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Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Undersea cableplantangled in acrimony inSouth Africa
by Eric Osiakwan 14 Sep '07

14 Sep '07

Dear All, I had refrained from commenting just because of type language being used, please, please lets excercise decorum. First of all, i dont think it is right for us to use certain langaguage among ourselves, how much against our present leaders especially when we disagree with them on issues...please lets stick to the issues because these conversations are about shaping our African future and destiny so lets not fall prey to the temptation to personalise and loose the focus. I am going to attempt to set the conversation back on cause. I think the question that has bedeviled us is "does ownership of a cable or anything for that matter has an impact on the price to market and working mechanism?"..... so far the evidence is YES hence we need to tackle the owership structure. The human nature is such that "self centreing" is obvious and hence the best bet is "cross checking" by other natures. So in every element we setup each other as a check for the other because though one would have noble objectives, if the person has absolute power and control, falling to the temptation of abuse is almost certain. So if one investor or constituency has absolute owership, they obviously would like to maximise that investment or resource. Like SAT3, the incumbent league in some countries are not selling but they just prefer to control under all conditions and not let go though their investment is down the drain. I have argued and i do that a collective owership from all constituencies is the best way to handle a critical national or international infrastructure in a public private partnership where the various interested are represented so that the rules convey a balance of development, profits, community etc. I think there are tools to make this a reality so why dont we try them. On the issue of majority owership by Africans, may be the "capitalist niga" would do..... Eric here From: Brian Longwe <brian(a)isisweb.nl> Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:10:19 +0300 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Undersea cableplantangled in acrimony inSouth Africa Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> To: eric(a)afrispa.org hear, hear my mblatha! Mblayo ps. any relationship to Classic's Mwalimu Kingangi? :-D On Sep 14, 2007, at 8:46 AM, Ronald King'ang'i wrote: > I concur lets keep all discussion civilized > > King'ang'i > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+fes=iconnect.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+fes=iconnect.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] > On Behalf > Of Alex Gakuru > Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 5:55 PM > To: fes(a)iconnect.co.ke > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Undersea > cableplantangled > in acrimony inSouth Africa > > I know that I am usually hard hitting at my opposition > discussants, but I am feel expressions used below are > uncalled for no matter how opposed the writer's view > is. > > --- Joseph Manthi <jmanthi(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> Sean, >> You of all people, a man living in England, reaping >> wealth from the >> ignorance of Africans, should not be making comments >> like these. You >> do not want Africans to realize what is going on. Do >> not wake a >> sleeping giant. It is high time we started taking >> care of our own. Why >> do you think that what SA is doing is "Rubbish"? >> Doesn't this >> honourable minister have the right to protect SA >> assets from nyangaus >> like you? >> >> I wish every African government is like South Africa >> where we can weed >> off foreign ownership of African assets. >> >> Bravo SA. >> >> Joe >> >> On 9/13/07, Sean Moroney <seanm(a)aitecafrica.com> >> wrote: >>> Yes, the security angle struck me as typical >> Newspeak from a regime that can >>> get away with rubbish like that where there is no >> effective opposition. How >>> like their Apartheid forebears they sound! >>> >>> Sean Moroney >>> Chairman >>> AITEC Africa >>> seanm(a)aitecafrica.com >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: >> > kictanet-bounces+seanm=aitecafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >>> >> > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+seanm=aitecafrica.