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South Africa's Telkom snaps up Kenyan Internet service provider
by McTim 30 Sep '09

30 Sep '09

South Africa's Telkom snaps up Kenyan Internet service provider Sep 29, 2009 The local Internet scene could be headed for major realignments as South Africa's largest fixed-line phone operator, Telkom, silently sneaks into a territory it has long been yearning for. A complex web of share-purchase transactions among telecom operators in Africa's richest nation, has ended up with the acquisition of a local satellite data transmission services company, Afsat Communications Limited. After failing to secure a 51 per cent stake in Telkom Kenya late 2007, Telkom SA Ltd opted to court an Internet Service Provider, MWEB Africa, a subsidiary of South African media and communications conglomerate Naspers for a take-over bid. Interestingly, the deal was successfully concluded in April this year, with the firm paying a massive 63m US dollars (4.7bn shillings) for 100 per cent and 75 per cent shareholding in MWEB and MWEB Namibia respectively. The value of the transaction, which ostensibly excluded the South Africa's MWEB unit, has since been kept underwraps. Incidentally, MWEB, the Internet solutions arm of Naspers - the company that also owns Multichoice Africa and popular magazine arm Media 24 - had bought Afsat Communications, including its subsidiaries in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria and Zambia in October 2007. This implies the local Internet firm, Afsat Communications, is now part and parcel of Telkom South Africa. "AFSAT is now fully part of Telkom South Africa," Mr Job Ndege, General Manager, Afsat Services Ltd told The Financial Journal Last week. "This is an implied acquisition," he said. So far, South African Telkom owns Nigeria's Multi-Links and Kenya's Africa Online, with plans to aggressively fund both units. The latest acquisition is part of the company's strategy aimed at reducing dependence on domestic revenues, while expanding further into Africa to offset dwindling profits at home. It is widely argued that the acquisition, together with the company's investment in Africa Online will increase the value proposition of its product and service offerings to all customer segments in Sub-Saharan Africa. The acquisition gives Telkom South Africa a foothold in 28 African countries, making it the biggest satellite-based ISP on the African continent. "We think our value preposition is so powerful that the current terrestrial services cannot match," says Ndege. He says the value prepositions of the company's products and services include reliability, consistency, speed, availability, cost effectiveness and strong support. Afsat Communications offers direct satellite access services to its clients by utilizing all communications requirements such as backbone access, backhole access and last mile access. In Kenya, Afsat is known for its satellite Internet connectivity solutions to residential and business customers. It also supplies corporate and state owned customers with reliable and secure corporate data network solutions. This service is provided through VSAT connectivity using the popular iWay brand, which has its regional headquarters in Nairobi. "The response in the market for our products has been very good. We have had an unprecedented growth," says Ndege. Amongst the company's main competitors and who are hoping to utilise the fibre optic cables to provide international Internet connectivity include Access Kenya Ltd, Kenya Data Network and UUNET Kenya. "The fibre optic will provide much capacity. The demand for capacity is growing, but there have not been enough satellite capacity to provide international connectivity," says Ndege. Kenya's average Internet usage grew by 230 per cent to 700MB last year from the previous years 304 MB. The fibre optic networks are expected to supplement satellite in boosting the capacity, since satellite bandwidth demand in Africa far outstrips the supply from the highly consolidated satellite fleet operator industry. Indeed, Afsat Communications has announced a five-year (2010-2014) strategic pan aimed at improving and expanding its infrastructure within East Africa, with a view of ensuring steady and reliable supply of its products and services. The next phase of the company's growth will involve setting up additional hub infrastructure to cover the region of the Sub-Saharan Africa between 2011 and 2015. Already, the company has built five satellite hubs in Africa. Afsat serves Kenya through a distributor network of ISP's such as Callkey Networks and Virtualsat, by providing last mile connectivity to remote locations such as Lokichoggio, Mandera, Lamu, Homa Bay, Garissa, Dadaab, Wajir and Namanga. The company also has a large number of VSATs in Nairobi. There are over 485 iWay VSAT terminals in Kenya. iWay services are available in 28 countries in Africa, and its partnership network consists of 32 distributors, with four subsidiaries in East Africa and Nigeria. Afsat Communications was formed in 1992 to offer communication solutions to corporates in East Africa. In 2001, the company changed its focus with the re-launch of iWay Brand targeting the whole Sub-Saharan Africa. Telkom SA Limited aims to become a Pan-African integrated service provider that offers international communications and Internet connectivity, hosting and managed data services, as well as wireless voice and mobile broadband solutions. Over the long term, it plan to provide international data connectivity to major cities in Africa through regional hubs. It also seek to position Telkom as a wholesale facilities and infrastructure enabler for regional incumbents. With regards to existing subsidiaries, Telkom SA is focusing on achieving strong growth through both organic and acquisitive business development strategies, as well as by leveraging synergies across the Group. For Africa Online, this includes leveraging its available international capacity to deploy satellite based Internet access, and using Africa Online as the main vehicle in which Telkom will deliver Internet services outside of South Africa. Source: The Standard website, Nairobi, in English 29 Sep 09 -- Cheers, McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel

