- KICTANet - KICTANet

[Fwd: [governance] Google Policy Fellowships]
by alice 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

"We¹re [Google] looking for students who are passionate about technology, and want to spend the summer diving headfirst into Internet policy." <http://www.google.com/policyfellowship/> <http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2007/11/calling-aspiring-tech-policy…>

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Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic
by robert yawe 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

Hi Alex, Explain one issue to me, how will the marine cable increase the remittances from the diaspora, they are sending 3.9 billion over slow, expensive satellite links why should we reduce this by spending 7 billion to land the fiber? Alex, all I ask is can you give me a logical reason why we should spend 7 billion to land this fiber? I am aware this discussion is academic but it should not stop us from questioning the rational. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Friday, 30 November, 2007 7:37:39 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic But Yawe, [Sorry for this late response, this message only got to my inbox a short while ago] On Nov 28, 2007 8:06 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > The diaspora makes up less than 5% of the population and many of them add no > value to us, yet you are more concerned about how we can communicate with > them instead of how to make it possible for my children to talk and see > their grandmother in Mbita point without requiring to make the trip. > Not quite so. Diasporans send sizable chunks of home for Mbitarians consumption. "The most recent data available indicates that remittances by Kenyans reached a historic month-on-month high in June when Sh3.9 billion was sent into the country." <http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4622&Item…> Though you are right also about a national fibre network would enhance far flung families bonding and save our Mbitarian business lexicon travel expenses ( i.e. help in converting remittances into investments rather than consumption). "It is estimated that full compliance with the licensing requirements costs Kenyan businesses Sh5 billion annually." <http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4621&Item…> Agreed! Local fibre saves locally and international one boosts remittances hence my argument elsewhere, "we need both pentium and penicillin" and it the juglers' job ( Read Ndemo:) to give us the optimal mix. Notwithstanding, absent fibres remains no excuse for inefficient and opaque service delivery by those employed by the public and all government agencies. Sawa? ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

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Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic
by robert yawe 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

Dr Ndemo, You have not answered our concern yet on why we need the marine cable to bring us high speed Internet yet as a country we do not have a cost effective national high speed network? The diaspora makes up less than 5% of the population and many of them add no value to us, yet you are more concerned about how we can communicate with them instead of how to make it possible for my children to talk and see their grandmother in Mbita point without requiring to make the trip. As a democracy I believe our interest should be to serve the greater population than a few out there. I have been looking at the cost of AGM's for listed companies and it is a major drain on this organisations, if you and your team could concentrate on a fiber link to all provincial head quarters we can have the next Kengen AGM held virtually with participants in centers closest to them, to me this would be a greater utilisation of connectivity than being able to talk cheaply to my sister in the US who none the less is too busy working 3 jobs to have time to talk to me regularly irrespective of cost. So Dr. Ndemo gives us a more compelling reason for the fibre optic cable. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 26 November, 2007 9:13:57 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Dear Yawe, Gakuru, I promised to respond to the question as to whether we indeed need Fibre Optic Cables. Yes indeed we need them for the time being (Intel shall be commecializing [in 10 years time]a chip with the capability to send data at high speeds without any cables)(see NY Times summary article below). In as much as I do not like cables for connectivity I think they are a necessary infrastructure at the moment. The benefits are immense as I look forward to greater linkages with our increasingly important relatives in the diaspora. With efficient connectivity, there we create opportunities such as localised news that is accessible to anyone everywhere; we shall enable innovation and more importantly create jobs for our youth. The difference here is that some may see entrepreneurial opportunities that come with this infrastructure and unfortunately some will simply watch as events unfold. Fortunately, you only need a few (Steve jobs, Bill Gates etc) to innovate and exploit the opportunity once access to technology is availed. Our role is to facilitate our people to reach their fullest potential. This is what leadership is all about. Bitange Ndemo. A Chip That Can Transfer Data Using Laser Light New York Times: The advance will make it possible to use laser light rather than wires to send data between chips, removing the most significant bottleneck in computer design. A Tiny Laser on a Silicon Chip As a result, chip makers may be able to put the high-speed data communications industry on the same curve of increased processing speed and diminishing costs — the phenomenon known as Moore’s law — that has driven the computer industry for the last four decades. The development is a result of research at Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Commercializing the new technology may not happen before the end of the decade, but the prospect of being able to place hundreds or thousands of data-carrying light beams on standard industry chips is certain to shake up both the communications and computer industries. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

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Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting
by Joseph Mucheru 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