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] >> On >>> Behalf Of Kai Wulff >>> Sent: 12 September 2007 12:54 >>> To: seanm(a)aitecafrica.com >>> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] >> Undersea cable >>> plantangled in acrimony inSouth Africa >>> >>> I second that! >>> >>> It is comforting to know that SA will provide >> security to Africa by >>> insisting on a majority ownership of the cables! >>> >>> I am sure this attitude will change once Kenya >> receives capacity @ less than >>> >>> USD 100,- per M .. >>> >>> Kai >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> >>> To: <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> >>> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" >> <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >>> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 14:44 >>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] >> Undersea cable plan >>> tangled in acrimony inSouth Africa >>> >>> >>> I used to have a difficult time explaining to >> fellow Kenyans that it was >>> very difficult dealing with our brothers in SA >> because at every meeting >>> goal posts kept on shifting. Perharps now >> everybody understands that the >>> veto power in the NEPAD protocol was a control >> tool. Below please find >>> additional material. >>> >>> Ndemo. >>> >>> >>> Cables require local ownership BY DAMARIA SENNE & >> CHRISTELLE DU TOIT >>> <mailto:damaria@itweb.co.za> [ Johannesburg, 10 >> September 2007 ] >>> >>> South Africa requires that all undersea cables >> landing here be majority >>> owned by South Africans, says communications >> Minister Ivy >>> Matsepe-Casaburri. >>> >>> Speaking at the Southern African >> Telecommunications Networks and >>> Applications Conference (Satnac) 2007, in >> Mauritius, this morning, >>> Matsepe-Casaburri said government was happy with >> indications that >>> investors plan to land cables in the country. >>> However, she will soon announce new landing >> guidelines that require that >>> "all cables " landing in SA be majority owned by >> South Africans, she said. >>> >>> The guidelines will also be consistent with SA's >> foreign policy and take >>> the security of the country, and the African >> continent, into >>> consideration, she said. >>> "Every cable landing or leaving SA should >> incorporate in it the Nepad [New >>> Partnership for Africa's Development] Broadband >> Infrastructure Network." >>> Security measures are important, given the state >> of our insecure world, >>> she added. >>> >>> Matsepe-Casaburri said that she instructed Dep.of >> Communications >>> Dir-General Lyndall Shope-Mafole to propose the >> landing guidelines to the >>> Interim Inter-Governmental Assembly for >> discussion. She also noted that >>> her department studied the communications >> regulations of other countries >>> when drafting the landing guidelines, ensuring >> they are consistent with >>> international trends. >>> >>> Determination expected >>> BMI-TechKnowledge senior analyst Richard Hurst >> says the implications of >>> the ownership stipulations are that "those who do >> end up rolling out >>> cables will have to do so via partnerships". He >> cites Seacom and Neotel's >>> interaction as an example of this, where "Neotel >> basically would control >>> the landing rights of Seacom in SA". >>> According to Hurst, "government is trying to hedge >> its bets", but the >>> stipulations set out by the minister have >> generally been expected. He says >>> South African companies should benefit from the >> directives, as should the >>> consumer. >>> "It should open up access to those cables and >> bring prices down." He adds >>> that, as the international community moves towards >> always-on broadband, SA >>> will also increasingly need high-speed capacity. >> However he reiterates: >>> "The more bandwidth we have, the better." >>> >>> Investor support >>> Meanwhile, Matsepe-Casaburri said SA was convinced >> it was on the right >>> path to break away from the Eassy (Eastern Africa >> Submarine Cable System) >>> cable project and support the Nepad Broadband >> Infrastructure Network, as >>> well as initiating its own undersea cable systems. >>> >>> She said there was strong support from potential >> investors in the Nepad >>> Broadband (?) Infrastructure Network. "Instead of >> people running away >>> from us, we have a lot of support from investors." >>> SA and other African governments broke away from >> the Eassy project because >>> larger operators taking part in the initiative >> bought such large >>> quantities of capacity that there would never be >> fair access for smaller >>> operators, she noted. >>> >>> EASSY project was not in line with the Nepad >> objective, which was to >>> facilitate fair and open access for all telecoms >> providers to lower the >>> cost of telecoms on the continent, she said. She >> noted that SA's >>> Parliament had ratified the Nepad Broadband >> Infrastructure Network >>> protocol. >>> >>> >>>> fyi from the AfrISPA discuss list.... >>>> >>>> >>>> Begin forwarded message: >>>> >>>>> From: "Anders Comstedt" <anders(a)ssvl.kth.se> >> > === message truncated === > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > ______ > ________ > Check out the hottest 2008 models today at Yahoo! Autos. > http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: fes(a)iconnect.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/fes% > 40iconnect.co.ke > > > __________ NOD32 2527 (20070913) Information __________ > > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. > http://www.eset.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: brian(a)isisweb.nl > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ > mailman/options/kictanet/brian%40isisweb.nl _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

