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Sharing the airwaves: can Kenya’s 4G partnership work?
by Alice Munyua 24 Dec '10

24 Dec '10

http://www.analysysmason.com/About-Us/News/Insight/Kenya_4G_partnership_Dec…, Sharing the airwaves: can Kenya’s 4G partnership work? 20 December 2010 <http://www.analysysmason.com/People/Robert-Schumann/> “Making this 4G plan work will be a challenge for the selected network manager ... and for those charged with monitoring its performance.” The Kenyan government has recently put forward a plan to simultaneously promote cost-effective use of the 2.6GHz band and save operators from having to spend money in an auction. The plan is to offer the management of the band (up to 190MHz of spectrum, which is suitable for high-speed mobile data services) to an independent company in order to create an open access wholesale network. Operators would purchase capacity from the company, and bundle it into packages and products that they would sell in a competitive market to retail customers. The end result would be a single, highly utilised network with low unit costs. The plan sounds good, but the country’s government could be ‘jumping from the frying pan into the fire’. The frying pan may not have been that bad, after all Why does the Kenyan government feel wary of assigning spectrum to individual operators? The reasons suggested by Bitange Ndemo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, include: * high prices paid in an auction lead to high prices charged to consumers * operators failing to honour roll-out commitments * an auction would have 19 potential buyers and room for only three winners, so would discriminate against those that could not afford it. Do high auction prices lead to high prices for consumers? Actually, it is the other way around: if operators can charge high prices, they will be willing to place high bids at auction. Service providers can charge high prices if there is limited supply of their product or of reasonable substitutes – and low auction prices do not guarantee low service prices. Furthermore, it is possible to design award processes to achieve ends other than extracting maximum revenue. The 2.6GHz spectrum is unlikely to attract 19 serious bidders, given that it is relatively poor for providing coverage outside urban areas. A new entrant operator that aims to launch services based on this spectrum may be aiming to target a niche, such as medium-sized and large enterprises in urban areas. Giving them a chance to do this may be useful, but not as useful in expanding access to broadband as, for example, raising money in an auction to fund rural access. Think carefully before jumping into the fire Kenyan policymakers have correctly identified that greater supply (and more competition) is the key to reducing mobile broadband prices. They have also commendably declined to squeeze auction revenue out of operators. However, their solution turns away from infrastructure-based competition, which has revolutionised the telecoms industry during the past few decades. Will their alternative approach, which focuses on retail competition, work? The bad news is that pure wholesale business models for mobile data have not done well in the past. Reasons include difficulty in developing ‘one-size-fits-all’ wholesale tariffs, absence of profitable voice services, and dependence on the strategy and performance of other operators. The better news is that network-sharing deals can work. Operators around the world are signing deals to share radio access networks.^1 In all likelihood the critical feature is that the retail operators have a strong interest in the entity that runs the network: financial interest to ensure that it makes a success of the services, and management interest to allow flexibility and tailored ‘tariff plans’. Tantalisingly, the arrival of Indian-style telecoms in Africa (led by Airtel, among others) may naturally lead to greater sharing (and price cuts), without the need for government intervention. It is clear that making this 4G plan work in Kenya will be a challenge for the selected network manager (a “group from the USA” has been mentioned as a candidate). It will be even more of a challenge for those charged with negotiating an agreement and monitoring its performance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ /This Insight article is based on an interview conducted by Russell Southwood for Balancing Act Africa. Please //click here/ <http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/en/issue-no-532>/to view the full article./ /Analysys Mason has experience in developing concrete, coherent //national broadband plans/ <http://www.analysysmason.com/About-Us/Offices/New-Delhi/CII_broadband_repor…>/ and in //spectrum policy and auctions/ <http://www.analysysmason.com/Consulting/Services/Strategy-consulting/Spectr…>/./ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ^1 For further details, see Analysys Mason's Insight article /Wireless infrastructure sharing saves operators 30% in capex and 15% in opex/ <http://www.analysysmason.com/About-Us/News/Insight/Wireless-infrastructure-…>.