Hi Eric and Washington, There is another way to look at this. Why is it cheaper overseas? the obvious answer is that bandwidth there is local. In which case the hosting companies are not charged high fees for bandwidth. The infact primarily pay for peering with other networks. In our case we are yet to give hosting companies access to the IXP. One way to solve this is for ISPs to provide an "unbundled" hosting service; a) Local part $x per MB b) International part $x per MB c) Rack Space $x With such a setup it is much easier for webhosting companies to emerge and be very creative and at the same time compete with international players. This would make the business case better for most hosting business and they would not have to pay the high costs. Right now the high bandwidth cost is still paid for by the consumer since they still have to access the internationally hosted sites via the ISP. Joe Mucheru > On Nov 26, 2007 7:48 AM, Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> wrote: > > > Dear Mr. Washington, > > > > You have stated the obvious which is the challenge but let me try to > > share some light on how to solve the problem. > > > > It is really a chicken an egg situation, the localhosting business would > > develop based on demand but like you said demand is relative to cost. > > > > However in the interest of developing our countries and continent if we > > all commit to having country code top level domain (in this case .ke) and > > host them locally, the demand would trigger supply. > > > > On the other hand if the local entrepreneurs can invest in > > infrastructure and based on market study provide competitive rates (with the > > generic TLDs) then again the supply could trigger the demand. > > > > Having said that, i have noticed something under the sun, which is that > > for some reason African just dont like using what other Africans produce so > > in some ways the former strategy would work better if we deal with the > > attitudinal change. > > > > Eric here > > > > > > On 26 Nov 2007, at 08:35, Odhiambo Washington wrote: > > > > On Nov 26, 2007 8:03 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > > > > > Hi all, > > > > I have raised this issue before when I did a search and found out that > > the > > CCK web site was hosted overseas and thus how can we expect them to > > monitor > > the service quality levels of the ISP's. > > > > On Sunday I visited the Kibaki web site, I experienced unstable audio > > streaming so I decided to find out where the site was hosted, yes you > > guest > > it overseas. The other 2 presidential candidates web sites are no > > better > > they are not locally hosted. Is this a reflection of who the targets of > > this web sites are? > > > > The Kibaki site is developed by one 3Mice, if I remember right, which > > has > > some association with newly appointed ICT Board Managing Director > > Kokubo. > > > > Regards > > Robert Yawe > > KAY System Technologies Ltd > > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > > KEnya > > > > > > It's not the faith the people have in local hosting, but rather the > > cost factor. Last time I looked at this web hosting biz, one company > > was charging KES 1,000+VAT per month, which was what was though to be > > competitive. Another one entered into the fray with hype about reduced > > costing charges, but I am not sure how much business they managed to > > pick. All the same, their charges did not compare with what is charged > > internationally (I mean in Europe and the US). > > Websites is not something that has caught up with many Kenyans, > > otherwise the volumes would help sustain such businesses locally. > > I believe the lack of volumes is one of the factors that makes > > entities like 3Mice to host overseas. Top-notch Kenyan techies have > > been hosting their Blog with blogspot (overseas). Bandwidth costs is > > another. In Europe and the US, individuals can afford to connect > > 10MBps in their kitchens while in Kenya, that kind of bandwidth can > > only be purchased by ISPs. > > One last question though: Do you know any reliable webhosting company > > that hosts it's websites locally, and has reliable and efficient > > access to those websites? If there is one, they are not marketing > > themselves enough. > > > > > > > > -- > > Best regards, > > Odhiambo WASHINGTON, > > Nairobi,KE > > +254733744121/+254722743223 > > _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > > > > "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" > > --from a /. post > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org > > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.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)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: mucheru(a)google.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mucheru%40google.com > > > > > > > -- > Joe Mucheru > Office Lead, East Africa > Google Kenya > 7th Floor, Purshottam Place > Westlands Road > P O Box 66217 - 00800 Westlands > Nairobi, > KENYA > > +254 20 360 1701 Office > +254 20 360 1100 Fax > +254 20 360 1000 Switch Board (Regus) > > +254 722522135 Mobile > > > http://www.google.com > > This email may be confidential or privileged. If you received this > communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please > erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went to the > wrong person. Thanks. -- Joe Mucheru Office Lead, East Africa Google Kenya 7th Floor, Purshottam Place Westlands Road P O Box 66217 - 00800 Westlands Nairobi, KENYA +254 20 360 1701 Office +254 20 360 1100 Fax +254 20 360 1000 Switch Board (Regus) +254 722522135 Mobile http://www.google.com This email may be confidential or privileged. If you received this communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went to the wrong person. Thanks.