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Fw: [AfrICANN-discuss] Application Round Opens for Nairobi MeetingFellowships
by alice munyua 30 Sep '09

30 Sep '09

[image: ICANN] <http://www.icann.org/> News Alert http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-29sep09-en.htm ------------------------------ Application Round Opens for Nairobi Meeting Fellowships Program ensures global representation at ICANN=92s International Public Meetings 29 September 2009 *MARINA DEL REY, Calif.*: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has launched the ninth round of fellowship program applications for its 37th International Public Meeting to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 7-1= 2 March 2009. =93Just like the Internet, ICANN is global in scope in its operations,=94 s= aid Theresa Swinehart , ICANN's Vice President, Global and Strategic Partnerships. =93Our fellowship program, through the contribution of alumni from the previous 7 meetings, continues to experience success in making sur= e global voices are heard in the wide variety of public forums that it holds.= =94 For the upcoming Seoul Meeting, there are 35 fellows selected from 27 countries, chosen from 132 applications received. 10 of the fellows are alumni from at least one of the past seven programmes; 21 fellows are first-time attendees to any ICANN meeting and 4 have attended past meetings= , but are first time fellows. Priority is given to applicants who are current residents of developing and least developed nations and interested in participating in ICANN and its supporting organizations, such as the Governmental Advisory Committee, the Country Code Names Supporting Organization, and the Generic Names Supporting Organization. The fellowship will assist in covering airfare, hotel and a stipend. Recipients will be expected to actively participate in and contribute to ICANN processes. As always, registration for ICANN=92s meetings is free for anyone wanting to attend. Applications for the meeting in Nairobi will be accepted from now until 120= 0 PDT (UTC -7) on 6 November 2009. More information, as well as a link to the application for a fellowship, is available online at: http://www.icann.org/en/fellowships/ ------------------------------ *Sign up for ICANN's Monthly Magazine <http://www.icann.org/magazine/>* -----Original Message----- From: Anne-Rachel Inné <annerachel(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:40:48 To: <africann(a)afrinic.net> Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Application Round Opens for Nairobi Meeting Fellowships _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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JOB VACANCY
by Jotham Kilimo Mwale 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

Hi, Please see attached. Regards, Jotham

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Pay for information
by robert yawe 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

Hi, It is shocking how we have been spoilt by VOK by giving us free TV, we are so well schooled in receiving free things that we have a problem paying for anything however beneficial it is to us. University students wanting free transport and going to the extend of wanting to burn down their campus. So the web site live.mystocks.co.ke has indicated that they will be charging for the useful information they have been providing the serious technical trader I believe so as to meet their operational costs. Instead of understanding and support all that has been circulating in certain sites is anger and bitterness. Let us support our young developers without cash they will continue to languish in intellectual poverty. This link will explain my anger with us all, who want cha bure, remember "inchi ya kitu kidogo ni inchi ya watu wadogo" http://stockskenya.com/newsite/stkForumTopic.aspx?stk=0&top=17882

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Technology and Entrepreneurship Forum
by Phares Kariuki 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

>Special thanks to Alex Gakuru and KDN. Might MMU (Multimedia Univ College) attract some thanks as well? ================================================ My profound apologies for the glaring omission. MMU are providing the venue, and have been more than supportive to Skunkworks. >> Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke >> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks >> Other services @ http://my.co.ke >> Other lists >> ------------- >> Announce: >> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce >> Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science >> kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Skunkworks mailing list > Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > Other services @ http://my.co.ke > Other lists > ------------- > Announce: > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce > Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science > kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general > -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki | T: +254 734 810 802 | E: pkariuki(a)gmail.com | Twitter: kaboro | Skype: kariukiphares |

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Facebook, Youtube maybe free but not really....
by aki 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

- Facebook monthly electricity bill = 1 Million USD , and adds new servers every few days because users appetites for adding photos keeps growing. - Youtube monthly bandwidth consumption= 25PetaBytes ( 1000 Terabytes ) I don't have the excat amounts but the above is a harsh reality of operating such services. Though their financial standings show as mighty, I wonder how long can they sustain just running just on large adverts? Rgds.

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Technology and Entrepreneurship Forum
by Phares Kariuki 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

There will be a Tech & Entrepreneurship Forum on the 29th September, 2009, 4th Floor Teleposta Towers, from 5.30 PM. Content will be as follows: - Why go into business? Do you have to? What do you aim to achieve? Is it better to start a Non-profit (Ushahidi)? - What objectives must one set in order to succeed. Stop flying blind - Dealing with government/registration etc - Finance, how to raise funding - Loans, VC, Angel investors? - Patenting ideas - How to make money from ‘soft capital’. - Making money. Chasing the numbers. Speakers will include: 1. Liko Agosta - Founder and CEO of Verviant Limited - www.verviant.com, leading Web Developing firm and BPO Provider 2. Joshua Wanyama - Founder and CEO of Pamoja Media - www.pamojamedia.com, a TED fellow. 3. Caroline Juma of KCR Kenya, leading recruitment firm that specializes in identifying key human resource in the IT industry. 4. Kahenya Kamunyu - CEO, ViRN Instruments. Involved with Zuqka, previously worked for BT, Yahoo, Sanyo Business, and Sony Playstation. Currently developing smart ideas and providing Venture Capital to small enterprises. Special thanks to Alex Gakuru and KDN. -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki | T: +254 734 810 802 | E: pkariuki(a)gmail.com | Twitter: kaboro | Skype: kariukiphares |