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Re: [kictanet] [NVK-Mageuzi] Is Singapore a Model Worth Emulating – Or Who Is? (was Honouring the man who linked Kenya to world.)
by Shem Ochuodho 23 Dec '10

23 Dec '10

Nd. Rogers & Visioners, Firstly, sincere apologies for a delayed reversal; this came at a time we were in the nick of things stitching things together for the Kisumu Reunion, and at the same time recovering from the marathon GoSS/CTO conference in Juba. Having said that, I want to reiterate the importance of paying a close look at the Singapore Model! This belief was even more fortified when Dr Seroney yesterday shared with us the Singaporean Experience (being not far from Fiji where he is based), and more so the fact that despite being a ‘tiny’ island (the size of Mombasa: I don’t know!), Singapore is perhaps the world’s 3rd or 4th strongest economy (fastest growing? Per capita? GDP/GNP? The Economists can tell us). I am reminded of a study we had to take for the Ethiopian Govt about 3 years ago. Initially, some of the countries picked for comparative study were South Africa, India, Egypt, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius and Rwanda. The first thing I learnt was not to mix Egypt with Ethiopia; they are archrivals. At the time, the population of Ethiopia was either 76m or 80m depending on your source. Egypt’s population then was quoted at 78m; for the ‘patriotic’, Ethiopia’s had to be 80m to be Africa’s 2nd most-populous country after Nigeria!! But more fundamentally, one of the people I was answerable to told me point blank: “Rwanda and Mauritius are such tiny economies that there is little to learn from them!”. And he meant it! As to whether he was right or wrong I leave to each person’s judgment. Yet one thing that I can say and reminds me of when in the same year a grouping of over 200 young Kenyan professionals invited me to Naivasha for a retreat and gave me as Guest Speaker the topic ‘Is Kenya a Failed State?’ May response was the same thing I would have told the Et officer concerned: “If you asked me if Rwanda or Mauritius (or Singapore by extension – despite being ‘tiny’) are failed states, I would know what to answer because neither/none of them is. But if you asked me if Kenya (or Ethiopia by extension) are/is, I am not sure what I would answer because they are both pretty much on the verge of failed states, but not yet.” Indeed, the current on-goings and confusion on the national stage have strengthened even the more my resolve to so believe. The far and short of it: a country’s greatness is not necessarily in its geographic size – or even population. It is more in its wealth, knowledge, power to innovate, and LEADERSHIP (as Nd. Rogers says very well). Courtesy of Nd. Jared Oluoch in the US, I am almost completing reading the Book by Father of Modern-Day Singapore, Dr Lee Kuan Yew (Former Prime Minister): Singapore - From Third World to First (one may add ‘in 30 years’). In an article recently by Visioner Donald Kipkorir, he talked about Singapore, Rwanda and Turkey as models, and argued how Turkey’s Leadership turned the country around in a span of 10 years! Nd Seroney yesterday informed us of how President Mutharika turned Malawi’s Agricultural/Food sector around in just one year (where he once worked; he currently advises 17 Ministries of Health in the Pacific, yet Kenyan Health Minister can’t have time just for tea with him)! Some of you may recall that just in one year of Malawi’s Govt’s policy change to subsidize implements to farmers, the country moved from huge food insecurity/deficit to surplus. We were informed that last year when we faced food shortage, Malawi ‘donated’ some food/corn to Kenya! What shame, if true! The one thread of argument – and which appears true in most the success cases cited is some degree of benevolence/selflessness and dictatorship aka ‘benevolent dictatorship’. Dictators even Kenya can have in plenty; what’s a far shot is the latter attribute: benevolence and selflessness. Even just from a few sample sub-titles of Lee Kuan Yew’s book, it is a compelling must-read:- i) Getting the basics right ii) Building an army from scratch iii) Surviving without a hinterland iv) Winning over the [trade] unions v) A fair, not welfare, state vi) Straddling the middle ground vii) Nurturing and attracting talent – [one of the parts I like most] viii) Many tongues, one language ix) Keeping the government clean x) Greening Singapore xi) Managing the media xii) Conductor of an Orchestra xiii) ASEAN – Unpromising start, promising future xiv) Following Britain into Europe xv) The Soviet Union – An Empire implodes xvi) America – The Anticommunist