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FW: Apps4Ottawa
by Edith Adera 01 Oct '10

01 Oct '10

Dr Ndemo/Dr Kate, I think Kenya should think along these lines to build the local industry and spur innovation. Kate, congrats on taking the mantle at eGOV! Edith ________________ Edith Ofwona Adera Senior Program Specialist ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water Program International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera eadera(a)idrc.or.ke<mailto:eadera@idrc.or.ke> | www.idrc.ca<http://www.idrc.ca/> | www.crdi.ca<http://www.crdi.ca/> ________________________________ From: Martin Murillo [mmurillo(a)idrc.ca] Sent: 30 September 2010 21:01 To: ICT4D-Futures Workspace Subject: Apps4Ottawa The city of Ottawa is following suit to others delegating the data represetnation to the citizenry, etc: The City of Ottawa is running its first public contest to develop apps from open data and is inviting residents from all over to participate both in creating new apps or voting on their favourites. The goal of the contest is to encourage entrepreneurs, agencies, students, IT professionals and others to create innovative new apps that use open data to improve community experience, stimulate economic growth and engage residents in municipal government. http://ottawa.ca/online_services/opendata/index_en.html Martin Dgroups is a joint initiative of Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, ICCO, IICD, OneWorld, UNAIDS and World Bank --- You are currently subscribed to ict4d-futures as: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-ict4d-futures-75952T(a)dgroups.idrc.ca

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Greek - Kenya Comparison - Applied to Local Tech Scene
by S.Murigi Muraya 30 Sep '10

30 Sep '10

Dear All, Good read here. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2010/0929/Greece-s-eco… It is mostly accurate but it does not note, occasionally, where decent technocrats are in place, competent consultancies or tech firms do get government contracts (projects) without having to bribe. Do not know how but such technocrats need to be recognized and rewarded by the Government. Also do not think our government would discriminate against open source solutions with strong corporate backing such as Red Hat. As all wise organizations ask, who is to be held accounatable for updates or fixes of Free or Open Source Software (FOSS) that is only community based? Regards SMM

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Re: [kictanet] Traffic Cameras
by arapkirui＠gmail.com 29 Sep '10

29 Sep '10

I am amazed. This is absolutely fantastic. Everytime I see such technology I miss the future we shall never see. arap KIRUI Sent from my Nokia phone -----Original Message----- From: Edith Adera Sent: 29/09/2010 18:32:25 To: arapkirui(a)gmail.com Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Subject: Re: [kictanet] Traffic Cameras Interesting! Kudos to Access Kenya. We would do better with higher bandwidth to get it for sure "real time" rather than "slow motion" Edith ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Grace Githaiga Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 5:15 PM To: Edith Adera Cc: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke Subject: [kictanet] Traffic Cameras No more dashing in to the jams blindly, you can now check out the traffic real time before you hit out. Quite revolutionary. http://www.home.co.ke/index.php/traffic-cameras ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World!

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Re: [kictanet] KIXP connectivity
by robert yawe 29 Sep '10

29 Sep '10

Hi Dennis, If I go through a connected ISP it defeats the purpose of being on the exchange point as they will just bundle me onto their exiting link, our objective is to be able to control the connection. If we are going to promote local hosting we need a way to optimise connectivity across as many ISPs as possible. With the rate Safaricom is growing, currently 60% of the traffic to our site is from Safaricom data customers, we are looking forward to their collocation facilities. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi(a)gmail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: Dennis Kioko Mbuvi <dmbuvi+kictanet(a)gmail.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wed, 29 September, 2010 12:12:42 Subject: Re: [kictanet] KIXP connectivity You have to buy a link to KIXP via a connected ISP. Consult also with Internet Solutions, they are hosting a backup of the Nairobi IXP

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Re: [kictanet] Digital Content.........Kalasha Awards
by Jane Kagiri 29 Sep '10

29 Sep '10

Hallo Listers, I was glad to have attended the Kalasha Awards and enjoyed the technology that was involved, being at the venue, yet also being able to follow updates on twitter and facebook. The best came when it was announced that the event was being streamed live.....its only then that one realizes how far we have come.  In regard to the entreprenuerial oppurtunity the platform offers,First, I feel that in future if such a great event is to be streamed live, it should be publicized well in advance. This is: 1) To allow the target audience time to plan it in their schedules that is if we hop to achieve any fruitful coverage.  Again,I dont know what your idea was Paul in regard to how enterprenuers can capitalize on this ,but from what i know, live streaming companies dont want to open live advertising service to non content partners so as to help premium content owners to benefit from their live streams. In our case, KFC would either have to sell the advertising space themselves or sell the event live feed rights to a private company (us) so that we would then become the premium content owners and then proceed to sell advetising space. But again,for a company to bid for the live feed rights, it needs to have prior knowledge that there will be live streaming taking place at an event. All said,I believe it is upto Kenya ICT Board to advice other government agencies on how to handle this great oppurtunities and then together we can explore them. Jane Kagiri Catritone Office Solutions PO Box 72286 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya www.facebook.com/Jane Kagiri

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Fw: Attn: IT Director/Network Security Administrator - Cyber Security Workshop
by Walubengo J 29 Sep '10

29 Sep '10

fyi - been asked to sambaza. walu. --- On Wed, 9/29/10, Joseph Ndirangu <ndirangu(a)techpartners.co.ke> wrote: From: Joseph Ndirangu <ndirangu(a)techpartners.co.ke> Subject: Attn: IT Director/Network Security Administrator - Cyber Security Workshop To: "'Walubengo J'" <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> Date: Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 3:36 PM Certified Professional Forensic Analyst (CPFA) Oct 27-28, 2010 Technology Partners Limited Nairobi, Kenya Technology Partners Limited, Kenya and Network Intelligence, India are pleased to announce the “Certified Professional Forensic Analyst (CPFA)” course on the 27th and 28th October, 2010. The venue for the training will be at the Kivi Milimani Hotel from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Almost in every case of financial fraud or employee misuse involves a very strong element of computer-based evidence. NII has been providing professional computer forensics services to clients for the past four years. It now brings together its consolidated expertise into a two-day hands-on workshop on Certified Professional Forensic Analyst (CPFA).The entire workshop is driven by hands-on exercises and case studies to ensure that all aspects have a real-life scenario-based approach. The instructor, Mr. Kanwal Mookhey (CISA, CISSP, CISM) is the Principal Consultant and Founder of Network Intelligence and Institute of Information Security based in India with offices in Dubai . Mookhey is internationally well-regarded expert in the field of IT governance, information and risk management, forensic fraud investigations, compliance, business continuity. He has more than a decade of experience in this field and has worked for prestigious clients such as The Indian Navy, United Nations, Abu Dhabi and Dubai Stock Exchange, State Bank of India , Atos Origin, Saudi Telecom, World Customs Organization, Capgemini, Royal & Sun Alliance among others. He is also author of two books on Linux Security and Metasploit Framework as well as numerous articles on information security. The full course fee is Kshs 60,000 per participant. Early Bird Discount of (10%) and Group Discounts (15%) are applicable. For the content and time table of the course, please open the attachments. To register and for more information, please contact Mr. Ndirangu Kariuki on; ndirangu(a)techpartners.co.ke Tel: +254 20 2343961, 0722 750413, 0716 066426 before or on 12 October 2010. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Ndirangu Kariuki Business Development Manager Technology Partners Limited Kampus Towers, 4th Floor University Way P.O. Box 746 -000100 Nairobi , Kenya Tel: +254 20 2343960/61 Cell: +254 722 750413

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A bitter Orange
by robert yawe 29 Sep '10

29 Sep '10

Hi, It is interesting how Orange/Telkom assumes that the reason they are unable to gain market share is because of pricing. They have a superior data connectivity service in the form of EvDo yet they are unable to even explain the difference to their clients, I have even heard from the grape vine that they have an up and running MPLS solution something that none of the other providers do. Their main problem is that they have a non-existent customer service department. They currently have fewer staff than Safaricom yet the disconnect between departments makes dealing with GOK a walk in the garden. They keep coming up with self defeating tariffs and are unable to disseminate information internally to their own front office personnel. The company is constantly upgrading billing systems without transferring information across from the old system, but with only 350,000 subscribers they can actually afford to key in the information afresh. They recently "upgraded" the EvDo portal which resulted in accounts with credit being disabled of which to date many have not been able to get resolved. When you finally get through to their customer service department they start by asking you questions like "who sold you the modem? why did you buy the scratch card? and the most annoying take it to the customer experience centre where you bought it? With the noise about lost assets, read land, my take is that Orange had no intention of reviving Telkom but more to raid its assets and then leave. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Download a FREE copy of PC Tech Magazine - International Edition
by Albert Mucunguzi 28 Sep '10

28 Sep '10

Dear all, I am pleased to inform you that a copy of the International Edition of PC Tech Magazine, which was launched in Ghana on 24th September has been uploaded. Please follow the link below to download for free. http://pctechmagazine.com/magazine/download-archives/doc_details/25-double-… Thank you for your contributions! Copies of this magazine will be available in Nairobi by the end of the week. Please note that you may need to register to access the download. _______________________ Regards, Albert Mucunguzi Executive Director PC Tech Communications P.O. Box 32180, Tel: +256 712619812 / 700 297031 Kampala, Uganda. Email: ed(a)pctechmagazine.com Website: www.pctechmagazine.com / www.albertmucunguzi.com

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ISPs slap Ndemo
by robert yawe 27 Sep '10

27 Sep '10

Hi, The ISPs have now teamed up and agreed that the cost of "International" Internet access will not be coming down soon because we have less than 2.6% penetration. Dr. Ndemo, this is a slap on you, wield your big stick, or sorry not possible you recently handed it over to Orange. There is only one solution to this issue lets concentrate in developing local content thereby reducing the dependence on the over hyped marine cable. But based on the discussions on the commodity exchange system this will be an up hill task as we question the credibility of everyone he tries to setup a local online application or service. I read an article on how Hon. Kilonzo is planning to setup green houses in all the schools in his constituency while the others are trying to provide computers to children who are not able to get a balanced diet. Again I repeat "I am ashamed to be a member of the ICT fraternity" but like was once said by a disgruntled KANU memebrr "I shall remain the opposition within" Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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4th submarine cable to Kenya: France Telecom & LION-2
by Brian Munyao Longwe 27 Sep '10

27 Sep '10

hmm, interesting..... http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/france-telecom-lion2-consortium-build-in… -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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Secure ICT 2010 Discounted Prices
by Evans Kahuthu 27 Sep '10

27 Sep '10

Dear Listers, The Secure ICT 2010 Conference Committee is delighted to inform you that following requests from most of our prospective attendees, we have discounted the registration fee as follows: -1 Day Attendance, ksh. 8,000 inclusive of V.A.T. per person -2 Day Attendance, ksh. 16,000 inclusive of V.A.T. per person -If more than 3 attendees from one organisation, ksh. 15,000 (2 days) or ksh. 7,500 (1 day) inclusive of V.A.T. per person. The Registration prices for SecureICT 2010 includes refreshments, morning tea/coffee, lunches, a certificate of participation and a CD of the presentations.) but NOT Accomodation To register for this conference either: -Go to http://secureict.co.ke/registration.aspx -Email ekahuthu(a)secureict.co.ke -Call +254-202188830,+254-710649304 For the conference Agenda, Keynote speakers and other information, please visit http://secureict.co.ke The conference is scheduled for the 5-6th October 2010 at the Panafric Hotel Nairobi. This year's conference sessions address new and continuing threats to information security as well as responses to the increasing risk of breaches and data exfiltration, identity theft, cyber terrorism and more. The conference will provide information security professionals and managers with the most up-to-date information, tools, trends, legislation, and strategies for addressing information security issues. Plan to meet with your colleagues from around the region, the nation and the world in Nairobi to learn from recognized experts at Secure ICT 2010. We kindly request you to come or nominate your representative for this one of its own kind conference. We look forward to you participating in this conference. Regards, Evans Kahuthu, Secure ICT 2010 Conference Coordinator, phone: +254-710649304,+254-202188830 email: ekahuthu(a)secureict.co.ke

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CHAKULA Issue #20: Pushing for broadband policy in Africa
by Chakula 26 Sep '10

