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Re: [Kictanet] Day 6 of 10: Best Business & Regulatory Model
by Eric Osiakwan 30 Jan '07

30 Jan '07

Kai, it depends on how you see regulation however without a certain regulatory mechanism we are all not going anywhere. The private sector leadership by KDN on this is commendable but please lets not use that as a case to define what is and what is not. Open Access as we have known it to be has a layout and it is clear @ http://www.infodev.org/en/Publication.10.html If we all stick to the larger principles, all these other elements would fall in place whether it is private and or public sector leadership in the buildout. Eric here ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Kai Wulff" <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> Reply-To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:51:38 +0300 >Let me add something: > >Open Access does not mean regulated. > >A system like Flag will have invested money to build a fiber around the >globe and will make money with it. Pricing on the cable is determined by >open market and not open access. > >Open Access needs to be provided to the Landing Station and with this to any >other system that might be available. > >TEAMS will go to one Monopoly Operator who will connect the TEAMS capacity >to other systems, what is the price for this service, who knows the price of >those systems? > >Unless we build our own Internet or at least a cable that is jointly owned >and peered at an international Internet Exchange (and even there are >commercial charges) we will never escape the need for some commercial >dealings. > >What is important for a region is that not one Operator/Service Provider has >access to cheaper capacity than the others (see TSA!). > >Like TEAMS, I hope that we can have all equal charges from MSA to the rest >of the world. On Flag, this is guaranteed by the contract KDN has signed! > >Rgds > >Kai > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "John Walubengo" <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> >To: <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> >Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 19:37 >Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Day 6 of 10: Best Business & Regulatory Model >forprovisioning OFC(EASsy, TEAMs, etc) > > >> Alan, >> >> I think what Eric meant was that even though the fiber >> cable infrastructure would be operated at cost - it would >> still be open to competition i.e. the Regulatory framework >> should allow for multiple, complimentary as well as >> competing submarine fiber cable. >> >> In other words, lets have the EASsy, TEAMs and Flag running >> accross E.Africa, as long as each one of them Operates >> their cable at cost and allowing other SERVICE/APPLICATION >> providers equal access... >> >> Unfortunately, this model is not quite easy to execute >> because it demands a total overhaul of the existing Telco >> market strutures. The current regulatory and business >> structures in most of the regional countries allow and >> probably encourage Operators to own the backbone >> (essential) infrastructure and still operate accross all >> the service layers. >> >> For example Telkom Kenya, owns the country-wide Backbone >> infrastructure as well as the International Gateway and is >> licensed to compete in all the Service areas i.e through >> its ISP subsidiary, its Wireless Subsidiary, etc. >> >> Safaricom, Celltel (the 2 mobile operators) have also >> joined into the fray along the same-principles i.e. owning >> the Backbone infrastructures and continuing to compete >> accross the SERVICE/APPLICATION layers or sectors. >> >> And the (good/bad?)news is that the prevailing situations >> seem to have served quite well if seen in terms of >> accelerated growth it has brought to the Industry. So the >> question would be, why try and change all that? Why should >> the provisioning of the submarine OFC disrupt the >> comfortable status quo within the national telecoms market >> structures? I see this as the biggest obstacle towards an >> otherwise good Open Access model... >> >> walu. >> >> >> >> --- Alan Finlay <alan(a)openresearch.co.za> wrote: >> >>> Hi Eric >>> >>> Earlier John said that the Open Access model put forward >>> that access to the >>> fibre optic should be at cost, and the money made at the >>> service end only. >>> >>> Your version says that access to the cable can be >>> competitive - or that >>> entities that invest in the cable's infrastructure must >>> be allowed to make a >>> profit out of the cable. >>> >>> Is this correct? Can you elaborate a bit on the >>> differences between these >>> two 'open access' positions as you understand them? >>> >>> Thanks >>> Alan >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Eric Osiakwan" <eric(a)afrispa.org> >>> To: <alan(a)openresearch.co.za> >>> Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 11:42 AM >>> Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Day 4 of 10: What are the >>> Existing/Sugested >>> >>> >>> > Dear All, >>> > >>> > The Open Access Model makes two important distinctions >>> which the >>> regulatory policy >>> > environment must capture and enforce; >>> > 1. the distinction between infrastructure and services >>> so that >>> infrastructure providers are >>> > NOT allowed to also provide SERVICES and vice versa. >>> > >>> > 2. owership of the infrastructure (in layer 1) should >>> not guarantee any >>> form of fair or unfair >>> > access to capacity for the provision of service (in >>> layer 2). >>> > >>> > 2. that there is no discrimination within and between >>> both camps so that >>> infrastructure >>> > providers are able to establish clear and transparent >>> trading >>> relationships with all service >>> > providers and vice versa. Within the infrastructure or >>> service layer there >>> should be no >>> > restriction on COMPETITION and SERVICE DELIVERY. >>> > >>> > This creates an ecosystem of various operators >>> interconnecting seemlessly >>> and ensuring >>> > there is interoperability. >>> > >>> > Eric here >>> > >>> > >>> > NB: Becuase my preference is for the "first" >>> infrastructure entity to be >>> owned in a multi- >>> > stakeholder approach, the financial mechansims that are >>> employed may also >>> impose some >>> > regulations from the financial market that can only be >>> detailed on a case >>> by case basis. >> >> --- John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> >>> Hi All, following the w/end, it maybe appropriate to >>> recollect and review how far we have gone in this online >>> discussion. >>> >>> Themes Reminder >>> 1) Why OFC (1day) >>> *it is cheaper(than Satellite option), it is faster, more >>> reliable, more secure, has unlimited bandwidth capacity. >>> >>> 2) Existing Business Models for OFC provisioning (2days) >>> *Privately provisioned >>> *Consortium provisioned >>> *Open Access provisioned >>> >>> 3) Existing/Appropriate Regulatory Models for OFC (2days) >>> *No-Regulation >>> *Some Regulation >>> *Full Regulation >>> >>> 4) Best Model (Business+Regulatory) for E. Africans >>> (2days) >>> <Pending> >>> >>> 5) Projected Impact on Stakeholders (2days) >>> <Pending> >>> >>> 6) Reconciling Stakeholder interests/Conclusions (2days) >>> <Pending> >>> >>> So today we start of on Point 4, and wish to hear views >>> on >>> what would be the preferred Business and Regulatory model >>> for provisioning the Optical Fiber Cable on the E.African >>> Coast. Feel free to comment on a previous theme as well. >>> >>> walu. >>> --- Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >>> >>> > Walu, >>> > >>> > I dug this interesting read off google search a while >>> > back (78 page) >>> > >>> > Open Access Models >>> > Options for Improving Backbone Access in Developing >>> > Countries (with a Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa) >>> > Final Draft >>> > August 2005 >>> > An infoDev Technical Report >>> > prepared by >>> > S P I N T R A C K A B >>> > DROTTNINGGATAN 99, >>> > 113 60 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN >>> > PHONE: +46-8-528 00 310 FAX: +46-8-528 00 315 >>> > WWW.SPINTRACK.COM INFO(a)SPINTRACK.COM >>> > >>> > < >>> > >>> >> http://www.infodev.org/files/2569_file_OPEN_ACCESS_REPORT.pdf >>> > > >>> > >>> > /Alex >>> > >>> > John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Found an answer >>> > to my own question < >>> > talked about emailing instead of talking to oneself?>> >>> - >>> > anyway...The proposed regulatory framework for EASsy >>> > (which >>> > purportedly is going the Open Access way) seems to be >>> > covered here.... >>> > >>> > ~~~~00-copied below--- >>> > >>> > East Africa: EASSy Project Model Approved >>> > Thursday, 22 June 2006 >>> > All countries participating in the development of the >>> > East >>> > African Sub Marine Cable System (EASSy) have now agreed >>> > to >>> > implement the project on an 'open access basis,' >>> > overcoming >>> > a hurdle that had initially threatened to derail the >>> > project. >>> > The Policy and Regulatory Adviser of Nepad e-Africa >>> > Commission, Dr Edmund Katiti said that the South >>> African >>> > government and Nepad's ICT experts had persuaded the >>> > countries that were objecting to the change in the >>> > project >>> > to realise the limitations of the consortium model >>> which >>> > they had preferred. >>> > >>> > The EASSy project involves laying of a fibre optic >>> cable >>> > from Mtunzini north of Durban, through landing stations >>> > along East Africa to Port Sudan. The cable will link >>> with >>> > the countries' national networks at the landing >>> stations. >>> > Others would subsequently be interconnected through the >>> > networks of landlocked countries like Uganda, Rwanda, >>> > Burundi and D.R Congo. >>> > >>> > When the project was first conceived, it was to be >>> > primarily a private sector project. The core investors >>> in >>> > the cable infrastructure would determine the retail >>> > prices >>> > of bandwidth. The project was to be owned and operated >>> by >>> > a >>> > group of companies that would generate financing; an >>> > arrangement known as the consortium model. The South >>> > African government and Nepad have recently argued that >>> > the >>> > consortium model would not achieve the objective of the >>> > project bringing down the costs of >> communication in >>> > the region. They suggested that the model be altered to >>> > "open access", where any operator or institution in the >>> > participating countries would be allowed to acquire >>> > equity >>> > if it can afford the agreed contribution. >>> > >>> > In the open access model, the cable would be owned and >>> > operated by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), a >>> company >>> > created to manage the network and establish the price >>> of >>> > bandwidth. An Intergovernmental Assembly is to be >>> formed >>> > to >>> > regulate the costs that the SPV would charge operators. >>> > Rwanda will host the headquarters of the SPV in part as >>> > recognition of their commitment to the development and >>> > promotion of ICTs in the country. >>> > >>> > After the agreement reached earlier in June, the Nepad >>> > e-Africa Commission is working towards the signing of a >>> > protocol that would form the legal framework of the >>> EASSy >>> > project. The Commission has already prepared a project >>> > plan, which it has sent to the member governments to >>> > review >>> > and comment, a process that take until August, when the >>> > protocol signing is anticipated. Construction is >>> expected >>> > to commence by the end of 2006. >>> > >>> > Katiti said they hope to raise a quarter of the funding >>> > from equity acquisition payments by companies from the >>> > region and then raise the remainder from African >>> > financial >>> > institutions: African Development Bank, Comesa's PTA >>> > Bank, >>> > East African Development Bank and others. >>> > >>> > Source: The Monitor - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News >>> > >>> >> http://www.regulateonline.org/index.php? option=content&task=view&id=780&Itemid=32&relaItemid=877 >>> > >>> > walu. >>> > >>> > --- John Walubengo wrote: >>> > >>> > > What form/level of regulation would be required? Eric >>> > > plse >>> > > on Open Access, plse elaborate maybe in three >>> > paragraphs. >>> > > And maybe also Kai would have a comment on Regulation >>> > > with >>> > > regard to a Private sector submarine OFC >>> > > provisioning....oh >>> > > yes, Kihanya (the learned one) may have a point >>> too... >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > walu. >>> > > nb: Govt officials are also encouraged to say >>> something >>> > - >>> > > members are informed to treat their comments as their >>> > > personal and not official postions ;-). >>> > > >>> > > --- Lucy Kimani wrote: >>> > > >>> > > > Regulation is definately required as even the big >>> > boys >>> > > of >>> > > > the west are >>> > > > regulated, in a capitalistic environment (read >>> > > > cat-throat) self-regulation >>> > > > has not worked, and is sure a recipe for disaster. >>> > > > >>> > > > LK >>> > > > > OK. Looks like Fridays are still fridays -even >>> > > online. >>> > > > Very >>> > > > > little activity. Heard from only Harry and >>> > Alex...is >>> >> === message truncated === >> >> >> >> >> ____________________________________________________________________________________ >> Don't pick lemons. >> See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos. >> http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke >> > > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/ kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org > -- Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" --