Anchorman xvii) Taiwan – The Other China xviii) China – The Dragon with a long tail xix) China beyond Beijing xx) China: To be rich is glorious His candidness – even when he talks about living world power presidents he encountered is unrivalled. The following words of sample world leaders who commented on the book and author say it all:- “In office, I read and analyzed every speech of [Lee’s]. He had a way of penetrating fog of propaganda and expressing with unique clarity the issues of our times and the way to tackle them. He was never wrong.”Margaret Thatcher “There are two equalizers in life: the Internet and education. Lee Kuan Yew is a world leader who understands this and is using the power of the Internet to position Singapore for survival and success in the Internet economy.”John Chambers, President & CEO, Cisco Systems “This is a personal history of a man who, almost single-handedly built a great nation from a small island… this is the first textbook in the world on how to build a nation.” Kuchi Miyazawa, Finance Minister, Japan [Perhaps someone should right a rebuttal on Kenya on ‘how not to build a nation’. In the earlier years – about 10 ago, UK was used by some as an example of ‘how not to build e-government’. I guess it has since changed.] “Lee Kuan Yew’s vision, astute political judgment, and strategy turned Singapore from a trading post into the successful thriving nation that it is today, respected by others. For those interested in politics and economic development, his memoirs should be required reading.” Tun Daim Zainuddin, Malaysian Finance Minister. Having served GoR (Rwanda), and now Nd. Rogers confirms – Singapore’s leadership is the script Rwanda reads from. In terms of Rwanda’s Vision (which is owned by the people, like our new constitution), the Kenya’s Vision 2030 is owned by a small clique/elite. I hope one day we can have a truly people’s vision. Given the importance of Lee Kuan Yew’s book, I decided [courtesy of Dada Wams] to give as a small present two copies to my President and Minister (not Kenya, of course!). After several months/years of searching, a bookshop at JKIA’s duty free now stocks the book copies. Incidentally, a good friend of mine at CCK [Wakili John Omo] who has recently picked a copy from the airport holds that a couple of years ago, while in Singapore itself he couldn’t get the book as it was ‘out of print’. Several times while connecting flights at airports in Jo’burg, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Bangkok – and last month in various Chinese Capital Cities – Beijing, Shenzhen & Shanghai, we had great difficulty finding the book in any of the bookstores! Finally, as Nd. Rogers attests, apart from a vision, a clear implementation plan is necessary. For those of us striving towards the ‘third way’, one thing we need ahead of 2012 is a sound ‘manifesto and economic blueprint’, akin to what NARC had in 2002. Any takers? Let’s talk via private mail. Warm rgrds, Shem ________________________________ From: Rogers Ngotwa <ngotwa(a)yahoo.com> To: NVK-Mageuzi(a)yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, 13 December, 2010 11:37:05 Subject: Re: [NVK-Mageuzi] Honouring the man who linked Kenya to world. Thanks Shem for the observations. Indeed as a Country, we Kenyans have along way to go in terms of recognizing our own in terms of innovations and even hard work. Nonetheless, I think we are still nurturing hope and probably if all of us play our crucial role in electing our leaders, especially in 2012, the change that we all yearn for may be realized sooner. Just to confirm from Ndugu Shem that the leadership in Rwanda is indeed reading the script from Singaporean Experience, with full time professionals from Singapore fully engaged with local Rwandese Professionals in executing Rwanda-Singapore MoU; which is essentially geard towards the transfer of skills and assisting in realizing the County's Vision 2020. Also unlike our Vision 2030, Rwanda's Vision 2020 is very clear with a clear Roadmap and five-year periodical Audits on the basis of NICI programmes. So Visioners, there is still alot of work ahead of us. But one thing is clear, the Country's Leadership is EVERYTHING! Rogers ngotwa ________________________________ From: Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com> To: NVK-Mageuzi(a)yahoogroups.com; PICTA Kenya-LIst <picta-kenya(a)yahoogroups.com> Cc: NYCIV Group <nyciv(a)googlegroups.com>; ProgressiveMinds <ProgressiveMinds(a)yahoogroups.com>; Madaraka Party <madaraka-kenya(a)yahoogroups.com> Sent: Mon, December 13, 2010 10:17:39 AM Subject: Re: [NVK-Mageuzi] Honouring the man who linked Kenya to world. Comrades, Many thanks for