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Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Undersea cable plan
by Eric Osiakwan 14 Sep '07

14 Sep '07

Dear Dr. Ndemo, Thanks for the detailing but it would be good if you breakdown what the "Open Access Model' would be in terms of teams and the terrestrial network? Would it be there the infrastructure would be seperate from services so that the entirities that build and operate the infrastructure would be restricted from competing with the service providers and that the price approach would be high volumes against low margins? By the way what happened to the idea of having 20% on the stock market for non-deep pocket folks like myself.....:-) Eric here Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:32:44 +0300 (EAT) From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Undersea cable plan tangled in acrimony inSouth Africa Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> To: eric(a)afrispa.org Dear Alex, Telkon will not own Teams. The Government of Kenya will own 40% stake in the Teams SPV while regional operators and investors will own 45%. The remaining 15% shall be owned by Etisalat. The Government shall ensure open access in both Teams and the Terrestrial Networks to enable both large and small enterprises to compete. Do not worry about the sale of TKL since we have not sold it yet and we shall not sell it if the deal is not good. Regards Ndemo. > Before quickly "thirding", I urge on the need to have > light shed on TEAMS investment structure, otherwise we > could end up never getting the envisaged cheap > bandwidth. > > Why? After 51% of Telkom Kenya is sold to British > Telcom (or another) then whoever will have the cable > ownership transfered to them thus could dictate what > the final price will be. > > Little Telkom sale (Shs 5 Billion) is happening just > when the promising CDMA is getting rolled out. Going > by last year's Safaricom profits, the sale value is > also Kidogo Sana. > > Alex > > --- Kai Wulff <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> wrote: > >> I second that! >> >> It is comforting to know that SA will provide >> security to Africa by >> insisting on a majority ownership of the cables! >> >> I am sure this attitude will change once Kenya >> receives capacity @ less than >> USD 100,- per M .. >> >> Kai >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> >> To: <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> >> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" >> <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 14:44 >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] >> Undersea cable plan >> tangled in acrimony inSouth Africa >> >> >> I used to have a difficult time explaining to fellow >> Kenyans that it was >> very difficult dealing with our brothers in SA >> because at every meeting >> goal posts kept on shifting. Perharps now everybody >> understands that the >> veto power in the NEPAD protocol was a control tool. >> Below please find >> additional material. >> >> Ndemo. >> >> >> Cables require local ownership BY DAMARIA SENNE & >> CHRISTELLE DU TOIT >> <mailto:damaria@itweb.co.za> [ Johannesburg, 10 >> September 2007 ] >> >> South Africa requires that all undersea cables >> landing here be majority >> owned by South Africans, says communications >> Minister Ivy >> Matsepe-Casaburri. >> >> Speaking at the Southern African Telecommunications >> Networks and >> Applications Conference (Satnac) 2007, in Mauritius, >> this morning, >> Matsepe-Casaburri said government was happy with >> indications that >> investors plan to land cables in the country. >> However, she will soon announce new landing >> guidelines that require that >> "all cables " landing in SA be majority owned by >> South Africans, she said. >> >> The guidelines will also be consistent with SA's >> foreign policy and take >> the security of the country, and the African >> continent, into >> consideration, she said. >> "Every cable landing or leaving SA should >> incorporate in it the Nepad [New >> Partnership for Africa's Development] Broadband >> Infrastructure Network." >> Security measures are important, given the state of >> our insecure world, >> she added. >> >> Matsepe-Casaburri said that she instructed Dep.of >> Communications >> Dir-General Lyndall Shope-Mafole to propose the >> landing guidelines to the >> Interim