26 Sep '10

CHAKULA Issue No. 20, September 2010: Pushing for broadband policy in Africa CONTENTS 1. Broadband for Africa: Launching the cables, launching the campaigns… – e-interview with Willie Currie 2. NIGERIA: Striking when the time is right… – e-interviews with John Dada, Titi Omo-Ettu and Abi Jagun 3. GHANA: Moving the hand of God – e-interviews with Eric Osiakwan and Eva Lokko 4. SOUTH AFRICA: Autopsy of a missed opportunity – Ten things analysts say are absent in the South African broadband policy; and an e- interview with Steve Song //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ Broadband for Africa: Launching the cables, launching the campaigns… The rapid roll-out of fibre optic cables in Africa over the past years brought a wave of optimism to the continent – finally, the sentiment went, all those ambitious online business plans and project proposals that couldn’t be realised ten years go – simply because the internet was too slow – could be dusted off and see the light of day. The implications for fast connectivity for the continent – in education, in realising citizen and social rights, in entrepreneurial development, or just for plain gaming fun – suggested the realisation of something of a renaissance for Africa; a quantum leap into the 21st Century, as far as the internet was concerned. But the boom in broadband – the landing and roll-out of cables such as the East African Submarine Cable System (known as EASSy), The East African Marine Systems (TEAMS), and SEACOM – was in many countries met with something of a vague and non-committal response from governments. Some were, it seemed, trapped in a strategic uncertainty, much like the 1990s, when the implications of information and communications technology (ICT) policy on the continent were only just beginning to be grappled with. Few countries had developed coherent broadband policies – if any policy at all – to manage the implications and potential of the new connectivity being dug into the ground before their eyes. It was with this in mind that the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), together with its partners, set about mobilising stakeholders in South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana, to advocate for progressive broadband policies to be developed in those countries. The overall objectives of the project, which was funded by the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa, was to achieve affordable universal broadband. The advocacy initiative kicked off in South Africa in October 2008, with the launch of the South African Broadband Forum, a partnership between APC, South Africa Connect, SANGONeT (Southern African NGO Network), and the Shuttleworth Foundation. The Forum’s interventions included a multi-stakeholder workshop, the drafting of a forward-looking framework for a broadband policy, and an online petition. A face-to-face meeting with the South African government was also held. In Nigeria, a similar multi-stakeholder approach was adopted, with an outside consultant team employed to draft a broadband policy document. This in turn was put open to vigorous public review, a process which included a strong media campaign. In Ghana a stakeholder’s forum held in August 2009 was attended by some 60 participants from across the public, private and civil society sector. This processes resulted in the formation of a broadband policy sub-committee, which was part of the newly formed ministerial advisory committee in that country. The impact of the campaigns has been different in each country. In South Africa, a broadband policy gazetted earlier this year has been met with disbelief from some stakeholders. As the interviews in this Chakula show, campaigners in Nigeria are optimistic about a positive outcome to their efforts. In Ghana, the response is less optimistic, even though the advocacy resulted in the formation of the policy sub- committee – a move which seemed to guarantee government buy-in. With the project now having reached its conclusion, Chakula caught up with Willie Currie, APC’s Communications and Information Policy Programme Manager, to get his take on the success of the initiative… ********************************************************************* "Policy processes are not linear. They have peaks and troughs and can go round in circles…” ********************************************************************* CHAKULA: The broadband initiative in South Africa was the first to get off the ground with the launch of the South African National Broadband Forum. Then Ghana and Nigeria followed. Why broadband and why these countries in particular? Willie Currie [WC]: The context for broadband revolved mainly around the question of what would happen when increased submarine cable capacity reached the east and west coasts of Africa. Were African counties ready for taking advantage of the reduction in costs of international bandwidth to reduce the broadband gap inside their countries? Research at the OECD [Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development] indicated that countries that adopted broadband strategies increased their levels of broadband penetration while countries like the US and Britain who did not adopt broadband strategies did not. Research from the World Bank indicated that increasing broadband penetration by 10% increased GDP in both developed and developing countries. One of Obama’s tech policies was to have the FCC [Federal Communications Commission] develop a national broadband plan as well as to include broadband as part of his stimulus package. And Britain was going through its Digital Britain process. In South Africa and Ghana there were elections and new ministries and the hope was that they would be willing to support national broadband strategies. Nigeria had a very effective coms regulator and was about to receive additional submarine cables, so it also seemed to be a good opportunity to promote a national broadband strategy. In addition, the project was funded by the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa who was also keen to see progress towards affordable broadband in these countries. CHAKULA: The policy vacuum around broadband in Africa is striking. I suppose there are many sectors where a policy lag exists – energy springs to mind. But why do you think African countries tend to be ‘late adopters’ when it comes to ICT policy? The growth in the ICT sector has hardly been a surprise – and it’s no longer the early 1990s when many were still trying to get to grips with new technologies from a policy perspective. WC: Good question. African countries work closely with the ITU [International Telecommunication Union] and its regulators do attend the ITU's Global Regulators Symposium. ITU has put broadband on the agenda in its events and publications and has organised a Broadband Commission which is to make a policy recommendation on broadband to the UN this month. Governments have certainly been active on policy on the east coast - Kenya, Rwanda, but not so much elsewhere. But one still hopes for more dynamic policy initiatives. CHAKULA: The three campaigns are at different points right now – Nigeria has developed a draft strategy; the process in Ghana seems to have stalled; and in South Africa, there is a sense of the ineffectiveness of the campaign, despite the good work of the people involved. How successful do you think these campaigns have been? WC: Policy processes are not linear. They have peaks and troughs and can go round in circles. What has happened has been some degree of engagement between civil society and governments in the three countries, some awareness raising of the issues and attempts to persuade governments to take action. Perhaps as the cables continue to land we may start to see a more coherent approach emerging from governments. CHAKULA: What have been your key learning experiences across the three countries when it comes to these sorts of advocacy drives? If anything, what has been missing? WC: What is difficult is to sustain advocacy processes over long periods of time, especially when immediate results are not forthcoming. The funding cycles that civil society organisations draw on run over two years at the most and if results are not achieved quickly campaigns can stall. On the other side, governments have their own ways of undertaking policy and these do not always align with those of business or civil society. It is important for the civil society policy entrepreneurs involved to be able to sustain their activities during peaks and troughs so that they are ready when conditions change and policy windows open up to engage with policy- makers. CHAKULA: What are the next steps from your perspective? Do you anticipate another advocacy push in, say, Ghana and Nigeria to bring those processes to fruition? WC: The next steps are really up to the policy entrepreneurs in Ghana and Nigeria to keep the broadband initiatives going if they can. //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ NIGERIA: Striking when the time is right… The broadband campaign in Nigeria kicked off in early 2010 with the formation of a multi-stakeholder team to drive the initiative. The strategy in that country had several components, including commissioning the drafting of a broadband policy, hosting a Nigeria National Broadband Forum, and implementing a media strategy. Fittingly, the media strategy included a strong online presence to stimulate awareness and discussion of the broadband strategy and to monitor the progress of the campaign. Chakula spoke to the campaign’s leader, John Dada, Titi Omo-Ettu, who is president of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria and also a co-ordinator of the campaign, and Abi Jagun, who represented SMarT Research in the policy development process. ********************************************************************* “[M]edia-savvy individuals and members who know the history of the Nigeria telecom inside out were on the team…” ********************************************************************* CHAKULA: You were tasked to set up a broadband forum in Nigeria, with the view of developing a national broadband strategy for the country. With such rapid take up of ICTs in Nigeria, how is it possible that the country didn’t have a framework for broadband development? JOHN DADA [JD]: Nigeria is awash with brilliant attempts at ensuring ICTs are available for national development. However the uncertain political climes have been a major deterrent to continuity and focus. The nation already had a draft ICT4D policy, which was developed after the original IT Policy, but it is still waiting legislative approval. This draft policy is a precursor of the work done on the broadband framework. CHAKULA: Tell me a bit about the process of setting up the forum – how did you go about it, who was involved, and what did you hope to achieve? JD: A core group of volunteer individuals and organisations from civil society, the private sector and academia was identified to initiate discussions on issues related to a broadband strategy, including infrastructure, content, e-governance/e-citizenship and education. CHAKULA: You then contracted Society Markets & Technology (SMarT) Research to develop a draft broadband strategy. How was this strategy received by stakeholders? JD: SMarT Research were commissioned to conduct policy research and produce the draft broadband framework and background documents. After a consultation process, the final version of both documents were prepared and submitted on 18 May, 2010. These were published and widely circulated for inputs in both print and electronic formats in- advance of, and during a stakeholders forum. Drafts of the documents were made available to the public through mailing lists, presentations and interactions at various stakeholder meetings, workshops and conferences. A BB4NG [Broadband for Nigeria] Stakeholders’ Forum was held on 28 July at the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) in Abuja. Chaired by a private sector delegate, over one hundred delegates participated in the event and each had a copy of the printed documents. Delegates were from government ministries and institutions; private sector and telecoms industry; civil society groups; the media; the political sector; the military and intelligence community; young adults from the National Youths Service Corps; the academia and the general public. The framework document was considered acceptable, as the issues brought up and discussed by delegates had to do with implementation of the framework. Accordingly, all but three of the delegates in the attendance register also signed their endorsement of the framework during the Stakeholders’ Forum, and both the senior special assistant to the minister of information and communications as well as the chairman of National Information Technology Development (NITDA) regarded the framework as presented to government. CHAKULA: There were a number of strands to your strategy, which attracted a good deal of media coverage. What do you think were the most successful learning experiences, and why do you think they were successful? JD: Composition of the core team of volunteers for developing the strategy was critical; media-savvy individuals and members who know the history of the Nigeria telecom inside out were on the team. They were able to mobilise their formidable network for effective coverage and follow up activities. For example a key member of the BB4NG campaign, Titi Omo-Ettu, is also the president of the high profile Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). ATCON, is already part of a team that includes the Nigeria telcom regulator that will attend the October ITWeb Broadband 2010 summit in South Africa CHAKULA: Where is the process now, and what are the next steps? JD: Sustained post-forum campaigns are on-going and being monitored. It is delightful that a framework already has a solid “leg in” with the present government, as the objectives are already featuring in speeches delivered by the minister of information and communications. However, the impending commencement of political campaigns and changes of government and functionaries at all levels of governance suggest a strategic delay or toning down of the formal presentation of the framework to government. The Nigeria campaign therefore has to be sustained for a period that will span the inauguration of the next government in May 2011. This is an advantage as the new government is more likely to own a policy presented to it than inherited, especially from the tail-end of a previous one, and will also have the time to commence implementation of the framework. ********************************************************************* "[T]he campaign is coming at this time, which is its time." ********************************************************************* CHAKULA: You are the president of ATCON, and also a member of the broadband forum. First of all, can you tell me more about the Association – what is its role, and does it have a strong membership? TITI OMO-ETTU [TO]: ATCON is the umbrella Association of all Telecommunication Companies in Nigeria. It recognises seven subgroups as well as autonomous subgroup associations such as Association of Licensed Telecom Operators (ALTON), the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPAN) and others. It interfaces with the industry regulator and also with government to protect the interest of its members and also of the entire industry. It is a powerful input provider into policies of the federal government of Nigeria on communication matters. The government hired the association’s president in 2000 to serve as the chief executive of the Nigerian Communication Commission for two terms, which ended a few months ago. Another active member of the Association was recently hired to succeed him. The Association is taking a team of its members and other industry players and entrepreneurs to explore trade relationships with world class players in Johannesburg in a fortnight, there about. It asked for and got the approval of the regulator to lead the trade team for strategic reasons. CHAKULA: What got you interested in the broadband campaign? TO: I am an engineer and I built a career in the telcom industry working for Nigeria's expired monopoly incumbent in the days of monopoly. I have followed the growth and development of Nigeria’s telecommunications since 1987 while I was in the public service and when we first mooted the liberalisation agenda. I opted out of service in 1991 into retirement to pursue a career in telecommunication consultancy and also to play in the political development of the industry. I have done so continuously from then and it is only natural that the broadband campaign is coming at this time, which is its time. CHAKULA: Why do you think Nigeria lacked a broadband strategy? TO: To the extent that something has to start one day, ubiquitous broadband presence is not an old subject anywhere and I would rather see it as current need and not one of previous lack. CHAKULA: What does the Association’s membership make of the campaign? Are they generally supportive? TO: Yes, they are. CHAKULA: There have been suggestions that in Nigeria, perhaps more than in other countries, in order to bring about policy change you have to prove the business model – appeal to the economics of it – rather than appeal, to say, bridging the digital divide, or providing services to the poor. Is this perception correct? TO: This is true. I am an apostle of that philosophy which actually derived from our experiences that we have to situate the fortune of our development in the private-sector focused economy. This needs to be done to amass the kind of seriousness that enables us to meet our social needs using business models for productivity. The other models are unsuitable for our circumstances and ditto for a few other strategies. CHAKULA: Where to now with the campaign, in your view? TO: One way. Up! We are influencing government to open up the industry further. We did just that in the past decade, but now by stimulating SME initiatives to transport traffic and to enhance universal reach in such manners that promise ubiquity of broadband and strategic lowering of the cost of access and services. Government has been responding better and our efforts are counting. For our association and its members, the first is advocacy, then education, then constructive requests for government intervention to reduce stress as we march on. The march is unstoppable. ********************************************************************* “[T]he dominant paradigm regarding [ICT development] dictates that [the government’s] involvement be minimal.” ********************************************************************* CHAKULA: You were asked by Nigerian National Broadband Forum to develop a draft broadband strategy for Nigeria. I have posed this question to the forum – but it intrigues me that many African countries with burgeoning ICT environments, have not yet taken the initiative to develop policy frameworks to guide the development of the ICT sector – which they nevertheless concede is critical to the country’s development. How do you account for the policy lag in Africa around ICTs? ABI JAGUN [AJ]: I wish I had concrete evidence for what I am about to say rather than gut feel or unsubstantiated opinion, but I really do think that whilst some countries do more to integrate developments in ICTs into their national development strategies, and indeed practical/ concrete examples exist of this, other countries merely "talk the talk". I think there are various reasons for this, but a key one links to the perception that technology is a "black box" (for want of a better phrase). It boils down to the way technological innovation is packaged to developing countries and is linked to an out-dated(?) perspective of the way in which developing countries are expected to acquire technology. Technology is not something that developing countries "develop"; rather it is "transferred" to them, and as such there is little expectation that governments/the recipient nation should be too involved in the "technicalities" nor in innovation. Given an acceptance of this, it is not surprising that not much by way of developing the ICT sector features in meaningful/practical ways in the national priorities. Reinforcing this is the success with which the theory of liberalisation has influenced development interventions. A competitive private sector can deliver the promises of technology and governments need only *react* to their needs - articulated either by the sector itself or agencies that directly of indirectly represent their needs. Also influential are the very expansive and effective 'advertising' that has been done by private sector communications operators looking for new markets and who, on the one hand, are looking for favourable investment/trade conditions in developing and emerging countries and on the other see the opportunity to score corporate social responsibility points/quick-wins with their customers/ public in more industrialised countries. In summary, we do not see more government involvement in the way/manner in which ICT development occurs in (most) African countries because the dominant paradigm regarding such developments dictates that their involvement be minimal. CHAKULA: The draft framework suggests that the broadband strategy should aim to bring “broadband, with speed of at least 4Mbps, that is accessible, affordable and dependable to citizens and consumers in Nigeria.” How do you define issues of accessibility and affordability? AJ: Accessibility and affordability are defined in practical terms and much the same way as would be defined with respect to other (tele)communications products/services. A large proportion of the population (if not all members of the public that wish to access the product/service) should be able to access the product/service conveniently and at a price that is commensurate with the income of the majority of the population. CHAKULA: Amongst the objectives, you talk about the use of broadband for economic activities, because of the entrepreneurial nature of the population. In your experience, is broadband more about making money in Nigeria than elsewhere on the continent? In other countries, such as South Africa, an advocacy campaign might make more of bridging the digital divide, and serving underserved communities. In Nigeria, how do you see the balance between business and development, as the spark for an advocacy campaign – what gets you more leverage if you want to bring about change? AJ: There was intense discussion with respect to this in developing the broadband strategy. Whilst I cannot speak for other African countries, the truth is that the main driver of broadband deployment/ diffusion in Nigeria will be businesses. When businesses believe that they will be able to make money in rolling out broadband and when businesses believe that they will make money by adopting it we will see infrastructure being built and applications and/or content being developed. Personal use of broadband and its spread to underserved areas and/or mariginalised groups will come about/increase as a result of this. There is therefore a need to acknowledge and create the space for the business aspect of broadband in order to attain more public- interest oriented objectives. Key links: Draft policy documents: www.forum.org.ng/BB4NG Essentials of the media strategy is summarized at http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AUg1mzUdzt_SZGZ6anRqaDJfMjY5ZnNwcTJnZ20&h… Stakeholder mapping is summarized at http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AS4Cn2nENwLzZGZkMmtrMmJfMmZ0OG05d2Zi&hl=en Results of the media campaign: “Nigerians demand broadband access from FG,” Available at http://compassnewspaper.com/NG/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id… “Nigeria: New Broadband Capacity Underway, Says FG,” Available at http://allafrica.com/stories/201008100128.html “Stakeholders to dialogue on broadband for Nigerians,” Available at http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6361408-stakeholders-to-dialogue-… “Broadband for Nigeria holds in Abuja,” Available at http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/07/20/broadband-for-nigeria-holds-in-abuja/ //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ GHANA: Moving the hand of God The campaign in Ghana was launched in August 2009 with a stakeholder workshop in Dodowa. One of the key purposes of the campaign was to push for “immediate steps” to lower the cost of bandwidth in Ghana – the vehicle to do this would be the development of a national broadband strategy in consultation with stakeholders. Chakula spoke to Eric Osiakwan from Internet Research, who was tasked to lead the campaign, and Eva Lokko from Ghana Information Network for Knowledge Sharing. ********************************************************************* “Unfortunately the political elite has higher priorities…” ********************************************************************* CHAKULA: The goal of your broadband campaign was to push for lower bandwidth cost. Why are broadband prices so high in Ghana? Eric Osiakwan [EO]: The business model of operators nurtured by the environment is a "high margin, low volume" one, but our effort is to move them towards a "low margin, high volume" approach which is fundamentally responsible for the mobile revolution we have experienced on the continent. CHAKULA: It seems strange to me that governments in this day and age don't recognise the need for policy and strategy frameworks when it comes to ICTs. Why does this broadband strategy vacuum exist in Ghana? EO: There is an existing ICT for Accelerated Development Policy which calls for a Broadband Strategy, hence our effort. But unfortunately the political elite has higher priorities even when the sub-committee was set-up to advance the cause. CHAKULA: You intervention began in 2009 with a multi-stakeholder workshop in August of that year. It looks like government and business were very responsive to your aims? EO: Very. Our process was to gather the relevant stakeholders, and at the level of the vice president we had buy-in. But when the button was handed over to government to take leadership on the development of the strategy, which is within their remit, other competing priorities took over. CHAKULA: You have now been asked to serve on a newly-formed Broadband Policy Sub-committee of the Ministerial Advisory Committee. The task of the sub-committee has been to develop the broadband strategy. But I understand this has also been a frustrating process – where does everything stand right now? And what are your next steps? EO: Various members of the committee were tasked to write various elements of the policy input paper, but it is yet to be integrated, polished and tabled for a multi-stakeholder submission and input. CHAKULA: What are your learning experiences from this intervention, in terms of making policy interventions of this sort work? EO: We have learned that you can only move the "hand of God" that much.......maybe it would move at its own time and pace. ********************************************************************* “Stakeholders from all sides get to the practical acceptance of the fact that they need each other to survive…” ********************************************************************* CHAKULA: You were one of the conveners of the broadband strategy in Ghana, representing the Ghana Information Network and Knowledge Sharing (GINKS). First of all, tell me a bit about GINKS? EVA LOKKO [EL]: GINKS provides the platform for individuals and institutions to share experiences, best practices, lessons learnt as well as common ground for networking and dialogue with each other in order to harness all aspects of ICT for the development of Ghana. GINKS brings together institutions including government, CSOs, ICT infrastructure/service providers and users. CHAKULA: Why did the broadband initiative interest you? EL: I believe that the internet has become a “human right” in this era of knowledge economy. Consequently broadband is the blood that carries all the knowledge and information through the physical and virtual pipes to us. It will therefore be a disaster if Ghana does not put in place the necessary strategy to ensure standards, availability, affordability, reliability and sustainability of broadband services and support to facilitate ICT4D for all Ghanaians. I could therefore not stay out of such an important ICT initiative. A broadband strategy will: * Promote competition between and within communication service providers * Promote the provision of reliable and high-quality electronic services and content at affordable prices * Stimulate individual and business demand for broadband services to ensure viability of ICT businesses * Expand infrastructure, services and support to areas that do not yet have access. CHAKULA: Why do you think Ghana lacked a broadband strategy up until this point? EL: Unfortunately, strategies and policies seem to always lag behind implementation where ICT is concerned. I think the lack of a broadband strategy for Ghana was primarily due to the difficulty of accepting that ICTs cut across all sectors (education, health, agriculture, business, etc.) and that implementing ICT solutions across board would solve faster (and in some cases solve better) some of the same problems that we are aiming to solve with “brick-and-mortar”. The perception was that after we have solved the difficult problems in health, education etc. then we can look at ICTs. There was also the perception that ICTs are solely for ICT professionals and enthusiasts and therefore issues pertaining to ICTs were always reserved for last. The impact of broadband as a key economic indicator had also not been appreciated fully until now. CHAKULA: In your view, has the strategy been successful? EL: I think it has, even though not to the extent and at the speed that one would have wished. It was successful because stakeholders found it challenging and important enough to send high-powered delegates and decision-makers to the forum (government, users, providers, public, CSOs, etc.). The strategy forum sparked off a lot of interest from all quarters via the internet when it was going on and was taken up by parliament, the National Communications Authority and the ministry of communications (all of them participants) after it concluded. A committee has also been set up to review it for adoption. It will however be fully successful if implemented in good time after the review. CHAKULA: What has been your learning experience in engaging in this kind of strategy initiative? EL: Such initiatives are always very challenging experiences fraught with the usual tug-of-war on almost all suggestions made on the floor. The most important thing, though, is that there is always consensus at the end of such initiatives, since stakeholders from all sides get to the practical acceptance of the fact that they need each other to survive. You also learn new things and get a better picture of what is actually on the ground, what has been planned and where the gaps are. It always brings you back to the reality that there is always the need for a champion to ensure the move from a strategy to review and adoption, and finally to implementation. Key links: ICT for Accelerated Development Policy in Ghana: http://www.ict.gov.gh/ //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ SOUTH AFRICA: Autopsy of a missed opportunity What got left out… Ten things analysts say the South African broadband policy, gazetted earlier this year, does not do: 1. State the problem/challenge/opportunity which requires a policy intervention, and relate this to wider national policy objectives. 2. Establish the present position in relation to that problem (through e.g. statistical summary, technological and market analysis, research into user behaviour). 3. Consider international and national trends relevant to the policy area concerned. 4. Establish objectives for national broadband policy. 5. Set out alternative approaches which could be taken by government (and other actors), and consider the pros and cons of these different alternatives in light of objectives and resources. 6. In a consultation process, identify choices and questions which need to be addressed and on which opinion is consulted (but may indicate an initial policy preference) 7. In a final policy document, choose a particular policy approach and give reasons why this particular approach has been chosen. 8. Address questions of resourcing, including both finance and human resources. 9. Identify and consider other policy areas, outside the policy area in question, in which action or interventions are required (e.g. In supply-side areas such as capacity-building, in demand-side areas such as enabling legislation for e-commerce). 10. Establish a plan of action with clear goals, allocation of responsibilities and timetable. ********************************************************************** Criticism of South Africa’s broadband policy has been hard-hitting. Stakeholders – including activists, policy advisors and academics – have called it a “lost opportunity”, an “aspirational document with no clear plan of action”, unambitious, and the result of a government consultative process that was not sincere. Analysts have pointed out that there are few differences between the draft document published in 2009 – which was roundly criticised - and the final policy document which was gazetted. In a response to the draft policy document released by the department, Alison Gillwald, executive director of Research ICT Africa, pointed to the lack of clarity in the “roles of the state, state- owned entities, authorities and private sector in broadband infrastructure development”. These included the roles of the state broadband company Infraco, the Department of Public Enterprises, which is the sole shareholder of Infraco, and the Department of Communications, which has been “responsible for the to-date weak ‘managed liberalisation’ policy of the last decade”. “Critical issues of the co-ordination of rights of way and of complementary spectrum usage, which have plagued the roll-out of new entrants, are not raised,” she wrote, adding that the strategy lacked the vision seen in Britain, Australia, Mauritius and the US. In particular, the draft policy lacked insight into the crucial role of broadband in economic growth and job creation. Many have now warned that South Africa is likely to fall even further behind other African countries in its economic development because of a lack of strategic insight into the transformative power of communications technologies. Chakula spoke to the Shuttleworth Foundation’s Steve Song to get his sense of what can be salvaged from the aftermath… ********************************************************************* “[N]o one within government gets it or is prepared to stand up and fight for it.” ********************************************************************* CHAKULA: When we last spoke there was a sense of a policy window opening – an opportunity for policy influence given the change in government. It was in this moment that the South African National Broadband Forum (SANBF) launched its campaign for a progressive broadband strategy in this country. But the final policy as it emerged appears to lack substance, despite the efforts of many. What do you think are the key failings of the policy? STEVE SONG [SS]: I think the key failings of the policy are: a) To have set broadband penetration goals that are so weak as to be comparatively meaningless (15% broadband penetration - 256kbps – by 2019 for example). b) To have no resources linked to the policy. Without strong backing from economic planning, this policy is unlikely to attract the investment it needs to be meaningful. CHAKULA: The campaign was proactive, and, probably with limited resources, had a number of components – a workshop, a media drive (you yourself were interviewed on radio), a meeting with the Department of Communications, and a written response to the first draft of the broadband policy. Would you do anything differently if you had to launch a campaign like this again? SS: From a public perspective, I would simplify the message. We asked people to support a framework which was a set of recommendations for government policy. As a public campaign, we should have just focused on the targets, namely: By 2014, South Africa will: * Have broadband access in every town and village; * Have the cheapest broadband access on the continent; and, * Be number one in terms of broadband penetration on the continent. We should have just hammered those targets into the public consciousness so that even politicians would have those targets on their mind. Secondly, I would have focused on finding a point of leverage within the economic planning centres of power. As mentioned above, a broadband policy without some strong budget commitment is unlikely to have much impact. CHAKULA: What is your sense of the South African policy environment – do you think there is real willingness to engage with stakeholders on the government’s side; or do you think that much is made of this engagement, yet when it comes to the crunch, government goes its own way? Sometimes there is a feeling that when stakeholders are ready, government isn’t really on the same page, so efforts at advocacy can come to very little. Has this process left you disempowered, as stakeholders working outside of government? SS: There is no real champion within the South African government for broadband as an accelerator of social and economic development. My learning from this process is that no one within government gets it or is prepared to stand up and fight for it. We took a calculated risk that the South African election was a point of malleability in terms of policy and that politicians might seize on affordable broadband as policy issue. Strategically this was the right thing to do but tactically we failed to find the right points of engagement within the government. I don't feel disempowered by the process. It was a learning experience. CHAKULA: An assessment of the gazetted broadband policy document and the process is now underway. Are there still avenues open for policy advocacy around broadband? Where to now? SS: The problem of affordable access to broadband is not going to go away. Other countries are expanding their broadband infrastructure at an accelerated rate and the impact of this is showing itself in economic growth, in education, in nearly every aspect of life. Sooner or later it will dawn on someone in the South African government that we have been shooting ourselves in the telecommunications foot for nearly 10 years and it is damaging South Africa's prospects of being a competitive player in the global knowledge economy. Our job is to see bring that dawn about as quickly as possible. Key campaign links: Website for the online campaign: http://www.broadband4africa.org.za/ Participants' comments on the strategy framework: http://www.apc.org/en/system/files/Broadband+strategy+framework_compiled_in… Willie Currie’s blog on the campaign: http://www.southafricaconnect.org.za/ Broadband Forum’s workshop on video: http://www.southafricaconnect.org.za/?p=265 //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\// CHAKULA is a newsletter produced by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). It aims to mobilise African civil society around ICT policy for sustainable development and social justice issues. We welcome your opinions about this newsletter. Send your comments, feedback or contributions to chakula(a)apc.org. To subscribe or unsubscribe e-mail chakula(a)apc.org or go to: http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/chakula

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Nomination period for the NRO-NC election from the AfriNIC region now open
by McTim 25 Sep '10

25 Sep '10

Apologies for extensive cross-posting: Dear Colleagues of the AfriNIC Community, It is with great pleasure that the AfriNIC NomCom2010 announces the opening of the nomination period for NRO-NC elections. Nominations will be accepted until 20:00 UTC on 16 October 2010. Appointing representatives from the AfriNIC service region to the NRO-NC (Number Resource Organisation's Number Council) is an important role played by the AfriNIC community. The community will elect individuals through an open and transparent election process in Johannesburg South Africa in November 2010. The NRO-NC election will take place during the second Public Policy Meeting of AfriNIC, which normally takes place during the last week of November of each year. For more details, please see: http://meeting.afrinic.net/afrinic-13/index.php/nro-ncaso-ac-election The appointed candidates will also serve, according to the ASO MoU, on the ASO-AC (Address Supporting Organisation Advisory Council). The Open seat for election will be based on the terms of the elected NRONC/ASO-AC representatives as published on: http://www.nro.net/about/number-council.html and http://aso.icann.org/people/address-council/address-council-members/ The election procedures for the AfriNIC NRO-NC/ASO-AC representatives are as follows: Who can be elected: Every year one member of the community is elected for a term of THREE (3) years to the NRO-NC. The candidate must be a natural person residing in a country within the AfriNIC service region. A person may only nominate ONE candidate. In case of multiple nominations by the same person, only the LAST nomination will be considered valid, and the Nomination Committee will consider the previous nomination(s) as invalid. AfriNIC staff or staff of other RIRs cannot nominate candidates nor be nominated. Self-nominations will be allowed but in such case the nomination must be formally supported by at least two AfriNIC members in good standing. Who can vote: AfriNIC members and any participants from the AfriNIC community present at the face-to-face meeting who meets the following criteria: ‐ have registered for the meeting (Meeting Badge as proof) ‐ resides in a country within AfriNIC service region and ‐ is not an employee of AfriNIC. Ballots for the vote will be distributed at the registration desk prior to the election. Proxy voting: Proxies are not allowed for the NRO-NC election The NomCom looks forward to your active participation. Best Regards, Tim McGinnis Chair NomCom2010

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Re: [kictanet] Wireless, a high or low density solution
by robert yawe 24 Sep '10

24 Sep '10

Hi, We have an infrastructure already existing beneath the city that was put up using tax payers funds which would mean it was not sold to Orange, see attached image. This ducting which still exists and what is required is for it to be handed over to CCK to manage thus allowing a new entrant to lay fibre in the fasted way possible without needing to dig up half the city. It is not for the consumers to pay the ISPs for making uneconomical decisions when laying their fibre cable, if this was done we can role out a fibre optic metro network, including areas like Buru Buru, Eastleigh and South C/B within 3 months. Peculiar Kenyans, we know the problem, we know the solution but we refuse to implement. So Liko, join me in the fight to wrestle this infrastructure that the tax payer paid for from the East Africa Post & Telecommunications/Kenya Posts and Telecommunications/Telkom Kenya. It was done in the US with MaBell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_System) which was split up. If Dr. Ndemo is truthful about not handing over NoFbi to Orange, then lets make sure that he cuts out the existing underground ducting from its control. Most of the copper in those ducts is redundant as Telkom installed an SDH fibre ring to interconnect its exchanges. The writing is on the wall, any policy fellows out there who can guide us on how to effect to takeover? Regards Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi(a)gmail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: Dennis Kioko Mbuvi <dmbuvi+kictanet(a)gmail.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Fri, 24 September, 2010 10:36:52 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Wireless, a high or low density solution I think the situation is compounded by lack of a Neutral infrastructure provider. ISPs are afraid to utilize infrastructure from KDN, Telkom and Jamii as all this operate their own ISPs. As for KDN leaving the retail market, am wondering how they expect us to beileve them when they have a sister company downstairs. So, will this be the situation until some Indian from Bharti or Reliance arrives and rolls out city wide infrastructure. Google has also announce plans to roll out wireless infrastructure for lease. Shall we be waiting for outsiders to come wipe our behinds, then fall over to foreign vs Kenyan to protect ourselves.

