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[Fwd: Key CTO Forum in Kenya to examine solutions to African rural connectivity]]
by alice 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

Any members interested in attending this forum? Please let me know off line. Thank you best alice -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [kictanet] Key CTO Forum in Kenya to examine solutions to African rural connectivity] Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:15:02 +0300 From: alice <alice(a)apc.org> Organization: Association for Progressive Communications (APC) To: alice(a)apc.org CC: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> CTO Forum in Kenya to examine solutions to African rural connectivity Africas search for real solutions that will lead to the early connection of the nearly 80% of the Continent that is still without telephone and internet access will take a giant leap forward when ministers, regulators, operating company executives and high-level officials from various development partner agencies converge in Nairobi for the Connecting Rural Communities Africa Forum 2007, and is preceded on the 20th August by a meeting of the Commonwealth Connects programme. The Forum is taking place at the Grand Regency hotel in Nairobi, Kenya from the 21st to the 24th August. This key event, organised by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) and hosted by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), will provide a forum for discussion of research findings, policy options, regulatory strategies, business models, financing and investment facilities, available technologies and public-private-people-partnerships that could enable improvement in African rural connectivity. The Conference proceedings are expected to contribute to a major study to be launched by the CTO on Africas Rural Connectivity within the context of the Commonwealth Connects programme, and recommendations from the Conference will go a long way to outline the agenda for subsequent meetings, workshops, programmes and projects in the sector. The advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs) in developing nations are facilitating socio-economic development, as well as the general progress and well-being of individuals and communities. ICT has been identified as playing a leading role in enabling countries to attain their Millennium Development Goals, such as the elimination of poverty, combating of serious disease, improving access to education and providing equal opportunities to women. This conference will discuss each of these issues and highlight the work of African governments, regulators and the private sector in providing universal access. For ICTs to be sustainable and provide widespread ubiquitous access to all citizens, it is generally considered imperative that governments, regulators and the private sector work together to provide solutions and enhance connectivity. As part of its commitment to bridging the digital divide, the CTO has produced this knowledge-sharing event, designed to bring together the giants of the ICT sector, from both the public sector, private companies, the development and academic community and civil society, especially non-governmental and community-based organisations. CTOs CEO, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, states: We are delighted to be able to assemble such a high faculty of speakers and delegates from all over Africa, and also from many other regions of the world. Participants in this Conference are those who have come to acknowledge that of all the challenges the global community faces in the ICT sector, that of connecting Africas rural populations must be the epi-centre. All who are committed to the use of ICTs to advance the development process should be interested in this fundamental challenge. We look forward to seeing and meeting with as many of Africas development and investment partners as possible. The CTO Conference will significantly contribute to the development of universal access to ICT in the African region. Based on the success of last years CTO event on Connecting Rural Communities in Abuja, Nigeria, the CTO has decided to increase the duration of this years forum to three days to incorporate a Focus day which will cover amongst other things, telemedicine and improving the accessibility of education. The Conference be preceded by a half-day workshop on the use of satellites to connect rural communities in the afternoon 21st August; a half-day meeting between the CTO and heads of Universal Service Funding agencies in Africa, on the morning of 21st August, and by another all-day meeting on 20th August of representatives of African Commonwealth countries whose Points of Contact will discuss various issues involved in the Commonwealth Connects programme, that has been mandated by Commonwealth Heads of State and Government. According to an official of one of the several companies that has agreed to sponsor the event, Connecting Rural Communities Africa is a timely opportunity for all stakeholders who are spearheading rural connectivity to network, discuss best practices for harnessing ICT to deliver socio-economic benefits, share strategies for connecting rural Africa and consider different solutions for bridging the digital divide through sustainable ICT connectivity. For more information and to register to attend, or for opportunities to support this event, contact: Toby Davies Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation Tel.: +44 870 777 7697 t.davies(a)cto.int <http://mailer.eddiction.co.uk/_webscripts/emaillog.php?789c35cbcd0a80201004…> *** About the CTO - The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) is an international development partnership between Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth governments, business and civil society organisations. It provides the international community with effective means to help bridge the digital divide and achieve social and economic development, by delivering to developing countries unique knowledge-sharing programmes in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the specific areas of telecommunications, IT, broadcasting and the Internet. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: alice(a)apc.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alice%40apc.org

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[Fwd: Support A Digital Village (Centre, School, or Kiosk) In Kenya]
by alice 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

