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CHAKULA Issue No. 19: Innovating access – a special focus on CPRafrica
by Chakula 04 Jul '10

04 Jul '10

CHAKULA Issue No. 19, July 2010: Innovating access – a special focus on CPRafrica CONTENTS 1. The need for competitive research for policy influence – e- interview with Alison Gillwald 2. Balancing convergence: using Constitutional rights as a framework for policy decisions – e-interview with Indra de Lanerolle 3. Levelling the playing field through benchmarking – e-interview with Christoph Stork 4. ‘Disruptive competition’: the case of One Network in East Africa – e-interview with Muriuki Mureithi 5. Innovation through competition: the budget telecom network model - e-interview with Rohan Samarajiva //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ What is CPRafrica? Communication Policy Research (Africa) – or CPRafrica – is a new forum that seeks to strengthen the contribution of African academics and researchers in the global debates around information and communications technologies (ICTs). CPRafrica’s inaugural conference, entitled “Looking back at a decade of communications reform: Looking forward to 2020”, was held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 18-21 April. It was attended by 50 participants from 25 countries, with some 23 papers presented. The forum intends to encourage intellectual endeavour and research in the area of ICT policy and regulation in Africa and allow African academics and researchers to engage and profile their research. The conference provided an opportunity for senior, junior and mid-career scholars to meet face-to-face and exchange ideas, network, and included a two-day session of tutorials for young scholars. Thirteen young scholars participated in these tutorials. This issue of Chakula focuses on four papers from the conference. It also highlights a paper that was presented at an Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OECD) and InfoDev conference in Paris, 10-11 September 2009, and references a 2008 policy paper on mobile banking (M-banking) prepared by Research ICT Africa (RIA). In different ways all of these papers deal with the issue of innovation in ICT access in Africa through policy and business model innovation. //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ The need for competitive research for policy influence e-interview with Alison Gillwald ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- “[H]igh quality, rigorous research…is required to compete and complement with each other for policy influence… In mature economies researchers from multiple universities would be debating and refining the positions governments should be taking on everything from regulating next generation networks to demand stimulation for broadband.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alison Gillwald is Executive Director of RIA. She is also Adjunct Professor at the UCT Graduate School of Business, Management of Infrastructure Reform and Regulation, and a member of CPRafrica’s organisation and selection committee. CHAKULA: You have just held the CPRafrica conference in Cape Town. What are you hoping to achieve through the conference? ALISON GILLWALD [AG]: There is almost no scholarly research being undertaken in the field of ICT policy and regulation on the continent. A Google scholar search on the subjects throws up around five scholars on the continent who are published in peer reviewed or accredited journals. It is this kind of high quality, rigorous research that is required to compete and complement with each other for policy influence. In mature economies researchers from multiple universities would be debating and refining the positions governments should be taking on everything from regulating next generation networks to demand stimulation for broadband. Although there are pockets of applied research being undertaken there is no tradition of critical intellectual engagement in this area on the continent. The purpose of CPRafrica is to provide a forum for nurturing and showcasing research in the area of ICT policy and regulation on the continent and enhancing its quality through rigorous academic review and debate. The conference is complemented by a young scholars programme to expose young scholars who may be excluded from such peer-review, paper- acceptance-only style conferences without such a category. Some of these are part of the IDRC- [International Development Research Centre] funded PhD programme to encourage doctoral research in ICT policy and regulation. The idea here is to build a cadre of policy intellectuals on the continent able to critically engage government on the basis of relevant research and contribute meaningfully to research and policy excellence. This will further enhance Africa’s standing in international research and governance fora, in which its participation has historically been suboptimal. CHAKULA: Reviewing some of the papers presented at the conference, it strikes me that there are a couple of threads that are emerging. Two in particular stand out: the notion of “innovation” in the telecommunications space, and the challenges around convergence and policy when two distinct sectors with different ways of doing things are brought into conflict with each other. I also went back to Research ICT Africa’s 2008 M-banking policy paper, which raises similar themes, and I would like to use that as a starting point. First, on the issue of ‘innovation’. In the M-banking paper, the following assertion is made: “Policy-makers and regulators need to ensure that evolving systems serve the broader objectives of economic growth and development as well as protect consumer interests, while creating an environment that encourages and rewards innovation”. In what ways can policy inhibit or encourage innovation in the telecommunication’s sector? AG: Indeed, providing certainty to investors and operators while retaining the levels of flexibility to enable innovation in a fast- changing environment is one of the most difficult balancing acts that policy-makers and regulators have to perform. I think the linkages and catalysts between technology, market and regulatory innovation are becoming clearer all the time. New technologies and service offerings have prized open markets and the entry into less policy and regulatory constrained markets has made taking certain technologies to market more viable. This has triggered further possibilities across historically distinct platforms, not only between broadcasting and telecommunications, but between fixed and mobile services and even entirely separate sectors such as telecommunications and banking. The challenges to the expansion of such services are really regulatory now rather than technological – and that is not to say that one does not want or need public interest regulation either in the telecommunications or banking sector, but it has to be done in new, innovative ways that enable to extension of these services to those who currently don't enjoy them. Once these various forces are unleashed they are able to intersect and create new opportunities and innovative ways of doing things that have not been done before. CHAKULA: Innovation here seems necessarily to be tied to market gain – the objective is to increase or capture market share. In both your M- banking paper, and the case study of the mobile operator One Network in Kenya, preconditions exists that facilitate innovation. With M- banking there are low-income earners who are ‘unbanked’ and who could benefit from some kind of low-cost transactional instrument, and with One Network, there is a significant level of cross-border traffic that makes a seamless network attractive. AG: It is true that innovation is often driven by market forces and pursuit of profits, and, traditionally, with new technologies have focused on high-end markets. But much of the ICT innovation we are witnessing in developing markets is focused on what has been referred to as the ‘gold at the bottom of the pyramid’ – very profitable turn- over of high volumes of sometimes minuscule margins on products that, by breaking them up or making them available at cost, the masses at the bottom of the economic and social pyramid can enjoy things like pre-paid phone vouchers, or transferable airtime vouchers. And many of these products have been commercialised innovative practices by the poor in order to access and affordably use communications services – such as missed calls, multiple sim card usage that allows for same net rates, or 'plastic roaming'. CHAKULA: If we consider Indra de Lanerolle’s fascinating case study on the South African convergence scenario, we see two sectors (broadcast and telecommunications) in conflict with each other because policy decisions are made according to different frameworks: simply put, economic versus public interest. In fact, Indra does seem to suggest that these are in competition with each other, and resolves this in an interesting way. It feels hard to believe that ‘consumer interest’ is the same as ‘public interest’? AG: I think with the shift from public utilities to competitive markets many of the public interest objectives of delivery and service are met through serving the consumer interest. Nevertheless there is public interest regulation that is required to improve wider and collective consumer welfare – to provide access to 'uneconomic areas' for example – though with new more cost-effective, rapidly deployable wireless services, this concept in markets that enable competitive entry is regularly not proving to be the case. But as long as we have the large number of poor that we do, we will need some level of social regulation – even though a lot of the current pent-up demand could be met with greater market efficiency (more competitive markets offering better prices). And then there are the more traditional content regulation issues either to restrict certain 'harmful' content or activities or to enable it, such as local content regulation. That too may be found to be highly profitable, but may need either protection or encouragement. CHAKULA: Indra’s paper, like your M-banking policy paper, shows that regulating convergence is tricky because of the ‘convergence’ of two or even more sectors; whether broadcast/telecommunications or telecommunications/banking etc. What are some of the key challenges that policy-makers can expect to face in Africa? AG: The key challenge for African regulators is that they are still trying to deal with legacy regulation around first and second- generation infrastructure and access. At the same time, if they do not want the agenda to be set for them in international fora, they need to deal with next-generation issues, not only of converged IP [internet protocol] networks and services and the next-generation regulation issues of network and service-neutral regimes, but of cross-cutting issues of electronic commerce frameworks, intellectual copyright rights, security and privacy issues, and so on. And you have to do it all or be left behind... CHAKULA: One frustration is that when one reads a good paper that seems to offer a solution to a problem, one is also met with the feeling that those with decision-making powers are probably not going to read that paper, or seriously consider its arguments. Do you feel the same? If so, how do you think CPRafrica picks up on this challenge? Is it just a case of repeating issues until policy-makers take them on board? AG: No. CPRafrica is one of several strategic strands towards having evidence-based ICT policy on the continent. This is about organic and indigenous knowledge creation and contribution, at the national level, at the level of regional association and continentally, and also about global engagement and influence. For too long have the solutions come from the developed world. Of course, there are lessons to be learnt and we don't need to reinvent the wheel, but we also have different challenges and Africa has demonstrated remarkably innovative responses to these when they are informed by sound policy, effective regulation or thorough and appropriate business plans. The indicator research done by RIA and its analysis in order to assess policy and regulatory outcomes is fed into several initiatives, globally and locally. RIA provides the only comprehensive public domain demand-side data on ICT access and usage on the continent. This is used in national, regional and continental meetings on ICTs, and in the database and reports of multilateral agencies such as the OECD and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to better inform their understanding of developments in Africa. It is true that sometime decision-makers do not like to hear of the widespread policy and institutional failure on the continent, but many do – especially those that are rapidly improving and beginning to see the rewards of their reforms. This research is also used to develop training curricula that address the needs of policy and regulators in a developing country context. So, for example, as part of the global research and training collaborative LIRNE.net we conduct a professional development course on alternative regulatory strategies at the UCT Graduate School of Business Infrastructure Reform and Regulation Programme to build institutional capacity on the continent. So CPRafrica is just one arm of a multi- pronged strategy of research and education, institutional capacity building and technical assistance and dissemination and advocacy, through our website database, policy papers and workshop and public presentations. CHAKULA: What is the way forward for the conference? Will there be more? AG: Yes, in order to build and sustain this much-needed capacity we will have to find a way for CPRafrica to become an annual institution. Related links: M-Banking the Unbanked: RIA Policy Paper No. 4: http://www.researchictafrica.net/new/images/uploads/RIA_Mobile-banking.pdf CPRafrica conference details: http://www.researchictafrica.net/index.php/news/38-cprafrica-looking-back-a… //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ Balancing convergence: using Constitutional rights as a framework for policy decisions e-interview with Indra de Lanerolle Paper link: Please e-mail the author at indra(a)delanerolle.