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Re: [Kictanet] Day 6 of 10: Best Business & Regulatory Model for
by Eric Osiakwan 30 Jan '07

30 Jan '07

John, you are like the Baptist, well said concerning the explaining. However i beg to differ on the last paragraph. The current situation has made communication in Africa, the poorest continent more EXPENSIVE than the rest of the world and this is due to a lot of factors most of which are triggered by your DOMESTIC CAPACITY. Please check how many people have telephones, internet, computer etc against population The question should rather be that if the prevailing situation has not made that much impact over such a longtime, why should we not CHANGE it. Please when you read the Open Access study @ http://www.infodev.org/en/Publication.10.html we made clear some of these. Let me add that Open Access is adaptable to the local conditions in terms of "strategic implementation" however the principles are essentially the same. Also it is important to know that Open Access may not work in certain situations and therefore we do not claim "the ONLY ANSWER" to the problem. Eric here ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> Reply-To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 08:37:23 -0800 (PST) >Alan, > >I think what Eric meant was that even though the fiber >cable infrastructure would be operated at cost - it would >still be open to competition i.e. the Regulatory framework >should allow for multiple, complimentary as well as >competing submarine fiber cable. > >In other words, lets have the EASsy, TEAMs and Flag running >accross E.Africa, as long as each one of them Operates >their cable at cost and allowing other SERVICE/APPLICATION >providers equal access... > >Unfortunately, this model is not quite easy to execute >because it demands a total overhaul of the existing Telco >market strutures. The current regulatory and business >structures in most of the regional countries allow and >probably encourage Operators to own the backbone >(essential) infrastructure and still operate accross all >the service layers. > >For example Telkom Kenya, owns the country-wide Backbone >infrastructure as well as the International Gateway and is >licensed to compete in all the Service areas i.e through >its ISP subsidiary, its Wireless Subsidiary, etc. > >Safaricom, Celltel (the 2 mobile operators) have also >joined into the fray along the same-principles i.e. owning >the Backbone infrastructures and continuing to compete >accross the SERVICE/APPLICATION layers or sectors. > >And the (good/bad?)news is that the prevailing situations >seem to have served quite well if seen in terms of >accelerated growth it has brought to the Industry. So the >question would be, why try and change all that? Why should >the provisioning of the submarine OFC disrupt the >comfortable status quo within the national telecoms market >structures? I see this as the biggest obstacle towards an >otherwise good Open Access model... > >walu. > > > >--- Alan Finlay <alan(a)openresearch.co.za> wrote: > >> Hi Eric >> >> Earlier John said that the Open Access model put forward >> that access to the >> fibre optic should be at cost, and the money made at the >> service end only. >> >> Your version says that access to the cable can be >> competitive - or that >> entities that invest in the cable's infrastructure must >> be allowed to make a >> profit out of the cable. >> >> Is this correct? Can you elaborate a bit on the >> differences between these >> two 'open access' positions as you understand them? >> >> Thanks >> Alan >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Eric Osiakwan" <eric(a)afrispa.org> >> To: <alan(a)openresearch.co.za> >> Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 11:42 AM >> Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Day 4 of 10: What are the >> Existing/Sugested >> >> >> > Dear All, >> > >> > The Open Access Model makes two important distinctions >> which the >> regulatory policy >> > environment must capture and enforce; >> > 1. the distinction between infrastructure and services >> so that >> infrastructure providers are >> > NOT allowed to also provide SERVICES and vice versa. >> > >> > 2. owership of the infrastructure (in layer 1) should >> not guarantee any >> form of fair or unfair >> > access to capacity for the provision of service (in >> layer 2). >> > >> > 2. that there is no discrimination within and between >> both camps so that >> infrastructure >> > providers are able to establish clear and transparent >> trading >> relationships with all service >> > providers and vice versa. Within the infrastructure or >> service layer there >> should be no >> > restriction on COMPETITION and SERVICE DELIVERY. >> > >> > This creates an ecosystem of various operators >> interconnecting seemlessly >> and ensuring >> > there is interoperability. >> > >> > Eric here >> > >> > >> > NB: Becuase my preference is for the "first" >> infrastructure entity to be >> owned in a multi- >> > stakeholder approach, the financial mechansims that are >> employed may also >> impose some >> > regulations from the financial market that can only be >> detailed on a case >> by case basis. > >--- John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > >> Hi All, following the w/end, it maybe appropriate to >> recollect and review how far we have gone in this online >> discussion. >> >> Themes Reminder >> 1) Why OFC (1day) >> *it is cheaper(than Satellite option), it is faster, more >> reliable, more secure, has unlimited bandwidth capacity. >> >> 2) Existing Business Models for OFC provisioning (2days) >> *Privately provisioned >> *Consortium provisioned >> *Open Access provisioned >> >> 3) Existing/Appropriate Regulatory Models for OFC (2days) >> *No-Regulation >> *Some Regulation >> *Full Regulation >> >> 4) Best Model (Business+Regulatory) for E. Africans >> (2days) >> <Pending> >> >> 5) Projected Impact on Stakeholders (2days) >> <Pending> >> >> 6) Reconciling Stakeholder interests/Conclusions (2days) >> <Pending> >> >> So today we start of on Point 4, and wish to hear views >> on >> what would be the preferred Business and Regulatory model >> for provisioning the Optical Fiber Cable on the E.African >> Coast. Feel free to comment on a previous theme as well. >> >> walu. >> --- Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> >> > Walu, >> > >> > I dug this interesting read off google search a while >> > back (78 page) >> > >> > Open Access Models >> > Options for Improving Backbone Access in Developing >> > Countries (with a Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa) >> > Final Draft >> > August 2005 >> > An infoDev Technical Report >> > prepared by >> > S P I N T R A C K A B >> > DROTTNINGGATAN 99, >> > 113 60 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN >> > PHONE: +46-8-528 00 310 FAX: +46-8-528 00 315 >> > WWW.SPINTRACK.COM INFO(a)SPINTRACK.COM >> > >> > < >> > >> >http://www.infodev.org/files/2569_file_OPEN_ACCESS_REPORT.pdf >> > > >> > >> > /Alex >> > >> > John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Found an answer >> > to my own question < >> > talked about emailing instead of talking to oneself?>> >> - >> > anyway...The proposed regulatory framework for EASsy >> > (which >> > purportedly is going the Open Access way) seems to be >> > covered here.... >> > >> > ~~~~00-copied below--- >> > >> > East Africa: EASSy Project Model Approved >> > Thursday, 22 June 2006 >> > All countries participating in the development of the >> > East >> > African Sub Marine Cable System (EASSy) have now agreed >> > to >> > implement the project on an 'open access basis,' >> > overcoming >> > a hurdle that had initially threatened to derail the >> > project. >> > The Policy and Regulatory Adviser of Nepad e-Africa >> > Commission, Dr Edmund Katiti said that the South >> African >> > government and Nepad's ICT experts had persuaded the >> > countries that were objecting to the change in the >> > project >> > to realise the limitations of the consortium model >> which >> > they had preferred. >> > >> > The EASSy project involves laying of a fibre optic >> cable >> > from Mtunzini north of Durban, through landing stations >> > along East Africa to Port Sudan. The cable will link >> with >> > the countries' national networks at the landing >> stations. >> > Others would subsequently be interconnected through the >> > networks of landlocked countries like Uganda, Rwanda, >> > Burundi and D.R Congo. >> > >> > When the project was first conceived, it was to be >> > primarily a private sector project. The core investors >> in >> > the cable infrastructure would determine the retail >> > prices >> > of bandwidth. The project was to be owned and operated >> by >> > a >> > group of companies that would generate financing; an >> > arrangement known as the consortium model. The South >> > African government and Nepad have recently argued that >> > the >> > consortium model would not achieve the objective of the >> > project bringing down the costs of >communication in >> > the region. They suggested that the model be altered to >> > "open access", where any operator or institution in the >> > participating countries would be allowed to acquire >> > equity >> > if it can afford the agreed contribution. >> > >> > In the open access model, the cable would be owned and >> > operated by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), a >> company >> > created to manage the network and establish the price >> of >> > bandwidth. An Intergovernmental Assembly is to be >> formed >> > to >> > regulate the costs that the SPV would charge operators. >> > Rwanda will host the headquarters of the SPV in part as >> > recognition of their commitment to the development and >> > promotion of ICTs in the country. >> > >> > After the agreement reached earlier in June, the Nepad >> > e-Africa Commission is working towards the signing of a >> > protocol that would form the legal framework of the >> EASSy >> > project. The Commission has already prepared a project >> > plan, which it has sent to the member governments to >> > review >> > and comment, a process that take until August, when the >> > protocol signing is anticipated. Construction is >> expected >> > to commence by the end of 2006. >> > >> > Katiti said they hope to raise a quarter of the funding >> > from equity acquisition payments by companies from the >> > region and then raise the remainder from African >> > financial >> > institutions: African Development Bank, Comesa's PTA >> > Bank, >> > East African Development Bank and others. >> > >> > Source: The Monitor - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News >> > >> >http://www.regulateonline.org/index.php? option=content&task=view&id=780&Itemid=32&relaItemid=877 >> > >> > walu. >> > >> > --- John Walubengo wrote: >> > >> > > What form/level of regulation would be required? Eric >> > > plse >> > > on Open Access, plse elaborate maybe in three >> > paragraphs. >> > > And maybe also Kai would have a comment on Regulation >> > > with >> > > regard to a Private sector submarine OFC >> > > provisioning....oh >> > > yes, Kihanya (the learned one) may have a point >> too... >> > > >> > > >> > > walu. >> > > nb: Govt officials are also encouraged to say >> something >> > - >> > > members are informed to treat their comments as their >> > > personal and not official postions ;-). >> > > >> > > --- Lucy Kimani wrote: >> > > >> > > > Regulation is definately required as even the big >> > boys >> > > of >> > > > the west are >> > > > regulated, in a capitalistic environment (read >> > > > cat-throat) self-regulation >> > > > has not worked, and is sure a recipe for disaster. >> > > > >> > > > LK >> > > > > OK. Looks like Fridays are still fridays -even >> > > online. >> > > > Very >> > > > > little activity. Heard from only Harry and >> > Alex...is >> >=== message truncated === > > > > >____________________________________________________________________________________ >Don't pick lemons. >See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos. >http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/ kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org > -- Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" --

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Re: [Kictanet] Day 4 of 10: What are the Existing/Sugested
by Eric Osiakwan 29 Jan '07