Inter-Governmental Assembly for discussion. >> She also noted that >> her department studied the communications >> regulations of other countries >> when drafting the landing guidelines, ensuring they >> are consistent with >> international trends. >> >> Determination expected >> BMI-TechKnowledge senior analyst Richard Hurst says >> the implications of >> the ownership stipulations are that "those who do >> end up rolling out >> cables will have to do so via partnerships". He >> cites Seacom and Neotel's >> interaction as an example of this, where "Neotel >> basically would control >> the landing rights of Seacom in SA". >> According to Hurst, "government is trying to hedge >> its bets", but the >> stipulations set out by the minister have generally >> been expected. He says >> South African companies should benefit from the >> directives, as should the >> consumer. >> "It should open up access to those cables and bring >> prices down." He adds >> that, as the international community moves towards >> always-on broadband, SA >> will also increasingly need high-speed capacity. >> However he reiterates: >> "The more bandwidth we have, the better." >> >> Investor support >> Meanwhile, Matsepe-Casaburri said SA was convinced >> it was on the right >> path to break away from the Eassy (Eastern Africa >> Submarine Cable System) >> cable project and support the Nepad Broadband >> Infrastructure Network, as >> well as initiating its own undersea cable systems. >> >> She said there was strong support from potential >> investors in the Nepad >> Broadband (?) Infrastructure Network. "Instead of >> people running away >> from us, we have a lot of support from investors." >> SA and other African governments broke away from the >> Eassy project because >> larger operators taking part in the initiative >> bought such large >> quantities of capacity that there would never be >> fair access for smaller >> operators, she noted. >> >> EASSY project was not in line with the Nepad >> objective, which was to >> facilitate fair and open access for all telecoms >> providers to lower the >> cost of telecoms on the continent, she said. She >> noted that SA's >> Parliament had ratified the Nepad Broadband >> Infrastructure Network >> protocol. >> >> >> > fyi from the AfrISPA discuss list.... >> > >> > >> > Begin forwarded message: >> > >> >> From: "Anders Comstedt" <anders(a)ssvl.kth.se> >> >> Date: 9 September 2007 21:52:19 GMT+03:00 >> >> To: <Discuss(a)afrispa.org> >> >> Subject: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Undersea cable >> plan tangled in >> >> acrimony inSouth Africa >> >> Reply-To: Discuss(a)afrispa.org >> >> >> >> Frank, >> >> >> >> You are right that everyone else but RSA needs a >> cable to RoW much, >> >> much >> >> more than the good folks south, also that the >> thing has got stuck in >> >> political concerns and power games. The good >> thing is, however, >> >> that the >> >> general consensus on the needs, commercial impact >> and development >> >> leverage >> >> of a widely available optical fibre cable has >> shifted from cold to >> >> warm. >> >> >> >> Technically, there is no need for an East African >> submarine cable >> >> south >> >> beyond Maputo at all, as there is well protected >> optical fibre >> >> Maputo - >> >> Pretoria on the power lines. Which, btw, RSA has >> effectively >> >> prevented open >> >> & fair use of during several years, effectively >> leaving Maputo on >> >> VSAT for a >> >> much longer time than necessary. So SA could >> connect that route, >> >> already >> >> today, to any cable from the north that lands >> close to Maputo. >> >> >> >> Now two small issues: >> >> First, RSA companies are major stakeholders in >> any submarine cable >> >> proposal >> >> that has emerged the last couple of years, >> dominant to the extent >> >> that it >> >> has made other parties concerned on who actually >> will control a >> >> cable system >> >> supposed to be a joint project with some 23 >> participants. The >> > === message truncated === > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________ ____________ > Need a vacation? Get great deals > to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel. > http://travel.yahoo.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange% 40jambo.co.ke > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/ mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