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- “[N]o country I know of has completed the project of aligning all regulation and law to [the possibilities of convergence]. But some countries and regions are moving far more swiftly than others. Among those that are moving more swiftly would be the EU countries. Among those that are moving slowly are many African countries.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indra de Lanerolle is an adjunct Lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand Journalism and Media Programme. An award-winning film and television producer, he is a regular speaker and commentator on the impact of the information society on organisations, media, social development and the economy. CHAKULA: The South African government has committed to promoting convergence in the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors. So much is clear from the 2005 Electronic Communications Act, and the merging of the telecommunications and broadcasting regulators in 2000. But you point out that there is a fundamental difference in approach between how the two sectors are seen at a policy level, which is standing in the way of ‘pure’ convergence of the sectors. In your paper, you argue that the telecommunications sector policy process has largely been justified on economic grounds, while broadcasting policy has been governed by political and social considerations. I am paraphrasing here, but can you say more about this distinction? INDRA DE LANEROLLE [IL]: Most 'utility' regulation (applying to electricity, trains, telephones, for example) was originally justified on economic grounds – usually that these industries were monopolies and that as such, without regulation there would not be sufficient competitive pressures to keep prices as low as they could be. Many economists went further and argued that these utilities were 'natural monopolies' so that the most efficient services would be provided by a single regulated provider rather than allowing many (less or unregulated) competing providers. Broadcasting regulation was sometimes justified on similar grounds but in my view these economic arguments were and are very weak when applied to broadcasting. The stronger argument (and the better explanation in historical terms of why broadcasting regulation has continued to the extent that it has) is that it is motivated and justified on social and political grounds. These justifications include: a desire or need to preserve national cultures and languages (in the face of globalising forces in mass media, especially television); a desire or need to provide specific genres of programming (e.g. educational programming, children's programming); and, less high-mindedly, a political desire on the part of governments to control information and news. The distinction in these justifications or motivations is important for convergence. Convergence increasingly challenges economic justifications for regulation in telecommunications as monopolies fall away. But the social and political justifications for broadcasting regulation do not necessarily fall away in synchrony. CHAKULA: You review various tests to see how well policy convergence has faired. First, there is the assessment of policy alignment – or the alignment of policy processes; then there is the test of technological neutrality; and finally, the ‘level playing field’ test. South Africa has not faired well in any of these – can you elaborate? [IL]: The first test I suggest (from Alison Gillwald) is whether policies in telecommunications and broadcasting are being developed together. In the face of convergence it is important that they are. As I show, in fact these policies are being developed autonomously. The second test is that of technological neutrality. Here I argue that while the Electronic Communications Act acknowledges convergence and attempts to develop 'technologically neutral' licensing criteria, it in fact maintains two separate regimes – one for telecommunications and the other for broadcasting. In applying content regulation, for example, it treats the two as entirely separate. So overall, South Africa remains far away from achieving the goal of technologically neutral regulation. The third test – of a level playing field for competition follows closely from the lack of technological neutrality. One example of the lack of a level playing field can be seen in the treatment of voice – where VoIP [voice-over-internet protocol] and packet-switch telephony, for example, are treated entirely differently in law and regulation. CHAKULA: Does ‘pure’ convergence exist anywhere – or is convergence in reality always a push and pull of many factors, economic, political social etc.? [IL]: As I argue in my paper the best definition of convergence sees it as a set of technological possibilities. On this definition, the question could and maybe should be put rather differently. We might ask whether any country is fully adapting their regulatory frameworks to this set of possibilities. The answer would then be that no country I know of has completed the project of aligning all regulation and law to these possibilities. But some countries and regions are moving far more swiftly than others. Among those that are moving more swiftly would be the EU countries. Among those that are moving slowly are many African countries. CHAKULA: You offer what appears to be a powerful guiding principle to make policy decisions based on a fluid and changing environment – one based on public interest, rather than sectoral interest. This involves using Section 16 of the South African Constitution to guide policy decisions, which states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes …freedom to receive or impart information or ideas…”. Can you say more about how this would work? [IL]: We could say that the Freedom of Expression clause represents a test for measuring the benefits and dis-benefits of changing regulation and policy to promote convergence. Lets take the issue of the (limited) number of broadcast licences – especially television broadcast licences. As broadband take-up increases there is likely to come a point where there is the possibility of Video on Demand as broadcast video services become economically viable via the internet. This is a classic case of convergence. So if convergence is to be promoted we might want to see a couple of things: firstly, we would certainly want these new services to be allowed and, indeed, encouraged; secondly we might want these services to be treated in a similar way to 'traditional' broadcasting. Unless we wanted to artificially restrict the number of new internet-based services, the only way to achieve neutrality would be to significantly lighten the regulation of broadcasters, or at least greatly increase the number of new licences issued for 'traditional' broadcast television services. Given the social and political justifications for broadcast regulation though, this would probably be greatly resisted. To give one example as to why this would be the case we could see that increasing competition in 'traditional' television broadcasting would have a significant economic impact on the public broadcaster and thus diminish its ability to fulfill its public broadcasting mandate. My suggestion is that we could use the Constitution as a basis of balancing these issues. We would be able to compare, for example, the potential loss of people's rights to receive information (because, say SABC might reduce its news services) with the potential gain of people's rights to receive and impart information via the internet. This would require judgements, but these judgements could be based on research of real benefits. CHAKULA: It seems to me that as things stand you have enormous competing interests that stagnate the convergence policy process. On the one hand, the interests of telecom operators (including the state), and on the other, the interests of broadcasters (the state and private enterprises). How do you think a decision-making framework where the public/consumer would have the dominant interest would go down with these powerful stakeholders? What was the reaction to your paper from those gathered at CPRafrica? [IL]: Most of the participants at CPRafrica were researchers and academics rather than the 'powerful stakeholders' that you describe. I'm not an objective witness but the paper appeared to be well received! Of course in all issues concerning regulation, there are always significant economic interests involved and there is always the danger of 'regulatory capture'. Whether such 'public interest' arguments as the one I advance in the paper are pursued is largely a matter of political will – in government and in the independent regulator. When some of the ideas included here were presented on behalf of the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) and Association for Progressive Communications (APC) amongst others to the South African regulator ICASA, it appeared there was significant interest. I have also argued elsewhere that there is little chance of 'public interest' arguments holding sway in the development of policy and regulation if there is no interest shown by the public! The Save our SABC (SOS) coalition that has brought together a range of organisations in South Africa, including the major union federation, to campaign on public interest questions on broadcasting is a helpful start. //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ Levelling the playing field through benchmarking e-interview with Christoph Stork Paper link: www.researchictafrica.net (or e-mail the author at: christoph.stork(a)googlemail.com ) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Operators are not accountable to the public beyond the audited financial statements that do not include detailed cost data. That could be changed given that telecom operators have the privilege of operating in a sector with restricted market entry.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christoph Stork is a Senior Researcher at Research ICT Africa (RIA), and also a consultant to LIRNEasia’s Teleuse@BOP3 project. His responsibilities at RIA include designing and conducting quantitative and qualitative research and interacting with policy-makers and regulators. CHAKULA: You were commissioned by the Namibian Communications Commission (NCC) to conduct a benchmarking study in Namibia in 2009, following a dispute about interconnection charges. You have used the case of Namibia to illustrate and argue for setting interconnection benchmarks. As you argue, benchmarking is possibly a more efficient way of determining a fair termination rate (based on an efficient operator). For the layperson, some of this terminology is tricky. The standard way of determining termination rates is to look at the “forward-looking long-run incremental cost” (LRIC). The problem with termination rates – or the cost one provider charges another to carry its calls – is that operators have been burying inflated profits at this link in the communications chain; they have been charging competitors more than they needed to, with the knock-on effect to the consumer. Can you explain what LRIC is exactly? And then how does benchmarking model differ from this? CHRISTOPH STORK [CS]: LIRC is a way of calculating the cost of termination. There are many different approaches to it. In short, it is a method to calculate the cost of terminating a call based on current technologies and only including costs that arise from terminating a call. Dominant operators often argue that access infrastructure such as base stations need to be part of termination costs. However, base stations are being built to provide services to their own subscribers. The incremental cost of termination is the cost difference between an operator that does not offer termination services and one that does. Implementing LRIC is challenging, expensive, time-consuming, and the required information is often not available in developing countries. The benchmarking methodology benchmarks termination rates, termination costs and regulatory best practice. CHAKULA: In your experience in Namibia are operators open to cost- based termination rates to level the competitive playing field? Or do they want to milk the termination of calls for as much money as they can get? For instance, you point out that operators have typically been quite fickle, arguing against cost-based termination when they have a market advantage, but arguing for it when they are a market entrant… [CS]: Operators that are net receivers of termination payments will always try to maintain the status quo, anywhere in the world. New entrants and small operators are often the net payers and are keen to get to cost-based termination rates quickly. In Namibia, South Africa and most other countries, cost-based termination rates are required by law or licences or both. In Namibia, reducing termination rates increased competition and led to lower prices for consumers and an expansion of the market. The result for the incumbent operator MTC has been: more subscribers, more traffic and higher EBITDA [Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation] margins. CHAKULA: What is the link between cost-based termination rates and IP- based Next Generation Networks (NGNs)? You say that leveling the playing field when it comes to termination rates will help with the transition to NGNs? [CS]: NGNs are technological and service neutral. Billing will no longer be based on minutes but on MBs [Megabytes]. Cost-based termination rates help implement service neutrality and are a stepping stone towards NGNs. NGNs might however require a different billing system altogether that would not require termination rates. In a NGN environment receiving and sending data would be billable. In Africa and Europe, the receiver of a call does not have to pay. CHAKULA: You point out that one of the challenges is getting good data. What are the difficulties around getting this data from operators (or regulators, for that matter) in Africa, and elsewhere? [CS]: Most countries in Africa have not conducted detailed cost studies yet. Those that did use information from operators that are considered confidential. ICASA [the South African regulator] collects very detailed information from operators and would probably be sued by them if it were to pass it on to third parties. Operators are not accountable to the public beyond the audited financial statements that do not include detailed cost data. That could be changed given that telecom operators have the privilege of operating in a sector with restricted market entry. Regulators could prescribe cost reporting for annual statements that need to be made public. //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ ‘Disruptive competition’: the case of One Network in East Africa e-interview with Muriuki Mureithi Paper link: www.researchictafrica.net (or e-mail the author at: mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke ) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- “One advantage Africa has is the policy and the regulatory framework are not yet cast in stone; in some cases it is not there and with few administrative nods some uncooked products can launch in the market.