Dear Friend, To assist the Government of Kenya to rapidly and successfully implement the Digital Village Project in all 210 constituencies, ICTvillage.com is coordinating a public private partnership (PPP) to take ICTs to the rural and peri-urban areas all over Kenya. If you would like to support a youth or womens group, faith-based or community-based organization, primary or secondary school to set-up and run a digital village in the rural or peri-urban areas of Kenya then click on www.ictvillage.com/dvn_dve_3a.asp to apply online on their behalf. As a digital mentor, you will assist your chosen beneficiary to participate in a Digital Village Network that adopts and transforms existing computer facilities (cybercafe, computer lab, training centre, etc.) into world-class branded digital villages. Constituency development is not reserved for politicians. All Kenyans have an obligation to assist the less fortunate in our midst. ICT initiatives like the Digital Village Project presents us with a golden opportunity to stimulate economic and social development for all Kenyans. Let us work together to fulfill this noble and innovative vision. You can change lives by supporting rural communities via digital villages. Please visit our website, www.ICTvillage.com, for more information on digital villages and how to participate. Best Regards, Anne Mutugi, General Manager. -------------------------------------------- ICTvillage.com, Idea Factory Limited, The Office Park, Riverside Drive. Tel: 254-020-444-9277 254-020-444-7655 Fax: 254-020-444-9210 PO Box 12 - 00606, Sarit Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.

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ISOC Fellowship to the IETF - seeking applicants for IETF 70 and IETF 71
by Brian Longwe 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

> > Dear Colleagues, > > The Internet Society has announced that it is seeking applications > for the next round of the ISOC Fellowship to the IETF program. The > program offers engineers from developing countries fellowships that > fund the cost of attending an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) > meeting. > > As you know, the IETF is the Internet's premier standards-making > body, responsible for the development of protocols used in IP-based > networks. IETF participants represent an international community of > network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers involved in > the technical operation of the Internet and the continuing evolution > of Internet architecture. > > Fellowships will be awarded through a competitive application > process. The Internet Society is currently accepting fellowship > applications for the next two IETF meetings: > > * IETF 70 being held in Vancouver, Canada on December 2-7 2007, > and > * IETF 71 being held in Philadelphia, USA on March 9-14, 2008 > > Up to five fellowships will be awarded for each IETF meeting. > > Full details on the ISOC Fellowship to the IETF, including how to > apply, are located on the ISOC website at : > > http://www.isoc.org/educpillar/fellowship > > Fellowship applications for both IETF meetings are due by 7 September > 2007. > > The Internet Society formally launched the ISOC Fellowship to the > IETF program in January 2007 after successfully piloting the program > during 2006 at IETF 66 in Montreal and IETF 67 in San Diego. Fifteen > individuals from 12 countries have participated in the program since > its inception. > > I encourage you to pass information about this program to individuals > involved in your regional operators' groups that have a keen interest > in the Internet standardisation activities of the IETF. You also may > consider being a reference for the applicant. > > If you have questions, please do not hesiate to contact Karen Rose > <rose(a)isoc.org> or Mirjam Kuehne <mir(a)isoc.org>. > > Kind Regards, > Mirjam Kuehne > ISOC >

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NOMINATE YOUR ACHIEVER TODAY
by Fiona Asonga 09 Aug '07

09 Aug '07

Dear All, The African ICT Achievers program has been launched in all the five regions, the goal is to have each region run its own leg of the Awards - handling the nominations and judging process and ultimately appointing a winner for that region in each of the categories. All the winners in the various categories from the regions will then be the finalists who will compete in the overall African ICT Achievers Awards for the coveted title as top achiever in each of the respective categories. The Winners will be announced at the African ICT Achievers Awards Banquet, to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa at the end of November. To nominate a candidate (individual or organization) for the ICT Achievers Award kindly go to: http://www.forgeahead.co.za/achievers/categories.htm With the pass at which the ICT sector is developing in this country, I think there are Kenyans who stand a good chance. Regards Fiona Asonga Administrator Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK) P.O Box 27589 - 00506 NAIROBI Tel: +254 20 245036 -----Original Message----- From: godera(a)skyweb.co.ke [mailto:godera@skyweb.co.ke] Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 5:34 PM To: tespok(a)tespok.co.ke Subject: Fwd: NOMINATE YOUR ACHIEVER TODAY Fiona, This is what I have been wanting to broadcast on kiplist to the industry. Can you please forward it, we need to see Kenyans winning. Please ensure everyone gets this so they nominate people who deserve to be recognized in Africa. ----- Forwarded message from Shirley <shirley(a)forgeahead.co.za> ----- Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 16:03:10 +0200 From: Shirley <shirley(a)forgeahead.co.za> Reply-To: Shirley <shirley(a)forgeahead.co.za> Subject: NOMINATE YOUR ACHIEVER TODAY To: Godera <godera(a)skyweb.co.ke> Trouble viewing this mail, please read it online NOMINATE YOUR ACHIEVER TODAY The African ICT Achievers Programme has built a strong foundation of recognition and reward for those ICT individuals and organisations who have made a difference to the ICT industry in Africa. They must have proven achievement in business excellence , innovation, entrepreneurship or through having touched the lives of others less fortunate. They must also have proven that their interaction continues to leverage ICTs to make a difference across our continent. ----- End forwarded message ----- ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.8/941 - Release Date: 8/7/2007 4:06 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.8/941 - Release Date: 8/7/2007 4:06 PM -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Of journalists, and corruption�.
by Rebecca Wanjiku 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