29 Jan '07

Dear All, The Open Access Model makes two important distinctions which the regulatory policy environment must capture and enforce; 1. the distinction between infrastructure and services so that infrastructure providers are NOT allowed to also provide SERVICES and vice versa. 2. owership of the infrastructure (in layer 1) should not guarantee any form of fair or unfair access to capacity for the provision of service (in layer 2). 2. that there is no discrimination within and between both camps so that infrastructure providers are able to establish clear and transparent trading relationships with all service providers and vice versa. Within the infrastructure or service layer there should be no restriction on COMPETITION and SERVICE DELIVERY. This creates an ecosystem of various operators interconnecting seemlessly and ensuring there is interoperability. Eric here NB: Becuase my preference is for the "first" infrastructure entity to be owned in a multi- stakeholder approach, the financial mechansims that are employed may also impose some regulations from the financial market that can only be detailed on a case by case basis. ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> Reply-To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:33:00 -0800 (PST) >What form/level of regulation would be required? Eric plse >on Open Access, plse elaborate maybe in three paragraphs. >And maybe also Kai would have a comment on Regulation with >regard to a Private sector submarine OFC provisioning....oh >yes, Kihanya (the learned one) may have a point too... > > >walu. >nb: Govt officials are also encouraged to say something - >members are informed to treat their comments as their >personal and not official postions ;-). > >--- Lucy Kimani <lkimani(a)comnews.co.ke> wrote: > >> Regulation is definately required as even the big boys of >> the west are >> regulated, in a capitalistic environment (read >> cat-throat) self-regulation >> has not worked, and is sure a recipe for disaster. >> >> LK >> > OK. Looks like Fridays are still fridays -even online. >> Very >> > little activity. Heard from only Harry and Alex...is >> there >> > anyone out there still logged on to give us their views >> b/w >> > now and 2morrow. >> > >> > walu. >> > --- Harry Hare <harry(a)aitecafrica.com> wrote: >> > >> >> Dear Walu, >> >> >> >> Just checked the dictionary definition of "Regulate" >> and >> >> got these synonyms >> >> - rule, govern, manage, order, adjust, arrange, >> dispose, >> >> conduct, >> >> systematize. Al these sound and are good "English" >> words >> >> cos they give you >> >> the sense of stability, odder and continuity. However, >> >> these may not be so >> >> good "legal" words because law introduces the concept >> of >> >> constrain. Then >> >> these words become a burden that regulation is >> >> (especially to the private >> >> sector) and that regulatory frameworks prescribe. >> >> >> >> On the same breath, I would argue that its not a >> simple >> >> lets have or no, >> >> lets not regulate the OFCs. I think we need to >> regulate >> >> in the sense of >> >> providing continuity by systematizing and managing for >> >> the benefit of all, >> >> so regulation should only be used to facilitate and >> not >> >> constrain. >> >> Non-regulation to me sounds chaotic and not >> sustainable >> >> in the long run! >> >> >> >> Lets have a "facilitative regulatory framework" so >> that >> >> the private sector >> >> can do what they do best...invest and get a return on >> >> their investment; and >> >> the government collects its taxes while we enjoy >> >> efficient and affordable >> >> the services! >> >> >> >> Harry >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: >> >> kictanet-bounces+harry=aitecafrica.com(a)kictanet.or.ke >> >> >> > >> >[mailto:[email protected]] >> >> On Behalf Of >> >> John Walubengo >> >> Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 9:40 AM >> >> To: harry(a)aitecafrica.com >> >> Subject: [Kictanet] Day 4 of 10: What are the >> >> Existing/Sugested legal >> >> andregulatory framework for OFC? >> >> >> >> Thanx Brain, Kai, et al for your contributions on the >> >> previous themes, I now wish to introduce today's theme >> as >> >> shown above. >> >> >> >> It looks like on the Regulatory theme, there is very >> >> little >> >> option. The choice is simply between having or NOT >> >> having >> >> Regulatory environments for the submarine cable. The >> >> current practice is simply NO Regulation by virtue of >> the >> >> fact that most OFC is laid out by Private sector with >> >> commercially agreed private contracts. These are kept >> >> confidential until or unless a dispute arises in which >> >> case >> >> it is resolved through existing Company Laws or >> >> Competition >> >> Laws. None-Regulation has therefore served well in >> >> managing >> >> Private sector investements. >> >> >> >> However, in the Case of a Consortium model, where >> Public >> >> Funds have been committed to build the infrastructure, >> >> some >> >> argue that Regulation is required to ensure that the >> >> Public >> >> interest (social benefits) are balanced against the >> >> Private (profit) interests. The Consortium operators >> >> however find this recommendation not encouraging since >> >> they >> >> feel that Regulation would tend to frustrate an >> otherwise >> >> enterprising venture that would excel without >> Regulatory >> >> constraints. >> >> >> >> As for the proposed Open Access Model, the Regulatory >> >> frameworks suggested seem to range from None, Some, >> >> Delayed >> >> to Full Regulation. I still don't know how these >> >> different >> >> variants would apply but would be glad to hear more >> from >> >> the participants. So lets explore the Pros and Cons >> of >> >> these options but approaching it in a practical way as >> >> follows: >> >> >> >> What benefits/disadvantages has Non-Regulation brought >> to >> >> submarine OFC within the the context of the three >> models >> >> a) Purely Private Provisioning of OFC >> >> b) Consortium Provisioning of OFC >> >> c) Open Access Provisionig of OFC. >> >> >> >> 2Days discussion - the eFloor is open to all however. >> >> Operators, Lawyers, Regulators, Policy Makers, CSO & >> >> Consumers are particularly encouraged to say >> something. >> >> >> >> walu. >> >> --- Bill Kagai <billkagai(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> > Brian... >> >> > Signs of a good Cabaret Sauvignon over lunch >> today!!! >> >> > >> >> > Anyway, >> >> > We are all converted capitalists hosting the World >> >> Social >> >> > Forum..so I say..a >> >> > good model is the one that makes good money for all >> of >> >> > us. >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > On 1/25/07, Brian Longwe <brian(a)pure-id.com> wrote: >> >> > > >> >> > > For once I get to make my comment on the day it is >> >> due >> >> > (good job, Brian - >> >> > > keep it up) ....... {I heard that when you start >> >> > talking to yourself you >> >> > > should get worried..... how about when you start >> >> > sending email to yourself?} >> >> > > >> >> > > HAHAHAHA! >> >> > > >> >> > > Anyway on a more serious note, some years ago I >> had a >> >> > v. interesting >> >> > > dialog on this issue of submarine infrastructure. >> The >> >> > people I was talking >> >> > > to (don't remember exactly who) {is loss of >> memory a >> >> > sign of age, senility, >> >> > > insanity or all 3 together} hehehe..... >> >> > > >> >> > > ---as I was saying, the people I was talking to >> >> > mentioned that the perfect >> >> > > model has existed for the longest time in the oil >> & >> >> gas >> >> > pipelines in >> >> > > different parts of Europe. These cross multiple >> >> > jurisdictions, are critical >> >> > > to the livelihoods and economies of all the >> >> > stakeholders, support the >> >> > > existence and stability of a wide spectrum of >> >> sectors, >> >> > and at the end of day >> >> > > provide something that an individual or family >> pays >> >> > for. >> >> > > >> >> > > Taking all of the above into consideration - these >> >> > projects are >> >> > > deliberately designed not to make a profit. (In >> fact >> >=== message truncated === > > > > >____________________________________________________________________________________ >No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go >with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started. >http://mobile.yahoo.com/mail > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/ kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org > -- Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" --

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FW: http://www.londonstockexchange.com/LSECWS/IFSPages/MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id= 1393039&source=RNS
by Joseph Mucheru 26 Jan '07