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Muriuki Mureithi is an independent ICT consultant based in Nairobi Kenya with a passion to help exploit the benefits of ICTs for Africa with a career now spanning 27 years. His interest is policy, regulatory , strategy evolution and competitive issues on ICTs in Africa with special focus on the rural and disadvantaged communities and strategies to empower the communities using ICTs. He is currently completing his PhD. CHAKULA: Your paper, which you co-wrote with Alison Gillwald, offers a case study of how Zain’s One Network disrupted the mobile market monopolies in East Africa (and beyond). They did this by removing roaming charges and letting their customers access a seamless and comparatively cheap service across its networks in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. This then forced the other operators to offer similar services. What do you mean by 'disruptive' competition – you also go on to suggest that One was not entirely disruptive, because it failed to keep its competitive advantage? Muriuki Mureithi [MM]: Disruptive competition in our context and conventional language is a game changer. Operators had perfected the game of increasing numbers and profits by charging for all services, all trudging alone on a strategy path set by the leader. Risk reduction was a key factor. The Zain One network was a game changer and the big operators had to look back and go back to the drawing board. Unfortunately for Zain, the big boys came back with ‘hammer and tongs’. Their solution covered more networks (Safaricom, MTN Uganda, MTN Rwanda, Vodacom Tanzania and UTL [Uganda Telecom Limited]), more countries in East Africa (Rwanda, not covered by Zain) and more customers (the competition are market leaders in all the markets apart from UTL). Zain briefly increased numbers in all the markets but soon fizzled under the pressure of the bigger operators. Its gamble that the other operators could not work together failed. It had never been tested before and the risk it took did not pay off. The customers were, however, the beneficiaries in the long run. CHAKULA: The point you are making in your paper is that given the right regulatory environment, market forces can quite quickly result in lower prices and better access options for the consumer. The regulatory ‘kick’ here was the granting of an international gateway license to One in all three countries. What were some of the other enablers that allowed One to be so successful? For instance, you mention historical factors, and the cross-border movement of people that pre-dated its market offering... [MM]: One is an innovation without doubt. However this is founded on some features or drivers that pre-existed, and Zain took advantage of the institutional memory of some of the out-of-the-box initiatives that it had exploited successfully. The first case is direct cross border connectivity between Brazzavile and Kinshasa by Celtel, instead of through Belgium. Celtel, later bought by Zain, had operations in both countries. Tariffs fell by 80% overnight, and this was to be extended to all border towns between the two countries with similar dramatic effect. It is noteworthy that the private sector could see an opportunity, but that opportunity could only be realised when the regulatory environment changed. That gave Celtel a head start as an innovator in both countries. In East Africa, the conditions were there: highly integrated communities travelling across the porous borders, formal and informal trade, and a legacy backbone linking the three countries. Zain also had licences in all the three countries, but no gateway in Kenya. Their performance was failing in all the three markets, and was a catalyst. So it was time to do something. When the international gateway was liberalised in Kenya, it was time to jump and they did. With similar branding and ease of use across the borders, the product was a scare to the bigger operators. They had to act – and they did by launching competing products. An interview with Safaricom indicated that the traffic is not a major consideration, but the marketing advantage that Celtel stood to gain as an innovator is. CHAKULA: One of the main points of your case study is to offer a comparison to the European Union where they have attempted to force operators to lower their international roaming charges, with great resistance, it seems? [MM]: European consumers were keenly aware of the high cost with no justification for roaming charges. The tariff setting was and still is very opaque and the consumer had no choice. The European Commission (EC) carried out studies confirming the same. Unfortunately, despite the overwhelming evidence, operators refused to play ball opting to continue reaping off the consumer. The EC came back and set the tariffs to bring the tariffs down over a three-year period and committed to review another downward reduction if it still found it warranted. What is surprising is that the competition did not trigger such dramatic options as it did in Africa. Perhaps the positioning of the operators is fixed and each is comfortable with their space. What Celtel (now Zain) showed is that operators have a wide range of options to compete, and it takes tough going to think out of the box and take a daring option. They did and changed the game forever. All Zain countries in Africa and Middle East are on the One network. It is growing: one operator in Egypt joined the network this year though they are not a Zain operator, and Cell C in South Africa was joining the One network in time for the World Cup. Not to be left behind, MTN has been implementing a similar package. What was even more innovative is that very different operators Safaricom (Kenya) MTN (Uganda and Rwanda), UTL (Uganda) and Vodacom (Tanzania) worked together and eliminated roaming. Today, an East African travels without roaming, apart from Burundi. Regulators have some work to do where the operators do not see a competitive advantage. In the case of Burundi this is forgotten. CHAKULA: You suggest that it is not always fruitful to look to developed countries for regulatory and requirements in order to stimulate market growth – in fact One offers a useful case that other regions could follow? [MM]: The legacy networks and conformist approach sometimes is a disadvantage. The raw battle for the customer is bruising and those who pass the post spell doom to those behind. In Kenya, one operator has an 80% market share. Its profit before tax in 2009 is equal to the revenues of the other three competitors, and they have mounting losses. The future is tough. Of the top 15 major cellular markets in Africa 10 markets have a dominant operator with over 80% market share. With those market dynamics, Africa provides a cooking pot for out-of- the-box solutions, because the option is dire. At present One network, the runaway M-PESA [M-PESA is a Safaricom service allowing you to transfer money using a mobile phone] were born in Africa and are being exported to the rest of the world. I believe more will come. One advantage Africa has is the policy and the regulatory framework are not yet cast in stone; in some cases it is not there and with few administrative nods some uncooked products can launch in the market. This may not happen in developed countries. CHAKULA: In your recommendations, you talk about actions to expand the “innovation space”. What are some of the key actions? [MM]: The operators have control of most of the resources they need in search of the customer. The policy and regulatory space is out of their control – this is space that governments can expand as illustrated by Zain’s One. MPESA would not have succeeded if the government did not do the same in the banking regulatory space. Governments need to regularly review the regulatory space with active engagement of a multi-stakeholder process. //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ Innovation through competition: the budget telecom network model e-interview with Rohan Samarajiva Paper link: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1564529 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- “The status quo must be unbearable.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rohan Samarajiva is the Chair and CEO of Lirnasia. His paper, “How the developing world may participate in the global Internet Economy: Innovation driven by competition” was presented at a workshop organised by the OECD and InfoDev in Paris, 10-11 September 2009. CHAKULA: In your paper, you talk about the Budget Telecom Network Model (BTNM), which is brought about by competition allowing operators to reduce the transaction costs of low-end clients. This, as you point out, is different to the standard Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) model. How does it make the ARPU model redundant? Rohan Samarajiva [RS]: ARPU is a short-hand that outside observers use to see if the firm is doing well, whether its prospects are good, etc. It is, like any indicator, imperfect. You get it by taking total revenue (preferably without extras like roaming) and dividing by number of subscribers. Of course no one really knows what a subscriber is any more, with even poor people holding up to five SIMs, foreigners having SIMs, no agreement on what an active SIM is and so on. You can get better results by looking at revenue per minute. Take total revenue (less roaming and other stuff) and divide by Average Minutes of Usage per User per Month (MOU). This is a better indicator. But investment analysts are still not used to this and it would require disclosing MOUs to calculate. CHAKULA: Can ARPU be used as a business model? [RS]: Operators do not actually do much with the ARPU. It is not a business model as such, just an indicator. But getting more from each subscriber (if this is known) is not a bad idea. Just that it does not predict whether the company will make money or not. The best indicator for that is EBITDA [Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization] margin. Sri Lanka in 2007 had an operator with LKR311 (approximately USD3 at the time) ARPU making close to 50% EBITDA margin. In the end, the success of a business model lies in whether it generates profit. CHAKULA: What is your understanding of ‘innovation’ in the telecommunications space? You talk of “business innovation”, rather than, say, technological innovation? [RS]: Tech innovation is important, but it is not the only thing. Pure tech innovation is done by manufacturers of network equipment and handsets. That is good. Business process innovations (e.g. lowering the costs of base stations through software) are done by operators. These include technical aspects, but are not limited to them. Shifting from one business model to another (discovering the latter) is also innovation, but it may or may not not have a tech aspect at all. CHAKULA: What are the preconditions for innovation, do you think? [RS]: The status quo must be unbearable. The BTNM innovation occurred when competition got so intense that there was no way to gain market share or even survive without doing something new. CHAKULA: Does BTNM have implications for increased access to broadband internet for the majority of people on a continent like Africa? [RS]: Yes. The latter part of the paper is entirely on the extension of BTNM to broadband. Some headlines are that operators must have enough money from voice that can be invested in the 3G plus networks. Once the overlay network is built out the operators have to offer low prices. Prepaid sachet pricing is best, where one buys packages of connectivity in minutes or in capacity. Here, because of lower transaction costs and prices there should be an influx of new customers. This is already on offer in Asia. Africa has to lower prices. Access will be over mobile networks, using dongles or built in modems, for laptops and other devices, including phones. ADSL will be a niche product. Wireless access is the future. //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ CHAKULA is a newsletter produced by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). It aims to mobilise African civil society around ICT policy for sustainable development and social justice issues. We welcome your opinions about this newsletter. Send your comments, feedback or contributions to chakula(a)apc.org. To subscribe or unsubscribe e-mail chakula(a)apc.org or go to: http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/chakula