the compliments. I am sincerely humbled. One thing that continues to bother me though is that in the land of my fore-fathers and mothers, excellence and merit are not recognized and/or rewarded. Instead, 'mediocrity, political expedience, and ethnic bigotry' rein high. I feel VERY saddened that even as tributes and accolades are being churned all over the world for mPesa, nobody knows and even cares to ask about the young Kenyan university student who invented the product; instead MJ & Safaricom are feted on every high table for ripping off and continuing to rip-off Kenyans. Did somebody say as if that's not enough, he has now been crowned Chair of KTB/KTDC? Please.... I hope one day soon I'll convince Nd. Okiya to take Safaricom to court not only for exploiting Kenyans through poor quality service (CCK confirmed that recently in its own study) and over-pricing - just like the oil companies are doing, contrary to provisions of the Bill of Rights in the new Katiba. For the time being, I'll keep my Award under the bushel until the young boy of mPesa shows up and is appropriately recognized and feted. Even better, I'll rejoice more when another Kenyan/African evolves a product superior to mPesa. Identifying, nurturing and retaining talent is the magic that propelled Singapore to greatness. Rwanda is reading from the same script as Eng. Rogers will confirm. Southern Sudan too is taking cue. Aluta continua, and best rgrds, Shem ________________________________ From: Rogers Ngotwa <ngotwa(a)yahoo.com> To: NVK-Mageuzi(a)yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, 13 December, 2010 9:59:51 Subject: Re: [NVK-Mageuzi] Honouring the man who linked Kenya to world. Ndugu Shem; Let me also join the growing number of Kenyan in congratulating you for your role in bringing about Internet in Kenya. Given the conditions at that particular time, you indeed deserve the recognition and hence the medal of Honour. Best wishes. With regards Rogers Ngotwa ________________________________ From: Evans MACHERA <evansmachera(a)yahoo.com> To: NVK-Mageuzi(a)yahoogroups.com; YOUNG PROFESSIONALS <youngprofessionals_ke(a)googlegroups.com>; KENYA ONLINE <kenyaonline(a)yahoogroups.com>; Vugu Vugu <vuguvugumashinani(a)yahoogroups.com> Cc: PICTA Kenya-LIst <picta-kenya(a)yahoogroups.com>; NYCIV Group <nyciv(a)googlegroups.com>; ProgressiveMinds <ProgressiveMinds(a)yahoogroups.com>; Madaraka Party <madaraka-kenya(a)yahoogroups.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Sun, December 12, 2010 5:14:47 PM Subject: [NVK-Mageuzi] Honouring the man who linked Kenya to world. Dr.Ochuodho. I wish to register my congrats to Dr.Shem Ochuodho as he receives and appreciates the Honour and his recognition. As a read the Local Daily Newspaper that carried the story,my thought could not help but went round and about Dr.Shem the Politician ( one time Mp for Rangwe) and Dr.Shem Ochuodho the Professional. My heart settled on the professional since in professionalism,one comes up with an initiative that changes the whole world if not part of it as opposed to a politician who is sometimes entangled in episodes that decolourise his good side to the extent of soiling the career life picture already made or burrying it wholly. I take the liberty to question thus; Should Professionals seek elective posts i.e Mp! Thanks to you all. Evans MACHERA. --- On Sun, 12/12/10, PAUL GITONGA <gpmaina(a)gmail.com> wrote: >From: PAUL GITONGA <gpmaina(a)gmail.com> >Subject: Re: [NVK-Mageuzi] Honouring the man who linked Kenya to world (was >Update on Arrangements for Kisumu Reunion – December 21-23rd, 2010) >To: NVK-Mageuzi(a)yahoogroups.com >Cc: "PICTA Kenya-LIst" <picta-kenya(a)yahoogroups.com>, "NYCIV Group" ><nyciv(a)googlegroups.com>, "ProgressiveMinds" <ProgressiveMinds(a)yahoogroups.com>, >"Madaraka Party" <madaraka-kenya(a)yahoogroups.com>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy >Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >Date: Sunday, December 12, 2010, 6:55 AM > > >Daktari, > >You are a legend. > >I cannot begin to fathom how life would be without the internet, and >you being the person who was instrumental in bringing this concept to >kenya, is just incredible. > >Keep up the good work, and keep contributing to the society. > >God bless you and congratulations! > >Paul >On 12/12/10, Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> Madada Philo na Betty, >> >> Ahsanteni for the pongezi's. It was re-freshening to know the CTO >> (Commonwealth >> Telecom Organization www.cto.int) domiciled in London, with current CEO >> being >> Ghana's former Minister for Communication (Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah) could >> remember >> some of Africa's Unsung Heroes. I am working on a book with that name to >> catalogue the evolution of Internet in Africa - perhaps we should look for >> royalties from FaceBook, Google, mPesa, YouTube, SEACOM, etc! But the >> efforts >> could not have borne fruit without the inputs of several other people, >> including >> the techies who alongside Randy Bush burnt mid-night oil (Dr Martin Koyabe - >> now >> with British Telecoms, Paul Olendo now @UN, Alfred Orimbo, etc) - for >> several >> nights - to get it all work on Kenya's/indeed Africa's then real terrible >> phone >> lines. >> >> In the same vein, without Steve Goldstein of the US National Science >> Foundation >> (who provided the boxes and technology) and Peter Sutherland of UK's >> Overseas >> Development Agency (ODA now DfID) who took up the initial leased line phone >> bills - used to cost US$ 16,000 (yes, 16k) per month for just a mere 64KBps >> pipe >> - it wouldn't have happened. >> >> When in 2000 CSK (Computer Society of Kenya) felt I deserved 'Father of >> Internet >> in Kenya' title, I dedicated the award to three people: Amb. Dr Benjamin >> Kipkorir (then Kenya's Ambassador in Washington), Micah Cheserem (then >> Governor, >> Central Bank), Brig. (Rtd) Wilson Boinnett (then DG, NSIS aka Special >> Branch). >> Without these guys' intervention, the KANU regime of the time wouldn't have >> allowed Internet to happen. Not that they didn't try to block it - the then >> Head >> of Public Service wrote a letter (I have a souvenir copy) to all PS's, Heads >> of >> Military, Special Branch, etc warning them not to connect to >> ARCC/Internet/UNEP >> without direct approval from his office. That partly explains why these >> three >> Kenyan Wazalendo's perhaps deserve these awards more than I. >> >> Last but not least, Jeddy and the kids who allowed me to use one of the >> family >> bedrooms for initial tests when sections of the University felt by staying >> late >> in the labs night, we had 'lots of idle time and needed to be given more >> teaching load' had denied us space to do the experiments. But all the Glory >> must >> always go to God the Almighty, Allah - the One and Only! >> >> For those who missed the story (courtesy Visioner Augustine Oduor), you can >> access it on: >>http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/news/InsidePage.php?id=2000024440&cid=159&st…. >>. >> >> >> Best rgrds, >> Shem >> 2010 CTO/GoSS African Internaut (Internet Pioneer) Award Recipient >> >> >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> From: Philo Ikonya <philonikonya(a)yahoo.com> >> To: NVK-Mageuzi(a)yahoogroups.com >> Sent: Sat, 11 December, 2010 18:51:39 >> Subject: Re: [NVK-Mageuzi] Update on Arrangements for Kisumu Reunion – >> December >> 21-23rd, 2010 >> >> >> Adhiambo, >> >> thanks very much for letting me know.. I did not know.. Congrats Shem. You >> did >> not say it even as I was telling you of my little works?\ >> >> Philo >> >> >> >> Aung San Suu Kyi cannot be silenced because she speaks the truth and >> because >> her words reflect basic Burmese and universal concepts - Vaclav Havel >> >> >> >> >> >> >> --- On Fri, 12/10/10, Betty Otieno <betty.otieno(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >>>From: Betty Otieno <betty.otieno(a)gmail.com> >>>Subject: Re: [NVK-Mageuzi] Update on Arrangements for Kisumu Reunion – >>> December >>>21-23rd, 2010 >>>To: NVK-Mageuzi(a)yahoogroups.com >>>Date: Friday, December 10, 2010, 11:01 PM >>> >>> >>> >>>Congratulations Shem on the honor you received the other day, pioneer >>> internet >>>related Kenya. >>> >>>Adhiambo >>> >>> >> >> >> > > >------------------------------------ > >Yahoo! Groups Links > ><*> To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NVK-Mageuzi/ > ><*> Your email settings: > Individual Email | Traditional > ><*> To change settings online go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NVK-Mageuzi/join > (Yahoo! ID required) > ><*> To change settings via email: > NVK-Mageuzi-digest(a)yahoogroups.com > NVK-Mageuzi-fullfeatured(a)yahoogroups.com > ><*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > NVK-Mageuzi-unsubscribe(a)yahoogroups.com > ><*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > __._,_.___ Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (18) Recent Activity: * New Members 11 Visit Your Group MARKETPLACE Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now. ________________________________ Find useful articles and helpful tips on living with Fibromyalgia. 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DOT recruiting: Learning Coordinator, Regional Support Office, East Africa
by Alice Munyua 22 Dec '10