Of journalists, and corruption. When a friend of mine sent a scathing SMS castigating a fellow journalist, I was offended. He had advised me to urge my colleague to go to hell. I was offended because I expected more from a lawyer I had grown to respect, I thought he had better skills to deal with it than to splash mud on everyone. He complained of bad faith and malice, demonstrated by a cartoon in the newspaper. But the core of my friends complaint was what he described as chronic corruption within journalism. He felt that the journalists who write or publish negative things are the same ones who queue for handouts. This is an old saying, has been told over generations. Even the meanest of characters, who cant even afford to buy a drink for anybody, shout themselves dead when speaking about corrupt journalists. I am not overly impartial in this, because my opinion has always been- it takes two to be corrupt. Can anyone who gives money or other favors to journalists claim to be righteous? The main question: do the journalists hold a gun to anyone demanding money? This question was underscored by the Members of Parliament who claimed the only reason for passing the media bill is because the journalists are corrupt and survive on hand outs. It was argued that it is fair to pass the controversial media bill that will force journalists to reveal sources, because journalists are corrupt. It was even said that journalists are always seen walking to parliament. How right! The question of corruption is controversial, because the journalists threaten to publish malicious details. But there are other mechanisms for redress can sue or officially complain. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

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"Call for Participation: Trust and the Future of the Internet
by alice 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

From: Lucy Lynch <lynch(a)isoc.org> Date: 8 augusti 2007 20.06.17 GMT+02:00 To: isoc-members-discuss(a)elists.isoc.org Subject: [isoc-members-discuss] A Call for Subject Experts Greetings - Your help in disseminating this announce would be greatly appreciated: "Call for Participation: Trust and the Future of the Internet The Internet Society (ISOC) Board of Trustees is currently engaged in a discovery process to define a long term Major Strategic Initiative to ensure that the Internet of the future remains accessible to everyone. The Board believes that Trust is an essential component of all successful relationships and that an erosion of Trust: in individuals, networks, or computing platforms, will undermine the continued health and success of the Internet. The Board will meet in special session the first week October of 2007 for intensive study focused on the subject of trust within the context of network enabled relationships. As part of this process, the Board is hereby issuing a call for subject experts who can participate in the two day discussion. Topics of interest include: the changing nature of trust, security, privacy, control and protection of personal data, methods for establishing authenticity and providing assurance, management of threats, and dealing with unwanted traffic. Participants will be selected based on a short paper summarizing individual interests and qualifications as well as availability. The retreat will be held in Toronto, Ontario (CA) . Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by ISOC and participants should expect to arrive October 4th and depart on the 6th or 7th. Expressions of interest may be emailed to: Oct07-retreat @ elists.isoc.org and papers should not exceed three pages. Papers must received by August 24th, 2007 and the Program Committee will make their selections on or before September 7th, 2007. Subject experts will be allotted one hour for presentation on October 5th and will be included in the days round-table discussions. In order to facilitate open discussion, final presentation materials should be forwarded to ISOC no later than September 21st, 2007. We look forward to a lively and informative meeting on this important topic and encourage you to share this announcement with your communities of interest." Lucy Lynch Director of Technical Projects Internet Society (ISOC)

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ICANN Releases Draft IDN Evaluation Plans
by alice 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