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FW: President Obama Outlines New Approach to Development
by alice 02 Jul '10

02 Jul '10

This might be of interest. best alice http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/a-new-approach-advancing-develop… The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 25, 2010 *A New Approach to Advancing Development* At the Muskoka G8 Summit, President Obama outlined his views on a new approach to development. In his recently released National Security Strategy, development is recognized as a moral, strategic, and economic imperative for the United States and our partners. Development, diplomacy, and defense are components of a comprehensive, integrated approach to the challenges we face today. Countries that achieve sustained development gains make more capable partners, can engage in and contribute to the global economy, and provide citizens with the opportunity, means and freedom to improve their lives. President Obama launched a study of U.S. development policy in September 2009 and will be issuing a new policy directive in the near future. The new U.S. development policy builds on two signature initiatives launched by the Obama Administration in 2009 to focus on results-based, strategic investments aimed at promoting meaningful and lasting results: • *Feed the Future:* At the London G20 Summit in 2009, President Obama announced a global food security initiative that has the support of the world’s major and emerging donor nations, includes strong roles for our multilateral institutions, and is led by partner countries that are ready and willing to develop comprehensive plans and commit their own resources to agricultural and market development. Secretary Clinton launched the comprehensive U.S. strategy – “Feed the Future” – to implement this groundbreaking effort in May 2010. To date, the United States has led international efforts to review nine comprehensive country strategies, commit new resources in support of those strategies, collaborate in the establishment and initial capitalization of the World Bank-led Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, and launch a new research and development program. • *Global Health Initiative:* In May 2009, President Obama announced the Global Health Initiative (GHI), which builds on the progress and success of PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Program on AIDS Relief) and also expands our global health effort and impact by including investments to strengthen health systems, improve maternal child health, address neglected tropical diseases, and foster increased research and development. The GHI will integrate our health programs in order to reduce inefficiencies and expand impact, and is designed to save lives and achieve sustainable outcomes. This new, integrated approach will be fast-tracked in eight countries. President Obama’s new development policy will: • *Foster the Next Generation of Emerging Markets: * The U.S. will intensify efforts to promote sustainable economic development and support good governance by making targeted investments in countries and/or regions where the conditions are right for progress. • *Invest in Game-Changing Innovations:* By leveraging the power of research and development, the U.S. will work to create and scale-up technologies for health, green energy, agriculture, and other development applications. • *Meet Basic Human Needs in a Sustainable Fashion:* The U.S. will continue to be a global leader in the meeting of basic human needs, but will place increasing emphasis on building sustainable public sector capacity to provide basic services over the long-term. • *Tailor Development Strategies:* The U.S. will tailor development strategies in countries in or recovering from conflict to reflect the unique conditions on the ground, and will join efforts to promote stabilization and achieve security with those designed to promote our long-term sustainable development goals. • *Hold all Aid Recipients Accountable:* The U.S. will seek sustained development progress in all countries receiving U.S. economic assistance by placing a greater focus on policy reforms key to development. In addition, in pursuing these objectives, the U.S. will pursue a new approach to development that: • *Is More Selective:* The U.S. will seek a division of labor with other donors and focus its efforts on select countries, regions, and sectors - while ensuring critical development needs are met. • *Leverages other Donors, Philanthropy, Diaspora and the Private Sector:* The U.S. will seek a division of labor with other donors and make a concerted effort to partner with other actors to leverage U.S. investments. • *Underscores Country Ownership and Mutual Accountability:* The U.S. will place a premium on partnering with countries that are well governed and will work to strengthen their institutions and support their development strategies. • *Strengthens Multilateral Capabilities:* The U.S. will support multilateral development capabilities and support key reforms and the creation of new capabilities, where required. • *Drives Policy with Analysis:* The U.S. will adopt metrics and set in place rigorous standards for monitoring and evaluation, and use data and analysis to drive decision-making. --- You are currently subscribed to ipdet as: alice(a)apc.org To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-2623636-5022085.a7e639bb5366523941efc294503e488a(a)lists.worldbank.org

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 38, Issue 3
by ALEX OWITI 02 Jul '10

02 Jul '10

it is high time we went the same way.we have a lot of bandwidth in this country since the arrival submarine cables.what are we doing the available bandwidth? On Fri, Jul 2, 2010 at 12:00 PM, <kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>wrote: > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > You can reach the person managing the list at > kictanet-owner(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. BBC > Finland makes broadband a 'legal right'] (alice) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:40:24 +0300 > From: alice <alice(a)apc.org> > To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: [kictanet] BBC > Finland makes broadband a 'legal right'] > Message-ID: <4C2CB6E8.9020202(a)apc.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Finland makes broadband a 'legal right' > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10461048.stm > Page last updated at 23:59 GMT, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 00:59 UK > > > Finland has become the first country in the world to make broadband a > legal right for every citizen. > > >From 1 July every Finn will have the right to access to a 1Mbps (megabit > per second) broadband connection. > > Finland has vowed to connect everyone to a 100Mbps connection by 2015. > > In the UK the government has promised a minimum connection of at least > 2Mbps to all homes by 2012 but has stopped short of enshrining this as a > right in law. > > The Finnish deal means that from 1 July all telecommunicatons companies > will be obliged to provide all residents with broadband lines that can run > at a minimum 1Mbps speed. > Broadband commitment > > Speaking to the BBC, Finland's communication minister Suvi Linden > explained the thinking behind the legislation: "We considered the role of > the internet in Finns everyday life. Internet services are no longer just > for entertainment. > > Finland has worked hard to develop an information society and a couple of > years ago we realised not everyone had access," she said. > > It is believed up to 96% of the population are already online. > > In the UK internet penetration stands at 73%. > > The British government has agreed to provide everyone with a minimum 2Mbps > broadband connection by 2012 but it is a commitment rather than a legally > binding ruling. > > "The UK has a universal service obligation which means virtually all > communities will have broadband," said a spokesman for the Department for > Culture, Media and Sport. > > Making broadband a legal right could have implications for countries that > plan tough action on illegal file-sharing. > > Both the UK and France have said they may cut off or limit the internet > connections of people who persistently download music or films for free. > > The Finnish government has adopted a more gentle approach. > > "We will have a policy where operators will send letters to illegal > file-sharers but we are not planning on cutting off access," said Ms > Linden. > > A poll conducted for the BBC World Service earlier this year found that > almost four in five people around the world believed that access to the > internet is a fundamental right. > > > > ======================================= > APC Forum is a meeting place for the APC community - people and > institutions who are or have been involved in collaboration with > APC, and share the APC vision - a world in which all people have easy, > equal and affordable access to the creative potential of information and > communication technologies (ICTs) to improve their lives and create more > democratic and egalitarian societies. > > _______________________________________________ > apc.forum mailing list > apc.forum(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/apc.forum > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > End of kictanet Digest, Vol 38, Issue 3 > *************************************** >

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BBC > Finland makes broadband a 'legal right']
by alice 01 Jul '10

01 Jul '10

Finland makes broadband a 'legal right' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10461048.stm Page last updated at 23:59 GMT, Wednesday, 30 June 2010 00:59 UK Finland has become the first country in the world to make broadband a legal right for every citizen. >From 1 July every Finn will have the right to access to a 1Mbps (megabit per second) broadband connection. Finland has vowed to connect everyone to a 100Mbps connection by 2015. In the UK the government has promised a minimum connection of at least 2Mbps to all homes by 2012 but has stopped short of enshrining this as a right in law. The Finnish deal means that from 1 July all telecommunicatons companies will be obliged to provide all residents with broadband lines that can run at a minimum 1Mbps speed. Broadband commitment Speaking to the BBC, Finland's communication minister Suvi Linden explained the thinking behind the legislation: "We considered the role of the internet in Finns everyday life. Internet services are no longer just for entertainment. Finland has worked hard to develop an information society and a couple of years ago we realised not everyone had access," she said. It is believed up to 96% of the population are already online. In the UK internet penetration stands at 73%. The British government has agreed to provide everyone with a minimum 2Mbps broadband connection by 2012 but it is a commitment rather than a legally binding ruling. "The UK has a universal service obligation which means virtually all communities will have broadband," said a spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Making broadband a legal right could have implications for countries that plan tough action on illegal file-sharing. Both the UK and France have said they may cut off or limit the internet connections of people who persistently download music or films for free. The Finnish government has adopted a more gentle approach. "We will have a policy where operators will send letters to illegal file-sharers but we are not planning on cutting off access," said Ms Linden. A poll conducted for the BBC World Service earlier this year found that almost four in five people around the world believed that access to the internet is a fundamental right. ======================================= APC Forum is a meeting place for the APC community - people and institutions who are or have been involved in collaboration with APC, and share the APC vision - a world in which all people have easy, equal and affordable access to the creative potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve their lives and create more democratic and egalitarian societies. _______________________________________________ apc.forum mailing list apc.forum(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/apc.forum

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FW: Mozambique ICT policy should move towards increased digital inclusion, says Panos London
by Edith Adera 01 Jul '10

