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ICT Master Plan debate
by Wainaina Mungai 20 Jun '08

20 Jun '08

>From submissions so far; 1. There is a draft Master plan with a summary in circulation. 2. There is a general feeling that ICT projects are being implemented in a disjointed manner. 3. The Ministry of Info&Comm. under Dr. Ndemo's leadership, has made commendable progress in the ICT arena. 4. Alot of work remains to be done, including the finalisation of a comprehensive Master Plan through a consultative process and honest positions by all stakeholders. 5. The failure of Parliament to pass ICT-related Bills should be a concern for all stakeholders (esp. the Media who had complaints about the cross-ownership clause) and not an opportunity to shoot the messenger. 6. We have come a long way from the days of fighting (with policymakers/govt) for an National ICT Policy and must now shift gears to a complemetary approach. That is the respectful way to go about this debate as alluded to by Lucy. 7. Now, could the Ministry/PS kindly circulate electronic versions of draft documents for a more informed discussion on this list? That should put some flesh on this skeleton we have so far overworked. Good day, Wainaina -- Made in Kenya Network P. O. Box 72031 - 00200 Nairobi. Kenya Tel: +254-20-3590451 Cel: +254-722-811171 Cel: +254-735-370840 www.madeinkenya.org www.bungesms.com www.pamonet.org

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Re: [kictanet] Kenya's new registry system
by tyrus＠icsit.jkuat.ac.ke 19 Jun '08

19 Jun '08

Wesley, I totally agree with you on this point. Its one thing to set up a system where you will have citizens access their details and its another entirely different thing to ensure its security is not compromised. Even as these guys come up with this revolutionary system, am sure they have security in mind and even more importantly have taken the necessary steps to ensuring that its not compromised. What I always have qualms with as you are well aware of in skunkworks, is the reluctance by the developers or system operators to provide room for Independent Penetration Testing. Granted this is not a panacea for hack-proofing the system but will make the system devoid of common vulnerabilities like what we saw in the ipo website. In America, identity theft has occurred even on their secure servers alike but if you look at the frequency, its relatively low since tests are carried out on the system very often and when loop holes are discovered relevant authorities are informed. Its a very novel idea the Government is pursuing but even as we speak there are notable Govt bodies whose IT infrastructure's security is very sketchy. If there was a dedicated body in the ICT Board to dedicatedly look into security issues regarding IT growth and implementation, I guess there would be standards set even when putting a very basic implementation like a web-site. Regards, "fyodor"

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FW: [www.eThinkTankTz.org] ICT BACKBONE: A solution in search of a problem or is it just a white elephant?
by Harry Hare 19 Jun '08