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Wireless, a high or low density solution
by robert yawe 24 Sep '10

24 Sep '10

Hi, I am sure some of you read my posting on my waiting to receive reliable Internet when at home and more recently my issues with safaricom on installation of a Wimax connection. In the same breath I have been questioning the rational of using wireless solutions in Nairobi where we have such a density of consumers which could explain the issues being raised by ISPs about lowering Internet charges due to unfactored costs in landing the fibre optic cable. I grew up in buru buru estate and now that I think about it there where very few overhead power lines and the ones that where there feed directly to the substations and transformer rooms. Where I currently live today in South C the situation is the same. But when you visit estates like Umoja innercore, Runda, Karen there is a lot of overhead power lines in the case of Umoja it is because of bad planning while in the other 2 it due to the sparseness of the units. Therefore as an analogy the over head lines is wireless connectivity and the underground cabling your fibre & copper solutions. When CCK raise issues about BTS sharing and NEMA keep screaming about radiation the ISPs continue to increase the amount of radio traffic in our airwaves one antennae at a time. As I write this I am seated in the office at Phoenix house and can see 5 wireless devices, across at Standard House there are over 13 of them three quarters of which are facing the same direction indicating that are connecting to the same base station. I do not envy the person responsible for customer service of that network and also the upgrades that will soon be required as one sector gets congested yet another is underutilised. Even as I wait for the finally commissioning of my Wimax installation by Safaricom at home I wonder would it not have been more cost effective to deliver a fibre optic cable to the estate (which for you information is fully ducted for low voltage services from the cab into each house) and provide all the 150 houses with a wired solution. If we think through some of the solutions we implement we can do more with what we have, the hire customer density on a fibre node will reduce per unit cost and increase profitability for the provider thus allowing him to offer wireless solutions for the more spreadout locations with lower densities. Our fear of Telkom's history where a land line would be out of service for months on end with excuses such cable has been cut or we have no drop wire. Today even Telkom is offering those with landlines an automatic wireless line fail-over in the event of the cable getting cut. Using Wimax to cover less than 4 kilometre distances is like killing a fly with a sledge hammer. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Commodity Exchange System
by robert yawe 23 Sep '10

23 Sep '10

Hi, The National Cereals and Produce Board together with the East African Grain Council are working towards the creation of a commodity exchange to trade futures. This process is at an advanced stage which begun with a process called warehouse receipting and currently Equity Bank offers credit against the receipts. What does this have to do with us in the IT field? When the Nairobi Stock Exchange tendered for the automated trading system (ATS) and more recently for the Broker Back-office System no local IT company made it past the 1st round. The fact that companies like Virtual City are winning international awards for systems development and others like PesaPal are receiving large direct foreign investments means that we do have the skills to develop world class solutions. This is an appeal to all ICT experts in the country to prepare ourselves to make sure that the grain exchange system is locally developed and we stop being spectators in our own country. I know it is said that a prophet is never recognised in his own town, it is time we made this phrase redundant. NCPB and others are already shopping overseas for a solution so be warned that time is not in our hands and if we are to have an impact we need to move quickly. The proposed system is supposed to provide a trading platform, depository system, GIS for land information, settlement system, warehouse management, weather monitoring and seed planting information system (acreage, seed type, fertiliser, etc). Lets get off our high horses and put a together a world class solution for a local problem. No tears after the horse has bolted. Useful links http://dn.nationmedia.com/DN/DN/2010/09/03/ArticleHtmls/03_09_2010_030_014.… http://allafrica.com/stories/200904271171.html http://www.ratin.net/mainfeature.asp?id=40 http://www.monitor.co.ug/Business/Smart%20Money/-/688614/899436/-/bypmdxz/-… http://www.unctad.info/upload/SUC/LusakaWorkshop/WarehouseServicesKenya.pdf Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Masaku to Ndemo, "You are Doing a Great Job with Artists"
by Grace (Bomu) 23 Sep '10

23 Sep '10

On Churhill Live, shown on Thursday at 7.30pm, veteran actor "Masaku" of Vitimbi fame ackowlegded the great work being by Information PS in supporting training of upcoming artists in the "mitaas". Congrats on your good work! -- Grace L.N. Mutung'u (Bomu) Kenya Skype: gracebomu Twitter: GraceMutung'u (Bomu)

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IGF Book, report on Sharm El Sheikh Meeting
by Barrack Otieno 23 Sep '10

23 Sep '10

Dear Colleagues, This might be an interesting resource for those who did not make it for the meeting in Vilnius. http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/images/2010/book/igf.sharm.book.final.pdf Best Regards -- Barrack O. Otieno +41767892272 Skype: barrack.otieno

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Fwd: [ISOC] Reminder: Deadline approaching [Internet Society Community Grants programme]
by Adam Peake 23 Sep '10

23 Sep '10

Any ISOC member can apply. Adam >From: Connie Kendig <kendig(a)isoc.org> >To: isoc-members-announce(a)elists.isoc.org >Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:36:55 -0400 >Subject: [ISOC] Reminder: Deadline approaching [Internet Society Community > Grants programme] > >Just a friendly reminder that the ISOC grants programme application >round is closing in one week: 30 September. > >Feel free to contact me with any questions. > >Warm regards, >Connie > > >Begin forwarded message: > >>From: Connie Kendig <kendig(a)isoc.org> >>Date: September 1, 2010 8:59:10 AM EDT >>To: isoc-members-announce(a)elists.isoc.org >>Subject: [ISOC] Internet Society Community Grants programme now open! >> >>Dear ISOC members: >> >>The Internet Society is now accepting applications for its >>Community Grants Programme. The application cycle will be open >>until 30 September. Decisions will be announced in mid-November. >> >>Please note, as mentioned before, two new eligibility criteria: >> >>1. Current Chapter applicants who are previous Community Grants >>award recipients and currently have a project underway must have >>met all financial and reporting requirements for that past award. >>Otherwise, the current Chapter application will not be considered. >> >>2. Previous Community Grants recipients awarded as Individual >>Members (instead of a Chapter award) may not have more than one >>ISOC-funded project open at one time. In order for a current >>application from an Individual Member to be considered, any >>previous non-Chapter projects must be completed in full with >>appropriate reporting submitted. >> >>To learn more about the programme, and to apply, please visit our >>website at http://www.isoc.org/isoc/chapters/projects/. >> >>Any questions may be sent to projects [at] isoc [dot] org. >> >>Best, >> >>Connie J Kendig >>Sponsored Programs & Grants Manager >> >>Internet Society >>www.isoc.org >> >>Kendig(a)isoc.org >>Phone: +1 (703) 439-2136 > >

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Mobile Monday- September 27th @iHub 6pm-7.30pm Invitation
by John Wesonga 23 Sep '10

23 Sep '10

Hi, I just wanted to send out an invitation to the KICTANET list for *Mobile Monday-KENYA *which will be happening on the 27th of September at the iHub from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. For those not familiar with Mobile Monday (MoMo) is an open community platform of mobile industry visionaries, developers and influential individuals fostering brand neutral cooperation and cross-border P2P business opportunities through live networking events to demo products, share ideas and discuss trends from both local and global markets. This will be our 7th meet up since the Kenya chapter was launched Previous organizations/companies that have presented include Google Kenya,MXit plus several local startups. Register at http://mobilemondaykenya.eventbrite.com/ -- John Wesonga

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KICTB Pasha"Digital Villages" Status
by Edwin Onchari 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

Hello Paul, What is the progress on this project, and how does one tap into its capacity to roll out services to disadvantages locations in Kenya, to benefit the marginalized groups in our society? There is not much on your site to this effect Edwin

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Unavailable Safaricom offer
by robert yawe 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

Hi, On Sunday I came across a full page advertisement by Safaricom offering home broadband service for 3,990/-, they also where offering a free PSP for the 1st 10 signups. This was an offer that my kids where not going to let pass them, so we sent a message to the number and promptly received a reply at 9:35 am on Sunday 19th September 2010 that they will revert to us within 12 hours. It has been over 24 hours and no response from Safaricom, is this a sign of things to come where marketing are moving forward without consulting other departments? Its not a pretty sight. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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[Fwd: call for participants for the first regional LPI Training of Trainers]
by Joe Murithi Njeru 21 Sep '10

21 Sep '10

Hello All, Please see the above communication from Evans Ikua on the 1st Regional LPI Training of Trainers. -- Regards, Joe Murithi Njeru Zilojo Ltd. P.O. Box 39501-00623 Nairobi Kenya. T: +254-722-787725 E: joe.njeru(a)zilojo.com W: http://www.zilojo.com M: http://www.mobility.co.ke/zilojo Web . Retail . Travel

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IDC's Storage, Virtualisation and Datacentres Roadshow 14th October 2010
by Francis.Hook＠gmail.com 21 Sep '10

21 Sep '10

Dear Listers, IDC is pleased to announce its Storage, Virtualisation and Datacentres Roadshow scheduled for the 14th October 2010 at the Hilton Hotel. This event will feature presentations on cloud computing, data centres, managed services and smart infrastructure consolidation. This half day event is FREE to eligible end users and only requires registration at the link provided below. To view details of this event, please visit : www.idc-cema.com/events/storage10ken To register for the event (end users), please visit: http://www.idc-cema.com/?formid=eventreg&prd_id=1822467&content_lang=ENG For any other information, please contact fhook(a)idc.com Thanks and kind regards Francis -

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FW: Consumers: ZICTA (Zambia) introduces fixed telecommunication charges
by Edith Adera 20 Sep '10

20 Sep '10

Are we joining the era of price controls? Isn't this stiffling competition, creativity and free choice? http://postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=13821 Edith ________________________________ ZICTA introduces fixed telecommunication charges for all operators By Mutale Kapekele Fri 17 Sep. 2010, 14:00 CAT [http://postzambia.com/pics/icons/uparrow.gif]<http://postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=13821#text_size> [http://postzambia.com/pics/icons/downarrow.gif] <http://postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=13821#text_size> Text size [http://postzambia.com/pics/icons/printer.png] <http://postzambia.com/post-print_article.php?articleId=13821> Print<http://postzambia.com/post-print_article.php?articleId=13821> [http://postzambia.com/includes/thumbs/thumbs.php?w=350&id=13821]<http://postzambia.com/article_image.php?image_type=article&id=13821> File Picture: Zamtel mast THE Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) has introduced fixed telecommunication charges for all operators expected to come into effect on November 1, 2010. This follows the Authority's recent cost of service study that was undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) of the United Kingdom that recommended the relaxation of tariffs. Announcing the development yesterday, ZICTA director general Margaret Kunda-Chalwe said all voice calls would be charged at 5.9 US cents (K300) per minute and reduce to 5.3 US cents on January 1, 2011 with a further reduction to 5 US cents at the beginning of 2012. She also announced that Short Message Sending (SMS) charges would with effect from November 1 be pegged at K295 reducing to K132.50 and K125 in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Chalwe said the rates for interconnection would be dominated in Zambian kwacha in conformity with the law and given the low inflation rate in the country. She also disclosed that ZICTA would implement all recommendations from PWC which included the control of telecommunication charges, the elimination of wholesale tariff discrimination and the stimulation of effective communication, among other issues. Chalwe also announced that ZICTA had made funds available for building towers in un-serviced areas where telecommunication companies could mount their transmitters. ZICTA introduces fixed telecommunication charges for all operators <http://postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=13821#text_size> <http://postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=13821#text_size> <http://postzambia.com/post-print_article.php?articleId=13821> <http://postzambia.com/post-print_article.php?articleId=13821> <http://postzambia.com/article_image.php?image_type=article&id=13821>

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Re: [kictanet] KPLC should embrace technology and save kenyans millions
by John Kariuki 17 Sep '10

17 Sep '10

I wish life was that simple.However,I am pursuaded that it is not. What should be of concern is the issue of national infrastructure and the extent of private sector participation and whether even after privatisation the Government(read Citizens) still carry very substantial risks. Remember, the recent financial crisis in the West, in particular US, where large sums of taxpayers money were used to bail out private companies whose top executives were at the same time paying themselves huge bonuses. Conclusion: Even when you privatize, the tax payer still carries some risk! Just some little food for thought. --- On Fri, 17/9/10, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] KPLC should embrace technology and save kenyans millions To: "John Kariuki" <ngethe.kariuki2007(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: "Dennis Kioko Mbuvi" <dmbuvi+kictanet(a)gmail.com>, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Friday, 17 September, 2010, 12:01 I suggest we invite the Indians to form a second distribution company. However, am sure the suggestion will raise a lot of dust around about support for Kenyan investors. It is my opinion that we need to review a lot of things starting with what we pay for power, and cost of commodities such as sugar. As long as the cost of Pakistan Cement in Nairobi is lower tha factory price of local cement and sugar costs twice what it costs in the region , we are in danger of the more efficient producers upsetting us one day.

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Local (Kenya, later Africa) Call termination to VoIP rates
by Edwin Onchari 17 Sep '10

17 Sep '10

Listers, Could anyone with information on the most competitive call termination to VoIP (local) please contact me urgently! Not sure as yet, on how many calls I will be handling (but will be significant) Kind regards, Edwin M Onchari Founder & CEO - LynxBits Global +254-0720-755-951 eonchari(a)lynxbits.com www.lynxbits.com

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Bharti and IBM extend partnership into Africa
by Harry Hare 17 Sep '10

17 Sep '10

http://tinyurl.com/3876xjj Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre eDevelopment House : : 604 Limuru Road Old Muthaiga : : P O Box 49475 00100 Nairobi : : Kenya T +254 20 3741646/7 : : C +254 725 650044 Training : : Research: :Consultancy: : Publishing

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Call Completion Rate on Safaricom
by Edith Adera 17 Sep '10

17 Sep '10

What is going on with the network today? I made several calls today and ended up "crossing lines" with other subscribers and listening in on third party conversations rather than getting the subscriber dialed. Could Safaricom inform their consumers what is going on? network upgrade? technical glitch? Are call completion rates a regulatory performance target? Edith

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] IBM President in the Country
by Brian Munyao Longwe 17 Sep '10

17 Sep '10

This is a bold move and a clear statement of how serious Bharti is taking the intervention in Africa. As James Murua points out in his blog post ( http://bit.ly/avQeUT) Bharti is working with IBM so that they (Bharti) can focus on their core strengths and hit the market hard through partnerships. In the words of a speaker at AITEC's EA ICT conference, Bharti outsources "everything" which allows them to minimize on capital and operating expenses - but more importantly - to hit their target markets hard and square. Can't wait to see what else they have up their sleeve! Regards, Brian On Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 3:16 PM, Glenn Sequeira <gsequeira(a)gmail.com> wrote: > On Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 3:59 PM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > For those who missed it, IBMs Samuel Palmisano was in the country this > > morning, physically, not virtually via Hologram . He was here for the > > announcement about Bharti's partnership with IBM. > > Here's the press release from IBM: > > http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/32505.wss > > ~glenn > _______________________________________________ > Skunkworks mailing list > Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke > http://orion.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > ------------ > Skunkworks Server donations spreadsheet > > http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AopdHkqSqKL-dHlQVTMxU1VBdU1BSWJxdy1… > ------------ > Skunkworks Rules > http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 > ------------ > Other services @ http://my.co.ke > -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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KPLC should embrace technology and save kenyans millions
by Edwin Onchari 17 Sep '10

17 Sep '10

Dear KPLC, Here is a brief picture(example from what I have experienced in last 1 year) that is disturbing and unfortunately resonates with millions of Kenyans privileged to have power in their houses/offices: Month Bill Meter reading 1-5 Average 1000 KES Estimate 6 - 8 Average 1100 KES Estimate 9 17000 KES Meter reading Now: If KPLC invested in locally developed and available technology, customers can actually monitor their electricity usage, versus the readings on their meters and what is shown on the invoices. The sad story about these fluctuations is that KPLC insists that you must pay the higher amounts, then go to their ever unending queue at electricity house (good luck if you have a car because parking in Nairobi is another nightmare), where a customer care agent (with no etiquette) will tell you to produce all receipts for the year to sort out your problem. Now, I work along Mombasa road, which means that I have to halt my income generating engagements to navigate through unending traffic so that I can go queue for hours and face a customer care agent that will rudely handle my case, to no conclusion and brace myself for another such session in less than a year later! Any affordable solar solutions out there for apartment duelers? Because I terribly need one. Edwin

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Re: [kictanet] KPLC should embrace technology and save kenyans millions
by Edwin Onchari 16 Sep '10

16 Sep '10

Kioko, Yes, that should it. Just wondering if they have full disclosure on the cost per Kwh on the prepaid, so that when one loads up, he/she can estimate daily consumptions, refunds for overcharges, etc From: Dennis Kioko [mailto:dmbuvi@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 3:39 PM To: Edwin Onchari Cc: Dennis Kioko Mbuvi; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] KPLC should embrace technology and save kenyans millions Pray they install the prepaid meter, or try demanding for one. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.441 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3136 - Release Date: 09/15/10 06:34:00

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Trancripts of IGF Conference Proceedings in Lithuania
by Walubengo J 16 Sep '10

16 Sep '10

Apologies for cross-postings... In case you missed to follow the real-time proceedings, you can find the archives at: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/content/article/96-vilnius-2010-me… walu.

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Virtual City wins Nokia Challenge
by Phares Kariuki 16 Sep '10

16 Sep '10

6 5

The Safaricom money machine
by robert yawe 15 Sep '10

15 Sep '10

Hi, I have noted that when you send money from mpesa to the wrong number and you request for the transaction to be reversed you do not recover the transaction costs. When a line with credit is deactivated what happens to the credit? With the banks a new policy requires that funds from inactive accounts need to be remitted to Central Bank. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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2010 IGF Remote participation HUB in Nairobi - 16th to 17th Sept.
by Joe Kiragu 15 Sep '10

15 Sep '10

Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) in conjunction with Multimedia University will be hosting a remote participation HUB at The KeNIC Offices from 16th September 2010 - 17th September 2010. The remote participation was earlier scheduled to take place at the Multimedia University, but has been changed due to technical issues. You can follow 5th IGF sessions on Webcast http://webcast.intgovforum.org/ Please also double check the official IGF schedule at: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/2010/schedule/WorkshopSchedule_Vilnius201009… Regards, Joe Kiragu KENIC -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by KeNIC MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. Kenya Network Information Center (KENIC)

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Fw: Re: The Safaricom money machine
by Michael Ouma 15 Sep '10

15 Sep '10

Michael Ouma Journalist Kenya Tel:+254-725-537823 "Do not go where the path may lead, but go instead where there is no path and leave a trail," - Ralph Waldo Emerson --- On Wed, 9/15/10, Michael Ouma <benomnta(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: Michael Ouma <benomnta(a)yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] The Safaricom money machine To: "Andrea Bohnstedt" <andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 3:46 AM Hi ALL: why is it that Ms Andrea Bohnstedt is always supporting Safaricom on any issue raised on this list even before the company itself can say anything? just curiuos.....!!!! Michael Ouma Journalist Kenya Tel:+254-725-537823 "Do not go where the path may lead, but go instead where there is no path and leave a trail," - Ralph Waldo Emerson --- On Wed, 9/15/10, Andrea Bohnstedt <andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> wrote: From: Andrea Bohnstedt <andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] The Safaricom money machine To: benomnta(a)yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 2:53 AM I'm not really sure what your point is. If I intend to give cash to Otieno, and instead send it to Amondi, that's not the mobile money operator's fault. It's my own fault. The M-PESA menu instructs you to enter the recipient's phone number. What more clarity to you need? (and yes, I think it'd be useful to be able to enter phone numbers straight from my directory on my phone). By providing an avenue to obtain a reversal of wrongly sent money, the operator has met its obligations. This is not 'cashing in on ignorance'. On 15 September 2010 12:44, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com> wrote: In other words they are not non-issues Andrea, to learn you must risk looking silly which is what we are trying here, so when a telco cashes on the citizens ignorance who defends them? that is impunity! On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 12:07 PM, Andrea Bohnstedt <andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> wrote: Both non-issues, I think: For whatever evils you want to blame on Safaricom (global warming? end of civilisation as we know it? feminism?), you can't really blame them for your own inability to enter the phone number of the intended recipient correctly. And I say this as someone who has broken up larger M-PESA payments in two amounts because I was too freaked out that I'd accidentally send the money to the wrong person. And deactivated lines: If you want to deactivate your Safcom line, take the money out of your MPESA. Easy. It won't get disconnected by CCK for failure to register it because the registration process for M-PESA doubles up as your SIM card registration. If CCK disconnects your line because you've been found to demand ransom M-PESA payments for abducting kids, you have other problems. On 15 September 2010 10:41, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Hi, I have noted that when you send money from mpesa to the wrong number and you request for the transaction to be reversed you do not recover the transaction costs. When a line with credit is deactivated what happens to the credit? With the banks a new policy requires that funds from inactive accounts need to be remitted to Central Bank. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrea.bohnstedt%40rat… -- Andrea Bohnstedt Publisher +254 720 960 322 www.ratio-magazine.com _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail… -- Barrack O. Otieno +41767892272 Skype: barrack.otieno -- Andrea Bohnstedt Publisher +254 720 960 322 www.ratio-magazine.com -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: benomnta(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/benomnta%40yahoo.com

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IGF in Kenya in 2011
by McTim 15 Sep '10

15 Sep '10

So if Kenya will host the IGF next year, the first choice would be Nairobi. Since it is a somewhat UN conference, they may want to hold it at the UN here, which would be a nightmare in terms of logistics. Am curious if there are any facilities at the Coast that would be suitable...like 2 or 3 big hotels in close proximity to each other, all with conference facilities??? Instead of suits and ties, we would see more casual dress codes (like at most other Internet Goverannce meetings). Feedback? -- Cheers, McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel

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Mentorship
by Grace Bomu 14 Sep '10

14 Sep '10

Looking back at the wonderful people, ideas and opportunities that one gets to experience at the IGF, I just want to register my heartfelt appreciation to all the more experienced :) Kenyans who take time off their work to mentor the youth. It is indeed great to be able to discuss IG matters, while quoting some of your speeches, presentations, emails at this list or simply having face to face conversations on policy making processes. I know I am fortunate to have received such mentorship and I hope this will be extended to other young people in this area. Infact, I hope that someday the KICTANet list will have some sort of a mentorship programme. Thanks again people! -- Grace L.N. Mutung'u (Bomu) Kenya Skype: gracebomu Twitter: GraceMutung'u (Bomu)

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ICANN CEO says multi-stakeholder model of Internet Governance under threat
by Harry Hare 14 Sep '10

14 Sep '10

FYI, from the ongoing IGF in Vilnius, Lithuania. http://tinyurl.com/2uvebmx Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre eDevelopment House : : 604 Limuru Road Old Muthaiga : : P O Box 49475 00100 Nairobi : : Kenya T +254 20 3741646/7 : : C +254 725 650044 Training : : Research: :Consultancy: : Publishing

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Re: [kictanet] [wiu-forum] Fwd: 5th Global IGF, Vilnius - Remote participation HUB in Nairobi
by Joe Kiragu 14 Sep '10

14 Sep '10

Regional Perspective on 11:30 - 13:00 WEBCAST: http://webcast.intgovforum.org/#floor Workshop Number: 87 11:30 - 13:00 Title: IPv6 Around The World: Surveying the Current and Future Deployment of IPv6 WEBCAST: http://webcast.intgovforum.org/#room3 > Mctim - the link works well > > Waudo > > On Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:04 +0300, "McTim" <dogwallah(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> webcasts at: >> >> http://webcast.intgovforum.org >> >> this link doesn't appear on the RP page. >> >> -- >> Cheers, >> >> McTim >> "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A >> route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: emailsignet(a)mailcan.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/emailsignet%40mailcan.… >> > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: kiragu(a)kenic.or.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kiragu%40kenic.or.ke ) -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by KeNIC MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. Kenya Network Information Center (KENIC)

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Re: [kictanet] [wiu-forum] Fwd: 5th Global IGF, Vilnius - Remote participation HUB in Nairobi
by McTim 14 Sep '10

14 Sep '10

webcasts at: http://webcast.intgovforum.org this link doesn't appear on the RP page. -- Cheers, McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel

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Re: [kictanet] 5th Global IGF, Vilnius - Remote participation HUB in Nairobi
by Joe Kiragu 13 Sep '10

13 Sep '10

Dear Lister's, Live transcription will be available online for 5th IGF in Vilnius see details on http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/remote-participation Tuesday 14th September 2010 - 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Workshop Number: 63 Title: Strengthening ccTLD's in Africa Live transcription:http://www.streamtext.net/text.aspx?event=IGF4&chat=false More Details on http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/chronocontact/?chronoformname=WSPr… Full Meeting Schedule available on http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/2010/schedule/WorkshopSchedule_Vilnius201009… Regards, Joe > Dear Listers, > > Remote participants will be able to follow the meeting taking place in > Vilnius by watching videocasts or listening to audiocasts from the > meeting rooms and reading real-time closed captioning. > > Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) in conjunction with > Multimedia University will be hosting a remote participation HUB at > The Multimedia University, Mbagathi, Magadi road from 14th September > 2010 - 17 September 2010 at the University conference facilities. > > Participants who would like to participate at the Kenya IGF HUB please > register be sending an email to remote(a)eaigf.or.ke > > Remote participants will be able to interact with the meeting by > sending text questions, using the remote participation platform > (Webex). These questions will be forwarded to the panel moderator when > he/she opens the floor for questions from the audience. > > Hubs are also encouraged to send short pre-recorded video questions or > statement (2-3 min) outlining key issues on the local discussion > agenda. Hubs will be also allowed to join with real-time video message. > The links to access each meeting room will be provided before the IGF. > Remote participants should take a look at the IGF schedule available > here to see the room and the time of the session they would like to > follow. > > In order to convert Vilnius local time into your time zone, you can > visit this website. > > During the IGF, you can also use social network platforms to take part > in the Internet Governance Dialogue: > > > Share your views in Twitter: #IGF10 > Share your video in Youtube > Share your pictures in Flickr > Leave messages in Facebook > More information on Remote hub: Nairobi, Kenya > > Institution: > Multimedia University ( By Kenya Network Information Centre) > Number of Expected Participants within the Hub: > 100 > Possible area(s) of interest within the 5 main IGF themes: > .Security, openness and privacy, Access and diversity > .Managing critical Internet resources > .Internet governance for development (IG4D), > .Taking stock of Internet governance and the way forward, > .Emerging issues: cloud computing. > Planned Pre-meeting activities: . > Kenya Internet Governance Forum - 29th July 2010, Nairobi > .East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EA-IGF) - 111-13 August 2010, > Kampala Uganda > Hub Coordinator: > Joe Kiragu, Administrative Manager/ Paul Museeh, Technical Manager > Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) > > > Regards, > > Joe Kiragu > Administrative Maanger > Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) > kiragu(a)kenic.or.ke > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: kiragu(a)kenic.or.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kiragu%40kenic.or.ke -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by KeNIC MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. Kenya Network Information Center (KENIC)

