- KICTANet - KICTANet

Flight KQ 507: Did the Media cross the line?
by Wainaina Mungai 09 May '07

09 May '07

Was the media insensitive and offensive as they competed to air and publish reports of the flight KQ507 crash? Read about it on http://www.madeinkenya.org/forum_files/forum0507-2.php

3 2

Common services policy
by Mr President 08 May '07

08 May '07

Hi ALLWould it be possible to have a common services policy, that would entail laying of services like communications, internet via optical fibre,electricity etc in common ducts.This would anable sharing of costs by users for maintenance, access by all providers, and a reduction is costs of digging up trenches for each service provider ?It would also enable easy access for repairs and upgrades.A certain amount of "joint" planning -which is lacking- would reduce the over all cost of rolling out the infrastructure nationwide.It can be financed, via govt investment bonds, that� should have NO capital gains tax,council and municipal bonds etc.My take is that the funds can not only be� sourced but also applied in the most logical way, and this would provide massive employment for rolling out the sameLater the infrastructure can be given to firm(s) to maitain at a nominal fee as "local" outsourcing for none core business.Lawyers could work out legalities, contractors "LOCAL" not chinese prisoners being fronted as cheap labour, municipal and other local authorities could have the service now and not later, funds could also be sourced via the women funds, youth funds, lasdap, latf and CDF whcih is set to increase to 10%The aformentioned would enable urban and rural industrialisation by 2010 as envision by Hon Raila and not 2030 by reactives� as opposed to pro-actives.The� "Greemen" concept sounds to me like the wheel, yet we seem to want to invent it again "kenyan " style ama ?MAy the souls of those who departed rest in peace and may all of us observe a moment of silence and prayer for them and their loved onesNjenga M.P�those who fear to fail.will never try to succeded,for to fail to plan is to plan to FAIL _______________________________________________ No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Day 6 of 10 - Statistics on Dispersion- CCK Internet Report
by John Walubengo 08 May '07

08 May '07

Lets extend 1day (today) on the above theme... I know the recent posts have commented on the above. In particular, the 'conflicting' approaches with regard to infrastructure development b/w Govt & Private Sector. I think Govt feels that the Private sector initiatives into the rural areas has been lacking hence their intervention. Private sector may feel that Govt is 'duplicating' their efforts or presenting 'unfair' competition in that space. I think the report had a middle ground where the Universal Access Fund (UAF)is deployed. Private sector would be 'funded' to implement infrastructure in non-economic zones using the UAF. In other words the Goverment advances the funds and the Private Sector implements the projects. I don't know if this would present a middle-ground or addresses a different issue? walu. --- John Walubengo <jwalubengo(a)kcct.ac.ke> wrote: > <<<a prayer for the missing KQ passengers, Mt Elgon & > other Land-Clashes victims observed>>> > > and now I Wish to thank all for the surge of > contributions that are continuing to come through. Plse > keep them flowing as we move into today's theme > -Statistics on Dispersion. > > snip >>The Report found that even though ISPs were > present in all the 8 Provinces, they were hardly present > at the districts level * covering only 30% of the > districts in Kenya. In addition, of the three key > stakeholders, Government, Educational and Commercial, the > Commercial sector had the bulk of the existing Internet > Connectivity (80%) while the Education Sector had the > lowest (less than 2%). Finally, of the estimated 2.8 > Million Internet users in the country, 80% are in the > capital city Nairobi, 9% in Mombasa and the rest (11%) > are spread across the country.<<snip > > Quite bleak statistics and my recent trip to my rural > home (Bungoma) confirmed it. Even the supposedly > ubiqitous GPRS access failed to deliver and yet it works > wonders in the urban setting. The fixed line access was > out of question - despite me having a laptop that could > have hooked onto the (suprisingly?) available telephone > line. Problem was that the phone was 'Hard-wired' to the > headset -old models- that cannot allow flexibility to > port onto a laptop. > > The other wireless option (Wifi, Wimax or Butterfly et > al) are yet to hit he region...so the question is what > initiatives can be done to improve on the above bleak > statistics? > > 1-day discussion. > > walu. > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Our KQ 507
by alice 07 May '07

07 May '07

Apologies, members this is not an ICT related issue, but there is ICT in it. One of the things that make me so proud to be Kenyan is our Kenya Airways, so it is indeed very sad that another one of our planes, KQ 507 has "disappeared in Cameroon. Condolences to those who had friends/relatives, people they knew on that flight. alice

5 4

ICANN extends nomination deadline
by Rebecca Wanjiku 07 May '07

07 May '07

in order to provide additional time for candidates to submit Statements of Interest, the 2007 ICANN Nominating Committee has extended the deadline for Statements of Interest until 18 May 2007 23:59 UTC. Candidates should submit completed Statements of Interest to nomcom2007(a)icann.org. The 2007 Nominating Committee began its work in December 2006 at the ICANN Annual Meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and is actively seeking qualified candidates for the following key positions within ICANN: 3 seats on the ICANN Board of Directors 2 members to Generic Names Supporting Organization Council (GNSO) 3 members of the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) (from Africa, Latin America and Caribbean and Asia/Australia/Pacific regions) 1 Country Code Names Support Organization Council (ccNSO) member The 2007 Nominating Committee has received 33 Statements of Interest, 29 of the candidates are male, while 4 are female. 14 candidates are from Europe, 6 are from Asia/Australia/Pacific, 5 are from Latin America/Caribbean, 5 are from North America, and 3 are from Africa. 25 candidates have declared a willingness to serve on the ICANN Board, 12 have declared a willingness to serve on the GNSO Council, 7 have declared a willingness to serve on the ccNSO Council, and 7 have declared a willingness to serve on the ALAC. Please note that some candidates have asked to be considered for more than one position. Those individuals selected by the Nominating Committee will have a unique opportunity to work with accomplished colleagues from around the globe, address intriguing technical coordination problems and related policy development challenges with diverse functional, cultural, and geographic dimensions, and gain valuable insights and experience from working across these boundaries of knowledge, responsibility and perspective. Information about the 2007 Nominating Committee is available at http://nomcom.icann.org. Information on the formal call for Statements of Interest is available at http://nomcom.icann.org/formal-call-2007.html. This file last modified 30-Apr-2007 © 2007 Internet Corporation For Assigned Names and Numbers ____________________________________________________________________________________ Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. http://games.yahoo.com/games/front

1 0

Fwd: AccessKenya IPO Research Report
by Bill Kagai 07 May '07

07 May '07

An IPO worth supporting. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: info(a)mediacorp.co.ke <info(a)mediacorp.co.ke> Date: Apr 16, 2007 1:02 PM Subject: AccessKenya IPO Research Report To: info(a)mediacorp.co.ke Cc: info(a)mediacorp.co.ke Dear Sir/Madam, Please find attached the AccessKenya Report attached. Regards, MediaCorp Research Unit

3 3

internet loyalty...
by Rebecca Wanjiku 07 May '07

07 May '07

where is your loyalty on the net???? Monday 30 April 2007, 12:23:00 All Countries Written by Net 4 Now British Internet users are six times more likely to choose a .uk rather than .com address when looking for information via an Internet search engine. In an online survey of 2,324 Internet users, which was carried out by YouGov, 62% believe a .uk address suggests a company is local or more relevant than a .com, and a third (32%) believe that it is important for international companies to have local domain names in order to attract local customers. When asked about searching for a particular company on the Internet, 72% said they would visit a .uk web address above any other and only 5% of respondents would try the .com option first. Nominet CEO, Lesley Cowley commented: “The findings show that British Internet users are loyal to local web sites and have higher levels of trust for .uk domain names. It’s clear that the trust issue is one of increasing importance to the Internet industry, as well as Internet users.” ____________________________________________________________________________________ Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396545367

1 0

Day 6 of 10 - Statistics on Dispersion- CCK Internet Report
by John Walubengo 07 May '07

07 May '07

<<<a prayer for the missing KQ passengers, Mt Elgon & other Land-Clashes victims observed>>> and now I Wish to thank all for the surge of contributions that are continuing to come through. Plse keep them flowing as we move into today's theme -Statistics on Dispersion. snip >>The Report found that even though ISPs were present in all the 8 Provinces, they were hardly present at the districts level * covering only 30% of the districts in Kenya. In addition, of the three key stakeholders, Government, Educational and Commercial, the Commercial sector had the bulk of the existing Internet Connectivity (80%) while the Education Sector had the lowest (less than 2%). Finally, of the estimated 2.8 Million Internet users in the country, 80% are in the capital city Nairobi, 9% in Mombasa and the rest (11%) are spread across the country.<<snip Quite bleak statistics and my recent trip to my rural home (Bungoma) confirmed it. Even the supposedly ubiqitous GPRS access failed to deliver and yet it works wonders in the urban setting. The fixed line access was out of question - despite me having a laptop that could have hooked onto the (suprisingly?) available telephone line. Problem was that the phone was 'Hard-wired' to the headset -old models- that cannot allow flexibility to port onto a laptop. The other wireless option (Wifi, Wimax or Butterfly et al) are yet to hit he region...so the question is what initiatives can be done to improve on the above bleak statistics? 1-day discussion. walu.

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability -CCKInternetStudy Report
by Alex Gakuru 07 May '07

07 May '07

Affordability: This will never be realised so long as there exists dominant market private monopolies. Government does not need to subsidize, but only enable local participation at the last mile. The only "problem" right now is the used-to-corporate-customers-only business models looks to still miss to see the rural connectivity business case. Assertion 1 ; INFRASTRUCTURE MONOPOLY Grameen Telecom's original goal was to have a phone in every one of Bangladesh's 65,000 villages by 2000, but only 4,543 village phones were in service as of March, 2001. The primary constraint has been a distorted telecommunications market controlled by a monopolistic government provider, BTTB. Because BTTB has been unwilling to increase its interconnect capacity, despite GP's offer to pay for the upgrading, GP and other mobile companies have been unable to connect additional phones to the national switched network and instead have had to offer primarily mobile-to-mobile phone services (3). This infrastructure barrier has also limited expansion of the rural phone network. Assertion 2: BUSINESS CASE: Grameen Telecom (GT) has the explicit goal of helping Grameen Bank's members shift from relatively low-yield traditional ventures like animal husbandry into the technology sector, by creating micro-enterprises that can both generate individual income and provide whole villages with connectivity. GT uses GrameenPhone's advanced GSM technology in stationary village phones owned and operated by local entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs purchase the phones with money borrowed from Grameen Bank (2), and sell phone service to customers by the call. Rates are generally twice the wholesale rate charged by GP plus taxes and airtime fees. An average of 70 customers a month uses each phone; this shared-access business model concentrates demand and creates relatively high cash flow, even in poor villages, enabling operators to make regular loan payments and still turn a profit. Repayment rates to Grameen Bank are 90-95%. Rural telephones are also very profitable for GrameenPhone, bringing in revenues per phone of $93 a month in March 2001, twice as much as GP's urban mobile phones. However, rural phones represent less than 2% of the phones used on GP's network and bring in only 8 % of the company's total revenue, so that the company's profitability depends primarily on its urban business. [http://www.digitaldividend.org/case/case_grameen.htm] ---- United States ----- Let me just share with you a little story -- the reason that I'm excited about this thing being possible. I took a trip to Minnesota and there was a company called Optical Solutions. They market what is called a passive optical network in which they bring fiber right to the household. They were describing a farmer in Northwestern Minnesota who's at the end of this passive optical network. He has a couple hundred digital channels. They even sent in another fiber for a couple of analog channels. He has 10 to 100 megabytes per second symmetric up in northern Minnesota. He's doing this for $80 to $120 per month. So I'm saying here in the northern Virginia high tech corridor where I live I'm 100 feet from a central office of the RBOC and I can only get 56K dial up modem. I think something is wrong with this picture. [http://www.technology.gov/reports/TechPolicy/BB_Wkshop020325.pdf pp33-34] --------- Transparency (read Freedom of Information) It is impossible/very difficult to get annual inter-government departments expenditure on communications. While we are at it could the government be transparent with the fibre optic financing. Consumers hope of affordable communication is pegged on this cable to ally fear our fears to hear later some questionable financing arrangements we entered into behind our backs. Conclusion Efficient e-government services demand affordable fibre infrastructure that will not end up a very costly taxpayers burnen >> more poverty. Government offices can afford broadband through fibre free inter-gov offices MPs to/from their rural constituencies. ICAK is well into actualising community fibres initiatives throughout Kenya with other like minded partners. We shall use alternative infrastructure rollout, we are lobbying for rural electrification to include an overhead fibre cable by KPLC. Development finance and govt support can/will leverage this low cost to cover the cost of the necessary last mile infrastructure. --------- * jamesrege(a)africaonline.co.ke" <jamesrege(a)africaonline.co.ke>* wrote: Walu, Your concern on affordability of internet access by rural communities is justified. I don't think fibre optics (being a point-to-point) network can benefit a majority of rural communities economically unless there is a seriously subsidized provision of the last-mile network. Thousands of schools and Government offices which are situated far away from the fibre optics paths will never sniff the benefits of broadband communications supplied through fibre optics pipe. Fibre optics, microwave and satellite media always complement each other, especially for restoration purposes. Kenya is lucky to have them all. Can Walu's concern be addressed in all the cases? On 5/3/07 9:01 AM, "John Walubengo" wrote: > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust relationships b/w > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well as on today's > theme on affordability (multi-tasking > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting Bungoma in > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely development, but > at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the (internet) services be > affordable to the rural/average communities? > > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap by the > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on the > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for affordability, the > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other words, if the > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average monthly > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the average > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes way > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > > The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too > expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing just 8% > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in order to > make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > > 1 day deliberation on this one. > > walu. > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/jamesrege%40africaonline.co.k e > -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web _______________________________________________ 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/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com

1 0

Kenya Wins Technology in Government in Africa Award
by John Kariuki 07 May '07

07 May '07

*Kenya has won a Technology in Government in Africa(TIGA) Award in the category * *"Improved educational services through the use of ICTs" *This award recognizes outstanding achievements by organisations or teams in developing and implementing innovative projects to improve online as well as Government eServices using other forms of education service delivery; Specific examples include using ICTs for innovation in learning and teaching for citizens and communities as well as the provision of e-administration in the delivery of education services. The project which won the award is the Automation of Secondary School Placement and Online Exam Result Delivery, Kenya http://www.education.go.ke; http://www.kenya.go.ke . The project ia a Government of Kenya initiative to improve access to educational information and services through use of ICTs. For more information on TIGA Awards visit http://www.uneca.org/aisi/

2 1

List Subscription
by Alex Gakuru 06 May '07

06 May '07

Hi all, I have just re-subscribed with a second gmail email address (alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com) because I am told my subscription problem has to do with the Yahoo email, which I hope the list moderators retail as well. Now, I look forward to a smoother participation flow also happier Gmail will organise discussions by threads thus matter when a lister comments, that message will pop right at the top of my inbox. My yahoo address remains active therefore no messages will be lost through this address (alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com) Sincerely, Alex --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- CCKInternetStudyReport
by Judy Okite 06 May '07

06 May '07

Thnx Harry, to add on to Ur concern, as long as the ISP/IGO licenses are nt reviewed On 5/5/07, Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> wrote: > Dear Colleagues, > > I was hoping to remain a spectator in this debate but looks that is becoming > difficult to achieve. I think we need to look at ICT infrastructure and > especially connectivity differently. We need to elevate the status and > importance of ICT infrastructure to the same level as roads and power. > Meaning any new infrastructural development in the country, should have > connectivity considerations factored in. > > For instance when doing the feasibility study for the new roads soon to be > commissioned and to be supported by the Chinese Government, there should be > considerations of whether there is need to lay fiber alongside other > amenities such as power, lighting, walks ways and sewage. > > Regards > Harry > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org@kictanet.or.ke] On > Behalf Of Lucy Kimani > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 11:24 AM > To: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- > CCKInternetStudyReport > > Kai: > > I see your point, again I will use my previous domicile as a case in > point, the Federal Government is the biggest employer/buyer of supplies > and services in the Washington DC metro area (Virginia, Maryland, and of > course Washington DC) hence e-governance/e-learning is a must and I think > the Kenyan government recognizes this from the various initiatives > currently on going, I just think its just a matter of time. > > The only point where you and i part ways is your stand that the Government > should not be involved in infrastructure building because the Government > has an obligation to ensure that all Kenyans have access to the internet > while the private sector has to have a business case to justify coverage > of any particular area, so I say both efforts Government and Private > sector must compliment each other. > > With all the initiates on the drawing boards of both the government and > the private sector, I say let all move from the drawing boards into > implementation, Kai the computers at Kambaa Girls are gathering dust, and > Bw. Ndemo, I signed up for both the digital village and digital school > during the KICC expo and I have not heard a word on the way forward from > your end. > > LK > > > > My point is: > > > > Yu have limited room for infrastructure since the cost is constant and > > only > > increased usage can drop the price. The Government should NOT be a > > competitor but a price sensitive user! > > > > You will have enough people now competing for the business of the > > Government > > and the private users .. That forces prices down. Having a state owned > > cable > > or a state owned Telkom is in my opinion not the way forward. > > > > Rgds > > > > Kai > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of > > Wainaina Mungai > > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 10:35 > > To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability- > > CCKInternetStudyReport > > > > Kai said; > >> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank money > >> starts to compete before you can recover the cost.. > >> ...The private sector needs the Government as a user there as well as > >> the > >> private companies and consumers. [Only then will the prices drop!] > > > > Pricing > > I would like to assume that competition from government is as good as > > competition from other market players. The beauty of competition is in the > > way it forces the private sector to put a smile on the face of every > > consumer ;-) so as to guarantee revenue. I am convinced that a significant > > drop in prices results only from fierce competition and some degree of > > regulation. TESPOK and others fought for years to introduce competition > > which resulted in the current lower prices of internet and telephony > > services. > > > > > > The recent intervention of CCK on the pricing of mobile services is a case > > that proves that price controls may become necessary to protect consumers. > > For internet services, we need many 'small scale' providers whose products > > and pricing would be more market-driven and responsive to fluctuations in > > consumer needs. > > > > For instance, an internet user paying KShs. 6,000 per month for DSL per > > month is actually incurring 14 cents per minute for a 30-day month. This > > is > > a great deal for any 24 hour user who may even make money through such > > access to the internet. The same user would be said to incur 28 cents per > > minute if s/he were to use the link for an average 12 hours per day at the > > same monthly rate. There may be a catch here but there is a high > > probability > > that more businesses can survive on such low rates and pass such rates > > down > > to rural consumer. > > > > > > > > --- > > Wainaina Mungai > > http://www.madeinkenya.org > > > > SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present > > without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own > > needs. > > > > > >> > >> FROM: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] ON BEHALF > >> OF > >> Rebecca Wanjiku > >> SENT: Friday, May 04, 2007 10:23 > >> TO: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > >> SUBJECT: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > >> CCKInternetStudyReport > >> > >> > >> thanks Kai for the response, > >> we need many people responding to this issue, > >> > >> in my opinion, the government should find a way of using the WB money > >> through the private sector, so that the private sector does not see as > >> if > >> the government is competing and killing the profit margin, > >> > >> in this regard, the government could come up with some MOU with the > >> private sector so that some of the money invested is government's and > > some > >> PS. > >> that way, part of the profits will be ploughed back (it will be > >> mandatory) > >> > >> i remember during the OFC workshop, Kai shared how IFC funded a private > >> secotor consortium to carry out some survey at USD 300k and a similar > >> survey carried out by govts was valued at USD 3m > >> > >> maybe this can help reduce costs and provide a way for govt and PS to > >> work together and deliver quality market services, develop the content > > and > >> all.. > >> > >> its just an opinion, its not absolute, > >> > >> lets hear as many voices as possible, > >> it is at these forums/discussions that great ideas come up, > >> > >> regards > >> > >> _KAI WULFF <KAI.WULFF(a)KDN.CO.KE>_ wrote: > >> > >> Hello, > >> > >> we leave it to the ISPs to create the demand. We were hoping that with > >> our > >> rural initiatives, like connecting schools and showing them how to > >> educate > >> the parents (and make money with this) will increase the demand on a > >> natural > >> way. > >> > >> What we have seen wit some Rural BTS, it takes about 12 month until it > >> is > >> > >> break even ... > >> > >> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank > >> money > >> starts to compete before you can recover the cost. It is my strong > >> believe > >> that wherever a device can be operated, there WILL be a market. The > >> private > >> sector needs the Government as a user there as well as the private > >> companies > >> and consumers. Only then will the prices drop! We still focus too much > >> on > >> > >> the INTERNET, what most people need for a start is LOCAL information > >> and > >> communication .. so I would say: 90% local IP traffic and 10% > >> international > >> .. > >> > >> Kai > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Joan Walumbe" > >> To: > >> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 > >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > >> CCKInternetStudy Report > >> > >> > >> > Walu, > >> > > >> > I agree with you that affordablity is a factor especially for rural > >> > communities when it comes to access to the internet. But I think that > >> lack > >> > of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for the urban folk > >> (who > >> > already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) taking a short > >> break > >> > in > >> > shags to have the internet access when back home, but it there is no > >> > demand > >> > for the internet among the residents what is the point? > >> > > >> > So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create demand or is their > >> a > >> > market that demands the service or is it a little of both? > >> > > >> > I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the rural areas if > >> it > >> > >> > did > >> > not make any financial sense. Can anyone provide some info/statistics > >> on > >> > demand for internet access in rural areas? > >> > > >> > Joan Walumbe > >> > > >> > ----- Original Message ----- > >> > From: "John Walubengo" > >> > To: > >> > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM > >> > Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCK > >> > InternetStudy > >> > Report > >> > > >> > > >> > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > >> > > >> > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust > >> relationships > >> > >> > b/w > >> > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well as on > >> > today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking > >> > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > >> > > >> > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting > >> Bungoma > >> in > >> > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely > >> development, > >> > but at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the (internet) > >> > services be affordable to the rural/average communities? > >> > > >> > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap > >> by > >> > the > >> > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on > >> the > >> > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for affordability, > >> the > >> > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other words, if > >> the > >> > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average > >> > monthly > >> > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the > >> average > >> > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes > >> way > >> > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > >> > > >> > The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet > >> > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too > >> > expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing > >> just > >> > 8% > >> > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in > >> > order > >> > to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > >> > > >> > 1 day deliberation on this one. > >> > > >> > walu. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > 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/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com > >> > >> > >> Rebecca Wanjiku, > >> journalist, > >> p.o box 33515, > >> Nairobi.00600 > >> Kenya. > >> > >> Tel. 254 720 318 925 > >> > >> blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ > >> > >> > >> -------------------- > >> > >> > >> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? > >> Check out [LINK: > >> > > > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48245/*http:/autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html;_ylc=X > > 3oDMTE1YW1jcXJ2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3LWNhcnM-] > >> new cars at Yahoo! Autos. > >> -------------------- > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> [LINK: compose.php?to=kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke] kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> [LINK: http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet] > >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at [LINK: > >> > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org] > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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/lkimani%40comnews.co.ke > > > > ----------------------------------------- > This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. > " " > http://www.accesskenya.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > 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/harry%40africanedevelopment.o > rg > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/judyokite%40gmail.com > -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there."

3 4

Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- CCKInternetStudyReport
by judy okite 05 May '07

05 May '07

Sir, why is my point dissected,till it doesnt make sense? Kind Regards, Okite --- kictanet-bounces+judyokite=yahoo.com(a)kictanet.or.ke <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Then there mayb need to re-define 'cheap' ,because someone has to pay > the cost....Consumer? Kind Regards, > > On 5/5/07, Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > No cost reduction/tax waiver on modems,poles,switches etc the basics > > of internet connection > > > > On 5/5/07, Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > Thnx Harry, to add on to Ur concern, as long as the ISP/IGO licenses > > > are nt reviewed > > > > > > On 5/5/07, Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> wrote: > > > > Dear Colleagues, > > > > > > > > I was hoping to remain a spectator in this debate but looks that is > > > becoming > > > > difficult to achieve. I think we need to look at ICT infrastructure and > > > > especially connectivity differently. We need to elevate the status and > > > > importance of ICT infrastructure to the same level as roads and power. > > > > Meaning any new infrastructural development in the country, should have > > > > connectivity considerations factored in. > > > > > > > > For instance when doing the feasibility study for the new roads soon to > > be > > > > commissioned and to be supported by the Chinese Government, there should > > > be > > > > considerations of whether there is need to lay fiber alongside other > > > > amenities such as power, lighting, walks ways and sewage. > > > > > > > > Regards > > > > Harry > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)kictanet.or.ke > > > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org@kictanet.or.ke] > > On > > > > Behalf Of Lucy Kimani > > > > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 11:24 AM > > > > To: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org > > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- > > > > CCKInternetStudyReport > > > > > > > > Kai: > > > > > > > > I see your point, again I will use my previous domicile as a case in > > > > point, the Federal Government is the biggest employer/buyer of supplies > > > > and services in the Washington DC metro area (Virginia, Maryland, and of > > > > course Washington DC) hence e-governance/e-learning is a must and I > > think > > > > the Kenyan government recognizes this from the various initiatives > > > > currently on going, I just think its just a matter of time. > > > > > > > > The only point where you and i part ways is your stand that the > > Government > > > > should not be involved in infrastructure building because the Government > > > > has an obligation to ensure that all Kenyans have access to the internet > > > > while the private sector has to have a business case to justify coverage > > > > of any particular area, so I say both efforts Government and Private > > > > sector must compliment each other. > > > > > > > > With all the initiates on the drawing boards of both the government and > > > > the private sector, I say let all move from the drawing boards into > > > > implementation, Kai the computers at Kambaa Girls are gathering dust, > > and > > > > Bw. Ndemo, I signed up for both the digital village and digital school > > > > during the KICC expo and I have not heard a word on the way forward from > > > > your end. > > > > > > > > LK > > > > > > > > > > > > > My point is: > > > > > > > > > > Yu have limited room for infrastructure since the cost is constant and > > > > > only > > > > > increased usage can drop the price. The Government should NOT be a > > > > > competitor but a price sensitive user! > > > > > > > > > > You will have enough people now competing for the business of the > > > > > Government === Message Truncated === ____________________________________________________________________________________ Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability -CCKInternetStudy Report
by jamesrege＠africaonline.co.ke 05 May '07

05 May '07

Walu, Your concern on affordability of internet access by rural communities is justified. I don't think fibre optics (being a point-to-point) network can benefit a majority of rural communities economically unless there is a seriously subsidized provision of the last-mile network. Thousands of schools and Government offices which are situated far away from the fibre optics paths will never sniff the benefits of broadband communications supplied through fibre optics pipe. Fibre optics, microwave and satellite media always complement each other, especially for restoration purposes. Kenya is lucky to have them all. Can Walu's concern be addressed in all the cases? On 5/3/07 9:01 AM, "John Walubengo" <jwalubengo(a)kcct.ac.ke> wrote: > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust relationships b/w > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well as on today's > theme on affordability (multi-tasking > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting Bungoma in > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely development, but > at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the (internet) services be > affordable to the rural/average communities? > > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap by the > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on the > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for affordability, the > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other words, if the > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average monthly > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the average > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes way > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > > The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too > expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing just 8% > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in order to > make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > > 1 day deliberation on this one. > > walu. > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/jamesrege%40africaonline.co.k e > -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- CCKInternetStudyReport
by Judy Okite 05 May '07

05 May '07

Thnx Harry, to add on to Ur concern, as long as the ISP/IGO licenses are nt reviewed, no tax waiver On 5/5/07, Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> wrote: > Dear Colleagues, > > I was hoping to remain a spectator in this debate but looks that is becoming > difficult to achieve. I think we need to look at ICT infrastructure and > especially connectivity differently. We need to elevate the status and > importance of ICT infrastructure to the same level as roads and power. > Meaning any new infrastructural development in the country, should have > connectivity considerations factored in. > > For instance when doing the feasibility study for the new roads soon to be > commissioned and to be supported by the Chinese Government, there should be > considerations of whether there is need to lay fiber alongside other > amenities such as power, lighting, walks ways and sewage. > > Regards > Harry > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org@kictanet.or.ke] On > Behalf Of Lucy Kimani > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 11:24 AM > To: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- > CCKInternetStudyReport > > Kai: > > I see your point, again I will use my previous domicile as a case in > point, the Federal Government is the biggest employer/buyer of supplies > and services in the Washington DC metro area (Virginia, Maryland, and of > course Washington DC) hence e-governance/e-learning is a must and I think > the Kenyan government recognizes this from the various initiatives > currently on going, I just think its just a matter of time. > > The only point where you and i part ways is your stand that the Government > should not be involved in infrastructure building because the Government > has an obligation to ensure that all Kenyans have access to the internet > while the private sector has to have a business case to justify coverage > of any particular area, so I say both efforts Government and Private > sector must compliment each other. > > With all the initiates on the drawing boards of both the government and > the private sector, I say let all move from the drawing boards into > implementation, Kai the computers at Kambaa Girls are gathering dust, and > Bw. Ndemo, I signed up for both the digital village and digital school > during the KICC expo and I have not heard a word on the way forward from > your end. > > LK > > > > My point is: > > > > Yu have limited room for infrastructure since the cost is constant and > > only > > increased usage can drop the price. The Government should NOT be a > > competitor but a price sensitive user! > > > > You will have enough people now competing for the business of the > > Government > > and the private users .. That forces prices down. Having a state owned > > cable > > or a state owned Telkom is in my opinion not the way forward. > > > > Rgds > > > > Kai > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of > > Wainaina Mungai > > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 10:35 > > To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability- > > CCKInternetStudyReport > > > > Kai said; > >> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank money > >> starts to compete before you can recover the cost.. > >> ...The private sector needs the Government as a user there as well as > >> the > >> private companies and consumers. [Only then will the prices drop!] > > > > Pricing > > I would like to assume that competition from government is as good as > > competition from other market players. The beauty of competition is in the > > way it forces the private sector to put a smile on the face of every > > consumer ;-) so as to guarantee revenue. I am convinced that a significant > > drop in prices results only from fierce competition and some degree of > > regulation. TESPOK and others fought for years to introduce competition > > which resulted in the current lower prices of internet and telephony > > services. > > > > > > The recent intervention of CCK on the pricing of mobile services is a case > > that proves that price controls may become necessary to protect consumers. > > For internet services, we need many 'small scale' providers whose products > > and pricing would be more market-driven and responsive to fluctuations in > > consumer needs. > > > > For instance, an internet user paying KShs. 6,000 per month for DSL per > > month is actually incurring 14 cents per minute for a 30-day month. This > > is > > a great deal for any 24 hour user who may even make money through such > > access to the internet. The same user would be said to incur 28 cents per > > minute if s/he were to use the link for an average 12 hours per day at the > > same monthly rate. There may be a catch here but there is a high > > probability > > that more businesses can survive on such low rates and pass such rates > > down > > to rural consumer. > > > > > > > > --- > > Wainaina Mungai > > http://www.madeinkenya.org > > > > SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present > > without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own > > needs. > > > > > >> > >> FROM: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] ON BEHALF > >> OF > >> Rebecca Wanjiku > >> SENT: Friday, May 04, 2007 10:23 > >> TO: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > >> SUBJECT: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > >> CCKInternetStudyReport > >> > >> > >> thanks Kai for the response, > >> we need many people responding to this issue, > >> > >> in my opinion, the government should find a way of using the WB money > >> through the private sector, so that the private sector does not see as > >> if > >> the government is competing and killing the profit margin, > >> > >> in this regard, the government could come up with some MOU with the > >> private sector so that some of the money invested is government's and > > some > >> PS. > >> that way, part of the profits will be ploughed back (it will be > >> mandatory) > >> > >> i remember during the OFC workshop, Kai shared how IFC funded a private > >> secotor consortium to carry out some survey at USD 300k and a similar > >> survey carried out by govts was valued at USD 3m > >> > >> maybe this can help reduce costs and provide a way for govt and PS to > >> work together and deliver quality market services, develop the content > > and > >> all.. > >> > >> its just an opinion, its not absolute, > >> > >> lets hear as many voices as possible, > >> it is at these forums/discussions that great ideas come up, > >> > >> regards > >> > >> _KAI WULFF <KAI.WULFF(a)KDN.CO.KE>_ wrote: > >> > >> Hello, > >> > >> we leave it to the ISPs to create the demand. We were hoping that with > >> our > >> rural initiatives, like connecting schools and showing them how to > >> educate > >> the parents (and make money with this) will increase the demand on a > >> natural > >> way. > >> > >> What we have seen wit some Rural BTS, it takes about 12 month until it > >> is > >> > >> break even ... > >> > >> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank > >> money > >> starts to compete before you can recover the cost. It is my strong > >> believe > >> that wherever a device can be operated, there WILL be a market. The > >> private > >> sector needs the Government as a user there as well as the private > >> companies > >> and consumers. Only then will the prices drop! We still focus too much > >> on > >> > >> the INTERNET, what most people need for a start is LOCAL information > >> and > >> communication .. so I would say: 90% local IP traffic and 10% > >> international > >> .. > >> > >> Kai > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Joan Walumbe" > >> To: > >> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 > >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > >> CCKInternetStudy Report > >> > >> > >> > Walu, > >> > > >> > I agree with you that affordablity is a factor especially for rural > >> > communities when it comes to access to the internet. But I think that > >> lack > >> > of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for the urban folk > >> (who > >> > already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) taking a short > >> break > >> > in > >> > shags to have the internet access when back home, but it there is no > >> > demand > >> > for the internet among the residents what is the point? > >> > > >> > So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create demand or is their > >> a > >> > market that demands the service or is it a little of both? > >> > > >> > I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the rural areas if > >> it > >> > >> > did > >> > not make any financial sense. Can anyone provide some info/statistics > >> on > >> > demand for internet access in rural areas? > >> > > >> > Joan Walumbe > >> > > >> > ----- Original Message ----- > >> > From: "John Walubengo" > >> > To: > >> > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM > >> > Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCK > >> > InternetStudy > >> > Report > >> > > >> > > >> > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > >> > > >> > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust > >> relationships > >> > >> > b/w > >> > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well as on > >> > today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking > >> > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > >> > > >> > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting > >> Bungoma > >> in > >> > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely > >> development, > >> > but at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the (internet) > >> > services be affordable to the rural/average communities? > >> > > >> > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap > >> by > >> > the > >> > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on > >> the > >> > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for affordability, > >> the > >> > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other words, if > >> the > >> > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average > >> > monthly > >> > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the > >> average > >> > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes > >> way > >> > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > >> > > >> > The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet > >> > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too > >> > expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing > >> just > >> > 8% > >> > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in > >> > order > >> > to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > >> > > >> > 1 day deliberation on this one. > >> > > >> > walu. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > 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/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com > >> > >> > >> Rebecca Wanjiku, > >> journalist, > >> p.o box 33515, > >> Nairobi.00600 > >> Kenya. > >> > >> Tel. 254 720 318 925 > >> > >> blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ > >> > >> > >> -------------------- > >> > >> > >> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? > >> Check out [LINK: > >> > > > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48245/*http:/autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html;_ylc=X > > 3oDMTE1YW1jcXJ2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3LWNhcnM-] > >> new cars at Yahoo! Autos. > >> -------------------- > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> [LINK: compose.php?to=kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke] kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> [LINK: http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet] > >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at [LINK: > >> > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org] > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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/lkimani%40comnews.co.ke > > > > ----------------------------------------- > This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. > " " > http://www.accesskenya.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > 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/harry%40africanedevelopment.o > rg > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/judyokite%40gmail.com > -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there."

