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Proper Regulations will guide the success of special economic zones
by Mbugua Njihia 15 Feb '16

15 Feb '16

With vibrant SEZs, Kenya’s objectives of industrial transformation will be met and it calls for more concerted effort both by public and private sector to enhance dialogue and partnership to bring to reality the Kenyan dream of a united and prosperous nation where all peoples enjoy a high quality of life in a newly industrialized economy - http://www.mbuguanjihia.com/business/special-economic-zones.html ................................................................................................................................................................. Business, more than any other occupation, is a continual dealing with the future; it is a continual calculation, an instinctive exercise in foresight. ᐧ

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Re: [kictanet] Australian Treasurer proposes 'Netflix Tax' for digital imports
by Ahmed Mohamed Maawy 14 Feb '16

14 Feb '16

I think we all understand how India is significantly ahead of us in matters technology. But still, read on: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pm-modis-big-push-for-startups-3-yr-tax-… I wish we were in any way close to this Mwendwa. On Wed, Feb 10, 2016 at 8:04 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva <lordmwesh(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Thanks Moses for this. > > Allow us to hijack the thread. > > Ahmed Maawy, what are these taxes you are talking about? Most governments > have hundreds of taxes, considering even to bury someone attracts levies. > I've heard this line of reasoning for a while. Maybe we can try to debunk > it. > > Regards > -- *Ahmed Maawy* Executive Director - SwahiliBox / M-Power (CBO) Ambassador - Open Knowledge Director - Startup Grind Mombasa Software Developer - AJ+ / EveryLayer (KE) +254 714 960 627 Skype: ultimateprogramer swahilibox.co.ke www.okfn.org <http://okfn.org/> startupgrind.com ajplus.net www.everylayer.com

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Australian Treasurer proposes 'Netflix Tax' for digital imports
by Mose Karanja 14 Feb '16

14 Feb '16

Australia: Feb 10 Digital products such as books, movies, games, apps and e-books purchased by Australians from overseas could soon attract the Goods and Services Tax (GST), popularly ‘ Netflix Tax’. The Treasurer (equivalent of Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Finance) argues that this will level the playing field between Australian and overseas businesses. Importantly, for the government especially, is the possible USD60 Million tax that can be collected annually. The EU and Japan are seen as trend setters on this. This is a policy issue we may be having in Kenya very soon, if it is hasn’t started as yet. Link to the story: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/treasurer-introduces-… <http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/treasurer-introduces-…> --- Moses Karanja | @Mose_Karanja <https://twitter.com/Mose_Karanja> | PGP: 0x1529552F <https://pgp.mit.edu/pks/lookup?op=index&fingerprint=on&search=0x1529552F>

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Net Neutrality around the world
by Mwendwa Kivuva 13 Feb '16

13 Feb '16

Council of Europe adopted a recommendation on the protection and promotion of freedom of expression and the right to a private life with regard to net neutrality. Users’ rights should not be restricted by means of blocking, slowing down, or discriminating Internet traffic. https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=CM/Rec(2016)1&Language=lanEnglish&Ver=o… As Free Basics was banned from India and Egypt. World Development Report by the World Bank raised concerns on the protection of net neutrality principles. http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2016… -- ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya twitter.com/lordmwesh

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(no subject)
by Nanjira Sambuli 11 Feb '16