22 Dec '10

Learning Coordinator, Regional Support Office, East Africa *Closing Date: 14 January 2011* Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) is a leading international non-governmental organization that focuses on creating educational, economic and entrepreneurial opportunities through the effective use of ICT for communities and people in countries that are developing, are in transition, or are under stress. With the ultimate aim of stimulating economic growth, community development and private sector development, DOT and its partners share a vision of a connected world in the 21st century. Founded in Canada in 2002, DOT has engaged over 2,000 young people as ICT leaders who have reached over 200,000 community participants who have been empowered to use ICT for local development. Participation in DOT programs has given individuals the skills, knowledge and confidence to pursue opportunities that result in enhanced career mobility, increased income and increased economic growth of communities. Institutionally, DOT has established locally driven organizations in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, USA, China and Mexico through which DOT has strengthened the capacity of dozens of partner organizations to offer business development and ICT services to community members. DOT is also on track to support 2,000 schools in the USA, China and Mexico that are realizing improved educational outcomes through innovative use of IT in the classroom. DOT is a young, agile and rapidly growing organization that is developing an enviable international profile by operating with the highest values and integrity. Building on DOT's proven track record and global community of partners, the next few years will be a period of both dynamic growth and institutional and program innovation. To support the rapid growth of the programs in Africa, DOT is now seeking to engage an experienced learning coordinator to play a key role in capacity building and helping to inform and shape DOT learning projects in Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia and globally. *The Position* Reporting to the Global Learning Director, the learning coordinator will be a key member of DOT's global learning and African regional teams. The successful candidate will bring extensive instructional and curriculum design, University degree in Instructional Design, (Adult) Education, Educational Technology, or related discipline preferred; facilitation, and professional development experience, both face-to-face and online. The successful candidate will also be comfortable presenting DOT learning strategies at conference events. All candidates will share a commitment to innovation within DOT's vision. It is preferable that the position be located in Nairobi where DOT Kenya is headquartered and the Regional Support Office is located, however candidates currently based in Rwanda and Ethiopia are also invited to apply. *Responsibilities:* Major growth in Africa requires capacity in the region to support evolving DOT programming in Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia and to support continued growth opportunities in the region. As the regional learning coordinator, you will work with the DOT Global learning team and local Country operations to: . Participate in global and in-country curriculum development projects; . Serve as a learning resource to help with in-country localization efforts; . Assess, leverage and develop DOT global-local staff learning and teaching competencies (instructional and curriculum design, facilitation -- both face-to-face and online; integration of educational strategies); . Mediate the curriculum development and deployment process ensuring collaboration between global and local resources; . Facilitate sharing, re-use and showcasing learning resources created; . Be a "mobile" expert trainer in region: facilitating learning events (face-to-face and online) and providing professional development and coaching to "apprentice" facilitators. *The Person: Qualifications and Experience* This is a complex job requiring diverse skills and experience. The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications relevant in Africa and possibly internationally: . Proven track record (minimum of five years) of designing high quality participatory learner-centred learning experiences that achieve the desired outcomes and demonstrate: o Innovative learning approaches with leadership, entrepreneurship, and business skills curriculum focus; o Design of culturally sensitive materials with an awareness of the issues and challenges of working in a development context; o Application of educational theory to instructional design; o Competence using learning-related technologies and tools (e.g.,Moodle); . Excellent face-to-face and/or online facilitation skills, both contexts is highly desirable; . Proven project management skills; . Excellent writing and communication skills in English; Spanish, French,and Portuguese an asset; . In-depth knowledge of regional and local development priorities; . Experience working in a global organization, such as an international NGO or corporation with international donors; . Competent IT skills and a familiarity with online collaboration technologies (discussion forums, wikis, conferencing software, social media, etc.); . Experience coaching and mentoring people in cross-cultural environments; . Willing to travel frequently with no difficulty in securing entry visas to countries in the East Africa region and North America. *Personal Characteristics* . Passionate about helping others develop and discover advanced instructional design and facilitation skills. . A strong spirit for community service and share DOT's passion to contribute to a better world; . Thrives in an entrepreneurial and agile work environment. Flexible, comfortable with ambiguity and receptive to new ideas; . Very attentive to detail and highly organized; . Results driven. Motivated by a high sense of personal performance expectations and have a sense of urgency. Be a role model whose personal performance inspires others; . Excellent interpersonal and communications skills. A comfortable leader and consensus builder, a team player; . A knowledgeable promoter of the role of technology in modern economic development and formal and informal education; . Enjoy working with youth and young adults and contributing to their development; . Holds the highest personal ethics. A person who demonstrates integrity and is a model of ethical values and behavior at all times. *Compensation* DOT is a non-profit organization that recognizes that change is driven by involving the best people. Salary will be commensurate with experience for this Kenya-based position. *For More Information* Closing date: 14 January 2011. Applications and enquiries should be submitted to Ms Heather Marshall, DOT Executive Office, Ottawa, Canada by email: hmarshall(a)dotrust.org. Applications should include a cover letter, current curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of three references. References will not be contacted without prior consent. A portfolio summary of program curriculum design work you have led would also be helpful. DOT will contact only those candidates who are invited for interview.