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- CCKInternetStudyReport
by Judy Okite 05 May '07

05 May '07

Thnx Harry, to add on to Ur concern, as long as the ISP/IGO licenses are nt reviewed, no tax waiver On 5/5/07, Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> wrote: > Dear Colleagues, > > I was hoping to remain a spectator in this debate but looks that is becoming > difficult to achieve. I think we need to look at ICT infrastructure and > especially connectivity differently. We need to elevate the status and > importance of ICT infrastructure to the same level as roads and power. > Meaning any new infrastructural development in the country, should have > connectivity considerations factored in. > > For instance when doing the feasibility study for the new roads soon to be > commissioned and to be supported by the Chinese Government, there should be > considerations of whether there is need to lay fiber alongside other > amenities such as power, lighting, walks ways and sewage. > > Regards > Harry > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org@kictanet.or.ke] On > Behalf Of Lucy Kimani > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 11:24 AM > To: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- > CCKInternetStudyReport > > Kai: > > I see your point, again I will use my previous domicile as a case in > point, the Federal Government is the biggest employer/buyer of supplies > and services in the Washington DC metro area (Virginia, Maryland, and of > course Washington DC) hence e-governance/e-learning is a must and I think > the Kenyan government recognizes this from the various initiatives > currently on going, I just think its just a matter of time. > > The only point where you and i part ways is your stand that the Government > should not be involved in infrastructure building because the Government > has an obligation to ensure that all Kenyans have access to the internet > while the private sector has to have a business case to justify coverage > of any particular area, so I say both efforts Government and Private > sector must compliment each other. > > With all the initiates on the drawing boards of both the government and > the private sector, I say let all move from the drawing boards into > implementation, Kai the computers at Kambaa Girls are gathering dust, and > Bw. Ndemo, I signed up for both the digital village and digital school > during the KICC expo and I have not heard a word on the way forward from > your end. > > LK > > > > My point is: > > > > Yu have limited room for infrastructure since the cost is constant and > > only > > increased usage can drop the price. The Government should NOT be a > > competitor but a price sensitive user! > > > > You will have enough people now competing for the business of the > > Government > > and the private users .. That forces prices down. Having a state owned > > cable > > or a state owned Telkom is in my opinion not the way forward. > > > > Rgds > > > > Kai > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of > > Wainaina Mungai > > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 10:35 > > To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability- > > CCKInternetStudyReport > > > > Kai said; > >> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank money > >> starts to compete before you can recover the cost.. > >> ...The private sector needs the Government as a user there as well as > >> the > >> private companies and consumers. [Only then will the prices drop!] > > > > Pricing > > I would like to assume that competition from government is as good as > > competition from other market players. The beauty of competition is in the > > way it forces the private sector to put a smile on the face of every > > consumer ;-) so as to guarantee revenue. I am convinced that a significant > > drop in prices results only from fierce competition and some degree of > > regulation. TESPOK and others fought for years to introduce competition > > which resulted in the current lower prices of internet and telephony > > services. > > > > > > The recent intervention of CCK on the pricing of mobile services is a case > > that proves that price controls may become necessary to protect consumers. > > For internet services, we need many 'small scale' providers whose products > > and pricing would be more market-driven and responsive to fluctuations in > > consumer needs. > > > > For instance, an internet user paying KShs. 6,000 per month for DSL per > > month is actually incurring 14 cents per minute for a 30-day month. This > > is > > a great deal for any 24 hour user who may even make money through such > > access to the internet. The same user would be said to incur 28 cents per > > minute if s/he were to use the link for an average 12 hours per day at the > > same monthly rate. There may be a catch here but there is a high > > probability > > that more businesses can survive on such low rates and pass such rates > > down > > to rural consumer. > > > > > > > > --- > > Wainaina Mungai > > http://www.madeinkenya.org > > > > SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present > > without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own > > needs. > > > > > >> > >> FROM: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] ON BEHALF > >> OF > >> Rebecca Wanjiku > >> SENT: Friday, May 04, 2007 10:23 > >> TO: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > >> SUBJECT: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > >> CCKInternetStudyReport > >> > >> > >> thanks Kai for the response, > >> we need many people responding to this issue, > >> > >> in my opinion, the government should find a way of using the WB money > >> through the private sector, so that the private sector does not see as > >> if > >> the government is competing and killing the profit margin, > >> > >> in this regard, the government could come up with some MOU with the > >> private sector so that some of the money invested is government's and > > some > >> PS. > >> that way, part of the profits will be ploughed back (it will be > >> mandatory) > >> > >> i remember during the OFC workshop, Kai shared how IFC funded a private > >> secotor consortium to carry out some survey at USD 300k and a similar > >> survey carried out by govts was valued at USD 3m > >> > >> maybe this can help reduce costs and provide a way for govt and PS to > >> work together and deliver quality market services, develop the content > > and > >> all.. > >> > >> its just an opinion, its not absolute, > >> > >> lets hear as many voices as possible, > >> it is at these forums/discussions that great ideas come up, > >> > >> regards > >> > >> _KAI WULFF <KAI.WULFF(a)KDN.CO.KE>_ wrote: > >> > >> Hello, > >> > >> we leave it to the ISPs to create the demand. We were hoping that with > >> our > >> rural initiatives, like connecting schools and showing them how to > >> educate > >> the parents (and make money with this) will increase the demand on a > >> natural > >> way. > >> > >> What we have seen wit some Rural BTS, it takes about 12 month until it > >> is > >> > >> break even ... > >> > >> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank > >> money > >> starts to compete before you can recover the cost. It is my strong > >> believe > >> that wherever a device can be operated, there WILL be a market. The > >> private > >> sector needs the Government as a user there as well as the private > >> companies > >> and consumers. Only then will the prices drop! We still focus too much > >> on > >> > >> the INTERNET, what most people need for a start is LOCAL information > >> and > >> communication .. so I would say: 90% local IP traffic and 10% > >> international > >> .. > >> > >> Kai > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Joan Walumbe" > >> To: > >> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 > >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > >> CCKInternetStudy Report > >> > >> > >> > Walu, > >> > > >> > I agree with you that affordablity is a factor especially for rural > >> > communities when it comes to access to the internet. But I think that > >> lack > >> > of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for the urban folk > >> (who > >> > already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) taking a short > >> break > >> > in > >> > shags to have the internet access when back home, but it there is no > >> > demand > >> > for the internet among the residents what is the point? > >> > > >> > So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create demand or is their > >> a > >> > market that demands the service or is it a little of both? > >> > > >> > I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the rural areas if > >> it > >> > >> > did > >> > not make any financial sense. Can anyone provide some info/statistics > >> on > >> > demand for internet access in rural areas? > >> > > >> > Joan Walumbe > >> > > >> > ----- Original Message ----- > >> > From: "John Walubengo" > >> > To: > >> > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM > >> > Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCK > >> > InternetStudy > >> > Report > >> > > >> > > >> > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > >> > > >> > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust > >> relationships > >> > >> > b/w > >> > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well as on > >> > today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking > >> > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > >> > > >> > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting > >> Bungoma > >> in > >> > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely > >> development, > >> > but at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the (internet) > >> > services be affordable to the rural/average communities? > >> > > >> > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap > >> by > >> > the > >> > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on > >> the > >> > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for affordability, > >> the > >> > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other words, if > >> the > >> > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average > >> > monthly > >> > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the > >> average > >> > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes > >> way > >> > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > >> > > >> > The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet > >> > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too > >> > expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing > >> just > >> > 8% > >> > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in > >> > order > >> > to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > >> > > >> > 1 day deliberation on this one. > >> > > >> > walu. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > 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/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com > >> > >> > >> Rebecca Wanjiku, > >> journalist, > >> p.o box 33515, > >> Nairobi.00600 > >> Kenya. > >> > >> Tel. 254 720 318 925 > >> > >> blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ > >> > >> > >> -------------------- > >> > >> > >> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? > >> Check out [LINK: > >> > > > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48245/*http:/autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html;_ylc=X > > 3oDMTE1YW1jcXJ2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3LWNhcnM-] > >> new cars at Yahoo! Autos. > >> -------------------- > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> [LINK: compose.php?to=kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke] kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> [LINK: http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet] > >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at [LINK: > >> > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org] > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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/lkimani%40comnews.co.ke > > > > ----------------------------------------- > This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. > " " > http://www.accesskenya.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > 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/harry%40africanedevelopment.o > rg > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/judyokite%40gmail.com > -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there."

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- CCKInternetStudyReport
by Eric Osiakwan 05 May '07

05 May '07

Harry, thanks for adding your voice to this important rendition, this is one of our key recommendation in the Open Access study to the WorldBank but our leaders must ensure it happens because it is in our interest to make it happen. By the way, this is exactly how fiber grew in Sweden back in the Seventies and Eighties. Eric here On 5 May 2007, at 15:01, Harry Hare wrote: > Dear Colleagues, > > I was hoping to remain a spectator in this debate but looks that is > becoming > difficult to achieve. I think we need to look at ICT infrastructure > and > especially connectivity differently. We need to elevate the status and > importance of ICT infrastructure to the same level as roads and power. > Meaning any new infrastructural development in the country, should > have > connectivity considerations factored in. > > For instance when doing the feasibility study for the new roads > soon to be > commissioned and to be supported by the Chinese Government, there > should be > considerations of whether there is need to lay fiber alongside other > amenities such as power, lighting, walks ways and sewage. > > Regards > Harry > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces > +harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)kictanet.or.ke] On > Behalf Of Lucy Kimani > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 11:24 AM > To: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- > CCKInternetStudyReport > > Kai: > > I see your point, again I will use my previous domicile as a case in > point, the Federal Government is the biggest employer/buyer of > supplies > and services in the Washington DC metro area (Virginia, Maryland, > and of > course Washington DC) hence e-governance/e-learning is a must and I > think > the Kenyan government recognizes this from the various initiatives > currently on going, I just think its just a matter of time. > > The only point where you and i part ways is your stand that the > Government > should not be involved in infrastructure building because the > Government > has an obligation to ensure that all Kenyans have access to the > internet > while the private sector has to have a business case to justify > coverage > of any particular area, so I say both efforts Government and Private > sector must compliment each other. > > With all the initiates on the drawing boards of both the government > and > the private sector, I say let all move from the drawing boards into > implementation, Kai the computers at Kambaa Girls are gathering > dust, and > Bw. Ndemo, I signed up for both the digital village and digital school > during the KICC expo and I have not heard a word on the way forward > from > your end. > > LK > > >> My point is: >> >> Yu have limited room for infrastructure since the cost is constant >> and >> only >> increased usage can drop the price. The Government should NOT be a >> competitor but a price sensitive user! >> >> You will have enough people now competing for the business of the >> Government >> and the private users .. That forces prices down. Having a state >> owned >> cable >> or a state owned Telkom is in my opinion not the way forward. >> >> Rgds >> >> Kai >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On >> Behalf Of >> Wainaina Mungai >> Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 10:35 >> To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability- >> CCKInternetStudyReport >> >> Kai said; >>> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World >>> Bank money >>> starts to compete before you can recover the cost.. >>> ...The private sector needs the Government as a user there as >>> well as >>> the >>> private companies and consumers. [Only then will the prices drop!] >> >> Pricing >> I would like to assume that competition from government is as good as >> competition from other market players. The beauty of competition >> is in the >> way it forces the private sector to put a smile on the face of every >> consumer ;-) so as to guarantee revenue. I am convinced that a >> significant >> drop in prices results only from fierce competition and some >> degree of >> regulation. TESPOK and others fought for years to introduce >> competition >> which resulted in the current lower prices of internet and telephony >> services. >> >> >> The recent intervention of CCK on the pricing of mobile services >> is a case >> that proves that price controls may become necessary to protect >> consumers. >> For internet services, we need many 'small scale' providers whose >> products >> and pricing would be more market-driven and responsive to >> fluctuations in >> consumer needs. >> >> For instance, an internet user paying KShs. 6,000 per month for >> DSL per >> month is actually incurring 14 cents per minute for a 30-day >> month. This >> is >> a great deal for any 24 hour user who may even make money through >> such >> access to the internet. The same user would be said to incur 28 >> cents per >> minute if s/he were to use the link for an average 12 hours per >> day at the >> same monthly rate. There may be a catch here but there is a high >> probability >> that more businesses can survive on such low rates and pass such >> rates >> down >> to rural consumer. >> >> >> >> --- >> Wainaina Mungai >> http://www.madeinkenya.org >> >> SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the >> present >> without compromising the ability of future generations to meet >> their own >> needs. >> >> >>> >>> FROM: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke >>> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] ON >>> BEHALF >>> OF >>> Rebecca Wanjiku >>> SENT: Friday, May 04, 2007 10:23 >>> TO: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke >>> SUBJECT: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - >>> CCKInternetStudyReport >>> >>> >>> thanks Kai for the response, >>> we need many people responding to this issue, >>> >>> in my opinion, the government should find a way of using the WB >>> money >>> through the private sector, so that the private sector does not >>> see as >>> if >>> the government is competing and killing the profit margin, >>> >>> in this regard, the government could come up with some MOU with the >>> private sector so that some of the money invested is >>> government's and >> some >>> PS. >>> that way, part of the profits will be ploughed back (it will be >>> mandatory) >>> >>> i remember during the OFC workshop, Kai shared how IFC funded a >>> private >>> secotor consortium to carry out some survey at USD 300k and a >>> similar >>> survey carried out by govts was valued at USD 3m >>> >>> maybe this can help reduce costs and provide a way for govt and >>> PS to >>> work together and deliver quality market services, develop the >>> content >> and >>> all.. >>> >>> its just an opinion, its not absolute, >>> >>> lets hear as many voices as possible, >>> it is at these forums/discussions that great ideas come up, >>> >>> regards >>> >>> _KAI WULFF <KAI.WULFF(a)KDN.CO.KE>_ wrote: >>> >>> Hello, >>> >>> we leave it to the ISPs to create the demand. We were hoping >>> that with >>> our >>> rural initiatives, like connecting schools and showing them how to >>> educate >>> the parents (and make money with this) will increase the demand >>> on a >>> natural >>> way. >>> >>> What we have seen wit some Rural BTS, it takes about 12 month >>> until it >>> is >>> >>> break even ... >>> >>> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank >>> money >>> starts to compete before you can recover the cost. It is my strong >>> believe >>> that wherever a device can be operated, there WILL be a market. The >>> private >>> sector needs the Government as a user there as well as the private >>> companies >>> and consumers. Only then will the prices drop! We still focus >>> too much >>> on >>> >>> the INTERNET, what most people need for a start is LOCAL >>> information >>> and >>> communication .. so I would say: 90% local IP traffic and 10% >>> international >>> .. >>> >>> Kai >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Joan Walumbe" >>> To: >>> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 >>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - >>> CCKInternetStudy Report >>> >>> >>>> Walu, >>>> >>>> I agree with you that affordablity is a factor especially for rural >>>> communities when it comes to access to the internet. But I think >>>> that >>> lack >>>> of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for the urban folk >>> (who >>>> already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) taking a short >>> break >>>> in >>>> shags to have the internet access when back home, but it there >>>> is no >>>> demand >>>> for the internet among the residents what is the point? >>>> >>>> So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create demand or is >>>> their >>> a >>>> market that demands the service or is it a little of both? >>>> >>>> I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the rural >>>> areas if >>> it >>> >>>> did >>>> not make any financial sense. Can anyone provide some info/ >>>> statistics >>> on >>>> demand for internet access in rural areas? >>>> >>>> Joan Walumbe >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "John Walubengo" >>>> To: >>>> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM >>>> Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCK >>>> InternetStudy >>>> Report >>>> >>>> >>>> Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. >>>> >>>> I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust >>> relationships >>> >>>> b/w >>>> IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well >>>> as on >>>> today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking >>>> encouraged by internet technologies ...) >>>> >>>> and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting >>> Bungoma >>> in >>>> early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely >>> development, >>>> but at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the >>>> (internet) >>>> services be affordable to the rural/average communities? >>>> >>>> Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered >>>> cheap >>> by >>>> the >>>> Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average >>>> Kenyan on >>> the >>>> street. In trying to get an objective measurement for >>>> affordability, >>> the >>>> Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other >>>> words, if >>> the >>>> monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average >>>> monthly >>>> cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the >>> average >>>> Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just >>>> becomes >>> way >>>> beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. >>>> >>>> The report indicated that access through the more convenient >>>> Internet >>>> Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too >>>> expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing >>> just >>>> 8% >>>> of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in >>>> order >>>> to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? >>>> >>>> 1 day deliberation on this one. >>>> >>>> walu. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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/rebeccawanjiku% > 40yahoo.com >>> >>> >>> Rebecca Wanjiku, >>> journalist, >>> p.o box 33515, >>> Nairobi.00600 >>> Kenya. >>> >>> Tel. 254 720 318 925 >>> >>> blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ >>> >>> >>> -------------------- >>> >>> >>> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? >>> Check out [LINK: >>> >> > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48245/*http:/autos.yahoo.com/ > new_cars.html;_ylc=X >> 3oDMTE1YW1jcXJ2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3LWNhcnM-] >>> new cars at Yahoo! Autos. >>> -------------------- >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> [LINK: compose.php?to=kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke] >>> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >>> [LINK: http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet] >>> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Please unsubscribe or change your options at [LINK: >>> >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina% >> 40madeinkenya.org] >>> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina% > 40madeinkenya.org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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/lkimani% >> 40comnews.co.ke > > > > ----------------------------------------- > This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. > " " > http://www.accesskenya.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > 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/harry% > 40africanedevelopment.o > rg > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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"

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability -CCKInternetStudy Report
by Wainaina Mungai 05 May '07

05 May '07

Kai said; > The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank money > starts to compete before you can recover the cost > .The private sector needs the Government as a user there as well as the > private companies and consumers. [Only then will the prices drop!] Pricing I would like to assume that fair competition from government is as good as competition from other market players. The beauty of competition is in the way it forces the private sector to put a smile on the face of every consumer ;-) so as to guarantee revenue. I am convinced that a significant drop in prices results only from fierce competition and some degree of regulation. TESPOK and others fought for years to introduce competition which resulted in the current lower prices of internet and telephony services. The recent intervention of CCK on the pricing of mobile services is a case that proves that price controls may become necessary to protect consumers. For internet services, we need many small scale providers whose products and pricing would be more market-driven and responsive to fluctuations in consumer needs. For instance, an internet user paying KShs. 6,000 per month for DSL per month is actually incurring 14 cents per minute for a 30-day month. This is a great deal for any 24 hour user who may even make money through such access to the internet. The same user would be said to incur 28 cents per minute if s/he were to use the link for an average 12 hours per day at the same monthly rate. There may be a catch here but there is a high probability that more businesses can survive on such low rates and pass such rates down to rural consumer. --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. > -------Original Message------- > From: Joan Walumbe <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability -CCKInternetStudy Report > Sent: 04 May '07 17:46 > > Thanks Fatma, > > Much appreciated. > > Joan > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Fatma Bashir" <fbashir(a)cyberschooltech.com> > To: "Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet" <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 1:31 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on > Affordability -CCKInternetStudy Report > > > > Joan, > > > > I dont have statistics but working in the education sector, I see what KDN > > sees in the schools, schools will be the incubation ground for the demand > > for ICT in the rural areas (60% of schools are in rural areas). In about a > > year and a half years time the picture will start changing as high school > > graduates will be computer savvy and naturally opt to continue pursuing > > interests ranging from search of opportunities for enterpreneurship to > > formal job hunting using the internet or just keeping intouch!. > > > > Further more when we look at schools and their facilities, they can easily > > become the information centres for the communities around them and also > > offer affordable capacity building to the parents of the students nearby. > > Then they will start to look for ways to make some money and the > > international/local content picture will start to swing in our favor. > > > > Imagine one day you will go online and order your chopped sukuma wiki and > > packet of carrots from the local mama mbogo outside your estate, she will > > deliver to your house you will pay her on your way back home or GOd knows > > even online?. its the form form leaver who will have designed the website > > for her and its the nearby school that will have taught her computer 101. > > > > whats missing is the segment that should be dealing with Capacity Building > > in an informal way or even sensitizing and awareness ( ie we dont have to > > attend college proper we can just go to the neighbourhood place and learn > > some basics) I think that this is where the Lag might be felt by the likes > > of KDN...and others. > > > > Fatma > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Joan Walumbe" <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> > > To: <fbashir(a)cyberschooltech.com> > > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 AM > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > > CCKInternetStudy Report > > > > > > > Walu, > > > > > > I agree with you that affordablity is a factor especially for rural > > > communities when it comes to access to the internet. But I think that > lack > > > of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for the urban folk (who > > > already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) taking a short > break > > > in > > > shags to have the internet access when back home, but it there is no > > > demand > > > for the internet among the residents what is the point? > > > > > > So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create demand or is their a > > > market that demands the service or is it a little of both? > > > > > > I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the rural areas if it > > > did > > > not make any financial sense. Can anyone provide some info/statistics > on > > > demand for internet access in rural areas? > > > > > > Joan Walumbe > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "John Walubengo" <jwalubengo(a)kcct.ac.ke> > > > To: <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> > > > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM > > > Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCK > > > InternetStudy > > > Report > > > > > > > > > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > > > > > > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust relationships > > > b/w > > > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well as on > > > today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking > > > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > > > > > > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting Bungoma > in > > > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely > development, > > > but at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the (internet) > > > services be affordable to the rural/average communities? > > > > > > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap by > > > the > > > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on > the > > > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for affordability, > the > > > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other words, if > the > > > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average > > > monthly > > > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the > average > > > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes way > > > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > > > > > > The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet > > > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too > > > expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing > just > > > 8% > > > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in > > > order > > > to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > > > > > > 1 day deliberation on this one. > > > > > > walu. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > 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/fbashir%40cyberschooltech.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" > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org >

1 0

Re: [kictanet] kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCKInternetStudyReport
by Wainaina Mungai 05 May '07

05 May '07

>"but if there is no demand for the internet among the residents what is the point?" Maybe we need to look back at what models worked or failed at the turn of the millennium: WHAT WORKED In 1999, very few people believed there was enough demand to support 7 million enthusiastic mobile phone users in a country with less than 35 million people. The thirst for convenient communication services has proved overwhelming and is yet to be quenched. For the internet, the challenge is in creating an accessible network and making users connect at lowest possible set-up cost (just like GSM firms offer KShs. 2500 for mobile phone plus SIM). The internet services should also be modelled to meet varied user profiles (such as is the case with mobile service tariffs). WHAT DIDNT WORK Low levels of internet usage may be blamed on lack of an accessible network (landline or otherwise). Telkom Kenya failed to connect hundreds of thousands of landline phone subscribers who would have become a pool of voice and data service users continually bringing in revenue. They are now aggressively selling CDMA solutions to increase users and make money from usage rather than connection fees. This is the same problem that KPLC created by failing to see the future demand for electricity and relying heavily ion connection fees instead of usage fees. They are only now racing with time for subscribers under the Umeme Pamoja and even reaching out to slum dwellers with special tariffs. NETWORK OF USERS Some ISPs realised rather early that the real value of their network is in the increased connections of paying users. To many of us, the demand for internet access in rural areas may not be directly evident for now. It may however be seen in the thirst' for convenience, speedy communication and related value-added services. It may also be seen in the overwhelming demand for mobile telephony in the most remote and poor regions of Kenya. As has been stated earlier, we should not sell 'the internet' per se but should shift emphasis to the benefits of access for rural consumers especially the improvement of their quality of life. 2 cents worth... --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCKInternetStudy Report
by Wainaina Mungai 05 May '07

05 May '07

>> In my opinion, the government should find a way of using the WB money through the >> private sector, so that the private sector does not see as if the government is competing >> and killing the profit margin I think private sector should appreciate the role of govt in addressing needs of the disadvantaged via social programmes (e.g. education, health, fibre connectivity) and view the competition from government on the connectivity front as a challenge to model their businesses in the way that is responsive to rural market. I would prefer if; 1. Government uses the funds to provide business-friendly loans via a model similar to the youth enterprise fund. 2. A money-making outfit demonstrates a convincing "business for development" case or partners with a not-for-profit (e.g. CBO or other community-focussed group) if it is to access the WB-like grants. 3. Funds go to not-for-profit organisation to operate rural ICT centres on low-overheads (the focus here being on the consumer in rural areas). The WorldBank kind-of-money should go towards nurturing rural ICT SMEs that bring internet access rates to under a shilling per minute at the cybercafé end and even lower for a home or business user. I would expect a private sector outfit cushioned by government/WorldBank support should extend its break-even period to ensure the lowest prices at highest penetration levels. ...2 cents... --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. > -------Original Message------- > From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCKInternetStudy Report > Sent: 04 May '07 13:16 > > Agreed with Becky, > > I expected more views on this touchy subject of > affordability. I do know we had technical hiccups but I > trust they are now over...so lets hear more from the > stakeholders - Consumers, Operators, Government, > Regulators, etc. > > walu. > > --- Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > thanks Kai for the response, > > we need many people responding to this issue, > > > > in my opinion, the government should find a way of using > > the WB money through the private sector, so that the > > private sector does not see as if the government is > > competing and killing the profit margin, > > > > in this regard, the government could come up with some > > MOU with the private sector so that some of the money > > invested is government's and some PS. > > that way, part of the profits will be ploughed back (it > > will be mandatory) > > > > i remember during the OFC workshop, Kai shared how IFC > > funded a private secotor consortium to carry out some > > survey at USD 300k and a similar survey carried out by > > govts was valued at USD 3m > > > > maybe this can help reduce costs and provide a way for > > govt and PS to work together and deliver quality market > > services, develop the content and all.. > > > > its just an opinion, its not absolute, > > > > lets hear as many voices as possible, > > it is at these forums/discussions that great ideas come > > up, > > > > regards > > > > Kai Wulff <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> wrote: Hello, > > > > we leave it to the ISPs to create the demand. We were > > hoping that with our > > rural initiatives, like connecting schools and showing > > them how to educate > > the parents (and make money with this) will increase the > > demand on a natural > > way. > > > > What we have seen wit some Rural BTS, it takes about 12 > > month until it is > > break even ... > > > > The problem is when you create the demand and then some > > World Bank money > > starts to compete before you can recover the cost. It is > > my strong believe > > that wherever a device can be operated, there WILL be a > > market. The private > > sector needs the Government as a user there as well as > > the private companies > > and consumers. Only then will the prices drop! We still > > focus too much on > > the INTERNET, what most people need for a start is LOCAL > > information and > > communication .. so I would say: 90% local IP traffic and > > 10% international > > .. > > > > Kai > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Joan Walumbe" > > To: > > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on > > Affordability - > > CCKInternetStudy Report > > > > > > > Walu, > > > > > > I agree with you that affordablity is a factor > > especially for rural > > > communities when it comes to access to the internet. > > But I think that lack > > > of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for > > the urban folk (who > > > already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) > > taking a short break > > > in > > > shags to have the internet access when back home, but > > it there is no > > > demand > > > for the internet among the residents what is the point? > > > > > > So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create > > demand or is their a > > > market that demands the service or is it a little of > > both? > > > > > > I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the > > rural areas if it > > > did > > > not make any financial sense. Can anyone provide some > > info/statistics on > > > demand for internet access in rural areas? > > > > > > Joan Walumbe > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "John Walubengo" > > > To: > > > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM > > > Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability > > - CCK > > > InternetStudy > > > Report > > > > > > > > > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > > > > > > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on > > Trust relationships > > > b/w > > > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that > > as well as on > > > today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking > > > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > > > > > > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber > > hitting Bungoma in > > > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and > > timely development, > > > but at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will > > the (internet) > > > services be affordable to the rural/average > > communities? > > > > > > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is > > considered cheap by > > > the > > > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the > > average Kenyan on the > > > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for > > affordability, the > > > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In > > other words, if the > > > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if > > the average > > > monthly > > > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then > > obviously the average > > > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it > > just becomes way > > > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > > > > > > The report indicated that access through the more > > convenient Internet > > > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average > > incomes (too > > > expensive), while the same access through mobile > > phones was costing just > > > 8% > > > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs > > to be done in > > > order > > > to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > > > > > > 1 day deliberation on this one. > > > > > > walu. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > 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/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > > Rebecca Wanjiku, > > journalist, > > p.o box 33515, > > Nairobi.00600 > > Kenya. > > > > Tel. 254 720 318 925 > > > > blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ > > > > > === message truncated ===> > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > _______________________________________________ > 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/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org >

1 0

kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCKInternetStudyReport
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 04 May '07

04 May '07

Dear All, I think you are getting it wrong on the World Bank Loan. The purpose of the loan is to stimulate demand a head of cheap bandwidth from the fibre cable. Areas that we thought needed stimulation include Rural ICT Centres, the Government, Universities and Colleges and BPOs. The procurement of subsidized bandwidth is to be done openely where all operators would have a chance. This does not in anyway compromise any private sector because they would be paid the market rate of bandwidth. The participation of Government in construction of Terrestrial fibre networks and the undersea cable was to fast track availability of cheap bandwidth that would in turn help the economy to grow faster. Secondly, we needed an open access model that would help SMEs in this country to compete with the big boys. With this network we shall see SMEs competing with the likes of Jamii, KDN on an equal footing. Thirdly, the private sector had failed to provide necessary infrastructure for economic development and finaly no operator was interested in rural Kenya until the Government made the business case for rural ICTs. In any case the Government has no interest in competing with the private sector. Our role is to facilitate development. Infrastructure in the ICT sector had lagged behind and what we have done is simply to facilitate its development and leave the private sector to compete in an open access platform. We have the obligation to enable every Kenyan citizen to play a role in economic development especially our SMEs that consititute 95% of businesses in this country. Therefore, there is absolutely nothing wrong with borrowing from the WB to stimulate demand for the investment we are making in the ICT sector. Some of the funds will be used to develop capacity to utilize ICTs and development of local content. In essense we are stimulating demand that would become consumers of private sector products. Regards Bitange Ndemo. ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

1 0

Statistics on Affordability - CCK InternetStudy Report
by Mr President 03 May '07

03 May '07

Hi AllMy take on the affordability of the internet is basically simpleHow many rural home have electricityHow many have telephone linesHow many rural towns have cybers that earn an incom solely form internet services ?That is the basics, go to secondary issues like priorities for income usage??To buy food, kerosene etc or surf ?Taking I.T to the rural areas should be unde r the universal coverage policy and not for profit unless for value added services ama??Njenga M.P those who fear to fail.will never try to succeded,for to fail to plan is to plan to FAIL _______________________________________________ No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Listserver problem
by John Walubengo 03 May '07

03 May '07

Dear Listers, I must admit and apologise that we are experiencing some technical hitches on the listserver but the engineers are working around the clock to resolve the issue. Plse continue with your contributions since they are getting logged onto the central servers and will be re-played once the technical hitches are resolved. I would also add that in light of this development, the remaining two themes will taken early next week but this also gives us more time to dwell on the affordability issues... walu. >>> "Bill Kagai" <mediacorp.research(a)mediacorp.co.ke> 05/03/07 12:16PM >>> On 5/3/07, Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> wrote: > > > The danger in allowing everybody to do everything is; > 1. enumorse duplication of investment in the highend of the market > ????? Nini hii??

