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[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Fibre optic delays cost 5000 jobs a month]
by alice 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

Fibre optic delays cost 5000 jobs a month By Steve Mbogo, Business Daily, March 20, 2007 Every month that passes without Kenya having a fibre optic cable link to the rest of the world, the country loses an opportunity to create 5,000 jobs. The figure, based on data collected by Business Daily interviews with individuals involved in making Kenya a hub for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). BPO involves hiring of vendors to handle business processes like customer care, accounting, and content provision. In Kenya, call centres and publishing content provision are the main focuses, but other examples of BPO include human resources, accounting and payroll outsourcing. Dave Stewart, general manager of KenCall, Kenyas largest call-centre, said while foreign investors are looking at Kenya as a good destination for BPO, the lack of a fibre link is stifling some. This (fibre link) is a must if there is to be a serious investment in this area, said Stewart. Currently established businesses, like KenCall, have no choice but to use the expensive bandwidth through the satellite network. Mr Stewart, whose call centre employs 300 people, spends $30,000 to $70,000 (Sh2.1m to Sh4.9m) for the bandwidth. BPO players estimated the advent of the fibre-optic cable could reduce bandwidth costs by 60 per cent. But cautioned that a single cable might not make a difference as it will run like a monopoly. Outsourcing operations have thrived in developing countries like India which have sufficient, and cheap enough bandwidth as well as educated human resources and sound legal and financial infrastructure. Educated work force Industry players feel Kenya is well positioned to become a preferred BPO hub, despite not measuring up on bandwidth. Kenyas competitiveness in terms of human resources is very high, said Mr Stewart. Kenya, like India, has a very highly educated work force. The accents here are very popular with the Americans and the Europeans, he added. And unlike in the West where most see call centre careers as a stepping stone to other opportunities, in Kenya being employed in a call centre is regarded as a career. This is a potential for growth. Mr Wallace Gichoho the chief executive of Call Centre Africa Ltd and chairman of Kenya ICT Service Exporters (KISE) said the type of employees that Call Centres look for are those that may not make the universities cut off point but had fared well in the key subject that would enable a company develop skill in them. This forms a majority of the potential working force and has proved more stable than graduate employees. Mugure Kabuguas BPO company, Preciss offers a service called PrecissPatrol that prowls the Internet on behalf of clients, and the company is planning a call centre. She said the business environment for BPO is improving thanks to the Government encouraging more investment. She says the local industry is getting attention from international BPO concerns. Estimates on how many jobs could be created vary. While Ms Kabugua suggested hundreds of thousands, Waudo Siganga, the chairman of the Computer Society of Kenya said a well-functioning BPO industry can create an estimated 60,000 jobs every year, supported by more than 400 companies licensed to offer information communication technology training. Meanwhile, Dr Wahome Gakuru, a coordinator for Governments Vision 2030 development plan, said BPO could created millions of jobs, for young professionals. Whichever number is correct, the sector is getting attention from the places of power. _______________________________________________ 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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[Fwd: [DigAfrica] Kenya cancels SNO offer to Indian firm]
by alice 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