11 Feb '16

Yes indeed! Cell C has been a case study in a number of papers on zero-rating as a strategy for late market entrants to gain market share. I hypothesise that it's the case with Airtel as well, though at the same time, they are calling for regulation of the very OTTs they also zero-rate... Telco business is intriguing business! Regards, Nanjira. Sent from my iPhone. > On 11 Feb 2016, at 19:29, kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote: > > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > kictanet-request(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > You can reach the person managing the list at > kictanet-owner(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Interesting Article Re SA, Cell C and Zero-Rating As a Tool > to Combat Market Dominance (Ebele Okobi) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:23:35 +0000 > From: Ebele Okobi <ebeleokobi(a)fb.com> > To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Subject: [kictanet] Interesting Article Re SA, Cell C and Zero-Rating > As a Tool to Combat Market Dominance > Message-ID: <D2E2267C.35345%ebeleokobi(a)fb.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/663/140682.html > > Why Cell C is fighting for unregulated OTT services > By: Stuart Lewis<http://www.bizcommunity.com/Search/196/663/s-Stuart+Lewis.html> > > Founded in 2001, seven years after its two biggest competitors, Cell C is still largely a new kid on the block. However, in its stand against the regulation of OTT services like Whatsapp, it has drawn a line in the sand, with Vodacom and MTN on one side and itself, OTTs and the South African consumer on the other. To understand why it makes perfect sense for Cell C to do this, you have to understand the industry that it is operating in. > The South African mobile market is divided into two kinds of operators: those that own infrastructure, and those that piggyback off of infrastructure built and owned by other companies. The four largest players in the country are, in order, Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom - all of whom built and maintain their own real world network of cellphone towers and other connections. > > > > > > The rest of the market is divided up between Neotel (those guys who are constantly digging cable trenches across busy roads) and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) like FNB Mobile and Virgin Mobile. MVNOs sell phones and contracts but use infrastructure built by other networks. For the most part, they are hosted on Cell C's network. > > As of April last year, the South African mobile network was estimated to consist of around 80 million connections, though this has undoubtedly grown significantly since then. Vodacom still controls the largest market share, though their subscriber base has largely stagnated and is starting to decline. > > MTN is rapidly closing in on Vodacom, however, and has grown steadily over the last four years. Cell C is growing at a significantly faster rate and is starting to capture much more of the market but still lags behind its much older competitors. > > Cell C is dwarfed by these two companies who are either the biggest African mobile operator, like MTN, or owned by the world's second largest telecommunications company, like Vodacom. It also only entered the South African market long after MTN and Vodacom were already household names so it is constantly playing a game of catch-up. > > In order to make up the deficit in infrastructure and customer base, Cell C has to be innovative and follow the demand in the industry rather than protect its profits. "Cell C is the challenger network," said Cell C's chief legal officer, Graham Mackinnon, in a recent radio interview. > > "We've had to come up with products that are very customer-friendly in order to attract customers to ourselves... We have worked out a model that says it would be best to embrace change, to embrace the OTTs and try and find ways to satisfy our customers." > > All their rhetoric around the OTT hearings has focused on the "anti-consumer" practices of MTN and Vodacom and how embracing rather than regulating OTTs will benefit consumers, thereby positioning themselves as the network on the consumer's "side". > > Putting the rhetoric aside, Cell C has recognised where the future of mobile usage is going and has realised that by pre-empting that growth they can steal a march on their competitors and maybe even grow past them. To this end, they offered zero-rated Whatsapp leading up to the OTT meeting in parliament to "show their support" and now offer a R5/30 days Whatsapp bundle. > > Since Whatsapp is the most used social platform in South Africa with upwards of 16 million users, this is an incredibly smart move. It also supports the next two most popular platforms - Facebook and Facebook Messenger - with its free Facebook offer. Cell C is openly and unapologetically targeting these platforms. > > We should not even begin to think that Cell C's positioning of itself as a crusader for our right to access these kinds of services means that it is in this battle for anything more than an increased market share and customer base. But for now, its interests align with the greatest benefit to the South African consumer. > [Description: Description: Description: cid:[email protected]] > > Ebele Okobi | Head of Public Policy, Africa > m. +44 (0) 771 156 1315 > 2 Stephen St | London | W1T 1AN > ebeleokobi(a)fb.com > > > > From: Ebele Okobi <ebeleokobi(a)fb.com<mailto:[email protected]>> > Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 8:16 PM > To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:[email protected]>> > Cc: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke<mailto:[email protected]>> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: Re: [global-nn] Colonialism in the Digital World > > I just wanted to say that we at Facebook STRONGLY reject the sentiments expressed by Marc Andreesen last night regarding India. > > He does not speak for us. > > Ebele Okobi | Head of Public Policy, Africa > m. +44 (0) 771 156 1315<tel:+44%20(0)%20771%20156%201315> > 10 Brock Street | London<x-apple-data-detectors://0/1> | NW1 3FG > ebeleokobi(a)fb.com<mailto:[email protected]> > > [6F376569-CC77-422B-BAD3-794055B1E02B] > > On Feb 10, 2016, at 7:20 PM, Ali Hussein via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > > Listers > > The issue of Net Neutrality is becoming pretty hot.. Marc Andreessen sparked a furious tweet storm by suggesting that India would have been better off under British rule because of the recent decision on Internet pricing and 'free' access. > > See link below. > > Africa needs to define its own Net Neutrality rules..And this needs to be done yesterday. > > Ali Hussein > Tel: +254 713 601113 > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: <director(a)ipop.org.pk<mailto:[email protected]>> > Date: Feb 10, 2016 4:42 PM > Subject: Re: [global-nn] Colonialism in the Digital World > To: <azrak_khan(a)hotmail.com<mailto:[email protected]>>, <global-nn(a)lists.riseup.net<mailto:[email protected]>> > Cc: > > > Famed venture capitalist criticized India net neutrality rule and tweeted India would have done better economically under the British Empire. > > http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-10/marc-andreessen-pro-colon…<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.bloomberg.com_news_…> > > Arzak > > Sent by Outlook<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__taps.io_outlookmobile&d…> for Android > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:[email protected]> > https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.kictanet.or.ke_m… > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.kictanet.or.ke_m… > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >