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TEAMS: Private sector gets more shares for project
by Alex Gakuru 14 Sep '07

14 Sep '07

http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3034&Item… Consumers risk continued participation exclusion unless we get organized. Any interested on investing in TEAMS? We can get together and the government would have to give us priority especially now that local investment space is expanded. Consumers shall have an upper hand in ensuring prices remain affordable while at the same time we shall get return our investment for the next 20-25 years (life of fibre). There are many other advantages we can discuss. Condition: You must Kenyan since others are catered for in the other companies. Talk to me off-list then we can strategize. Alex ____________________________________________________________________________________ Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. http://mobile.yahoo.com/go?refer=1GNXIC

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Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Undersea cable plantangled in acrimony inSouth Africa
by Alex Gakuru 13 Sep '07

13 Sep '07

Hi Joe, I'd be glad to mobilise and work with all consumers but if you on note my message, I requested Dr. Ndemo to give us that chance. We wait and see what tomorrow brings. Alex --- "Manthi, Joseph" <Joseph.Manthi(a)fmr.com> wrote: > Alex > Please I beg you to prepare that SV to buy TKL. Let > me know if youi need help in doing this. > > Thanks > Joe > ------Original Message------ > From: Alex Gakuru > Sender: > kictanet-bounces+jmanthi=gmail.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > To: jmanthi(a)gmail.com > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Sent: Sep 13, 2007 12:43 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] > Undersea cable plantangled in acrimony inSouth > Africa > > wow! "Open Access" is music to many no just my ears. > > I wish you failure at selling Telkom this way, > honestly. That said, could you allow me to organise > a > Special Purpose Truck for Kenyan consumers to invest > in Telkom more money that the Shs. 5 Billion? Fast > tracking (READ get round) NSE rules? > > Thanks. > > --- bitange(a)jambo.co.ke wrote: > > > Dear Alex, > > Telkon will not own Teams. The Government of > Kenya > > will own 40% stake in > > the Teams SPV while regional operators and > investors > > will own 45%. The > > remaining 15% shall be owned by Etisalat. The > > Government shall ensure > > open access in both Teams and the Terrestrial > > Networks to enable both > > large and small enterprises to compete. > > > > Do not worry about the sale of TKL since we have > not > > sold it yet and we > > shall not sell it if the deal is not good. > > > > > > Regards > > > > > > Ndemo. > > > > > > > > > > > Before quickly "thirding", I urge on the need to > > have > > > light shed on TEAMS investment structure, > > otherwise we > > > could end up never getting the envisaged cheap > > > bandwidth. > > > > > > Why? After 51% of Telkom Kenya is sold to > British > > > Telcom (or another) then whoever will have the > > cable > > > ownership transfered to them thus could dictate > > what > > > the final price will be. > > > > > > Little Telkom sale (Shs 5 Billion) is happening > > just > > > when the promising CDMA is getting rolled out. > > Going > > > by last year's Safaricom profits, the sale value > > is > > > also K > > -------------------------- > Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Check out the hottest 2008 models today at Yahoo! Autos. http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html

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Re: [kictanet] Fwd: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Undersea cableplantangled in acrimony inSouth Africa
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 13 Sep '07