19 Jun '08

Dear Colleagues, As we await our own FON, there could be some lessons from this experience. One year after the commissioning of the government funded terrestrial fibre optic network in Tanzania, the network has remained relatively idle. Some basic business fundamentals could have been ignored or assumed. Read on. Harry From: eThinkTankTz(a)yahoogroups.com [mailto:eThinkTankTz@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rama Mwikalo Sent: 17 June 2008 00:36 To: ethinktanktz(a)yahoogroups.com Subject: [www.eThinkTankTz.org] ICT BACKBONE: A solution in search of a problem or is it just a white elephant? National ICT Optical Fiber Backbone: Is this a solution in search of a problem or just a white elephant? It is a sad indictment of the current state of the ICT backbone infrastructure when a newly commissioned ultra-modern optical fiber system is sitting idle with absolutely no customers; zero. This may sound like an exaggeration but it is not a very big one! Apart from the standard internal and management traffic required to keep the system chugging and humming along, there are practically no paying customers to speak of on the system. The old adage, some may say myth, that says “if you build it, they will come” was probably taken too literally by the companies that decided to invest their hard-earned T-shillings in the ICT optical fiber infrastructure. The system has been idle ever since it was officially commissioned little over a year ago, according to Charles Makakala – a member and regular contributor to the Tanzania e-Think Tank online discussion group. All we can say is that whatever business plan was used to justify this investment, it was not a plan for spiking the ball on the 20 yard - to use an American football metaphor. By all accounts, what has been implemented is an ultra-modern state of the art transmission system based on the latest high capacity DWDM (Dense Wave Division Multiplexing) fiber optics technology. According to Mr Makakala, the system has been deployed across nine regional traffic hubs including some smaller towns, and it has an estimated transport capacity of nearly 4 Gigabit per second. Just so we all know, this represents enough bandwidth to carry up to 400 times the current voice traffic generated by all major mobile phone operators namely, Vodacom, Celtel, Tigo and Zantel. It would have been hilarious if it weren’t downright cruel for these well-meaning folks to have invested so much to achieve so little. This is undoubtedly an important national venture and the service is desperately needed for the development of our country, so what went wrong? No one could have expected – not by any stretch of imagination – that in a country that still requires more ICT investment – not less – there would be a glut of data transmission bandwidth sitting idle and begging for customers but there are no takers. In the meantime, Tanzanians of all shapes and stripes are burdened with one of the highest and out-of-reach telecommunication service tariffs in Africa. Needless to say, there is a huge disconnect; it makes very little sense and clearly deserves a detailed examination and analysis. Considering the way things have turned out, perhaps we should begin by speculating or asking what was the business plan that was used to justify the implementation the optical fiber infrastructure that has been deployed and commissioned? Who were the targeted customers and were they consulted to determine what it would take to get them on board as paying customers? These are basic market research questions… If the ICT backbone was built hoping “customers will come”, well we should not be surprised now that the chickens are coming home to roost and the outcome is so dramatically different from the investors expectations not to mention prayers. Some of the basic and fundamental market research and analysis questions that should have been asked are: § Who are likely to be the major customers for the optical fiber super-highway and where are they geographically located? § What are they planning to use the optical fiber bandwidth for? § How much aggregate bandwidth is need and, more importantly, where is that bandwidth needed? § What special interfaces are needed by the customers? § What kind of problems are these “potential customers” currently experiencing that the optical fiber infrastructure would be ideally suited to solve? § How much are they expecting and willing to pay for the bandwidth in order to subscribe to the new service? § What other competing technologies are available and how much are they paying today? We can delve a little deeper into some of these questions a little later to try to come up with possible answers that may be helpful feedback into the next ICT infrastructure project whether privately or publicly funded. As a way of illustrations, I am planning to use broadband internet access, mobile phone and triple-play which are considered to be the “killer applications” (to employ an overused term) for the national fiber infrastructure. I will also say a few words about the appropriateness (or lack thereof) of assigning the management of a government funded ICT optical fiber backbone to TTCL. Since I am not employed by any of these companies I can afford not to take sides in the proverbial “mwamba ngoma” tradition. I get chills down my spine when I hear that the mobile phone companies are among the targeted customers for this government funded initiative in which TTCL is the designated operator. Last time I checked, TTCL was still competing against the very customers it is supposed to serve! God help us should, in the unlikely event, the system encounter a catastrophic failure, a possibility that cannot be ruled out; would TTCL be expected to give top priority to its own mobile phone customers over its competitors or are they likely to be fair and even-handed? And so we bear witness to the specter of the least successful mobile phone service provider trying to bail out its more successful competitors! It takes two leaps of faith to believe that TTCL will be even-handed and quite frankly, I am not at all surprised why the targeted customers appear to be dragging their feet. The business model needs to be revisited. And as I said earlier, I intend to address this issue and others in a follow up contribution. Rama Mwikalo Technology Consultant Silicon Valley, California, USA (512) 947-7668 __._,_.___ Messages <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/message/12519;_ylc=X3oDMTM2M2Jxb…> in this topic (1) <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJxaGluNTQ5BF9TAz…> Reply (via web post) | Start <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNGdpOTllBF9TAz…> a new topic Messages <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZWg3cnRjBF…> | Files <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJmMDV1dmwzBF9TA…> | Photos <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/photos;_ylc=X3oDMTJlb3Iwb3YzBF9T…> | Links <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmbDQ1dDRkBF9TA…> | Database <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/database;_ylc=X3oDMTJjazhsczJlBF…> | Polls <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmdnNxamJyBF9TA…> | Members <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNWdhYm0yBF9…> | Calendar <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkNDlsZ2s4BF…> Anyone who would like to join eThinkTankTz is welcome to do so by sending a blank email to: eThinkTankTz-subscribe(a)yahoogroups.com MARKETPLACE _____ You <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=13r3ednhb/M=624381.12730922.13032918.10835568/D…> rock! 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[NewVisionKenya] Re: Voiceless 'Knowledge Workers'
by aki 19 Jun '08