26 Jan '07

Many thanks for all your support people. ------ Forwarded Message From: Teresa Miles Walsh <teresa(a)accessmediaadvisory.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:42:49 -0000 To: 'Richard Bell' <Richard.Bell(a)Wananchi.Com>, 'Mark Schneider' <Mark(a)schneidermedia.net>, 'Joseph Mucheru' <mucheru(a)wananchi.com>, 'Richard Essex' <richard.essex(a)pobox.com> Cc: <tarek(a)accessmediaadvisory.com>, 'James Gachui' <gachui(a)wananchi.com> Subject: RE: http://www.londonstockexchange.com/LSECWS/IFSPages/MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id=1 393039&source=RNS In case anyone has trouble with the link above, here is the text of the announcement Company Africa Telecoms Company Limited TIDM Headline Revised Offer Update Released 14:25 26-Jan-07 Number 2251Q RNS Number:2251Q Africa Telecoms Company Limited 26 January 2007 This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so. 26 January 2007 AFRICA TELECOMS COMPANY LIMITED INCREASED CASH OFFER FOR THE AFRICAN LAKES CORPORATION LIMITED Summary The board of Africa Telecoms Company Limited ("ATC") today announces its intention to make an increased cash offer ("the Revised Offer") to acquire the whole of the issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of The African Lakes Corporation Limited ("TALC"). The Revised Offer of £18.50 in cash per TALC Share values the existing issued ordinary share capital of TALC at approximately £5.04 million. Certain TALC shareholders have irrevocably undertaken to accept the Revised Offer in respect of 143,426 TALC Shares in aggregate, representing approximately 52.66 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of TALC. Commenting on the Revised Offer, Richard Bell, Director of ATC said, "The revised offer of £18.50 per share in cash represents a significant increase over our original offer and I am delighted that it has won the support of African Lakes' major institutional shareholder. We are looking forward to implementing our exciting plans for building a pan-African ICT infrastructure". This summary should be read in conjunction with the full text of this announcement. Terms used but not defined in this announcement shall have the meanings given to them in the announcement by ATC on 28 December 2006 of an offer for TALC ("the Original Announcement"). Enquiries ATC Richard Bell 07772 251 772 Smith & Williamson Corporate Finance Limited, Adviser to ATC Nicola Horton 020 7131 4000 Access Media Advisory Limited, Adviser to ATC Teresa Miles Walsh 020 7659 5525 REVISED CASH OFFER BY AFRICA TELECOMS COMPANY LIMITED FOR THE AFRICAN LAKES CORPORATION LIMITED 1. Introduction The board of ATC today announces the terms of an increased cash offer ("the Revised Offer"), to be made by ATC, to acquire the whole of the issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of TALC. The Revised Offer will be subject to certain conditions set out or referred to in Appendix I. 2. The Revised Offer ATC will offer to acquire, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out or referred to in Appendix I and to be set out in the document containing the Revised Offer ("the Revised Offer Document") and the related Form of Acceptance, the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of TALC on the following basis: £18.50 in cash for each TALC Share The Revised Offer values the existing issued ordinary share capital of TALC at approximately £5.04 million. The Revised Offer will extend to all TALC Shares unconditionally allotted or issued on the date of the Revised Offer together with any further such shares which are unconditionally allotted or issued while the Revised Offer remains open for acceptance or until such earlier date as, subject to the Code, ATC may determine. The TALC Shares to be acquired by ATC pursuant to the Revised Offer will be acquired fully paid and free from all liens, equities, charges, encumbrances, rights of pre-emption and other third party rights and interests of any nature whatsoever and together with all rights now or hereafter attaching thereto, including the right to receive and retain all dividends and other distributions (if any) declared, paid or made on or after the date of this announcement. 3. Financing The cash payable under the Revised Offer will be provided by ATC from its existing cash resources. Schneider Media & Holding Group LLC and The African Technology Media & Telecommunications Investment Company Limited have irrevocably undertaken to accept the Revised Offer but have also irrevocably undertaken to set off their entitlement to receive cash under the Revised Offer against an existing debt (in relation to subscription monies for their shares in ATC) owed by them to ATC. Smith & Williamson confirms that it is satisfied that resources are available to ATC sufficient to satisfy acceptance of the Revised Offer by all TALC Shareholders other than Schneider Media & Holding Group LLC and The African Technology Media & Telecommunications Investment Company Limited. 4. Information on ATC ATC is a newly incorporated company, which has been formed for the purpose of making the Offer. Since incorporation, it has not traded or entered into any material obligations other than in connection with the Offer, the Revised Offer and the financing thereof. The sole director of ATC is Richard Bell, who was until 10 August 2006 a non-executive director of TALC. ATC is currently owned by the following entities and individuals, in the following shares: Schneider Media & Holding Group LLC, approximately 58.3 per cent. Wananchi Online Limited (a Kenyan Internet Service Provider), approximately 28.5 per cent. The African Technology Media & Telecommunications Investment Company Limited (which is majority owned by Richard Bell and managed by East Africa Capital Partners, a private equity fund manager, of which Richard Bell is the Managing Partner), approximately 11.4 per cent. Philadelphia Investors, Limited (Ltd.), approximately 1.8 per cent. 5. Revised Offer Document A Revised Offer Document making the Revised Offer and containing the full terms and conditions of the Revised Offer will be posted as soon as practicable to TALC Shareholders. 6. Disclosure of interests ATC's shareholders' interests in TALC are as follows: Schneider Media & Holding Group LLC holds 39,080 TALC Shares, representing approximately 14.35 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital. The African Technology Media & Telecommunications Investment Company Limited (which is majority owned by Richard Bell and managed by East Africa Capital Partners, a private equity fund manager, of which Richard Bell is the Managing Partner), holds 35,000 TALC Shares, representing approximately 12.85 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital. Smith & Williamson Investment Management Limited, a 100 per cent. subsidiary of Smith & Williamson Holdings Limited, Smith & Williamson's parent company, manages funds on a discretionary basis on behalf of 5 clients who hold, in aggregate, 16 TALC Shares and on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of 6 clients who hold, in aggregate, 113 TALC Shares. Save for these interests, neither ATC, nor the ATC Director, nor any party acting in concert with ATC owns or controls any TALC Shares or holds any options or rights to acquire or subscribe for any TALC Shares or any derivative referenced to TALC Shares. 7. Undertakings in relation to the Revised Offer Schneider Media & Holding Group LLC, The African Technology Media & Telecommunications Investment Company Limited and Credit Suisse Client Nominees (UK) Limited have given irrevocable undertakings to ATC to accept, or procure the acceptance of, the Revised Offer in respect of, in aggregate, 143,426 TALC Shares, representing approximately 52.66 per cent. of TALC's issued ordinary share capital. These irrevocable undertakings will continue to be binding even in the event of a competing offer being made for TALC. Each of the irrevocable undertakings will cease to be binding if the Revised Offer is not made, is withdrawn or lapses. Save for these irrevocable undertakings, neither ATC nor any persons acting in concert with ATC has any arrangement in relation to TALC Shares, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into TALC Shares or options (including traded options) in respect of, or derivatives referenced to, TALC Shares. For these purposes "arrangement" includes an indemnity or option arrangement, any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, of whatever nature, relating to relevant securities which is, or may be, an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing in such securities. 