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Fwd: Re: [global-nn] Colonialism in the Digital World
by Ali Hussein 11 Feb '16

11 Feb '16

Listers The issue of Net Neutrality is becoming pretty hot.. Marc Andreessen sparked a furious tweet storm by suggesting that India would have been better off under British rule because of the recent decision on Internet pricing and 'free' access. See link below. Africa needs to define its own Net Neutrality rules..And this needs to be done yesterday. Ali Hussein Tel: +254 713 601113 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <director(a)ipop.org.pk> Date: Feb 10, 2016 4:42 PM Subject: Re: [global-nn] Colonialism in the Digital World To: <azrak_khan(a)hotmail.com>, <global-nn(a)lists.riseup.net> Cc: Famed venture capitalist criticized India net neutrality rule and tweeted India would have done better economically under the British Empire. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-10/marc-andreessen-pro-colon… Arzak Sent by Outlook <http://taps.io/outlookmobile> for Android

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Interesting Article Re SA, Cell C and Zero-Rating As a Tool to Combat Market Dominance
by Ebele Okobi 11 Feb '16

11 Feb '16

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/663/140682.html Why Cell C is fighting for unregulated OTT services By: Stuart Lewis<http://www.bizcommunity.com/Search/196/663/s-Stuart+Lewis.html> Founded in 2001, seven years after its two biggest competitors, Cell C is still largely a new kid on the block. However, in its stand against the regulation of OTT services like Whatsapp, it has drawn a line in the sand, with Vodacom and MTN on one side and itself, OTTs and the South African consumer on the other. To understand why it makes perfect sense for Cell C to do this, you have to understand the industry that it is operating in. The South African mobile market is divided into two kinds of operators: those that own infrastructure, and those that piggyback off of infrastructure built and owned by other companies. The four largest players in the country are, in order, Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom - all of whom built and maintain their own real world network of cellphone towers and other connections. The rest of the market is divided up between Neotel (those guys who are constantly digging cable trenches across busy roads) and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) like FNB Mobile and Virgin Mobile. MVNOs sell phones and contracts but use infrastructure built by other networks. For the most part, they are hosted on Cell C's network. As of April last year, the South African mobile network was estimated to consist of around 80 million connections, though this has undoubtedly grown significantly since then. Vodacom still controls the largest market share, though their subscriber base has largely stagnated and is starting to decline. MTN is rapidly closing in on Vodacom, however, and has grown steadily over the last four years. Cell C is growing at a significantly faster rate and is starting to capture much more of the market but still lags behind its much older competitors. Cell C is dwarfed by these two companies who are either the biggest African mobile operator, like MTN, or owned by the world's second largest telecommunications company, like Vodacom. It also only entered the South African market long after MTN and Vodacom were already household names so it is constantly playing a game of catch-up. In order to make up the deficit in infrastructure and customer base, Cell C has to be innovative and follow the demand in the industry rather than protect its profits. "Cell C is the challenger network," said Cell C's chief legal officer, Graham Mackinnon, in a recent radio interview. "We've had to come up with products that are very customer-friendly in order to attract customers to ourselves... We have worked out a model that says it would be best to embrace change, to embrace the OTTs and try and find ways to satisfy our customers." All their rhetoric around the OTT hearings has focused on the "anti-consumer" practices of MTN and Vodacom and how embracing rather than regulating OTTs will benefit consumers, thereby positioning themselves as the network on the consumer's "side". Putting the rhetoric aside, Cell C has recognised where the future of mobile usage is going and has realised that by pre-empting that growth they can steal a march on their competitors and maybe even grow past them. To this end, they offered zero-rated Whatsapp leading up to the OTT meeting in parliament to "show their support" and now offer a R5/30 days Whatsapp bundle. Since Whatsapp is the most used social platform in South Africa with upwards of 16 million users, this is an incredibly smart move. It also supports the next two most popular platforms - Facebook and Facebook Messenger - with its free Facebook offer. Cell C is openly and unapologetically targeting these platforms. We should not even begin to think that Cell C's positioning of itself as a crusader for our right to access these kinds of services means that it is in this battle for anything more than an increased market share and customer base. But for now, its interests align with the greatest benefit to the South African consumer. [Description: Description: Description: cid:[email protected]] Ebele Okobi | Head of Public Policy, Africa m. +44 (0) 771 156 1315 2 Stephen St | London | W1T 1AN ebeleokobi(a)fb.com From: Ebele Okobi <ebeleokobi(a)fb.com<mailto:[email protected]>> Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 8:16 PM To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:[email protected]>> Cc: Ali Hussein <ali(a)hussein.me.ke<mailto:[email protected]>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: Re: [global-nn] Colonialism in the Digital World I just wanted to say that we at Facebook STRONGLY reject the sentiments expressed by Marc Andreesen last night regarding India. He does not speak for us. Ebele Okobi | Head of Public Policy, Africa m. +44 (0) 771 156 1315<tel:+44%20(0)%20771%20156%201315> 10 Brock Street | London<x-apple-data-detectors://0/1> | NW1 3FG ebeleokobi(a)fb.com<mailto:[email protected]> [6F376569-CC77-422B-BAD3-794055B1E02B] On Feb 10, 2016, at 7:20 PM, Ali Hussein via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Listers The issue of Net Neutrality is becoming pretty hot.. Marc Andreessen sparked a furious tweet storm by suggesting that India would have been better off under British rule because of the recent decision on Internet pricing and 'free' access. See link below. Africa needs to define its own Net Neutrality rules..And this needs to be done yesterday. Ali Hussein Tel: +254 713 601113 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <director(a)ipop.org.pk<mailto:[email protected]>> Date: Feb 10, 2016 4:42 PM Subject: Re: [global-nn] Colonialism in the Digital World To: <azrak_khan(a)hotmail.com<mailto:[email protected]>>, <global-nn(a)lists.riseup.net<mailto:[email protected]>> Cc: Famed venture capitalist criticized India net neutrality rule and tweeted India would have done better economically under the British Empire. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-10/marc-andreessen-pro-colon…<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.bloomberg.com_news_…> Arzak Sent by Outlook<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__taps.io_outlookmobile&d…> for Android _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:[email protected]> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.kictanet.or.ke_m… Unsubscribe or change your options at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.kictanet.or.ke_m… The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