01 Jul '10

This may be of interest ________________________________ From: Panos London [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 4:16 PM Subject: Mozambique ICT policy should move towards increased digital inclusion, says Panos London Dear Sir/Madam, A new review of Mozambique's policies for digital inclusion reveals that while some progress has been made, it has a long way to go before achieving widespread and effective use of ICTs. The policy brief, based on a research report prepared by the Eduardo Mondlane University Informatics Centre (CIUEM), was commissioned by international development charity Panos London and funded by the Open Society Institute for Southern Africa (OSISA). It is the first in a series of Panos London briefs to boost debate on the future of ICT policy in the Southern Africa region as part of the Thetha ICT Forum Project. It was recently launched at a workshop jointly organised by Panos London and CIUEM in Maputo, to which media practitioners, policy makers and civil society organisations were invited. The attached Panos London brief is a vital resource for anyone interested in the issues around ICT development in Mozambique. It summarises the successes and weaknesses of policy and implementation to date, reviews the challenges, opportunities and priorities for digital inclusion in Mozambique today and makes recommendations to update the policy to best serve the needs of Mozambicans. Big strides have been taken since the introduction of the ICT policy in 2000. For example, infrastructure developments have ensured that citizens have better access to mobile networks and the internet, and community multimedia centres have been established. However, work needs to focus on making these policies fit for purpose and reaching the very people ICTs need to serve. The infrastructure is in place and the focus should shift towards increasing the capability to use ICT, availability of services, the financial resources to pay for use and increased citizen participation in policy formulation. Panos London believes that communication is at the heart of development. Mozambique's experience offers pointers for other African governments and organisations concerned to maximise the value of ICTs within development. I hope that you find this Panos London brief provides an essential insight into the progress of ICT development in Mozambique, and we would welcome your feedback. If you require any further information then please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. Best wishes, Murali Shanmugavelan Programme Manager, Information Society Panos London murali.shanmugavelan(a)panos.org.uk tel. +44 (0)20 7239 7608 info(a)panos.org.uk<mailto:[email protected]> PANOS LONDON | ILLUMINATING VOICES Promoting dialogue, debate and change Communication: At the heart of change<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxFn2Loim9Q> - Panos London's new animated film explains why access to information and communication plays an essential role in sustainable development Register online to receive email updates and to access special web features www.panos.org.uk/register<http://www.panos.org.uk/register> This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of Panos London unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system and do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender immediately. While we make every effort to keep our network free from viruses, you need to verify that this email and any attachments are virus-free, as we can take no responsibility for any computer virus which may be transferred by way of them. Panos London is registered in England as a charity (charity number: 297366) and a company limited by guarantee (company number: 1937340) under the name Panos London with its registered office at 9 White Lion Street, London, N1 9PD, UK. Tel + 44 (20) 7278 1111 Fax: +44 (20) 7278 0345. Email: info(a)panos.org.uk<mailto:[email protected]> Web: www.panos.org.uk<http://www.panos.org.uk>

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Fwd: [Registrar-announce] NOTICE OF THE SEVENTH KENIC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
by paul museeh 01 Jul '10

01 Jul '10

FYI ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Begin forwarded message: *From: *"KENIC" <admin(a)kenic.or.ke> *Date: *June 24, 2010 3:26:30 PM GMT+03:00 *To: *registrar-announce(a)kenic.or.ke *Subject: **[Registrar-announce] NOTICE OF THE SEVENTH KENIC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING* *Reply-To: *admin(a)kenic.or.ke The KENIC board is pleased to invite you to the seventh KENIC Open Public Forum to be held on Friday 2nd of July 2010 at the Sarova Panafric Hotel from 0800hrs. The forum will be a focal point for bottom-up multi-stakeholder discussions of the KENIC policies and developments. Thereafter, the same venue will host KENIC's seventh Annual General Meeting (AGM) to which you are invited to witness. Details of the AGM shall be availed on the KENIC website http://www.kenic.or.ke We look forward to your participation at the events. Kindly confirm your attendance by sending an email to : agm(a)kenic.or.ke. Kind Regards, Joe Kiragu, For: Chairman, KeNIC ........................................ Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) http://www.kenic.or.ke +254-20-4450057/8 +254 733 790073 " dot KE for every name in Kenya" -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by KeNIC MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. Kenya Network Information Center (KENIC) -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by * KeNIC MailScanner* <http://www.kenic.or.ke/>, and is believed to be clean. Kenya Network Information Centre (KeNIC).

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Information Security Conference- Johnny Long
by Evans Kahuthu 29 Jun '10

29 Jun '10

Dear Listers, Just a reminder that renowned computer security expert, author, and public speaker Johnny Long will be among this years' Keynote Speakers at the upcoming Information Communication Technology & Network Security Conference (Secure ICT 2010) to be held on Sept 8-9, 2010 at the Pan Afric Hotel. Long is well known for his background in Google hacking, a process by which vulnerable servers on the Internet can be identified through specially constructed Google searches. He has gained fame as a prolific author and editor of numerous computer security books. Johnny is a professional hacker and security researcher by trade. Although the art of breaking into buildings and bypassing computer security sounds like the stuff of Hollywood movies, Johnny has made a career of just that. By wielding real world attacks against hundreds of Government and Fortune 100 companies, Johnny has uncovered and exploited security weaknesses in the world's most secure facilities and networks. To register online as an attendee for this conference, please visit http://secureict.co.ke/registration.aspx For more information on Johnny Long, please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Long http://johnny.ihackstuff.com/ Regards, Evans

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Re: [kictanet] GoK-Telkom-France Telecom agreement
by Eric M.K Osiakwan 28 Jun '10

28 Jun '10

Dr. Ndemo, I would STILL give you the benefit of the doubt....hopefully, we can pick up this conversation again in early 2011. Good day. Eric here On 28 Jun 2010, at 13:43, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote: > Eric, > Wait and see if the SLAs will be messed up in favour of the managing party in six months. They must work within the terms provided by the GOK otherwise they lose the whole thing. We did not give the network as part of the deal. We had already requeted them to manage the project. The cost of broadband here will drop significantly within six to one year's time. Economically most operators will have attained a critical base to lower the cost without signficantly affecting their revenue. > > My friend we have multiple competititors at all levels and the good thing is that the market is beggining to dictate terms. Depending on your size, I have seen sub 200 dollar per MB. As we continue to set up POPs here, it will not surprise to see offers of over 10 MBs for less 50 dollars. The challenge always is how to get this to ordinary mwananchi on the street. > > Regards. > > Ndemo. > > Regards. > > Ndemo. > Sent from my BlackBerry® > > -----Original Message----- > From: "Eric M.K Osiakwan" <emko(a)internetresearch.com.gh> > Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:51:41 > To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] GoK-Telkom-France Telecom agreement > > Dr. Ndemo, > > Hope your morning is well. > > I would take it that the media report is subtantive in which case, what we have is not different from what happened in Ghana re: the Vodafone transaction in which the Ghana government threw in the national fiber backbone (under NCBC - an independent national backbone provider) to sweeten the deal except in this case, it is after the facts. That decision soo compromised the idea of an open access national fiber backbone that MTN, tiGO and now Glo are building their own competiting national fiber backbones. While this means that there is competition in that layer of the network, it begs the question of market uptake against multiple investments of the same dollar which is transfered to the enduser as high cost? > > Giving the management and maintenance contract to an active competitor in the market just gives room for abuse of incumbency and compromises the ability of the regulator to be active in a market as ours, even in more matured markets Rory Macmillan in the attached piece underlines the multiple challenges the regulator faces so am afraid to conclude that in your bid to salvage the Telkom Kenya deal, you have skewed the market in their direction which raises the question of the real intent at play. I hope you forgive my blantness..... > > Good day. > > Eric here > > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > Eric M.K Osiakwan Director Internet Research www.internetresearch.com.gh emko(a)internetresearch.com.gh 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Tel: +233.21.258800 ext 7031 Fax: +233.21.258811 Cell: +233.24.4386792

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GoK-Telkom-France Telecom agreement
by Andrea Bohnstedt 28 Jun '10

28 Jun '10

Dear all, I have been quite intrigued by the negotiations between GoK and France Telecom over their Telkom acquisition that were covered nicely consistently by the East African in recent weeks. The latest instalment here: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/How%20the%20French%20got%20their%20way… The article states that GoK and France Telecom have come to an agreements under which - GoK will pay the USD10m fee for the 3G license for Telkom - in that context, I'd be curious to know if CCk will refund USD15m to Safaricom as, from what I understand, they had initially promised to do if the license fee will be lowered from its initial USD25m? - GoK will clear overdue bills to Telkom, contributions to the pension fund, overdue payment to KBC: no issue with these since it appears fair enough that GoK clears liabilities that precede the privatisation (never mind the question why GoK/parastatals have been let to accumulate such obligations in the first place). - Telkom to manage and control GoK's 20% stake in TEAMS. - France Telecom to be granted an exclusive operational and maintenance contract for the government-owned, multimillion-dollar nationwide optic fibre network. Since we had all these elaborate discussions recently in the context of the new tariff regulations regarding competition and level playing field, I wonder how this helps to create a level playing field? I haven't read much from GoK/CCK/Min of Information on this so far, so first of all, I'd be curious to know how much of the East African coverage is accurate, and if not, what the facts are - if the PS Information is reading along? And then I'd be interested to hear opinions on how this will affect the competitive landscape. Anyone thoughts? Have a good day and keep warm :) Andrea

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Fwd: Kenya: ARTICLE 19 Recommends Amendments to "Hate Speech" Laws and Proposed Constitution
by Grace Bomu 25 Jun '10