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Are Mobicoms Impoverishing "Emerging Markets"?
by Alex Gakuru 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

Taking a bird's view, floating a conspiracy theory, and inviting your comments... The Financial Post 9 -15 April 2007 issue, contains an article titled "Billion Dollar Baby" Carlos Slim Helú's fortune is up almost $20 billion a year, built amid poverty and resentment in Mexico. Now he is gaining on Warren Buffett. (attached) This is old news now for Carlos is now the world's richest man. Slim has a substantial influence over the telecommunications industry [and media] in Mexico and much of Latin America as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Slim_Hel%C3%BA There are/can be two camps here, one paying homage to new richest men in our worlds or those feeling the havoc caused by mobicoms dominance by worsening poverty levels in developing nations. This is why I say, andstand to be corrected, "In the current situation ICTs cause more poverty than prosperity." http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=363&Itemi…. With this wealth and power at their disposal, I fear that it could be just a matter of time before they start deciding on DNs governments. A hypothetical Fabian bored with too much wealth, succeeded at his ultimate game to an entire society: - "After a man has far more money than he can possibly spend for pleasure, what is left to excite him? For those with a ruling class mentality, the answer is power - raw power over other human beings. The idealists were used in the media and in Government, but the real controllers that Fabian sought were those of the ruling class mentality." http://www.relfe.com/plus_5_.html Another example, I have been following on how spying devices were found inside key components of the Vodafone network in Greece, which was being used to monitor conversations of 103 people, including the Greek Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis and his wife. Today I read this article http://www.cellular-news.com/story/27648.php An earlier story "Death muddies Greek spy probe" can be found here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4838552.stm 3 cents... [mind mentioning where you got this compilation if you must to use it somewhere else? ("creative commons":) Thanks]

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Re: [kictanet] Safaricom IPO Certified Urgent
by Bill Kagai 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

On Nov 30, 2007 11:30 AM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo(a)gmail.com> wrote: > A very detailed article regarding the safaricom IPO was posted on this > list sometimes back. > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/private/kictanet/2007-August/003030.html > Has anything changed so far? > I believe these are valid reasons, which have been raised, and which > have been kinds whitewashed by the people concerned. > Shouldn't these be addressed before the IPO, or should Kenyans be made > to buy what belongs to them just because we don't want "neophytes to > compromise our industry and the future ICT IPOs to come"? Wash, My beef is that am investing in shops to sell these shares and then on Tuesday I read that some lawyers got late to attend court. I mean, the treatment of this case is so pedestrian yet we are relying on someone deciding whether its priority to attend court or not. This has to change and Kictanet ought to have the balls to fight for us who are gnashing in the confines of a depressing miasma not knowing whether to invest or not to invest. We need Kictanet to show these politicians that its not only their interests at stake here and tell them on their faces. 'Don't be late for Court'. Am not taking sides and neither interfering with the court process...but I mean..can someone (kictanet) show them they cannot go to court when they decide or when they have some time to spare. They need to treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves for many Kenyans are banking on this IPO. The next process is to get a hearing date from the Registrar but again..these guys might get 'late' or not have time to go and book the date. It has become crazy doing business in this town. Bill

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Safaricom IPO Certified Urgent
by Bill Kagai 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

Ladies/Gentlemen, Investors appetite has been whetted for a long time now over Safaricom IPO with local hustlers putting in investment to benefit from this gigantic IPO. But when all signs read 'full steam ahead', an obstacle crops up. We do not need to decide the merits/demerits of the appeal but the setting up of the Privatisation Act should not compromise ICT initiatives in Kenya. I think the politicians have their space in this but a neutral force should also come out to clearly spell that 'ICT Iko na Wenyewe'. I have read somewhere in the dailies where one party argues that should the court stop the IPO then people will be refunded their investment whilst the opposite argues that it will not be possible. Why are we letting these neophytes compromise our industry and the future ICT IPOs to come?? Kictanet ought to transform into an ICT watchdog in Kenya following the same vein as the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. In fact we ought to be contemplating how we can get this lobby group entrenched into a commission. I think I would love to see a paid advertisement from Kictanet....not taking sides...but clearly defining why such ICT ventures should not be politicized and why politicians need to GO SLOW when they venture into our territory. They need to consult with 'us' [read ICT stakeholders] before jeopardizing our efforts and know that we should not be hurt by their selfish interests. My entire savings!! -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] - Authorised Information Vendor Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorpafrica.com --