1 0

Technical Glitches
by Alex Gakuru 03 May '07

03 May '07

I have not received any of the messages attached and I had to dig the kictanet archives to view them. This is about my fourth time to complain about my messages being affected by this glitch. One feels it would be good practice for the technicians responsible to ensure online freedom of information while we collectively front advocacy for the same from government. Should the continued glitches affect only some subscribers, then there would be good grounds to seek alternative kictanet list hosting server, just like we had kiplist in Canada then for fear of government censorship. A thorough reply would be appreciated Regards Alex --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

2 1

test 20070502 12.35p.m EAT - ignore
by John Walubengo 03 May '07

03 May '07

testing. walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

6 7

ICT BILL & PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
by Wainaina Mungai 03 May '07

03 May '07

ICT BILL WILL IMPROVE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN TECHNOLOGY Source: http://www.madeinkenya.org/forum_files/forum0507.php A few weeks ago, many Kenyans were amazed to hear that Police had tracked down Matheri, the most wanted criminal in Kenya, by monitoring his mobile phone. This news led many to ask if they were also being watched and if someone was reading their SMS messages and keeping track of their movements. --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

1 0

in case of interest.. IP , rootservers, et al
by Rebecca Wanjiku 03 May '07

03 May '07

just in case you have been wondering about the whole jargon of IP, TLD, ccTLD and stuff, here is a simplified version.. its long but makes good reading.... bex The Internet Protocol Journal - Volume 10, No. 1 Geographic Implications of DNS Infrastructure Distribution by Steve Gibbard, Packet Clearing House The past several years have seen significant efforts to keep local Internet communications local in places far from the well-connected core of the Internet. Although considerable work remains to be done, Internet traffic now stays local in many places where it once would have traveled to other continents, lowering costs while improving performance and reliability. Data sent directly between users in those areas no longer leaves the region. Applications and services have become more localized as well, not only lowering costs but keeping those services available at times when the region's connectivity to the outside world has been disrupted. I discussed the need for localization in a previous paper, "Internet Mini-Cores: Local connectivity in the Internet's spur regions." [1] What follows here is a more specific look at a particular application, the Domain Name System (DNS). Most Internet applications depend on the DNS, which maps human-readable domain names to the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses computers understand. Two Internet hosts may have connectivity to each other but be unable to communicate because no DNS server can be reached. This article examines the placement of DNS servers for root and top-level domains and the implications of that placement on the reliability of the services these servers provide in different parts of the world. It is not a "how-to" guide to the construction of DNS infrastructure and does not contain recommendations on DNS policy; it is rather a look at the placement of DNS infrastructure as currently constructed. Although it is possible to access Internet resources without the DNS by entering numeric IP addresses directly, this type of access is not generally done. IP addresses, such as 209.131.36.158, are difficult to remember, are generally unpublished outside the DNS, and often change without notice. Local caching of DNS information can mask temporary problems with DNS data for commonly accessed domain names, but caches are emptied when caching resolvers are restarted, data in caches expires, and nothing is cached until the first time it is accessed by a local user. It should be noted that information about DNS deployment is changing rapidly. Several organizations are working on new DNS deployment. Information in this article can be considered current, to the best of my knowledge, as of May 2006. DNS Hierarchy The DNS is a hierarchy of domains within domains. The levels of the hierarchy are separated by dots. At the top of the hierarchy is the root, usually invisible but sometimes represented as a trailing dot. Using www.yahoo.com as an example, the com domain is contained within the root. Com contains yahoo, and yahoo contains www. Domains in the position com takes in this example are known as Top-Level Domains, or TLDs; they are the first level in the root domain. Domains in the position of yahoo are known as Second-Level Domains. In this example, www occupies the third level, and so forth. The information that makes up the Domain Name System is stored on DNS servers. That information is divided into zones, which for our purposes are synonymous with domains. Each zone is stored on a set of authoritative servers, which are queried when users or applications attempt to access a service on the Internet. In the simplest case, a domain name query works like the following: A caching resolver (so named because it caches information it receives) that has not yet cached any DNS zone data receives a query for www.yahoo.com. Because its cache is empty, it uses the hints distributed with the DNS software to contact one of the root servers and asks, "Where is www.yahoo.com?" The root server replies with a list of servers for .com. The caching server then asks one of the .com servers, "Where is www.yahoo.com?" and gets a response that directs it to servers for yahoo.com. It asks the same question of those servers and finally gets an answer to the question it was asking. Generally several servers can answer questions about any domain, but if all the servers for any single level are broken or unreachable, the query fails and the service the user is looking for is unreachable. It is therefore important that the DNS be reliable, and that the servers for each zone throughout the hierarchy be reachable from anywhere the servers they point at are being used. Root Servers Without root servers, none of the DNS works. As of this writing, 117 root servers exist worldwide, operated by 12 different organ-izations. [2] Root servers are added frequently, so the number may be significantly greater by the time this article is in circulation. Because of protocol limitations, the root servers can use only 13 IP addresses. Each root-server operator is responsible for one or two of those addresses. Using a technique called anycast, which allows servers in separate locations to share a single IP address, six of those operators operate multiple servers using the same IP address [3], meaning that only 13 of them are visible at the same time from any single location, but those 13 should in most cases include the topologically closest one. [4] The distribution of root servers is rather uneven. North America and Europe have similar numbers: 38 in North America and 35 in Europe. The 35 in Europe are distributed fairly evenly, with the largest concentrations (four each) in London and Amsterdam, Europe's two largest Internet hubs. North America has 8 in Washington, D.C., 8 in the San Francisco Bay Area, and 5 in Los Angeles. In the United States, all cities that host root servers are on the coasts except Atlanta and Chicago. All seven of the remaining IP addresses represented by only a single server, known as unicast roots, are in the Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles areas. Australia has two root servers in Brisbane, one in Perth, and one in Sydney. New Zealand has two, one in Wellington and one in Auckland. Singapore and the wealthier parts of East Asia are well-covered, and there are two root servers in Jakarta and one each in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. A year ago, there were none in the vast expanse between Bangkok and Dubai, but three have recently been added in India, along with others in Dhaka and Karachi. Mainland China and the former USSR each have two. There are three in Africa: two in Johannesburg and one in Nairobi. Another will be installed in Nairobi shortly, but most of the rest of Africa lacks direct connectivity to Johannesburg or Nairobi and must cross satellite or intercontinental fiber links to reach the nearest root servers. All four of the root servers in South America are in Brazil and Chile, with two in Sao Paulo and one each in Brasilia and Santiago de Chile. With some exceptions, root-server density tends to correlate strongly with per-capita income. This fact is not surprising—it is true for other forms of infrastructure as well—but it means that those with the greatest dependence on external infrastructure are those least able to pay for external connectivity. Root-Server Placement In areas that have local root servers, finding the name servers for a top-level domain should be fairly reliable. In areas without local root servers, the ability to query the root servers is dependent on other long-distance infrastructure. In some places this infrastructure is well-developed, so this problem is not a significant one. Elsewhere long-distance infrastructure is slow, expensive, and unreliable, consisting of satellite links or a single fiber connection that may take several days to fix if it breaks. Sri Lanka, for example, is connected to the rest of the world by a single fiber connection, which was cut in 2004 by a ship that dragged anchor in the Colombo harbor. [5] Although Sri Lanka has an exchange point that should have allowed connectivity to local Internet services, news reports said that Sri Lanka's "Internet and long-distance phone service" had been cut off. I have not received a good account of what Internet connectivity looked like from anyone in Sri Lanka at the time, but it is likely that even local Internet connections would not have worked without a local root server. Sri Lanka is not an isolated case. The dots in Figure 1 show the locations of all root servers. The light grey areas are regions in which multiple fiber paths are available to root servers. The remainder of the world can reach root servers only by a single fiber path or by satellite. Large areas of the world are poorly covered. Figure 1: Root Server Locations and Areas of Redundant Connectivity Root-Server Expansion Four of the 12 root-server operators are presently working to install root servers in areas that lack them. Although the 117 root servers currently in operation are a big improvement over the 13 that were in operation three years ago, many regions still do not have any. Those root-server operators are installing servers wherever they can get the funding to do so. Funding is generally provided either by grants, especially from the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) in the Asia-Pacific region, by local governments or Internet Service Provider (ISP) associations. Because the addition of new anycast copies of root servers is relatively easy given sufficient funding, the main limitation preventing the installation of root servers in new locations is lack of funding. One question probably best addressed in a more central manner is whether it makes sense to have many copies of one or two root-server IP addresses in some regions or whether it would be better to have more of a mix of root-server IP addresses. Currently, only 6 of the 13 root-server addresses are anycasted, only 4 are anycasted in large numbers, and 2 of those focus on specific regions, meaning that in many of the more remote parts of the world the only nearby root servers are Internet Systems Consortium (ISC)'s "F" and Autonomica's "I" roots, and some places have several of one of those closer than the next one of the other. Because some DNS resolvers have their own mechanisms for finding the closest server and for handling failures of types that do not include route withdrawals, having multiple IP addresses nearby seems like a good thing. A more complex question is whether it would be worthwhile to anycast all 13 of them widely, or if there is some smaller number that would be sufficient to have nearby. Previous research on this topic has assumed a limit of 13 root servers, producing conclusions that are not applicable to the modern Internet. [6] This article should not be seen as a criticism of the places with large numbers of root servers. Although the U.S. distribution looks strange, with the San Francisco Bay and D.C. area clusters perhaps excessive, it comes close to following the Internet topology in the United States. Indeed, the U.S. concentration may be appropriate to handle server load. Western Europe's dense but relatively even distribution of root servers through the region appears to be an optimal distribution, because most populated areas have multiple root servers nearby. Likewise, Jakarta is one of the very few cities in the developing world to have more than one, and that provides local redundancy that much of the developing world lacks. If root-server deployment were funded from a single global budget, the distribution across the world's regions would look very unfair. But because Internet infrastructure is mostly funded locally, Jakarta and Western Europe are examples other regions could emulate. TLD Distribution Use of the DNS also requires access to TLD servers. To access something in the .com domain, a user's local DNS resolver must be able to reach the .com servers. This statement is true for any TLD, whether it is a generic TLD (gTLD), such as .com, .net, and .org, or a country code TLD (ccTLD). Unlike the root, it is not necessary that all TLDs be reliable from all locations; if a TLD is not used to name local resources in a region, having local access to that TLD will not help if that the region gets cut off from the rest of the world. gTLD Distribution Of the gTLDs, .com is by far the largest. It is well-connected to the Internet core, the area with well-meshed internal connectivity mainly comprising North America, Western Europe, East Asia, and Singapore. (See Figure 2.) The .com servers are located in Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. states of California, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and Washington. The .com servers are well-connected to areas well-connected to those regions but poorly connected to Africa, South Asia, and parts of South America. Figure 2: Server Locations for .com and .net and Areas of Redundant Connectivity UltraDNS, the operator of .org, .info, .mobi, and .coop among others, is also somewhat well-connected to the Internet core, although not to the extent the .com servers are. It has publicly accessible servers in four metropolitan areas in the United States as well as in London and Hong Kong. It has a couple of noncore locations, in Delhi and Johannesburg. UltraDNS also has servers in other locations, accessible only to the resolvers of certain large ISPs. Because those servers are not available to the general public in their regions, they are omitted from discussion here. (See Figure 3.) Figure 3: Server Locations for .org, .info, and .mobi and Areas of Redundant Connectivity Other gTLDs do not do considerably better. Table 1 shows the locations of all the gTLDs. Table 1: Locations of TLD Servers gTLD Locations by Country or U.S. State .aero Switzerland, Germany, India, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Illinois, and Virginia .biz Australia, Hong Kong, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, New York, Virginia, and Washington .com Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and Washington .coop United Kingdom and the following states in the United States: California, Illinois, and Massachusetts .edu Netherlands, Singapore, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia .gov Canada, Germany, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas .info India, Hong Kong, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Illinois, and Virginia .int Netherlands, United Kingdom, and California in the United States .jobs Netherlands, Singapore, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia .mil The following states in the United States: California, Maryland, Virginia, and other unknown locations .mobi India, Hong Kong, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Illinois, and Virginia .museum Sweden and California in the United States .name Singapore, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and Washington .net Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and Washington .org India, Hong Kong, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Illinois, and Virginia .pro Canada and the following states in the United States: Illinois and Texas .travel Australia, Hong Kong, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, New York, Virginia, and Washington Although gTLDs are typically marketed for their applicability to specific types of organization, or in the case of .com because it is the only domain many people have heard of, geography should also be considered in selecting domains. Most of the gTLDs have reasonable coverage throughout the Internet core region, but there are exceptions. The .int and .museum domains are hosted only in North America and Europe, and .pro is hosted only in North America. Outside the Internet core there is little gTLD presence. Only .biz, .travel, .com, and .net are present in Australia and New Zealand. South Africa and India have .aero, .info, .mobi, and .org, making them the only gTLDs hosted in either Africa or the South Asian region. South America hosts only .com and .net, with servers in two cities in Brazil. Taken together, these are the only Southern Hemisphere gTLD locations as of this writing, and no gTLD has any presence in parts of the world without external fiber-optic connectivity, although that may be changing. Where gTLDs should be hosted, and with what scope, are somewhat open questions. Should these domains address resources anywhere, or should their scope be local? This question is really one for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), or for the gTLD sponsors or registries, and beyond the scope of this article. Verisign, the company that administers .com, and .net, points out that database replication with the amount of changes in the .com zone is a significant problem over slow network links. ccTLD Distribution Questions about where ccTLDs, the top-level domains assigned to individual countries, ought to work seem more straightforward. Working effectively in their own countries seems like the top priority, with connectivity to the Internet core and to other regions with which people in the country communicate regularly being somewhat lower priorities. Just over two-thirds of ccTLDs are hosted in their own countries; refer to Figure 4 for the bigger countries, and the online appendices for the full list. Although the third of ccTLDs not hosted in their own countries include some marketed more for international use than global use—Cocos Island's .cc, Tonga's .to, Turkmenistan's .tm, and Tuvalu's .tv, among others—those are very much the exception. Indonesia has local access to the root and to its ccTLD (.id). Pakistan has a root server, but no local access to its ccTLD (.pk). Let's compare what happens when someone in Indonesia does a lookup on an .id domain name with what happens when someone in Pakistan does a lookup of a name in the .pk domain. In Indonesia, the query goes to a root DNS server at the Indonesian Internet Exchange in Jakarta, where it is answered with the locations of the .id servers, several of which are also in Indonesia. The query then goes to the local .id server and is answered locally, whereupon the user can start sending traffic to the host he or she was trying to connect to, which is presumably also local. The traffic need not leave Indonesia, and if all the parties involved are in Jakarta it need not leave town. The Pakistani case is quite different. Until early 2006, there were no root servers in Pakistan, nor were there local servers for the .pk domain. There is now a root server in Karachi, but lacking servers for any TLDs it is of limited utility. DNS resolvers start out querying the local root server, but the response directs them to servers for the .p domain, all located in the United States, at least 10 time zones away. They then send their lookup packets across the single fiber connection all the way to the United States and wait for the response. At best, this process is slow. If that fiber connection goes down, or if there is any other problem between Pakistan and these U.S. servers, local communications in Pakistan are crippled. The situation with traditional gTLDs (.com, .net, and .org) in Indonesia and Pakistan is somewhat different. In Indonesia, local root servers provide addresses for the .com, .net, and .org servers. The .com and .net, lookups can be handled in Singapore, 18 milliseconds away. Theoretically, .org lookups can be handled in Hong Kong, but traceroutes indicate .org queries being answered in California instead. Thus, in Indonesia, .id is hosted mostly locally, .com and .net are nearby, and .org is considerably farther away. In Pakistan, in contrast, .pk queries and .org queries are answered from the United States, more than 200 milliseconds away, while .com and .net are answered from Singapore, 80 milliseconds away. For Pakistani users of all TLDs, there are single points of failure, but .com and .net do appear to be somewhat better connected than .pk. In Nairobi, Kenya, there are local copies of a root server and the local ccTLD (.ke). All external connectivity is by satellite, and most ISPs have only a single satellite link. Two Internet users in Nairobi wanting to communicate can do a lookup on the local root server to find the servers for .ke and can do a lookup on a local .ke server to find the servers for a subdomain of .ke. Assuming the subdomain being used is served locally, they can do a local lookup for a host within that subdomain and then send data across the local exchange point. Thus the two users in the same town can send data back and forth without having to send any data elsewhere. According to Verisign, Nairobi will soon have servers for .com and .net as well. In contrast, to use the .org domain they can again obtain addresses of the .org server from their local root server, but the lookup of the .org domain must go over a satellite link to Europe in order to be answered by a server in London. If the satellite link is up, this process adds half a second of latency to the query. If the satellite link is down, whatever local resource they are trying to connect to is out of reach. Figure 4: Countries that Host Their Own ccTLDs in Grey; Those that Do Not in Black There is also a concern about ccTLDs not served from the global core; if their region or upstream provider is cut off from the Internet outside their region, the rest of the world is unable to see that ccTLD. (See Table 2.) This situation may or may not be of concern; if all Internet resources within that ccTLD become unreachable in the same outage, the DNS portion of the outage may have no additional effect. However, if there is anything in that ccTLD that is not in the ccTLD's region, or if people or systems outside prefer to get a DNS response for an unreachable IP address rather than no DNS response at all, it may be of concern. Indeed, having servers that are well-connected to "the Internet as a whole" is a recommendation of RFC 2182, though the RFC does not consider the case of large portions of the Internet not being well-connected to each other. Table 2: TLDs Not Served in the "Internet Core" Region TLD Country Location of DNS Servers BB Barbados Barbados BD Bangladesh Bangladesh BH Bahrain Bahrain CN China China EC Ecuador Ecuador GF French Guiana French Guiana and Guadeloupe JM Jamaica Jamaica KG Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan KW Kuwait Kuwait MP Northern Mariana Islands Guam MQ Martinique Guadeloupe and Martinique PA Panama Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, and Panama PF French Polynesia French Polynesia QA Qatar Qatar SR Suriname Suriname TJ Tajikistan Tajikistan ZM Zambia South Africa and Zambia Lack of Exchange Points and Local Peering In the "Internet Mini-Cores" article [1], I noted that local hosting of critical infrastructure is moot if there is not either a local exchange point or a monopoly transit provider in the region. If data needed in a poorly connected region must leave the area and return to reach the user requesting it, the communication has double the latency, and possibly double the reliability problems, that it would have if it were hosted somewhere in the core. For the specific examples used in this article, I have mostly chosen areas that do have exchange points. I have not analyzed the underlying local infrastructure in all countries. Methodology The addresses of DNS servers for a TLD are available through several means: by looking at the root zone, by doing digs for the name servers, and by looking in the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) whois data, among others. I did lookups against an anycast root server on my own network, because that seemed easiest to automate. My script then did a lookup for the address of each name server, stripped off the last octet, and produced a list of TLDs hosted in each /24 subnet. There are 635 /24s containing name servers for TLDs; 142 of them host multiple TLDs; the rest host just one. I assumed that all DNS servers in a given /24 were likely to be in the same or nearby locations. This situation appears not to be the case for the UUNet name servers, and there are probably a few other exceptions that will show up as errors in my data. I looked at a few automated geolocation systems to attempt to attach locations to the DNS servers, but none of them appeared to be producing accurate information. Instead, I guessed at the locations of the 600 subnets, using traceroutes from a variety of locations, paying attention to DNS, latency, and the results of whois queries for address space along the way. I also asked lots of questions of DNS operators and others and am particularly grateful to several anycast DNS operators, whose locations would not have all been found by my traceroutes. Some of my guesses are likely incorrect, and corrections are appreciated. I may be missing some information about the UltraDNS TLD servers, because UltraDNS has locations it regards as confidential. This information about UltraDNS servers is from Afilias's .net application, traceroutes from a variety of locations, and UltraDNS. [7] Locations of root servers are easier to find; they are listed at http://www.root-servers.org. Some supplemental information about j.root-servers.net was supplied by Verisign. If there are operational root servers not included on www.root-servers.org other than the J-roots, I did not count them. The full lists of locations of all TLDs and TLD servers are in the appendices to this article, at: http://www.pch.net/resources/papers/infrastructure-distribution/dns-distrib…. References [1] Steve Gibbard, "Internet Mini-Cores: Local connectivity in the Internet's spur regions" (2005). [2] Root Server Technical Operations Association. [3] Joe Abley, "Hierarchical anycast for global service distribution," ISC Tech Notes (2003). [4] Bradley Huffaker, "Two days in the life of three DNS root servers" (2006). [5] Tim Richardson, "Ship's anchor cuts cable to Sri Lanka," The Register, August 24, 2004. [6] Tony Lee, Bradley Huffaker, Marina Fomenkov, and kc claffy, "On the problem of optimization of DNS root servers' placement" (2003). [7] Afilias, ".NET Application Form". STEVE GIBBARD is a Network Architect for the nonprofit organization, Packet Clearing House, based in Berkeley, California. He runs an anycast DNS network that hosts the top-level domains for several countries and several of the "I" root anycast DNS servers, maintains PCH's network of route collectors and route servers at exchange points around the world, and researches the interconnection of Internet networks. In addition, Steve carries out network architecture and peering work as a consultant for several ISPs in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere. Steve is a former Senior Network Engineer at Cable & Wireless, and has held network engineering positions at Digital Island and World Wide Net. E-mail: scg(a)pch.net Contacts & Feedback | Help | Site Map © 1992-2007 Cisco Systems Inc. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Statement | Cookie Policy | Trademarks of Cisco Systems Inc. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

2 1

Week 1 Online Discussion Summaries- CCK Internet Report(Resending)
by John Walubengo 02 May '07

02 May '07

Hi all, I went off-air for a while - actually I travelled upcountry to my parents home in Bungoma -its a remote town from NRB(450Km away) but the 2nd largest town in Western Province and yes, Internet access in those parts of the world is quite a challenge. But that's a story for another day... Today, I thought it would be nice to reflect on last weeks contributions before we move into the this final week's discussion. Tomorrow we start on the theme 'The Statistics on Affordability', but below I have put together what I think was last weeks summary contribution and hope you can go through it and raise final (if any) comments on last weeks themes. These were International Bandwidth, Heirarchy of Providers(ISP/IGO) and the Statistics on Infrastructure. ---Last weeks summary begin----- Week 1 Summary. Day 1:Background Concepts/Overview Mr. J. Walubengo gave an overview of the Internet Study report saying that it aimed to establish the status of Internet Infrastructure, Internet Affordability and Internet Use & Dispersion in Kenya. He reported that the study had various recommendations aimed at improving on the above internet indicators. This included amongst others; getting the government intervention in extending the domestic internet infrastructure, introducing further competition both within the Fixed Line and Mobile subsectors, utilizing the Universal access fund to extend Internet reach, promoting creation and use of local content as well as supporting Consumer Awareness initiatives. Mr. A. Gakuru lauded the study as well as its recommendations but noted that a similar study would be required that focused on the demand-side rather than the Supply-side of the internet market. He was glad that the Regulator was finally making deliberate efforts to support consumer awareness initiatives. He wondered if naming and shaming those ISPs that failed to route traffic through the local internet exchange point (KIXP) would help in enhancing the use of KIXP. Day 2: International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage In his opening remarks, Mr. Walubengo said that the report indicated that the International Internet Traffic was skewed (90%) towards external sources (content). Kenya was a net importer of Internet content and was therefore a consumer rather than a creator of Internet content. Value (economic or otherwise) goes to the creators of Internet Content and Kenya should aim to be a generator rather than just consumers of Internet Content. Mr. M. Michuki observed that most Kenyans visited external sources due to lack of local content. He suggested that ISPs should come up with pricing smodels that encouraged the creation of and access to local content. For example, geo-specific tariffs could be designed that would deliberately make it cheaper to access local (.KE) conent i.e. users could be charged less if and when they accessed or used local services(local websites, emails, etc) as opposed to foreign services. In addition, ISPs could come up with time-based tariffs that took advantage of the traffic models registered on the KIXP i.e. provide even lower rates for local content during evenings and weekends.He however conceded that Online Government Services, eHealth, eBanking, eLearning, etc would have to be in place in order to make such pricing models successful. Mr. J. Ngunjiri added that training or capacity building initiatives must also be supported to further gaurantee the success of the initiative. Day 3: Hierarchy of Internet Service Providers (IGO,ISP) The Internet Study Report recommended that the seperation between Internet Gateway Operators (IGO) and Internet Service Providers be dissolved with expected results being cheaper and higher quality services. In his opening remarks, Mr. Walubengo asked members to react to this recommendation. Lucy Kimani wondered if IGO would be able to cope with the technical and administrative overheads experienced by ISPs such as a larger number of customer accounts, increased need for support services, etc. She added that the cost of services may not come necessarily come down as expected due to the need to cover such overheads. Mr. Walubengo cited the case of TKL (Telkom Kenya) who are currently operating at both the Gateway and the ISP level without significant cost reductions in their Internet Service. Mr. S. Buruchara felt that historically, ISPs have had a rough time in trying to set up their own Internet Gateway Operations - having been forced by regulation to route their traffic through expensive and monopolistic Internet Gateways. He argued that if the upstream providers (IGO) were expensive, it was only natural that these costs would be passed downstream to the consumers. In addition, he noted that even todate the Licensing requirements were still prohibitive (expensive) for ISPs to move into the IGO level and if they did, they may need to recoup their (Licensing & other) investments at the expense of offering cheaper Internet Access rates. Mr. Kai Wulff commented that giving ISPs the IGO facilities may not necessarily reduce prices, citing case of Uganda where internet costs are still high despite many ISPs having IGO facilities. Day 4: Statistics on Infrastructure The report indicated that ISPs (internet services) were only operating in 30% of the districts in Kenya. The leased line services were mainly concentrated in urban centers (NRB & MSA) meaning that Internet Infrastructure was clearly challenged and the Report urges Government to intervene by leading the build-up of Internet/Network infrastructure accross the country. In her reaction, Alice Munyua, said that a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach must be made to avoid having infrastructure that would eventually serve no purpose. Aggressive infrastructure build up without content would be an exercise in futility since the internet pipes would be idle and underutilised most of the time. She added that additional initiatives such as Construction and Supply of Electrical Power, Literacy Initiatives, Local Content and 'Demand-side' Internet Requirements must move side by side with the infrastructure roll-out. Day 5- Statistics on Affordability will be on tomorrow (thrs 3rd May) morning. Today is open for final comments on the Day 1, 2, 3 & 4 Themes. walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

2 1

Week 1 Online Discussion Summaries- CCK Internet Report
by John Walubengo 02 May '07

02 May '07

Hi all, I went off-air for a while - actually I travelled upcountry to my parents home in Bungoma -its a remote town from NRB(450Km away) but the 2nd largest town in Western Province and yes, Internet access in those parts of the world is quite a challenge. But that's a story for another day... Today, I thought it would be nice to reflect on last weeks contributions before we move into the this final week's discussion. Tomorrow we start on the theme 'The Statistics on Affordability', but below I have put together what I think was last weeks summary contribution and hope you can go through it and raise final (if any) comments on last weeks themes. These were International Bandwidth, Heirarchy of Providers(ISP/IGO) and the Statistics on Infrastructure. ---Last weeks summary begin----- Week 1 Summary. Day 1:Background Concepts/Overview Mr. J. Walubengo gave an overview of the Internet Study report saying that it aimed to establish the status of Internet Infrastructure, Internet Affordability and Internet Use & Dispersion in Kenya. He reported that the study had various recommendations aimed at improving on the above internet indicators. This included amongst others; getting the government intervention in extending the domestic internet infrastructure, introducing further competition both within the Fixed Line and Mobile subsectors, utilizing the Universal access fund to extend Internet reach, promoting creation and use of local content as well as supporting Consumer Awareness initiatives. Mr. A. Gakuru lauded the study as well as its recommendations but noted that a similar study would be required that focused on the demand-side rather than the Supply-side of the internet market. He was glad that the Regulator was finally making deliberate efforts to support consumer awareness initiatives. He wondered if naming and shaming those ISPs that failed to route traffic through the local internet exchange point (KIXP) would help in enhancing the use of KIXP. Day 2: International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage In his opening remarks, Mr. Walubengo said that the report indicated that the International Internet Traffic was skewed (90%) towards external sources (content). Kenya was a net importer of Internet content and was therefore a consumer rather than a creator of Internet content. Value (economic or otherwise) goes to the creators of Internet Content and Kenya should aim to be a generator rather than just consumers of Internet Content. Mr. M. Michuki observed that most Kenyans visited external sources due to lack of local content. He suggested that ISPs should come up with pricing smodels that encouraged the creation of and access to local content. For example, geo-specific tariffs could be designed that would deliberately make it cheaper to access local (.KE) conent i.e. users could be charged less if and when they accessed or used local services(local websites, emails, etc) as opposed to foreign services. In addition, ISPs could come up with time-based tariffs that took advantage of the traffic models registered on the KIXP i.e. provide even lower rates for local content during evenings and weekends.He however conceded that Online Government Services, eHealth, eBanking, eLearning, etc would have to be in place in order to make such pricing models successful. Mr. J. Ngunjiri added that training or capacity building initiatives must also be supported to further gaurantee the success of the initiative. Day 3: Hierarchy of Internet Service Providers (IGO,ISP) The Internet Study Report recommended that the seperation between Internet Gateway Operators (IGO) and Internet Service Providers be dissolved with expected results being cheaper and higher quality services. In his opening remarks, Mr. Walubengo asked members to react to this recommendation. Lucy Kimani wondered if IGO would be able to cope with the technical and administrative overheads experienced by ISPs such as a larger number of customer accounts, increased need for support services, etc. She added that the cost of services may not come necessarily come down as expected due to the need to cover such overheads. Mr. Walubengo cited the case of TKL (Telkom Kenya) who are currently operating at both the Gateway and the ISP level without significant cost reductions in their Internet Service. Mr. S. Buruchara felt that historically, ISPs have had a rough time in trying to set up their own Internet Gateway Operations - having been forced by regulation to route their traffic through expensive and monopolistic Internet Gateways. He argued that if the upstream providers (IGO) were expensive, it was only natural that these costs would be passed downstream to the consumers. In addition, he noted that even todate the Licensing requirements were still prohibitive (expensive) for ISPs to move into the IGO level and if they did, they may need to recoup their (Licensing & other) investments at the expense of offering cheaper Internet Access rates. Mr. Kai Wulff commented that giving ISPs the IGO facilities may not necessarily reduce prices, citing case of Uganda where internet costs are still high despite many ISPs having IGO facilities. Day 4: Statistics on Infrastructure The report indicated that ISPs (internet services) were only operating in 30% of the districts in Kenya. The leased line services were mainly concentrated in urban centers (NRB & MSA) meaning that Internet Infrastructure was clearly challenged and the Report urges Government to intervene by leading the build-up of Internet/Network infrastructure accross the country. In her reaction, Alice Munyua, said that a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach must be made to avoid having infrastructure that would eventually serve no purpose. Aggressive infrastructure build up without content would be an exercise in futility since the internet pipes would be idle and underutilised most of the time. She added that additional initiatives such as Construction and Supply of Electrical Power, Literacy Initiatives, Local Content and 'Demand-side' Internet Requirements must move side by side with the infrastructure roll-out. Day 5- Statistics on Affordability will be on tomorrow (thrs 3rd May) morning. Today is open for final comments on the Day 1, 2, 3 & 4 Themes. walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Fwd: [Idlelo2] FW: dgCommunities Invited to Attend World Bank Global Dialogue Events & Live Webcasts
by Judy Okite 01 May '07

01 May '07

FYI Kind Regards, ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Fouad Riaz Bajwa <fouadbajwa(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 02:33:20 +0500 Subject: [Idlelo2] FW: dgCommunities Invited to Attend World Bank Global Dialogue Events & Live Webcasts To: idlelo2(a)fossfa.net, openstds(a)ipjustice.org, ugabytes(a)ugabytes.org From: e-government(a)developmentgateway.org [mailto:e-government@developmentgateway.org] Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 11:47 PM Subject: dgCommunities Invited to Attend World Bank Global Dialogue Events & Live Webcasts Dear Members, For your interest I am writing to alert you to a series of World Bank Global Dialogues on e-government and ICT. The World Bank's e-Development Thematic Group invites all interested dgCommunities members to participate in its upcoming e-government/ICT related Global Dialogues by means of live webcast/online discussion, via videoconference (in several countries which will be connected) or in person (if in Washington DC). The following are details of these sessions: Open Systems for e-Government (May 02, 9:00 - 11.30 am EST) While open source software has achieved growing acceptance in the marketplace, open standards are also increasingly seen as key enablers of the transfer and use of information across organizations, systems, and devices. This seminar focuses on the embrace of open information and communications technology systems by governments and businesses alike in the face of growing demands for the effective, customer-centric delivery of services. What does "open" mean in the context of software, standards, and document formats, and is it relevant to the experience and challenges faced by developing and transition countries? Can open source, open standards, and ODF be leveraged to maximize the impact of ICT investments in public-sector reform and modernization efforts? A panel including experts from the World Bank, IBM, Microsoft, Open Source Institute, and the ODF Alliance will gather to discuss this interesting topic. Please click here for more information: http://go.worldbank.org/OPRW4CL1N0 Prioritizing e-Services - The case of Pakistan (May 09, 9:00 - 11:30 am EST) Many e-Government program initiatives are faced with a myriad of choices for e-Services; hence there is an obvious need to prioritize due to various constraints. There are different methodologies available for identifying and prioritizing these e-services, and all governments implementing such programs have gone through this phase with varying outcomes. The e-Services prioritization process is therefore an essential component of e-Government programs, and selecting and applying the appropriate methodology is fundamental for e-Government program success. The session experts and practitioners will present a general overview of the various methodologies available for prioritization of e-Services and will discuss the experience of Pakistan, one of the latest case studies from the field. More information about this event will be available online shorlty at http://www.worldbank.org/edevelopment. Additional Upcoming Events: e-Government Portals (May 30, 9:00 - 11:30 am EST) Designing e-Government Strategies (June 19, 9:00-11:30 am EST) About the World Bank e-Development Thematic Group The e-Development Thematic Group's mission is to promote the efficient use of ICT in development and World Bank operations by facilitating knowledge sharing on good practices in e-development, and more frequent dialogue among interested parties thus catalyzing specific program and project proposals. The e-Development Thematic Group was created in 2003 in response to the increasing demand from various countries and sectors that are involved in the design and implementation of a variety of e-development and e-government projects, on the basis of the e-Government Thematic Group. The e-Development Thematic Group is open for participation by both World Bank staff and external clients and partners. For more information about the Group and its events, knowledge-base, toolkits and other resources, please visit the website at http://www.worldbank.org/edevelopment. To find out how to participate in these events, join the mailing list or partner with e-TG, please write to edevelopment(a)worldbank.org or contact Oleg Petrov at +1202-473-8861. Best regards, Mike Pereira ___________________________________ Mike Pereira Director, Global Online Communities Development Gateway Foundation 1889 F Street NW Washington DC 20006 202-572-9259 202-572-9290 (fax) http://home.developmentgateway.org/?intcmp=906 http://topics.developmentgateway.org/?intcmp=906 _______________________________________________ Idlelo2 mailing list Idlelo2(a)fossfa.net http://mailman.dst.gov.za/mailman/listinfo/idlelo2 -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there."