13 Sep '07

Mr. Manthi, Even South Africans know that your proposals are a mathematical imposibility (see article below from SA). Economics teach us that the only way to bring down cost is not by owning but by creating a competitive environment. All we need from the cables is bandwidth to create wealth. Our current problems in Africa emanate from our past mistakes with respects to our view on economic development. If those you call Nyangaus refuse to buy your flowers, your coffee, your tea and protect their people from travelling to our part of the world, we shall all perish. The world is a small place where we all must share that which is available. If you take a nap as we did in the 19th Century, someone else will take advantage of you. In essence we should blame ourselves for all that happened in the past and that way we shall approach the future with love and wisdom. When you blame someone else, you fill yourself with hate and darkness. Below find the article for your perusal. Bitange Ndemo. 12 September 2007 Cable policy slammed BY PAUL VECCHIATTO , ITWEB CAPE TOWN CORRESPONDENT [ Johannesburg, 12 September 2007 ] - Opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), have railed against communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casburri's stance on undersea cable ownership, saying she wants to control telecommunications. They were reacting to the minister's speech, delivered earlier this week at Telkom's Southern African Telecommunications Networks and Applications Conference, held in Mauritius. She said government would require all undersea cables landing here to be majority-owned by South African companies. Matsepe-Casaburri also announced that guidelines would be drawn up and they would be consistent with SA's foreign policy, and take into account the country's security. DA communications spokesperson Dene Smuts said the Mauritius clarification on undersea cables confirms the Department of Communications' (DOC) desire to get a slice of the pie and to control telecommunications. Her insistence that all cables landing here must be majority South African-owned is a mathematical impossibility if each African country makes similar demands. It is also contrary to SA's interests to prevent the landing of the capacity we need, she said. Suzanne Vos, IFP communications spokesperson, said: This kind of power politics has to stop. The country desperately needs bandwidth to meet its own economic development objectives and to ensure the guarantees signed by the minister for the 2010 Soccer World Cup are met. Vos added: It is no wonder that public enterprises minister Alec Erwin has stepped in as the country's alternative communications minister, because the incumbent can't get things done. She also referred Matsepe-Casaburri to the Electronic Communications Act that effectively brings government interference in the telecommunications sector to an end. Smuts said the DOC's championing of the Nepad ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network has already blocked the East African Submarine Cable System cable. The minister said in Mauritius that any cables landing here would have to become part of the Nepad Network. That network will operate under a protocol that gives each signed-up African government a controlling golden share. She has already told her DG [Lyndall Shope-Mafole, DOC director-general], who is the driving force behind the protocol, to take SA's landing guidelines to the interim intra-governmental assembly. Smuts concluded by saying: No one can make head or tail of the minister's thinking, or her DG's initiatives. The only thing that is clear is that both SA telecoms ministries-public enterprises and communications are reinstating state telecoms against the tide of liberalisation and modern economic trends. Vincent Gore, who was communications spokesperson for the Independent Democrats, refused to comment as he was in the process of crossing the floor to the African National Congress. > Kai, > This has nothing to do with SA. It is Kenya's job to protect Kenya and > not SA. If Kenya does not want the SA satellites broadcasting in > Kenya, they can block it. All SA is saying is that if there any cables > landing in SA, it should be majority owned by SAfricans. Any African > country can do the same. > > And yes any cable landing in SA (or Kenya) is the national asset of SA > (or Kenya). Every SA (or Kenyan) should have access to it. And judging > by the pricing of some of these cable, it is unlikely that majority of > SA (or Kenyans) will be able to afford it. > > Shouldn't SA (or Kenyan) governments be concerned about the pricing > and therefore ownership of these cables? > > Yes - these cables are national assets. Let me see - who owns the > cables entering the Federal Republic of Germany? Germany of course. > Why should you then, a German national, deny the South African > Government of deciding who should own these cables. > > Remember that SA has the experience of SAT3. > > Joe > > On 9/13/07, Kai U. Wulff <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> wrote: >> Since when is International Connectivity a national asset? >> >> A cable comes, you don't like the price you don't buy .. Why did nobody >> insist on SA ownership of the Satellites that are broadcasting

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Internet Governance Forum (IGF) - Continent to Send 20 Delegates
by alice 13 Sep '07

13 Sep '07

*Hi all Happy to let you all know that KICTANet was selected to present at the IGF taking place in Rio in November. Any Kenyans on this list planning to attend the forum please let us know. We would like to provide members attending an opportunity to share their experiences at the KICTANet Best Practice Forum. best alice ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Internet Forum - Continent to Send 20 Delegates* Daily Champion (Lagos) NEWS 13 September 2007 Posted to the web 13 September 2007 By Remmy Nweke South Africa Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Africa is to send a 20-member delegation to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Rio de Janero, Brazil in November 2007 to ensure that African voice is heard. At a roundtable session on IGF organised by the Open Society Institute for Southern Africa (OSISA) at the on-going 11th Highway Africa conference in Grahamstown, South Africa, CSOs resolved to ensure that Africa is not relegated at the global meeting. IGF in Rio is being organised by the IGF Secretariat based in Geneva , Switzerland in support of the United Nations Secretary-General's mandate from the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) with regard to convening a new forum for multi-stakeholders policy dialogue. Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, Ms Natasha Primo of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) said that the essence of bringing the crusade to the largest gathering of pen-pushers on the continent was to guarantee that African communicators were not left out. According to her, the session was basically to raise awareness in the participation of Africans at the IGF by having an understanding of the theme focusing on access, openness, security and critical Internet resources and capacity/development agenda. African CSOs, she pointed out would be sending a 20-man delegate to the global meeting to "Get African voices heard centred on capacity and development agenda. We must make ourselves heard in all the themes." She added that the CSOs presently want to continue the crusade online with so as to develop shared position to the Rio meeting with Africa at heart. "We had a preliminary discussion and we want to take that online for further discussions," she asserted, adding that those interested should contact OSISA. The online discussion would kick off on September 15 and that it's an open invitation to organisations and individuals to join hands with CSOs to make certain the aim is achieved.

