for: Professionals from Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Mali, Senegal or Guinee living in Accra. Applicants must have internet experience. Are you interested? Please send your letter and CV to Isaac Twumasi Quantus - * twumasitq(a)yahoo.com* - CC to *bas(a)africabusinesscommunities.com* *www.africabusinesscommunities.com* Visit Africa ICT & Telecom Network at: http://ictafrica.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network To control which emails you receive on Africa ICT & Telecom Network, click here<http://ictafrica.ning.com/profiles/profile/emailSettings?xg_source=msg_mes_…>

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Is there an sms blockade by safaricom to Telkom?
by amugambi＠jambo.co.ke 11 Apr '11

11 Apr '11

Hello listers, >From last Friday, at around 4.pm, i have noticed that sms from Safaricom to telkom 020XXX XXXX are not being delivered, (But being charged for of course!!). However the reverse (from 020XXX XXXX are being delivered, and very promptly) All attempts to get an explanation by calling Safaricom Helpline 100 have been futile. Before making a formal complaint the Regulator, is there anyone on this list who can shed light as to what is happening? Regards, Anthony ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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