They demanded one "too many" privileges Kenya cancels SNO offer to Indian firm By A STAFF WRITER Investigations by The East-African have revealed that Kenya cancelled negotiations with Reliance Communications of India the company that had been negotiating with the government for a licence to operate both fixed-line and mobile services because the Indians demanded "too many" privileges. Just a day before the deadline within which the Indian company was asked to formally submit its application, the president of the company, Punit Garg, wrote to the government making demands that were way outside the condition of the tender. According to informed sources, the privileges Reliance wanted were in three sets namely duties, relaxation of rules for listing of its local subsidiaries on the Nairobi Stock Exchange, and a commitment to share infrastructure from existing mobile companies. With respect to duties, the Indian company wanted the following. First, zero import duties on import of telecommunications infrastructure and equipment; zero import duties on new and used handsets and zero value-added tax. The privileges requested with respect to listing requirements were not only excessive but were of the type that the government could only give at the risk of bending the rules governing capital markets. First, the Indian company wanted the government to give it a commitment that it would allow any local subsidiaries it formed to go to the market to raise money on the Nairobi Stock Exchange regardless of whether or not the company met the requirements for listing. The Indian investor suggested that the local subsidiary it intended to create be listed on the basis of compliance of the parent company in India. Secondly, it wanted the government to permit the listing of at least 10 per cent of the equity of the SNO on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. Thirdly, it asked that the government allow dual listing of the company that it intended to establish in Kenya. On the sharing of infrastructure, the Indian investors wanted assurances on the sharing of towers, co- location of equipment for interconnection and long distance networks. The company argued that duplication of infrastructure in telecommunications networks was costly. The Indian investor further argued that only a harmonised system can ensure ready availability at regulated cost-based tariffs. Reliance also said that it was not willing to put in an application without these assurances and privileges. It is understood that on receiving the demands, a meeting of the board of the Communications Commission of Kenya was hurriedly convened at which the regulator formally announced the cancellation of negotiations with the Indians and the decision to tender afresh. The government will now be hoping that Vtel of Dubai, who had offered to pay a whopping $169 million for the licence, will still want to come and invest in Kenya. Kenya's telecommunications industry is changing rapidly. The two mobile players Safaricom and Celtel continue to maintain a stranglehold in a market that more or less operates like a duopoly. Currently, it is estimated that Safaricom has around 75 per cent of the market and Celtel 25 per cent. Both companies have recently been licensed to operate international gateways. Kenya tried unsuccessfully to auction an SNO licence in 2003. In May last year, the CCK put out an international tender for the licence. The successful bidder, Vtel Ltd, was consequently invited to take up the offer but failed to do so following disagreements with its local partners. In accordance with the tender regulations, the offer was subsequently withdrawn and extended to Reliance Communications, the second highest bidders. Upon receipt of the invitation by CCK, Reliance Communication confirmed that they would take up the offer and requested more time to enable them to comply with the various formalities. The CCK board agreed to the request by the Indian investors and granted an extension of the application deadline to March 15 this year. By the expiry of the set deadline of 4.00 pm on Friday last week, the Indian investors had not made a formal application for the licence. http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/News/News19030715.htm <http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/News/News19030715.htm> __._,_.___ Messages in this topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/message/5760;_ylc=X3oDMTM0NmQ2MHN0B…> (1) Reply (via web post) <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwcWdqYzU3BF9TAzk3M…> | Start a new topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZ3R2azduBF9TAzk3M…> Messages <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJldnVua3Q5BF9TA…> | Links <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmb2s0cXYwBF9TAzk3…> | Polls <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmaTVyMmlqBF9TAzk3…> | Calendar <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkYTVzcjRuBF9TA…> Dig Africa site welcomes you to join us at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/Digafrica on IT in Africa Aids-Africa is a forum for communication and information on AIDS related issues in Africa and all are welcome to join us at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/aids-africa Join us on hiv/aids forum on Kenya at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/kenya-aids Join us at a Kenyan networking forum and NGOS at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/kenyainternational Yahoo! Groups <http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkZDlwdmIzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5M…> Change settings via the Web <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJmMTBwZzFuBF9TAzk3M…> (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest <mailto:DigAfrica-digest@yahoogroups.com?subject=Email%20Delivery:%20Digest> | Switch format to Traditional <mailto:DigAfrica-traditional@yahoogroups.com?subject=Change%20Delivery%20Format:%20Traditional> Visit Your Group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica;_ylc=X3oDMTJkdDE1MWFhBF9TAzk3MzU5Nz…> | Yahoo! 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[Fwd: [DigAfrica] Kenya sets world first with money transfers by mobile]
by alice 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