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applicants new gTLDs
by Alice Munyua 22 Dec '10

22 Dec '10

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Season's Greetings
by waudo siganga 22 Dec '10

22 Dec '10

HappyHolidays.gif

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Fwd: CSTD Working Group on IGF Improvements Now to Include Stakeholders
by waudo siganga 22 Dec '10

22 Dec '10

----- Original message ----- From: "Anders Halvorsen" <ahalvorsen(a)witsa.org> To: "Jim Poisant" <jpoisant(a)witsa.org> Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:36:36 -0500 Subject: CSTD Working Group on IGF Improvements Now to Include Stakeholders December 21, 2010 TO: Members of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance FR: Anders Halvorsen, Public Policy Director RE: CSTD Working Group on IGF Improvements Now to Include Stakeholders _________________________________________________________________ ___ Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to report that the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) late last Friday changed course and will allow participation by stakeholders, including from business, civil society, the technical and academic community, and intergovernmental organizations. Even though the stakeholder groups will be limited to five rather than the originally anticipated twelve representatives each, this can be seen as a clear victory for the multistakeholder approach. We would like to thank all members who filled out the online petition and/or forwarded the WITSA letter circulated on December 13^th (ref. below) to their government representatives for follow up. Many government delegates in Geneva were fully supportive of opening the working group to all stakeholders, and in particular EU, Chile, UK, Mexico, Portugal, Canada, US, France, Germany, Belgium and Greece. We also had some great support from industry at the December 17^th open consultation through the participation of Ms. Marilyn Cade (mCADE, LLC) and Jonathan Zuck of the Association for Competitive Technologies) The working group will meet physically at least twice in Geneva, Switzerland; in February and May 2011, following which they will then produce a consensus report to the CSTD. To date, the Internet has grown in a largely unregulated environment, and has shown an ability to thrive in a wide variety of market environments under competitive conditions. This freedom from centralized and heavy regulations has produced impressive results over a relatively short period of time, delivering innovation, productivity and opportunity to a growing numbers of users in all parts of the world. Notably, the Internet has grown fastest in markets where there is competition for the provision of underlying telecommunications facilities, as well as for access and related services. Today, policy makers at both national and global levels are considering a wide number of regulatory approaches to dealing with the issues of Internet governance, including cyber security, access, management of spam and malware, protection of intellectual property and other issues. We therefore find ourselves at a critical point in time. With the recent renewal of the mandate for the IGF (but with an uncertain outlook for how the new IGF will function), coupled with the United Nations’ new focus on the enhanced cooperation clauses (dating back to the 2005 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Tunis Agenda) and the movement towards independence of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) through last year’s Affirmation of Commitments (AOC), industry must remain vigilant in defending the multistakeholder approach to Internet governance. In that regard, WITSA will continue to appeal to governments and international institutions to make their Internet policy related and decision-making activities more open and inclusive of all stakeholders. Governments, regional and international organizations that have been more open, and that have shown a commitment to cooperation have proven to be more effective in their work. As industry, we not only welcome but demand opportunities to participate in the policy development process at all levels. For your information, please find below the language that was agreed late last Friday: ----------------------------------------------------------------- --- Language agreed (CSTD Chapeau Statement): The Chair of the CSTD establishes a Working Group of 15 member states, plus the five member states which hosted the IGF meetings plus the two member states which hosted WSIS. This Working group will seek, compile, and review inputs from all member states and all other stakeholders on improvement of the Internet Governance Forum, in an open and inclusive manner throughout the process. The Chair invites the following stakeholders to interactively participate in the Working Group, bearing in mind the established rules of procedure of the ECOSOC, who will remain fully engaged throughout the process. [this means that the Stakeholders will remain fully engaged]. · 5 business community · 5 civil society · 5 technical and academic community · 5 Intergovernmental organizations Pursuant to the ECOSOC decisions 2010/226; 2010/227, and 2010/228, maximum possible assistance, the diversity of ideas and the equal representation of stakeholders from developing and developed countries in the Working Group should be ensured, in consultation with the stakeholders. The Report of this Working Group will be adopted by consensus. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- December 13, 2010 TO: Members of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) FR: Anders Halvorsen, Public Policy Director RE: Concern over Composition of CSTD Working Group on IGF Improvements – Call to Action _________________________________________________________________ _________________ Dear Colleagues. WITSA Public Policy Chairman John Higgins today sent a letter to the Vice Chair of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) today, expressing disappointment over its recent decision to exclude industry and other stakeholders from participating in the new Working Group on Improvements to the Internet Governance Forum (ref. [1]http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=5755& lang=1). The letter can be viewed at [2]http://www.witsa.org/IGF/CSTD_ltr.pdf. WITSA believes the decision goes against the mandate for establishing the working group, as provided by the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) last May. The mandate calls for the establishment of a “a working group to seek, compile and review inputs from all Member States and all other stakeholders on improvements to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), in line with the mandate set out in the Tunis Agenda". It should also be noted that WITSA has been seeking member representation on the said working group. ACTION REQUESTED The CSTD will launch an open consultation of the Working Group in Geneva on December 17. Members are encouraged to sign the petition at [3]http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/igf/ which already has a number of signatures and to send this letter to the appropriate national government contacts with a request that they send this letter to their Geneva mission urgently. Best regards, Anders References 1. http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=5755&lang=1 2. http://www.witsa.org/IGF/CSTD_ltr.pdf 3. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/igf/