1 0

ICT Africa 2007 October 1-5 Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya: NEPAD Council
by alice 30 Apr '07

30 Apr '07

nclogo *ICT Africa 2007* <http://ictafrica.nepadcouncil.org>* * *Sponsorship Opportunities * <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273771&u=htt…>*** * *Conference Registration * <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273770&u=htt…>*** * *Abstract/Paper Submission * <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273774&u=htt…>*** * *Conference Committees * <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273769&u=htt…>*** * <javascript:var win = window.open("http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273775&u=htt…", "openWin", "width=400, height=250, scrollbars=yes")> Supporters nepadkenya kenyagov Preliminary list of sponsors jcb <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273773&u=htt…> connectworld <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273772&u=htt…> kdn pic1 ICT Africa 2007 October 1-5 The Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya ICT Africa is an annual continental information and communications technology conference addressing all aspects of ICT development in Africa. The conference is convened by NEPAD council in collaboration with the NEPAD Kenya secretariat. The 2007 event will be organized by Global Conferences, Cape Town, South Africa. ICT Africa 2007 is scheduled for October 1 to 5. The conference will feature hundreds of new ideas on ICT development, lessons leant from other regions of the world, many industry’s top minds, discussions on policy, investment, regional projects and research and development. The conference is a venue for agencies working on different projects in different parts of the continent to meet, exchange ideas and form synergies. With technical tutorials, demonstrations, news in the making and the opportunity to talk to experts, this event will be an experience for all attendees. Whether attendees are entrepreneurs, university professors, scientists or engineers, exhibitors or members of the press, the conference program will be tailored to their information needs and interest. *Programming* ICT Africa will consist of a plenary session, conference tracks, technical tutorials and an exhibition. _Plenary session_ ICT Africa 2007 will consist of a plenary session to be addressed by ministers (or their representatives) from all regions of Africa. The plenary session is expected to address infrastructure projects throughout Africa including The East Africa Marine System (TEAMS) and the East Africa Submarine System (EASSy). The Kenyan ministry of information and communications will host the plenary session. _Conference tracks_ The rest of the conference will be divided into two main tracks, a technical/academic track and a policy/business track. The technical/academic track will feature presentations from peer reviewed papers by scientists, engineers, professors and students from Africa and abroad. The policy/business track addresses policy and business challenges of ICT development in Africa. Topics will include, but not limited to; deregulation, monopoly, and ICT investment. _Technical tutorials_ One day will be dedicated to technical tutorials. NEPAD Council experts and other experts from different parts of the world will deliver short courses in next generation networks, fibre optics, and voice over Internet protocol and other topics of interest to attendees. _Exhibition_ The 2007 event will consist of an Industry exhibition running parallel to the conference. The exhibition is organized by Togo consultants. *Venue:* As with ICT Africa 2006, ICT Africa 2007 will be held at the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi, Kenya. The central position of Kenya in Africa, the easy of flight connections from different parts of the world to Kenya, the commitment of the Kenyan ministry of information and communication to ICT development and to ICT Africa and the commitment of NEPAD Kenya to ICT Africa are some of the considerations for the choice of Kenya as a venue. *Other events* Organized pre and post conference tours Reception Accompanying persons program *General conference contact:* *Riedwaan Jacobs* Global Conferences Gardener Place, 1st Floor Howard Dr. Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa Phone: +27 21532 6333 Fax +27 21 532 6331 rjacobs(a)globalconf.co.za <mailto:rjacobs@globalconf.co.za> You are subscribed as alice(a)apc.org. To unsubscribe please click here <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=6&ea=alice@apc.org…>. Web Bug from http://cmpgnr.com/app/campaigner/trk/opn.jsp?cid=949995&rid=949245&ctd=9340…

1 0

Re: [kictanet] MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA
by Jose' 30 Apr '07

30 Apr '07

This is so amaizing! During the weekend we were just talking over this issue in the forum.Now the government has gotten an 8 billion grant!! for the commissioning? :-O. Kudus to Dr.Ndemo and his ministry on digital villages initiative. Time to roll it out is now!! Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 8:06:38 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA [Daily Nation] ‘Digital villages’ to be set up all over Kenya to speed up access to data Story by NATION correspondent Publication Date: 2007/04/30 The Government plans to set up ‘digital villages’ throughout the country, to ease access to information for its citizens. Information assistant minister Mr Koigi Wamwere said during the weekend that the villages to be set up in all the 210 constituencies, will facilitate easy access to information that would trigger economic development in those areas. Commissioning The minister was speaking in Kisumu during the commissioning of the Od Mikayi satellite information centre, where the project by the Government also received a major boost with the approval of a Sh8 billion grant by the World Bank. This will see local communities exposed to new technologies such as the internet and SMS banking. “We intend to roll out the first of these projects in August,” said Mr Wamwere. He added, “The laying of fibre optic cables throughout the country is on course and when completed, Kenyans are going to enjoy the benefits of high speed internet connectivity.” This initiative is intended to double the number of people having access to such services from 2.7 to 6 million, he said. Also targeted will be telephone subscribers, whose numbers are expected to rise significantly from the current 8.5 million to 15 million before the year ends. Learning centres “We also intend to set up E- learning centres in all schools in addition to computerising all Government departments in the country. "This will enhance transparency in the running of Government affairs,” said the minister. http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?premiumid=0&cate…> ------ Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Alice, Thanks for this wonderful news. Please send me the link. Alex alice <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Balancing Act MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA Kenya's legislators have surprisingly added their voice in support of the transformation to electronic governance in their operations, both within parliament and in at the constituency level. During a two-day meeting held in Nairobi recently, the members of parliament (MPs) discussed various issues related to Kenya Information Society including e-government and ICT strategies in the country and what should be the role of parliamentarians in the process of implementation and monitoring. The meeting with theme: "Empowering Kenya's MPs and National Assembly staff on Building the country's Knowledge Economy," was organised by the UN's Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Canadian e-Policy Resource Network (ePolNet). e-PolNet aims at supporting the implementation of the African Information Society through the provision of various kinds of expertise. The participants, who included 15 MPs, discussed how ICTs can accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and various applications like e-health, e-learning, e-commerce and open platform. This is in response to the eighth goal of MDGs, declared during the UN's Millennium Declaration in 2000, which aims to develop a global partnership for development (including a target to make available the benefits of ICTs to all the world's inhabitants). The participants resolved that there is need to take advantage of the on-going restructuring of all parliamentary committees in order to have ICT either accommodated in one of the committees or set up an independent committee on the subject. In his opening address, Mathioya MP, Joseph Kamotho, said that through the use of ICT, governments become less bureaucratic, and more efficient. "With deployment of ICTs, several opportunities that corrupt public officials normally use for their private gain are eliminated or greatly reduced therefore increasing transparency and accountability in the management of public resources," said Kamotho. Kamotho said that governments in Africa must, therefore, invest in ICT so that the public is able to monitor the performance of their representatives through the establishment of websites where citizens can get information about their institution, leaders and the laws made. On electoral processes, participants gave the example of Zambia where the voters register bears the holder's photo to stem vote rigging. (SOURCE: East African Business Week) _______________________________________________ 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/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. _______________________________________________ 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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Re: [kictanet] FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL
by Mr President 30 Apr '07

30 Apr '07

Hello Bwana PSThakns for the information and i together with others shall be honoured to attend the talks on the freedom of Information bill , that shall go a long way to making Kenya an open democratic government and an example for the rest of Africa .Look foward to meeting you then.Njenga M.Pthose who fear to fail.will never try to succeded,for to fail to plan is to plan to FAIL _______________________________________________ No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

1 0

Re: [kictanet] MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA
by Alex Gakuru 30 Apr '07

30 Apr '07

[Daily Nation] Digital villages to be set up all over Kenya to speed up access to data Story by NATION correspondent Publication Date: 2007/04/30 The Government plans to set up digital villages throughout the country, to ease access to information for its citizens. Information assistant minister Mr Koigi Wamwere said during the weekend that the villages to be set up in all the 210 constituencies, will facilitate easy access to information that would trigger economic development in those areas. Commissioning The minister was speaking in Kisumu during the commissioning of the Od Mikayi satellite information centre, where the project by the Government also received a major boost with the approval of a Sh8 billion grant by the World Bank. This will see local communities exposed to new technologies such as the internet and SMS banking. We intend to roll out the first of these projects in August, said Mr Wamwere. He added, The laying of fibre optic cables throughout the country is on course and when completed, Kenyans are going to enjoy the benefits of high speed internet connectivity. This initiative is intended to double the number of people having access to such services from 2.7 to 6 million, he said. Also targeted will be telephone subscribers, whose numbers are expected to rise significantly from the current 8.5 million to 15 million before the year ends. Learning centres We also intend to set up E- learning centres in all schools in addition to computerising all Government departments in the country. "This will enhance transparency in the running of Government affairs, said the minister. http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?premiumid=0&cate…> ------ Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Alice, Thanks for this wonderful news. Please send me the link. Alex alice <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Balancing Act MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA Kenya's legislators have surprisingly added their voice in support of the transformation to electronic governance in their operations, both within parliament and in at the constituency level. During a two-day meeting held in Nairobi recently, the members of parliament (MPs) discussed various issues related to Kenya Information Society including e-government and ICT strategies in the country and what should be the role of parliamentarians in the process of implementation and monitoring. The meeting with theme: "Empowering Kenya's MPs and National Assembly staff on Building the country's Knowledge Economy," was organised by the UN's Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Canadian e-Policy Resource Network (ePolNet). e-PolNet aims at supporting the implementation of the African Information Society through the provision of various kinds of expertise. The participants, who included 15 MPs, discussed how ICTs can accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and various applications like e-health, e-learning, e-commerce and open platform. This is in response to the eighth goal of MDGs, declared during the UN's Millennium Declaration in 2000, which aims to develop a global partnership for development (including a target to make available the benefits of ICTs to all the world's inhabitants). The participants resolved that there is need to take advantage of the on-going restructuring of all parliamentary committees in order to have ICT either accommodated in one of the committees or set up an independent committee on the subject. In his opening address, Mathioya MP, Joseph Kamotho, said that through the use of ICT, governments become less bureaucratic, and more efficient. "With deployment of ICTs, several opportunities that corrupt public officials normally use for their private gain are eliminated or greatly reduced therefore increasing transparency and accountability in the management of public resources," said Kamotho. Kamotho said that governments in Africa must, therefore, invest in ICT so that the public is able to monitor the performance of their representatives through the establishment of websites where citizens can get information about their institution, leaders and the laws made. On electoral processes, participants gave the example of Zambia where the voters register bears the holder's photo to stem vote rigging. (SOURCE: East African Business Week) _______________________________________________ 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/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

1 0

MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA
by alice 30 Apr '07

30 Apr '07

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Balancing Act MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA Kenya's legislators have surprisingly added their voice in support of the transformation to electronic governance in their operations, both within parliament and in at the constituency level. During a two-day meeting held in Nairobi recently, the members of parliament (MPs) discussed various issues related to Kenya Information Society including e-government and ICT strategies in the country and what should be the role of parliamentarians in the process of implementation and monitoring. The meeting with theme: "Empowering Kenya's MPs and National Assembly staff on Building the country's Knowledge Economy," was organised by the UN's Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Canadian e-Policy Resource Network (ePolNet). e-PolNet aims at supporting the implementation of the African Information Society through the provision of various kinds of expertise. The participants, who included 15 MPs, discussed how ICTs can accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and various applications like e-health, e-learning, e-commerce and open platform. This is in response to the eighth goal of MDGs, declared during the UN's Millennium Declaration in 2000, which aims to develop a global partnership for development (including a target to make available the benefits of ICTs to all the world's inhabitants). The participants resolved that there is need to take advantage of the on-going restructuring of all parliamentary committees in order to have ICT either accommodated in one of the committees or set up an independent committee on the subject. In his opening address, Mathioya MP, Joseph Kamotho, said that through the use of ICT, governments become less bureaucratic, and more efficient. "With deployment of ICTs, several opportunities that corrupt public officials normally use for their private gain are eliminated or greatly reduced therefore increasing transparency and accountability in the management of public resources," said Kamotho. Kamotho said that governments in Africa must, therefore, invest in ICT so that the public is able to monitor the performance of their representatives through the establishment of websites where citizens can get information about their institution, leaders and the laws made. On electoral processes, participants gave the example of Zambia where the voters register bears the holder's photo to stem vote rigging. (SOURCE: East African Business Week)

2 1

FW: Day 3 of 10: Day 3 - Hierarchy of IGO & ISPs
by Fiona Asonga 29 Apr '07

29 Apr '07

Begin forwarded message: From: Sammy Buruchara <HYPERLINK "mailto:buruchara@mac.com"buruchara(a)mac.com> Date: April 27, 2007 5:18:27 PM GMT+03:00 To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <HYPERLINK "mailto:kictanet@kictanet.or.ke"kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 10: Day 3 - Hierarchy of IGO & ISPs Dear all, I find the conclusion of this report about the IGO and ISP quite ignorant of historical facts: - The government from the onset of the Internet Industry was reluctant to license ISPs because of TKL. At the time only TKL had International Gateway License. Even 5 years after giving them ISP license, ISPs were still not allowed to setup IG operations. CCK used to visit ISPs premises routinely to check if they have illegal VSAT. State security was usually the excuse. International bandwidth from TKL was then US$8000 per 64kbs half circuit. Naturally this was somehow passed on to the client. - ISPs got the license 5 years later (2000) JamboNet was set up but still ISPs (even GSM operators) had to go through TKL for all International bandwidth whether through JamboNet or dedicated circuit. Dedicated circuit was made prohibitively higher to force ISPs to use Jambonet. - It took Tespok campaigning and even harassment by CCK of Tespok leadership before CCK could concede to actually open up the Telecoms Market in 2004. Tespok went to the Tribunal and won a case with CCK forcing them to allow operators setup International gateways. ISPs paid for this court case which cost millions. Unfortunately the authorities had other ways of permanently preventing ISPs from ever getting an International Gateway facility: Licensing fees. To setup an International gateway license the license fees was and still is Ksh 16 million. Naturally most ISPs could not afford this. In Uganda, it is a paltry US$1000. The beneficiaries of the liberalization victories were therefore not ISP but other investors who previously were not anywhere near the industry play. So came up KDN, Jamii, and all other BOGs. In fact only UUNET recently joined the group after much lobbying. The market may judge what they may about the ISP, but it is good to know that from the beginning, the govt used unusually great energy to make sure they do not succeed because they happened to threaten their favorate baby, TKL. Now if the ISPs do not add value and only increase cost, the reason? Your guess is as good as mine. The rest is history. regards Sammy Buruchara CEO - NairobiNet Online On Apr 25, 2007, at 8:36 AM, John Walubengo wrote: Thanx Alex for your comments on Day 1, for a moment I was bracing myself for a 10 day Online monologue :-(! as opposed to the planned Online dialogue. Incidentally, belated Comments on previous days themes shall remain welcome - just click on the correct subject line and make your appropriate contributions... Anyway back to today's theme- The Question of Internet Gateway Operators (IGO, the Wholesalers of Internet Bandwidth) vs Internet Service Providers (ISPs, the Retailers of Internet Bandwidth). The report recommends that seperation b/w IGO and ISPs be dissolved. This is because the current structure Internet-> IGO -> ISP -> Consumers is considered unnecessarily too long. Apparently the ISP as we know them today are not adding significant value - instead they are adding cost to the service and probably degraging the quality of the Internet eventually delivered to the Customers. Cutting down the middle-man (ISPs) may offset the costs and while increasing the quality of the internet eventually delivered to the Consumer. Is this assumption true? Does allowing IGO to directly deal with Consumer result in cheaper Internet Services while improving on the quality of the internet? 1 day on this theme, at the least, I do hope to get some reactions at from any IGOs and ISPs. walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around HYPERLINK "http://mail.yahoo.com"http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list HYPERLINK "mailto:kictanet@kictanet.or.ke"kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke HYPERLINK "http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet"http://kictanet.or.ke/mailm an/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at HYPERLINK "http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sammy%40opensystems.co.ke"ht tp://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sammy%40opensystems.co.ke No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/777 - Release Date: 4/26/2007 3:23 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/777 - Release Date: 4/26/2007 3:23 PM

3 2

Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Digital villages the way to go
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 28 Apr '07

28 Apr '07

The SME debate here has brought out significant findings in the sense that inspite of the many information documents that we give, we have not either read all of them or chosen to ignore the facts and present opinions. If you read for example, the Summary National ICT Master Plan (Issued in February)under ICT Software, the Government has commited to encourage at least 50% of government software procurement is sourced from local software developers. Most local developers are SMEs. The Government from July will support cost of bandwidth for BPOs, Digital Villages and Universities in an effort to stimulate ICT growth. In July the Government will train thousands of ICT entrepreneurs to take advantages of emerging ICT opportunities. In essense, the Government has done its part. My message is to encourage you to emphasize available opportunities. Enable our people to understand these opportunities. The message I am getting from you is that most of us would rather complain permanently. Let us convert the energies for discussions into action. We need yourhelp in executing the digital village initiatives. Asante Bitange Ndemo. ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

2 1

Internet costs set to drop as government rolls out fibre optics plan
by alice 28 Apr '07

28 Apr '07

Written by Kui Kinyanjui The cost of telephony and Internet connections is expected to drop by 80 per cent in 24 months thanks to an ambitious information technology project that aims to position Kenya as one of the most wired countries on the continent. Yesterday, the Government announced that it had set in motion a project that will see the country's 124 districts linked by a fibre optic raising the stakes in what has become the fastest growing sector in the economy. More than 5,000km of fibre optic cable will be laid to all corners of the country to serve as a national backbone that will provide consumers with access to broadband internet. "This infrastructure will serve as the pillar on which services will ride to support the demands of a modern economy," said Bitange Ndemo, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information. The government has committed to financing the project to the tune of $50 million (Sh3.5bn) hoping to provide high speed connectivity to areas that have thus far been ignored. Upon completion, the National Optic Fibre project is expected to herald the transformation of Kenya into top notch ICT country where consumers will have access to high-end market services such as cable and internet protocol television. Africa Analysis, a South African research firm estimates that Kenya's broadband data services market will grow by nearly 600 per cent between 2006 and 2011. Much of that growth will come from rural and home users as well as increased use of enhanced services such as tele-medicine and e- education as the cost of Internet connectivity drops. It is also expected that the terrestrial fibre network will create new business opportunities for entrepreneur, who can piggy-back on the Government's investment to extend ICT services to the rural folk. "With this infrastructure, we expect to attract service providers to remote and marginal areas at lower costs," said John Waweru, director- general of the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) that is overseeing the project. Mr Waweru said the fibre optics project is part of a bigger plan to make the country an Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) hub. It will be hinged on the 600km terrestrial fibre optic cable that Telkom Kenya has laid between the coastal city of Mombasa and Malaba town on the Kenya-Uganda border via Nairobi. "Our aim is to move the country to an infrastructure sharing system to reduce costs," Dr Ndemo said. Kenya Data Networks, a private firm that has invested millions of shillings in a cable connecting Mombasa to Busia via Nairobi yesterday shrugged off fears that it may be a victim of the initiative. "The more infrastructure that is in place, the better for the consumer," said David Owino, the general manger at KDN. Fibre optic cables can carry more data than satellite technology, which to date is the key infrastructure of internet services in Kenya. The government, who will seek to raise the $50 million for the national backbone project through grants, concessions and loans, has already short-listed nine international firms who have been invited to tender for the project. The range of international companies short-listed vying for the project includes Chinese Huawei and ZTE corporations, Sagem, Alcatel- Lucent and Siemens. "Africa is the new hot spot for telecommunications projects," said Sun Jun of ZTE. "The telecommunications market has a lot of potential in this country." NOFBI indicates the executive is giving the nod to the ICT industry to take up its position as an economic driver. As a service sector, the communications industry is contributing increasingly large amounts to the national kitty. Services now contribute to 65 per cent of the country's economy. In 2005, the ICT sector's contribution was pegged at over 10 per cent, up from 9 per cent in 2004. http://bdafrica.com/index2.php? <http://bdafrica.com/index2.php?> option=com_content&task=view&id=690&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=3094 _

1 0

Digital villages the way to go
by Jose' 28 Apr '07

28 Apr '07

SMEs from the communial level need to be exposed to ICT possibilities to save them too much paper work and equiping them to be professional. My take on how to reduce the 16 million people living in abject poverty is for us IT stake holders to invest on DIGITAL VILLAGES thus impacting the communities that are around us with IT skills. I am so challanged with Microsoft south africa.Out of the 15 running digital villages,Microsoft is pertnering with south african communities and the SA Ministry of Communication and they are setting up upto 50 more digital villages this year.To be run by the comminities themselves.The initive of Microsoft to set up these Digital villages in south africa started five years ago. Our vision as we try to partner with the Ministry of commuication is to intergrate university students living near the Digital villages to come and practice by implimenting what they've learnt in the Digital centres. We need to train the Police,Electral commision,City council workers on how to make IT more productive in there perticular departments. I am still puzzled by police Stations when you go report a crime.They remove this big book and you have to explain one sentence at a time as they write on the book.This digital villages can train the police on how to use simple programs like Ms-word and train them on typing skills. Also for the electral commision.For you to see if your name has been registared,a big book will be opened and you have to wait for like 15 minuites before they get your name.This digital villages will train them on how to use Ms-Excell.they just click the search engine and find your name in a flash. The city council lets not even go there.Too much paper work!!You have to leave your requst and come after a week before its found. Lets copy the south Africans on how they are outlaying this Digital centres.Its not in vain.Imagine everybody in your community being computer literate and government workers.its going to be fantastic!! I herby attatch this URL from the btimes in south Africa. http://www.btimes.co.za/99/0926/survey/survey06.htm Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

My take on this: 27th April
by Mr President 27 Apr '07

27 Apr '07

Hi AliceThe thoughts you express are mutual to many i have spoken to about the "preparedness" for the anticipated Optical Fiber roll outMy view-together with others- is to compile a ckeck lis of what needs to be done vis what has to be done,Namely personnel to operate.Technical satff to install and later repairWorkshops/ repair shops and tools for the aboveMethods of quality control and licencing for playersCapacity building of the sameThen the secondary issues of;Content wether local or not.The incubation centers for trainingThe facilities currently avilable for the same.Ownership of the same for finance/loan/grasnts to the sameCapacity for student intake�Teachers or trainers database for distribution nationwide.Other issues would be;�Is equipment available locally or notIf to be imported would tax exemption benefit the consumer ?What would be the cost of service per minute Or per hour ? 100/= per day ?For teleworking, E-learning, E-medicine etc online cost is an important factor to be considered as with the recent release, stating income-rural- levels and priorities for spending incomeFor the majority who earn less than a dollar a day a nominal fee would make sense, the list is just but an idea tho not comprehensive, a detailed list can- in FACT -should be made.Have a blessed week endRegards Njenga M.Pthose who fear to fail.will never try to succeded,for to fail to plan is to plan to FAIL _______________________________________________ No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

1 0

NSE Stock Calculator
by Bill Kagai 27 Apr '07

27 Apr '07

Dear All, The MediaCorp Research Unit is excited to introduce the MediaCorp Stock Calculator. The calculator intelligently analyses 6 key factors over a seven year historical period through market fundamentals to help you beat the odds when investing in the Nairobi Stock Exchange. Please find attached the analysis of the calculator and make your own intelligent choice. Are you investing in the right companies? What do you know about the companies you have put your money in to?? With kind Regards, Bildad Kagai MediaCorp Limited www.mediacorp.co.ke

1 0

Day 4 of 10: CCK Internet Study-The Statistics on (Domestic) Infrastructure � 1day
by John Walubengo 27 Apr '07

27 Apr '07

Morning all, I think today we could take a look at the domestic (internet) infrastructure. The report indicates that even though ISPs were present in all the 8 Provinces, they were hardly present at the districts level covering only 30% of the districts in Kenya. They operate a total of about 3,000 leased lines (mostly concentrated in NRB & MBSA). In addition, there is a total of 400,000 dial-up lines in the country thought the report is silent on whether all these dial-up lines are hooked up on the Internet. Finally, the local internet exchange point (Kenya Internet eXchange Point) continues to register low figures indicating low domestic internet use. In its recommendation, the report urgest the Government to drive the build up exercise of extending the domestic internet infrastructure. Woud this sufficiently address the poor penetration of the domestic internet nfrastructure or could there be other interventions. 1 day + the Weekend on this one, the floor is open. walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

2 1

Re: [kictanet] Day 2 Internet Study- International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage
by Jose' 27 Apr '07

27 Apr '07

Hi Walu, You ask what can be done to make us be exporters? Answer:-Human resource development is a very fundamnetal way of making us export bandwith.We need to provide individuals(web developers) with skills and access to information,knowledge and traing that will catalyze them to think and explore on grounds of export thus enabling them to perform effectively. Simply,let us all invest our resources to capacity building strategies. Whats your input Alex? Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 9:13:04 AM Subject: [kictanet] Day 2 Internet Study- International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage Hi all, Yesterday was the most silent deliberation I have ever had - am told it may have been caused by the excitement of the 'Free PC & Cheap Internet' from LK and KDN... Any I do hope today we shall have some response on the above topic which incidentally have a bearing on the long-term success or otherwise of similar 'Free PC & Cheap Internet' initiatives...the question of International vs Domestic Internet Bandwidth. The Internet Study says that of the about 1G International International Bandwidth only 10% is outbound while 90% is inbound. What this mean is that kenya is a net IMPORTER of internet content. In internet economic terms we are therefore consumers rather than generators of internet content - which is a bad thing. Value is always retained by those who generate rather than just consume internet content i.e. the exporters of internet content. Put in another way, all the International bandwidth (KDN, Jamii & others) buys (imports) on our behalf implies that someone in the Northern hemisphere is getting paid for it - wouldn't it be better that KDN, Jamii & others get to sell (export) the same amount of bandwidth to consumers in the North? What can be done to get that to happen? Are the recommendations in the report sufficient to address this imbalance? 1 day discussion on this theme, the floor is open... walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ 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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

2 1

Fw: INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT TO ADDRESS FUTURE OF BROADBAND
by Florence Etta 27 Apr '07