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TRAI Order: A Sledgehammer, not a scalpel
by Nanjira Sambuli 11 Feb '16

11 Feb '16

Policy analysis of the Indian regulator’s ruling. We do have lessons to learn, because they may have over-regulated: http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/net-neutrality-debate-trai… <http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/net-neutrality-debate-trai…> Regards, Nanjira Sambuli Research Lead iHub <http://www.ihub.co.ke/> | Research <http://www.ihub.co.ke/research> | UXLab <http://www.ihub.co.ke/uxlab> | Consulting <http://www.ihub.co.ke/consulting> Mobile: +254722481566 Skype: nanjirasambuli | Twitter: @NiNanjira

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We will not block free access to Facebook, says government
by Nanjira Sambuli 11 Feb '16

11 Feb '16

The CS is cited as saying that we won't go the India route. I'm amazed at how reporting on the TRAI decision has been summarised to banning Free Basics; the bigger picture and ruling relegated to the back seat... http://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/news/will-block-free-access-facebook-says-g… Regards, Nanjira. Sent from my iPhone.

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Fwd: [Skunkworks] Epson event for small equipment dealers, system admins, cyber cafe owners
by Barrack Otieno 11 Feb '16

11 Feb '16

Might be usefull to some listers. Regards ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Dennis Kioko via skunkworks" <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> Date: Feb 8, 2016 2:58 PM Subject: [Skunkworks] Epson event for small equipment dealers, system admins, cyber cafe owners To: "Skunkworks forum" <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> Cc: Good Afternoon Skunks, Epson is hosting a networking event (cocktail). The event is especially for professionals who operate in the below sectors (though not limited to these): - System admins - Cyber cafe owners - If you offer support and ICT sales to businesses, especially in the SME space - ICT equipment sales - Designers and photographers The aim of the event is to get you to meet the local Epson team, who will address concerns ranging from equipment that is available locally, where you may source Epson devices if you are in sales or regular purchase of these, and sourcing for genuine supplies too (quality, number of prints and longevity of device differs based on inks used). Epson will also be sharing on: - low cost printing - high quality and low cost printing - imaging (projectors) for various use cases ("short throw" different lighting scenarios, interactive projectors, wireless input etc) Lastly, as I mentioned earlier, there will be a provision for networking, and you will get to meet others in your sector. The event takes place the other *Thursday*, the *18th*, at the *InterContinental Hotel *starting* 6:30 pm. *Attendance is free and there's free parking. Being the first event, the number of slots is limited to 50, hence you may want to book early. In the future, will expand the number of slots based on attendance. You can list other issues you would like addressed in response to this mail. Please share this with others whom you feel this may be relevant to. <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/epson-cocktail-tickets-19704623058> *Register here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/epson-cocktail-tickets-19704623058 <https://www.eventbrite.com/e/epson-cocktail-tickets-19704623058>* -- with Regards: blog.denniskioko.com <http://www.denniskioko.com/> _______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke

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