We are the world's first. Kudos to Safaricom -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [DigAfrica] Kenya sets world first with money transfers by mobile Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:28:50 -0000 From: Chifu <chifu2222(a)gmail.com> Reply-To: DigAfrica(a)yahoogroups.com To: DigAfrica(a)yahoogroups.com Kenya sets world first with money transfers by mobile Xan Rice in Nairobi Tuesday March 20, 2007 The Guardian The ping of a text message has never sounded so sweet. In what is being touted as a world first, Kenya's biggest mobile operator is allowing subscribers to send cash to other phone users by SMS. Known as M-Pesa, or mobile money, the service is expected to revolutionise banking in a country where more than 80% of people are excluded from the formal financial sector. Apart from transferring cash - a service much in demand among urban Kenyans supporting relatives in rural areas - customers of the Safaricom network will be able to keep up to 50,000 shillings (£370) in a "virtual account" on their handsets. Developed by Vodafone, which holds a 35% share in Safaricom, M-Pesa was formally launched in Kenya two weeks ago. More than 10,000 people have signed up for the service, with around 8m shillings transferred so far, mostly in tiny denominations. Safaricom's executives are confident that growth will be strong in Kenya, and later across Africa. "We are effectively giving people ATM cards without them ever having to open a real bank account," said Michael Joseph, chief executive of Safaricom, who called the money transfer concept the "next big thing" in mobile telephony. M-Pesa's is simple. There is no need for a new handset or SIM card. To send money you hand over the cash to a registered agent - typically a retailer - who credits your virtual account. You then send between 100 shillings (74p) and 35,000 shillings (£259) via text message to the desired recipient - even someone on a different mobile network - who cashes it at an agent by entering a secret code and showing ID. A commission of up to 170 shillings (£1.25) is paid by the recipient but it compares favourably with fees levied by the major banks, whose services are too expensive for most of the population. Mobile phone growth in Kenya, as in most of Africa, has been remarkable, even among the rural poor. In June 1999 Kenya had 15,000 mobile subscribers. Today it has nearly 8 million out of a population of 35 million, and the two operators' networks are as extensive as the access to banks is limited. Safaricom says it is not so much competing with financial services companies as filling a void. In time, M-Pesa will allow people to borrow and repay money, and make purchases. Companies will be able to pay salaries directly into workers' phones - something that has already attracted the interest of larger employers, such as the tea companies, whose workers often have to be paid in cash as they do not have bank accounts. There are concerns about security, but Safaricom insists that even if someone's phone is stolen the PIN system prevents unauthorised withdrawals. Mr Joseph said the only danger is sending cash to the wrong mobile number and the recipient redeeming it straight away. The project is being watched closely by mobile operators around the world as a way of targeting the multibillion pound international cash transfer industry long dominated by companies such as Western Union and Moneygram. Remittances sent from nearly 200 million migrant workers to developing countries totalled £102bn last year, according to the World Bank. The GSM Association, which represents more than 700 mobile operators worldwide, believes this could quadruple by 2012 if transfers by SMS become the norm. Vodafone has entered a partnership with Citigroup that would soon allow Kenyans in the UK to send money home via text message. The charge for sending £50 is expected to be about £3, less than a third of what some traditional services charge. Cheques and texts 19% Adult Kenyans with bank accounts 54% Adult Kenyans with a mobile phone or access to one 58% Most popular way to transfer money in Kenya: send it with a family member or friend (Source: FSD Kenya) 22p Cost of sending £260 via text message in Kenya £1.25 Cost for recipient to cash it in (Source: Safaricom) £102bn Money sent home to developing countries by migrant workers in 2006 (Source: World Bank) 3 billion People in world with mobile phones http://technology.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2038302,00.html <http://technology.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2038302,00.html> __._,_.___ Messages in this topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/message/5765;_ylc=X3oDMTM0ODAxbzZtB…> (1) Reply (via web post) <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwNXVjbGZsBF9TAzk3M…> | Start a new topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlajBldWdrBF9TAzk3M…> Messages <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNG85MmZuBF9TA…> | Links <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNzJnMDFzBF9TAzk3…> | Polls <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNXR2a3I5BF9TAzk3…> | Calendar <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkdmkzc3U2BF9TA…> Dig Africa site welcomes you to join us at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/Digafrica on IT in Africa Aids-Africa is a forum for communication and information on AIDS related issues in Africa and all are welcome to join us at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/aids-africa Join us on hiv/aids forum on Kenya at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/kenya-aids Join us at a Kenyan networking forum and NGOS at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/kenyainternational Yahoo! Groups <http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkNjg0ZWVuBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5M…> Change settings via the Web <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJmdnZsaDlzBF9TAzk3M…> (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest <mailto:DigAfrica-digest@yahoogroups.com?subject=Email%20Delivery:%20Digest> | Switch format to Traditional <mailto:DigAfrica-traditional@yahoogroups.com?subject=Change%20Delivery%20Format:%20Traditional> Visit Your Group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica;_ylc=X3oDMTJkYmNtcWgyBF9TAzk3MzU5Nz…> | Yahoo! 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[Fwd: [APC Forum] EPFL Executive Master in e-Governance (e-Gov) - Call for applications & scholarsh]
by alice 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