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Zain Adverts against Safaricom (on Google Ads)
by Wainaina Mungai 13 Sep '10

13 Sep '10

Is it ethical for Zain to use a green SIM card in it's online adverts (google ads) as per the attached screenshot? i.e. "Is your SIM eating too much money?" Shouldn't they just sell their service instead of a constant anti-Safaricom pitch?..inspite of any issues customers may have vs. safaricom rates? WM

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Might M-Kesho sound the death knell for (some) M-Pesa Agents?
by Francis.Hook＠gmail.com 08 Sep '10

08 Sep '10

1 - Equity Bank has abt 4.5 million customers. 2 - Lets wager that abt 70-80% are Safaricom subscribers...(3.15 - 3.6 million) and possibly 80% of those use M-Pesa (wild guess) 3 - A Study conducted in late 2009 (http://technology.cgap.org/2009/09/08/understanding-what-drives-profits-for…) examined the factors that make an M-Pesa agent make a profit...as well as the challenges faced by such agents (which would most times lead them to say "hakuna float"). 4 - As M-Pesa agents have become more pervasive, their profit margins have become thinner owing to competition (incl ATMs, super markets, etc). This is part of the premise of M-Kesho - to allow such agents to make revenue from additional services like insurance... 5 - M-Kesho essentially removes the need to have CASH transactions - either sending or receiving. However, to the operator the transaction fee still accrues, and to the bank, the deposits remain somewhat stable. If anything, for corporate users of M-Pesa (KQ, KPLC, etc) they can know have their accounts credited directly - no need to use an M-Pesa agent to load cash onto phone and then pay KPLC, Kenya Airways, etc. 6 - Thinking of the three or so million Equity Bank Customers who are M-Pesa users....will they EVER need to use an M-Pesa agent? before the routine to send cash was ...a) draw cash from ATM/Branch b)go to M-Pesa Agent c) send money - and vice versa to receive (go to mpesa agent, get cash, spend/deposit cash) - ergo M-Pesa agent has a role. Of course I admit, such account holders can still withdraw from their accounts using M-Kesho and get cash from an M-Pesa Agent (but I think this would be really really rare). Will M-Kesho see some rationalisation in the number and size(type) of agents? Admittedly some of the more established agents can evolve into FOSAs for Equity (and other banks), but I think at the grassroots there might be a negative impact. My two cents... Francis

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Re: [kictanet] Might M-Kesho sound the death knell for (some) M-Pesa Agents?
by Francis Hook 08 Sep '10

08 Sep '10

Thanks MM - very insightful presentation! When I reached Slide 5 ("The value proposition ….cake big enough for all") I held my breath hoping Slide 6 would be "Cont...The value proposition ….cake big enough for all"...to see whether the M-Pesa agents would feature somewhere and get a slice of the cake :-), but alas... Thanks F On 8 September 2010 16:45, muriuki mureithi <mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke > wrote: > Hi Sir > > I admire your thought provoking write ups > > See a research we did on the whole mobile money transfer space . will send > you a copy of published paper once done > > > > Cheers > > > > > > > > *From:* kictanet-bounces+mureithi=summitstrategies.co.ke@ > lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+mureithi<kictanet-bounces%2Bmureithi> > =summitstrategies.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of * > Francis.Hook(a)gmail.com > *Sent:* 08 September 2010 15:32 > *To:* mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke > *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > *Subject:* [kictanet] Might M-Kesho sound the death knell for (some) > M-Pesa Agents? > > > > 1 - Equity Bank has abt 4.5 million customers. > 2 - Lets wager that abt 70-80% are Safaricom subscribers...(3.15 - 3.6 > million) and possibly 80% of those use M-Pesa (wild guess) > 3 - A Study conducted in late 2009 ( > http://technology.cgap.org/2009/09/08/understanding-what-drives-profits-for…) > examined the factors that make an M-Pesa agent make a profit...as well as > the challenges faced by such agents (which would most times lead them to say > "hakuna float"). > 4 - As M-Pesa agents have become more pervasive, their profit margins have > become thinner owing to competition (incl ATMs, super markets, etc). This is > part of the premise of M-Kesho - to allow such agents to make revenue from > additional services like insurance... > 5 - M-Kesho essentially removes the need to have CASH transactions - either > sending or receiving. However, to the operator the transaction fee still > accrues, and to the bank, the deposits remain somewhat stable. If anything, > for corporate users of M-Pesa (KQ, KPLC, etc) they can know have their > accounts credited directly - no need to use an M-Pesa agent to load cash > onto phone and then pay KPLC, Kenya Airways, etc. > 6 - Thinking of the three or so million Equity Bank Customers who are > M-Pesa users....will they EVER need to use an M-Pesa agent? before the > routine to send cash was ...a) draw cash from ATM/Branch b)go to M-Pesa > Agent c) send money - and vice versa to receive (go to mpesa agent, get > cash, spend/deposit cash) - ergo M-Pesa agent has a role. Of course I admit, > such account holders can still withdraw from their accounts using M-Kesho > and get cash from an M-Pesa Agent (but I think this would be really really > rare). > > Will M-Kesho see some rationalisation in the number and size(type) of > agents? Admittedly some of the more established agents can evolve into FOSAs > for Equity (and other banks), but I think at the grassroots there might be a > negative impact. > > My two cents... > > Francis > -- Francis Hook +254 733 504561

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Re: [kictanet] Safaricom fine print?
by S.Murigi Muraya 07 Sep '10

07 Sep '10

"Insufficient funds" persist. Have 84.90 balance after loading 100 bob this afternoon. Cannot make phone calls. -----Original Message----- From: Muchiri Nyaggah <muchiri(a)semacraft.com> Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2010 18:01 To: murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Safaricom fine print? FYI Just got a text from Safaricom informing subscribers that the multiple 'insufficient funds' error has been resolved. Kind regards, Muchiri Nyaggah Director @muchiri +254 722 506400 Semacraft.com On Sun, Sep 5, 2010 at 5:40 PM, simiyu mse <kensimiyu(a)gmail.com> wrote: when your data is active, from what i gather, you cant make voice calls below 15bob. But of late, this virtual minimum is abit erratic. Yesterday, i couldnt make a call with 75sh. Had to top up with 100 to make utilise the remaining. My siz couldnt make a call with 250 just loaded. Must have been the quick implementation of the masaa ya kubamba promotion that have thrown things in disarray. -- i dislike capital letters +254 722 278 106 _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: muchiri(a)semacraft.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/muchiri%40semacraft.com

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5th Global IGF, Vilnius - Remote participation HUB in Nairobi
by Joe Kiragu 07 Sep '10

07 Sep '10

Dear Listers, Remote participants will be able to follow the meeting taking place in Vilnius by watching videocasts or listening to audiocasts from the meeting rooms and reading real-time closed captioning. Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) in conjunction with Multimedia University will be hosting a remote participation HUB at The Multimedia University, Mbagathi, Magadi road from 14th September 2010 - 17 September 2010 at the University conference facilities. Participants who would like to participate at the Kenya IGF HUB please register be sending an email to remote(a)eaigf.or.ke Remote participants will be able to interact with the meeting by sending text questions, using the remote participation platform (Webex). These questions will be forwarded to the panel moderator when he/she opens the floor for questions from the audience. Hubs are also encouraged to send short pre-recorded video questions or statement (2-3 min) outlining key issues on the local discussion agenda. Hubs will be also allowed to join with real-time video message. The links to access each meeting room will be provided before the IGF. Remote participants should take a look at the IGF schedule available here to see the room and the time of the session they would like to follow. In order to convert Vilnius local time into your time zone, you can visit this website. During the IGF, you can also use social network platforms to take part in the Internet Governance Dialogue: Share your views in Twitter: #IGF10 Share your video in Youtube Share your pictures in Flickr Leave messages in Facebook More information on Remote hub: Nairobi, Kenya Institution: Multimedia University ( By Kenya Network Information Centre) Number of Expected Participants within the Hub: 100 Possible area(s) of interest within the 5 main IGF themes: .Security, openness and privacy, Access and diversity .Managing critical Internet resources .Internet governance for development (IG4D), .Taking stock of Internet governance and the way forward, .Emerging issues: cloud computing. Planned Pre-meeting activities: . Kenya Internet Governance Forum - 29th July 2010, Nairobi .East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EA-IGF) - 111-13 August 2010, Kampala Uganda Hub Coordinator: Joe Kiragu, Administrative Manager/ Paul Museeh, Technical Manager Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) Regards, Joe Kiragu Administrative Manger Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) kiragu(a)kenic.or.ke -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by KeNIC MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. Kenya Network Information Center (KENIC)

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Safaricom: consecutive "short-change" on internet bundles
by Brian Munyao Longwe 07 Sep '10

07 Sep '10

Yesterday I loaded 500shs airtime onto my internet modem and used the "Mobile Partner" application to order a 100Mb bundle, after not getting any response I clicked the 100Mb button again. After no response I shut down the application, unplugged the modem, plugged it back in and reopened the application. I received a text confirmation that I had "Limited Data Allowance 80Mb" I had urgent uploads to do so I proceeded to use this. Today, after running out, I loaded 500sh airtime, clicked on 100mb .... same as yesterday, nothing, clicked again, nothing; went through same procedure and received same "Limited Data Allowance 80Mb" I find this very strange in that these problems are happenning more than24 hours apart - and especially because I requested the 100Mb option but it seems to have charged me for the 40Mb option (which I assume costs 250/=) Befuddled, is there a system glitch? Brian -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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Does Kenya's Advertising Standards Body Monitor Social Media Advertising?
by Muchiri Nyaggah 06 Sep '10

06 Sep '10

Hi. The Advertising Standards Body of Kenya needs to start working on policy guidelines for online advertising to protect Kenyan consumers from rogue agencies out to make a quick buck. The US FTC busted Reverb Communications for having it's staff post reviews on iTunes while posing as consumers. Here's the full story http://bit.ly/bbq6Ld As penetration of Internet access improves and more Kenyan businesses set up outposts on social sites, this kind of tricks are bound to become prevalent here. ASBK may need to first start by improving its presence on the Internet though, I couldn't find their website at all (do they have one?). Kind regards, *Muchiri* Nyaggah Director @muchiri Semacraft.com

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mashilingi : Google & Huawei bring Kenyas first low-priced smartphone
by Brian Longwe 06 Sep '10

06 Sep '10

Brian Longwe has sent you a link to a blog: Interesting developments. Can't wait to get my hands on one of these! Blog: mashilingi Post: Google & Huawei bring Kenyas first low-priced smartphone Link: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com/2010/09/kenya-gets-low-priced-smartphone.html -- Powered by Blogger http://www.blogger.com/

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Safaricom fine print?
by eonchari＠lynxbits.com 06 Sep '10

06 Sep '10

It has been happening for three days now, I make calls and I get disconnected for insufficient funds. When I send a balance inquiry sms, I have a balance of Ksh16.04. Mr. MJ, is this a tactic to ensure that those that intend to switch to other networks part with Kshs16.04 (after purchasing the sim cards they have anyway) or was there some fine print that I missed? Edwin +254-0720-755-951

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What's the value of ITIL certification?
by Moses Kamau 06 Sep '10

06 Sep '10

What's the value of ITIL certification? Many CIOs are moving their technology organizations into the role of internal service providers to assure the applications they provide to end users. The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is a framework based on industry best practices to apply IT service management business processes to IT management. For network administrators and other IT professionals, being able to implement ITIL could lead to more central and valued roles within their current organizations. The way to gain those skills may be through ITIL foundation certification. What's more, unlike vendor-specific certifications, ITIL training is not limited to a given role within the IT organization or a particular technology, which makes it more of a no-brainer for network engineers. Getting a foundation certification in ITIL IT staff might also receive ITIL foundation training as part of an enterprise's shift to an IT service management model. Giving the teams a baseline of understanding about ITIL and IT service management will help establish expectations and set the tone for an ITIL rollout. "Adding the merit badge of the ITIL foundation to one's credentials has virtually no downside," said training and certification expert Ed Tittel. He noted that "the foundation classes and testing are relatively inexpensive, and many enterprises are either looking at a service management framework or are in the process of implementing one." BJ Havlik, president of SRC Technologies, a Green Bay, Wis.-based technology services and managed services firm, said: "Most IT professionals that take the ITIL foundation course have a moment where IT service management clicks for them ... where they see how the work they do fits with the overall business processes and goals." By Michael Brandenburg .................................................................................................. QUINTICA KENYA Quintica will be running the next Public ITIL v3 Foundation Course from Sep 13-15, 2010. The Foundation Course price is Ksh 29,500 and the Certification Examination is Ksh 15,000. These prices are inclusive of catering and all accredited course materials. All prices are exclusive of VAT. Quintica is accredited to deliver ITIL courses by the APM-Group, the official International ITIL Accreditation Body (www.apmg-international.com<http://www.apmg-international.com>). Documents Attached: * Course Brochure * Public Course Calendar * Registration Form References: Quintica Kenya has delivered successful ITIL courses to the following corporate clients: * Kenya Airways * ILRI * Chartis Insurance * Nairobi Stock Exchange * Microsoft EA * Dimension Data * AAR * Etc... For more information please email sales.ke(a)quintica.com<mailto:sales.ke@quintica.com> or call +254-20-4442900 or visit our website www.quintica.net<http://www.quintica.net> Regards, Moses Kamau Sales Manager & Consultant - Service Management Kenya Office: +254 20 444 2900 Kenya Mobile: +254 720 416 564 Email: moses.kamau(a)quintica.com<mailto:moses.kamau@quintica.com> Skype: moses_kamau www.quintica.net [cid:image001.jpg@01CB48EF.B49B95B0]

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The Future of the Internet
by Grace Bomu 06 Sep '10

06 Sep '10

Interesting analysis from The Economist on the future of the Internet and Internet Governance. Food for thought for us..... http://www.economist.com/node/16941635 In part: (on fragmentation of the net) But China is by no means the only country erecting borders in cyberspace. The Australian government plans to build a firewall to block material showing the sexual abuse of children and other criminal or offensive content........ (on net neutrality) ........Whether such preferential treatment becomes more widespread, and even extortionary, will probably depend on the market and how it is regulated. It is telling that net neutrality has become far more politically controversial in America than it has elsewhere. This is a reflection of the relative lack of competition in America’s broadband market. In Europe and Japan, “open access” rules require network operators to lease parts of their networks to other firms on a wholesale basis, thus boosting competition. A study comparing broadband markets, published in 2009 by Harvard University’s Berkman Centre for Internet & Society, found that countries with such rules enjoy faster, cheaper broadband service than America, because the barrier to entry for new entrants is much lower. And if any access provider starts limiting what customers can do, they will defect to another. -- Grace L.N. Mutung'u (Bomu) Kenya

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Kenyan, Hital Muraj was honored with the Global Ambassador of Youth Award
by Alice Munyua 06 Sep '10

06 Sep '10

Kenyan, Hital Muraj was honored with the Global Ambassador of Youth Award for her work in supporting Kibera's youth, through the Cisco Networking Academy. **The Usher New Look Foundation presented eight awards to honor individuals and organizations. Among the Awards and their recipients who come from as far away as Kenya and Korea: · *Service Legacy Award:* President William Jefferson Clinton <http://www.clintonfoundation.org/> · *Global Youth Leadership Award:* Justin Bieber <http://www.pencilsofpromise.org/>, Chantia Robinson and Summit Series (Jeff Rosenthal and Josh Zabar) · *Global Ambassador of Youth Award:* Michelle Nunn <http://www.pointsoflight.org/>, Hital Muraj <http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/index.html>, JY Park · *The Youth Catalyst Award:* Jeanne Ashe and Mary Carillo <http://www.usta.com/> on behalf of the USTA The New Look Foundation mentors young people as global leaders. Currently in seven cities, New Look has worked with over 8,700 young people, and has provided over 150,000 hours of leadership training. The program trains high school youth in leadership, business, education and service. Now in its eleventh year, New Look has seen a 98% high school graduation rate among alumni. With its Powered By Service campaign and an international call to youth service, the New Look Foundation has made service more diverse, relevant and accessible to all young people.

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Re: [kictanet] Fwd: information on .africa and the lies surrounding an individual's push
by Njeri 06 Sep '10

06 Sep '10

They are more on this very list that claim being on the board of ICANN. That never were, not withstanding that they can be in the future. In my humble opinion, the rest is politic's. Sent from my iPhone Go to www.igniteconsulting.co.ke follow the button of what's HOT this month, our workshops Ignite Human Potential for Personal and Organizational Success. For your wellness experiencies follow this link www.ignitelifestyle.com The Ignite Experience Center can host your corporate retreats, business dinners and private functions. Call Eunice on 254 20 2532142 or 2532144 or email: events(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke for your consulting bookings and events(a)ignitelifestyle.com for your bookings on wellness therapies. On Aug 19, 2010, at 2:39 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Walu, > > Your point is noted, however .africa is not just another TLD - it is > in the same realm as .eu i.e. a regional domain that represents > multiple jurisdictions - in the same manner that .eu was granted at > the behest of the EU/EC - subsequent to a process that brought > forward the buy-in of major stakeholder in the EU, including > Governments, operators and local internet community - similarly, > Africa needs to have undergone a processs whereby there is broad buy- > in/consensus behind whoever it is that is making the pitch to ICANN. > > Having said that - I for one, will NEVER support anyone who tries to > gain leverage/support by using lies: > 1) She has never been an ICANN board member - despite repeated > brazen claims to the office > 2) She has never been given a formal (let alone written) endorsement > by the AU > 3) She feels threatened by reputable and legitimate African internet > bodies and went to great lengths to sabotage AfriNIC's proposed > Addist meeting by telling lies to the government and Ethiopia > telecoms which prompted them pulling out 2 months before the > meeting. Only to find out after consultations that they have been > fed a bunch of lies and ended up losing face both at a local and > global perspective. > > My two cents, > > Brian > > On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 12:25 PM, Njeri <njeri.rionge(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke > > wrote: > Walu, Finally common sense becomes common sense as we know it. > > I opted to saying nothing before, will continue to do so. But I > needed to note some sense in the thread and urge people to read in > between the lines closely. > > Cross the T's and dot the I's. > > Best, > > Sent from my iPhone > > Go to www.igniteconsulting.co.ke follow the button of what's HOT > this month, our workshops Ignite Human Potential for Personal and > Organizational Success. > > For your wellness experiencies follow this link > www.ignitelifestyle.com > > The Ignite Experience Center can host your corporate retreats, > business dinners and private functions. Call Eunice on 254 20 > 2532142 or 2532144 or email: events(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke for your > consulting bookings and events(a)ignitelifestyle.com for your bookings > on wellness therapies. > > On Aug 19, 2010, at 11:28 AM, Barrack Otieno > <otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> Very democratic comments Walu :-) >> >> On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 9:24 AM, Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> I really dont know who this lady is - other than having seeing her >> at the Kenyan IGF where she also pushed for the dot.Africa >> initiative. Indeed as Pierre mentions elsewhere, there's a parallel >> push @ http://www.dotafrica.org/home.html which I believe has the >> support of AfNOG, AfrNIC, AfTLD (the Af* organisations). >> >> However and I stand to be corrected - I think the ICANN process is >> quite open and transparent and we therefore cannot stop any bidder >> pushing to have a top level domain like dot.Africa (free for all >> approach that ofcourse has had its advantages and disadvantages). >> >> So whereas I support and understand the need have dot.africa under >> the family and philosophy of Af* organisations, we really have no >> control over other bidders trying to get there first. Maybe we >> should just up our game and get the domain before the competition. >> >> walu. >> disclaimer: comments shared are personal and not the view of the >> organisations I am affiliated with. >> >> >> --- On Wed, 8/18/10, Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu(a)gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> From: Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu(a)gmail.com> >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: information on .africa and the lies >> surrounding an individual's push >> To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >> Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 11:34 PM >> >> >> @ Njenga, >> It's not really about who is onlist or not, but during the just >> concluded EAIGF in Uganda one 'iron lady' has been claiming to >> speak on behalf of AU and that there are some endorsements made >> that she presented to this regional forum, which turned out to be a >> sham! >> >> I hope Brian my explanation is right. >> >> On 18 August 2010 18:24, Njenga Gathecha <njenga.mkenya(a)gmail.com> >> wrote: >> Hello all. I think the best thing to do is to have all the members >> listed somewhere and then in case of doubt, listers can consult the >> list. This would ward off cons who may seek to exploit innocents. >> >> Thanks for pointing this out now. >> >> On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 5:06 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com >> > wrote: >> >> Hi all, >> >> Just received this. Apparently she has formally been propagating >> lies about being on the ICANN board etc.... and even put up >> counterfiet letters on her website - this verges on criminal! What >> is her interest? >> >> Brian >> >> ------------------------ >> >> Brian, >> >> here is some info for you.. she constructed this whole thing on >> lies. you can judge for yourself. I did not want to spam all but I >> sent this to a few key people. check this: >> >> - there is no African Union Authority!!!! do you really believe >> that the Chairman of the AU Commission will have claimed to write >> on behalf of a non existent authority and give her a letter in that >> sense? so maybe she should explain to people why she has a 'weird' >> letter on her website. Check her website and you will see. >> >> - here is an email that tells you how she lies! she actually took >> me to the ombudsman at ICANN in 2007, complaining that I was >> preventing her from doing dot africa, copied the whole board at the >> time --- all her claims were immediately dismissed when I sent the >> letters and emails to the ombudsman, of the same caliber as the >> below that she had been sending to regional organisations and >> bodies. My fault was to have written to all organisations, as the >> Regional Liaison, to dismiss her claims of ICANN endorsement of dot >> africa and her being on the board. >> >> - she keeps saying ICANN is endorsing dot africa! how can ICANN >> endorse a TLD?? how can ICANN be judge and party???? she is >> supposed to have been at the GNSO council and ICANN and understand >> what she is talking about!!!! she has been in the ICANN process for >> the past 5 years and still has no idea how all this functions. >> >> I let you judge. The woman does not have her wits together I think. >> >> Cheers >> >> Sophia Bekele <sophiabekele(a)yahoo.com> >> >> 30/08/2006 01:48 PM >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Subject >> >> Re: >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Hello <name removed>, >> >> I hope your vacation is going well. As per discussion, I thought I >> would convey someof what is on my plate that may be of mutual >> interest. >> >> Presently, other than my private projects/business interests, I >> also serve on the board of ICANN, the international internet >> governance organization. At this stage, I have outlined few >> projects in addition to an initiative that could quickly put under >> incubation. Any or all of these could serve as a basis for mutual >> collaboration. >> >> Generally speaking the projects span ICT, public sector governance, >> regional integration, internet governance etc.. >> >> The priority project I mentioned to UN Undersecretary General was >> that of dot.africa (.Africa) which he expressed great interest. >> Thus, there will be a need to synergize and align strategies of >> possible project collaboration. >> >> Dot.Africa is an initiative supported by ICANN, that aims at >> unifying and consolidating the African Information Society and >> presence within the Internet as distinct from other Continental >> communities. As such, there now exists dot.EU (.EU), dot.Asia. >> (.ASIA) and dot.LatinAmerica (.LA) as similar ongoing initiatives. >> The present paradigm is to halt Africans marginalization in this >> age of globalization. This is actually one of the goals of NEPAD, >> which of course is an initiative that is already endorsed b the >> UN. There are no prices for guessing what would happen if >> dot.Africa is not also initiated and implemented at the same time >> that other Continental communities on the net have been put in >> place. >> >> To get this of the ground, it appears from the experiences of the >> others, a minimum of 13 countries in Africawould have to come on >> board. The endorsement for UNECA would of course be helpful. >> This initiative would require a proposal to be distributed to the >> potential participating countries. UNECA’s help would be crucial >> in communicating who might wish to participate. Countries that ha >> ve already have ongoing National policies that relate ICT as a str >> ategic tool for National development would be the primary candidat >> es. Being something that would turn into a Continental initiativ >> e, it is rewarding at best for the UNECA to play an active role in >> this initial stage. >> >> As an African representative on ICANN board, I have taken the >> initiative to coordinate and see the successful implementation of >> the project. I believe therefore, we should have a meeting to >> progress this further. I suggest we meet ASAP to get this moving, >> as time is of essence to the extent that the application for the >> domain name must be submitted before January 2007. >> >> However due to our travel schedules, we should arrange a >> teleconference meeting that is mutually convenient for all within >> the next two weeks. >> >> Regards, >> Sophia >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: njenga.mkenya(a)gmail.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/njenga.mkenya%40gmail.… >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: solo.mburu(a)gmail.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/solo.mburu%40gmail.com >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau >> >> ***************************************************** >> Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze >> all the same way to the side of a hill! >> >> AND >> >> It is better to die in dignity than in the ignominy of ambiguous >> generosity! >> >> http://smiley2.wordpress.com >> http://mburu.sikika.co.ke >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -----Inline Attachment Follows----- >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail… >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Barrack O. Otieno >> +41767892272 >> Skype: barrack.otieno >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: njeri.rionge(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke >> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/njeri.rionge%40ignitec… > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: blongwe(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com > > > > > -- > Brian Munyao Longwe > e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com > cell: + 254 722 518 744 > blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com > meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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Kenya ranked as one of the best countries in the world
by Alice Munyua 05 Sep '10