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Re: [kictanet] Kenya communication regulations 2009
by muriuki mureithi 28 Sep '09

28 Sep '09

Hi Am sure the MOIC the convenor has developed a wonderful programme taking advantage of the process of regulations 2001, policy in 2005 and many other stakeholders engagements in the past. Based on this wealth of experience, I suspect the MOIC will have a framework like the following to make best use of the two day engagement i.e. Thurs morning - preliminaries , opening statements , high level presentation positioning the regulations in the policy regulatory terrain , principles undergirding the regulations and of course taking into account a changing market scenario over the life of incoming regulations for the coming decade to 2019 and linkage to vision 2030. A discussion of the structure of the stakeholder workshop - perhaps establish workgroups to review in -depth the various regulations, the capacity of the stakeholder workshop , and finally the tors of the workgroups. High level issues may be addressed in this session Next session could be breakout sessions which will address details at these sessions which may run the rest of the day and perhaps early the following day Friday sessions may be dominated by plenary to receive comments from workout sessions and address cross cutting issues . a final issue may be to establish a small team to help polish the comments into cohesive regulations The structure worked in the past , and most likely will Cheers Muriuki From: Eng. Thomas Senaji [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 26 September 2009 17:55 To: mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya communication regulations 2009 Bw. Mureithi I am also not aware how it will be structured; the previous practice is where the regulator receives comments, synthesises them and makes a presentation which is followed by discussions and possible agreement. Best regards Senaji On Sat, Sep 26, 2009 at 2:23 PM, muriuki mureithi <mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke> wrote: Hi all Just wondering how the stakeholder session for the regulations will be structured. I can't see the programme on the CCK website Such a programme is necessary to know what is discussed when and of course the time available for submissions What is the capacity of the stakeholder workshop - is it a comments gathering or a negotiation platform where necessary? Regards Muriuki Mureithi . _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: tasenaji(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/tasenaji%40gmail.com

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Two Information Securty Presentations
by Matunda Nyanchama 26 Sep '09

26 Sep '09

Friends, Here are two presentations I made while visiting Nairobi recently. 1. Fraud & IS Audit - to ISACA Chapter in Nairobi 2. Information Security & Risk Management - to UoN Computer Science Click here for Information Security & Risk Management Training information. Let me know if anyone is interested in either follow up or work in the area of IT Security. Enjoy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matunda Nyanchama, mnyanchama(a)aganoconsulting.com Agano Consulting Inc.; www.aganoconsulting.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.”- George Bernard Shaw ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail, including attachments, may be privileged and may contain confidential or proprietary information intended only for the addressee(s). Any other distribution, copying, use, or disclosure is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete the message, including any attachments, without making a copy. Thank you.

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ICANN assures US lawmakers of its long term commitement to a long term formal relationship
by alice＠apc.org 24 Sep '09

24 Sep '09

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090923_5203.php?oref=topnews ICANN seeks to quell concerns on the Hill By Andrew Noyes, CongressDaily 09/23/2009 The California-based entity that administers the world's Internet addresses has assured lawmakers it is committed to a "long-term, formal relationship" with the U.S. government. It made its pledge in a letter Tuesday, a week before the expiration of an agreement between the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and National Telecommunications and Information Administration. ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom told House Judiciary ranking member Lamar Smith and House Judiciary Courts and Competition Subcommittee ranking member Howard Coble, R-N.C., in the letter that he is working with NTIA to set guidelines under which ICANN would promise to remain a U.S.-based nonprofit and continue its focus on transparency and accountability. The letter from Beckstrom, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who had served as director of the Homeland Security Department's National Cybersecurity Center, mirrored written testimony by ICANN Chief Operating Officer Doug Brent, who appeared at a House Judiciary Courts and Competition Subcommittee hearing today to vouch for the organization's planned expansion of top-level domains such as .biz, .info and .us. ICANN has faced scrutiny on Capitol Hill and among industry stakeholders as it seeks more independence from federal oversight, as well as the ability to bring potentially hundreds of new domain names to market. Beckstrom's predecessor, Paul Twomey, weathered a hostile House Energy and Commerce Communications Subcommittee hearing this summer. Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and Energy and Commerce Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher, D-Va., urged Commerce Secretary Locke in August to press for a set of enduring principles to "place beyond doubt the value of the current [relationship]" and prevent any one entity from controlling the underpinnings of the Internet. Meanwhile, NTIA Associate Administrator Fiona Alexander and senior adviser Larry Atlas quietly visited Asia, Europe and South America this month to share details about the path forward for the United States and ICANN with their foreign counterparts. Key Hill aides have also been briefed on the new agreement, sources said.afri

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