*EPFL Executive Master in e-Governance (e-Gov)- Call for applications & scholarships opportunities* *Executive Master in e-Governance* *Registration for the 2007-2008 Edition is open: Deadline for registration is April 30th, 2007 * Join the Executive Master in e-Governance and you will learn how to make use of ICTs for effective action and to steer your business, your organization or your agency. Join a group of highly motivated executives to clear your mind for decision-making in a globalized and fast-changing networked world. With our Executive Master in e-Governance, you will go through a challenging learning journey in which you can sharpen your leadership competences. The program is international and conducted in collaboration with highly renowned partners worldwide, with residential classroom modules in Switzerland, Europe, North America and Asia. Partial scholarships and stipends for qualified applicants who demonstrate need for financial assistance and important academic and professional achievements will be considered. EPFL will also support qualified applicants in looking for full-scholarships from public and private institutions. Please visit our website for more information on how to apply and about funding opportunities. http://egov.epfl.ch/ or contact us at egov(a)epfl.ch <mailto:egov@epfl.ch> EPFL is one of the approved institutions under Regular Program of the *Joint Japan/ World Bank Scholarship Program* <http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/WBI/EXTWBISFP/0,,menuPK:551559%7Ep…> (JJ/WBGSP). If you qualify to this program and wish to apply to e-Gov, you are strongly encouraged to apply immediately to e-Gov as a Confirmation of Acceptance from an approved institution and an approved program is a pre-requisite for the scholarship application. *_Deadline for the application to the JJ/WBGSP is March 31st of every year for commencement of study in fall of the same year._* For the 2006-2007 Edition, EPFL has administered seven full and partial scholarships that had been kindly made available by the *Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation* <http://www.deza.ch/>. Gianluca Misuraca e-Gov Managing Director ======================================= APC Forum is a meeting place for the APC community - people and institutions who are or have been involved in collaboration with APC, and share the APC vision - a world in which all people have easy, equal and affordable access to the creative potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve their lives and create more democratic and egalitarian societies. _______________________________________________ apc.forum mailing list apc.forum(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/apc.forum

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Welcome Goooogle!
by Alex Gakuru 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

I just pick this from Kenyalinux mailing list and considering recent posts, I reckon it's relevant! http://skunkworks- ke.blogspot. com/2007/ 03/google- in-kenya. html Don't you just love Google? Alex --------------------------------- Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A.