8. TALC Share Option Scheme The Revised Offer extends to any shares unconditionally allotted or issued fully paid (or credited as fully paid) pursuant to the exercise of options under the TALC Share Option Scheme prior to the date on which the Revised Offer closes (or such earlier date as ATC, subject to the Code, may determine). ATC will make appropriate proposals to participants in the TALC Share Option Scheme in due course which would take effect after the Revised Offer has become or has been declared wholly unconditional, to the extent that their options have not been exercised. 9. Settlement and compulsory acquisition The consideration will, in relation to TALC Shareholders who validly accept the Revised Offer up to the time the Revised Offer becomes or is declared unconditional in all respects, be despatched not later than 14 days after the Revised Offer becomes or is declared unconditional in all respects, or thereafter within 14 days of receipt of acceptance of the Revised Offer. If ATC receives acceptances under the Revised Offer in respect of, and/or otherwise acquires 90 per cent. or more of the TALC Shares to which the Revised Offer relates and assuming all other conditions of the Revised Offer have been satisfied or waived (if they are capable of being waived), ATC will exercise its rights pursuant to the provisions of sections 428 to 430F (inclusive) of the Companies Act 1985 to acquire compulsorily the remaining TALC Shares to which the Revised Offer relates. 10. General This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, any offer for, or any solicitation of any offer for, securities. Any acceptance or other response to the Revised Offer should be made only on the basis of information referred to in the Revised Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance. The Revised Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so. The Revised Offer will be on the terms and will be subject to the conditions which are set out or referred to in Appendix I hereto and in addition to those terms which will be set out in the formal Revised Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance in respect thereof. Smith & Williamson, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for ATC and for no one else in connection with the Revised Offer and the matters described herein and will not be responsible to anyone other than ATC for providing the protections afforded to its customers or for giving advice in relation to the Revised Offer or any other matter referred to herein. The ATC Director accepts responsibility for the information contained in this announcement save that the sole responsibility accepted by the ATC Director in respect of information relating to TALC, the directors of TALC and persons connected with them has been to ensure that it has been correctly compiled from published resources and is fairly reproduced and presented. Subject as aforesaid, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the ATC Director (who has taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) the information contained in this announcement for which he accepts responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements concerning the Revised Offer, ATC and TALC. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could" or other words of similar meaning. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty, and the factors described in the context of such forward-looking statements in this announcement could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this document. ATC assumes no obligation to update or correct the information contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required. 11. Dealing disclosure requirements Under the provisions of rule 8.3 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Code"), if any person is, or becomes, ''interested'' (directly or indirectly) in one per cent. or more of any class of ''relevant securities'' of TALC, all ''dealings'' in any ''relevant securities'' of TALC (including by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such ''relevant securities'') must be publicly disclosed by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the date on which the Revised Offer becomes, or is declared, unconditional as to acceptances, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn or on which the ''offer period'' otherwise ends. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire an ''interest'' in ''relevant securities'' of TALC, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of rule 8.3. Under the provisions of rule 8.1 of the Code, all ''dealings'' in ''relevant securities'' of TALC by ATC or TALC, or by any of their respective ''associates'', must be disclosed by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant transaction. A disclosure table giving details of the companies in whose ''relevant securities'' ''dealings'' should be disclosed and the number of such securities in issue can be found on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. ''Interests in securities'' arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an ''interest'' by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities. Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Code, which can also be found on the Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a ''dealing'' under rule 8, you should consult the Panel. Terms used but not defined in this announcement shall have the meanings given to them in the announcement by ATC on 28 December 2006 of an offer for TALC. APPENDIX I CONDITIONS OF THE REVISED OFFER The Revised Offer will be subject to the same conditions as set out or referred to in the Original Announcement other than a reduction in the minimum acceptance level in condition (a) as set out below: (a) valid acceptances of the Revised Offer being received (and not, where permit ted, withdrawn) by 1.00 p.m. on the first closing date of the Revised Offer (or such later times and/or dates as ATC may, subject to the rules of the Code, decide) in respect of not less than 50 per cent. in nominal value of the TALC Shares to which the Revised Offer relates plus one TALC Share, provided that this condition will not be satisfied unless ATC and/or any of its associates shall have acquired or agreed to acquire, whether pursuant to the Revised Offer or otherwise, TALC Shares carrying in aggregate more than 50 per cent. of the voting rights then exercisable at a general meeting of TALC including, to the extent (if any) required by the Panel, any voting rights attaching to any TALC Shares which are unconditionally allotted before the Revised Offer becomes or is declared unconditional as to acceptances pursuant to the exercise of any outstanding conversion or subscription rights or otherwise. For the purposes of this condition: (i) TALC Shares which have been unconditionally allotted shall be deemed to carry the voting rights which they will carry upon issue; and (ii) the expression "TALC Shares to which the Revised Offer relates" and "associates" shall be construed in accordance with sections 428 to 430F of the Companies Act 1985. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange END -----Original Message----- From: Teresa Miles Walsh [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 26 January 2007 14:42 To: 'Richard Bell (Richard.Bell(a)Wananchi.Com)'; 'Mark Schneider'; 'Joseph Mucheru'; 'Richard Essex' Cc: 'tarek(a)accessmediaadvisory.com'; 'James Gachui (gachui(a)wananchi.com)' Subject: http://www.londonstockexchange.com/LSECWS/IFSPages/MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id=1 393039&source=RNS Congrats! See attached revised offer announcement declaring you have received 52.66% of the votes T ------ End of Forwarded Message