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Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Fwd: EASSy reaches financial close
by Eric Osiakwan 29 Nov '07

29 Nov '07

fyi - sorry for corss posting. Begin forwarded message: > From: Wairagala Wakabi <w_wakabi(a)yahoo.com> > Date: 28 November 2007 17:35:28 GMT+03:00 > To: Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] Fwd: EASSy reaches financial close > Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants > <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> > > > Press <press(a)afdb.org> wrote: > East African Submarine Cable System reaches financial close > The African Development Bank Signs Loans for the EASSy Cable Project > > Tunis, 23 November 2007 – The African Development Bank (AfDB), > along with other participating development financial institutions > (DFIs) have signed loan agreements for the East African Submarine > Cable System (EASSy), the landmark fibre-optic cable project that > will connect 22 coastal and land-locked African countries to each > other and the rest of the world with high-quality Internet and > international communications services. > > EASSy is an initiative sponsored by 25 telecommunications > operators, most of which are African. The project will construct > and operate a submarine fibre-optic cable along the east coast of > Africa that will run for 10,000 kilometers from the continent’s > southern tip to the African horn, connecting South Africa, > Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, and > Sudan. Another 13 adjoining countries will also be linked to the > system as terrestrial backbone networks including Botswana, > Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of > Congo, Chad, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, Swaziland, Uganda, > Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The EASSy project will also provide the > last link to completely encircle Africa with high-capacity fiber- > optic telecommunications networks. > > The AfDB’s financing will be channeled through the EASSy Special > Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that is also known as the West Indian Ocean > Cable Company, or WIOCC, and consists of a $14.5 million senior > loan. The cable will transform the telecommunications landscape in > the region as it improves access for 250 million Africans and > substantially reduces costs for consumers and businesses. > Construction will begin in December 2007 and the EASSy cable is > expected to be fully operational in time for the 2010 FIFA Football > World Cup to be hosted by South Africa. > > The AfDB, the French development Agency (AFD), the European > Investment Bank (EIB), Germany’s Development Bank (KfW) and the > International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank group > will provide the project’s entire long-term loan financing of $70.7 > million, with $14.5 million to come from the AfDB. The total > project cost is $235 million and the balance will be provided by > the 25 private telecommunications operators wgho will operate the > cable as a consortium. These Telecom operators, including 21 > African operators, will be the main users of capacity on the cable. > > Contrary to previous cables in the African continent that were > built on the “closed-club” structure, EASSy is built on a Hybrid > SPV Development model. This model will allow smaller operators to > participate in the cable consortium at reduced individual entry > investments. EASSy also adheres to the main development objectives > of “Open Access", Non-discriminatory and Affordable pricing. The > cable will act as a crucial medium of internet connectivity to > carry telecom traffic for all African operators from the Eastern > and Southern African markets to onward connecting Cable networks in > Europe, Asia and the Americas. > > After years of collaboration between the African Development Bank, > World Bank Group and other global and regional development > institutions, governments, and the region’s private sector, the > project brings together the public and private sectors to expand > Telecommunications Infrastructure. EASSy provides a model for > future generations of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) that will > be necessary to create the enabling environment for private sector > participation in Africa. > > The EASSy project will also foster regional integration in line > with NEPAD and the AfDB’s strategic objectives. The EASSy project > will contribute to the socio-economic development of the region > through the expansion of inter-Africa trade, facilitated by lower > costs and better communication. The expected increase in employment > and income for the regions will help to reduce poverty and lead to > sustainable development. Additionally, the EASSy project will help > in breaking the barriers of social and geographical isolation and > assist the population in its quest to access information and > continued education. > CONTACTS: E-mail: e.chinje(a)afdb.org > 4Private Sector Department– Tel.: +216 71 10 28 43 – Fax: +216 71 > 83 41 78 – E-mail: private-sector(a)afdb.org 3 > 4 Internal and External Communications Division– Tel.: +216 71 10 > 29 16 – Fax: +216 71 10 37 52 – E-mail: comuadb(a)afdb.org 3 > Press releases are also posted on ADB Website at: www.afdb.org > > > > > > > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. > _______________________________________________ > 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 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"

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Re: [kictanet] Govt Websites
by robert yawe 28 Nov '07

28 Nov '07

Harry thanks for the information, but can we find a way to publicise the site and not treat it like a state secret. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 27 November, 2007 11:01:12 AM Subject: [kictanet] Govt Websites  Dear Colleagues, The Kenya.go.ke appears to be a portal that can lead you to most of the government websites, Bobby, next time you could give it try when looking for a certain ministry…url http://www.kenya.go.ke/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=1 Harry -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