25 Jun '10

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: ARTICLE 19 <press(a)article19.org> Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:13:34 +0100 Subject: Kenya: ARTICLE 19 Recommends Amendments to "Hate Speech" Laws and Proposed Constitution To: nmutungu(a)gmail.com For immediate release – 25 June 2010 Kenya: ARTICLE 19 Recommends Amendments to “Hate Speech” Laws and Proposed Constitution The legal framework regulating hate speech in Kenya falls short of international human rights standards and raises serious concerns regarding the protection of the right to freedom of expression. In a Commentary released today, ARTICLE 19 recommends amendments to the provisions on hate speech contained in existing laws and to the proposed Constitution. The Commentary examines the existing Constitution, and that proposed on the 6th of May 2010, as well as the Penal Code, the Media Act of 2007, the Broadcasting Regulations of 2009 and the National Cohesion and Integration Act of 2008. It shows that Kenya’s existing laws on the regulation of hate speech go beyond what is required under international human rights law and have the potential effect of restricting legitimate forms of expression. ARTICLE 19 notes that the proposed Constitution reflects “an unclear and confused picture of Kenya’s international legal obligations”. The Commentary states: “During this period of heightened constitutional reflection in Kenya, which has itself been a response to inter-ethnic tensions and violence, Kenya’s state organs should seize the opportunity to repeal or amend Kenya’s legislative and constitutional provisions regulating hate speech according to international standards on freedom of expression.” ARTICLE 19 recommends, among other measures, that: • Key provisions of the proposed Constitution (Section 33(2)) and the National Cohesion and Integration Act be amended to reflect international human rights standards, in particular Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence. • Section 138 of the Penal Code, dealing with “offences relating to religion,” be repealed. • The Code of Conduct for Journalists and Media Enterprises contained in the Second Schedule of the Media Act be repealed and redrafted by media representatives as a self-regulatory and voluntary code of conduct. NOTES TO EDITORS: • The full text of the Commentary is available here: http://www.article19.org/alists/lt.php?id=bEkHV1RUDlAeBAgESwAFCAs%3D <mailto:http://www.article19.org/alists/lt.php?id=bEkHV1RUDlAeBAgESwAFCAs%3D> • The full text of ARTICLE 19’s Comment on the Prohibition of Hate Speech Bill, 2007, which was published in November 2009, is available here: http://www.article19.org/alists/lt.php?id=bEkHV1RUD1QeBAgESwAFCAs%3D • For more information please contact: Sejal Parmar, Senior Legal Officer sejal(a)article19.org <mailto:[email protected]> +44 20 7324 2500 . -- Powered by PHPlist, www.phplist.com -- -- Grace L.N. Mutung'u (Bomu) Kenya

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Zain Kenya gets 3G license
by Harry Hare 25 Jun '10

25 Jun '10

Interesting development...read on. http://tinyurl.com/2vv49cj Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre 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

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Will SA recoup the investment
by Per-erick Mulamba 24 Jun '10

24 Jun '10

Dear All, We are in the middle of the World Cup which so far its thumps up for SA on how they have organized it. They have spend over 4trillions to get it to where it is and the expected return is less than 1trillion. Greece are broke cause of hosting Olympics will we be seeing another repeat of Greece on the African continent and if it happens are we prepared? I believe the impact will be felt in 2 to 3 years from now. Regards Per-Erick

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INTERNET SOCIETY FORUM TO ENABLE AFRICAN INTERNET LEADERS UNLOCK THE CONTINENT'S POTENTIAL
by alice＠apc.org 23 Jun '10

23 Jun '10

INTERNET SOCIETY FORUM TO ENABLE AFRICAN INTERNET LEADERS UNLOCK THE CONTINENT'S POTENTIAL New regional community to address key interconnection opportunities and challenges in Africa [Nairobi, Kenya, 15 June 2010] - The Internet Society (ISOC), today announced the launch of the African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF), established to help address the operational, regulatory, and business challenges facing the growing African Internet industry. Organized by the Internet Society, in partnership with the Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK), the inaugural meeting of the forum, entitled "Unlocking Africa's Regional Interconnection", will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 11-12 August 2010 and is expected to attract some of Africa's key business leaders, technical experts, policy makers, and infrastructure builders. Until now, Internet growth in the region has been slow, hampered by poor infrastructure and low levels of investment. But the signs of change are now on the horizon. "To date, gradual, ongoing policy and regulatory changes have made a positive impact on the region, where we are seeing many new opportunities for regional and global connectivity," said Michuki Mwangi, Regional Development Manager for Africa at the Internet Society, and recipient of the 2010 African Network Operators Group (AfNOG) Network Information Infrastructure award. "Supporting the recent momentum in Africa by facilitating these positive discussions plays a vital role in delivering against one of the Internet Society's key strategic initiatives; enabling access in emerging markets," added Mwangi. "Africa has also seen major investments in submarine cables, terrestrial fiber infrastructures, and mobile and wireless data technologies, all of which are addressing some of the challenges that previously restricted Internet growth in the region." Critically, the new infrastructure developments create the opportunity for much higher levels of local and regional interconnection. This exerts a multiplier effect on the economic and technical performance of regional networks, as well as opening the door to higher levels of local content production, all of which are necessary elements in enabling Internet access to Africans across the continent. The African Peering and Interconnection Forum will create a regional community to address the key cross-border Interconnection opportunities and challenges in Africa and discuss global and regional insights on maximizing regional development. In addition to local and regional support provided by TESPOK, the event has received international sponsorship from expert organisations including the Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX), the Deutscher Commercial Internet Exchange (DE-CIX), the German Internet exchange, and Netnod, the Swedish Internet exchange provider, For more information, details about sponsorship opportunities, and to register for this event, see: https://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/africanforum2010/ About the Internet Society The Internet Society (ISOC) is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 to provide leadership in Internet related standards, education, and policy. ISOC is the organizational home of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet's premier technical standards body. With offices in Washington, D.C., and Geneva, Switzerland, it is dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of people throughout the world. For more information see: http://InternetSociety.org Media contact Greg Wood wood(a)isoc.org +1-703-439-2145

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FW: Consumers: Ghana: Thousands protest poor mobile phone services (thanks to Russell Southwood)
by Edith Adera 22 Jun '10

22 Jun '10

FYI ________________________________ From: consumers-bounces(a)lists.wits.ac.za<mailto:[email protected]> [consumers-bounces(a)lists.wits.ac.za] On Behalf Of Charley Lewis [Charley.Lewis(a)wits.ac.za] Sent: 07 June 2010 17:51 To: consumers(a)lists.wits.ac.za<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Consumers: Ghana: Thousands protest poor mobile phone services (thanks to Russell Southwood) Thousands protest poor mobile phone services http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=182961#<http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=182961> ACCRA, May 27, --Thousands of mobile phone users took to the streets of Accra on Thursday to show their disapproval and displeasure with the poor services by mobile telecommunication companies operating in the country. The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), together with other consumer right groups, called on all mobile phone users in the country to switch off their mobile phones from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. local time on Thursday as part of its protest to express their demand for quality services from mobile phone service providers, MTN, Tigo, Kasapa, Vodafone, and Zain in the West African country. Protesters gathered at the famous Kwame Nkrumah circle at the down town area, where they were briefed by their leaders on the routes and regulations for the demonstration. The organizers made sure that all protesters put off their mobile phones as a warning sign to the operators that their services were nothing to write home about before they embarked on the protest march. The demonstrators, mostly students, danced and sang as they passed through the main streets of the capital city with placards, some of which read "we are tired of your poor services", "stop tricky promotions" and "MTN, Tigo, Kasapa, Vodafone and Zain, the value is the same." A heavy presence of armed policemen guaranteed the safety of both the organizers and protestors. The protest ended at the premises of the Ministry of Communications, where the head of the CPA, Nana Prempeh Aduhene, on behalf of the protesters, presented a petition to the deputy communications minister, Dr Nartey Siaw Sapore. Sapore assured the gatherers that the Ghanaian government would look into the petition and take necessary actions. He said the government would ensure that telecom operators in the country did not short-change Ghanaian mobile phone users. Prempeh Aduhene told Xinhua that the response they got from the public during the demonstration was an indication that Ghanaians were indeed fed up with the poor services of the telecom companies. He said the agency would embark on a second demonstration to serve as a reminder if the Ghanaian authorities failed to caution and sanction the operators for their poor services to the general public. Experts in the communications industry in Ghana estimated that the six-hour off-phone protest would cost the telecom companies a total loss of 6 million U.S. dollars in revenue. Some protesters said that they anticipated total transformation and rightness in the operations of the telecom companies. Charley Lewis Senior Lecturer, LINK Centre Degree Convenor, MM(ICTPR) Tel: + 27 11-717-3784 Fax: + 27 86-529-5562 /+ 27 11-717-3910 Mobile: + 27 83-539-5242 Post (personal): Box 81185, Parkhurst, 2120, SOUTH AFRICA Skype: charley.lewis URL: http://link.wits.ac.za Mwalimu House, School of Public & Development Management, University of the Witwatersrand 2 St David's Place, Parktown, 2193, SOUTH AFRICA ==> Master of Management in ICT Policy & Regulation: http://link.wits.ac.za/training/training4.html<UrlBlockedError.aspx> ==> Certificate in Telecomms Policy, Regulation & Management: http://link.wits.ac.za/training/tc1.html ==> African Journal of Information & Communication: http://link.wits.ac.za/journal/journal.html<http://link.wits.ac.za/training/tc1.html> <image001.gif> This communication is intended for the addressee only. It is confidential. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately and destroy the original message. You may not copy or disseminate this communication without the permission of the University. Only authorized signatories are competent to enter into agreements on behalf of the University and recipients are thus advised that the content of this message may not be legally binding on the University and may contain the personal views and opinions of the author, which are not necessarily the views and opinions of The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All agreements between the University and outsiders are subject to South African Law unless the University agrees in writing to the contrary. <GhanaWeb-20100528-Thousands protest poor mobile service.pdf><ATT00001.c> Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA LTD T: + 233.21.258800 ext 7031 F: + 233.21.258811 C: + 233.24.4386792

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Battle shifts to 3G arena as CCK levels playing field
by Michael Ouma 21 Jun '10

21 Jun '10

here's a link: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/Battle%20shifts%20to%203G%20arena%… Michael Ouma Journalist Kenya Tel:+254-725-537823 "Do not go where the path may lead, but go instead where there is no path and leave a trail," - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Why Do Businesses Invest In ITIL Training?
by Moses Kamau 21 Jun '10