19 Jun '08

If I may add a comment regarding Kenya technology and evolution. Corrections are welcome. Very briefly : In general terms, we have to understand that the Technology liberation ( liberalization ) just started very recently eg less than 6-8 years ago. In reality lack of liberalization and other factors were responsible for the backwardness of modernization of systems and ICT culture. I believe as a country we are still in infancy and slowly crawling out of that shell. In less than 6-8 years, we have seen tremendous growth in the technology sectors with a pro-IT development, pro-competitve approach by its players and planners. While the approach towards unified goals may seem different, it is important that we give a chance to the current visions and plans to achieve long term goals. Kenya has the talent, resources and we should push very hard to ensure the visions are implemented beyond discussions. My hope is that within the next 10 years or so, we will be a technology/infrastructure/systems achievement and an icon to others. With Rgds, Aki.

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Kenya Budget Brief
by alice wanjira 18 Jun '08

18 Jun '08

Dear all FYI Kenya budget brief best alice

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Kenya Budget Brief
by alice wanjira 18 Jun '08

18 Jun '08

Dear all Attached budget brief prepared by Githongo and Company ( Acountants and Auditors) for * *

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Re: [kictanet] ICT Master Plan debate
by Owino Magana 18 Jun '08

18 Jun '08

We are making headway! The case for better coordinated implementation strikes me as strong. I propose that in addition to making the masterplan readily available, PS Ndemo, seize the moment n lead a stakeholder review and finalization of the national masterplan. Given the experience of finalizing the National ICT policy in 2005 & the e-Gov Strategy in 2004 we, the ICT stakeholders, are clearly equal to the task. To provide focus, I further propose that the said masterplan review be guided by and aligned to the recently launched 1st Mid Term Plan of Vision 2030, to enable it support our overarching Vision 2030 dream Certainly there is no shortage of human capital with requisite experience and expertise in delivering on similar assignments for Kenya and other countries. Let's harness it! O - M Sent from my iPhone On Jun 17, 2008, at 9:23 PM, "Joshua Goldstein" <joshgoldstein(a)google.com> wrote: I would definitely like to see this as well. On Tue, Jun 17, 2008 at 10:55 AM, Wainaina Mungai <wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org> wrote: >From submissions so far; 1. There is a draft Master plan with a summary in circulation. 2. There is a general feeling that ICT projects are being implemented in a disjointed manner. 3. The Ministry of Info&Comm. under Dr. Ndemo's leadership, has made commendable progress in the ICT arena. 4. Alot of work remains to be done, including the finalisation of a comprehensive Master Plan through a consultative process and honest positions by all stakeholders. 5. The failure of Parliament to pass ICT-related Bills should be a concern for all stakeholders (esp. the Media who had complaints about the cross-ownership clause) and not an opportunity to shoot the messenger. 6. We have come a long way from the days of fighting (with policymakers/govt) for an National ICT Policy and must now shift gears to a complemetary approach. That is the respectful way to go about this debate as alluded to by Lucy. 7. Now, could the Ministry/PS kindly circulate electronic versions of draft documents for a more informed discussion on this list? That should put some flesh on this skeleton we have so far overworked. Good day, Wainaina -- Made in Kenya Network P. O. Box 72031 - 00200 Nairobi. Kenya Tel: +254-20-3590451 Cel: +254-722-811171 Cel: +254-735-370840 www.madeinkenya.org www.bungesms.com www.pamonet.org _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: joshgoldstein(a)google.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/joshgoldstein%40google… -- Josh Goldstein Research Intern Office of the Head of Global Public Policy Google, Inc. +1.650.214.3493 _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: omaganake(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/omaganake%40yahoo.com

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Kenya govt to subsidize domain names, free spectrum
by Rebecca Wanjiku 18 Jun '08

18 Jun '08

http://www.computerworld.co.ke/articles/2008/06/17/kenya-hosts-euafrinic-tr… Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/

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Re: [kictanet] [NewVisionKenya] Re: Voiceless 'Knowledge Workers'
by Lucy Kimani 17 Jun '08