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Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: [DigAfrica] Kenya cancels SNO offer to Indian firm]
by Edith Adera 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

Well articulated Muriuki! We need "out of the box" debates on alternative licensing regimes, what has worked, what has not (under varying circumstances). I believe we can draw on some of these experiences from the region. regards At / À 11:30 AM 3/20/2007, Muriuki Mureithi wrote / a écrit: >Thanks Alice >The government and indeed the country can easily be arm twisted because the >focus is on the short term money considerations paid by the applicant but >the loser is the country in terms of the long term build out of the >network, quality and lower prices through competition > >After the current licensing failed in 1) 8 regional telecommunications 2) 2 >trunking radio 3) SNO on two occasions 4) third cellular --- do we need to >use the regime again? > >If we do the same thing the same way we get the same results. Our attempts >apart from Kencell licence proves beyond doubt the need of a paradigm shift > >I am just wondering loudly how much it costs to go through such a licence >process and how such a colossal loss is accounted for > >Finally, I expect that any new applicant will demand even more 'privileges' >because the market is well taken up by competition. The incumbents had >privileges of the huge market and three years of guaranteed market. TKL >itself had a privileged captive market for 118 years. > >Cheers >Muriuki Mureithi > >--------------------------------------- >Summit Strategies Ltd - >ICT Consultancy & Research in Eastern & Central African markets >Contacts : Tel +254 (20) 3875824 , Cell + 254 (722) 520090, >email: mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke > alternate email : muriuki.mureithi(a)gmail.com > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: kictanet-bounces+mureithi=summitstrategies.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke >[mailto:kictanet-bounces+mureithi=summitstrategies.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On >Behalf Of alice >Sent: 20 March 2007 08:45 >To: mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke >Subject: [kictanet] [Fwd: [DigAfrica] Kenya cancels SNO offer to Indian >firm] > >They demanded one "too many" privileges > >Kenya cancels SNO offer to Indian firm >By A STAFF WRITER > >Investigations by The East-African have revealed that Kenya cancelled >negotiations with Reliance Communications of India - the company that >had been negotiating with the government for a licence to operate >both fixed-line and mobile services - because the Indians >demanded "too many" privileges. > >Just a day before the deadline within which the Indian company was >asked to formally submit its application, the president of the >company, Punit Garg, wrote to the government making demands that were >way outside the condition of the tender. According to informed >sources, the privileges Reliance wanted were in three sets - namely >duties, relaxation of rules for listing of its local subsidiaries on >the Nairobi Stock Exchange, and a commitment to share infrastructure >from existing mobile companies. > >With respect to duties, the Indian company wanted the following. >First, zero import duties on import of telecommunications >infrastructure and equipment; zero import duties on new and used >handsets and zero value-added tax. > >The privileges requested with respect to listing requirements were >not only excessive but were of the type that the government could >only give at the risk of bending the rules governing capital markets. > >First, the Indian company wanted the government to give it a >commitment that it would allow any local subsidiaries it formed to go >to the market to raise money on the Nairobi Stock Exchange regardless >of whether or not the company met the requirements for listing. > >The Indian investor suggested that the local subsidiary it intended >to create be listed on the basis of compliance of the parent company >in India. > >Secondly, it wanted the government to permit the listing of at least >10 per cent of the equity of the SNO on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. > >Thirdly, it asked that the government allow dual listing of the >company that it intended to establish in Kenya. > >On the sharing of infrastructure, the Indian investors wanted >assurances on the sharing of towers, co- location of equipment for >interconnection and long distance networks. > >The company argued that duplication of infrastructure in >telecommunications networks was costly. The Indian investor further >argued that only a harmonised system can ensure ready availability at >regulated cost-based tariffs. > >Reliance also said that it was not willing to put