21 Jun '10

Why Do Businesses Invest In ITIL Training? The Information Technology Infrastructure Library, more commonly referred to as ITIL, dates back almost thirty years. Essentially, it is a set of procedures and standards that govern the way in which IT services are managed within a business set up. It came about as the British Government recognized a growing reliance on IT by businesses and saw that some set standards were required to ensure its most optimum usage. At that time, businesses were becoming increasingly dependent upon information technology systems. It was a relatively new, but fast developing area at that time and as the British Government saw increasing numbers of companies become ever more reliant, it saw that this was the time for a set of standards relating to its application and usage. This is what became ITIL. Let's fast forward to 2010, though and today countless companies across the world use ITIL as a means of ensuring the most effective use of Information Technology services within their company. From local businesses through to multinational corporations such as VISA Europe, the standards have been implemented by companies looking to ensure the optimum application of IT within their setup. This has led to an increased demand for ITIL training. But is investing in training for staff worth the money? Quite simply, yes it is. ITIL, when its practices are applied in the right way, offers a host of benefits. But the learning, outside of any formal training courses, would compromise only of quite heavy reading material, as all the information is contained within ITIL books. As applies to anything we want to learn, organized and structured tuition can often be the most effective means of doing so. It's worth the investment as the correct application of ITIL within a business of any size comes with a range of benefits. This includes better cost effectiveness where IT is concerned, overall improved information technology standards, a far more efficient use of time by IT staff, better customer service and complaint management and an overall improved way in which staff skills and experienced are used within the business. (c) Garmin Forerunner For more information on ITIL training and consultancy, contact Quintica Kenya: Tel: +254 20 4442900/1 Email: sales.ke(a)quintica.com<mailto:[email protected]> Regards, Moses www.quintica.net Moses Kamau Sales & Service Manager Kenya Office: +254 20 444 2900 Kenya Mobile: +254 720 416 564 Email: moses.kamau(a)quintica.com<mailto:[email protected]> Skype: moses_kamau [cid:[email protected]]

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15, 500 univeristy students to get laptops under ICT Board program
by Brian Munyao Longwe 19 Jun '10

19 Jun '10

US$2 Million shilling grant will allow 15,500 Kenyan university students to have a personal laptop http://bit.ly/bei54W -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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Announcement for African Peering and Interconnection Forum
by Fiona Asonga 18 Jun '10

18 Jun '10

Dear Listers As a follow up to earlier communication on the AFRICA PEERING AND INTERCONNECTION FORUM, TESPOK invites all those who qualify to participate in the discussion to register on the following link: https://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/africanforum2010/ It is important for you to note that advance registrations are encouraged. Your participation in this inaugural meeting is highly appreciated. Kind Regards Fiona Asonga Chief Executive Officer Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya/ Kenya Internet Exchange Point 14th Floor, Bruce House Standard Street Tel: +254 20 2245 036 Cell: +254 721 713 504 "Industry voice in Telecommunications, Providing Policy and Direction within the Industry and Government" -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Fwd: Reminder: Call for Nominations: Highway Africa New Media Awards 2010
by Wainaina Mungai 18 Jun '10

18 Jun '10

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Moagisi Letlhaku <m.letlhaku(a)ru.ac.za> Date: Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 2:24 PM Subject: Reminder: Call for Nominations: Highway Africa New Media Awards 2010 To: wainaina.mungai(a)kamemefm.com, wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org, votindo(a)gmail.com (Hi Wainaina and Violet. Please help us spread the news through your networks/website/blog. Closing date is 18 June. You should enter too! Thanks, Moagisi.) [ENGLISH] Dear Friends of Highway Africa Highway Africa is pleased to announce the call for entries for the *10thedition of the Highway Africa New Media Awards *. The Awards were pioneered to highlight the role that digital technologies play in journalism and the media, are unique and prestigious awards within the profession of journalism on the continent. The awards reward pioneering, innovative and creative use of technology in doing journalism that serves Africa and its citizens.. *Highway Africa New Media Awards* The 14th edition of the Highway Africa Conference, 4-7 July 2010 at Rhodes University, calls for the submission of nominations for the Highway Africa New Media Awards in 3 categories: · *Individual/Student* – awarded to individual persons who design or appropriate new affordable applications of communication technologies to overcome the limitations of existing infrastructure and/or capital resources. · *Not-for-Profit* – awarded to users of appropriate media technology to advance and assist communities and persons limited by infrastructure and/or technological access. · *Corporate *– awarded to corporate groups for creative and appropriate adaptation of technologies within the continent to complete effectively in the wider environment. Please find attached the Highway Africa Awards 2010 Call for Entries, as well as the Electronic Application Form*. *Forms can also be found at www.highwayafrica.com. * Submissions are to be made electronically to: awards(a)highwayafrica.com copied to c.kabwato(a)ru.ac.za. * * * The closing date for the nominations is *18 June 2010, 16:30 Pretoria Time*. Winners will be announced at the prestigious Highway Africa New Media Awards ceremony on the evening of *Sunday, 4 July 2010*. Visit www.highwayafrica.com for more info. [FRENCH] Chers Collègues, Highway Africa a le plaisir de vous annoncer l’*Appel à nominations de sa * 10ème édition de Highway Africa New Media Awards. Les prix ont été lancés pour mettre en exergue que le rôle que les technologies numériques jouent dans le journalisme et dans les médias, sont uniques et prestigieux dans la profession du journalisme qui serve l’Afrique et ses citoyens. *Highway Africa New Media Awards* La 14ème édition de la « Highway Africa Conference » qui se tiendra du 4 au 7 juillet 2010 à Rhodes University lance un appel à soumissions de nominations pour la Highway Africa New Media Awards dans trois catégories: • *Individu/étudiant*- offert à des individus qui conçoivent ou s’approprient de nouvelles et abordables applications des technologies de la communication pour surmonter les insuffisances de l’infrastructure/ressources ou capitales existantes. • *Non-lucratif*- offert aux utilisateurs de la technologie de media appropriée pour avancer et assister les communautés et les personnes limitées par l’accès aux infrastructures et à la technologie. • *Entreprise*- offert aux groupes d’entreprises pour une adaptation créative et appropriée des technologies sur le continent pour compétir efficacement dans un environnement plus large. * * Ci-joint est l’appel à nominations Highway Africa Awards 2010 avec plus de détails : critères de sélection etc. *Les soumissions doivent être faites par voie électronique à: awards(a)highwayafrica.com copié sur c.kabwato @ ru.ac.za.* La date de clôture pour les nominations est fixée au 18 juin 2010 à 16h30 heure de Pretoria. La liste des lauréats sera publiée à la prestigieuse cérémonie de Highway Africa Awards, dans la nuit de dimanche, 4 juillet2010. Visite www.highwayafrica.com pour plus d'informations. Moagisi Letlhaku Training Manager Highway Africa Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies Tel: +27 (0)46 603 7139 Fax: +27 (0)46 603 7189 Cell: +27 (0)73 381 5227 e-mail:[email protected] <e-mail%3Am.letlhaku(a)ru.ac.za> www.highwayafrica.com *14th Highway Africa Conference, 5-7 July 2010. Theme: "African Voices in the Global Media Space"* *Reporting Development Network Africa (RDNA): *http://reportingDNA.org<http://reportingdna.org/>

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Fwd: WCIT 2012 primed for success - See our brand new video and photos
by waudo siganga 18 Jun '10

18 Jun '10

The information in this newsletter could be of interest to colleagues particularly those targeting BPO partnerships with Canadian business. Kind Regards, Waudo ----- Original message ----- From: "WCIT 2012 Montreal" <mail(a)mail.zd01.com> To: emailsignet(a)mailcan.com Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:06:59 GMT Subject: WCIT 2012 primed for success - See our brand new video and photos To view this message as a web page, [1]click here [2]dégradé [3]Subscribe to our newsletter | [4]Visit our Website June 2010 Canada’s ICT innovation promoted at WCIT 2010 Canada’s 65-person delegation, led by Ministry of Industry Tony Clement, has returned from the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2010) in Amsterdam where they promoted Canada as an ideal business and investment environment for information and communications technology (ICT) to representatives from around the world. “WCIT has provided a valuable opportunity to highlight the important investments our government has made in ICT and the digital economy to strengthen the global economic recovery," said Minister Clement. "I look forward to welcoming delegates to WCIT 2012 in Montréal and showcasing Canada's strong ICT industries and our digital economy strategy." Mr. Clement and the Canadian delegation met with a variety of politicians, senior business leaders, high-level officials, academics and opinion leaders over a three-day period, as well as participated in a ceremony handing over this “Olympics of ICT” event to Montreal in 2012. Mr. Bernard Courtois, Chair of WCIT 2012 and speaker at the Amsterdam event, gathered best practices, feedback and ideas from people for hosting a successful event in Montreal. “We brought an impressive delegation to Amsterdam and we got great reception,” said Mr. Courtois. “I was really energized by people’s expectations that Canada will host a high-caliber WCIT event in 2012 that will draw strong representation from around the globe.” [5]CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR VIDEO»» Canada’s Participation at WCIT 2010. WCIT 2012 The governments of Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec and Saskatchewan, receive international delegates at the Canadian pavilion. Minister of Industry, Tony Clement, promotes Canada’s ICT innovation at a keynote speech at WCIT 2010. WCIT 2012 WCIT 2012 Canada accepts hosting privileges for next WCIT 2012 event in Montreal at official hand-over ceremony. [6]CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS»» See Canada’s Contribution to ICT. Canada’s reputation for developing innovative technology solutions is world-renowned. Research and development in the field represents 39% of all R&D investment in Canada and drives more than $140 billion in annual revenue amongst the country’s 30,000 ICT firms. Click [7]here to see a short video highlighting some of Canada’s many contributions to the field, and why WCIT 2012 in Montreal will be an event you don’t want to miss. Get Timely Information About WCIT 2012. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when you can start scheduling meetings via the WCIT 2012 website, or to learn about new B2B opportunities and receive conference updates. [8]CLICK HERE TO REGISTER »» dégradé [9]Signature [10]Click here to unsubscribe. References 1. http://lnk.zd01.com/a/l.x?T=kpmdccpeibccefkdnmkohkoelm&M=1 2. http://lnk.zd01.com/a/l.x?T=kpmdccpeibccefkdnmkohkoelm&M=2 3. http://lnk.zd01.com/a/l.x?T=kpmdccpeibccefkdnmkohkoelm&M=3 4. http://lnk.zd01.com/a/l.x?T=kpmdccpeibccefkdnmkohkoelm&M=2 5. http://lnk.zd01.com/a/l.x?T=kpmdccpeibccefkdnmkohkoelm&M=5 6. http://lnk.zd01.com/a/l.x?T=kpmdccpeibccefkdnmkohkoelm&M=6 7. http://lnk.zd01.com/a/l.x?T=kpmdccpeibccefkdnmkohkoelm&M=5 8. http://lnk.zd01.com/a/l.x?T=kpmdccpeibccefkdnmkohkoelm&M=3 9. http://lnk.zd01.com/a/l.x?T=kpmdccpeibccefkdnmkohkoelm&M=9 10. http://lnk.zd01.com/a/l.x?T=kpmdccpeibccefkdnmkohkoelm&M=10