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Fw: [Fibre-for-africa] Join KICTAnet's online discuission: What isthe best model for providing the Fiber Optic Submarine Cableto East Africans?
by alice＠apc.org 25 Jan '07

25 Jan '07

Badru, i could pay a dollar for that if you had some resonance on the other side of the coin where the private sector due to a lot of the factors we know cannot do this ALONE? Eric here On 24 Jan 2007, at 19:16, Badru Ntege wrote: > I think we all know "who shot EASSY". it was politics and egos > which have never been good bed fellows. The guilty parties that > pulled the trigger are kenya and South Africa though the jury is > still out on this. Then along the way came some other characters > who used the impasse to get some free publicity (we all know who > they are ). when time to pay up came they all disappeared and guess > who is suffering. > > If government's and Nepad want to be in please consult the > community, lay the law and rules of engagement and stay away. then > next should be those who have the pockets to come in and build the > fiber. > > I mean at the end of the day business rules will kick in and > eventually the price will come down. If government wants to > intervene to bring costs down then give the businesses an incentive > to offer good pricing, maybe tax waivers etc. > > Lets forget the nice world in the clouds where everyone has access > and buys at the same price etc. Some things need to be given time > to develop naturaly. > > Many things and services in all our walks of life are built by > private entities some are closed clubs and others are open. that is > a business decision. > > Forget open access and all that baloony, all those consultants who > were singing all this nice to the ears stuff are back sitting > behind there 10mB links costing them a few dollars while we are > sitting on our 16k 32k links moaning EASSY. > > Bottom line allow the operators to build the cable > Set operating criteria and acceptable pricing levels > Government concentrates on facilitating internal networks to Rural > communities > Encourage the production of local content > Put in measures that will create demand and thus market forces to > bring the prices down. > > my 2 cents > > > gathuri njorohio wrote: >> Hi All >> The EASSY cable implementation seems to be stalling due to >> disagreement on financing and the way to operate and manage it. >> The Eastern african countries will continue being overcharged for >> their international traffic when they pass through satellite due >> to lack of this cheap way of carrying traffic through the >> submarine cable. >> We are aware of the regional economic bodies that are mandated to >> promote trade between the countries and I suggest that they should >> also invest in ICT .COMESA and SADC are the bodies catering for >> trade in south and eastern Africa.Why can't they take the >> opportunity to invest in this cable so that it can benefit the >> countries they are serving. >> A company can be formed answerable to these two bodies for the >> installation , maintenance and operation of this cable. >> The western africa and central africa can do the same for the >> western cable link. >> The existing cables can continue to give redundancy for the new >> cables. >> The e commission of the NEPAD could facilitate these intiatives as >> a neutral body for the development of Africa. >> Eng. Njorohio >> */alice(a)apc.org/* wrote: >> >> (Apologies for Cross positing) >> >> >> >> Attn: Telco Operators, Regulators, Academia, Media, Civil >> Society, >> Consumers >> >> The Last Frontier: The East African Coast remains the last region >> in the >> world that is yet to connect to the cheaper and more reliable >> Global >> Submarine Optical Fiber Network. EASSy, TEAMS and others promise >> to change >> that by providing this crucial link. >> >> EASSy, TEAMS, etc,: What is the best model for providing the >> Fiber >> Optic >> Submarine Cable to East Africans? >> >> Join the Online Discussion: Starting Monday Jan 22nd – Sat Feb >> 3rd >> 2007 and >> make your views be known regarding this historic development. >> >> to subscribe: http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> Please send your details to jkimiti(a)email.kictanet.or.ke >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Fibre-for-africa mailing list >> Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org >> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa >> >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> --- >> Never Miss an Email >> Stay connected with Yahoo! Mail on your mobile. Get started! >> <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=43909/*http://mobile.yahoo.com/ >> services?promote=mail> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> --- >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Fibre-for-africa mailing list >> Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org >> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa >> > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > Eric M.K Osiakwan ICT Consultant and Journalist Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa >

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Re: [Kictanet] Safaricom must improve or lose to a better option
by joseph kihanya 25 Jan '07