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Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting
by robert yawe 28 Nov '07

28 Nov '07

End user ---> Telkom ---> ISP ---> KDN --> ISP --> Telkom --> end user Do the math Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Kai Wulff <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 26 November, 2007 1:19:30 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting Strange! I thought this is what we do since 4 years! A Rack Space, good enough for TBs of hosted Webspace is USD 250,- per month. The KIXP link is on fiber and international bandwidth can be bought separately! Rgds Kai ----- Original Message ----- From: Joseph Mucheru To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 12:29 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting Hi Eric and Washington, There is another way to look at this. Why is it cheaper overseas? the obvious answer is that bandwidth there is local. In which case the hosting companies are not charged high fees for bandwidth. The infact primarily pay for peering with other networks. In our case we are yet to give hosting companies access to the IXP. One way to solve this is for ISPs to provide an "unbundled" hosting service; a) Local part $x per MB b) International part $x per MB c) Rack Space $x With such a setup it is much easier for webhosting companies to emerge and be very creative and at the same time compete with international players. This would make the business case better for most hosting business and they would not have to pay the high costs. Right now the high bandwidth cost is still paid for by the consumer since they still have to access the internationally hosted sites via the ISP. Joe Mucheru On Nov 26, 2007 7:48 AM, Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> wrote: Dear Mr. Washington, You have stated the obvious which is the challenge but let me try to share some light on how to solve the problem. It is really a chicken an egg situation, the localhosting business would develop based on demand but like you said demand is relative to cost. However in the interest of developing our countries and continent if we all commit to having country code top level domain (in this case .ke) and host them locally, the demand would trigger supply. On the other hand if the local entrepreneurs can invest in infrastructure and based on market study provide competitive rates (with the generic TLDs) then again the supply could trigger the demand. Having said that, i have noticed something under the sun, which is that for some reason African just dont like using what other Africans produce so in some ways the former strategy would work better if we deal with the attitudinal change. Eric here On 26 Nov 2007, at 08:35, Odhiambo Washington wrote: On Nov 26, 2007 8:03 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Hi all, I have raised this issue before when I did a search and found out that the CCK web site was hosted overseas and thus how can we expect them to monitor the service quality levels of the ISP's. On Sunday I visited the Kibaki web site, I experienced unstable audio streaming so I decided to find out where the site was hosted, yes you guest it overseas. The other 2 presidential candidates web sites are no better they are not locally hosted. Is this a reflection of who the targets of this web sites are? The Kibaki site is developed by one 3Mice, if I remember right, which has some association with newly appointed ICT Board Managing Director Kokubo. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya It's not the faith the people have in local hosting, but rather the cost factor. Last time I looked at this web hosting biz, one company was charging KES 1,000+VAT per month, which was what was though to be competitive. Another one entered into the fray with hype about reduced costing charges, but I am not sure how much business they managed to pick. All the same, their charges did not compare with what is charged internationally (I mean in Europe and the US). Websites is not something that has caught up with many Kenyans, otherwise the volumes would help sustain such businesses locally. I believe the lack of volumes is one of the factors that makes entities like 3Mice to host overseas. Top-notch Kenyan techies have been hosting their Blog with blogspot (overseas). Bandwidth costs is another. In Europe and the US, individuals can afford to connect 10MBps in their kitchens while in Kenya, that kind of bandwidth can only be purchased by ISPs. One last question though: Do you know any reliable webhosting company that hosts it's websites locally, and has reliable and efficient access to those websites? If there is one, they are not marketing themselves enough. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" --from a /. post _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.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)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mucheru(a)google.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mucheru%40google.com -- Joe Mucheru Office Lead, East Africa Google Kenya 7th Floor, Purshottam Place Westlands Road P O Box 66217 - 00800 Westlands Nairobi, KENYA +254 20 360 1701 Office +254 20 360 1100 Fax +254 20 360 1000 Switch Board (Regus) +254 722522135 Mobile http://www.google.com This email may be confidential or privileged. If you received this communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went to the wrong person. Thanks. -- Joe Mucheru Office Lead, East Africa Google Kenya 7th Floor, Purshottam Place Westlands Road P O Box 66217 - 00800 Westlands Nairobi, KENYA +254 20 360 1701 Office +254 20 360 1100 Fax +254 20 360 1000 Switch Board (Regus) +254 722522135 Mobile http://www.google.com This email may be confidential or privileged. If you received this communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went to the wrong person. Thanks. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? 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