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Internet access as you drive down to South Africa
by Wainaina Mungai 17 Jun '10

17 Jun '10

Read about the ICT access challenges on the roadtrip to South Africa. All of these on http://www.k24.co.ke/roadtrip/ Wainaina ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: May Githua <maruamahiu(a)gmail.com> Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:36:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [K24 Roadtrip] Shida za Mtandao! To: wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org To any East African traveler coming down to S.A., be prepared for Internet drama. Wireless at Ifisi Community Centre in Mbeya, Tanzania is slow & cyber cafe's in town are quite expensive. However, there's an arcade in Lusaka, Zambia (Microlink I-Zone Cafe) that is awesome - in terms of speed & service. We also had an easy time using wireless at Fawlty Towers Guest House in Livingstone, Zambia till the wee hours of the morning. Kasane town, in Botswana, has wireless Internet in the C.B.D. area, though connection is a problem; we had no access at our Thebe River Lodge campsite. But, we managed to browse for a short while at Kasane Computers this morning. This is after being told that we can't use our flash disks at the Post Office cyber. We're hoping good things await us in Francistown's Tati River Lodge. -- Posted By May Githua to K24 Roadtrip at 6/17/2010 11:33:00 AM -- Sent from my mobile device Wainaina Mungai ----- http://www.bungesms.com http://www.madeinkenya.org http://www.wainainamungai.com "The HAPPIEST people DONOT necessarily have the BEST of all. They simply APPRECIATE what they find on their way”

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Community SANS East Africa
by Preston Odera 17 Jun '10

17 Jun '10

Please see the security course scheduled for October in Nairobi Preston

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Fwd: Fw: WORKSHOP FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS ON PROPOSED CONSTITUTION
by waudo siganga 17 Jun '10

17 Jun '10

This could interest some colleagues on the Kictanet list. Kind Regards, Waudo ----- Original message ----- From: "dourice ofisi" <bremack1(a)yahoo.com> To: "waudo siganga" <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com> Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:32:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Fw: WORKSHOP FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS ON PROPOSED CONSTITUTION --- On Thu, 6/17/10, Apsea <apsea(a)apsea.or.ke> wrote: From: Apsea <apsea(a)apsea.or.ke> Subject: WORKSHOP FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS ON PROPOSED CONSTITUTION To: kujkenya(a)yahoo.com, journalistskenya(a)yahoo.com, afrolinemedia(a)yahoo.co.uk, info(a)afrolinemedia.com, info(a)mediacouncil.or.ke, jak.kenya(a)gmail.com, bremack1(a)yahoo.com, info(a)ycskonline.org, mediainst(a)wananchi.com, info(a)awcfs.org, info(a)kujkenya.org, kenyacorrespondents(a)yahoo.com, williamjanak(a)yahoo.com, mosesradoli(a)yahoo.com, MDAKenya(a)hotmail.com. Cc: apsea(a)apsea.or.ke Date: Thursday, June 17, 2010, 2:19 AM Kindly circulate to your members and ask them to attend this very important workshop. Facilitators shall be Yash Pal Ghai and Macharia Gaitho of Kenya Editors Guild. Association of Professional Societies in East Africa (APSEA) Parliament Road, The Professional Centre, P.O. BOX 43663-00100 , GPO, Nairobi Tel: (020) 2241230/2212660 Fax: 341883 Email: [1]apsea(a)apsea.or.ke Website: [2]www.apsea.or.ke 7^th June, 2010 Dear all, PROPOSED CONSTITUTION: INVITATION TO SECTOR BASED WORKSHOPS FOR PROFESSIONALS The Proposed Constitution of Kenya has certainly entered a critical and crucial stage of the roadmap towards completion. The planned civic education has unfortunately been marred by logistical hurdles culminating in distortion of information as well as peddling of untruths by both sides of the referendum divide. It is disheartening that half truths and outright misleading information are being given to the unsuspecting members of public in a bid to lure them into taking positions on the proposed constitution. Fears are beginning to emerge that once again, the outcome of the August 4^th Referendum will leave Kenyans divided as was the case in 2005. As professionals and indeed professional bodies, we have a responsibility to ensure that Kenyans are properly informed particularly on issues that are within the realm of our expertise. There is need for active engagement to ensure that this process does not leave the country badly scarred and divided but rather emerge from the constitution making process stronger and united. APSEA is organizing a series of sector based workshops for professionals in order to interrogate the proposed constitution and how it affects the various sectors of professionals. At the end of the workshops, it is expected that professionals will serve as agents of change. The main Objective of the workshops is to enlighten Professional bodies and their members on the state of play in the constitutional review process. Other more specific objectives include:- i. To encourage professionals to remain engaged and proactive in the constitution making process ii. To foster ownership of the entire constitution making process by the Professionals. iii. To advocate and promote dialogue and reconciliation between various divergent views, especially between political and religious leaders and the civic society with a view of bringing in harmony and unity of purpose in Kenya . We are therefore pleased to invite you to the sector based workshop for professionals at the Silver Springs Hotel starting at 8.30. am on the dates indicated below: 1. Management, Finance & Law 28^th June 2010 2. Built and Natural Environment 29^th June 2010 3. Medicine and Health Environment 30^th June 2010 4. Media and Public Relations 1^st July 2010 Key speakers including constitutional lawyers and renowned professionals in the specific sectors have been invited to make presentations at the workshops. Participation at the workshop is free and therefore limited chances are available. Kindly confirm your participation with the Secretariat on [3]apsea(a)apsea.or.ke or 2222119. Yours faithfully, Dr. Daniel W. Ichang’i, Ph.D. (McGill), R. Geol., O.G.W. Chairman, APSEA References 1. http://us.mc365.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected] 2. http://www.apsea.or.ke/ 3. http://us.mc365.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]

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Nurturing IT Service Management Skills
by Moses Kamau 16 Jun '10

16 Jun '10

How training for IT professionals supports your business... That businesses in Kenya are experiencing a chronic skills shortage, is a well-known reality. However organizations must realize that a "head-in-the-sand" approach to training and skills development will not help them or the Kenyan community to become a serious force in world circles. Recent events in Kenya (namely the connection to the rest of the world through fiber optic cable) has bought the importance of information technology and customer focused solutions into the minds of business people looking to enhance and grow their operations. From the largest Government department to the smallest at home business there is a place for IT to both education, entertain and enlighten. Medium to large businesses are more aware of the opportunities in a commercial and customer satisfaction perspective, but the reality is that all the technology will do nothing if the right people do not have the right skills to support it. Skills development in most IT staff has historically focused on technical training in the various applications that are being used in the business. While such training is critical what is missing from IT professionals is a lack of understanding regarding the importance of services as they apply to the business user. This missing customer focus does nothing to help the credibility of the IT professionals who feel that they are working long days with little or no appreciation. Once IT professionals are educated in the way that business people think; then they automatically become aware of how to communicate better and in a language that the business can understand. The other aspect of managing technical solutions relates to the techniques required to support the IT infrastructure as a cohesive unit. This means that all IT professionals share a common view of how the infrastructure delivers services and how to behave to fix user issues, how to solve problems so they don't reoccur and how to implement change in a way that does not spell disaster for the business. So the question is: where can IT professionals learn the importance of customer service and proper process? The answer lies within the ITIL Framework. ITIL is an acronym for Information Technology Infrastructure Library. It introduces to all IT professionals the concepts of strategic, tactical and operational level thinking when it comes to communication to people and support of technology. ITIL teaches the pupil how to approach technical issues as they happen, how to reduce the possibility of anything going wrong and how to plan for growth and performance of the systems they support. Above all this, ITIL teaches the student that business people rely on services in order to deliver organizational objectives and that as a team the entire IT department is responsible for delivery of those services. The ITIL framework has a series of training courses that are suited to all levels of experience within the IT department. The framework is globally recognized and carries levels of certification that can ultimately lead to "ITIL Expert" status for the individual. By Roger Purdie Roger Purdie is certified as an ITIL v3 Expert and is a member of the ITIL Qualification Board. He is currently the Managing Director - Quintica Kenya as well as Group Projects Director for the Quintica Group of companies. Regards, Moses www.quintica.net Moses Kamau Sales & Service Manager Kenya Office: +254 20 444 2900 Kenya Mobile: +254 720 416 564 Email: moses.kamau(a)quintica.com<mailto:[email protected]> Skype: moses_kamau [cid:[email protected]]

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ITIL Foundation Course - July 2010
by Moses Kamau 16 Jun '10

16 Jun '10

Good Morning, Quintica will be running the next Public ITIL Foundation Course from July 12-14, 2010. Quintica is accredited to deliver ITIL courses by the APM-Group, the official International ITIL Accreditation Body (www.apmg-international.com<http://www.apmg-international.com>). The Course price is Ksh 35,000 and the Certification Examination is Ksh 16,000. These prices are inclusive of catering and all accredited course materials.<http://www.apmg-international.com> All prices are exclusive of VAT. Documents Attached: * Course Brochure * Course Info & Content * Public Course Calendar * Registration Form Please feel free to contact me for any further information or clarifications.<http://www.apmg-international.com> Regards, Moses www.quintica.net Moses Kamau Sales & Service Manager Kenya Office: +254 20 444 2900 Kenya Mobile: +254 720 416 564 Email: moses.kamau(a)quintica.com<mailto:[email protected]> Skype: moses_kamau [cid:[email protected]]

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