27 Apr '07

FYI sorry for cross poting. FE -----Original Message----- From: cu-wireless-announce-bounces(a)lists.cuwireless.net [mailto:cu-wireless-announce-bounces@lists.cuwireless.net] On Behalf Of Sascha Meinrath Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 3:24 PM To: cu-wireless-announce(a)cuwin.net Subject: [CUWiN Press Release] Community Wireless Summit May 18-20,2007 -- Washington, DC. Contact: Sascha Meinrath Executive Director CUWiN Foundation summit(a)cuwin.net 217-278-3933 x31 INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT TO ADDRESS FUTURE OF BROADBAND -- Community Technology Leaders from Six Continents to Participate -- Champaign-Urbana, I.L., April 18 -- The CUWiN Foundation and the Center for Community Informatics (CCI) will host the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks (http://WirelessSummit.org) from May 18-20, 2007 at Loyola College in Columbia, Maryland. The summit is the largest gathering of wireless network developers, technology and policy experts, and community organizers working to build universal, low-cost broadband networks around the world. "We are proud to host an event that brings together technologists and activists committed to universal access to informatics," said Marco Figueiredo, CCI Director. "The International Summit for Community Wireless Networks explores the opportunities and challenges facing the growing movement to build community and municipal broadband networks," said Sascha Meinrath, co-founder and Executive Director of CUWiN. "This event showcases cutting-edge technologies and develops political strategies to increase digital inclusion." Since the first National Summit for Community Wireless Networks in 2004, over 300 Community Internet and municipal broadband projects have sprung up in the United States alone. The Summit will focus on how these networks can better serve their target populations, the policies needed to support broader deployment of community wireless systems, and the latest technological and software innovations. Presenters at previous summits have included FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, Jim Baller of the Baller Herbst Law Group, Annie Collins of Fiber for Our Future, Mark Cooper of the Consumer Federation of America, Harold Feld of Media Access Project, Robert W. McChesney of Free Press, Matt Rantanen of Tribal Digital Village, Greg Richardson of Civitium LLC, Paul Smith of the Center for Neighborhood Technologies, Jim Snider of the New America Foundation, Dana Spiegel of NYCwireless, Esme Vos of Muniwireless.com and many other luminaries. "High-speed broadband access is the electricity of the 21st century, yet many rural and poorer urban communities are being left off the grid," said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, the DC-based policy think-tank. "The innovators and organizers at the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks are blazing the trail to make broadband affordable and available to everyone." About CUWiN (http://www.cuwin.net) The CUWiN Foundation is a world-renowned coalition of wireless developers and community volunteers committed to providing low-cost, do-it-yourself, community-controlled alternatives to contemporary broadband models. CUWiN is fiscally sponsored by Grassroots.org, a non-profit 501c3. CUWiN's mission is to develop decentralized, community-owned networks that foster democratic cultures and local content. Through advocacy and through our commitment to open source technology, CUWiN supports organic networks that grow to meet the needs of their communities. About CCI (http://cci.cs.loyola.edu) The Center for Community Informatics engages Loyola College's students, faculty and staff in supporting the creation and deployment of informatics tools for community empowerment. CCI develops the Community Telecenter Free Software Toolset; promotes awareness events for the Loyola College community; offer courses in Community Informatics; promotes Digital Inclusion Conferences; researches and develops human-friendly technologies to facilitate inclusion in the New Society of Knowledge; and, evaluates, documents and develops sustainable models for Universal Access to Informatics. # # # _______________________________________________ CU-Wireless-Announce mailing list CU-Wireless-Announce(a)lists.cuwireless.net http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/cu-wireless-announce ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less, sign up for your free account today http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/evt=44106/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/mail/winter07.ht…

4 3

Fwd: WiMax bypasses the Bells
by Alex Gakuru 27 Apr '07

27 Apr '07

Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:29:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> Subject: WiMax bypasses the Bells To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net [Excellent technology eliminating many bandwidth middlemen resulting in reduced consumer costs. ("Bells" broadly refers cable monopoly telcos] [INFOWORLD] WiMax bypasses the Bells Posted by Jill Terry on April 26, 2007 03:00 AM Are Towerstream's metro meshes harbingers of freedom from Internet tiering? Internet tiering, the practice of assigning smaller subscribers reduced qualities of service, bugs the hell out of me. It's a move to reapportion bandwidth in oversold markets without lowering the price of service for those whose quality is reduced. Why, some wonder, can't we work around this? Entrepreneurs could buy enough telco bandwidth to qualify for top tier status, then chop up that bandwidth and resell it with the governors removed. The catch is that bandwidth resellers are stuck using the copper and fiber networks owned by the telcos against which they compete. They have to place their equipment in telcos' central offices in order to distribute their services. When tiering kicks in, telcos can stick bandwidth resellers, and therefore their subscribers, into whatever tier they like based on criteria fabricated by telcos. There is a way around this scam, or rather, above it. Towerstream is succeeding where a lot of would-be wireless Internet players have failed. It supplies scalable Internet connectivity to businesses in metropolitan areas through a web of WiMax transceivers. My interest is less in WiMax technology than in what Towerstream does with it. Its business model is almost impossibly simple and practically impervious to telco interference. It works like this: Towerstream leases small plots of space on the rooftops of office buildings. You'd never know it, but that's hot real estate up there, and most of Towerstream's early development hinged on snagging enough rooftop space to blanket the cities it serves. When Towerstream wins a spot on a roof, many of the buildings have telephony facilities and hosting providers on or near the top floors. Towerstream grabs a gigabit link from each of them, and through the magic of the WiMax mesh, adds to its total available bandwidth and eliminates the risk that subscribers face when they buy their bandwidth from a single carrier. This isn�t a tale of a telecommunications Robin Hood. At $500/month, its lowest-tier T-1 service (1.5 Mbps upstream and downstream) hovers around or slightly above average pricing for markets it serves. However, Towerstream gives its customers three extras that can make its service priceless. First, that T-1 includes DSL-like 3 Mbps "best effort" service; you get up to twice as much bandwidth when the network's not crowded. Towerstream offers a service level agreement (SLA) that's incomparably sweet for smaller subscribers: 99.99 percent guaranteed availability, a maximum of 75 ms round trip to the backbone and a max of 1 percent packet loss. And lastly, Towerstream's network assigns high QOS (quality of service) priority to VoIP traffic, so it's practical for a business to use its WiMax Internet service to offset its wired telephony costs. Did I say three extras? I missed the one that's the point of the whole story. You might recall that Towerstream buys its bandwidth in multiples of a gigabit, which puts it in the top tier in even the craftiest telco's book. Towerstream chops up that bandwidth and resells it, but there's no copper, no fiber, and no telco-owned infrastructure in the picture. Unless Towerstream loosens the 75 ms round trip delay and 1 percent packet loss provisions, it's promising that even its bottom end, T-1 customers won't be tiered. Neither wired nor wireless bandwidth can be free because the infrastructure costs too much to build and maintain, but Towerstream shows telcos for the carpetbaggers they are and presents a model for escaping their clutches. It's not perfect: Only residents of metro areas including New York, Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco are reached by Towerstream, and Towerstream has no plans to reach out to or beyond the 'burbs. But Towerstream counsels would-be WiMax players aiming for smaller markets. Telcos, the future of the Internet is way over your head. <http://weblog.infoworld.com/yager/archives/2007/04/wimax_bypasses.html?sour…> --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

1 0

[Fwd: [APC Forum] Job vacancy at GreenNet]
by alice 26 Apr '07

26 Apr '07

-------- Original Message -------- Hi All, As GreenNet looks to put more energy into engaging and supporting our user community, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and technically skilled person to join our user-support team. Please circulate to anyone you think might be interested. Unfortunately we can't pay relocation costs for applicants from outside the UK, but we can offer support and advice on any necessary immigration requirements and accommodation arrangements. Anna ------------------------------------------------------ *GreenNet Logo Part-Time User Support Position at GreenNet* * Location: Central London / Old Street * Start Date: June 2007 * Salary: £25,680 per annum pro rata * Leave: 28 days per annum pro rata * Part-time (2-3 days a week): 9.30am-5.30pm * Deadline for Applications: 14th May 2007 *General Background:* GreenNet is a workers' collective, with a horizontal management structure. All staff are involved in decision making and strategic planning, and contribute to a friendly and supportive working environment. We provide networking support to social justice organisations and activists, and take an active role in campaigns for the promotion of communication rights. For more on GreenNet, see http://www.gn.apc.org *Duties:* * Answering user support queries by email, phone, and occasionally in person * Giving advice on configuration of a variety of email programs, web browsers, FTP clients and dial-up connections on most versions of Windows and Mac OS * Troubleshooting user website, email and connection problems * Basic mail, web and DNS server systems administration on Linux * Providing a link between users' online needs and service development at GreenNet * Promoting and offering advice on GreenNet services * Developing improved systems and processes for support and administration * Maintaining the support section of the GreenNet web site and developing support materials * Keeping abreast of ICT products and services & monitoring markets and competitors * Liaison with suppliers to provide best connectivity and services for users * Liaising with the technical team to contribute to software and technical developments * Outreach to the user community, overseeing printed materials, content and advertising exchanges * Overseeing volunteers where necessary * General contributions to the work of the collective (e.g. minute taking, planning, representing GreenNet in public, maintaining ethical policies, training) *Essential Skills:* * Good knowledge of the internet, email and related technologies * Good troubleshooting skills * Knowledge of most commonly-used email client programs (Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Eudora) and web browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox) * Good knowledge of PC operating systems (Windows 95 – Vista, including NT) and Macs (Mac OS 8.5 to X) * Knowledge of at least one programming language * Interest and capacity for rapidly acquiring new technical skills * A willingness to participate and contribute to the collective management of GreenNet * A good service-orientated attitude and good telephone manner – patience essential! * Ability to explain complex technical information in a jargon-free way to people of wide-ranging abilities * Understanding of the voluntary sector working environment *Desirable skills:* * Interest in communication rights, Open Source software, social justice and environmental issues * Creativity and imagination in support, service development and skill sharing * Linux systems administration skills * Knowledge of networking (LAN, WAN, ADSL) and network troubleshooting * Interest or experience in website development and programming * Campaigning or project management experience *Application Requirements* Please send your CV and covering letter by E-mail to jobs(a)gn.apc.org, with *User Support Vacancy* in the subject line ____________________________________________ Anna Feldman GreenNet Web Projects Developer APC Wireless Connectivity Project Coordinator anna(a)gn.apc.org | http://www.gn.apc.org | http://www.apc.org/ T: +44 (0)20 7065 0940 +44 (0)20 8986 2893 F: +44 (0)20 7065 0936 ____________________________________________ ======================================= 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

1 0

Day 3 of 10: Day 3 - Hierarchy of IGO & ISPs
by John Walubengo 26 Apr '07

26 Apr '07

Thanx Alex for your comments on Day 1, for a moment I was bracing myself for a 10 day Online monologue :-(! as opposed to the planned Online dialogue. Incidentally, belated Comments on previous days themes shall remain welcome - just click on the correct subject line and make your appropriate contributions... Anyway back to today's theme- The Question of Internet Gateway Operators (IGO, the Wholesalers of Internet Bandwidth) vs Internet Service Providers (ISPs, the Retailers of Internet Bandwidth). The report recommends that seperation b/w IGO and ISPs be dissolved. This is because the current structure Internet-> IGO -> ISP -> Consumers is considered unnecessarily too long. Apparently the ISP as we know them today are not adding significant value - instead they are adding cost to the service and probably degraging the quality of the Internet eventually delivered to the Customers. Cutting down the middle-man (ISPs) may offset the costs and while increasing the quality of the internet eventually delivered to the Consumer. Is this assumption true? Does allowing IGO to directly deal with Consumer result in cheaper Internet Services while improving on the quality of the internet? 1 day on this theme, at the least, I do hope to get some reactions at from any IGOs and ISPs. walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

2 2

successful journalists workshop
by Rebecca Wanjiku 26 Apr '07

26 Apr '07

hi, KICTANet together with ICT media network held a successful workshop this morning brought together more than 30 journalists was addressed by PS Ndemo and DG Waweru we are having the monthly forum this afternoon at 3pm..... dont miss the forum at Jacaranda... becky Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

1 0

Fw: [COMO Alliance] Public Interest Media Activism and Advocacy as a Social Movement: A Review of the Literature
by Florence Etta 26 Apr '07

26 Apr '07

FYI Public Interest Media Activism and Advocacy as a Social Movement: A Review of the Literature Abstract This report examines the academic literature focused on public interest media and communications activism and advocacy within the U.S. and abroad (labeled, in the name of brevity, the “media reform” movement throughout this report). This report first seeks to outline the parameters of the movement under consideration, in terms of the primary conceptual frames employed, outcomes pursued, and strategic approaches. As this section illustrates, the media reform movement is characterized by a diverse array of conceptual frames (ranging from “media reform” to “media justice” to “communication rights” to “media democracy”), and a hesitancy at this point to coalesce around a single unifying frame. The movement is similarly diverse in terms of its outcome priorities and in terms of the strategic approaches employed by its various member organizations. The second section of the report charts the origins and evolution of the research in this field. As this section illustrates, over time the analytical approach that scholars have brought to the topic increasingly has adopted a social movement theory perspective. The third section considers the media reform movement as a social movement, identifying key recurring themes in the literature related to the interaction between media reform and other social movements, to the relationship between social movements and the media, and to the organization and performance of the organizations driving the media reform movement. As this section illustrates, media reform is unique in the extent to which its goals can facilitate the success of other social movements, but also is uniquely hampered by the extent to which traditional mainstream media are motivated to deny press coverage to media reform. This section also highlights some of the most common critiques leveled at the media reform movement, ranging from a lack of coordination and collaboration between groups, to a lack of a strong nation-wide constituency, to a primarily reactive orientation toward policy issues. The concluding section summarizes the key findings of the report and offers a series of recommendations related to strategic approaches for the movement and to avenues for future research. Key Findings n The academic literature on the media reform movement is much more extensive than has previously been suggested, due in large part to tremendous growth in the literature in recent years, as well as due to the diverse terminology used to describe the movement (which can confound efforts to assemble an appropriately inclusive body of literature). n A significant proportion of the literature is internally generated (i.e., produced by individuals involved in the movement). n The tendency among scholars to conceptualize media reform as a social movement has become more common in recent years. n The media reform movement frequently has been characterized as unique due to the extent to which the ends of the movement support key means by which other social movements achieve their goals. n The media reform movement frequently has been characterized as subservient to broader social movements, given its tight linkages throughout its history to social movements such as civil rights, yet evidence of strong and systematic linkages between media reform and other social movements has been lacking. n The media reform movement frequently has been characterized as highly fragmented, lacking substantial inter-group coordination, and lacking a sufficiently large constituency. n The media reform movement frequently has been characterized as reaching its peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but also becoming highly rejuvenated within the past decade, in terms of public interest organization activity, citizen interest, and funding support. _______________________________________________ COMO_Alliance mailing list COMO_Alliance(a)lists.asc.upenn.edu http://lists.asc.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/como_alliance ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

1 0

Day 4 of 10:- Standby
by John Walubengo 26 Apr '07

26 Apr '07

Hi all, Its encouraging to see comments finally beginning to emerge. I feel it necessary to postpone Day 4 (The Statistics on Infrastructure) to tomorrow so that we can have more time to dwell particularly on the Day 2 'International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage' & Day 3 'Hierarchy of Providers (IBP,ISP)' themes. Kudos in particular to Alex, Michuki & LK for your insights so far. I can't believe we have not heard from Kai - hope he is not on a (butter?)-flight somewhere (;-) walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

members meeting today
by Rebecca Wanjiku 26 Apr '07

26 Apr '07

just to remind you of the meeting today at 3pm the theme will be e-learning, please plan to attend... Kictanet counts on you, you are Kictanet.... regards becky __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Day 2 Internet Study- International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage
by John Walubengo 25 Apr '07

25 Apr '07

Hi all, Yesterday was the most silent deliberation I have ever had - am told it may have been caused by the excitement of the 'Free PC & Cheap Internet' from LK and KDN... Any I do hope today we shall have some response on the above topic which incidentally have a bearing on the long-term success or otherwise of similar 'Free PC & Cheap Internet' initiatives...the question of International vs Domestic Internet Bandwidth. The Internet Study says that of the about 1G International International Bandwidth only 10% is outbound while 90% is inbound. What this mean is that kenya is a net IMPORTER of internet content. In internet economic terms we are therefore consumers rather than generators of internet content - which is a bad thing. Value is always retained by those who generate rather than just consume internet content i.e. the exporters of internet content. Put in another way, all the International bandwidth (KDN, Jamii & others) buys (imports) on our behalf implies that someone in the Northern hemisphere is getting paid for it - wouldn't it be better that KDN, Jamii & others get to sell (export) the same amount of bandwidth to consumers in the North? What can be done to get that to happen? Are the recommendations in the report sufficient to address this imbalance? 1 day discussion on this theme, the floor is open... walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

3 2

close debate on free PC's
by Rebecca Wanjiku 25 Apr '07

25 Apr '07

just to let you know that we have closed the debate on free PC's et al please focus the debate on the ongoing discussion on interconnectivity, local content.. et al here is the latest comment by Michuki have your say.... ----- Original Message ---- From: Michuki Mwangi <michuki(a)kenic.or.ke> To: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 1:44:39 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 Internet Study- International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage Hi Walu, John Walubengo wrote: > The Internet Study says that of the about 1G International > International Bandwidth only 10% is outbound while 90% is > inbound. What this mean is that kenya is a net IMPORTER of > internet content. In internet economic terms we are > therefore consumers rather than generators of internet > content - which is a bad thing. Value is always retained > by those who generate rather than just consume internet > content i.e. the exporters of internet content. > Less than 50% of the International content is relevant to us yet it makes up 90% of our inbound traffic. That means that there is a potential of more than 50% percent of local content yet to be realised and monetized. >What can be done to get that to happen? IMHO, i see the following as key catalysts to the growth of local content in order to change the status quo. Before we think of exporting content, we need to have sufficient & relevant local content to the users. 1) ISPs & Service providers need to introduce creative products that focus more on local content. For instance an unlimited Internet connection for kshs 1,000 giving one unlimited local access per month. By local access means - can access any locally hosted website and send emails off a local web-based mail system. With affordability but lack of sufficient local content will spur; o creation of local user generated content o Better information on local corporate websites o Introduction of local online Gaming & entertainment o Introduction of online Services i.e banking, shopping, e-gov 2) Looking at the graphs availed (KIXP stats). The stats (picks and drops) are replayed across the International circuits at night and weekends for all operators. Thus the service providers need to monetize their services in Megabit per Second. This will mean that they can offer lower traffic rates i.e kshs 1,000 per month for unlimited Internet from 7pm to 7am and full weekends and national holidays. Looking at points 1 & 2 above it would be feasible (please note the values are just hypothetical) to have unlimited local and international night access for Kshs 2,000 per month for x Kbps of capacity. As the enterprising citizens of Kenya have found ways of monetizing SMS's - the same would apply to web content, email etc. Of course this would spawn off issues of net-neutrality but then we would be more conversant with the issues. 3) As a first step towards e-learning, if the academic sector would (initially the colleges and universities) have all student assignments, essays, reports etc submited online with the internally graded results being posted & accessed online. In essence it will trigger a demand for both computing and Internet resources. Being local content the above products 1 & 2 can serve the day-scholars and the boarders probably paying a flat rate of Kshs 500 per month for unlimited access to the university online resources and local Internet. As a result this will spur; o Academic/Scientific research content & traffic o enhance e-learning products and services o User generated content o Local social online networks. In summary, the infrastructure providers will keep investing as long as there's a business case. So far, there is immense Internet infrastructure capacity on the ground and more being laid out. But quite honestly its highly underutilized. The situation may not change significantly if special focus and emphasis is given to availability of local and RELEVANT content. Kenya is amongst the only two countries in Africa that have the core elements of the Internet locally namely the DNS Root Servers (F and J), the main TLD Root Servers (.KE, .COM and .NET) and a Gigabit capacity Exchange point. We need to take advantage of these resources and infrastructure sooner rather than later. > 1 day discussion on this theme, the floor is open... > Pole this comes more later than the set time. my 2 cents, -- Michuki Mwangi KENIC _______________________________________________ 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/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

forum and workshop
by Rebecca Wanjiku 25 Apr '07

25 Apr '07

please note that the workshop program starts at 8.30 am to 1pm the monthly forum starts at 3pm to 5.15pm i hope to see you there........ regards becky __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

forum prog.
by Rebecca Wanjiku 25 Apr '07

25 Apr '07

KICTANet MONTHLY FORUM THURSDAY APRIL 26, 2007 PROGRAMME TIME ACTIVITY 3.00- 3.15pm introduction 3.15-3.35pm E-learning initiatives by Ministry of Education- Andrew Gakiria 3:45-3.50pm Q&A 3.50-4.20pm e-learning- the e-picture- Fatma Bashir 4.20-4.25pm Q&A 4.25- 4.50pm Reviving village polytechnics E-learning initiatives by Ministry of Youth 4.50- 5:15pm Q&A 5.15 pm Tea GUESTS LEAVE AT THEIR PLEASURE __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Free Internet on KDN's Butterfly
by Vincent Wang'ombe 25 Apr '07

25 Apr '07

Dear Listers, We are in the process of testing some new features on our metropolitan Wi-Fi network, Butterfly. We will be providing free internet access on the Butterfly network over this weekend (28th and 29th) in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. We would like to request KICTANET Listers who have Wi-Fi capable computers or PDAs to please try out the service and provide us with feedback on the experience. For those who would like to try and don't have Wi-Fi Kit, we'll be happy to "hook you up". Please help us in our endeavor to make Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu the first seamless Wi-Fi Cities in Africa. Your support will be highly appreciated. Regards, Vincent Wang'ombe Kenya Data Networks Tel: +254 20 556755, 828271 Fax: +254 20 828685 URL: www.kdn.co.ke <file:///\\fileserver\OpenArea\UserShares\stanley.nganga\E-mail%20Signature\ www.kdn.co.ke> Visit us on www.Butterfly.co.ke for more information.

1 0

workshop prog
by Rebecca Wanjiku 25 Apr '07

25 Apr '07

The topic of the inaugural workshop is: FIBRE OPTIC CABLE: Financing models, ownership, business models and regulations. DATE: THURSDAY 26 APRIL 2007 VENUE: JACARANDA HOTEL KEYNOTE ADDRESS: CCK DIRECTOR-GENERAL, ENG. JOHN WAWERU OFFICIAL OPENING: PS, MIN. OF INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION, DR. BITANGE NDEMO Find enclosed a copy of the programme. PROGRAMME FOR FIRST ICT MEDIA NETWORK WORKSHOP ON THURSDAY APRIL 26, 20007 AT JACARANDA HOTEL ON: FIBRE OPTIC CABLE: Financing models, ownership, business models and regulations TIME ACTIVITY 8:30-9:00 Registration 9:00-9.45 Opening Remarks by CCK Director-General, Eng. John Waweru 9:45-10:15 Official opening by PS in the Ministry of Information and Communication, Dr. Bitange Ndemo 10:15-10:30 Q&A 10.30-10:45 Tea Break 10:45-11:30 John Walubengo, Lecturer, KCCT 11:30- 12:15 Alex Gakuru, CEO, Consumer Association of Kenya 12:15-12:30 Q&A Vote of thanks Eric Ombok 12:30- 1:30 Lunch GUESTS LEAVE AT THEIR PLEASURE __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs/Home Users
by judy okite 25 Apr '07

25 Apr '07

Hi, Just one Q: The connection cost comes to approximately 72k,is this per PC? Kind Regards, --- kictanet-bounces+judyokite=yahoo.com(a)kictanet.or.ke <lkimani(a)comnews.co.ke> wrote: > Alex, Joan, Florence and Njorohio, and all our well wishers: > > On behalf of Alunite, let me thank you very much for the kudos. > > Njorohio, if you already have a standalone PC and just need connection > call us, and we will review your requirements, and come up with an offer > you can not resist. > > Alunite is extremely serious about being the ISP for the "People by the > People" > > There will be something for everybody in the Alunite DSL "Kiondo" > > > Lucy Kimani > on behalf of > Alunite Communications, Ltd. > 020-273-7155 > > > Hi All > > This is great and will assist the SMES > > However I think the SMEs and even homeworkers can afford the PC but the > > hindrance has been the cost of the Bandwidth. > > Can the company consider as an alternative the charge for the link only. > > This may persuade those firms with standalone computers to subscribe to > > the service. > > Cheers > > > > Njorohio > > > > > > Florence Etta <feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Brilliant!! > > > > > > Florence Etta > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > From: Joan Walumbe <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> > > To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk > > Sent: Monday, 23 April, 2007 4:16:18 PM > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet > > forSMEs and Home Users > > > > Thanks Alex for the info, > > > > This is actually a great idea. Would you have a contact number or email > > address for Alunite? > > > > Joan Walumbe > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Alex Gakuru > > To: Kictanet > > Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 8:57 AM > > Subject: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap > > Internet forSMEs and Home Users > > > > > > > > > > Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 > > 08:51:01 +0300 > > From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> > > To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > > Subject: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and > > Home > > Users > > > > [This brightens a new dawn for Kenya's connectivity. I have often > > argued that lesser city traffic jams and higher national productivity > > can be achieved by taking internet outside the city centre, Nairobi > > currently having 80% of Kenya's internet. Many are bound to choose > > working from home to save on expensive city office rent overheads and > > "outsourcing" will definitely benefit considering the time > > differences > > become less of a problem, security is also a consideration. > > > > Forecasting on this possibility at a stakeholders workshop on 22 > > March > > 2007, I warned that it would only take "one clever ISP" to realise === Message Truncated === __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

4 5

Re: [kictanet] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs/Home Users
by Lucy Kimani 24 Apr '07

24 Apr '07

Janet: Great seeing you in this forum too, and yes the two events are definately on my radar. Reachout is already on my list, and anywhere that KDN has a presence is a possiblity, but please share the addresses for all the centers via private email and I will request for a survey. Lucy > Hello Dear Lucy and All, > > We meet in another setting (where you're being given the same royal > treatment you deserve everywhere), and am thrilled to hear abt this > invaluable endeavor. Bravo!!!! > > I am wondering abt your presence in W Kenya now? Am thinking abt Mumias, > Kisumu, and Mbita (KAIPPG, Reachout, Lake Fellowship, Deaf Impact > Ministry, and others). > > Also, are you attending the e-learning conference in May, and/or the > telecentre meeting in June? Both would be great places for a "plug" > (advertising being connecting by other means), and I'd like to do some > networking re linking you up with folks I know who will be there. > > Thanks again so much (esp for being the "non-retiring" kind!), and "Kudos > to Kimani" (for uniting us "al", haha!), Janet (Feldman, > kaippg(a)earthlink.net) > > -----Original Message----- >>From: Lucy Kimani <lkimani(a)comnews.co.ke> >>Sent: Apr 23, 2007 1:45 PM >>To: Janet Feldman <kaippg(a)earthlink.net> >>Subject: [kictanet] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs/Home Users >> >>Alex, Joan, Florence and Njorohio, and all our well wishers: >> >>On behalf of Alunite, let me thank you very much for the kudos. >> >>Njorohio, if you already have a standalone PC and just need connection >>call us, and we will review your requirements, and come up with an offer >>you can not resist. >> >>Alunite is extremely serious about being the ISP for the "People by the >>People" >> >>There will be something for everybody in the Alunite DSL "Kiondo" >> >> >>Lucy Kimani >>on behalf of >>Alunite Communications, Ltd. >> >>> Hi All >>> This is great and will assist the SMES >>> However I think the SMEs and even homeworkers can afford the PC but >>> the >>> hindrance has been the cost of the Bandwidth. >>> Can the company consider as an alternative the charge for the link >>> only. >>> This may persuade those firms with standalone computers to subscribe >>> to >>> the service. >>> Cheers >>> >>> Njorohio >>> >>> >>> Florence Etta <feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Brilliant!! >>> >>> >>> Florence Etta >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ---- >>> From: Joan Walumbe <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> >>> To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk >>> Sent: Monday, 23 April, 2007 4:16:18 PM >>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap >>> Internet >>> forSMEs and Home Users >>> >>> Thanks Alex for the info, >>> >>> This is actually a great idea. Would you have a contact number or >>> email >>> address for Alunite? >>> >>> Joan Walumbe >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: Alex Gakuru >>> To: Kictanet >>> Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 8:57 AM >>> Subject: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap >>> Internet forSMEs and Home Users >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 >>> 08:51:01 +0300 >>> From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> >>> To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net >>> Subject: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs >>> and >>> Home >>> Users >>> >>> [This brightens a new dawn for Kenya's connectivity. I have often >>> argued that lesser city traffic jams and higher national >>> productivity >>> can be achieved by taking internet outside the city centre, >>> Nairobi >>> currently having 80% of Kenya's internet. Many are bound to choose >>> working from home to save on expensive city office rent overheads >>> and >>> "outsourcing" will definitely benefit considering the time >>> differences >>> become less of a problem, security is also a consideration. >>> >>> Forecasting on this possibility at a stakeholders workshop on 22 >>> March >>> 2007, I warned that it would only take "one clever ISP" to realise >>> this enormous small business and home user waiting market away >>> from >>> the current "corporates-only" internet (used between 8am to 5 pm >>> and >>> half-days on Saturdays which drops at lunch-time. (see the first >>> graph >>> at http://www.isoc.or.ke/connectivity.html - website under >>> development)] >>> ----------------------- >>> [Business Daily] >>> >>> ISP targets home users with free PC's >>> Written by Okkutah Mark >>> Monday, 23 April 2007 [NAIROBI] >>> >>> While most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) target corporate >>> users, >>> one new entrant into the online market is banking on capturing >>> residential, small and home business users with a unique offer: a >>> free >>> computer. >>> >>> The company, Alunite, says most Kenyans would love to be connected >>> to >>> a high-speed DSL Internet connection from home, but the lack of >>> affordable personal computers, and high bandwidth costs have kept >>> most >>> out of the loop. >>> >>> Lucy Kimani, the ISPs executive director said Alunite was >>> partnering >>> with Kenya Data Networks (KDN) and Keysde, a local company >>> involved >>> in >>> computer assembly in which Keysde will provide PCs, under a >>> guarantee >>> that the ISP settles the bill within 90 days. >>> >>> KDN will provide the DSL linkage to it's Metro optical fibre. >>> >>> "As an ISP we are linking the home subscribers to the KDN's link >>> which >>> will provide them with a high-speed connection," said Ms Kimani. >>> "We >>> also realised that a majority of people don't own computers, and >>> that's why we looked how we could solve this problem." >>> >>> The deal does come with a catch though. In exchange for a free >>> computer, subscribers must sign a one-year agreement to subscribe >>> to >>> Alunite's Internet sevices, which cost 5,945 per month. >>> >>> The computerÂan Intel Pentium 1.2 Ghz PCÂretails for Sh10,300 in >>> local shops. >>> >>> But Ms Kimani said it was more than just a freebie. >>> >>> "We eliminate the hassle of dealing with a separate connectivity >>> provider and provide attentive customer service," she said. "Our >>> company coordinates all aspects of the installation of the service >>> including site inspection." >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> ke-internetusers mailing list >>> ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net >>> http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers >>> >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------- >>> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? >>> Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------- >>> Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. >>> Try >>> it 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/gathuri_njorohio%40yahoo.com >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------- >>> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? >>> Check outnew cars at Yahoo! >>> Autos._______________________________________________ >>> 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/lkimani%40comnews.co.ke >> >> >> >>----------------------------------------- >>This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. >> " " >>http://www.accesskenya.com/ >> >>_______________________________________________ >>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/kaippg%40earthlink.net > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/lkimani%40comnews.co.ke ----------------------------------------- This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. " " http://www.accesskenya.com/

1 0

Day 1 of 10: CCK Internet Study-Background Concepts/Overview
by John Walubengo 24 Apr '07

24 Apr '07

Morning all, Today is Day 1 of our deliberation and would like to give a general overview that would constitute our working document for the rest of the deliberations. Please go through it and I welcome general reactions, comments, clarifications or objections as we set the background for the rest of the workshop. We have 24hrs on this before tomorrow when we shall go deeper into the issues of International and Domestic bandwidth. My (personal) summary of the report based on the official copy @ http://www.cck.go.ke/internet_market_study/ follows:- ~~~~00000~~~~~~~~~~ CCK commissioned Netcomm Information Systems (the Consultant) to undertake a study to establish amongst others, the following Internet indicators within the Kenyan Market: 1. The Internet service diffusion and usage patterns in different sectors of the Kenyan economy 2. The general Internet service costing mechanisms employed by operators and service providers 3. The key factors that hinder Internet market development 4. The vertical and horizontal relationships of the Internet market in the country In carrying out its terms of reference, the Consultant held several roundtable meetings with key stakeholders selected from the Government, Telco-operators, Internet Service providers and Consumers. The Consultant administered questionnaires which revealed the following key findings -categorised under Network Infrastructure, Internet Affordability and Dispersion as described below: Network Infrastructure: This indicator establishes the structure and quality of the International and National (domestic) internet backbone across the country. It was found that following the liberation of the telecom sector to allow more players at the International Internet Gateway Operator (IGO) level, there has been a steady increase in the International Bandwidth capacity-currently at 1G and representing over 10% growth since 2004. However, the domestic Internet capacity continued to register limited growth, despite the availability of the local Internet Exchange Point (KIXP). Internet Tariffs & Affordability: This indicator establishes the capacity of consumers to afford the Internet Services. It is taken as a factor of the gross national income, in other words, the average cost of 1 month Internet access measured against the average monthly salaries. It was found that internet service via mobile phone was much more affordable (costing 8% of average monthly incomes) as compared to via fixed lines (costing 200% of the average monthly incomes). This was despite the falling rates of International Internet Bandwidth occasioned by competition at that level. Dispersion: This indicator establishes geographic reach and sectoral absorption of the Intenet Service. In essence it describes the e-Readiness status of the economy or for the Country. It was found that even though ISPs were present in all the 8 Provinces, they were hardly present at the districts level covering only 30% of the districts in Kenya. In addition, of the three key stakeholders, Government, Educational and Commercial, the Commercial sector had the bulk of the existing Internet Connectivity (80%) while the Education Sector had the lowest (less than 2%). Finally, of the estimated 2.8 Million Internet users in the country, 80% are in the capital city Nairobi, 9% in Mombasa and the rest (11%) are spread across the country. In attempting to improve the above bleak indicators, the Consultant made the following key recommendations: Network Infrastructure: That the Government and the Operators make a deliberate effort to extend the domestic Internet backbone through out the country. In addition, that the current license separation between the Internet Gateway Operators (IGOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) be dissolved by combining their services into one license-the Data Communication Network Operator (DCNO) license. Finally, that the Regulator should publish and enforce quality standards in the provision of the Internet Services. Internet Tariffs & Affordability: That the Regulator, introduces competition in the Fixed Telephone line service and a flat-rate tariff or volume-based model for dial-up internet services. Also, that despite the relatively cheaper Mobile internet services, further competition be introduce within the sub-sector to further drive down the rates. Dispersion: That the Regulator reviews and implements the Universal Access strategy, enabling Operators to extend Internet Broadband services to non-economical rural areas in order to serve in particular educational and health institutions. That the Universal Access fund be utilised in promoting and creating local content in order to stimulate demand and usage. Finally, that the Regulator promotes Consumer Awareness programmes while the Government concludes and enacts the necessary legislative framework for supporting eCommerce uptake. -summary ends--- Plse, the floor is open for your reactions and a copy of the 10 day program is copied here as a reminder. Internet Study-Background Concepts/Overview 1day Internet Study-International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage 1day Internet Study-Hierarchy of Providers (IBP,ISP) 1day Internet Study-The Statistics on Infrastructure 1day Internet Study-The Statistics on Affordability 1day Internet Study-The Statistics on Dispersion 1day Internet Study-The Impact of the Recommendations-3days What is the way forward/Conclusions 1day walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