Procedures for IDN TLD Evaluation Deployment in the Root Zone 6 August 2007 ICANN has finalized the procedures describing how IANA will manage the insertion, administration and removal of internationalized top- level domains in the root zone for the upcoming evaluation. The procedures were posted previously for public comments. That comment, as well as advice from the technical community (including RSSAC), was taken into consideration in editing the final versions. The two procedures guiding this effort are: 1. IANA Root Zone Procedures for Test IDN Deployment <http://www.icann.org/topics/idn/test-deployment-procedures-06aug07.htm> The final procedure was approved by the ICANN Board on 29 June 2007 (see http://icann.org/minutes/resolutions-29jun07.htm <http://www.icann.org/minutes/resolutions-29jun07.htm>) after some clarifications were provided in response to public comment (see http://forum.icann.org/lists/iana-idn-process/) These procedures are being implemented by IANA in preparation for the insertion of IDN evaluation TLDs. 2. Root Server Operator Procedures for Emergency Revocation of Evaluation-purpose IDN TLDs <http://www.icann.org/topics/idn/operator-emergency-procedures-06aug07.htm> The purpose of this procedure is to provide a method of quickly removing IDN TLDs from the root zone in the very unlikely event that insertion of these evaluation strings negatively impact DNS or root server operations. After consultation with the RSSAC, the procedure has been modified to focus on a communication protocol that root server operators will employ in the identification and mitigation of any problems that might arise for root server operations as a consequence of the proposed testing of IDN strings . Root server operators will monitor and identify deteriorated service potentially caused by IDNs in the root. If such a result is detected, ICANN will be notified and in turn activate the procedure. IDN Program -- looking forward: The next milestones in the IDN Program Plan requires obtaining necessary approvals to insert the eleven suggested evaluation top-level domains (the term <.test> translated into eleven languages). (See the IDN .test Evaluation Plan at http:// icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-19jun07.htm <http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-19jun07.htm>). An additional announcement will be made once the approvals have been received. It is anticipated that these evaluation TLDs will be launched in late September 2007. ------------------------------------ Updated IDN .test Evaluation Plan ICANN updates the IDN .test Evaluation Plan based on comment to the previously posted version of the plan for the insertion of evaluation IDN TLDs in the root zone 19 July 2007 Update ICANN has amended the draft plan for insertion of evaluation IDN TDs into the root zone based on comments received on the public forum established for that purpose (see, http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-tld-test/) Specifically, an amended version of the proposed label for the Persian TLD, has been posted (see, http://www.icann.org/topics/idn/idn-evaluation-plan-v2.9.1.pdf [PDF, 241K]). The changes that have been made: (i) replaces the previously suggested Persian .test TLD with an alternate TLD label that more clearly reveals the Persian YEH, and (ii) changes of the reference to the name of the language from Farsi to Persian. Comments on this or other aspects of the evaluation plan can be made to idn-tld-test(a)icann.org <mailto:idn-tld-test@icann.org> and viewed at http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-tld-test/. For more details please see: http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-tld-test/msg00002.html and http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-tld-test/msg00003.html. --------------------------------------------------- ICANN Releases Draft IDN Evaluation Plans 19 June 2007 As announced previously in the IDN program status report, in the draft IANA Root Zone Procedures for Test IDN Deployment, and the draft IDN TLD Root Server Performance / Tolerance, ICANN has developed a plan for insertion of IDN TLDs in the root zone for evaluation. The .test plan contains two separate evaluation facilities where the feasibility and usability of fully localized domain names can be evaluated and tested in a live environment. Implementation of this plan is one of the core elements in ICANN’s IDN Program. The draft .test plan is posted here for public comment <http://www.icann.org/topics/idn/idn-evaluation-plan-v2%209.pdf>. The draft contains a preliminary list of scripts for the example.test evaluation strings. Recommendations for changes or additions to this list of strings will be reviewed carefully to ensure broad public participation in the evaluations. During the public comment period, the plan will be discussed during several sessions of the ICANN meeting in San Juan (June 2007) and at the RSSAC / IETF meeting in Chicago (July 2007). Subject to these and other consultations, a final version of the plan will be provided for ICANN Board consideration at its 14 August 2007 meeting. ICANN Board approval will be sought for the plan, including approval of the insertion of the suggested evaluations strings (<.test> translated into a number of different languages), in the root zone. According to the plan the evaluation facilities will be launched in late September 2007. Comments to the draft .test plan can be submitted idn-tld-test(a)icann.org <mailto:idn-tld-test@icann.org> and viewed here http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-tld-test/. For other questions or inquiries regarding ICANN’s IDN Program please contact Tina Dam, ICANN’s Director for the IDN Program, at tina.dam(a)icann.org <mailto:tina.dam@icann.org>. Translation of the .test plan into Arabic, French, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese is currently underway and will be released shortly.