05 Sep '10

*http://home.co.ke/index.php/arts-and-culture/culture/127-culture/425--kenya-ranked-as-one-of-the-best-countries-in-the-world (from Access Kenya) For all y'all who'd packed your bags and were leaving for other countries, here's some news that may give you pause ... * A survey carried out by American periodical, Newsweek, has ranked Kenya as the best country in East Africa, fourth in sub-Saharan Africa, (after Botswana, South Africa and Ghana), and 87th worldwide. The ranking was out of 100 countries and five categories of national well being --- education, health, political environment, economic dynamism and quality of life --- were used to deduce the ranking. Although Newsweek says that their study is not 'perfect', it does give a good idea of how countries are performing around the world. According to Newsweek, the best country in the world is Finland, followed by Switzerland, Sweden and Australia. The USA and UK were ranked 11th and 14th respectively. Out of about 193 countries in the world (the number varies depending on who is doing the counting), numbers 80, 82, 86 and 87 went to Botswana, SA, Ghana and Kenya. North African countries, categorised differently, seemed to rank on average better than sub-Saharan countries. Egypt, for instance, was ranked 74. Tunisia and Morocco were 65 and 67 respectively. I was surprised to find that Rwanda was not mentioned at all in the top 100. And our oga brothers (Nigeria) came in at 99. Countries with smaller populations seemed to rank higher than those with big populations. Of the top 10 best countries, seven have small populations of less than 20 million people and they each enjoy a high per capita income of more than $12,000 per year --- Sh967,000 per annum or Sh80,000 per month. /Compiled by Judy Mumo/ --

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ICT event planning and business information
by Andrea Bohnstedt 05 Sep '10

05 Sep '10

Hey lovely people, I have noticed that there's a whole gaggle of ICT events next week, with several overlapping ones, which is really a pity - they all sound interesting. So I thought I'd quickly flag the Business Diary on Ratio Magazine, the online business magazine that I publish: http://www.ratio-magazine.com/Business-Diary/ On this page, you can list your business event (conference, training, seminar, trade fair) for free - just email us the details. We're in the process of changing it to the same format as the career pages ( http://www.ratio-magazine.com/careers/index.php) so that you can search for specific countries and industries, and even set email alerts for e.g. ICT events. Obviously this is not an event co-ordinating service, but the more information we have, the easier it will be to check out quickly who's doing what when, and avoid overlaps. ) And speaking of careers: if you're recruiting, send us the job ad. Regular listings are free, and 'featured jobs' are a kidogo bit of money. On that (self-marketing) note, have a good weekend! :) Andrea -- Andrea Bohnstedt Publisher +254 720 960 322 www.ratio-magazine.com

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Secure ICT 2010 Conference- Change of Date
by Evans Kahuthu 04 Sep '10

04 Sep '10

Dear Listers, On behalf of the Secure ICT 2010 Conference committee, I would like to inform you that we have received a lot of requests from our 2010 conference participants to move the conference date. In addition, the muslim holiday of Eid ul-fitr might be on thursday or friday, which unfortunately thursday is one of the conference day. To this end, the new date is october 5-6, 2010 at the same venue. We are very sorry for the inconvinience. For more information regarding the conference, kindly visit http://secureict.co.ke Sincerely, Evans Kahuthu

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Fwd: [eaigfplanning] 2010 EAIGF draft report
by Alice Munyua 03 Sep '10

03 Sep '10

Dear all, FYI First draft of the 3rd EA-IGF is now online. See links below. best alice -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [eaigfplanning] 2010 EAIGF draft report Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2010 01:42:20 -0700 (PDT) From: Lillian Nalwoga <lnalwoga(a)yahoo.com> To: alice(a)apc.org CC: eaigfplanning(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke, wiu-forum(a)wougnet.org Dear members, I am pleased to announce the first draft East African Internet Governance Forum report is now available for public online at http://eaigf.or.ke/files/EAIGF_2010_Report.pdf . The 3rd EAIGF took place at Imperial Royale, Kampala on 11 - 13 August 2010. The report will also be presented the 5th UN-IGF taking place on 14 - 17 September 2010 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Best regards, Lillian Nalwoga

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Oracle Experts Needed ASAP
by Martin Njuguna-Digital Vision 03 Sep '10

03 Sep '10

Dear Listers, We need Oracle certified experts with the following qualifications with immediate effect Oracle certified professional Hands on experience in a busy environment(Oracle PL SQL scripting) Linux/UNix essentials A degree in computer science or equivalent Successful candidate will be given a 3 month contract immediately. If you are the person and you are willing to start immediately, kindly submit your cv to martin(a)digitalvision.co.ke<h/1k4a6myebmo6z/?v=b&cs=wh&to=martin(a)digitalvision.co.ke>-with the title Oracle Consultant Awaiting your cvs Martin S. Njuguna Digital Vision EA Limited http://bit.ly/c6ItdF c:+254 721 440 543 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254 721 440 543 end_of_the_skype_highlighting t:+254 20 21 33 865 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +254 20 21 33 865 end_of_the_skype_highlighting e:martin@digitalvision.co.ke<h/1k4a6myebmo6z/?v=b&cs=wh&to=e%3Amartin(a)digitalvision.co.ke> w: http://www.digitalvision.co.ke Skype: digitalv.ke Martin S. Njuguna Digital Vision EA Limited http://bit.ly/c6ItdF c:+254 721 440 543 t:+254 20 21 33 865 e:martin@digitalvision.co.ke <e%3Amartin(a)digitalvision.co.ke> w: http://www.digitalvision.co.ke Skype: digitalv.ke

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Deteriorating Safaricom or simply broken systems??
by Odhiambo Washington 03 Sep '10

03 Sep '10

Last evening I loaded KES 2,300 worth of credit on a Safaricom data line (0720 332211) and sent an sms to 446 to purchase a 300MB bundle. With their br0ken systems (the whole of yesterday) they could not allocate me the bundle immediately, even though they promptly deducted the KES 999. Because I could not get the confirmation of bundle allocation (CS kept telling me to wait for 20, 30, N minutes for the confirmation to come) I decided to just plugin the SIM card and use it, hoping the bundle had been allocated but only the confirmation sms was delayed. I ended up using KES 800 of my balance airtime after they deducted the KES 999 (instead of the bundle!!) and I got to know that only today when I called CS and they gave me the shocking news - you have only KES 500-and-something airtime on that line!! The whole of yesterday their system was broken down. I suffered the same during the day. I loaded 2500 on a different number and sent "activate" to 448 for a 1GB Bundle. I could not get the confirmation after about 10 minutes and called CS, who told me that they were experiencing problems and I should wait for about 2 hours. I had to buy 500 and top up and just use it like that without purchasing a bundle, while waiting for the 2+ hours... Is there a way for redress with Safaricom? They've literally stolen from me, by deducting my KES 999 and not allocating me the bundle "within the required time" (or isn't there something like this?), making me to use my reserved airtime instead! There must be better ways of dealing with this from Safaricom, or any other provider for that matter. It is simply not acceptable, and I do feel that when I buy a commodity (like the bundle) I should get it immediately, unless there is a condition that stipulates that the provider is at liberty to decide when to give it to me. I also believe that it's the obligation of the provider to notify me when they have a problem that would affect the services I buy from them. Safaricom, I want my money back, as small as it is! -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "If you have nothing good to say about someone, just shut up!." -- Lucky Dube -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "If you have nothing good to say about someone, just shut up!." -- Lucky Dube

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Suggestions for New Ministries Structure
by waudo siganga 02 Sep '10

02 Sep '10

Dear Colleagues, The New Constitution proposes a maximum number of 22 GoK ministries and the private Sector is being asked for suggestions on how the present 42 ministries could be merged to form 22 or less. What suggestions can we have for the ICT domicile? Kind Regards, Waudo

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Fwd: [AfriNIC-announce] AfriNIC-13 Online Registration Open
by Adiel A. Akplogan 02 Sep '10

02 Sep '10

FYI Begin forwarded message: > From: Diane Nuteau <diane(a)afrinic.net> > Date: September 1, 2010 17:33:35 PM GMT+04:00 > To: announce(a)afrinic.net > Cc: AfriNIC Meeting Co-ordination <meeting-coord(a)afrinic.net> > Subject: [AfriNIC-announce] AfriNIC-13 Online Registration Open > > Dear Colleagues, > > We are pleased to announce that the online registration for the > AfriNIC-13 > meeting, which will be held from 20-26 November 2010 in > Johannesburg, is now > open. You can register online up to 15 November 2010 at: > > For first time registration - > http://meeting.afrinic.net/afrinic-13/index.php/register/first-time-registr… > > For returning participants - > http://meeting.afrinic.net/afrinic-13/index.php/register/returning-particip… > > Registration for our meeting is free of charge. > > For more information about the meeting you can visit the meeting web > site at: > > http://meeting.afrinic.net/afrinic-13 > > Information about accommodation and the venue will be posted on the > web site > soon and we will also let you know once it is done. > > Thank you and looking forward seeing you in Johannesburg. > > AfriNIC Meeting Team > _______________________________________________ > announce mailing list > announce(a)afrinic.net > https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/announce

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Secure ICT 2010 Conference- 7 Days to go!
by Evans Kahuthu 01 Sep '10

01 Sep '10

Dear Listers, Greetings from Secure ICT 2010 Conference committee. It is our pleasure to update you that the provisional agenda for the 2nd annual Information Communication Technology & Network Security Conference is available online at http://secureict.co.ke/agenda.aspx If you have not registered for the conference, its not too late. Simply register online at http://secureict.co.ke/registration.aspx Please remember to bring your business cards for networking with your peers. We look forward to seeing you at The PanAfric Hotel, Nairobi on sept 8-9, 2010. If you have any questions or need clarification, do not hesitate to contact the undersigned. Regards, Evans Kahuthu, Secure ICT 2010 Conference Coordinator, phone: +254-710649304, +254-202188830

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Suggestions for New Ministries Structure
by waudo siganga 01 Sep '10

01 Sep '10

Dear Colleagues, The New Constitution proposes a maximum number of 22 GoK ministries and the private Sector is being asked for suggestions on how the present 42 ministries could be merged to form 22 or less. What suggestions can we have for the ICT domicile? Kind Regards, Waudo

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Suggestions for New Ministries Structure
by waudo siganga 01 Sep '10

01 Sep '10

Dear Colleagues, The New Constitution proposes a maximum number of 22 GoK ministries and the private Sector is being asked for suggestions on how the present 42 ministries could be merged to form 22 or less. What suggestions can we have for the ICT domicile? Kind Regards, Waudo

1 0

Suggestions for New Ministries Structure
by waudo siganga 01 Sep '10

01 Sep '10

Dear Colleagues, The New Constitution proposes a maximum number of 22 GoK ministries and the private Sector is being asked for suggestions on how the present 42 ministries could be merged to form 22 or less. What suggestions can we have for the ICT domicile? Kind Regards, Waudo

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Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Zain Kenya makes another move
by Wainaina Mungai 30 Aug '10

30 Aug '10

This is a very aggressive and most likely, a huge loss-making move in the short-run. I hope Zain has a well crafted (*sustainable*) longterm strategy. If they are simply 'playing politics' against a 78% market leader (Safaricom), then they will eventually price their way out of the Kenyan market. Kencell losses *>>>* Celtel losses *>>> *Zain losses *>>> *AirTel losses *>>> oblivion (or market leadership)* My opinion is not influenced by my 'Safaricom shareholder/MPESA user' status ;-) Wainaina On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:43 AM, Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: > BY MICHAEL KARANJA > Updated 13 minutes ago > > NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 30 - Mobile telephony operator Zain Kenya has > introduced Sh5 and Sh10 denomination airtime vouchers as it steps up > its efforts to capture the mass market. > > The introduction of the new vouchers is seen as a move to make the > operator more accessible to the low-end market after a change in > strategy following the entry of its new shareholders, Bharti Airtel. > > Zain Kenya Managing Director Rene Meza said the move is aimed at > complementing its recent 50 percent reduction of call charges. > > “We are offering a wide range of scratch card denominations to suit > the needs of all individuals. Access to telecommunication services is > no longer a luxury but an integral part of each Kenyan’s > socio-economic needs,” Mr Meza said. > > .... > > Read more: > http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/Kenyabusiness/Zain-Kenya-makes-another-… > Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives > > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers >

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Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Zain Kenya makes another move
by Wainaina Mungai 30 Aug '10

30 Aug '10

I like the comparisons here. Safaricom's success lies in the sustainable BoP focused strategy they rolled-out awhile back; so does Equity's success. Zain's strategy should therefore be a calculated shift from elitist to a BoP focus...not a simple anti-Safaricom or "Vuka" campaign. Wainaina On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 2:11 PM, Johnstone Ole Turana < jturana(a)ke.nationmedia.com> wrote: > Economics aside, the ongoing price wars mirrors the yesteryears customer > battle between Equity Bank and the other banks. When Equity entered into > conventional banking, it broke down all the entry barriers- ‘free account’, > no charges for account maintenance (we all can recall the punitive minimum > balance extortion), and banking the mwananchi. Big banks fought this and > gave Equity one year or so-after all banking was high cost, high end game > not for the villages with erratic income. Few years down the road the > others have abandoned the exclusivity banking and embraced the Bottom of the > Pyramid (BoP) customer. > > At least now I know for sure I can call and have a decent chat, cross the > t’s and dot the i’s which is good for my provider. > > > > Cheers > > Ole Turana > > > > *From:* ke-internetusers-bounces(a)bdix.net [mailto: > ke-internetusers-bounces(a)bdix.net] *On Behalf Of *Solomon Mburu Kamau > *Sent:* Monday, August 30, 2010 1:58 PM > *To:* Sam Gatere > *Cc:* ke-users; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Zain Kenya makes another move > > > > I always find ot interesting to see people always giving pessimistic views > on an investment. I'm not a shareholder of either Safaricom or Zain, but > find this trend welcome. Zain(Airtel) will make losses in the first round, > but then, let's wait and see what they want to offer to the Kenyan market, > as long as the consumer is the winner. > I don't think the consumer is worried about the losses Zain made, but > he/she wants to communicate using the most affordable pricing in the market. > The rest, to him, are just politics of the corporate world. > > Me thinks > > On 30 August 2010 13:37, Sam Gatere <sam.gatere(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Moaning about safaricom could be one of the strategies employed here... but > we have to give a little grace to the dominant player where dealing with 15 > million plus clients is no easy task! However it would also be important to > look at the difference in mind set between Western Investors and those from > the East. The former (West) have no problems making 10 bob profit per call > while their counterparts seem not to mind making 50 cents! We also need to > look at this whole price war from a birds eye view before narrowing down to > Kenya. Airtel has 15 networks across the continent while Safaricom is only > in Kenya. Should Airtel make Nairobi their Africa hub (of which I think it > is) they will definitely up their game in by investing more to make their HQ > a profitable one. Possibly We will see this war move on to the Data arena in > not to long. > > > > Sammy. > > > > > > > > On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 12:50 PM, Andrea Bohnstedt < > andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> wrote: > > That's really the key issue, isn't it? They won't make money anytime soon > - there's the low rates, but also the fact that they'll have to invest > heavily in network and systems. Easy to moan about Safcom's customers > service - but they manage 16m clients. I'm curious to see if Zain will grow > their customer service at the same speed to accommodate all those new > subscribers. > > I also suspect that it'll be mostly very very price sensitive people who > will change - again not the clientele that will earn the company much money. > > > In 2008, when Zain had the Vuka tariff (KES8 on and off net, if I remember > correctly), the company made nearly USD90m losses. Last year, USD46m losses. > > > I found Mickael Ghossein's statement that 'the market is in a mess' quite > telling. I suspect in this battle of the elephants, Orange and Yu are in > most peril - which could easily contract the market again where subscribers > have less choice. > > Full disclosure: I'm a client with both big companies. There's only so much > a girl can put into her handbag. > > On 30 August 2010 12:31, Wainaina Mungai <wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org> wrote: > > This is a very aggressive and most likely, a huge loss-making move in the > short-run. I hope Zain has a well crafted (*sustainable*) longterm > strategy. > > > > If they are simply 'playing politics' against a 78% market leader > (Safaricom), then they will eventually price their way out of the Kenyan > market. > > > > Kencell losses *>>>* Celtel losses *>>> *Zain losses *>>> *AirTel losses > *>>> oblivion (or market leadership)* > > > > My opinion is not influenced by my 'Safaricom shareholder/MPESA user' > status ;-) > > > > Wainaina > > On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:43 AM, Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > BY MICHAEL KARANJA > Updated 13 minutes ago > > NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 30 - Mobile telephony operator Zain Kenya has > introduced Sh5 and Sh10 denomination airtime vouchers as it steps up > its efforts to capture the mass market. > > The introduction of the new vouchers is seen as a move to make the > operator more accessible to the low-end market after a change in > strategy following the entry of its new shareholders, Bharti Airtel. > > Zain Kenya Managing Director Rene Meza said the move is aimed at > complementing its recent 50 percent reduction of call charges. > > “We are offering a wide range of scratch card denominations to suit > the needs of all individuals. Access to telecommunication services is > no longer a luxury but an integral part of each Kenyan’s > socio-economic needs,” Mr Meza said. > > .... > > Read more: > http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/Kenyabusiness/Zain-Kenya-makes-another-… > Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives > > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrea.bohnstedt%40rat… > > > > > -- > Andrea Bohnstedt > Publisher > +254 720 960 322 > www.ratio-magazine.com > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: sam.gatere(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sam.gatere%40gmail.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: solo.mburu(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/solo.mburu%40gmail.com > > > > > -- > *Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau* > > ***************************************************** > *Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all > the same way to the side of a hill!* > > AND > > *It is better to die in dignity than in the ignominy of ambiguous > generosity! * > > http://smiley2.wordpress.com > http://mburu.sikika.co.ke > > > > > > DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is > intended for the use of the stated recipient only. It may contain > confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No > confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If > you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all > copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the > sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, > print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended > recipient. > > Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author and > do not necessarily represent those of the *Nation Media Group*<http://www.nation.co.ke> > *.* > > To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or visit > http://mobile.nation.co.ke to read news on your mobile phone. > > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > >

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Innovation Policy
by Barrack Otieno 30 Aug '10

30 Aug '10

Dear Listers, Just wondering, in light of our evolving information society do we have such a policy in place. If so what does it say with regard to ICTs and innovation and who are the key stakeholders? -- Barrack O. Otieno +41767892272 Skype: barrack.otieno

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Searchable List Archives
by Odhiambo Washington 28 Aug '10

28 Aug '10

Hello Members, It is now possible to do a search (using keyword(s)) on ALL the lists hosted by KICTANet. This search facility is not as advanced but serves the purpose. List archives are accessible from a link which appears as a footer on the e-mails you receive from the list (to which you are subscribed), but is typically http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/LISTNAME/, e.g. http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/ Some list archives are restricted to membership only, so you may not access them unless you are a member of that list and has an e-mail address/password combo to access them. -- Best regards, List Administration

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Mobile Innovation Workshop - Nairobi.
by Muchiri Nyaggah 27 Aug '10

27 Aug '10

Hi Listers. On September 4th, 2010, Semacraft is hosting a workshop on 'How to Innovate Mobile Services for the Bottom of the Pyramid'. Facilitated by Niti Bhan from the Aalto University Design Factory (http://aaltodesignfactory.fi <http://aaltodesignfactory.fi/> ), the focus of the workshop will be on equipping participants with the understanding on market segmentation at the bottom of the pyramid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottom_of_the_pyramid) and how to innovatively develop services on the mobile platform for this space. You can book your place at http://www.bookwhen.com/semacraft Spread the word and see you there. Kind regards, Muchiri Nyaggah Director @muchiri +254 722 506400 Semacraft.com

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Fwd: [i-network] Zain Kenya Crying Foul at Safaricom
by Barrack Otieno 27 Aug '10