25 Jan '07

I have sent mail on the agreement/, disclaimer...to evelyne/ smail address? kihanya ----- Original Message ---- From: Judy kimiti <jkimiti01(a)yahoo.co.uk> To: kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 10:11:12 AM Subject: [Kictanet] Safaricom must improve or lose to a better option Safaricom must improve or lose to a better option By Andrew Odete Dear Mr Michael Joseph, I tried calling you for a chat, but the network was down, so I fell back to the old ink and pen. It never lets you down, which is more than I can say for the postal service. That is why I have taken the liberty to write to you through the media, for which I beg your understanding and forgiveness. It is not because I am a cheapskate. Greetings from many readers who have asked me to relay their heartfelt congratulations to you for dragging Safaricom, biting and kicking, into the Sh12 billion-profit mark. The readers are also your subscribers and they have exhorted me to relay their concerns relating on your service to your doorstep. You are top in business First, your customers appreciate that achieving such an unprecedented subscription as you have in the proverbial blink of an eye is worthy of accolades. Many say, and rightly so, that you have come top of the business stakes in the region for listening to and understanding your customers. What is more impressive is that you achieved this in the hitherto unexplored terrain of mobile telephony in Kenya. However, your customers hope that this year, the company will outdo itself and improve on last year's performance. Oh yes, sir, they seem to believe that there is room for improvement on your part. Some even reckon that it is pretty easy to be the "Better Option" in a field where there are not too many service providers to challenge you on the quality of the product. Cheap but clogged While they appreciate that you have increased coverage in the country, they wish you could also increase the quality of telephone service. Clarity of phone calls and reliability of the service is all they want. For instance, when you so very kindly offered cheap calling rates during the festive season, the relentless crush of callers ensured that nobody could get through the network at various times of the day. Your network crashed, as happened increasingly often in the course of last year. Moreover, sir, you know we have such diverse accents and dialects that it helps to have a clear line; otherwise, we could as well be insulting one another over the phone. That would be uncivilised and, if I may say so, unChristmas! When Kananu calls from Imenti, Muli from Masinga or Jaoko from Mbita next to the lake, I want to hear the phonetic innocence of their respective dialects and interpret them accordingly. No reason to toast And when Akinyi jets back to Kenya, and tries out her full-on Texan- cum-Siaya drawl on my ears, it would help to, at least, hear some of her words. This year, Safaricom may need to ratchet it up a notch higher if your subscribers are to see the sense of continuing to top up so that you, in turn, may continue to top the profit league. I am sure you have the savoir-faire to remain the toast of East Africa. Already, your subscribers cannot stop thanking you for the reduced call charges. But I fear that unless you give your customers a new year present in the way of better quality services, an even better option might come along and make toast of you. And now that I cannot get through to you on the phone, sir, I take this opportunity to wish you a happy New Year and to request that you please call me back when the network is back to normal. Thank you. odeteac(a)yahoo.com http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143963704 Yahoo! Messenger - with free PC-PC calling and photo sharing. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kihanyajn%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Have a burning question? Go to www.Answers.yahoo.com and get answers from real people who know.

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Agreement
by joseph kihanya 25 Jan '07

25 Jan '07

Judy/Evelyne Whereas the (winner_______________ ) of the logo cretaion competition (___________) (name)of the competition is not in a contract of service with KICTANET and was commissioned to create the logo, and hereby confirms receipt of the sum of Kshs--------in full and final settlement of that commission, the winner_____________ does hereby confirm that all copyright vests with KICTANET as per section 31(1)(a) of The Copyright Act 2001, (No 12 of 2001, Laws of Kenya ),and hereby confirms that he/ she is the author of the logo and agrees to indemnify KICTANET againts all claims that may arise in future in relation to the logo and this agreement. I hope this helps. Kihanya ----- Original Message ---- From: evelyne ofwona <evelyneofwona(a)yahoo.com> To: kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2006 7:56:54 AM Subject: [Kictanet] MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE TRUST FUND COMMITTEE Good morning all, Attached, please find minutes of the above and the Trust Deed Document. Evelyne Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kihanyajn%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396545367

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Re: [Kictanet] Why do we need International Optical Fiber Connectivity?- 1 Day Discussion
by joseph kihanya 25 Jan '07

25 Jan '07

Walu. If you can sell a good thing in few words it is a good thing. here goes... Fibre is simply demonstrably an economically and environmentally "good" thing! Capacity- wise and futuristic use is guaranteed. Lets just say,its very hard to argue against, given the options. QED Kihanya ----- Original Message ---- From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 2:57:00 PM Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Why do we need International Optical Fiber Connectivity?- 1 Day Discussion Also, Satellites will remain around because they do have their unique applications mainly in intelligence gathering (e.g for Weather Predictions, Geographical Mappings, Space Research, Military intellegence, etc). These things, Bill, you will agree cannot be done by optical fiber and that is why the rich nations shall continue investing in satellite technologies. However on the communication side of things, the satellite route is a distant 2nd to Optical fiber. walu. --- Kanja Waruru <kanjawaruru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > on a light note, satellites pollute the atmosphere > since they are junked in outer space after their short > and unreliable life span. someone ought to report > satellite owners to nema. > cheers > Kanja > > --- John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > Hey! > > > > 12hrs are ending without an input on the 1st and > > easier > > theme! The silence is too loud! to reduce it, here > > is why I > > think we need international optical submarine > > connectivity > > (as opposed to Satellite). > > > > 1. It is more reliable than satellite connectivity > > 2. It is much more faster (i.e) delay time from one > > continent to the other is less. > > 3. It has unlimited bandwidth capabilities and by > > extension > > 4. It tends (should) be cheaper to buy per Megabit. > > > > Anything I may have left out? Brian, Mucheru and > > others? > > Plse clarify, object or add. > > > > walu. > > > > --- John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > > Greetings All, > > > > > > As announced the previous week(s) on this list, we > > wish > > > to > > > kick-off the discussion on this important > > submarine cable > > > developments. > > > > > > The general program is listed below and I would > > like us > > > to > > > get started. But 2 ground rules. > > > > > > ***Keep your contributions brief and to the point. > > (2-3 > > > paragraphs, otherwise members may not have time to > > read > > > through, if you have lengthy additions, just give > > us the > > > url) > > > ***Summary contributions shall be provided at the > > end of > > > each discussion theme. Leading contributions shall > > be > > > acknowledged and rewarded by sponsorship to a > > subsequent > > > face-2-face meeting on the same topic. > > > > > > So the floor is open and the question for the next > > 12hrs > > > is:Why do we need International Optical Fiber > > > Connectivity?- > > > Plse contributed by showing the advantages, > > > opportunities, > > > etc of undersea fiber cable... > > > > > > ~~~~~000~~~~~ > > > The other Questions/Issues that will follow. > > > > > > 1) Why do we need International Optical Fiber > > > Connectivity? > > > (1day) > > > 2) What are the existing (and possible) > > > Business/Financial > > > models for Optical Fiber Submarine Cables?(2days) > > > 3) What are the existing (and possible) Regulatory > > models > > > for Optical Fiber Submarine Cables?(2days) > > > 4) What would be the ideal model for East > > Africans? > > > (2days) > > > 5) How will this (ideal) model impact on the > > existing > > > stakeholders(Consumers, Operators, > > Regulators,etc)(2days) > > > 6) How can conflicting stakeholder interest be > > > resolved?(2days) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > > > The fish are biting. > > > Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search > > > Marketing. > > > > > > http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > kictanet mailing list > > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > > > > > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > > Don't pick lemons. > > See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos. > > http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kanjawaruru%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > The fish are biting. > Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search > Marketing. > http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Cheap talk? Check out Yahoo! 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Day 3 of 10: What are the existing Business Models for OFC provisioning
by John Walubengo 25 Jan '07