in an application >without these assurances and privileges. > >It is understood that on receiving the demands, a meeting of the >board of the Communications Commission of Kenya was hurriedly >convened at which the regulator formally announced the cancellation >of negotiations with the Indians and the decision to tender afresh. > >The government will now be hoping that Vtel of Dubai, who had offered >to pay a whopping $169 million for the licence, will still want to >come and invest in Kenya. > >Kenya's telecommunications industry is changing rapidly. The two >mobile players - Safaricom and Celtel - continue to maintain a >stranglehold in a market that more or less operates like a duopoly. > >Currently, it is estimated that Safaricom has around 75 per cent of >the market and Celtel 25 per cent. > >Both companies have recently been licensed to operate international >gateways. > >Kenya tried unsuccessfully to auction an SNO licence in 2003. In May >last year, the CCK put out an international tender for the licence. > >The successful bidder, Vtel Ltd, was consequently invited to take up >the offer but failed to do so following disagreements with its local >partners. > >In accordance with the tender regulations, the offer was subsequently >withdrawn and extended to Reliance Communications, the second highest >bidders. Upon receipt of the invitation by CCK, Reliance >Communication confirmed that they would take up the offer and >requested more time to enable them to comply with the various >formalities. > >The CCK board agreed to the request by the Indian investors and >granted an extension of the application deadline to March 15 this >year. > >By the expiry of the set deadline of 4.00 pm on Friday last week, the >Indian investors had not made a formal application for the licence. > >http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/News/News19030715.htm ><http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/News/News19030715.htm> > >__._,_.___ >Messages in this topic ><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/message/5760;_ylc=X3oDMTM0NmQ2MHN0B >F9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5MDI0NDQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTE2MjkxBG1zZ0lkAzU3NjAEc >2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDdnRwYwRzdGltZQMxMTc0MzMyMDE3BHRwY0lkAzU3NjA-> >(1) Reply (via web post) ><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwcWdqYzU3BF9TAzk3M >zU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5MDI0NDQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTE2MjkxBG1zZ0lkAzU3NjAEc2VjA2Z0c >gRzbGsDcnBseQRzdGltZQMxMTc0MzMyMDE3?act=reply&messageNum=5760> >| Start a new topic ><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZ3R2azduBF9TAzk3M >zU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5MDI0NDQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTE2MjkxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA250cGMEc >3RpbWUDMTE3NDMzMjAxNw--> > >Messages ><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJldnVua3Q5BF9TA >zk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5MDI0NDQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTE2MjkxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA21zZ >3MEc3RpbWUDMTE3NDMzMjAxNw--> >| Links ><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmb2s0cXYwBF9TAzk3 >MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5MDI0NDQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTE2MjkxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2xpbmtz >BHN0aW1lAzExNzQzMzIwMTc-> >| Polls ><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmaTVyMmlqBF9TAzk3 >MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5MDI0NDQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTE2MjkxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3BvbGxz >BHN0aW1lAzExNzQzMzIwMTc-> >| Calendar ><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkYTVzcjRuBF9TA >zk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5MDI0NDQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTE2MjkxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2Nhb >ARzdGltZQMxMTc0MzMyMDE3> > >Dig Africa site welcomes you to join us at >http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/Digafrica on IT in Africa > >Aids-Africa is a forum for communication and information on AIDS related >issues in Africa and all are welcome to join us at >http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/aids-africa > >Join us on hiv/aids forum on Kenya at >http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/kenya-aids > >Join us at a Kenyan networking forum and NGOS at >http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/kenyainternational >Yahoo! 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joining the mail list
by Fatma Bashir 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