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Orange intensifies war against cable vandalism
by Lucy Kimani 21 Dec '10

21 Dec '10

Thanks Harry! Harry Hare #Orange intensifies war against #cable #vandalism http://bit.ly/h7uJWP “We are fed up, enough of cable cuts and vandalism, we have to do something,” a statement issued by Orange Chief Executive Officer Mickael Ghossein, while addressing the media today. He notes that cases of cable vandalism and sabotage are increasing at an alarming rate. In the year 2010, the integrated telecommunication service provider has experienced 342 cable cuts - 117 copper cuts and 225 optic fibre cable cuts. http://www.cio.co.ke/Main-Stories/orange-intensifies-war-against-cable-vand…

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eGov 2011 Conference | KENYA
by John K. Njoroge 21 Dec '10

21 Dec '10

Dear Listers: As you go for the Christmas break, your attention is drawn to the first Kenya e-Government Conference, whose theme is “Delivering Services through e-Government” which will be held on March 8th – 10th, 2011 at KICC, Nairobi - Kenya. The Conference with give Kenya Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies the platform to present practitioner papers and showcase e-Government achievements so far. It will also feature foreign Government Institutions as well as local and internationally recognized e-Government experts and IT gurus. The Conference programme has been designed to provide participants an opportunity to explore the many facets of ICT application in Government, with sessions covering the key thematic areas (More information is available at www.egovconference.go.ke) The Call for Papers is available on the Conference Website as well as a Sponsorship and Exhibition Guide. You can also register for the conference online as well as submit any relevant papers. Your are most welcome and invited indeed. Kind regards John K. Njoroge

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Number Portability question...
by Collins Areba 21 Dec '10

21 Dec '10

Could anyone confirm this to me.. Does number portability work across platforms? say have CDMA lines on my 0722 line....

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Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Extension of Public Comment Period on New gTLD Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook and Economic Study Phase II Report
by Alice Munyua 20 Dec '10

20 Dec '10

Dear all, For those interested in the new gTLD. best Alice ------------------------------------------------- Extension of Public Comment Period on New gTLD Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook and Economic Study Phase II Report 17 December 2010 Taking into account public comment and decisions made during ICANN’s Cartagena meeting, the public comment period for the Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook and supporting documentation have been extended to 15 January 2011 (1200 UTC). Below are the links to comment fora for the Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook: English - http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/comments-5-en.htm العربية - http://www.icann.org/ar/topics/new-gtlds/comments-5-ar.htm 中文 (简体) - http://www.icann.org/zh/topics/new-gtlds/comments-5-zh.htm Français - http://www.icann.org/fr/topics/new-gtlds/comments-5-fr.htm Русский - http://www.icann.org/ru/topics/new-gtlds/comments-5-ru.htm Español - http://www.icann.org/es/topics/new-gtlds/comments-5-es.htm Additionally, the Economic Study Phase II Report is extended to 15 January 2011: http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/comments-5-en.htm How to Participate The Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook is available here in its entirety, as well as in its six individual modules. You can either comment on the overall guidebook or comment per module, by area of interest. A red-lined, annotated version of the documents is provided to show what changes were made in progressing from Draft Applicant Guidebook, Version 4 to the Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook. As the materials become available in additional languages there will be an opportunity to comment. You may also view the Summaries & Analyses <http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/comments-analysis-en.htm> from recently closed public fora.

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