3 4

Re: [kictanet] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs/Home Users
by Janet Feldman 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

Hello Dear Lucy and All, We meet in another setting (where you're being given the same royal treatment you deserve everywhere), and am thrilled to hear abt this invaluable endeavor. Bravo!!!! I am wondering abt your presence in W Kenya now? Am thinking abt Mumias, Kisumu, and Mbita (KAIPPG, Reachout, Lake Fellowship, Deaf Impact Ministry, and others). Also, are you attending the e-learning conference in May, and/or the telecentre meeting in June? Both would be great places for a "plug" (advertising being connecting by other means), and I'd like to do some networking re linking you up with folks I know who will be there. Thanks again so much (esp for being the "non-retiring" kind!), and "Kudos to Kimani" (for uniting us "al", haha!), Janet (Feldman, kaippg(a)earthlink.net) -----Original Message----- >From: Lucy Kimani <lkimani(a)comnews.co.ke> >Sent: Apr 23, 2007 1:45 PM >To: Janet Feldman <kaippg(a)earthlink.net> >Subject: [kictanet] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs/Home Users > >Alex, Joan, Florence and Njorohio, and all our well wishers: > >On behalf of Alunite, let me thank you very much for the kudos. > >Njorohio, if you already have a standalone PC and just need connection >call us, and we will review your requirements, and come up with an offer >you can not resist. > >Alunite is extremely serious about being the ISP for the "People by the >People" > >There will be something for everybody in the Alunite DSL "Kiondo" > > >Lucy Kimani >on behalf of >Alunite Communications, Ltd. > >> Hi All >> This is great and will assist the SMES >> However I think the SMEs and even homeworkers can afford the PC but the >> hindrance has been the cost of the Bandwidth. >> Can the company consider as an alternative the charge for the link only. >> This may persuade those firms with standalone computers to subscribe to >> the service. >> Cheers >> >> Njorohio >> >> >> Florence Etta <feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Brilliant!! >> >> >> Florence Etta >> >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >> From: Joan Walumbe <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> >> To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk >> Sent: Monday, 23 April, 2007 4:16:18 PM >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet >> forSMEs and Home Users >> >> Thanks Alex for the info, >> >> This is actually a great idea. Would you have a contact number or email >> address for Alunite? >> >> Joan Walumbe >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Alex Gakuru >> To: Kictanet >> Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 8:57 AM >> Subject: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap >> Internet forSMEs and Home Users >> >> >> >> >> Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 >> 08:51:01 +0300 >> From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> >> To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net >> Subject: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and >> Home >> Users >> >> [This brightens a new dawn for Kenya's connectivity. I have often >> argued that lesser city traffic jams and higher national productivity >> can be achieved by taking internet outside the city centre, Nairobi >> currently having 80% of Kenya's internet. Many are bound to choose >> working from home to save on expensive city office rent overheads and >> "outsourcing" will definitely benefit considering the time >> differences >> become less of a problem, security is also a consideration. >> >> Forecasting on this possibility at a stakeholders workshop on 22 >> March >> 2007, I warned that it would only take "one clever ISP" to realise >> this enormous small business and home user waiting market away from >> the current "corporates-only" internet (used between 8am to 5 pm and >> half-days on Saturdays which drops at lunch-time. (see the first >> graph >> at http://www.isoc.or.ke/connectivity.html - website under >> development)] >> ----------------------- >> [Business Daily] >> >> ISP targets home users with free PC's >> Written by Okkutah Mark >> Monday, 23 April 2007 [NAIROBI] >> >> While most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) target corporate users, >> one new entrant into the online market is banking on capturing >> residential, small and home business users with a unique offer: a >> free >> computer. >> >> The company, Alunite, says most Kenyans would love to be connected to >> a high-speed DSL Internet connection from home, but the lack of >> affordable personal computers, and high bandwidth costs have kept >> most >> out of the loop. >> >> Lucy Kimani, the ISPs executive director said Alunite was partnering >> with Kenya Data Networks (KDN) and Keysde, a local company involved >> in >> computer assembly in which Keysde will provide PCs, under a guarantee >> that the ISP settles the bill within 90 days. >> >> KDN will provide the DSL linkage to it's Metro optical fibre. >> >> "As an ISP we are linking the home subscribers to the KDN's link >> which >> will provide them with a high-speed connection," said Ms Kimani. "We >> also realised that a majority of people don't own computers, and >> that's why we looked how we could solve this problem." >> >> The deal does come with a catch though. In exchange for a free >> computer, subscribers must sign a one-year agreement to subscribe to >> Alunite's Internet sevices, which cost 5,945 per month. >> >> The computeran Intel Pentium 1.2 Ghz PCretails for Sh10,300 in >> local shops. >> >> But Ms Kimani said it was more than just a freebie. >> >> "We eliminate the hassle of dealing with a separate connectivity >> provider and provide attentive customer service," she said. "Our >> company coordinates all aspects of the installation of the service >> including site inspection." >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> ke-internetusers mailing list >> ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net >> http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers >> >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? >> Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try >> it 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/gathuri_njorohio%40yahoo.com >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? >> Check outnew cars at Yahoo! >> Autos._______________________________________________ >> 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/lkimani%40comnews.co.ke > > > >----------------------------------------- >This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. > " " >http://www.accesskenya.com/ > >_______________________________________________ >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/kaippg%40earthlink.net

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet forSMEs and Home Users
by Florence Etta 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

Brilliant!! Florence Etta ----- Original Message ---- From: Joan Walumbe <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk Sent: Monday, 23 April, 2007 4:16:18 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet forSMEs and Home Users Thanks Alex for the info, This is actually a great idea. Would you have a contact number or email address for Alunite? Joan Walumbe ----- Original Message ----- From: Alex Gakuru To: Kictanet Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 8:57 AM Subject: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet forSMEs and Home Users Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:51:01 +0300 From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Subject: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and Home Users [This brightens a new dawn for Kenya's connectivity. I have often argued that lesser city traffic jams and higher national productivity can be achieved by taking internet outside the city centre, Nairobi currently having 80% of Kenya's internet. Many are bound to choose working from home to save on expensive city office rent overheads and "outsourcing" will definitely benefit considering the time differences become less of a problem, security is also a consideration. Forecasting on this possibility at a stakeholders workshop on 22 March 2007, I warned that it would only take "one clever ISP" to realise this enormous small business and home user waiting market away from the current "corporates-only" internet (used between 8am to 5 pm and half-days on Saturdays which drops at lunch-time. (see the first graph at http://www.isoc.or.ke/connectivity.html - website under development)] ----------------------- [Business Daily] ISP targets home users with free PC's Written by Okkutah Mark Monday, 23 April 2007 [NAIROBI] While most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) target corporate users, one new entrant into the online market is banking on capturing residential, small and home business users with a unique offer: a free computer. The company, Alunite, says most Kenyans would love to be connected to a high-speed DSL Internet connection from home, but the lack of affordable personal computers, and high bandwidth costs have kept most out of the loop. Lucy Kimani, the ISPs executive director said Alunite was partnering with Kenya Data Networks (KDN) and Keysde, a local company involved in computer assembly in which Keysde will provide PCs, under a guarantee that the ISP settles the bill within 90 days. KDN will provide the DSL linkage to it's Metro optical fibre. "As an ISP we are linking the home subscribers to the KDN's link which will provide them with a high-speed connection," said Ms Kimani. "We also realised that a majority of people don't own computers, and that's why we looked how we could solve this problem." The deal does come with a catch though. In exchange for a free computer, subscribers must sign a one-year agreement to subscribe to Alunite's Internet sevices, which cost 5,945 per month. The computer—an Intel Pentium 1.2 Ghz PC—retails for Sh10,300 in local shops. But Ms Kimani said it was more than just a freebie. "We eliminate the hassle of dealing with a separate connectivity provider and provide attentive customer service," she said. "Our company coordinates all aspects of the installation of the service including site inspection." _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. _______________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

3 3

Free PC and cheap InternetforSMEs and Home Users
by Lucy Kimani 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

Alex, Joan, Florence and Njorohio, and all our well wishers: On behalf of Alunite, let me thank you very much for the kudos. Njorohio, if you already have a standalone PC and just need connection call us, and we will review your requirements, and come up with an offer you can not resist. Alunite is extremely serious about being the ISP for the "People by the People" There will be something for everybody in the Alunite DSL "Kiondo" Lucy Kimani on behalf of Alunite Communications, Ltd. 020-273-7155 > Hi All > This is great and will assist the SMES > However I think the SMEs and even homeworkers can afford the PC but the > hindrance has been the cost of the Bandwidth. > Can the company consider as an alternative the charge for the link only. > This may persuade those firms with standalone computers to subscribe to > the service. > Cheers > > Njorohio > > > Florence Etta <feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Brilliant!! > > > Florence Etta > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Joan Walumbe <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> > To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk > Sent: Monday, 23 April, 2007 4:16:18 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet > forSMEs and Home Users > > Thanks Alex for the info, > > This is actually a great idea. Would you have a contact number or email > address for Alunite? > > Joan Walumbe > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Alex Gakuru > To: Kictanet > Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 8:57 AM > Subject: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap > Internet forSMEs and Home Users > > > > > Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 > 08:51:01 +0300 > From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> > To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > Subject: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and > Home > Users > > [This brightens a new dawn for Kenya's connectivity. I have often > argued that lesser city traffic jams and higher national productivity > can be achieved by taking internet outside the city centre, Nairobi > currently having 80% of Kenya's internet. Many are bound to choose > working from home to save on expensive city office rent overheads and > "outsourcing" will definitely benefit considering the time > differences > become less of a problem, security is also a consideration. > > Forecasting on this possibility at a stakeholders workshop on 22 > March > 2007, I warned that it would only take "one clever ISP" to realise > this enormous small business and home user waiting market away from > the current "corporates-only" internet (used between 8am to 5 pm and > half-days on Saturdays which drops at lunch-time. (see the first > graph > at http://www.isoc.or.ke/connectivity.html - website under > development)] > ----------------------- > [Business Daily] > > ISP targets home users with free PC's > Written by Okkutah Mark > Monday, 23 April 2007 [NAIROBI] > > While most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) target corporate users, > one new entrant into the online market is banking on capturing > residential, small and home business users with a unique offer: a > free > computer. > > The company, Alunite, says most Kenyans would love to be connected to > a high-speed DSL Internet connection from home, but the lack of > affordable personal computers, and high bandwidth costs have kept > most > out of the loop. > > Lucy Kimani, the ISPs executive director said Alunite was partnering > with Kenya Data Networks (KDN) and Keysde, a local company involved > in > computer assembly in which Keysde will provide PCs, under a guarantee > that the ISP settles the bill within 90 days. > > KDN will provide the DSL linkage to it's Metro optical fibre. > > "As an ISP we are linking the home subscribers to the KDN's link > which > will provide them with a high-speed connection," said Ms Kimani. "We > also realised that a majority of people don't own computers, and > that's why we looked how we could solve this problem." > > The deal does come with a catch though. In exchange for a free > computer, subscribers must sign a one-year agreement to subscribe to > Alunite's Internet sevices, which cost 5,945 per month. > > The computeran Intel Pentium 1.2 Ghz PCretails for Sh10,300 in > local shops. > > But Ms Kimani said it was more than just a freebie. > > "We eliminate the hassle of dealing with a separate connectivity > provider and provide attentive customer service," she said. "Our > company coordinates all aspects of the installation of the service > including site inspection." > > > > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > > > --------------------------------- > Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? > Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try > it 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/gathuri_njorohio%40yahoo.com > > > --------------------------------- > Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? > Check outnew cars at Yahoo! > Autos._______________________________________________ > 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/lkimani%40comnews.co.ke ----------------------------------------- This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. " " http://www.accesskenya.com/

1 0

workshop and forum...... no charges
by Rebecca Wanjiku 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

just a reminder that on thursday this week, we have a workshop for journalists on OFC, FOI and ICT bill updates, Dr. Ndemo and Eng. Waweru will give the opening address, its open to members interested in more information on the topics , its at Jacaranda from 8.30 to 1pm and the forum starts at 3 pm as usual, no charges...... that afternoon, KICTANet members will hold the monthly forum dedicated to e-learning, as you may be aware, the e-learning conference is taking place in nairobi next month, the forum will bring out some of the issues expected to come out of the conference next month, KICTANet is counting on your participation, you are the members, so you must come, regards becky __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

2 1

Re: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and Home Users
by Florence Etta 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

This is the Egyptian model! ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk Sent: Monday, 23 April, 2007 8:57:56 AM Subject: [kictanet] Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and Home Users Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:51:01 +0300 From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Subject: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and Home Users [This brightens a new dawn for Kenya's connectivity. I have often argued that lesser city traffic jams and higher national productivity can be achieved by taking internet outside the city centre, Nairobi currently having 80% of Kenya's internet. Many are bound to choose working from home to save on expensive city office rent overheads and "outsourcing" will definitely benefit considering the time differences become less of a problem, security is also a consideration. Forecasting on this possibility at a stakeholders workshop on 22 March 2007, I warned that it would only take "one clever ISP" to realise this enormous small business and home user waiting market away from the current "corporates-only" internet (used between 8am to 5 pm and half-days on Saturdays which drops at lunch-time. (see the first graph at http://www.isoc.or.ke/connectivity.html - website under development)] ----------------------- [Business Daily] ISP targets home users with free PC's Written by Okkutah Mark Monday, 23 April 2007 [NAIROBI] While most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) target corporate users, one new entrant into the online market is banking on capturing residential, small and home business users with a unique offer: a free computer. The company, Alunite, says most Kenyans would love to be connected to a high-speed DSL Internet connection from home, but the lack of affordable personal computers, and high bandwidth costs have kept most out of the loop. Lucy Kimani, the ISPs executive director said Alunite was partnering with Kenya Data Networks (KDN) and Keysde, a local company involved in computer assembly in which Keysde will provide PCs, under a guarantee that the ISP settles the bill within 90 days. KDN will provide the DSL linkage to it's Metro optical fibre. "As an ISP we are linking the home subscribers to the KDN's link which will provide them with a high-speed connection," said Ms Kimani. "We also realised that a majority of people don't own computers, and that's why we looked how we could solve this problem." The deal does come with a catch though. In exchange for a free computer, subscribers must sign a one-year agreement to subscribe to Alunite's Internet sevices, which cost 5,945 per month. The computer—an Intel Pentium 1.2 Ghz PC—retails for Sh10,300 in local shops. But Ms Kimani said it was more than just a freebie. "We eliminate the hassle of dealing with a separate connectivity provider and provide attentive customer service," she said. "Our company coordinates all aspects of the installation of the service including site inspection." _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. _______________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less, sign up for your free account today http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/evt=44106/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/mail/winter07.ht…

1 0

reflecting on the internet
by Rebecca Wanjiku 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

Founding father of the Internet surveys his domainBy CLINT SWETT Wednesday, April 18, 2007 When the man known as a "founding father of the Internet" looks back on its 30-plus years of existence, Vinton Cerf sees a reflection of our best and worst instincts. What has most surprised and pleased the renowned Internet pioneer has been the continuing avalanche of free information that's become available since the advent of the worldwide Web in the mid-1990s. "I see an enormous desire for people to put information online with no compensation," said Cerf, speaking Monday night to a gathering of TechCoire, a group of technology entrepreneurs, in Davis, Calif. That information, he said, ranges from technical papers related to the human genome project to user-written entries on the Wikipedia online encyclopedia. "It's created the most democratic access to information we have ever seen," said Cerf, who in the 1970s helped develop software that became the basis for transmitting everything from e-mail to movies over the Internet. These days, in addition to staying busy with various Internet projects, Cerf serves as Google Inc.'s "chief Internet evangelist." In his talk, he also noted the number of less benign impulses that also flourish online. "We get spam, viruses, worms ... fraud and worthless content," Cerf said. "But we've already dealt with these problems in another context," noting that fraud has occurred for decades via the telephone and the Postal Service. Clad in his trademark three-piece suit set off with a crimson handkerchief, Cerf predicted that much of the Internet's future growth will be tied to mobile devices such as BlackBerry-style gadgets. He recalled being on a boat in southern India several months ago. "I was in the middle of this big lake and thinking I couldn't possibly get any service," said Cerf. "I turned on my BlackBerry and got 300 e-mails." That reinforced the notion that the Net's reach can far exceed the expensive telephone lines and cables that are now standard for getting online. That could be especially powerful in places like Africa where only about 35 million of that continent's estimated 1 billion inhabitants have Internet access, he said. He also predicted that scores of Internet-connected devices will someday be linked in a seamless way. For example, Cerf said, different foods sitting in a Net-connected refrigerator might contain radio frequency tags identifying them by type and date purchased. The fridge could inventory the food, compile recipes and even alert you to shortages while you're shopping. "You'll get a message from your refrigerator saying, 'Don't forget the marinara sauce,'" he said. In addition to his position with Google, Cerf is chairman of ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers that oversees Internet naming issues, and is working with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on ways to efficiently transmit data in outer space. Cerf's job with Google, a part-time position he's held since 2005, includes talking with college students about the Internet's technical challenges. "Even though the Internet has been around for 35 years, there's lots of problems that need to be solved," he said, including beefing up security and finding more efficient ways to transmit data. And the 63-year-old Cerf apparently has no plans to ease into retirement. "I consider it a successful day," he said, "when I wear out two 26-year-olds." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

3 2

Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and Home Users
by Alex Gakuru 23 Apr '07

23 Apr '07

Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:51:01 +0300 From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Subject: [ke-internetusers] Free PC and cheap Internet for SMEs and Home Users [This brightens a new dawn for Kenya's connectivity. I have often argued that lesser city traffic jams and higher national productivity can be achieved by taking internet outside the city centre, Nairobi currently having 80% of Kenya's internet. Many are bound to choose working from home to save on expensive city office rent overheads and "outsourcing" will definitely benefit considering the time differences become less of a problem, security is also a consideration. Forecasting on this possibility at a stakeholders workshop on 22 March 2007, I warned that it would only take "one clever ISP" to realise this enormous small business and home user waiting market away from the current "corporates-only" internet (used between 8am to 5 pm and half-days on Saturdays which drops at lunch-time. (see the first graph at http://www.isoc.or.ke/connectivity.html - website under development)] ----------------------- [Business Daily] ISP targets home users with free PC's Written by Okkutah Mark Monday, 23 April 2007 [NAIROBI] While most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) target corporate users, one new entrant into the online market is banking on capturing residential, small and home business users with a unique offer: a free computer. The company, Alunite, says most Kenyans would love to be connected to a high-speed DSL Internet connection from home, but the lack of affordable personal computers, and high bandwidth costs have kept most out of the loop. Lucy Kimani, the ISPs executive director said Alunite was partnering with Kenya Data Networks (KDN) and Keysde, a local company involved in computer assembly in which Keysde will provide PCs, under a guarantee that the ISP settles the bill within 90 days. KDN will provide the DSL linkage to it's Metro optical fibre. "As an ISP we are linking the home subscribers to the KDN's link which will provide them with a high-speed connection," said Ms Kimani. "We also realised that a majority of people don't own computers, and that's why we looked how we could solve this problem." The deal does come with a catch though. In exchange for a free computer, subscribers must sign a one-year agreement to subscribe to Alunite's Internet sevices, which cost 5,945 per month. The computeran Intel Pentium 1.2 Ghz PCretails for Sh10,300 in local shops. But Ms Kimani said it was more than just a freebie. "We eliminate the hassle of dealing with a separate connectivity provider and provide attentive customer service," she said. "Our company coordinates all aspects of the installation of the service including site inspection." _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

2 1

* YOUNG COMPUTER EXPERT MAKES AFRICAN VIDEO GAME IN KENYA
by alice 22 Apr '07

22 Apr '07

From Balancing Act * YOUNG COMPUTER EXPERT MAKES AFRICAN VIDEO GAME IN KENYA A young Kenyan computer programmer has produced an adventure video game he says is first of its kind in Africa. Wesley Kirinya, aged 23, developed the 3-dimensional action game in his Gwimgrafx Studios in Nairobi. It is called 'The Adventures of Nyangi.' The game is about a character named Nyangi who has to find some rare African artifacts. Each artifact has an interesting and mysterious story behind it, Kirinya says. "I want to bring the entertainment from reading a book or watching a film on African stories into video games." He said the task took him about three years to accomplish. "Since there are no video game development schools in Africa, I taught myself the skill," he said. "I developed this game on a tiny budget. I'm impressed with the outcome, considering that it costs millions of dollars to develop games using the latest technology." The game can be purchased electronically as a digital download from the website: www.gwimgrafxstudios.com (SOURCE: Catholic Information Service for Africa )

1 0

BARBARIANS at the GATES of KENYA: ATC’s moves to consolidate Wins from Africa Online Deal by Investing KSh 2 billion in Wananchi Online and sends signal that Private Equity Industry has its eyes firmly set on Kenya”
by alice 21 Apr '07

21 Apr '07

*BARBARIANS at the GATES of KENYA* *“ATC’s moves to consolidate Wins from Africa Online Deal by Investing KSh 2 billion in Wananchi Online and sends signal that Private Equity Industry has its eyes firmly set on Kenya”* Like the famous KKR acquisition of RJR Nabisco that put the Private Equity industry center stage in America in the 80’s, industry sources are seeing the Africa Telecom Company Ltd’s (ATC) KSh 2 billion investment plans for Wananchi Online as a signal that the Private Equity Industry in Kenya is set to explode. ATC shot to prominence last year when they purchased 30% of Africa Lakes/Africa Online at Stg 10 per share and then got into a bitter and hostile takeover battle with Telekom South Africa. They successfully extracted a heavy price from Telkom South Africa by eventually selling their shares for Stg 25 per share plus another US$ 1.5m of costs. Telkom South Africa’s share price fell significantly at the news and their CEO has subsequently been forced to resign. The deal was a classic private equity play. Africa Online’s revenues have been shrinking for 5 years at a time when the Internet industry in Africa as a whole was growing at record speeds. The cause was typical of many public companies in the UK: bloated head office costs, overpaid and inept senior executive management and a board that could not deliver change. Richard Bell a seasoned ICT entrepreneur turned Private Equity Manager saw the latent value in the business and realized that the only way to release the value was through change – with or without the permission of the board. Leveraging of this experience Bell/East Africa Capital Partners teamed up with Mark Schneider a US Media Entrepreneur and brought in local support through James Gachui (Chairman of Transcentury) & Jimnah Mbaru (Chairman of Dyer & Blair) both well known local financial investors, to use ATC to invest in Wananchi Online and create Wananchi Telecom. It therefore came as no surprise to the Industry when Wananchi Online announced to its shareholders this week that there would be an EGM on Friday 20^th April at which shareholders would be asked to approve a capital investment and infrastructure rollout costing KSh 7 billion over 5 years with the first two years accounting for nearly KSh 2 billion of capital. Commenting on the investment Richard Bell said that the funds would be used to rollout a country-wide broadband Wi-Max network delivering Internet and Fixed Line Voice services “…Wananchi Online’s roots were in making the Internet affordable to Kenyas now *Wananchi Telecom* will do the same by delivering the most inexpensive and affordable consumer broadband service in Africa – and that will be GUARANTEED. It’s a very exciting time in this industry and we believe that Kenyans are crying out for a true broadband service in their homes and our Wi-Max product will deliver this……”. The network will be ready in greater Nairobi by the middle of the year and in all major towns by the end of the year. Joseph Mucheru another local ICT guru and Deputy CEO of the new group went on to commend the Government for their efforts in developing the ICT sector and committed that Wananchi Telecom would support all of these initiatives including the governments plans for Schools, Universities and ICT Villages “…by the time TEAMS, SEACOM and EASSY maritime cables get to Mombassa our network will be ready and all Kenyans will have broadband available. We Kenyans (and some operators) tend to spend a lot of time complaining about the government without recognizing the government’s achievements. The Hon Mutahi Kagwe and PS Ndemo have in my view set the seeds of a great future for Kenyans in ICT……..” The sheer scale and audacity of their plans (3 times larger than Access Kenya’s IPO, with 5 times more base stations) for Wananchi Telecom have taken even industry insiders by surprise, but that’s typical of Private Equity. Whether you like them or hate them the one certainty is that the power, speed and agility *these Private Equity Barbarians *is going to be a big force in Kenya over the next 5 years.

2 1

Ubuntu 'Feisty Fawn' released, hit by traffic
by Alex Gakuru 21 Apr '07

21 Apr '07

Ubuntu 'Feisty Fawn' released, hit by traffic By Stephen Shankland, CNET News.com Published on ZDNet News: April 19, 2007, 11:41 AM PT Canonical on Thursday released version 7.04 of Ubuntu Linux, nicknamed Feisty Fawn, but the company's Web site was unable to keep up with the demand for the software. The up-and-coming Ubuntu has yet to attain the commercially blessed status of Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Novell's Suse Linux Enterprise, which have been in the marketplace years longer and are certified to work with many software and hardware products. But Canonical's software has built a significant fan base with its twice-yearly updates, user-friendly values and cutesy naming scheme. Feisty Fawn held up better than the protagonist in the animation Bambi Meets Godzilla: Canonical put up a bare-bones home page with just a single logo and a list of "mirror" sites from which the software can be downloaded. Still, the site was unavailable for more than half of the day, according to site availability monitoring company Pingdom. "We have been absolutely swamped with hits to the Web site and the mirrors," Canonical Chief Executive Mark Shuttleworth said in a conference call. "Fortunately there are 160 mirrors out there, all rapidly updating to include Feisty Fawn. We hope the logjam won't last much longer." Feisty Fawn features virtualization support and a new crash-reporting tool to aid debugging, but not the glitzy 3D interface Shuttleworth initially wanted. Ubuntu got an unsolicited endorsement from Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell, a computer maker that's been wrestling with how to meet demand for desktop Linux. On Wednesday, the company announced on its Direct2Dell blog that Michael Dell got a new notebook with Feisty Fawn installed. Shuttleworth said he didn't talk to Dell's CEO about the move and wouldn't comment on whether he was in discussions with the computer maker for some sort of partnership. But Dell's move "does suggest that the company is forward-looking and perhaps considering Ubuntu," Shuttleworth said. Ubuntu is chiefly popular on PCs today, but Canonical is following the well-worn path to the server as it builds its Linux business. On servers, the open-source operating system is a stronger rival to Microsoft Windows and functionally very similar to versions of Unix that many administrators are familiar with. Red Hat and Novell's Linux business comes chiefly from selling support subscriptions to server customers. Also on Thursday, Canonical announced a partnership with Sun Microsystems to bolster its server push. The company has integrated Sun's Java software with Feisty Fawn, making it available through the "multiverse" collection of preconfigured, downloadable software packages. Sun has begun making its core Java Standard Edition software open source and will finish during the first half of 2007, said Jeet Kaul, Sun's vice president of developer products and programs. Other components already are open-source software, including the Glassfish project for Java Enterprise Edition, a collection of extensions for running Java on servers, and NetBeans, a Java programming environment. Java SE, Glassfish and NetBeans all are available for Feisty Fawn, Shuttleworth said. "This is the first time the Java platform technology has been fully integrated into a Linux distribution to this extent," said Ian Murdock, Sun's newly appointed chief operating systems officer and founder of the Debian version of Linux on which Ubuntu is based. Though NetBeans is his own "preferred Java development environment," Shuttleworth said that its main rival, Eclipse, already is integrated into Ubuntu. The next version of Ubuntu, Gutsy Gibbon, is due in October. Neither it nor Feisty Fawn features the long-term support of version 6.06, called Dapper Drake. A version with long-term support, which lasts five years, likely won't arrive until the release of Gutsy Gibbon's successor, Shuttleworth said. --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

3 4

Re: [kictanet] media workshop
by Frances Angalia 20 Apr '07

20 Apr '07

Hi Becky, Would be interested to attend. how much is it? Jane Angalia FEMNET COMMUNICATION <communication(a)femnet.or.ke> wrote: v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } Dear Becky, Greetings from the African Womens Development and Communication Network (FEMNET). Thank you for your invitation to attend the workshop for journalists to be held on 26 April 2007. I will be pleased to attend on behalf of FEMNET. Best regards Magdalene Wanjugu For Communications Programme African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) Reseau de Developpement et de Communications des Femmes Africaines P.O. Box 54562, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 3741301/20 Fax: +254 20 3742927 Email: admin(a)femnet.or.ke Website: http://www.femnet.or.ke FEMNET aims to strengthen the role and contribution of African NGOs focusing on women's development, equality and other human rights through communications, networking, training and advocacy. FEMNET est un reseau qui soutient le renforcement des capacites des femmes dans les domaines du plaidoyer et de la communication a travers le travail en reseau. Il facilite egalement les echanges d'informations, d'experiences, et de strategies entre les organisations feminines en vue d'une veritable promotion des droits humains et particulierement des droits de la femme. --------------------------------- From: kictanet-bounces+communication=femnet.or.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+communication=femnet.or.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Rebecca Wanjiku Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 9:36 AM To: communication(a)femnet.or.ke Subject: [kictanet] media workshop Kictanet and Kenya ICT journalists network will be holding a workshop for journalists on April 26 at Jacaranda from 9 am to 1 pm, the workshop, addressing OFC, FOI and ICT bill the workshop is basic and we expect to hold further training in a month or two, if you are interested in attending, please confirm with me directly, regards becky --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. _______________________________________________ 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/jfrances02%40yahoo.com --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

1 0

in the news
by Rebecca Wanjiku 20 Apr '07

20 Apr '07

ICT lobby group to educate users on their rights Written by Okuttah Mark Friday, 20 April 2007 [NAIROBI] Formation of an information and communication technologies (ICTs) consumer lobby group in Kenya, and a tender by the communications regulator for partners to educate Kenyan ICT consumers on their rights point to a shift towards reducing the vulnerability of users. As more people rely on ICTs in their daily lives, the more they open themselves up to financial and other abuses. According to Alex Gakuru, chairman of Kenya ICT Consumer Association, as the Internet, mobile telephony and other technologies take centre stage in Kenyan life, consumers must be made aware of their rights. "Consumers have a right to be informed about services they are getting," Mr Gakuru said. "Informed people always make informed decisions." According to Mr Gakuru, while ICT users remain ill-informed of their rights and have little legal protection against abuses, this is in contrast to corporate clients who often sign service level agreements with ICT service providers. The association alludes to complaints over services from Internet service providers (ISPs) as well as fixed and mobile telephone operators. According to Mr Gakuru, telephony users contend with costly local land-line calls, mobile network congestion and poor coverage in some areas, as well as too many failed calls. Some customers, the group adds, have lost pre-paid credit after buying it, or been charged for SMS messages that were never sent. <snip> <http://bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=679&Itemid=30…> __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Fwd: [UgaBYTES] Invitations to the 3rd EA-TLF
by chelimo kenneth 19 Apr '07