please include me in the mail list Fatma A Bashir Chief Marketing Officer Cyber School Technology Solutions Ltd. P.O. Box 14636-00100 Nairobi, Kenya. T: 4452870/1 ; 0726/0734 880864 F: 4452873 M: 0722 5070 50 www.cyberschooltech.com ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Re: [kictanet] RELIANCE & ICT Board
by Florence Etta 19 Mar '07

19 Mar '07

Hi all, Seems to me, like Eric says, that KICTANet should waste no time to call a series of emergency meetings or convenings to take proactive action on the ICT Board; delibrate and elaborate on who ought to be represented on that board before the decision is taken and it will be too late to influence it. Or is the board already constituted? If so what part did KICTANet play in this? Or what does it envisage for its ( the ICT Board) future actions and directions? Secondly, it is time to call a cross sectoral meeting to discuss the serious consequences of the absence of an SNO and devise a practical way forward which should then be forwarded to the appropriate government or other responsible for their attenion e.g. CCK, Infocom Ministry. The problem affects all of us and we all should show good will by being involved in a constructive way. Cheers, FE Florence Etta P.O. Box 14285,00800 Westlands-Nairobi, Kenya Tel: Mobile + 254-733-621851 Terrestrial: + 254-20-7121506 Fax: + 254-20-7125732 Alternative Email:florence.etta@gmail.com ----- Original Message ---- From: Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk Sent: Monday, 19 March, 2007 12:45:24 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] RELIANCE MISSES OUT ON SNO LICENCE IN KENYA Muriuki, Issues well raised and am sure the government would like to listen. I would suggest that a KICTANET meeting at which the larger framework of vertical as opposed to horizontal layering or unified licensing as opposed to Open Access of the communication system is discussed in detailed with the pros and cons. This meeting should end with some majority consensus and should have all the stakeholders so that as sector we are clear at least on the framework of our engagement going forward. I would also submit that a seperate meeting at which the local ownership of foreign stake and the mechanism for SME uptake as well as growth path is clearly outlined so that whiles you need some big fishes now you can also create your own big fishes in the future and more so as the sector progress with time. Eric here On 19 Mar 2007, at 11:58, Muriuki Mureithi wrote: It is time we reviewed the bidding system this country has adopted to remove conflict of policy interest and move this country forward. We must address ourselves to the purpose of the licence - is it to make money for the government to fill treasury gaps or to expand the telecommunications infrastructure. By demanding to have the cake and eat it, we are nowhere 5 years after starting the process of SNO and Third Cellular Operator. It is a lesson well documented in countries that Kenya copied ref Senegal and Malawi among others. At the heart of the conflict is a government stating that ICT is the driver of growth yet put barriers which cripple the operators even before they start. The requirements of local partnership while sweet for political reasons is difficult to realise because the international partners have inadequate time to assess the right partner and hence the problems for SNO and third cellular We need immediate action - first, scrap the requirement of 30% local owner by the time of application of licence but require that within 3 years the winner has brought on board local shareholders through the stock exchange and raise ownership to at least 49% by year 5 of operation . This has worked well for Tz - Second, the licence is not a cash cow - we need infrastructure badly now therefore that licence money should be invested to enable the new entrant to compete with the incumbents and roll out rapidly . Licence should not cost more that USD1. What the entrants should compete with is the cash they will invest in Kenya and the timeline. -finally, CCK should address the anomaly of conflicting policies it issues. In 2004, CCK issued a policy which translates to adoption of horizontal licensing regime to move away from vertical licensing regime. The SNO licence is in direct contradiction of the 2004 policy. Was the policy rescinded? The danger of the unified licence is that it denies Kenyan ICT entrepreneurs a natural growth path and condemns Kenya to permanently have few mega operators and many small operators without a path to migrate from small to big. Should the envisaged fast growing economy to vision 2030 be hinged on few mega operators whose power can sometimes rival the regulator? We need a paradigm shift towards horizontal licensing Cheers Muriuki Mureithi --------------------------------------- Summit Strategies Ltd - ICT Consultancy & Research in Eastern & Central African markets Contacts : Tel +254 (20) 3875824 , Cell + 254 (722) 520090, email: mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke alternate email : muriuki.mureithi(a)gmail.com -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+mureithi=summitstrategies.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+mureithi=summitstrategies.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of alice Sent: 19 March 2007 09:01 To: mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke Subject: [kictanet] RELIANCE MISSES OUT ON SNO LICENCE IN KENYA From BALANCING ACT: RELIANCE MISSES OUT ON SNO LICENCE IN KENYA The Communications Commission of Kenya has cancelled a tender for the second national operator (SNO) licence that it had awarded Reliance Communications, after the consortium failed to pay for the fees. This is the second cancellation, after CCK annulled the licence it had given a consortium led by Dubai-based Vtel Holdings in January, for failing to pay the US$169 million (Sh12 billion) licence fee it had bid. Reliance, which was the second highest bidder at US$111 million (Sh7.8 billion), was allowed to apply for the licence, but on condition that it pay Sh12 billion to match Vtel's bid. Reliance confirmed that it would take up the offer and requested for more time to prepare for the licence. CCK said last week Reliance had a deadline of March 15. "By the expiry of the said deadline at 4.00 p.m. yesterday (Thursday) Reliance Communications had not made a formal application for the licence as required," CCK said. The Commission's director-general John Waweru said they had resolved to immediately restart the tendering process for the licence. (SOURCE: The Nation) _______________________________________________ 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/mureithi%40summitstrategies.c o.ke -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/721 - Release Date: 13/03/2007 16:51 _______________________________________________ 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 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" _______________________________________________ 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/feanywhere%40yahoo.co.uk ___________________________________________________________ To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. http://uk.security.yahoo.com