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[Fwd: [APC Forum] New Book: Diversifying Participation in Network Development]
by alice 13 Sep '07

13 Sep '07

*Diversifying Participation in Network Development* http://www.regulateonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=104… The final report from the World Dialogue on Regulation (WDR) 3rd research cycle has been released and can now be downloaded at <www.regulateonline.org>. Edited by Amy Mahan and William H. Melody, this most recent collection of the network’s research and case studies elaborates on inclusive and propoor strategies for extending network development. The book is divided into three sections. The first, entitled *Affordability and Use*, opens with a study on affordability - definitions, analysis and issues. This is followed by two demand side studies, the first focusing on mobile use by the poor; and the second assessing communication expenditures across four developing countries. The final chapter in this section reports on a survey of ICT use by SMEs in eight African countries. Section 2, *Models to Extend Participation in Network Development* considers /microfinance/, /smart subsidies/, /community owned microtelcos/ and the /extension of research networks/. The countries used to highlight these alternative approaches include Bangladesh, Nepal, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Ghana. Section 3, *Regulatory and Information Practices*, begins with two chapters dedicated to the information provision and communication practices of regulators - which are important for cultivating informed participation in regulatory processes. Next regional regulation in support of national regulators and to ensure competitive markets is examined using the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States as a case study. Further perspective on this is provided by a chapter on multinational operators in African mobile markets. The section concludes with a case study on the regulatory environment in Guyana. This report is the third in a series of research cycles that WDR is undertaking to assess different approaches to regulation in a rapidly changing telecom environment. With the advent of privatisation, competition, and converging infrastructure sectors, the role of the regulator is in a transitional phase. The first World Dialogue on Regulation research cycle assessed two emerging regulatory trends and the report, The Next Step in Telecom Reform: ICT Convergence Regulation or Multisector Utility Regulation; and the second cycle, Stimulating Investment in Network Development: Roles for Regulators - are both available for download and hardcopies of the second can be ordered from WDR.

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Data vending hit by poor Internet connections
by Bill Kagai 13 Sep '07