19 Apr '07

Dear All, Kindly go through the forwarded document. Iam sure it might be of interest to some of you. Thanks Ken Chelimo Note: forwarded message attached. --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

1 0

[Fwd: [Aftld-discuss] AfTLD - Administrative Manager Post Announcement ..]
by Michuki Mwangi 19 Apr '07

19 Apr '07

FYI -------- Original Message -------- Dear Colleagues African Top Level Domains Organization ("AFTLD") was incorporated as a non-profit organization on December 19th 2002 in Mauritius. AFTLD acts as a focal point for all the African TLDs Managers, to discuss matters of policy that affect ccTLDs regionally and globally. Further, AFTLD presents the African region members position on global matters relating to the DNS and ccTLDs, and is a regional body of ccNSO (country code Name Supporting Organization), one of ICANN’s supporting organization. To achieve these objectives, AFTLD is seeking a suitable candidate to run its day-to-day operations (primarily based in Mauritius) in the position of AFTLD Administrative Manager. More information on the post visit www.aftld.org . Best Regards, Mohamed EL Bashir Vice President, Communications & Out-Reach African Top Level Domains Orgnization "AfTLD" - Home of Africa National TLD Registries ------------------------------------ Chers Collègues L'organisation africaine de domaines de niveau supérieur ("AFTLD") a été incorporée comme organisation à but non lucratif le 2002 19 décembre en îles Maurice. AFTLD agit en tant que point focal pour tous les directeurs africains de TLDs, pour discuter des points de la politique qui affectent des ccTLDs régionalement et globalement. De plus, AFTLD présente aux membres africains de région la position sur les sujets globaux concernant le DNS et les ccTLDs, et est un corps régional de ccNSO (organisation de support nommée de code de pays), une de l'organisation de support d'ICANN's. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, AFTLD cherche un candidat approprié pour courir ses opérations de jour en jour (principalement basées en îles Maurice) en position de directeur administratif d'AFTLD. Plus d'informtion sur la visite www.aftld.org de poteau. Les meilleurs souvenirs, Mohamed EL Bashir le vice-président de communications AfTLD.org -- Michuki Mwangi KENIC _______________________________________________ Aftld-discuss mailing list Aftld-discuss(a)aftld.org http://lists.aftld.org/mailman/listinfo/aftld-discuss

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Sluggish Internet? This works fast for me
by Jose' 19 Apr '07

19 Apr '07

You sure off topic but its all good.I believe your new discovery will surely work in our R & D (Cyber Cafe') department at Kimathi Information centre.I have to try with one computer tho and see the aftermath and repercussions. Thank you Alex. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 2:17:19 PM Subject: [kictanet] Sluggish Internet? This works fast for me Hi all, I know I am a little off-topic here but I could not resist to share this. For a while now, I changed my DNS server settings resulting in remarkable internet speed increase. Just this morning, one cyber cafe user asked "How come your internet is much faster" so I thought you should all know why, and also try it out if you like. Do not try this (at home or office:-) if you don't know how to change DNS Server settings on your internet connetion card. You know, that one with an IP address, subnet mask then DNS Server, alternate DNS (for windows). Remember to write down your current settings before changing so that you can revert to them whenever you wish, if your not on Linux-based systems which can take more than 2 DNS servers [>>FF>> <http://www.opendns.com/ (DNS 1 208.67.222.222 and DNS2 208.67.220.220 Would appreciate if you let me know (off-list) you if it helps.] They are saying: "OpenDNS helps you navigate the Internet in a safer, faster, smarter and more reliable way. Our service is free and requires nothing to download. OpenDNS doesn't replace your existing Internet connection, it just makes it better." "The only thing worse than a slow DNS service is an unreliable DNS service. When DNS isn't working it appears as if the entire Internet isn't working. Our service is built on our own high-performance network that is connected in multiple cities and to many different networks. We know reliability is important, and we stand behind ours." <http://www.opendns.com/what/> Simply put, when one types a website address on to their browser, your ISP's DNS Server resolve the characters into an IP address where and the browser is then directed to that IP address. What does DNS do? DNS, the Domain Name System, translates the human addresses of websites and servers (like wikipedia.org) to the numerical address used by computers (207.142.131.203). Do I use DNS? Every time you send an email or visit a web page, you are using DNS services. We estimate most people make at least 100 DNS requests every day. If you are unsure, readup some more from their site before making changes. Thxs Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. _______________________________________________ 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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Sluggish Internet? This works fast for me
by Alex Gakuru 19 Apr '07

19 Apr '07

Hi all, I know I am a little off-topic here but I could not resist to share this. For a while now, I changed my DNS server settings resulting in remarkable internet speed increase. Just this morning, one cyber cafe user asked "How come your internet is much faster" so I thought you should all know why, and also try it out if you like. Do not try this (at home or office:-) if you don't know how to change DNS Server settings on your internet connetion card. You know, that one with an IP address, subnet mask then DNS Server, alternate DNS (for windows). Remember to write down your current settings before changing so that you can revert to them whenever you wish, if your not on Linux-based systems which can take more than 2 DNS servers [>>FF>> <http://www.opendns.com/ (DNS 1 208.67.222.222 and DNS2 208.67.220.220 Would appreciate if you let me know (off-list) you if it helps.] They are saying: "OpenDNS helps you navigate the Internet in a safer, faster, smarter and more reliable way. Our service is free and requires nothing to download. OpenDNS doesn't replace your existing Internet connection, it just makes it better." "The only thing worse than a slow DNS service is an unreliable DNS service. When DNS isn't working it appears as if the entire Internet isn't working. Our service is built on our own high-performance network that is connected in multiple cities and to many different networks. We know reliability is important, and we stand behind ours." <http://www.opendns.com/what/> Simply put, when one types a website address on to their browser, your ISP's DNS Server resolve the characters into an IP address where and the browser is then directed to that IP address. What does DNS do? DNS, the Domain Name System, translates the human addresses of websites and servers (like wikipedia.org) to the numerical address used by computers (207.142.131.203). Do I use DNS? Every time you send an email or visit a web page, you are using DNS services. We estimate most people make at least 100 DNS requests every day. If you are unsure, readup some more from their site before making changes. Thxs --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

1 0

Nurturing Future Enterprenuers....
by Fatma Bashir 19 Apr '07

19 Apr '07

NURTURING FUTURE ENTREPRENUERS. By Fatma Bashir When I got a call confirming that I would have a chance to make a presentation before ICT stakeholders, I was delighted. I somewhat expected more Industry representation, perhaps from the Information and Communication Ministry and a cross section of players from the industry such as communication, hardware and software providers. However, the attendance was good and presentations were excellent. Kictanet Monthly Forum is a good forum to meet and exchange ideas and I am sure that our views will reach the right tables. The media bit was tricky because I missed most of Gakuru's presentation when I was being interviewed. Being on the KICTANet mail list is a revelation, once again THANK YOU! I am getting to know more and more and soon will start to add my voice on a lot of things that are being sent around. My interest is in education...not only because I am a teacher by profession but because without our building understanding of the use of ICT in education and maximizing of this emergent market in schools we will have chosen to be rained on instead of walking in the rain. Needless to say, tomorrow's entrepreneurs, policy makers, presidents, business owners, employees, mums and dads are in school right now. I look forward to the next forum you can count on my attendance and contribution. 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"

1 0

International telecommunications blackout looms
by Rebecca Wanjiku 19 Apr '07

19 Apr '07

17 April 2007 International telecommunications blackout looms In a move that threatens to cause a blackout in the telecommunications sector, Zimbabwe’s mobile phone operators, Econet, Net*One and Telecel have said they will start billing all outgoing international calls in foreign currency. The move will also see Tel*One, the sole fixed telephone network provider charging all outgoing calls in United States Dollars. Mobile phone companies, which have been engaged in a rate wrangle with the Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), maintain that they are unable to pay the termination rates charged in United States dollars, and have accumulated many debts. Chair of the Telecommunications Operators Association of Zimbabwe Douglas Mboweni is quoted as having stated that currently it costs ten times cheaper to make an international call from Zimbabwe than anywhere else in the world and as a result most international calls now emanate from Zimbabwe . Consequently, these companies have to pay more termination rates than the corresponding countries. POTRAZ has set the tariffs using the official exchange rate of Z$250 against each US $ a rate which has become unsustainable for most exporters and service providers. Zimbabwe is currently facing a foreign currency shortage, making it virtually impossible for subscribers to pay their telephone bills in foreign currency. Nyasha Nyakunu Research and Information Officer Media Institute of Southern Africa - Zimbabwe 84 McChlery Ave Eastlea P.O Box HR 8113 Harare Zimbabwe Tel: 263 4 776165 / 746838 misa(a)mweb.co.zw www.misazim.co.zw __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

3 2

My day with journalists……By Jose Ngunjiri
by Jose' 19 Apr '07

19 Apr '07

It was the first time for Kimathi Information Centre (KIC) to do a presentation at a panel of ICT stakeholders. I was still getting to know how things work around the meeting until the journalists sought to interview me. Working around journalists has made me become more cautious with what I say. I was interviewed by KBC and the first time is always shaky, you don’t know what to say or what not to. It went on well and we got valuable coverage. Thanks to Kictanet. After the forum, KDN (Kenya Data Networks) Pledged that they will help us network the six E-learning centres that we are planning to open. The big question is where are the resources to sustain all these? We are a group operating at the community level and we are under so much pressure from the neighboring communities to set up e-learning centres. Our growth is narrowed down by lack of resources. in as much as we have no money, we are approaching local banks for loans but the only collateral we have are computers and we have not made progress in securing loans. We are not afraid to get loans because we believe in what we are doing. Countries like Malaysia succeeded on commercial loans and through hard work they have reaped benefits. We will too. On March 24th, we organized a financing symposium that mainly addressed areas that require financing and how to approach financing institutions. Small Medium enterprise Solution centre (SSC) a World Bank affiliate attended the symposium and emphasized on starting small enterprises and on ways to access funds as the youth and the importance of building business capacity. More than 134 youth delegates were inspired to see Edith Adera from IDRC. Adera is KIC’s mentor and greatest supporter. Thanks for your support! Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

2 1

setting digital pace in Eastlands
by Rebecca Wanjiku 19 Apr '07

19 Apr '07

SETTING DIGITAL PACE IN EASTLANDS When Dr Bitange Ndemo, Information and Communication Permanent Secretary asked Collin Bruce and his team to visit Eastlands, everybody was eager. Eager because the PS had sang praises about Kimathi Information Centre (KIC) and how it had used Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to uplift the lives of the youth in the area. As the PS and his team snaked through the streets of Maringo, Jerusalem, Bahati and Uhuru, the team of youth at KIC were putting final touches to the presentation. The KIC team is comprised of Catherine Atieno Agallo {21}, Jose Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri {26} and Lillian Gloria Okumu {28). Before welcoming the visitors, the KIC team and the volunteers had to ensure that all the work due to the local schools has been delivered and any other pending jobs are finalized. This is their day to show what the youth can do. The PS has been so impressed by KIC’s digital innovation and integration to the community that every visitor to Ndemo’s office is referred to the centre for examples of how Kenya has embraced ICTs. Bruce, the World Bank country director was not disappointed at what he saw. He witnessed how the area youth had worked with meager resources to improve living conditions in the area. “We have received tremendous support from Dr. Ndemo. It has motivated us to keep exploring our potential,” said Ngunjiri. He was speaking at the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) monthly forum, where innovators in ICTs showcase their achievements to other industry players as well as the public. So why was KIC started? According to Ngunjiri, they teamed up in December 2005 and decided to come up with innovative practical solutions to the problems of unemployed youth in the area. KIC serves Eastland’s community in Kimathi, Bahati, Jerusalem, Maringo and Uhuru. Apart from unemployment, the youth in the area lack of proper skills to search for jobs, lack job interview skills and some have been unable to secure attachment opportunities after university. Armed with their findings and suggested solutions, the trio approached Computer for Schools Kenya and the International Development Research Council (IDRC) seeking assistance. Impressed by the innovation, the two organizations donated 13 computers and agreed that the trio would train and equip the youth and the whole communities in the area. “I think they have done an excellent job that can be shared with others,” said Edith Adera from IDRC. Ngunjiri told KICTANet members how that partnership has improved ICT knowledge, reduced crime rate, unemployment and ignorance among the youth. “We have tried to ensure that the community owns the project, they give collective security and our equipment has never been stolen. The youth who would have been out mugging people is now working behind computers,” Ngunjiri added. KIC works with neighbouring schools to provide computer services if needed. For instance, at the end of the term, the teachers forward the scores for tallying and grading instead of doing it manually. “It is now easier and time saving for teachers to grade the students. Once they mark the exams, we send one volunteer to get the data, organise according to instructions then send back to the school. A minimal cost is charged,” said Ngunjiri. KIC has tried to integrate everybody into the project provided they show interest in learning. Those with skills they can share with others are encouraged to visit the centre and benefit the others. Working with university graduates, KIC goes beyond ICTs skills and teaches accounting and small business management skills to those aspiring to start businesses. Other services offered include- research and study centre, library centre through e-learning, data base centre for small business entrepreneurs, security pay point for Kimathi estate, networking centre, web design training for teenagers under the Mtandao Africa initiative. Out of the activities, the centre raises money to sustain itself and pay minimal wages to the workers. The priority now is to ensure the community fully embraces ICTs before they can pursue profits. To fulfill their social responsibility, Ngunjiri told KICTANet forum how KIC supports Shelter of Hope Centre- the local children’s home. The home houses sixty orphans in the neighboring Kiambiu slum. Because the space at KIC is limited, two trainers from the children’s home have been trained with the expectation that they will impart the orphans with ICT knowledge. Every Sunday, have a volunteer from KIC teaches 5 students from the children’s centre on computer packages and any advanced skills needed. The progress of KIC has not gone unnoticed by the corporate sector, Popote wireless gave thirty volunteers a chance market the company’s products. The library and research centre expects to train many students and enter competition for international awards including the Bill and Melinda gate Foundation Program. Ends Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

2 1

media workshop
by Rebecca Wanjiku 19 Apr '07

19 Apr '07

Kictanet and Kenya ICT journalists network will be holding a workshop for journalists on April 26 at Jacaranda from 9 am to 1 pm, the workshop, addressing OFC, FOI and ICT bill the workshop is basic and we expect to hold further training in a month or two, if you are interested in attending, please confirm with me directly, regards becky __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

3 2

IT in rural schools
by Rebecca Wanjiku 19 Apr '07

19 Apr '07

TAKING IT TO RURAL SCHOOLS At the heart of Meru district, a dusty road leads to Ruiga girls’ school. It is a typical village school with no power and vehicles to the shopping centre operate only on market days. To access it, one needs prior information, if it rained; don’t bother visiting because the road is impassable. The school is two kilometers from the road with no public transport. Imagine this: the school has an integrated system that allows teachers to teach mathematics, chemistry, biology and physics using animated computer graphics and has an integrated system that allows parents to monitor students’ academic and disciplinary progress from the internet. The imagination can roll on to the classroom where the teachers use LCD projectors in place of black boards and exam past papers are available online. The assignments are forwarded via email and teachers, parents and students are in constant communication. Well, this is the dream that the headmistress of the school has dared to dream. The school is typical of many village schools but wants to be the pioneer of computer technology in the area. This school imposes itself as the testimony of the determination by Cyber School Technology Solutions (CSTS) of providing quality educational services to schools in Kenya- whether rural or urban. With no power and coming from a place where computers are still perceived as myths, CSTS is proving that all students can enjoy world-class teaching aids that enhance the learning environment. Fatma Bashir, chief marketing officer at CSTS narrated to ICT stakeholders gathered for the KICTANet forum how she has had to teach communities about benefits of computers before embarking on her mission to promote educational packages. “One time a headmistress of another school blocked us from entering the school because we were introducing ‘bad pictures through the internet’ to the students. I took time to explain to the teachers the benefits of computers in schools, and that we had good intentions,” Bashir told the forum. CSTS develops teaching resources, aligned to specific syllabi, featuring 3D animations. Each Unit within a Chapter apart from 3D animations contains 2D animations, visuals, charts, experiments and other reference materials required by teachers in a classroom environment. Today, Ruiga girls’ school has 220 students and 12 teachers. Granted the challenges, the school was ranked 18 out of 79 schools in 2006, up from 33rd position in the district in 2005, and according to Bashir, the students have demonstrated positive index improvement in sciences subjects after using the Digital Science products for barely 6 weeks before the final exams. This school epitomizes the desire by CSTS to bridge the infrastructure and digital divide and ensure that rural schools enjoy similar opportunities as those enjoyed by urban schools. Through the electronic teaching aids offered to schools, CSTS hopes to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban schools. This, Bashir argued, will lead to early familiarization with ICT for teachers and students alike. According to Bashir, CSTS hopes to qualitatively improve learning by conceptualizing more creatively and digitizing learning resources to help educators build better learning interventions. For the tough science subjects, CSTS hopes to make them fun by introducing new teaching aides in the subjects of Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry that animate and turn the subjects to life, making it easier to learn and recall. Standardizing the learning process thereby creating an equal opportunity for success for every student sitting the examination across the board. Digital Science is a revolutionary teaching aid because by using animated visuals, that brings to life the abstract concepts learning science has been made easier thus more interesting and readily understood by the students. “The interactivity built into these modules also gives students a feeling of hands-on experience. At the same time, it gives control to the teachers and students as the lessons follow syllabi of specific subjects while pace and explanations can match the level of the student,” said Bashir. In Physics, interactivity allows students to tweak parameters in situations and literally see how the system responds to the change. In short, the limitations of a school laboratory are overcome. For example, no school lab can show a nuclear reaction, but this is also shown in our modules. In Chemistry, using the virtual lab, students can conduct potentially hazardous experiments safely and without the expenditure of chemicals. Even dangerous experiments dealing with poisonous gases, etc. can be performed (students are warned adequately in such cases to prevent them from replicating it in reality). They can also repeat experiments over and over until they are familiar with the process in preparation for practical examinations, all this at the click of a button. In Biology, through animation of complex concepts students get to understand what they are being taught and can thus apply this not only in their lives but also while responding to examination questions. For example a process such as importance of diffusion in the human body, cell division during reproduction etc are visually depicted aiding the understanding and retention process required in the teaching and learning environment. CSTS has introduced a new technique of teaching mathematics. In Mathematics, when teaching about shapes, the animation shows the shapes in 3 dimension, thus attracting the students to get into the concept and learn it better and with self-interest. CSTS recognizes the necessity for educating students about HIV / AIDS appropriately and effectively, using the power of multimedia. The organization has developed innovative, original multimedia teaching tools, on CD ROM for HIV / AIDS education for children between the ages of 6 and 18. The content sophistication increases for higher age groups, covering the nature of viral infections and causes and effects of HIV / AIDS. Because this is a global problem with many mature themes, it is treated in a sensitive and flexible, non-judgmental manner to appeal to persons from different backgrounds. The lessons are created in a visually attractive style with cartoon characters giving the message in a manner which is easy to understand. This is followed by interactive exercises, quizzes, etc. to reinforce the learning process, evaluate what they have learnt, and show them how this knowledge can be applied in safe behavior to avoid HIV / AIDS. By Advocating the use of relevant ICT software in education CSTS hopes to improve learning processes of all students in Kenya as well as improve living standards. Ends Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

kictanet monthly forum
by Rebecca Wanjiku 18 Apr '07

18 Apr '07

Kictanet will be holding the monthly forum on thursday next week (april 26) at 3pm Jacaranda, the forum will address e-learning issues to coincide with the e-learning conference to be held in Nairobi next month, there will be presentations from government on e-learning intiatives, we expect presentations about all the elements needed to complete the eLearning picture, there will be presentations from organisations working in software development as well as rural awareness, please plan to attend, regards becky __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Time to rebuild the internet]
by alice 17 Apr '07

17 Apr '07

Others explore scrapping Internet By ANICK JESDANUN, AP Internet Writer Fri Apr 13, 11:04 PM ET NEW YORK - Although it has already taken nearly four decades to get this far in building the Internet, some university researchers with the federal government's blessing want to scrap all that and start over. The idea may seem unthinkable, even absurd, but many believe a "clean slate" approach is the only way to truly address security, mobility and other challenges that have cropped up since UCLA professor Leonard Kleinrock helped supervise the first exchange of meaningless test data between two machines on Sept. 2, 1969. The Internet "works well in many situations but was designed for completely different assumptions," said Dipankar Raychaudhuri, a Rutgers University professor overseeing three clean-slate projects. "It's sort of a miracle that it continues to work well today." No longer constrained by slow connections and computer processors and high costs for storage, researchers say the time has come to rethink the Internet's underlying architecture, a move that could mean replacing networking equipment and rewriting software on computers to better channel future traffic over the existing pipes. Even Vinton Cerf, one of the Internet's founding fathers as co- developer of the key communications techniques, said the exercise was "generally healthy" because the current technology "does not satisfy all needs." One challenge in any reconstruction, though, will be balancing the interests of various constituencies. The first time around, researchers were able to toil away in their labs quietly. Industry is playing a bigger role this time, and law enforcement is bound to make its needs for wiretapping known. There's no evidence they are meddling yet, but once any research looks promising, "a number of people (will) want to be in the drawing room," said Jonathan Zittrain, a law professor affiliated with Oxford and Harvard universities. "They'll be wearing coats and ties and spilling out of the venue." The National Science Foundation wants to build an experimental research network known as the Global Environment for Network Innovations, or GENI, and is funding several projects at universities and elsewhere through Future Internet Network Design, or FIND. Rutgers, Stanford, Princeton, Carnegie Mellon and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are among the universities pursuing individual projects. Other government agencies, including the Defense Department, have also been exploring the concept. The European Union has also backed research on such initiatives, through a program known as Future Internet Research and Experimentation, or FIRE. Government officials and researchers met last month in Zurich to discuss early findings and goals. A new network could run parallel with the current Internet and eventually replace it, or perhaps aspects of the research could go into a major overhaul of the existing architecture. These clean-slate efforts are still in their early stages, though, and aren't expected to bear fruit for another 10 or 15 years assuming Congress comes through with funding. Guru Parulkar, who will become executive director of Stanford's initiative after heading NSF's clean-slate programs, estimated that GENI alone could cost $350 million, while government, university and industry spending on the individual projects could collectively reach $300 million. Spending so far has been in the tens of millions of dollars. And it could take billions of dollars to replace all the software and hardware deep in the legacy systems. Clean-slate advocates say the cozy world of researchers in the 1970s and 1980s doesn't necessarily mesh with the realities and needs of the commercial Internet. "The network is now mission critical for too many people, when in the (early days) it was just experimental," Zittrain said. The Internet's early architects built the system on the principle of trust. Researchers largely knew one another, so they kept the shared network open and flexible qualities that proved key to its rapid growth. But spammers and hackers arrived as the network expanded and could roam freely because the Internet doesn't have built-in mechanisms for knowing with certainty who sent what. The network's designers also assumed that computers are in fixed locations and always connected. That's no longer the case with the proliferation of laptops, personal digital assistants and other mobile devices, all hopping from one wireless access point to another, losing their signals here and there. Engineers tacked on improvements to support mobility and improved security, but researchers say all that adds complexity, reduces performance and, in the case of security, amounts at most to bandages in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Workarounds for mobile devices "can work quite well if a small fraction of the traffic is of that type," but could overwhelm computer processors and create security holes when 90 percent or more of the traffic is mobile, said Nick McKeown, co-director of Stanford's clean-slate program. The Internet will continue to face new challenges as applications require guaranteed transmissions not the "best effort" approach that works better for e-mail and other tasks with less time sensitivity. Think of a doctor using teleconferencing to perform a surgery remotely, or a customer of an Internet-based phone service needing to make an emergency call. In such cases, even small delays in relaying data can be deadly. And one day, sensors of all sorts will likely be Internet capable. Rather than create workarounds each time, clean-slate researchers want to redesign the system to easily accommodate any future technologies, said Larry Peterson, chairman of computer science at Princeton and head of the planning group for the NSF's GENI. Even if the original designers had the benefit of hindsight, they might not have been able to incorporate these features from the get- go. Computers, for instance, were much slower then, possibly too weak for the computations needed for robust authentication. "We made decisions based on a very different technical landscape," said Bruce Davie, a fellow with network-equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc., which stands to gain from selling new products and incorporating research findings into its existing line. "Now, we have the ability to do all sorts of things at very high speeds," he said. "Why don't we start thinking about how we take advantage of those things and not be constrained by the current legacy we have?" Of course, a key question is how to make any transition and researchers are largely punting for now. "Let's try to define where we think we should end up, what we think the Internet should look like in 15 years' time, and only then would we decide the path," McKeown said. "We acknowledge it's going to be really hard but I think it will be a mistake to be deterred by that." Kleinrock, the Internet pioneer at UCLA, questioned the need for a transition at all, but said such efforts are useful for their out-of- the-box thinking. "A thing called GENI will almost surely not become the Internet, but pieces of it might fold into the Internet as it advances," he said. Think evolution, not revolution. Princeton already runs a smaller experimental network called PlanetLab, while Carnegie Mellon has a clean-slate project called 100 x 100. These days, Carnegie Mellon professor Hui Zhang said he no longer feels like "the outcast of the community" as a champion of clean- slate designs. Construction on GENI could start by 2010 and take about five years to complete. Once operational, it should have a decade-long lifespan. FIND, meanwhile, funded about two dozen projects last year and is evaluating a second round of grants for research that could ultimately be tested on GENI. These go beyond projects like Internet2 and National LambdaRail, both of which focus on next-generation needs for speed. Any redesign may incorporate mechanisms, known as virtualization, for multiple networks to operate over the same pipes, making further transitions much easier. Also possible are new structures for data packets and a replacement of Cerf's TCP/IP communications protocols. "Almost every assumption going into the current design of the Internet is open to reconsideration and challenge," said Parulkar, the NSF official heading to Stanford. "Researchers may come up with wild ideas and very innovative ideas that may not have a lot to do with the current Internet." ___ Associated Press Business Writer Aoife White in Brussels, Belgium, contributed to this report. ___ On the Net: Stanford program: http://cleanslate.stanford.edu <http://cleanslate.stanford.edu> Carnegie Mellon program: http://100x100network.org <http://100x100network.org> Rutgers program: http://orbit-lab.org <http://orbit-lab.org> NSF's GENI: http://geni.net <http://geni.net> __._,_.___ Messages in this topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/message/5866;_ylc=X3oDMTM0Z3V1b3BiB…> (1) Reply (via web post) <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwNjNtMTd2BF9TAzk3M…> | Start a new topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNTJpc3E1BF9TAzk3M…> Messages <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNmNoZ2ZtBF9TA…> | Links <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmb3U4c2FqBF9TAzk3…> | Polls <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmMWVxdjc2BF9TAzk3…> | Calendar <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkdWcyc2txBF9TA…> 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=X3oDMTJkMnN0ajNyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5M…> Change settings via the Web <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNjljNHZqBF9TAzk3M…> (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=X3oDMTJkamNsa2piBF9TAzk3MzU5Nz…> | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> | Unsubscribe <mailto:DigAfrica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=> Rec * nd communication technology <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjYm1vOWk4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzMEZ…> * Africa wildlife safari <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjOTZqaTZxBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzQEZ…> * Africa calling card <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjOTc1OTZ0BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzUEZ…> Career Change Yahoo! HotJobs <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12ihm8r5o/M=493064.9803220.10510213.8674578/D=g…> Search Jobs Find the right one Yahoo! Mail Next gen email? <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12ivni3iv/M=493064.9803214.10510208.8674578/D=g…> Try the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta. Y! GeoCities Be Vocal <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12is1abtd/M=493064.9803219.10510212.8674578/D=g…> Publish your opi- nions with a blog. . Web Bug from http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=2902444/grpspId=1705116291/msgId… __,_._,___

1 0

East Africa Broadband Connectivity Workshop
by alice 17 Apr '07

17 Apr '07

*East Africa** Broadband Connectivity Workshop* The Global Digital Freedom Institute (GDFI), inveneo, and balancing act in cooperation with the United States’ Digital Freedom Initiative (DFI), are pleased to invite you to join colleagues from telecommunications ministries, the information and communications technology (ICT) industries and non-profit communities, to participate in a roundtable discussion about ways of accelerating deployment of high-speed broadband networks in Eastern Africa. The discussion will take place on Thursday, May 10 at the Hotel des Mille Collines, in Kigali, Rwanda beginning at 8:00 am and ending at 5:00pm. It will immediately follow a two day *East Africa Regional Broadband Workshop** **that** *the U.S. Digital Freedom Initiative, under the leadership of Ambassador David A. Gross, will be holding on May 8-9 with Telecommunications Ministers and private/academic sector leaders from Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. The ministerial-level DFI Workshop will examine potential models and produce a road map for expanding broadband connectivity in East Africa. The follow-up, roundtable discussion on May 10 will delve more deeply into the issues and further refine policy and infrastructure build-out options identified during the preceding two-day DFI workshop. These will include but not necessarily be limited to the following three tasks: · Examining specific steps that ICT businesses and governments in East Africa could take to remove or relax impediments to broadband deployment. · Discussing the feasibility of implementing the policy and infrastructure options developed during the two-day workshop and suggesting enhancements where necessary. · Focusing on connecting universities in the region and building on the work that has already been accomplished. We hope you will view this meeting as an opportunity to positively influence the deployment of broadband networks and applications throughout East Africa, and we very much hope that you will join us in this effort. *Please RSVP by May 1 by e-mail to gmccoy(a)gdfi.org <mailto:gmccoy@gdfi.org>. *

1 0

Freedom of Information Policy
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 17 Apr '07

17 Apr '07

Dear Joee, Teams shall be partly owned by the GOK. We are now ready to talk to investors who will take up to 40% equity. Our partners, Etisalat will take up 20%. We welcome seacom as redudancy and possibly buy some capacity from them to Europe. Our model is drastically different from Seacom in the sense that ours is a means to an end. Our cost to the consumer will depend on what our competitors, that is, India and the Philipines charge their consumers. If they charge $200 per MB, that is what we shall charge our consumers. We will still have a good return on investment. I do not know who "Heracles" is although I have met Brian Hilehy several times in his capacity as Blackstone Group's represantative. Regards Ndemo. ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

2 1

African Banking Technology Conference
by Sean Moroney 17 Apr '07

17 Apr '07

Dear Colleagues, I wanted to invite Kictanet members to participate in our Banking Technology Conference by taking advantage of the 20 free delegate spaces we allocate for members at each of our Kenya events. The full programme is available on our web site. Please notify Judy if you would like to apply for a free registration. I look forward to seeing Kictanet members there - and to having your active participation in the discussions. Best regards, Sean Sean Moroney Chairman AITEC Africa <mailto:seanm@aitecafrica.com> seanm(a)aitecafrica.com UK Tel: +44-(0)1480-880774 UK Fax: +44-(0)1480-880765 UK Mobile: +44(0)7973-499224 Kenya Mobile: +254(0)721-845674 Nigeria Mobile: +234(0)802--0571766 SA Mobile: +27(0)72-610-7153 Skype: seanmoroney <http://www.aitecafrica.com/> www.aitecafrica.com