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Journalists are THE Source of Corruption!
by Alex Gakuru 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

Welcome to despots utopia land where corruption must be legitimized by all legal means available. "Journalism is said to be a profession. But journalists are employed by media owners. The way journalists are treated is shameful. We know them and they are up there in the Press Gallery. I have never seen one driving a car. They live on handouts. That is what brings in a lot of corruption." http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143972553&catid=4 1. "is said to be a profession" depicts a resentment of despicable work 2. "But journalists are employed by media owners" according to him no professionals earnestly be employed. 3. "The way journalists are treated is shameful" Now the hero liberator comes to the rescue of mistreated journalists. 4. "We know them and they are up there in the Press Gallery." - We vs Them and we shall fix sort them out today 5. "I have never seen one driving a car." materiality concept is what is worship in the House? So when this MP see Kenyans walking, he has so little, if at at all any for them. Maybe he forgot to say "Please let us pass that other law quickly and tripple our 60 million retirement package. I need two new cars" 6."They live on handouts." Earlier had said "we know them" and now they live on handouts, so pass laws to make us richer and we feed them on our leftovers. 7."That is what brings in a lot of corruption." Thus passing this law is their noble respected legal responsibility in the fight against corruption. Why has not Guinness Book of Records awarded them with a medal recognizing their success at fighting graft? one asks. ---- Hello.. Hello.. awaken to the reality: http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=25&n… Will the President endorse this Bill? Nop! I highly doubt it. Will the MP get re-elected? Maybe, if voters are not aware of this Hansard Extact. WE WANT EVERY HANSARD AVAILED ONLINE! ____________________________________________________________________________________ Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today! http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7

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Key CTO Forum in Kenya to examine solutions to African rural connectivity]
by alice 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

CTO Forum in Kenya to examine solutions to African rural connectivity Africas search for real solutions that will lead to the early connection of the nearly 80% of the Continent that is still without telephone and internet access will take a giant leap forward when ministers, regulators, operating company executives and high-level officials from various development partner agencies converge in Nairobi for the Connecting Rural Communities Africa Forum 2007, and is preceded on the 20th August by a meeting of the Commonwealth Connects programme. The Forum is taking place at the Grand Regency hotel in Nairobi, Kenya from the 21st to the 24th August. This key event, organised by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) and hosted by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), will provide a forum for discussion of research findings, policy options, regulatory strategies, business models, financing and investment facilities, available technologies and public-private-people-partnerships that could enable improvement in African rural connectivity. The Conference proceedings are expected to contribute to a major study to be launched by the CTO on Africas Rural Connectivity within the context of the Commonwealth Connects programme, and recommendations from the Conference will go a long way to outline the agenda for subsequent meetings, workshops, programmes and projects in the sector. The advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs) in developing nations are facilitating socio-economic development, as well as the general progress and well-being of individuals and communities. ICT has been identified as playing a leading role in enabling countries to attain their Millennium Development Goals, such as the elimination of poverty, combating of serious disease, improving access to education and providing equal opportunities to women. This conference will discuss each of these issues and highlight the work of African governments, regulators and the private sector in providing universal access. For ICTs to be sustainable and provide widespread ubiquitous access to all citizens, it is generally considered imperative that governments, regulators and the private sector work together to provide solutions and enhance connectivity. As part of its commitment to bridging the digital divide, the CTO has produced this knowledge-sharing event, designed to bring together the giants of the ICT sector, from both the public sector, private companies, the development and academic community and civil society, especially non-governmental and community-based organisations. CTOs CEO, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, states: We are delighted to be able to assemble such a high faculty of speakers and delegates from all over Africa, and also from many other regions of the world. Participants in this Conference are those who have come to acknowledge that of all the challenges the global community faces in the ICT sector, that of connecting Africas rural populations must be the epi-centre. All who are committed to the use of ICTs to advance the development process should be interested in this fundamental challenge. We look forward to seeing and meeting with as many of Africas development and investment partners as possible. The CTO Conference will significantly contribute to the development of universal access to ICT in the African region. Based on the success of last years CTO event on Connecting Rural Communities in Abuja, Nigeria, the CTO has decided to increase the duration of this years forum to three days to incorporate a Focus day which will cover amongst other things, telemedicine and improving the accessibility of education. The Conference be preceded by a half-day workshop on the use of satellites to connect rural communities in the afternoon 21st August; a half-day meeting between the CTO and heads of Universal Service Funding agencies in Africa, on the morning of 21st August, and by another all-day meeting on 20th August of representatives of African Commonwealth countries whose Points of Contact will discuss various issues involved in the Commonwealth Connects programme, that has been mandated by Commonwealth Heads of State and Government. According to an official of one of the several companies that has agreed to sponsor the event, Connecting Rural Communities Africa is a timely opportunity for all stakeholders who are spearheading rural connectivity to network, discuss best practices for harnessing ICT to deliver socio-economic benefits, share strategies for connecting rural Africa and consider different solutions for bridging the digital divide through sustainable ICT connectivity. For more information and to register to attend, or for opportunities to support this event, contact: Toby Davies Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation Tel.: +44 870 777 7697 t.davies(a)cto.int <http://mailer.eddiction.co.uk/_webscripts/emaillog.php?789c35cbcd0a80201004…> *** About the CTO - The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) is an international development partnership between Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth governments, business and civil society organisations. It provides the international community with effective means to help bridge the digital divide and achieve social and economic development, by delivering to developing countries unique knowledge-sharing programmes in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the specific areas of telecommunications, IT, broadcasting and the Internet.