13 Sep '07

http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3001&Item… Written by James Makau - Business Daily 13-September-2007: The poor penetration of Internet services coupled with low levels of computer literacy in Kenya are holding back the country's emerging data vending industry. The data vendors, who sell and distribute financial and business news, are targetting rural populations as well as Kenyans in the diaspora. Mr Bildad Kagai , the managing director of data vending firm MediaCorp Limited, told the Business Daily that while data vending has the potential to be a major industry in the financial services sector, more needed to be done to ensure computer services reached majority of the people. "Kenyans, especially those outside Nairobi, have been waiting eagerly for the Real Time data, but inability to access the Internet remains a big challenge," says Mr Kagai He said traders did not have to physically go to the bourse to get financial data, but they could do this in the comfort of their offices through the Internet. He said the highest potential for growth in data vending was in rural towns and that lack of Internet services was limiting the uptake of online financial news and data. MediaCorp earlier this month launched its data vending services in Mombasa to increase its presence in the country. Data from the Communications Commission of Kenya estimates that as of March, this year, only 3.2 per cent of the country's population had access to Internet up from 200,000 or 0.7 per cent of the population in 2000. Internet Service Providers have blamed the low penetration on high costs of Internet on satellite connectivity which costs up to 10 times more than the fibre optic connectivity. But once any of four planned international fibre optic cables land in Mombasa, Internet connection costs should fall drastically. The Government's Digital Villages Project under the Ministry of Information and Communication is also set to greatly boost access, resulting in more subscribers for data vendors. And with the Nairobi Stock Exchange set to switch onto a wide area network (WAN) in the next one month, the potential of data vending services may well be on its way to be unlocked. Mr Symon Ndirangu, the chief executive officer of Information Convergence Technologies ICT Ltd, says that with the signing of an average of 50 to 100 new users every month, most of the six data vendor currently operating in the market should break even within the next 12 months. "Although it is taking time for many investors to appreciate the value of data, we are upbeat that revenue will pick up very soon." Currently, the cost of a data vending license from the NSE is valued at Sh170,000 (US$2500) while ISPs are charging about Sh50,000 per month for connection. With an estimated Sh180,000 in other costs, data vendors are paying at least Sh400,000 a month or Sh4.8million annually to stay afloat. Mr Ndirangu however projects that with the developments in the ICT sector as well as the Capital Markets, the data vendors should have at least each have 10,000-20,000 customers utilizing their services. At an annual charge of Sh5000 per customers, data vendors could easily rake in Sh50 million in a year. "The need for investment decisions based on sound finanical information and data rather than speculation as is often seen today will spur the growth of data vending services," says Mr. Ndirangu. With the chairman of the NSE Jimnah Mbaru estimating that the watershed Safaricom IPO slated for later this year will bring the number of investors at the bourse to 3 million, the need for real time data on the stock markets will clearly be there. Foreign interest in the Kenyan capital markets which has picked up in last one year following a string of high profile IPOs is an also seen as a major driver to the success of data vending services. "Kenyans in the diaspora and international investors who do not have the luxury of popping into Nation Centre to see the market Viewer will definitely drive this industry." Reckons Mr. Kagai It may not be unfathomable then, that local data vendors could enter the big league of Reuters, Bloomberg and CNBC sometime in the future. -- -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] - Authorised Information Vendor Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorpafrica.com --

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Slightly unusual request
by Brian Longwe 12 Sep '07

12 Sep '07

Hi all, I have a slightly unusual request..... I need to set a vehicle mileage rate for the local operations of one of the NGOs I'm associated with. I have the official AA rate book (August 2007) but would like to benchmark against what other organisations (and especially Public sector or NGOs) give as compensation for mileage. Could anyone who can help with this info send it directly to me off- list please? Warm regards, Mblayo

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[Grant Competition: Lighting Africa]
by alice 11 Sep '07

11 Sep '07

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Grant Competition: Lighting Africa Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:23:00 +0300 From: kmuthembwa(a)worldbank.org To: undisclosed-recipients:; Dear Colleague, I would like to draw your attention to an announcement (below) of a grant competition entitled ?Innovations in Off-Grid Lighting Products and Services for Africa". You are invited to participate if it is relevant, but if not, kindly display and/ distribute it to as many people as possible. Please note that the deadline is 30th October 2007. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Embedded image moved to file: pic18238.jpg) The World Bank Group and its partners are pleased to announce a Development Marketplace (DM) competition for the design and delivery of low cost, high quality, non-fossil fuel-based lighting products targeting low income consumers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The DM is part of the broader Lighting Africa program managed by the World Bank Group which seeks to reach 250 million customers with modern, affordable lighting by 2030. The grant competition entitled ?Innovations in Off-Grid Lighting Products and Services for Africa" will reward project ideas that address the various off-grid lighting needs of Sub-Saharan Africa, including alternative distribution models, new clean lighting technology, stronger production chains, and improvement of the policy environment. Ten to 20 winners will receive grant funding up to $200,000. The competition is open to a broad range of innovators around the world, including private businesses, nongovernmental organizations, universities, government entities, and individuals. Lead sponsors include the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, the Global Environment Facility, and the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility. Other supporters include Good Energies Inc., the Governments of Norway and Luxembourg, and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership. The deadline for submitting proposals is 23:00 GMT on October 31, 2007. (See attached file: DM Competition_Brochure_English.pdf) For more information on how to apply, visit the Lighting Africa Web site at: http://www.lightingafrica.org

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