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Google Summer of Code - OpenMRS
by alice 19 Mar '07

19 Mar '07

Excellent opportunity. Please disseminate widely! -----Original Message----- From: Steve Song [mailto:ssong@idrc.ca] Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2007 7:33 PM To: aubc planning Subject: [aubc-planning-cl] Google Summer of Code - OpenMRS Hi all, Apologies for cross-posting. Please pass share this with anyone you think might have an interest. Particularly if you are at an African university, I would be grateful if you could you ensure that this notice is circulated among your colleagues in the computer science and engineering depts. Deadline is short I am afraid, March 24th. Cheers... Steve -------------------------------- Computer science students, need a summer job? Have you ever imagined that writing code could save lives? Why not apply to OpenMRS for the Google Summer of Code 2007? * Help develop free, open source software * Gain experience by working alongside experienced open source developers * Earn a summer-long stipend so that you can focus on your work * Make a difference in the world by helping in the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria... This summer, students around the world have the opportunity to participate in an exciting collaboration between OpenMRS (http://openmrs.org) and Google, Inc. to further develop an open-source medical record system that improves the care of patients with HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria. The Google Summer of Code 2007 program provides promising student software developers an opportunity to help these vulnerable populations by spending their summer vacation writing new code that will be used in countries throughout the developing world. During this twelve week program, successful applicants will work directly with assigned mentors to complete their choice of a variety of focused development tasks laid out by the OpenMRS collaborative. Interested? Visit http://soc2007.openmrs.org or http://code.google.com/soc for more information. Applications are now being accepted, the deadline for all submissions is March 24th, 2007. --------------------------------------------

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RELIANCE MISSES OUT ON SNO LICENCE IN KENYA
by alice 19 Mar '07

19 Mar '07

From BALANCING ACT: RELIANCE MISSES OUT ON SNO LICENCE IN KENYA The Communications Commission of Kenya has cancelled a tender for the second national operator (SNO) licence that it had awarded Reliance Communications, after the consortium failed to pay for the fees. This is the second cancellation, after CCK annulled the licence it had given a consortium led by Dubai-based Vtel Holdings in January, for failing to pay the US$169 million (Sh12 billion) licence fee it had bid. Reliance, which was the second highest bidder at US$111 million (Sh7.8 billion), was allowed to apply for the licence, but on condition that it pay Sh12 billion to match Vtel's bid. Reliance confirmed that it would take up the offer and requested for more time to prepare for the licence. CCK said last week Reliance had a deadline of March 15. "By the expiry of the said deadline at 4.00 p.m. yesterday (Thursday) Reliance Communications had not made a formal application for the licence as required," CCK said. The Commission's director-general John Waweru said they had resolved to immediately restart the tendering process for the licence. (SOURCE: The Nation)

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