27 Aug '10

Listers I found this discussion interesting, interesting opinions from our brothers across the borders. Kind Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Timothy Kabaza <tkabaza(a)gmail.com> Date: Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 9:57 AM Subject: [i-network] Zain Kenya Crying Foul at Safaricom To: I-Network Uganda <i-network(a)dgroups.org> Badru, agreed from a purely free and competitive market environment. But it has never happened before anywhere in the world or in any industry? Why? Remember (Prof Micheal) Porter's five forces of competition 1. * Existing competitive rivalry between suppliers* 2. *Threat of new market entrants* 3. * Bargaining power of buyers* 4. * Power of suppliers* 5. * Threat of substitute products (including technology change)* here in our region, the biggest distortion of competition is #4, the power of suppliers (operators), not # 1 because of the oligopolistic/cartel tendencies. Hence my view that the regulators step in to protect the consumers. i am not advocating that the regulators protect the suppliers , NO, but to protect us, the consumers against the power of the suppliers. The last time the market was left to the power of suppliers with a 'self regulating' regime ( at most with minimum regulation), we ended up with the global financial collapse - (we are still suffering from the same and we should expect further failures, bail outs notwithstanding!). Tim On 24 August 2010 14:24, Badru Ntege <ntegeb(a)one2net.co.ug> wrote: > Tim > > There's two schools of thought here in a market environment the best > performer wins and takes the lion share. However it seems that when this > happens we then call for big brother the regulator to come help the none > performers. I think that is a wrong way towards building a sustainable > industry. Those players who cannot handle should seek partners who can help > them build a competitive business as opposed to hoping that the regulator > will always help them out. > > Regards > > Badru > > Sent from my® smartphone > ------------------------------ > *From: * "Timothy Kabaza" <tkabaza(a)gmail.com> > *Date: *24 Aug 2010 11:58:30 +0200 > *To: *I-Network Uganda<i-network(a)dgroups.org> > *ReplyTo: * "I-Network Uganda" <i-network(a)dgroups.org> > *Subject: *[i-network] Zain Kenya Crying Foul at Safaricom > > Precisely! > > Remember what I contributed about interconnection charges and the resultant > tariffs? I am of the view that regulators should take a strong stand in the > interest of the users and pro-actively address the issue of tariffs across > board. Perhaps the EAC Secretariat should include communication tariffs on > the custom union agenda. > > Tim > > On 20 August 2010 06:48, Kiiza Edgar <edgar212516(a)googlemail.com> wrote: > >> ** >> Zain accuses Safaricom of blocking calls >> *In Summary* >> >> *What CCK says on competition* >> >> · Commission says a competition study by PricewaterhouseCoopers will >> enable it identify the dominant companies, their price structure. >> Commission to apply a price cap on off-net tariffs >> >> · It costs Sh0.01 to terminate SMS on mobile and fixed networks but the >> operators charge up to Sh3.50. The lowest is Sh2 per SMS. >> >> A mobile phone company on Thursday sensationally accused its competitor of >> sabotaging its customers’ calls as a business war looms in the industry. >> >> Zain, which cut its calling charges by half on Wednesday, accused >> Safaricom of blocking its subscribers from calling the market leader’s >> numbers. >> >> The accusations came on the day the regulator announced a cut in the >> charges operators levy each other for calls across networks, setting the >> stage for cheaper calls. >> >> Now networks can only charge each other Sh2.21 a minute for calls and >> Sh0.01 for an SMS. Zain has already taken advantage and cut its calling >> rates to Sh3 and SMS to Sh1. >> >> But the company on Thursday said its subscribers were having problems >> making calls to Safaricom, because the bigger company was limiting the >> access of Zain callers into its network. >> >> In a complaint to the Communications Commission of Kenya, Zain claimed >> Safaricom was “abusing dominance” and asked CCK to intervene. >> >> “Our customers are experiencing congestion and call set-up issues when >> they call Safaricom and not when calling Zain. This is purely for the simple >> reason that our main competitor has been delaying the capacity increase >> request from our side to accommodate the incremental traffic coming from us >> after we launched our new offer in the market,” said Zain Kenya managing >> director, Mr Rene Meza. >> >> Safaricom dismissed Zain’s claims and instead accused its competitor of >> poor planning. Chief executive officer Michael Joseph said: “We feel that >> their request to the CCK to declare Safaricom dominant so soon after the >> launch of their new tariff is insincere, particularly as it was the result >> of poor planning on their side.” >> >> He added: “We have always been courteous to Zain, even to the extent of >> accommodating them when they were unable to clear the significant debt that >> they owed us. This notwithstanding, we shall continue to cooperate with them >> as guided by the inter-connect agreement and other industry rules. We invite >> them to engage us within those parameters.” >> >> Mr Joseph said Zain ‘’is fully aware of the procedures that all operators >> must adhere to when seeking to increase their inter-connect traffic >> capacity. Under the agreement the inter-connect pipe belongs to them and >> they should have upgraded it long before yesterday to accommodate their >> changed tariff plan.” >> >> The Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek), welcomed the drop in charges >> but asked CCK to ensure fair play in the sector. ‘‘We do hope that >> competition among service providers shall remain decent, honest and >> objective,’’ Cofek said in a statement signed by programme officer Calvin >> Otieno. >> >> The organisation also asked CCK to tackle the issue of low speeds and high >> charges for internet long after all major fibre optic cables landed in >> Kenya. CCK director-general Charles Njoroge said Zain’s allegations would be >> investigated. >> >> “We shall look into the complaints. We know there could be challenges when >> the traffic is changing patterns and the important thing is to investigate >> and once we have answers we shall be able to take corrective measures to >> ensure whatever is happening is corrected,” he said. >> >> Mr Njoroge, speaking at CCK offices, said as the market opens up there >> will be alignment in terms of efficiency, and operators should co-operate to >> ensure there is access because the interconnection agreements demand they >> facilitate seamless interconnection. >> >> He said CCK had noted the wide difference between what operators charge >> customers to make calls within their networks and to competing networks and >> how this was being used by the large operators to block competition. The big >> companies were creating a “club effect” by using interconnection charges to >> discourage their customers from calling other networks. >> >> “This pricing mindset is offensive to competition as it entrenches tariff >> imbalances in favour of large operators and makes other networks net payers >> to large networks,” he said. Mr Njoroge said the issue of dominance will be >> comprehensively dealt with through a report to be released soon. >> >> He said the interconnection charges could have gone down to Sh0.99 but CCK >> said this would disrupt business plans of the operators. The Sh2.21 had >> factored the return on investment, but added that the benefits must be >> passed to the consumers. >> >> “We need to move to the second step. We have initiated a process, and have >> regulations and once we declare (a company) dominant and it is seen that the >> company is abusing the dominance we shall come in and put a cap to regulate >> the retail (prices),” Mr Njoroge said. >> >> He said they had a competition study by PricewaterhouseCoopers which will >> enable them identify the dominant companies, their price structure and know >> if there is an abuse of the market. He said in order to remedy the >> competition problem at the retail fixed and mobile voice markets, the >> commission intends to apply a price cap on the off-net tariffs >> >> Visit the I-Network website - www.i-network.or.ug Follow I-Network on >> Twitter: http://twitter.com/inetwork The I-Network Dgroup is a platform >> for ICT Knowledge Sharing >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Visit web site <http://d2.dgroups.org/iicd/i-network/> >> Click here <leave.i-network(a)dgroups.org> to unsubscribe >> The email is intended only for the recipients. The owners of the Dgroups >> cannot be held responsible for the contents of the email message. >> > > > Visit the I-Network website - www.i-network.or.ug Follow I-Network on > Twitter: http://twitter.com/inetwork The I-Network Dgroup is a platform > for ICT Knowledge Sharing > > ------------------------------ > > Visit web site <http://d2.dgroups.org/iicd/i-network/> > Click here <leave.i-network(a)dgroups.org> to unsubscribe > The email is intended only for the recipients. The owners of the Dgroups > cannot be held responsible for the contents of the email message. > > Visit the I-Network website - www.i-network.or.ug Follow I-Network on > Twitter: http://twitter.com/inetwork The I-Network Dgroup is a platform > for ICT Knowledge Sharing > > ------------------------------ > > Visit web site <http://d2.dgroups.org/iicd/i-network/> > Click here <leave.i-network(a)dgroups.org> to unsubscribe > The email is intended only for the recipients. The owners of the Dgroups > cannot be held responsible for the contents of the email message. > Visit the I-Network website - www.i-network.or.ug Follow I-Network on Twitter: http://twitter.com/inetwork The I-Network Dgroup is a platform for ICT Knowledge Sharing ------------------------------ Visit web site <http://d2.dgroups.org/iicd/i-network/> Click here <leave.i-network(a)dgroups.org> to unsubscribe The email is intended only for the recipients. The owners of the Dgroups cannot be held responsible for the contents of the email message. -- Barrack O. Otieno +41767892272 Skype: barrack.otieno

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Re: [kictanet] Deteriorating Safaricom or simply broken systems??
by cliff＠acwsp.com 26 Aug '10

26 Aug '10

MJ, May I also draw your attention to my personal experience that the CC could not assist. On june 10th, I sent an sms to a number in China but it bounce back with an error- 'Failled by service'. I had to try 3 times before the sms was sent. Instinctly, I checked my balance coz I had just loaded airtime, I had been charge for all the sms. I checked with the guy on yahoo chat I was sending the sms if he received all the 3 so that I can offer an apology, he confirmed receiving only one. I called CC for a refund, I was told once the sms leaves my phone, its charged whether delivered or not. It happen again on 16th July when sending sms on the same number and the response from CC was the same! Honestly, why should customers be charged for a service never delivered? Kind regards, Cliff > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Deteriorating Safaricom or simply broken > systems?? > From: Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo(a)gmail.com> > Date: Thu, August 26, 2010 2:37 am > To: cliff(a)acwsp.com > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > > On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 10:45 AM, Brian Munyao Longwe wrote: > > > Hi Washington, > > On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 10:39 AM, Odhiambo Washington wrote: > > > > > Hi Brian, > > I beg to disagree with your supposition that these are "mundane and rather trivial issues". Safaricom does not sell vegetables at Gikomba, nor Mandazi at Kibera. This is their core business and if anything goes wrong with these, as one Harry Truman, put it decades ago, the buck stops with one, Michael Joseph! > > > > > > PS: MJ - Thank you so much for taking up this issue. > > > > > > > Both you and I have run online service operations - these kind of issues do *not* need the CEO to spend his time on - unless things have deteriorated to abyssmal levels. > > > > Nevertheless his attention is much appreciated. > > > > > I am happy to report that after MJ's intervention, Safaricom has "indemnified" me on the case(s) that I complained about. To be precise, I got refunds for the amounts used "out-of-bundle" when their systems delayed in allocating me the bundles I had purchased. > > > I'd also like to publicly acknowledge their apologies, received from Muthoni Karimi and Jack Siperia. > � > I feel much better now, as a Safaricom customer, because I have been treated right, thanks to MJ. > > > > > -- > Best regards, > Odhiambo WASHINGTON, > Nairobi,KE > +254733744121/+254722743223 > _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > "If you have nothing good to say about someone, just shut up!." > > � � � � � � � � -- Lucky Dube > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: cliff(a)acwsp.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/cliff%40acwsp.com >

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Re: [kictanet] Deteriorating Safaricom or simply broken systems??
by muliaro＠yahoo.com 25 Aug '10

25 Aug '10

It depends on how you define quality. take a system perspective and customer care would be reduced to one of the dimensions of quality. This aside, the point is- CCK has the responsibility of ensuaring that licensed companies like safaricom deliver within the acceptable limits thus protecting consumers. Dr Muliaro Wafula Sent from my Nokia phone -----Original Message----- From: McTim Sent: 25/08/2010 11:02:00 pm To: muliaro(a)yahoo.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Deteriorating Safaricom or simply broken systems?? Hi, On Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 10:18 PM, muliaro(a)yahoo.com <muliaro(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > This is Quality of Service issue. To be precise, this is a customer service issue, not a QoS issue. Most people mistakenly use the term incorrectly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_of_service -- Cheers, McTim "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel

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Re: [kictanet] Deteriorating Safaricom or simply broken systems??
by muliaro＠yahoo.com 25 Aug '10

25 Aug '10

This is Quality of Service issue. It is CCK that needs to handle such complains. any body from CCK to take on this issue? Soon CCK will be overwelmed with more ICT actors attempting innovative ways to stay ahead of there competitors at the expense of regulations. Dr Muliaro Wafula Sent from my Nokia phone -----Original Message----- From: ESTHER MUCHIRI Sent: 25/08/2010 4:34:23 pm To: muliaro(a)yahoo.com Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' Subject: Re: [kictanet] Deteriorating Safaricom or simply broken systems?? Hmm - is someone from Safaricom looking into these matters? It is really frustrating waiting for the bundles and getting none.. Or being told you have received 300MB and it evaporates in a day or two with limited use! ===================== "The future belongs to those who believe the beauty of their dreams.". -- Eleanor Roosevelt From: kictanet-bounces+emuchiri=andestbites.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+emuchiri=andestbites.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Brian Munyao Longwe Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 3:24 PM To: emuchiri(a)andestbites.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Deteriorating Safaricom or simply broken systems?? I had similar experience last week with the 500sh bundle - it took almost 12 hours to activate and in the meantime about 400 sh of my airtime was chewed by the off-bundle rate... Brian On Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 3:08 PM, Harry Karanja <kairo(a)softlaw.co.ke> wrote: Washington, I share your frustration. I experienced the same thing albeit with smaller amounts. When I called CS I was told that it could take up to 48 Hours for the bundle to be loaded, and no they could not refund the airtime. I was forced to purchase more airtime and use the KES. 8 out-of-bundle charges. To date I am not sure whether the bundle was ever allocated. Harry Karanja n Director n SoftLaw Limited n Genius Executive Centre n 15th Floor View Park Towers n Utalii Lane n Nairobi CBD n Tel: +254 20 342 225 From: kictanet-bounces+kairo=softlaw.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kairo <mailto:kictanet-bounces%2Bkairo> =softlaw.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Odhiambo Washington Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 2:22 PM To: kairo(a)softlaw.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Deteriorating Safaricom or simply broken systems?? Last evening I loaded KES 2,300 worth of credit on a Safaricom data line (0720 332211) and sent an sms to 446 to purchase a 300MB bundle. With their br0ken systems (the whole of yesterday) they could not allocate me the bundle immediately, even though they promptly deducted the KES 999. Because I could not get the confirmation of bundle allocation (CS kept telling me to wait for 20, 30, N minutes for the confirmation to come) I decided to just plugin the SIM card and use it, hoping the bundle had been allocated but only the confirmation sms was delayed. I ended up using KES 800 of my balance airtime after they deducted the KES 999 (instead of the bundle!!) and I got to know that only today when I called CS and they gave me the shocking news - you have only KES 500-and-something airtime on that line!! The whole of yesterday their system was broken down. I suffered the same during the day. I loaded 2500 on a different number and sent "activate" to 448 for a 1GB Bundle. I could not get the confirmation after about 10 minutes and called CS, who told me that they were experiencing problems and I should wait for about 2 hours. I had to buy 500 and top up and just use it like that without purchasing a bundle, while waiting for the 2+ hours... Is there a way for redress with Safaricom? They've literally stolen from me, by deducting my KES 999 and not allocating me the bundle "within the required time" (or isn't there something like this?), making me to use my reserved airtime instead! There must be better ways of dealing with this from Safaricom, or any other provider for that matter. It is simply not acceptable, and I do feel that when I buy a commodity (like the bundle) I should get it immediately, unless there is a condition that stipulates that the provider is at liberty to decide when to give it to me. I also believe that it's the obligation of the provider to notify me when they have a problem that would affect the services I buy from them. Safaricom, I want my money back, as small as it is! -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "If you have nothing good to say about someone, just shut up!." -- Lucky Dube -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "If you have nothing good to say about someone, just shut up!." -- Lucky Dube _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: blongwe(a)gmail.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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Africa has 7 of top 10 safest web surfing nations
by Leonard Mware 25 Aug '10

25 Aug '10

Interesting article http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=3236847 For once we can flaunt our 'safety' rating!

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Re: [kictanet] Pondering mobile competition
by Andrea Bohnstedt 25 Aug '10

25 Aug '10

The 'abuse' complaint was silly, I think: Zain's network was congested from day one of their tariff launch. I'm sure, very very sure, that telecoms professionals at both Zain and Bharti are, well, professional enough to anticipate the need to increase network capacity if they launch such an aggressive tariff. You've seen the fun little leaked exchange between Rene Meza and Michael Joseph - Zain approached Safaricom in the evening asking for capacity on the Safaricom-owned link, and Joseph promised to look into this in the morning. The interconnection agreement between both companies states that this protocol can take up to seven days, as far as I understand. http://www.ratio-magazine.com/201008203586/Kenya/News-Analysis-Telecoms-Pri… Either they could have just increased capacity before the launch, or, if they were worried about alerting Safaricom to this, then just suck up and tell customers that the network will be congested for another seven days. So for Zain to come out the next morning and shout about abuse is dishonest and a cheap marketing ploy that I think they really don't need. I'm a happy capitalist. Competition is a good thing, in Kenya as elsewhere. So I'd like them to compete on the strength of their services and concepts, not by overnight accusations of 'abuse'. Mind you, if Zain kill of Orange and Essar, we'll have a bit less competition in terms of numbers, but hey ... :) Happy phone calls, Andrea On 24 August 2010 14:34, Emmanuel Khisa <oloo.khisa(a)googlemail.com> wrote: > Hi Andreas, > > You have spoken for me on this one...I have also wondered since zain/bharti > lodged their complaint with CCK over clogged network, were they just playing > spoilt kid or do they have a valid claim? My opinion is that since they have > experienced an unanticipated rise in subscribers they didnt have the network > infrastructure to support these calls and so quickly blame the rival and > make them look bad. But then again maybe they have a valid case against the > boys in green. > Nonetheless the winner here is the consumer. Shall we safely say that we > have entered the third mobile revolution. > > > > > On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 1:56 PM, Andrea Bohnstedt < > andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> wrote: > >> I'm wondering: >> >> Will CCK strictly enforce the cut-off deadline for unregistered SIM cards >> at the end of August? Are Zain making sure that everyone picking up a new >> line also register them immediately? >> >> If price war is Zain's strategy, will they have enough money left to >> invest in infrastructure and customer service once their subscriber numbers >> go up significantly? Will they be able to scale up both systems quickly >> enough? >> >> Telkom Orange are cited in the media as complaining that the interconnect >> rate also applies to their fixed line service and that this is not even >> covering their costs ( >> http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Telkom%20unhappy%20with%20interlink%2…) >> I wonder if the two big ones having it out won't kill the two small ones >> first? >> >> Bharti/Zain have also launched free sms alongside lower on and off-net >> calling rates and free minutes in Nigeria: >> http://telecomyatra.afaqs.com/news/?sid=1652_Bharti+subsidiary+Zain+introdu… >> >> Happy afternoon, >> Andrea >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: oloo.khisa(a)gmail.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/oloo.khisa%40gmail.com >> >> > -- Andrea Bohnstedt Publisher +254 720 960 322 www.ratio-magazine.com

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 39, Issue 42
by ALEX OWITI 25 Aug '10

25 Aug '10

** * * *SAFARICOM UNVEILS NEW POSTPAY RATES* * * *August 24, 2010...*Safaricom’s PostPay customers can now call make calls at a flat rate of Sh3 per minute. This follows the launch of a new tariff plan for this category of subscribers by the country’s leading telecoms operator. The rates will apply for both on and off-net calls and will be applicable throughout. Per second billing applies on this tariff, which takes effect starting August 25 and is targeted at the firm’s PostPay, a key component of its 16 million-strong subscriber base. Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph said the tariff was a way of thanking the firm’s PostPay subscribers for their loyalty and extending to them price concessions similar to what PrePay customers were enjoying. “Our PostPay customers are a huge reason for our success. We thank them for their custom and considerable spending on our network. We promise to remain responsive to their needs and promise them a number of incentives, going forward,” said Mr Joseph. Earlier in the day, Safaricom had announced a value-based PrePay tariff promotion whose main point was a Sh2 per minute calling rate on the purchase of certain air-time denominations, the lowest level in the market currently. *ENDS...* * * *About Safaricom...*Formed at the turn of the decade, Safaricom has firmly established its credentials as a regional leader, spawning a virtual telecoms revolution in Kenya. Safaricom is a total telecoms company. With a subscriber base of over 16 million, Safaricom offers all telecoms services under one roof: mobile and fixed voice and data services on a variety of platforms: Kenya’s widest and only 3G network; a growing fibre optic cable footprint and its most expansive WIMAX presence. For more details please go to: *http://www.safaricom.co.ke/* Alex. ** * * * * * * * *

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Safaricom personalizes mobile service Implements Nokia Siemens Networks’ subscriber data management platform
by ALEX OWITI 25 Aug '10

25 Aug '10

* * *Press Release* *Nairobi**, Kenya** – August 25, 2010* *Safaricom personalizes mobile service*** *Implements Nokia Siemens Networks’ subscriber data management platform * Leading Kenyan telecoms operator Safaricom will soon be able to offer new, personalized services to its subscribers. The operator is deploying Nokia Siemens Networks’ Subscriber Data Management (SDM) platform to pull together subscriber data that currently resides on multiple databases. The platform will allow Safaricom to gain better insight into the needs and likes of its customers and offer targeted services. The deployment is part of Safaricom’s transition to an all-IP network. “We want customers that stay with us because we offer the specific services they love,” said John Barorot, chief technology officer, Safaricom. “Nokia Siemens Networks’ subscriber data management platform helps us understand the needs and demands of our subscribers. This enables us to provide more customized and secure services and that makes for happier customers.” “A central, unified data base allows secure, seamless data management for services and applications,” added Manfred Egger, head of Safaricom customer team, Nokia Siemens Networks. “By bringing together subscriber data, Safaricom will obtain insight into its subscribers’ behavior and be able to offer customized services that meet their varied interests.” Nokia Siemens Networks will supply its subscriber data management solution, including the One-NDS real-time subscriber data repository, to consolidate subscriber data from multiple applications. The consolidation is far more efficient than managing multiple databases for different applications, including Home Location Register (HLR), Home Subscriber Server (HSS) and converged Data Authentication, and provides a converged platform that makes it easier to create and deliver new services. Nokia Siemens Networks will also enhance Safaricom’s network management system to enable better monitoring and optimization of its network.Integration and consulting services will be provided to ensure a smooth implementation. *About Safaricom* Formed at the turn of the decade following the liberalization of Kenya’s telecoms sector as a joint venture between global leader Vodafone of the UK and the government of Kenya, Safaricom has firmly established its credentials as a regional leader, spawning a virtual telecoms revolution in Kenya. Growing from its cradle in mobile voice services, Safaricom is a total telecoms company. The firm, which has a subscriber base of over 16 million, offers all telecoms services under one roof: mobile and fixed voice and data services on a variety of platforms: Kenya’s widest and only 3G network; a growing fibre optic cable footprint and its most expansive WIMAX presence. For more details please go to: http://www.safaricom.co.ke/ About Nokia Siemens Networks Nokia Siemens Networks is a leading global enabler of telecommunications services. With its focus on innovation and sustainability, the company provides a complete portfolio of mobile, fixed and converged network technology, as well as professional services including consultancy and systems integration, deployment, maintenance and managed services. It is one of the largest telecommunications hardware, software and professional services companies in the world. Operating in 150 countries, its headquarters are in Espoo, Finland. www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com Talk about Nokia Siemens Networks’ news at http://blogs.nokiasiemensnetworks.com and find out if your country is exploiting the full potential of connectivity at http://connectivityscorecard.org Media Enquiries Nokia Siemens Networks Nada Chammas Media Relations, Middle East and Africa Phone: +971 4 4460213 e-mail: nada.chammas(a)nsn.com Media Relations Phone: +358 7180 31451 e-mail: mediarelations(a)nsn.com Safaricom Washington Akumu Public Relations & Sponsorship Manager Phone: +254 724 509 033 e-mail: pr(a)safaricom.co.ke Notes to editors: *After the data consolidation, Nokia Siemens Networks will substitute the existing HLRs with new data-less NT-HLR frontends. Further, data-less network applications such as Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Equipment Identification Register (EIR), Mobile Number Portability (server) (MNP) and Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (server) (AAA) will follow soon.