17 Jun '08

Bw Ngotwa:   I think it would help if we listened to each other instead of talking past each other.  I believe bw Ndemo already clarified that there is a Master Plan and in fact a summary is in circulation as confirmed by Monica, and dissemination to the wider public will be done in the next couple of weeks.   Why dont we wait until we all have a copy of the Master Plan, study it and then give constructive feedback.   I personally attended some expos, workshops and seminars while I was in Kenya so the ICT conversation has been going on for a while, and I think this is where the problem is, the wrong assumptions are being made, and I think I see where this is getting personal, when people begin to rubbish other's hard work, then you cant blame them if they go on the offensive!  Lets respect each other's efforts, and if one has constructive feedback/ideas just present them as such, and leave out the innuendos etc.   Nobody has a monopoly on ideas, and Kenya will be better off if all stakeholders are working together towards the same goal.   LK --- On Tue, 6/17/08, ngotwa <ngotwa(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: ngotwa <ngotwa(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [NewVisionKenya] Re: [kictanet] Voiceless 'Knowledge Workers' To: NewVisionKenya(a)yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 10:07 AM --- In NewVisionKenya@ yahoogroups. com, Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho@ ...> wrote: I have been following the interesting debate on the issue of the way ICT is being planned and implemented in Kenya. I think what Shem was trying to point out was that there are several commendable projects going on within the country but appear not to be clear on how they tie up on the whole plan/Master plan. He also inquired on whether a comprehensive Consultative process has been carried out between and among the ICT Professionals and Stakeholders. I think Shem strongly believed that not enough consultations have been done especially on the whole issue of Vision 2030in order for the Citizens to fully own the Vision and the attendant activities. Initially the debate was healthy between Lucy and Shem but degenerated almost into personal attacks.The PS was trying to clear some of the issues but I think because of the mode of communication he ended up not shedding enough light. Whereas he talked of the existence of the Country's ICT master plan, he did not explain to what extent the projects cover the preparedness for the Vision 2030 or the Master Plan. What we are aware is that even before the Vision 2030 was launched, there were several ICT projects going on and what I personally expected from the debate was to point out the mileage we have so far gone and the gaps remaining in meeting the demands of 2030 and probably the Strategies required in order to fill those gaps. I was privileged last year to have taken part in the preparation of the e-Transactions Bill as driven by the e-Gov Secretariat, but my impression was that the Ministry of Information was not keen on the issue and instead was driving another combined Bill-Kenya Communications Act which was rejected by the 9th Parliament. What this points out is a disharmony within Government institutions. And that is why when Shem talks about enough Consultation and Master Plan it is to ensure a smooth implementation in which every arm of Government knows its role on every aspect of the implementation. As of now, despite what the PS is saying it is obvious that the whole process of ICT Projects Implementation appears haphazard with several groups involved and appear uncoordinated. This is my sincere observation and probably we should avoid going personal on these pubic issues/debates. Rogers Ngotwa > Bw PS, > &nbsp; > To reduce the discussion to the level of pointing fingers would not be of any help. I would rather we focus on the principle, rather than individualize it. Of course many examples abound - not just in ICT. However, I truly don't see of what&nbsp;value it would be to name names. > &nbsp; > As for the plan, if you are working on one, that's commendable as&nbsp;I believe it is the way to go. > &nbsp; > Best rgrds, > Shem > > --- On Mon, 6/16/08, bitange@... bitange@... wrote: > > From: bitange@... bitange@... > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Voiceless 'Knowledge Workers' > To: shemochuodho@ ... > Cc: "New Vision List" newvisionkenya@ yahoogroups. com, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" kictanet@... > Date: Monday, June 16, 2008, 5:16 PM > > Brother, > It seems that you have been a way for too long. We have worked well in this > industry. If there are specific cases where you had to know someone, please > let us know. Blanket condemnation will not build this country. > > Ndemo > > Sent from my BlackBerry® > __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (2) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar MARKETPLACE Blockbuster is giving away a FREE trial of - Blockbuster Total Access. Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity  1 New MembersVisit Your Group Yahoo! News Kevin Sites Get coverage of world crises. Yahoo! Groups Familyographer Zone Join a group and share your pictures. 10 Day Club on Yahoo! Groups Share the benefits of a high fiber diet. . __,_._,___

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Re: [kictanet] BarCamp '08 - this Saturday 21 June 2008
by Riyaz Bachani 17 Jun '08

17 Jun '08

James, The signup was only for the free sponsored t-shirts (we'd sent an earlier announcement to the list last week). Feel free to still attend - this is a very open forum/conference. Entry is still open. Hi Barcamp, You are bringing the announcement really late after you have closed the period through which you can register.Is there a way one can be included?I would love to attend the Barcamp.Any help on these will be appreciated. Reagrds, James Muendo.

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