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Telkom's new licence, Sh69b debt and layoffs
by Mike Theuri 08 Aug '07

08 Aug '07

The Standard reports the following excerpts in part: http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143972525&catid=14 ++++++++ *Telkom Kenya plans major debt and project swaps to rid it of liabilities amounting to Sh68.8 billion as part of restructuring before privatisation. *======== The debt burden itself is astounding given the sum of US$1bn. The government's promise to hand over TKL with a clean balance sheet ought to invite offers far in excess of the said $50m that was said to have been offered by some bidders. While debt swap is a novel idea, the tax payer should not inadvertently become the party to whom the debt is swapped to, directly or indirectly. *++++++++ Mr Solomon Kitungu, Director of Reforms in the Ministry of Finance, said the Government has already factored the funding initiatives in the current budget, with Sh41 billion made available towards the process.* ======= It appears that the Kenyan taxpayer is bound to be saddled with heavy debt obligations far more than the previously thought Ksh 20bn. The government would do well to inform Kenyans at large just as it did for the potential bidders as to what is in it for them and the country were the sale of TKL to be successful considering it is our hard earned taxes that are paying for this privitization +++++++ *This in addition to Safaricom interconnection interest of Sh1.3 billion, Paris Club and other loans paid by Government amounting to Sh3.8 billion. There is also the Government debt on telephone and data lines amounting to Sh3.4 billion, new mobile license (US$55m), which requires Sh3.9 billion and liquidity and investment support of Sh3.5 billion. *======= It now appears that TKL is set to transition from a fixed wireless provider for which it was already licensed, to a fully fledged mobile provider at par with Safaricom and Celtel. Whether the complaints against TKL generated more than the providers bargained for (ie the mere payment of excise and VAT taxes vs a new mobile operator on equal operational footing) remains to be seen. Clearly TKL with its basket of licences will be a formidable provider once privatized considering it will be able to offer competitive and bundled services (wireless + wireline + internet + IPTV etc etc). The $55m mobile licence fee presumably will again be footed by the taxpayer. Is the government in effect throwing this arena wide open to any RWA operator by licencing TKL as a mobile operator? This would be a big plus for the consumer and other entrants eager to tap the market. Hopefully the Kenyan taxpayer who is likely to be bearing this $1 billion+ burden will not be short changed when it comes to the offer amount. TKL's management had reportedly asked for 5 years to run TKL, 5 years might be too long but atleast 2-3 years ought to have been fair. I believe TKL if given a chance would alleviate the debt burden to be passed on to taxpayers by leveraging its new services and restructured organization so as not to unfairly burden the Kenyan taxpayer and unduely reward foreign entities coming on board. Hopefully we will get to see consortiums that include local partners bidding for the sale. The government should be willing to reject bids that do not reflect the true value of TKL after the Ksh 69 billion debt offload. With a clean balance sheet, TKL ought to be worth in excess of the range Rothschilds once valued it at: $800m - $1.3bn. Why the Government did not seek to ask the bidders to assume part of the debt remains to be seen, though it does make the sale very attractive. Also to be seen is whether the government intends to undertake measures to ensure that the Nation's national security is not compromised as a result of the sale. Mike Theuri

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