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Thank you all
by robert yawe 25 Aug '10

25 Aug '10

Hi, I finally have 3G connectivity from inside my house in South C thanks to all the rants I posted in the forum, it is good to know that this forum has the right listener ship. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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Safaricom Attitude - Consumer Issues
by Edith Adera 24 Aug '10

24 Aug '10

There's need for consumer issues to be taken VERY seriously in the Kenyan Telecommunication market. I believe CCK is listening and this should not be allowed to happen to any Kenyan consumer. As a non-user of money transfer services (I'm a proxy user), I decided to try the Mpesa service today as I did not have a 3rd party proxy to undertake the transaction on my behalf as I usually do. The last I tried to register for the service, I was informed that I had an old generation SIM card and needed to replace it yet the agent did not have the replacement SIMs. I was directed to follow a convoluted process of getting the replacement SIM, which I did not have the time for at that point. Today, I was rudely informed that as a non registered user I cannot send money by Mpesa (Prestige service provider) - never mind that I have a very active Safaricom line. This puzzled me as in the banking sector, you can always bank money into any account at a bank in which you're not a "member". So in search for an answer to this issue, I decided to call a Safaricom Officer (Ms Bernice - department that issues Short Codes) to get some assistance. I called her on my Zain line. As soon as she picked the call, she was very cold and retorted "for starters, you have called me from the wrong network - meaning from Zain - and secondly, you cannot send money if you are not a registered user". My issue as a consumer is - why should I be rebuked for using my Zain line to call Safaricom? Is it a Safaricom policy that no one should call them using a Zain line or lines from other network providers? what does the CCK regulations say about such issues? My little telecommunication background tells me that the "consumer is king" and that a consumer must exercise their "right of choice" in a competitive market. why should I be dictated to what network I MUST USE or NOT use to make calls? Is this a reflection of the interconnection issues that are currently hitting media headlines? I have taken this issue very seriously and demand an apology and response from Safaricom. I believe CCK will take appropriate action to ensure that this is not the modus operandi in the Kenyan telecommunication market. Edith Kenyan Consumer

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A case against CSR
by Harry Hare 24 Aug '10

24 Aug '10

Dear All, This is a non-IT piece but very thought provoking. Especially interesting for business executives and policy makers. I remember one professor friend who maintains that the only responsibility a corporation has, is to its shareholders. Dr Kamani, the author of this piece is of the same mindset though he argues for regulation as probably the most effective ³protector² of common good. Read on.. http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB100014240527487033380045752301126 64504890.html Harry African eDevelopment Resource Centre eDevelopment House : : 604 Limuru Road Old Muthaiga : : P O Box 49475 00100 Nairobi : : Kenya T +254 20 3741646/7 : : C +254 725 650044 Training : : Research: :Consultancy: : Publishing

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Re: [kictanet] Safaricom Attitude - Consumer Issues
by andrea.bohnstedt＠ratio-magazine.com 24 Aug '10

24 Aug '10

Possibly. I may be dumb. If so, kindly explain it to me again so that I'll understand it. -----Original Message----- From: Edith Adera Sent: 23/08/2010, 22:45 To: Andrea Bohnstedt Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: RE: [kictanet] Safaricom Attitude - Consumer Issues Andrea, You are missing the point! Edith ________________ Edith Ofwona Adera Senior Program Specialist ICT4D Program International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera eadera(a)idrc.or.ke<mailto:eadera@idrc.or.ke> | www.idrc.ca<http://www.idrc.ca/> | www.crdi.ca<http://www.crdi.ca/> ________________________________ From: Andrea Bohnstedt [andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com] Sent: 23 August 2010 22:43 To: Edith Adera Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Safaricom Attitude - Consumer Issues Edith, Why do you find it so surprising that you can't send an M-PESA payment if you don't have an M-PESA account? Can you make Zap payments without having a Zap account? In a bank, you can pay cash into someone's account without having a bank account, but you need to go to that person's bank, and you can't make a bank transfer either without having an account yourself. Also, the need to register before you make any mobile money payments is, as far as I know, a banking sector requirement imposed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the Know Your Customer (KYC) rules to combat money laundering etc. That you need an M-PESA-enabled SIM card is an old story - that's been communicated since the beginning of the service, I think, even if it's of course it's regrettable that the agent you visited didn't have one. Many regards, Andrea On 23 August 2010 22:28, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.or.ke<mailto:eadera@idrc.or.ke>> wrote: There's need for consumer issues to be taken VERY seriously in the Kenyan Telecommunication market. I believe CCK is listening and this should not be allowed to happen to any Kenyan consumer. As a non-user of money transfer services (I'm a proxy user), I decided to try the Mpesa service today as I did not have a 3rd party proxy to undertake the transaction on my behalf as I usually do. The last I tried to register for the service, I was informed that I had an old generation SIM card and needed to replace it yet the agent did not have the replacement SIMs. I was directed to follow a convoluted process of getting the replacement SIM, which I did not have the time for at that point. Today, I was rudely informed that as a non registered user I cannot send money by Mpesa (Prestige service provider) - never mind that I have a very active Safaricom line. This puzzled me as in the banking sector, you can always bank money into any account at a bank in which you're not a "member". So in search for an answer to this issue, I decided to call a Safaricom Officer (Ms Bernice - department that issues Short Codes) to get some assistance. I called her on my Zain line. As soon as she picked the call, she was very cold and retorted "for starters, you have called me from the wrong network - meaning from Zain - and secondly, you cannot send money if you are not a registered user". My issue as a consumer is - why should I be rebuked for using my Zain line to call Safaricom? Is it a Safaricom policy that no one should call them using a Zain line or lines from other network providers? what does the CCK regulations say about such issues? My little telecommunication background tells me that the "consumer is king" and that a consumer must exercise their "right of choice" in a competitive market. why should I be dictated to what network I MUST USE or NOT use to make calls? Is this a reflection of the interconnection issues that are currently hitting media headlines? I have taken this issue very seriously and demand an apology and response from Safaricom. I believe CCK will take appropriate action to ensure that this is not the modus operandi in the Kenyan telecommunication market. Edith Kenyan Consumer _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com<mailto:andrea.bohnstedt@ratio-magazine.com> Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrea.bohnstedt%40rat… -- Andrea Bohnstedt Publisher +254 720 960 322 www.ratio-magazine.com<http://www.ratio-magazine.com>

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FW: Ghana Leads Internet Speed
by Victor Gathara 24 Aug '10

24 Aug '10

Interesting, hope the 'price wars' in Kenya extend to data services... Victor ________________________________ GHANA HAS been ranked number one in Africa for internet speed, thanks to Vodafone Ghana's launch of its 4MB speed capacity, which is West Africa's fastest consumer internet cafés' broadband package. Aside being ranked number one in Africa, Ghana has also moved from the 176th position, globally, to 52nd for downloads and 11th for uploads, according to speedtest.net, an independent global broadband speed test analyzer, powered by Ookla the global leader in broadband speed testing and web-based network diagnostic applications. Ookla's test engines and methodologies set the global broadband industry's standards for popularity ease of use and the development of relevant statistical data. Ookla services almost every Internet Service Provider in the world and its solutions are used by thousands of small businesses and Fortune 500 companies such as Cisco, Comcast, Nokia, Reuters, Speakeasy, Time Warner Cable and Vonage. According the speed test records, Vodafone Ghana is also ranked number one in Ghana for Internet Service Provider (ISP). Vodafone's average download, based on tests by its customers is 2.26Mbps which is more than double Vodafone's nearest competitor. The launch of Vodafone's 4MB speed capacity provides customers anywhere in the country with 4-31 times faster home broadband services compared to existing speeds, thus allowing super fast streaming/downloading of movies, internet browsing, video calls and instant music downloads. "The new packages are in line with Vodafone's strategy to deliver high speed broadband services to customers, at the same time, reducing the cost of set up," said Marc Norris, Head of Consumer Fixed, Vodafone Ghana in an interview. In a related development, Vodafone Ghana has launched the most simplified and less complicated roaming rates for its customers travelling outside Ghana. With the new roaming arrangement by Vodafone Ghana, customers will pay a flat rate depending on which zone they travel to without the worry of varying tariffs. Vodafone has divided the world into six zones, each of which has a respective flat tariff for making calls, receiving calls and sending text messages. This arrangement gives customers the confidence of knowing what they are paying for and when. Roaming with Vodafone or partner network (Vodafone World), customers travelling outside Ghana would save up to 90 percent on their call and text message rates <mailto:t-radji@dfid.gov.uk> DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the UK Government's fight against world poverty. Find out more at http://www.dfid.gov.uk.

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AITEC .africa panel
by Brian Munyao Longwe 24 Aug '10

24 Aug '10

Hi Sean, I would rather if it's someone from the domain name community. I would suggest Michuki Mwangi, former CEO of KENIC and currently ISOC. Or even better the AfTLD chairman Vika, from South Africa. I have cc'd both on this email. Brian On Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 8:03 PM, Sean Moroney <seanm(a)aitecafrica.com> wrote: > Hi Brian, > > > > Please confirm whether you would like to participate in the Panel > Discussion on this at the East African ICT Summit. The revised programme is > attached > > > > Regards, > > > > Sean Moroney > *Chairman** > **AITEC Africa* > seanm(a)aitecafrica.com > UK Tel: +44(0)1480-880774 > UK Fax: +44(0)1480-880765 > UK Mobile: +44(0)7973-499224 > Kenya Mobile: +254(0)721-845674 > Mozambique Mobile: +258-82-6181618 > Nigeria Mobile: +234(0)802-0571766 > SA Mobile: +27(0)724-577887 > Skype: seanmoroney > www.aitecafrica.com > > *From:* kictanet-bounces+seanm=aitecafrica.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke[mailto: > kictanet-bounces+seanm <kictanet-bounces%2Bseanm>=aitecafrica.com@ > lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Brian Munyao Longwe > *Sent:* 19 August 2010 12:40 > *To:* seanm(a)aitecafrica.com > > *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Fwd: information on .africa and the lies > surrounding an individual's push > > > > Walu, > > Your point is noted, however .africa is not just another TLD - it is in the > same realm as .eu i.e. a regional domain that represents multiple > jurisdictions - in the same manner that .eu was granted at the behest of the > EU/EC - subsequent to a process that brought forward the buy-in of major > stakeholder in the EU, including Governments, operators and local internet > community - similarly, Africa needs to have undergone a processs whereby > there is broad buy-in/consensus behind whoever it is that is making the > pitch to ICANN. > > Having said that - I for one, will NEVER support anyone who tries to gain > leverage/support by using lies: > 1) She has never been an ICANN board member - despite repeated brazen > claims to the office > 2) She has never been given a formal (let alone written) endorsement by the > AU > 3) She feels threatened by reputable and legitimate African internet bodies > and went to great lengths to sabotage AfriNIC's proposed Addist meeting by > telling lies to the government and Ethiopia telecoms which prompted them > pulling out 2 months before the meeting. Only to find out after > consultations that they have been fed a bunch of lies and ended up losing > face both at a local and global perspective. > > My two cents, > > Brian > > On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 12:25 PM, Njeri < > njeri.rionge(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke> wrote: > > Walu, Finally common sense becomes common sense as we know it. > > > I opted to saying nothing before, will continue to do so. But I needed to > note some sense in the thread and urge people to read in between the lines > closely. > > > > Cross the T's and dot the I's. > > > > Best, > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > Go to www.igniteconsulting.co.ke follow the button of what's HOT this > month, our workshops Ignite Human Potential for Personal and Organizational > Success. > > > > For your wellness experiencies follow this link www.ignitelifestyle.com > > > > The Ignite Experience Center can host your corporate retreats, business > dinners and private functions. Call Eunice on 254 20 2532142 or 2532144 or > email: events(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke for your consulting bookings and > events(a)ignitelifestyle.com for your bookings on wellness therapies. > > > On Aug 19, 2010, at 11:28 AM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > Very democratic comments Walu :-) > > On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 9:24 AM, Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > I really dont know who this lady is - other than having seeing her at the > Kenyan IGF where she also pushed for the dot.Africa initiative. Indeed as > Pierre mentions elsewhere, there's a parallel push @ > http://www.dotafrica.org/home.html which I believe has the support of > AfNOG, AfrNIC, AfTLD (the Af* organisations). > > However and I stand to be corrected - I think the ICANN process is quite > open and transparent and we therefore cannot stop any bidder pushing to have > a top level domain like dot.Africa (free for all approach that ofcourse has > had its advantages and disadvantages). > > So whereas I support and understand the need have dot.africa under the > family and philosophy of Af* organisations, we really have no control over > other bidders trying to get there first. Maybe we should just up our game > and get the domain before the competition. > > walu. > disclaimer: comments shared are personal and not the view of the > organisations I am affiliated with. > > > --- On *Wed, 8/18/10, Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu(a)gmail.com>* wrote: > > > From: Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: information on .africa and the lies > surrounding an individual's push > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 11:34 PM > > > > @ Njenga, > It's not really about who is onlist or not, but during the just concluded > EAIGF in Uganda one 'iron lady' has been claiming to speak on behalf of AU > and that there are some endorsements made that she presented to this > regional forum, which turned out to be a sham! > > I hope Brian my explanation is right. > > On 18 August 2010 18:24, Njenga Gathecha <njenga.mkenya(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Hello all. I think the best thing to do is to have all the members listed > somewhere and then in case of doubt, listers can consult the list. This > would ward off cons who may seek to exploit innocents. > > Thanks for pointing this out now. > > On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 5:06 PM, Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > > > Hi all, > > Just received this. Apparently she has formally been propagating lies about > being on the ICANN board etc.... and even put up counterfiet letters on her > website - this verges on criminal! What is her interest? > > Brian > > ------------------------ > > Brian, > > here is some info for you.. she constructed this whole thing on lies. you > can judge for yourself. I did not want to spam all but I sent this to a few > key people. check this: > > - there is no African Union Authority!!!! do you really believe that the*Chairman of the AU Commission > * will have claimed to write on behalf of a non existent authority and > give her a letter in that sense? so maybe she should explain to people why > she has a 'weird' letter on her website. Check her website and you will see. > > - here is an email that tells you how she lies! she actually took me to the > ombudsman at ICANN in 2007, complaining that I was preventing her from doing > dot africa, copied the whole board at the time --- all her claims were > immediately dismissed when I sent the letters and emails to the ombudsman, > of the same caliber as the below that she had been sending to regional > organisations and bodies. My fault was to have written to all organisations, > as the Regional Liaison, to dismiss her claims of ICANN endorsement of dot > africa and her being on the board. > > - she keeps saying ICANN is endorsing dot africa! how can ICANN endorse a > TLD?? how can ICANN be judge and party???? she is supposed to have been at > the GNSO council and ICANN and understand what she is talking about!!!! she > has been in the ICANN process for the past 5 years and still has no idea how > all this functions. > > I let you judge. The woman does not have her wits together I think. > > Cheers > > *Sophia Bekele <sophiabekele(a)yahoo.com<http://mc/compose?to=sophiabekele@yahoo.com> > >* > > 30/08/2006 01:48 PM > > > > Subject > > Re: > > > > > Hello <name removed>, > > I hope your vacation is going well. As per discussion, I thought I would > convey someof what is on my plate that may be of mutual interest. > > Presently, other than my private projects/business interests, I also serve > on the board of ICANN, the international internet governance organization. > At this stage, I have outlined few projects in addition to an initiative > that could quickly put under incubation. Any or all of these could serve as > a basis for mutual collaboration. > > Generally speaking the projects span ICT, public sector governance, > regional integration, internet governance etc.. > > The priority project I mentioned to UN Undersecretary General was that of > dot.africa (.Africa) which he expressed great interest. Thus, there will be > a need to synergize and align strategies of possible project collaboration. > > > Dot.Africa is an initiative supported by ICANN, that aims at unifying and > consolidating the African Information Society and presence within the > Internet as distinct from other Continental communities. As such, there now > exists dot.EU (.EU), dot.Asia.(.ASIA) and dot.LatinAmerica (.LA) as similar > ongoing initiatives. The present paradigm is to halt Africans > marginalization in this age of globalization. This is actually one of the > goals of NEPAD, which of course is an initiative that is already endorsed b > the UN. There are no prices for guessing what would happen if dot.Africa is > not also initiated and implemented at the same time that other Continental > communities on the net have been put in place. > > To get this of the ground, it appears from the experiences of the others, a > minimum of 13 countries in Africawould have to come on board. The > endorsement for UNECA would of course be helpful. This initiative would > require a proposal to be distributed to the potential participating > countries. UNECA’s help would be crucial in communicating who might wish to > participate. Countries that have already have ongoing National policies > that relate ICT as a strategic tool for National development would be the > primary candidates. Being something that would turn into a Continental > initiative, it is rewarding at best for the UNECA to play an active role in > this initial stage. > > As an African representative on ICANN board, I have taken the initiative to > coordinate and see the successful implementation of the project. I believe > therefore, we should have a meeting to progress this further. I suggest we > meet ASAP to get this moving, as time is of essence to the extent that the > application for the domain name must be submitted before January 2007. > > However due to our travel schedules, we should arrange a teleconference > meeting that is mutually convenient for all within the next two weeks. > > Regards, > Sophia > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: njenga.mkenya(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/njenga.mkenya%40gmail.… > > > > > -- > > Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: solo.mburu(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/solo.mburu%40gmail.com > > > > > -- > *Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau* > > ***************************************************** > *Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all > the same way to the side of a hill!* > > AND > > *It is better to die in dignity than in the ignominy of ambiguous > generosity! * > > http://smiley2.wordpress.com > http://mburu.sikika.co.ke > > > > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail… > > > > > -- > Barrack O. Otieno > +41767892272 > Skype: barrack.otieno > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: njeri.rionge(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/njeri.rionge%40ignitec… > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: blongwe(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/blongwe%40gmail.com > > > > > -- > Brian Munyao Longwe > e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com > cell: + 254 722 518 744 > blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com > meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com > -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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Pondering mobile competition
by Andrea Bohnstedt 24 Aug '10

24 Aug '10

I'm wondering: Will CCK strictly enforce the cut-off deadline for unregistered SIM cards at the end of August? Are Zain making sure that everyone picking up a new line also register them immediately? If price war is Zain's strategy, will they have enough money left to invest in infrastructure and customer service once their subscriber numbers go up significantly? Will they be able to scale up both systems quickly enough? Telkom Orange are cited in the media as complaining that the interconnect rate also applies to their fixed line service and that this is not even covering their costs ( http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Telkom%20unhappy%20with%20interlink%2…) I wonder if the two big ones having it out won't kill the two small ones first? Bharti/Zain have also launched free sms alongside lower on and off-net calling rates and free minutes in Nigeria: http://telecomyatra.afaqs.com/news/?sid=1652_Bharti+subsidiary+Zain+introdu… Happy afternoon, Andrea

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This might be of interest...
by Njeri Rionge 24 Aug '10

24 Aug '10

Listeners! To those in technical or other areas of key operations within an organization, that would like to enhance their performance management skills related to people /project management and performance evaluation. Go to http://tiny.cc/t9ojc - This workshop will help participants gain total control over their competencies to develop, monitor and manage an effective performance management system that will change the culture of the organization if everything learnt is adhered to; To enable the change management process within the performance management system implementation, John Kotter's methodology and approach will be presented in an interactive and engaging group session amongst other global techniques that have worked successfully. This step by step guide will be the best time and money spent for your personal and organizational benefit. To register go to http://tiny.cc/t9ojc and register online. Should you need further clarification contact the undersigned. -- Njeri Rionge (Ms) Founder & Executive Director http://ke.linkedin.com/pub/njeri-rionge/5/966/760 __________________________________ Skype ID: nrionge Tel: +254 20 253 2144, 253 2142 (Orange Fixed Plus) Tel: +254 722 522136 (Safaricom Mobile) Tel: +254 773 495022 (Orange Mobile) URL: www.igniteconsulting.co.ke P. O. Box 15568 Nairobi 00100, Kenya ======================================= Our events calendar for 2010 can be accessed via http://www.igniteconsulting.co.ke/calendar.html for details on the workshops and training programs click on the highlighted date/event. Your have the option to register or email us for more information. Thank you for choosing to engage with us, we aim to “Ignite Human Potential for Personal & Organizational Success” 2009 Inductee ICT Hall of Fame Kenya ==========================================

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 39, Issue 41
by ALEX OWITI 24 Aug '10

24 Aug '10

*PRESS RELEASE* * * *SAFARICOM EXCITES MARKET WITH LOWEST CALL RATES* * * *It is Masaa Time as Firm Launches Value-Based Discounts * *August 24, 2010...*In a move that is likely to excite the local market, Kenya’s leading telecoms operator Safaricom has today unveiled a new tariff promotion that will see its subscribers call from as low as Sh2 per minute. The Sh2 a minute charge represents the cheapest calling rate by any operator in the Kenyan market currently. Under the new scheme called *Masaa* Tariff, customers will be able to make calls within the network at between Sh2-4, depending on the value of their last top-up. Calls to other operators will cost Sh3-5. Subscribers who buy airtime worth Sh100, Sh250, Sh500 or Sh1,000 will be able to make on-net calls at Sh2 a minute, while the off-net rate for these airtime values will be Sh3. On the other hand, airtime worth Sh5 or Sh10 will attract a discounted flat rate of Sh5 both for calls terminating within and outside the Safaricom network. Subscribers who buy airtime worth Sh50 will now pay Sh3 a minute for both on and off-net calls while for the Sh20 denomination, the on-net rate is Sh4, while calls outside the network will cost Sh5 per minute. Per second billing applies on the *Masaa* Tariff, which takes effect starting August 24 to September 23 and is primarily targeted at the firm’s Prepay subscribers. Commenting on the development, Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph said *Masaa*Tariff was a way of thanking the firm’s over 16 million subscribers for their loyalty, in light of new rates guidelines announced by the regulator, and would be the first in a series of such moves as the firm marks 10 years as an authentic Kenyan success story this year. “We thank our customers for enabling us to become a globally-celebrated Kenyan success story in the telecoms world. We shall continue creating true value for our customers by listening to them and coming up with propositions that best answer their needs. We recognize that this has been a great pillar of our leadership,” said Mr Joseph. He promised all Safaricom subscribers a “bagful of pricing and promotional incentives” going forward it seeks to consolidate its leadership in the Kenyan market, while continuously delighting its growing subscriber base. *About Safaricom...*Formed at the turn of the decade, Safaricom has firmly established its credentials as a regional leader, spawning a virtual telecoms revolution in Kenya. Safaricom is a total telecoms company. With a subscriber base of over 16 million, Safaricom offers all telecoms services under one roof: mobile and fixed voice and data services on a variety of platforms: Kenya’s widest and only 3G network; a growing fibre optic cable footprint and its most expansive WIMAX presence. For more details please go to: *http://www.safaricom.co.ke/* * * * ALEX.*

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Re: [kictanet] Safaricom Attitude - Consumer Issues
by Edith Adera 23 Aug '10

23 Aug '10

Muchiri, You're "spot on" w.r.t. your analysis. However, service provision MUST be consumer-centric (non of the providers would have any business without the consumers). We have relegated consumer issues to the back burner for far too long...hence the unfortunate incidences that go unreported. So, yes, indeed CCK has a role to play in protecting the consumer. Infact, one of their core objectives/responsibilities are quote "Protecting consumer rights within the communications environment" - It further states that " "The Commission protects consumers in three ways. The first is through the issuance of licenses that have conditions, which address various aspects of service provision by the licensees. Secondly, the Commission has introduced competition in various market segments in line with the government sector policy. The third way in which the Commission protects consumers is by taking up certain complaints raised by consumers with the licensees with a view to helping both parties reach an amicable solution to the problem raised." Further, consumers have certain rights and obligations. Someof the rights listed include:- • The Right to receive information assistance to assist in use of the services. * The Right to fair treatment without undue discrimination from another consumer We need to bring these regulations to life and take some of these issues very seriously. I must correct that Ms Bernice is NOT a customer service staff, so this is not a trivial matter. It's engrained in the institution it would appear. And must change especially as a dominant player. Edith ________________________________ From: Muchiri Nyaggah [muchiri(a)semacraft.com] Sent: 23 August 2010 22:49 To: Edith Adera Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' Subject: RE: [kictanet] Safaricom Attitude - Consumer Issues Hi Edith, What a sad and unfortunate experience. Mr Joseph has a rare opportunity. The opportunity to leave a legacy of great customer service and positive brand sentiment in the face of aggressive competition. What Ms Bernice displayed today is an organizational culture (positive in itself) where the staff own the brand to the extent of taking competition personally. That in itself is hard to do. Even harder to do is maintain civility and great service when the public you are dealing with are obviously inclined to the competition. CCK may not have the power to force telcos to be civil so Safaricom doesn’t have to be nice to consumers. Such a culture is obviously counter-productive. A sincere apology would be good business sense but a more sustainable approach would be an internal education campaign to re-align the organisation to its primary objectives so that their staff respond to customers not to the competition. Kind regards, Muchiri Nyaggah Director @muchiri +254 722 506400 Semacraft.com [cid:image001.jpg@01CB4315.55476E70] ________________________________ From: kictanet-bounces+muchiri=semacraft.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+muchiri=semacraft.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Edith Adera Sent: 23 August 2010 22:28 To: muchiri(a)semacraft.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Safaricom Attitude - Consumer Issues Importance: High There's need for consumer issues to be taken VERY seriously in the Kenyan Telecommunication market. I believe CCK is listening and this should not be allowed to happen to any Kenyan consumer. As a non-user of money transfer services (I'm a proxy user), I decided to try the Mpesa service today as I did not have a 3rd party proxy to undertake the transaction on my behalf as I usually do. The last I tried to register for the service, I was informed that I had an old generation SIM card and needed to replace it yet the agent did not have the replacement SIMs. I was directed to follow a convoluted process of getting the replacement SIM, which I did not have the time for at that point. Today, I was rudely informed that as a non registered user I cannot send money by Mpesa (Prestige service provider) - never mind that I have a very active Safaricom line. This puzzled me as in the banking sector, you can always bank money into any account at a bank in which you're not a "member". So in search for an answer to this issue, I decided to call a Safaricom Officer (Ms Bernice - department that issues Short Codes) to get some assistance. I called her on my Zain line. As soon as she picked the call, she was very cold and retorted "for starters, you have called me from the wrong network - meaning from Zain - and secondly, you cannot send money if you are not a registered user". My issue as a consumer is - why should I be rebuked for using my Zain line to call Safaricom? Is it a Safaricom policy that no one should call them using a Zain line or lines from other network providers? what does the CCK regulations say about such issues? My little telecommunication background tells me that the "consumer is king" and that a consumer must exercise their "right of choice" in a competitive market. why should I be dictated to what network I MUST USE or NOT use to make calls? Is this a reflection of the interconnection issues that are currently hitting media headlines? I have taken this issue very seriously and demand an apology and response from Safaricom. I believe CCK will take appropriate action to ensure that this is not the modus operandi in the Kenyan telecommunication market. Edith Kenyan Consumer No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3087 - Release Date: 08/22/10 21:35:00