25 Jan '07

Haven't heard much much from the Consumers...but here is what Consumers in S.A are doing with regard to Telkom S.A and their high communications charges. walu. btw. Telkom SA is a leading sharholder in the SAT3 Consortium model. We hope, that Telkom Kenya will not force similar reactions - 5yrs after implementing EASsy. --- Ashraf Patel <AshrafP(a)osisa.org> wrote: > Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:48:06 +0200 > From: "Ashraf Patel" <AshrafP(a)osisa.org> > To: <idlelo2(a)fossfa.net> > Subject: [Idlelo2] Telecoms Action Group (TAG) lambasts > Telkom SA on high > Internet prices in full page ad in M&G > > Consumer group fires salvo at Telkom > LESLEY STONES > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > -------- > E-Mail article Print-Friendly > > > > STINGING criticism from the world-renowned Reuters news > agency, evidence > from numerous analysts and a verbal lashing by President > Thabo Mbeki himself have failed to penetrate Telkom's impervious skin and force it > to cut its prices. > > So what impact will come from 200 despondent consumers > moaning about the > high cost of a phone call? > > Probably very little, but a full-page advert they placed > in the Mail & > Guardian this week is a piece of public activism that > just may make > Telkom's price-fixing executives squirm in momentary > discomfort. > > The advert placed by the Telecoms Action Group (Tag) was > funded by > individual consumers including a sprinkling of lawyers, > journalists and > representatives of a couple of hi-tech companies. > > It is big, bold and aims straight for the jugular. Under > the headline, > "The more of this you read, the more infuriated you'll > become", the > advert says: "Last year, Telkom recorded a staggering > R9,3bn in profit. > At your expense. Don't expect the government to step in. > They couldn't > give a hoot. They've got a 38% shareholding." > > It points out that South Africans pay five times more for > a local call > now than in 1996, and that our internet access is among > the most > expensive in the world. Telkom has laid off 35000 staff > in seven years, > so its profits sky-rocket while consumers wait up to six > months to get a > line, it says. > > The action group was set up by journalists Richard Frank > and Alastair > Otter, who run the tectonic.co.za newsletter. > > Frank admits that Telkom is unlikely to react. "We are > not naive enough > to think our one advert is going to make Telkom slash its > prices by 50% > and neither is government or the regulator going to do > much," he says. > "The main purpose is to show that consumers have a voice > in SA." > > > > In reply, Telkom issued a statement on Friday saying it > was committed to > adjusting its pricing model consistently in order to make > telecommunications more affordable and accessible to > business as well as > the broader public. > > Its last price revision saw an overall cut of 2,1% on a > basket of > products, while high-speed internet access line rental > fell an average > of 24%, it said. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sponsored links > > Software > > Treasury services > > Trading > > Unit Trusts > > Residential Property > > Commerical Property > > Business Directory > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > -------- > > BDFM Publishers (Pty) Ltd disclaims all liability for any > loss, damage, > injury or expense however caused, > arising from the use of or reliance upon, in any manner, > the information > provided through this service > and does not warrant the truth, accuracy or completeness > of the > information provided. > > Copyright (c) 2005 BDFM Publishers (Pty) Ltd. All Rights > Reserved > Site Feedback | Privacy Policy > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > -------- > > > > _______________________________________________ > Idlelo2 mailing list > Idlelo2(a)fossfa.net > http://mailman.dst.gov.za/mailman/listinfo/idlelo2 > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Finding fabulous fares is fun. Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains. http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097 _______________________________________________ Idlelo2 mailing list Idlelo2(a)fossfa.net http://mailman.dst.gov.za/mailman/listinfo/idlelo2

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Day 2 of 10: What are the existing Business Models for Optical Fiber Provision?
by John Walubengo 24 Jan '07

24 Jan '07

I want to thank all those who contributed (in writing and in silence) during yesterdays 1st day of discussions. Becky will be giving us the summaries in due course. Indeed it was a warm-up to what I believe is going to be a lot more of a complex issue and hence the following long and necessary background information on the Business Models for Provisioning submarine Optical Fiber Cables (OFCs plse not the abbreviation, we shall use it frequently). I stand to be corrected but from what I gather, there seems to be two distinct Business Models for providing OFC, namely, Purely Commercial and Partly Commercial. A third approach, which is yet to be tried (implemented) but is highly acclaimed in Donor and Academic communities, is known as the Open Access approach. Now, in a Purley Commercial Setup, Private Data Communications Companies, usually the top level IBPs Internet Backbone Providers such as Cable&Wireless, BT, France Telecom, MCI, would establish a business need to build an OFC b/w continents in order to exchange traffic between their (ISP) customers that exists on both ends of the OFC. Please note that IBPs are not ideally selling bandwidth directly to the regular you and me, but rather to the ISPs Internet Service Providers who will eventually resale this Internet Access (bandwidth) to you and me. Option I: Purely commercial Model Basically, the IBPs use their own money to put up (down?) the cable and they independently decide who connects to the cables landing (exchange) points and at what rate per month. These private companies are run on a purely commercial basis with the aim of maximising profit at the shortest times possible. Indeed ISPs would not mind the potentially high-prices arising from these model as long as you and me can meet this cost when it is eventually slapped on us. This is the prevailing model for OFCs between America/Europe as well as America/Asia-Pacific but with the advantage that the OFCs in these two realms are abundant to point of having driven the costs extremely down. Option II: Partly Commercial Model. This is what has occurred with the OFC running from Portugal, across the Western Coast of Africa through to S.Africa. The so called SAT3 Cable has been provisioned through a (currently) contentious model that has given the term Consortium a suspicious connotation. At its simplest level, a group of mainly government owned (Public) Telco companies across the affected coast-line get together to form a consortium with a view to seek funds and build the OFC. Thereafter, they retain the privilege of independently deciding who connects to the cable and at what rate per month. From the SAT3 experience, the OFCs monthly rates charged are nowhere near the ones enjoyed currently being enjoyed in the developed economies for various reasons. Their high costs of OFC bandwidth has attracted pressure from Civil Society, Academia and other groups who argue that since (largely) Public Funds were used to build the cable, the Consortium Profit-motive should be moderated (regulated?) to strike a balance with the Public interest (read very cheap rates). The Consortium has ofcourse resisted this thinking arguing that their bandwidth charges are dictated by market forces specifically, Africa has over the years generated little internet traffic volumes that would have made it possible for them to drastically drop down the charges. Circumstances have therefore forced them into a High-cost, Low Volume business model. Furthermore, their Bandwidth charges are incidentally 5-10 times lower than Satellite Bandwidth costs and that should be appreciated. Option III: Open Access Model. And so, in comes the proponents of Open Access Model. In the simplest terms, they argue that Africas socio-economic renaissance hangs on the availability of cheap bandwidth or communication costs. As such, the OFC presents a historic opportunity that should not be left to prevail under short-term, commercial arrangements either within the Private or Consortium models. Open Access Models proposes radical changes at all levels (Political, Legal, Regulatory, Economical, etc) in order to provision international OFC with an alleged bias towards socio-economic development. In particular, they claim that the OFC should be co-owned by both Government and Private sector but should NOT be operated for profit; that is, it should be run at Cost by a body agreed upon. Further, access or connection to the cable should be Open to current and future stakeholders wishing to connect to it AT COST not profit. The fundamental point is that money should NOT be made out of the cable, money and lots of it, should be made out of services (BPO, eCommerce, etc) that would arise from the presence of the cable. Open Access model, foresees a Low-Cost, High Volume Business Model for the Cable. Its biggest limitation is the fact that it remains a fairly academic topic that is yet to be tested particularly in an environment whose political, regulatory and legal structures are not entirely matured. It chances of successful implementations are deemed low. Furthermore, even if it was to succeed, the sceptics are wondering:- of what use is cheap international bandwidth without African (local) Content and an equally developed domestic digital network? Might this not be just another avenue of opening up the emerging African e-markets to be exploited by the developed economies? The Question. So back to the question:- What are the existing Models for provisioning OFC? Plse voice your support, objection, correction or comments on any of the above Models giving reasons why. In addition, feel free to suggest other existing models out there or still under construction. We have only 2days on this theme so let the views start flowing. References/Acknowledgements http://www.fibreforafrica.net/ http://www.africafocus.org/docs06/apc0612.php http://www.fibreforafrica.net/ http://www.diplofoundation.org/poolbin.asp?IDPool=127 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Need a quick answer? Get one in minutes from people who know. Ask your question on www.Answers.yahoo.com

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