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Re: [kictanet] Safaricom Attitude - Consumer Issues
by andrea.bohnstedt＠ratio-magazine.com 23 Aug '10

23 Aug '10

No customer should be treated rudely. Obviously - that goes without saying (and applies to all customer relationships, not just telcos). But Edith's email contained different points, including a complaint that she can't send an M-PESA payment without an M-PESA account, and that it involves a set up (which, when you have your ID and the agent has SIM cards, really doesn't take long). -----Original Message----- From: Solomon Mburu Kamau Sent: 23/08/2010, 23:00 To: andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Safaricom Attitude - Consumer Issues On 23 August 2010 22:49, andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com < andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> wrote: > Possibly. I may be dumb. If so, kindly explain it to me again so that I'll > understand it. > I think the point raised by Edith was mostly revolving on the issue of cold customer care when she used a rival company's line to call the CC. The rest, I think are as easy as ABC to understand. I might have not given the whole view of my understanding, but I think it's logically wrong for the CC not to take the call from Edith warmly. After all, wasn't Edith paying for that call? Methinks it's up to the respective companies to instill some form of 'discipline' to their CC staff. I wonder loudly, suppose I went to Safaricom's shop/outlet or even House with a shirt emblazoned: ' Zain, Call A Wonderful World, for only 3 and texts at 1 across all networks in Kenya', and vice versa: 'Niko na Safaricom' will I be shoved off? Just thinking loudly! > -----Original Message----- > From: Edith Adera > Sent: 23/08/2010, 22:45 > To: Andrea Bohnstedt > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Subject: RE: [kictanet] Safaricom Attitude - Consumer Issues > > > Andrea, > > You are missing the point! > > Edith > > > ________________ > Edith Ofwona Adera > Senior Program Specialist > ICT4D Program > International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le > développement international > Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa > Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera > eadera(a)idrc.or.ke<mailto:eadera@idrc.or.ke> | www.idrc.ca< > http://www.idrc.ca/> | www.crdi.ca<http://www.crdi.ca/> > ________________________________ > From: Andrea Bohnstedt [andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com] > Sent: 23 August 2010 22:43 > To: Edith Adera > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Safaricom Attitude - Consumer Issues > > Edith, > > Why do you find it so surprising that you can't send an M-PESA payment if > you don't have an M-PESA account? Can you make Zap payments without having a > Zap account? > > In a bank, you can pay cash into someone's account without having a bank > account, but you need to go to that person's bank, and you can't make a bank > transfer either without having an account yourself. > > Also, the need to register before you make any mobile money payments is, as > far as I know, a banking sector requirement imposed by the Central Bank of > Kenya (CBK), the Know Your Customer (KYC) rules to combat money laundering > etc. > > That you need an M-PESA-enabled SIM card is an old story - that's been > communicated since the beginning of the service, I think, even if it's of > course it's regrettable that the agent you visited didn't have one. > > Many regards, > Andrea > > > On 23 August 2010 22:28, Edith Adera <eadera(a)idrc.or.ke<mailto: > eadera(a)idrc.or.ke>> wrote: > There's need for consumer issues to be taken VERY seriously in the Kenyan > Telecommunication market. I believe CCK is listening and this should not be > allowed to happen to any Kenyan consumer. > > As a non-user of money transfer services (I'm a proxy user), I decided to > try the Mpesa service today as I did not have a 3rd party proxy to undertake > the transaction on my behalf as I usually do. The last I tried to register > for the service, I was informed that I had an old generation SIM card and > needed to replace it yet the agent did not have the replacement SIMs. I was > directed to follow a convoluted process of getting the replacement SIM, > which I did not have the time for at that point. > > Today, I was rudely informed that as a non registered user I cannot send > money by Mpesa (Prestige service provider) - never mind that I have a very > active Safaricom line. This puzzled me as in the banking sector, you can > always bank money into any account at a bank in which you're not a "member". > > So in search for an answer to this issue, I decided to call a Safaricom > Officer (Ms Bernice - department that issues Short Codes) to get some > assistance. I called her on my Zain line. As soon as she picked the call, > she was very cold and retorted "for starters, you have called me from the > wrong network - meaning from Zain - and secondly, you cannot send money if > you are not a registered user". > > My issue as a consumer is - why should I be rebuked for using my Zain line > to call Safaricom? Is it a Safaricom policy that no one should call them > using a Zain line or lines from other network providers? what does the CCK > regulations say about such issues? My little telecommunication background > tells me that the "consumer is king" and that a consumer must exercise their > "right of choice" in a competitive market. why should I be dictated to what > network I MUST USE or NOT use to make calls? Is this a reflection of the > interconnection issues that are currently hitting media headlines? > > I have taken this issue very seriously and demand an apology and response > from Safaricom. I believe CCK will take appropriate action to ensure that > this is not the modus operandi in the Kenyan telecommunication market. > > Edith > Kenyan Consumer > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com<mailto: > andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrea.bohnstedt%40rat… > > > > > -- > Andrea Bohnstedt > Publisher > +254 720 960 322 > www.ratio-magazine.com<http://www.ratio-magazine.com> > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: solo.mburu(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/solo.mburu%40gmail.com > -- *Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau* ***************************************************** *Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way to the side of a hill!* AND *It is better to die in dignity than in the ignominy of ambiguous generosity! * http://smiley2.wordpress.com http://mburu.sikika.co.ke

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Apple applies for patent to kill Jailbroken devices
by Brian Munyao Longwe 23 Aug '10

23 Aug '10

Interesting read - but would a patent granted in the USA apply across /into other jurisdictions? I foresee a slew of lawsuits against Apple including the possibility of class action if they pursue this matter.... http://bit.ly/bM4Nft Brian -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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Ksh 300, Million grant to promote the development of local digital content and, software applications.
by alice 23 Aug '10

23 Aug '10

The Kenya ICT Board is pleased to announce the launch of a Ksh 300 Million grant to promote the development of local digital content and software applications. The process kicked off with a ‘call for proposals’ in today’s Daily Nation newspaper. The main purpose of this grant is to propel the emergent lucrative but yet underexploited local content industry to growth. The grant which targets the local content developers including software developers, film, animation, advertising, publishing, gaming and education professionals and all content creators, will provide the funding required for the development of quality applications relevant to the Kenya government and private sector. Digital content, a major contributor and driver of economic growth in developed countries, can be broadly categorized as content accessed from electronic devices like personal computers, game consoles, mobile phones and digital TV. The internet offers the most common form of distribution of digital content. Digital content can include anything from internet based marketing, gaming, online education content and services. Worldwide, digital content activities are transforming traditional industry structures and business models. Local examples include mobile payment systems like M-Pesa and Pesa Pal and government e-services like online PIN registration. Thus the digital content industry has vast potential as a major contributor to our economy and society through employment creation, capital investment and export earnings, provision of skills and capabilities to traditional as well as new and emerging industry sectors. At the same time it is also significant as a means of expressing Kenya’s unique cultural identity. With over 3.4 million users of the internet in Kenya, research indicates that the importance of the internet outstrips those of several key developed countries. Even so, the latent demand for local content is underlined by the fact that surveys show that lack of local content is the main reason many Kenyans shy away from accessing the internet. On the launch of the grant facility, the CEO, Kenya ICT Board Paul Kukubo, commented, “We are pleased that we are launching this grant at a time that the ICT industry is growing and access to the internet all over the country has vastly improved. The future for content industry is bright. Talent, creativity and skills are key drivers of competitiveness in the content sector and we expect that this grant will enable Kenyans everywhere to develop world class locally relevant content and get this industry to rapidly match the lucrative opportunities for talented content developers in developed nations.” Kenyan content developers have already demonstrated their ability to be innovative, creative and entrepreneurial in their creation of content that is relevant to our people. The increase in locally developed software applications, websites, films and animation has been extraordinary over the past few years. However, despite evidence of commercial potential, it is not currently competitive in attracting funds and investment capital. This content grant will give content creators in the country a chance to demonstrate their talent, in both the artistic, social and business environment and propel investor confidence in the sector in the long term. Speaking at the press conference, the Deputy CEO, Victor Kyalo commented, “It is important that with the landing of the fiber optic cables that we as a country produce local digital content, not just ‘access’ other peoples content. It is very positive that Kenyans embrace and appreciate ICTs, but more important is that there are more Kenyan made e-Products available in the market. We want this grant to motivate the local content creators and software developers to originate, create, and adapt quality content that the country needs .We intend this content grant to be a driver for the long term development of content and recognize that private and public sector need to pool resources to meet the capacity challenges this lucrative sector faces.” The Government attaches high priority to addressing skills shortages because of the threat they pose to productivity and economic growth. To address this, the Kenya ICT Board has a number of initiatives purposed to build skills in the ICT sector. Among these are a Centre of Excellence for the BPO sector, an incubation program for software developers and a software certification standard that will give international accreditation and competitiveness to our local developers. Additionally, the board is creating organic growth within the ICT sector by training entrepreneurs (over 1000 already trained) to run digital villages all over the country. All these coupled with the improved infrastructure, has put Kenya in the forefront of potentially explosive growth in the content and software development sub-sector. About the grant The content grant is divided into two major sections: US$1.5Million for private sector applications and US$2.5M for government applications. The latter will be used to propel the utilization of ICTs to improve government service delivery . The government has in the past few years firmly embraced ICT to become more efficient and responsive in the delivery of its public service - from processing ID cards, driving licenses, registration of companies, revenue collection and currently, the digitization of records at the Ministry of Lands and the judiciary, with more government departments to follow. This is all in line with Kenya’s vision of becoming a globally competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life by 2030. The private sector grant of US$1.5M is open to firms and individuals to develop applications that would be of benefit to the general public or improve the delivery of existing private sector services. The first round of grant allocation will award a maximum of US$ 50,000 per firms and US$ 10,000 for individuals. The Kenya ICT Board expects to make at least one call for application per year over the next three years. The content funded by this grant will build capacity within the ICT sector create efficiencies, build social capital, increase utilization of ICTs by local communities and demonstrate to the world, Kenya’s talent for creation of digital content. Key dates Call for proposals: June 2, 2010 Deadline for proposals: July 19, 2010 Successfully grantees announced: 15 August, 2010 Disbursement of grant money: October 2010 http://wanjiku.co.ke/ --------------------------------------

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Fwd: Africa domain?
by Brian Munyao Longwe 19 Aug '10

19 Aug '10

For those concerned, please note that contrary to claims made at the EA IGF last week, Ms. Sophia Bekele does NOT have the endorsement of the AU. Please refer to the attached. Regards, Brian --------------------------------------- Dear Colleagues and Friends, Attached find the letter sent to Ms. Sophia regarding her continuous assertion for DOT-Africa and I think it’s very clear. Moreover, find attached also report & declaration of the last CITMC held from 3-7 August 2010 in Abuja and you can find a clear recommendation about DOT-Africa. Regards * ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * *Mr. Esam M. Abulkhirat (MSc)* Senior ICT Policy Officer Dep. Human Resources Science & Technology African Union Commission P.O.Box 3243 Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA Mobile: +251 911 22 70 26 Abulkhirate(a)Africa-Union.Org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "All Things Are Difficult Before They Are Easy" ------------------------------ *From:* Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe(a)gmail.com> *To:* Esam Abulkhirat <aldhina(a)yahoo.com> *Cc:* Dandjinou Pierre <pdandjinou(a)gmail.com>; Cecilia Mamelodi < cmamelodi(a)sadc.int>; Edmund Katiti <EKatiti(a)eafricacommission.org>; Mouhamet Diop <mouhamet(a)gmail.com>; Vika <president(a)aftld.org>; aliebah(a)yahoo.com; TTamrat(a)uneca.org; Adiel A. Akplogan <adiel(a)afrinic.net>; Anne-Rachel Inné < annerachel(a)gmail.com>; alice wanjira <wanjiraalice(a)gmail.com> *Sent:* Wed, August 18, 2010 1:35:39 PM *Subject:* Africa domain? Is it true that AU has consented/endorsed Sophia Bekele's push for this? I know that she is a very controversial figure and has made wild claims of support in the past. Apparently this issue came up last week at the East African IGF in Uganda - she was there and tried to claim legitimacy but ended up being outrightly rejected and received a "dressing up" from most of the delegates there.... http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35837:a… Please comment? Regards, Brian -- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe(a)gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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Fwd: information on .africa and the lies surrounding an individual's push
by Brian Munyao Longwe 19 Aug '10

19 Aug '10

Hi all, Just received this. Apparently she has formally been propagating lies about being on the ICANN board etc.... and even put up counterfiet letters on her website - this verges on criminal! What is her interest? Brian ------------------------ Brian, here is some info for you.. she constructed this whole thing on lies. you can judge for yourself. I did not want to spam all but I sent this to a few key people. check this: - there is no African Union Authority!!!! do you really believe that the*Chairman of the AU Commission * will have claimed to write on behalf of a non existent authority and give her a letter in that sense? so maybe she should explain to people why she has a 'weird' letter on her website. Check her website and you will see. - here is an email that tells you how she lies! she actually took me to the ombudsman at ICANN in 2007, complaining that I was preventing her from doing dot africa, copied the whole board at the time --- all her claims were immediately dismissed when I sent the letters and emails to the ombudsman, of the same caliber as the below that she had been sending to regional organisations and bodies. My fault was to have written to all organisations, as the Regional Liaison, to dismiss her claims of ICANN endorsement of dot africa and her being on the board. - she keeps saying ICANN is endorsing dot africa! how can ICANN endorse a TLD?? how can ICANN be judge and party???? she is supposed to have been at the GNSO council and ICANN and understand what she is talking about!!!! she has been in the ICANN process for the past 5 years and still has no idea how all this functions. I let you judge. The woman does not have her wits together I think. Cheers *Sophia Bekele <sophiabekele(a)yahoo.com>* 30/08/2006 01:48 PM Subject Re: Hello <name removed>, I hope your vacation is going well. As per discussion, I thought I would convey someof what is on my plate that may be of mutual interest. Presently, other than my private projects/business interests, I also serve on the board of ICANN, the international internet governance organization. At this stage, I have outlined few projects in addition to an initiative that could quickly put under incubation. Any or all of these could serve as a basis for mutual collaboration. Generally speaking the projects span ICT, public sector governance, regional integration, internet governance etc.. The priority project I mentioned to UN Undersecretary General was that of dot.africa (.Africa) which he expressed great interest. Thus, there will be a need to synergize and align strategies of possible project collaboration. Dot.Africa is an initiative supported by ICANN, that aims at unifying and consolidating the African Information Society and presence within the Internet as distinct from other Continental communities. As such, there now exists dot.EU (.EU), dot.Asia.(.ASIA) and dot.LatinAmerica (.LA) as similar ongoing initiatives. The present paradigm is to halt Africans marginalization in this age of globalization. This is actually one of the goals of NEPAD, which of course is an initiative that is already endorsed b the UN. There are no prices for guessing what would happen if dot.Africa is not also initiated and implemented at the same time that other Continental communities on the net have been put in place. To get this of the ground, it appears from the experiences of the others, a minimum of 13 countries in Africawould have to come on board. The endorsement for UNECA would of course be helpful. This initiative would require a proposal to be distributed to the potential participating countries. UNECA’s help would be crucial in communicating who might wish to participate. Countries that have already have ongoing National policies that relate ICT as a strategic tool for National development would be the primary candidates. Being something that would turn into a Continental initiative, it is rewarding at best for the UNECA to play an active role in this initial stage. As an African representative on ICANN board, I have taken the initiative to coordinate and see the successful implementation of the project. I believe therefore, we should have a meeting to progress this further. I suggest we meet ASAP to get this moving, as time is of essence to the extent that the application for the domain name must be submitted before January 2007. However due to our travel schedules, we should arrange a teleconference meeting that is mutually convenient for all within the next two weeks. Regards, Sophia

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The New Kenya - Teachers Online
by Wamuyu Gatheru 18 Aug '10

18 Aug '10

I think we have a reason to celebrate that represents tangible investments made possible by ending our quarrel with each other (i.e new Constitution) The Safaricom-Equity Bank-Microsoft partnership to provide computers to teachers is in my view a landmark event. I hope the teaching material is made available as software already programmed in and not requiring one to be logged on. This should make it accessible without exhorbitant cost that may be beyond the budget of a public school teacher. This is a great product innovation that should help teachers, across the country, emerge digitally and by extention their students. I hope that the civil servants who are still in the dark ages also take advantage of this offer. This accompanied with hopefully sustainable Zain prices illustrate the real gains of investor confidence as a result of stable politics. regards, Wamuyu

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Re: [kictanet] ICDL - I apologise(RESTRICTED ACCESS)
by robert yawe 18 Aug '10

18 Aug '10

Hi Walu, It is good to know that there is a push to resolve this issue. My proposal would be to have the software developed by a private entity which would then do a revenue share with KASNEB whose main resistance is based on a fear of loosing their traditional income streams which is examination fees. Lets look at raising angle funds for anyone who can come up with an online testing software that can equal or even rival the likes of smartforce, ICT-Board does not have the capacity to handle such an undertaking as they are more of a procurement agency. Dr. Ndemo, we seriously need to enforce legislation otherwise all we shall keep loosing our edge as an outsourcing destination. Maybe having the issue of ICT proficiency should be spearheaded by the Ministry of Youth who I believe are now responsible for the village polytechnics. As higher education has dropped the ball on this one. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 ________________________________ From: Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke; Paul Kukubo <pkukubo(a)ict.go.ke>; robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Sent: Sat, 31 July, 2010 9:50:08 Subject: Fw: ICDL - I apologise(RESTRICTED ACCESS) Ndemo, Paul, Yawe I do sit on a sub-committee of the KASNEB board and for the last 9mths we were tasked to create (replicate) a local version of ICDL. This sub-committee completed its task by way of reviewing the ICDL course outlines with a view to including kenyan contexts. Further the sub-committee recommended the creation (software development) of an electronic testing platform (again along the lines of ICDL) where the exam is booked, administered and marked electronically. Such a software would cost money, software engineering skills and time. But that is NOT the problem since I believe the "skunk-works" can do this type of software if given the money and the time. The biggest challenge has been what I would call (soft-resistance) from the KASNEB full-board in going forward with this project. Whereas the CEO (relatively ICT savvy) wants to go full blast with the project, the (older) members of the Board correctly realise that such an electronic examination system would totally disrupt their existing manual examining model that they have been accustomed to over the last 40yrs that KASNEB has existed...(hence the resistance to change) And so here comes my proposal...get funding from Kenya ICT Board, get software engineers from skunkworks to do the electronic examination system, and get KASNEB to "adopt" this e-system to administer their local "ICDL" type of examinations...this way we knock down the resistance to change barrier from the older KASNEB board members - who may actually embrace the system once they see a workable model.... Furthermore, the electronic examination system would pay for itself within a year from the money thousands of potential students would pay to sit the exam (IAT has 3,000 ICDL candidates per year, MMU has about 400, not counting Computer pride and others, you have a potential market of 5,000 candidates to sit this local exam at even half the price ICDL (ksh3,500) is asking for... any takers? walu. --- On Fri, 7/30/10, bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: >From: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> >Subject: Re: [kictanet] ICDL - I apologise >To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >Date: Friday, July 30, 2010, 3:03 PM > > >Robert, >We are still fighting the resistance from the colleges. There must be >some examining body to ensure that the sylabbus is covered and the student >can make good use of the training. Unfortunately, in this country we want >to make money at the expense of our unsuspecting sisters and brothers. > > >Regards > > >Ndemo. > > > > >> Hi, >> >> I would like to apologise to Dr. Ndemo for giving the impression that his >> team >> had not done their homework when they recommended that ICDL be the >> official >> computer proficiency certification. >> >> As is said it is only after you have walked in a man's shoes can you then >> criticise him, I recently looked at a training manual from one of the >> local >> computer colleges that was 10 pages long and covered word, excel, >> powerpoint, >> access, frontpage and IE. The exam for each subject was done after 1 day >> of >> training, in the case of word it included mailmerge. >> >> Each application was covered on less than 2 pages and the entire course >> takes 10 >> days, Dr. Ndemo the sooner you can operationalise the ICDL issue the >> sooner >> students will stop loosing money to quacks and we shall return to the >> point of >> making computer users truly IT proficient. >> >> Regards >> Robert Yawe >> KAY System Technologies Ltd >> Phoenix House, 6th Floor >> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 >> Kenya >> >> >> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------- >> 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: 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: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >Unsubscribe or change your options at >http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >

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Philip Adar
by Okech 18 Aug '10

18 Aug '10

Dear Alice, Please add Philip o. Adar to the kicktanet discuasion list. Philip Adar is the Bid Manager, Business Market department of Telkom Kenya. His email address is philip.adar(a)gmail.com Regards, Okech JMMy blog

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ICTs Strengthening Democratic Governance in Kenya
by Edith Adera 17 Aug '10

17 Aug '10

This position might be of interest http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_68604.shtml Development of an IT platform to monitor the election process in Kenya ("an eye on 2012) For your information, IDRC is supporting an online platform (still under development) to monitor implementation of agenda 4 - visit www.agendayetu.org<http://www.agendayetu.org> . We have worked with our very own Eng. Rege to launch this. It is our desire that the views expressed will not end up in the cyberworld, but will be synthesized and channelled to the respective agenda 4 institutions and parliament. Eng. Rege will be central in facilitating these linkages. Kenyans must be engaged in shaping our common future. Your suggestions to stimulate and improve the site are welcome! As I said, it's workin progress. Regards Edith ________________ Edith Ofwona Adera Senior Program Specialist ICT4D Program International Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour le développement international Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa Tel: +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera eadera(a)idrc.or.ke<mailto:eadera@idrc.or.ke> | www.idrc.ca<http://www.idrc.ca/> | www.crdi.ca<http://www.crdi.ca/> [https://email.idrc.or.ke/owa/attachment.ashx?id=RgAAAAANayfd3%2b2VQYZo%2flc…]

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