9 11

flashback.... OFC debate
by Rebecca Wanjiku 17 Apr '07

17 Apr '07

hi, here are some issues raised during the OFC discussion, a full report will be uploaded once the site becomes fully operational.... KICTANET facilitates OFC debate “The government is only facilitating, the owners of the Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) will be the private sector,” said Bitange Ndemo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communication. “Governments must design and implement regulation based on the needs of a particular country and its peculiar historical or other circumstances, of course tending towards best practices,” said Joseph Kihanya, a lawyer. “Will all this fibre talk translate to real consumer cost savings or are they just the usual public marketing of the wonderful world to come?” asked Alex Gakuru These are some of the comments that came out of the two week online discussion on the OFC facilitated by KICTANET. The online forum was calculated to encourage stakeholder input to the OFC debate, analyze the advantages and the concerns of the various sectors. There were contributions from government, private sector as well as academia. The discussions were divided into five themes; Why OFC?, existing business models for OFC provisioning, existing/appropriate regulatory models for OFC, best model (business and regulatory) for East African, projected impact on stakeholders, reconciling stakeholder Why OFC? OFC has been described as the solution to high cost of international Bandwidth. According to Information and Communication minister, Kenya will be in a position to attract ICT business and compete with countries like India, once the cable is in place. Once the whole country is linked via a backbone, then rural areas can conduct business online locally and internationally. For instance, the coffee societies licensed to market their coffee can easily sell their coffee directly without coming to Nairobi or other major towns. In the region, OFC will make easier and cheaper to communicate and share information. Uganda and Ethiopia have already laid their cable, expected to connect through Kenya to the world. With the backbone, the banks and other regional businesses can use the same network for transactions. Existing Business Models Three models persisted throughout the discussion, namely, Open Access (EASSy), Private-led (Flag), and the Consortium models. There was lively discussion about separation of Cable ownership from Cable Management which fits squarely with the Open Access thinking, whereby, the investors in the cable (Govt, Public, Private Companies) appoint an independent management agent (at a fee) to operate the cable on their behalf on a cost-recovery, open access basis. I.e. open to current and future operators wishing to connect to the landing points or invest further in the cable on equal basis. In this case, the cable becomes an essential service or public good, from where operators can compete to offer (other) services at a Profit. Flag- a Private Investment initiative has a variant model where the cable is –privately owned but promises to open access to the landing points - but aims to maximize returns on the investments made on the cable infrastructure by reselling capacity at market rates. They also aim to play only at the infrastructure level, rather than at all levels, namely Infrastructure (cable) and services (network and application), opting to leave that to ISPs and ASP (Application Service Providers). The consortium model was not heavily advocated for but there were suggestions that it can operate if commercial interest are let loose to play dynamically with the market forces. The consortium model is where a group of operators get into a private, closed,Commercial agreement to build, own and operate a submarine cable with aim of maximizing their returns (profit) in the shortest time possible. The question of short term investors has been a bone of contention with arguments that in the end, consumers suffer once investors get their profits and pull out. The short-term interests of investors must be balanced against the long-term social benefits that would accrue from an affordable bandwidth provisions. Discussants asked for the regulator should flex their muscle once the OFC is laid-out. The major financing option was by way Initial Public Offer (IPO) other financing models (Equity, Debt, etc) were not thoroughly discussed. Existing/appropriate regulatory models The overriding argument was that the government should relax its oversight role to allow business to operate with some elasticity. In this relaxed role, the government would maintain the role of regulator e.g. the way governments of other fledging economies such as South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia maintain a subtle oversight role. However, the role of government as the regulatory authority was underscored as the balance between investor interests and the consumers. Why is regulation in telecommunications important?It authorizes new operators, removes barriers to entry, mandates interconnection between players, and oversees the penetration of services in areas that commercial imperatives would not allow or pursue because of minimal profits. Transparent telecommunications will regulate mainly by promoting efficient supply of services, providing an enabling environment for the maintenance of efficient pricing, Protect consumer rights/privacy rights and facilitate interconnection thereby efficient use of communication services. Deregulation was discussed as a theme that is in play in most countries that have achieved above optimal competitive markets. The case of the UK under the Communications Act 2003 was given as an example. Though there is no direct call for deregulation in the draft ICT bill CCK was suggested as a proper authority that could maintaining industry specific competition principles and statutes for the telecommunication sector. Regulation for the OFC may be through the competition framework under the CA (1998) or the ICT bill (2006). Complete lack of regulation may therefore not be an option given the circumstances.The WTO and the ITU also anticipate regulatory oversight given the various international documents that Kenya is signatory to. Projected impact of OFC It was unanimous the OFC will boost connectivity and lower the cost of bandwidth. With faster internet, it will be easier to carry voice, data and images via internet protocol. The issue of local content raised great concern with arguments that Kenya imports 99 % of the content. The implication will mean that people will have to develop content that suits them instead of copying what is already available elsewhere. With local content, the internet industry will employ more people to keep updating the content as well as offer services and goods via the internet. It was felt that regardless of the OFC that will be adopted, benefits might not be maximized due to prevailing market structures. Roland Alden (2006) argues that our current market (regulatory) structures have not adapted to the realities of a converged market and therefore continue to constrain the potential benefits that OFC may bring about. In his extensive writing on telecommunications, Roland contends that networks require capital investment, customers who can support that investment, and a clear regulatory environment that is not disruptive or counterproductive. In Kenya, all three inputs have been in short supply. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

four players in the cable
by Rebecca Wanjiku 17 Apr '07

17 Apr '07

FOUR PLAYERS IN THE CABLE Its now official, another company- Harakles Telecom LLC has commissioned Tyco to survey the 13,000km East and South African coast. Herakles awarded the SEACOM marine survey to Tyco Telecommunications of USA. The survey commences the development of the undersea fiber optic network which will provide high capacity bandwidth connectivity between South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, India and Europe. SEACOM becomes the fourth entrant to the scene with questions being raised on whether the costs will come down and the time its likely to take before we get the cable. In February, the government said the cost of international broadband is set to drastically reduce within 18 months after it confirmed it is ready to adopt three different under sea cables provided through various routes. Bitange Ndemo, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communication said that Kenya was taking a three pronged approach calculated to reduce the cost of international connectivity. Priority is given to the East African Marine System (Teams) the fibre optic cable link to Fujairah in the UAE. “The lead arranger will take over the private/public TEAMS project and will be in charge of financial sourcing. We expect to be done within 18 months,” said Ndemo. Under the Teams agreement, the Kenya Government will have a 40 per cent holding in the project, Etisalat of UAE will hold 20% and the remaining 40% will go to investors in the East African region. The Government has said it will organise an Initial Public Offer (IPO) on the Kenyan Stock Exchange. According to John Waweru, Director General at the Communication Commission of Kenya, the Teams project is expected to recover the costs within three years. Kenya is still pursuing the controversial East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) an initiative aimed at constructing and operating a submarine fiber optic cable along the East African Coast. EASSy will connect nine coastal countries and island nations and to the rest of the world. The route will be from South Africa to Port Sudan, covering over 9,000 km, connecting Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan and Tanzania (including Zanzibar). Thirty-two leading telecommunications operators from East and Southern Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in December 2003 to carry out the construction and maintenance of EASSy. But the project was dogged by controversy over whether NEPAD should take the overall leadership or the leadership should be led by the private sector. Terrestrial backbone networks are also being built in separate developments to link all capitals and major cities in Eastern and Southern Africa to the EASSy cable and the international backbone system. The third international fibre project is fronted by Kenya Data Network (KDN) and which has now signed its contract with Flag Telecom. KDN will link from Mombasa and terminate in an undersea junction in international waters off of the Yemen. KDN says the link will be fully operational in the first quarter of 2008, just 15 months away. KDN also stresses that its landing station at Mombasa will allow other carriers to co-locate therefore charging only electricity and services at cost. According to the PS, the three options are meant to make Kenya competitive in provision of international broadband. Ndemo underscored the need for the country to compete internationally and attract international businesses. He argued that the broadband purchased by international businessmen at a cost of USD 200 costs USD 7,500 in Kenya, therefore ruling the country out as an internet investment destination. SEACOM now gives industry players a chance to evaluate whether any of the operators will lay the cable, then the debate can start over its efficacy. Ends __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

ICT law or none???
by Rebecca Wanjiku 16 Apr '07

16 Apr '07

STILL WAITING FOR ICT LAW It has been a long wait for an ICT Act, and there is no immediate sign that the wait is over. Though the draft policy was presented to the cabinet by Attorney General Amos Wako, it is yet to be published in the Kenya gazette. If the draft is published in the gazette, then there can be a chance it will be presented to parliament for debate before end of this year. Though the AG’s office claims to be attending to the bill together with others pending, the challenge is how to harmonize the draft bill to be in tandem with the Communications Act (1998). Wako’s office is debating whether to come up with a separate ICT Act or to repeal the communications Act to incorporate the draft bill. Lawyer Paul Mwangi, who has been following developments of the draft policy, says that the AG can come up with a new Act so long as it does not contradict the Communications Act. “The draft bill can be published and presented to parliament then they can decide whether to enact an ICT Act or to come up with a more comprehensive Act by repealing the Communications Act and,” says Mwangi. Mwangi argues that the excuses by the AG are about convenience, and nothing substantial. He adds that it is just a matter of codifying the law, and that can come up with another Act and they will still be applicable. Lawyer Joseph Kihanya agrees that Bills can be debated and passed to repeal Acts in force. “Why this cannot be done with the Communications Act (1998) I can not tell,” says Kihanya. Kihanya adds that Telecommunications law demands that the laws be consolidated into one statute. He illustrates this by quoting the UK Communications Act 2003 which was consolidated into one statute that deals with every aspect of ICTs. The UK Communications Act (2003) deals with issues ranging from regulations, media ownership and control, internet, ecommerce to the relationship between the ministry and the British Broadcasting Corporation. The UK CA (2003) is divided into parts that exhaust legislation relation to the field for instance, part 5 deals with competition in communications market. Under this part, there are chapters guiding on functions of the ministry according to the law, and media mergers, detailing how they should be carried out. The Kenya ICT draft bill is a product of the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (2003-2007) and was developed by the Ministry of Information & Communications in January 2006. According to the ministry of Information and Communication website, the ICT draft bill is seeking to encourage sustained economic growth and poverty reduction, promote social justice and equity, mainstream gender in national development, empower youth and disadvantaged groups, stimulate investment and innovation in ICT, and achieve universal access. The draft bill addresses market structure, policy objectives and targets, implementation strategies, universal access, and the institutional framework of information technology (IT), broadcasting, telecommunications, radio frequency spectrum, and postal services. But some stakeholders in the ICT industry feel that some amendments should be made to the draft before it is presented for debate. Media owners feel that the draft has not adequately addressed their concerns and instead has come up with draconian measures regarding media ownership. Ends __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

2 1

Kictanet events
by Rebecca Wanjiku 16 Apr '07

16 Apr '07

April 26: One day workshop for journalists, April 26: Kictanet monthly furum May 17: KICTANet monthly forum June 14: KICTANet Monthly forum July12: KICTANet Monthly forum August 9: KICTANet monthly forum August (TBC) KICTANet launch Strategic plan, website, Institutional Assessment report and Positioning for the future study September 13: KICTANet Monthly forum October 11: KICTANet monthly forum November 8: KICTANet monthly forum December 20: KICTANet Monthly forum __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

newsletter articles
by Rebecca Wanjiku 16 Apr '07

16 Apr '07

Editor’s note Welcome to the first issue of the KICTANET newsletter. The newsletter will be a forum for members to share views and get updates on the happenings in the ICT industry. This month, the focus is on the Optic Fibre Cable (OFC), a summary of the online discussion and some background information on the three cables that Kenya is pursuing. The articles give some of the suggestions made relating to the regulation as well as legal aspects in the OFC business. Focusing on the ICT draft bill, there are opposing views on how the Attorney General should react- a separate ICT Act or to repeal the Communications Act (1998) and replace it with a more detailed and exhaustive Act. It is proving to be a convoluted debate which KICTANET hopes to keep updating. Remember to update your calendar on all ICT related events, the newsletter will feature upcoming events but members can also contribute to this by writing to KICTANET. Because it is the inaugural issue, KICTANET is counting on you to read and give feedback on the newsletter. Members are invited to forward suggestions on what should be the title of the newsletter. Write to: alice(a)apc.org __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Fwd: [Idlelo2] Google and East african Universities
by Judy Okite 16 Apr '07

16 Apr '07

This really looks good ! ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dapo Ladimeji <dapo(a)ladimeji.co.uk> Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:04:08 +0100 Subject: [Idlelo2] Google and East african Universities To: idlelo2(a)fossfa.net East African universities to gain from web tools deal The deal will give more students access to communication technologies Kimani Chege 26 March 2007 Source: SciDev.Net [NAIROBI] A software deal signed between universities in East Africa and the US-based internet giant Google will improve access to web-based communications for staff and students. Under the deal, Rwanda's government ministries and three Rwandan universities — the National University of Rwanda, the Kigali Institute for Education and the Kigali Institute for Science and Technology — as well as Kenya's University of Nairobi (UoN) will have free access to Google Apps. The applications include email, shared calendars, instant messaging and word processing software, along with the associated support services provided by the corporation. The deal, signed last week (19 March), looks set to improve internal communications at UoN and facilitate research, particularly for studies undertaken in remote areas. The head of information and communication technology at UoN, Elijah Omwenga, says the email application Gmail will be particularly useful in reducing the bandwidth required for internal communications by its 50,000 students and staff. He told SciDev.Net that the institution was facing major challenges in acquiring enough bandwidth. "This means our students and staff can access mail from the campuses as well as from outside. This will facilitate communicating all research, even when it is being done in remote areas," said Omwenga. However, he called for Google to come up with specific details of the offer, so that Google and the UoN can develop research schemes geared towards Africa's needs — such as developing software in local languages and making it more relevant to the local audience. About 20,000 users in Rwanda will have access to Google Apps in the first phase. This will be followed by a broader countrywide introduction. Students at UoN will be the first to use Google Apps in Kenya. Software access will then be extended to 150,000 Kenyan students at universities across the country. A Google spokesperson told the International Data Group News Service, "We are exploring other opportunities in both countries, and throughout the region as well." *Related SciDev.Net articles:* Zambia announces ICT training centre for scientists <http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=3453&langua…> Web 2.0 can benefit the world's poor <http://www.scidev.net/Opinions/index.cfm?fuseaction=readOpinions&itemid=572…> ICT for development: hope or hype? <http://www.scidev.net/Opinions/index.cfm?fuseaction=readOpinions&itemid=537…> *Related links:* University of Nairobi <http://www.uonbi.ac.ke> National University of Rwanda <http://www.nur.ac.rw/> *Photo Credit:* SciDev.Net/Tonks *Dossiers:* Technology Transfer <http://www.scidev.net/dossiers/index.cfm?fuseaction=dossierItem&Dossier=12> Back to news <http://www.scidev.net/news/> To the top <http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=3508&langua…> Print Format <http://www.scidev.net/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=printarticle&itemid=3508&la…> Email Article <javascript:emaillink()> Comment <javascript:comments()> Regional Gateways World Map * Latin America <http://www.scidev.net/latinamerica/> * Sub-saharan Africa <http://www.scidev.net/africa/> * Middle-East & North Africa <http://www.scidev.net/middleeast/> * South Asia <http://www.scidev.net/sasia/> * China <http://www.scidev.net/china/> * South-East Asia <http://www.scidev.net/seasia/> Dossiers * Agri-Biotech <http://www.scidev.net/agribiotech/> * Biodiversity <http://www.scidev.net/biodiversity/> * Bird Flu <http://www.scidev.net/birdflu/> * Brain Drain <http://www.scidev.net/braindrain/> * Climate Change <http://www.scidev.net/climate/> * Desert Science <http://www.scidev.net/desertscience/> * Ethics of Research <http://www.scidev.net/ethics/> * HIV/AIDS <http://www.scidev.net/hiv/> * Indigenous Knowledge <http://www.scidev.net/indigenous/> * Intellectual Property <http://www.scidev.net/ipr/> * Malaria <http://www.scidev.net/malaria/> * Research and Development <http://www.scidev.net/randd/> * Technology Transfer <http://www.scidev.net/techtransfer/> Quick Guides * Genomics <http://www.scidev.net/genomics/> * Nanotechnology <http://www.scidev.net/nanotechnology/> * Science Publishing <http://www.scidev.net/sciencepublishing/> FREE SciDev.Net Newsfeed *Would you like to carry SciDev.Net stories on your website? We offer a constantly-updated 'newsfeed' featuring our top three news items. To find out more, click **here* <http://www.scidev.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=subpages&root=aboutthissite&page…> Book Reviews Read SciDev.Net's selection of book reviews <http://www.scidev.net/bookreviews/> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This e-mail including any attachments may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient you should not use the contents or disclose them to any other person. Unauthorised recipients are requested to preserve this confidentiality and to advise the sender immediately of any error in transmission. Ladimeji & Co, Chartered Accountants & Chartered Tax Advisers, Springfield House, 23 Oatlands Drive Weybridge KT13 9LZ TEL; +44-207-096-1811 FAX: +44 207-900-3574 -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there."

6 9

CCK Internet Market Study - Looking for PDF copy.
by John Walubengo 13 Apr '07

13 Apr '07

I note the above has now been uploaded at http://www.cck.go.ke/internet_market_study/ However, am looking for a PDF copy for the same. I realise that my mind is hard-wired to read 'offline' rather than 'online' when i get into serious analysis. walu. nb: maybe CCK could upload a PDF version as well? ____________________________________________________________________________________ Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL

4 3

Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 26, Issue 24
by Joan Walumbe 13 Apr '07

13 Apr '07

Thanks Simret. Joan ----- Original Message ----- From: <kictanet-request(a)kictanet.or.ke> To: "Joan" <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> Sent: Friday, April 13, 2007 11:19 AM Subject: kictanet Digest, Vol 26, Issue 24 > Send kictanet mailing list submissions to > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > kictanet-request(a)kictanet.or.ke > > You can reach the person managing the list at > kictanet-owner(a)kictanet.or.ke > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..." > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: CCK Internet Market Study - Looking for PDF copy. > (Alex Gakuru) > 2. Re: CCK Internet Market Study - Looking for PDF copy. > (Odhiambo WASHINGTON) > 3. Fwd: [ke-internetusers] User Privacy (deliberately?) > Compromised (Alex Gakuru) > 4. Fwd: [ke-internetusers] User Privacy (deliberately?) > Compromised (Alex Gakuru) > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >

1 0

Fwd: [ke-internetusers] User Privacy (deliberately?) Compromised
by Alex Gakuru 13 Apr '07

13 Apr '07

I need user opinion on this issue. Could you kindly spare some time and comment either on or off line? TIA Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 09:27:47 +0300 From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Subject: [ke-internetusers] User Privacy (deliberately?) Compromised *** Any comments*** Identity Management Systems invade individual's privacy. Interception of communication, lawful or otherwise, is primarily used to gain "informed advantage" and fore-warn law enforcement agencies to protect everyone, commercial espionage, Intellectual property thefts, or sheer mischief, such as embarrassing an online user, among others. "Private censorship" is a far bigger and real problem that government censorship considering technology users served by state-owned Telkom. Privacy has never been a bigger issue that it is today. For example, with 8 million subscribers but only 2.7 million internet users in Kenya, how, if, when, and where did 7 million pre-paid subscribers ever read website-posted terms of service? These terms are repeated in broadcast advertisements as "terms and conditions apply" Celtel appears not to bother posting their terms of service but several interesting clauses can be read at Safaricom's pre-paid "contract" at . [Safaricom Pre-paid users "contract"] f) Please note that the confidentiality of your communications via our Network is not guaranteed. You are advised that for reasons beyond our control, there is a risk that your communications may be unlawfully intercepted or accessed by those other than the intended recipient. We cannot accept any liability for any loss, injury or damage whether direct or consequential arising out of any such compromise of confidentiality; g) You accept that we may disclose and/or receive and/or record any details of your use of the Services including but not limited to your calls, emails, SMS's, data, your personal information or documents obtained from you for the purposes below: i. Fraud prevention and law enforcement; ii. For reasonable commercial purposes connected to your use of the mobile service, such as marketing and research related activities; iii. Use in our telephone directory enquiry service in printed or electronic format; iv. To comply with any legal, governmental or regulatory requirement; v. Our lawyers in connection with any legal proceedings; vi. In business practices including but not limited to quality control, training and ensuring effective systems operation. h) You must comply with any instructions that we may give you from time to time about the use of the Services; i) The maximum call duration for any one single call made using the Services is approximately sixty (60) minutes. j) With the exception of calls made to our Customer Service Hotline numbers and to any other designated toll free numbers, a variable minimum network access credit requirement shall be applied and shall depend on the Tariff used by the Customer. 2 . 3. ACCEPTANCE AND COMMENCEMENT OF CONDITIONS OF USE You are deemed to have accepted these Conditions of Use as amended from time to time and which take effect:- (a) Upon the Re-charge of your account at any time with any amount using the designated recharge voucher or using any other approved means of Re-charge ; or (b) Upon your use of our Services or upon you accessing our Network at any time; or (c) Upon the initial activation of your SIM Card.3 The EU has perhaps more protection for privacy than in the U.S. The Data Protection Directive of 1995 prohibits sharing of information with any nation that does provide adequate protection for personal data. In 1999 the U.S. Dept. of Commerce worked out a safe harbor regulation that has so far satisfied the EU. FTC (US) has led govt. action to protect consumer privacy. FTC thinks that web sites should adhere to the Five Fair Information Principles: 1. Notice/Awarenessright to be notified if someone is collecting information about you 2. Choice/Consentright to opt out of having information about you collected 3. Access/Participationright to see files collected about you and right to offer corrections 4. Integrity/Securityright to have personal files collected about you be secure 5. Enforcement/Redressright to sue if any of the first four FIPs are violated ------- [How Stuff Works] by Jeff Tyson Carnivorous Evolution Carnivore was the third generation of online-detection software used by the FBI. While information about the first version has never been disclosed, many believe that it was actually a readily available commercial program called Etherpeek. In 1997, the FBI deployed the second generation program, Omnivore. According to information released by the FBI, Omnivore was designed to look through e-mail traffic travelling over a specific Internet service provider (ISP) and capture the e-mail from a targeted source, saving it to a tape-backup drive or printing it in real-time. Omnivore was retired in late 1999 in favor of a more comprehensive system, the DragonWare Suite, which allowed the FBI to reconstruct e-mail messages, downloaded files or even Web pages. DragonWare contained three parts: * Carnivore - A Windows NT/2000-based system that captures the information * Packeteer - No official information released, but presumably an application for reassembling packets into cohesive messages or Web pages * Coolminer - No official information released, but presumably an application for extrapolating and analyzing data found in the messages As you can see, officials never released much information about the DragonWare Suite, nothing about Packeteer and Coolminer and very little detailed information about Carnivore. But we do know that Carnivore was basically a packet sniffer, a technology that is quite common and has been around for a while. Packet Sniffing Computer network administrators have used packet sniffers for years to monitor their networks and perform diagnostic tests or troubleshoot problems. Essentially, a packet sniffer is a program that can see all of the information passing over the network it is connected to. As data streams back and forth on the network, the program looks at, or "sniffs," each packet. Normally, a computer only looks at packets addressed to it and ignores the rest of the traffic on the network. When a packet sniffer is set up on a computer, the sniffer's network interface is set to promiscuous mode. This means that it is looking at everything that comes through. The amount of traffic largely depends on the location of the computer in the network. A client system out on an isolated branch of the network sees only a small segment of the network traffic, while the main domain server sees almost all of it. A packet sniffer can usually be set up in one of two ways: * Unfiltered - Captures all of the packets * Filtered - Captures only those packets containing specific data elements Packets that contain targeted data are copied as they pass through. The program stores the copies in memory or on a hard drive, depending on the program's configuration. These copies can then be analyzed carefully for specific information or patterns. When you connect to the Internet, you are joining a network maintained by your ISP. The ISP's network communicates with other networks maintained by other ISPs to form the foundation of the Internet. A packet sniffer located at one of the servers of your ISP would potentially be able to monitor all of your online activities, such as: * Which Web sites you visit * What you look at on the site * Whom you send e-mail to * What's in the e-mail you send * What you download from a site * What streaming events you use, such as audio, video and Internet telephony * Who visits your site (if you have a Web site) In fact, many ISPs use packet sniffers as diagnostic tools. Also, a lot of ISPs maintain copies of data, such as e-mail, as part of their back-up systems. Carnivore and its sister programs were a controversial step forward for the FBI, but they were not new technology. ---- Alex Gakuru _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

1 0

Fwd: [ke-internetusers] User Privacy (deliberately?) Compromised
by Alex Gakuru 13 Apr '07

13 Apr '07

I need user opinion on this issue. Could you kindly spare some time and comment either on or off line? TIA Alex Gakuru <gakuru(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 09:27:47 +0300 From: "Alex Gakuru" <gakuru(a)gmail.com> To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Subject: [ke-internetusers] User Privacy (deliberately?) Compromised *** Any comments*** Identity Management Systems invade individual's privacy. Interception of communication, lawful or otherwise, is primarily used to gain "informed advantage" and fore-warn law enforcement agencies to protect everyone, commercial espionage, Intellectual property thefts, or sheer mischief, such as embarrassing an online user, among others. "Private censorship" is a far bigger and real problem that government censorship considering technology users served by state-owned Telkom. Privacy has never been a bigger issue that it is today. For example, with 8 million subscribers but only 2.7 million internet users in Kenya, how, if, when, and where did 7 million pre-paid subscribers ever read website-posted terms of service? These terms are repeated in broadcast advertisements as "terms and conditions apply" Celtel appears not to bother posting their terms of service but several interesting clauses can be read at Safaricom's pre-paid "contract" at . [Safaricom Pre-paid users "contract"] f) Please note that the confidentiality of your communications via our Network is not guaranteed. You are advised that for reasons beyond our control, there is a risk that your communications may be unlawfully intercepted or accessed by those other than the intended recipient. We cannot accept any liability for any loss, injury or damage whether direct or consequential arising out of any such compromise of confidentiality; g) You accept that we may disclose and/or receive and/or record any details of your use of the Services including but not limited to your calls, emails, SMS's, data, your personal information or documents obtained from you for the purposes below: i. Fraud prevention and law enforcement; ii. For reasonable commercial purposes connected to your use of the mobile service, such as marketing and research related activities; iii. Use in our telephone directory enquiry service in printed or electronic format; iv. To comply with any legal, governmental or regulatory requirement; v. Our lawyers in connection with any legal proceedings; vi. In business practices including but not limited to quality control, training and ensuring effective systems operation. h) You must comply with any instructions that we may give you from time to time about the use of the Services; i) The maximum call duration for any one single call made using the Services is approximately sixty (60) minutes. j) With the exception of calls made to our Customer Service Hotline numbers and to any other designated toll free numbers, a variable minimum network access credit requirement shall be applied and shall depend on the Tariff used by the Customer. 2 . 3. ACCEPTANCE AND COMMENCEMENT OF CONDITIONS OF USE You are deemed to have accepted these Conditions of Use as amended from time to time and which take effect:- (a) Upon the Re-charge of your account at any time with any amount using the designated recharge voucher or using any other approved means of Re-charge ; or (b) Upon your use of our Services or upon you accessing our Network at any time; or (c) Upon the initial activation of your SIM Card.3 The EU has perhaps more protection for privacy than in the U.S. The Data Protection Directive of 1995 prohibits sharing of information with any nation that does provide adequate protection for personal data. In 1999 the U.S. Dept. of Commerce worked out a safe harbor regulation that has so far satisfied the EU. FTC (US) has led govt. action to protect consumer privacy. FTC thinks that web sites should adhere to the Five Fair Information Principles: 1. Notice/Awarenessright to be notified if someone is collecting information about you 2. Choice/Consentright to opt out of having information about you collected 3. Access/Participationright to see files collected about you and right to offer corrections 4. Integrity/Securityright to have personal files collected about you be secure 5. Enforcement/Redressright to sue if any of the first four FIPs are violated ------- [How Stuff Works] by Jeff Tyson Carnivorous Evolution Carnivore was the third generation of online-detection software used by the FBI. While information about the first version has never been disclosed, many believe that it was actually a readily available commercial program called Etherpeek. In 1997, the FBI deployed the second generation program, Omnivore. According to information released by the FBI, Omnivore was designed to look through e-mail traffic travelling over a specific Internet service provider (ISP) and capture the e-mail from a targeted source, saving it to a tape-backup drive or printing it in real-time. Omnivore was retired in late 1999 in favor of a more comprehensive system, the DragonWare Suite, which allowed the FBI to reconstruct e-mail messages, downloaded files or even Web pages. DragonWare contained three parts: * Carnivore - A Windows NT/2000-based system that captures the information * Packeteer - No official information released, but presumably an application for reassembling packets into cohesive messages or Web pages * Coolminer - No official information released, but presumably an application for extrapolating and analyzing data found in the messages As you can see, officials never released much information about the DragonWare Suite, nothing about Packeteer and Coolminer and very little detailed information about Carnivore. But we do know that Carnivore was basically a packet sniffer, a technology that is quite common and has been around for a while. Packet Sniffing Computer network administrators have used packet sniffers for years to monitor their networks and perform diagnostic tests or troubleshoot problems. Essentially, a packet sniffer is a program that can see all of the information passing over the network it is connected to. As data streams back and forth on the network, the program looks at, or "sniffs," each packet. Normally, a computer only looks at packets addressed to it and ignores the rest of the traffic on the network. When a packet sniffer is set up on a computer, the sniffer's network interface is set to promiscuous mode. This means that it is looking at everything that comes through. The amount of traffic largely depends on the location of the computer in the network. A client system out on an isolated branch of the network sees only a small segment of the network traffic, while the main domain server sees almost all of it. A packet sniffer can usually be set up in one of two ways: * Unfiltered - Captures all of the packets * Filtered - Captures only those packets containing specific data elements Packets that contain targeted data are copied as they pass through. The program stores the copies in memory or on a hard drive, depending on the program's configuration. These copies can then be analyzed carefully for specific information or patterns. When you connect to the Internet, you are joining a network maintained by your ISP. The ISP's network communicates with other networks maintained by other ISPs to form the foundation of the Internet. A packet sniffer located at one of the servers of your ISP would potentially be able to monitor all of your online activities, such as: * Which Web sites you visit * What you look at on the site * Whom you send e-mail to * What's in the e-mail you send * What you download from a site * What streaming events you use, such as audio, video and Internet telephony * Who visits your site (if you have a Web site) In fact, many ISPs use packet sniffers as diagnostic tools. Also, a lot of ISPs maintain copies of data, such as e-mail, as part of their back-up systems. Carnivore and its sister programs were a controversial step forward for the FBI, but they were not new technology. ---- Alex Gakuru _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

1 0

Anita Borg Award for Social Impact: Call for Nominations
by alice 11 Apr '07

11 Apr '07

Anita Borg Award for Social Impact Call for Nominations - Submission deadline: April 16, 2007 *Submission Guidelines - ONLINE SUBMISSIONS <https://ssl.linklings.net/organizations/abi/>NOW BEING ACCEPTED * The third Anita Borg Social Impact Award <http://www.anitaborg.org/about/history.php#anita>, an international prize, will honor an individual or team who has caused technology to have a positive impact on the lives of women and society or who has caused women to have a significant impact on the design and use of technology. The recipient of the 2006 Anita Borg Social Impact Award will receive a $10,000 award and will be honored at the 2007 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing <http://www.anitaborg.org/programs/ghc/> conference Awards Banquet to be held in Orlando, Florida, October 18, 2007. The inaugural Social Impact Award was presented to Karen Banks <http://www.anitaborg.org/programs/awards/kbanks.php>, Global Coordinator, APC Women's Networking Support Programme, located in London, England. Working with programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America for 15 years, she brought information and communication technologies (ICTs -eg. internet, radio, video, cell phones) to underserved women and communities as a vital tool for empowerment and positive social change. Their network numbers over 100 women from more than 35 countries. Their network includes individual women and women's groups and organizations working in the field of gender and ICT and actively supporting women's networking. Their members have formed themselves into regional networks in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Africa and they are building an emerging network in Europe. In 2006, the award was given to Dr. Carol Muller <http://www.anitaborg.org/programs/awards/cmuller.php>, the Founder and CEO of MentorNet, The E-Mentoring Network for Diversity in Engineering and Science. MentorNet (www.MentorNet.net <http://www.mentornet.net/>) is a nonprofit organization headquartered in San Jose, CA. Founded in 1997, its mission is to further the progress of women and others underrepresented in scientific and technical fields through the use of a dynamic, technology-supported mentoring program; and to advance individuals and society, and enhance engineering and related sciences, by promoting a diversified, expanded and talented global workforce. Mentornet began by matching 539 mentoring pairs representing students at 27 universities and 261 individuals at companies in 1999. In 2006 Mentornet matched over 2,500 pairs at 111 universities and 1045 companies. In 2006 students from 97 countries and mentors from 67 countries were represented in the program. *Selection Criteria* * Impact will be measured by 1) the degree and type of social change, 2) the amount of women's increased empowerment through the technology or increased influence over technology and 3) its sustainability and scalability. * The award recipient may have developed the technology, motivated social change and empowerment through that technology, or increased women's influence over and decision-making about technology. * The award recipient must be available to participate in the 2007 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference"s Awards Banquet on October 18, 2007 in Orlando, Florida. Your nomination may be for a colleague or you may nominate yourself. Only completed submissions will be considered by the jury. *Required Materials* (Online Submission Only) <https://ssl.linklings.net/organizations/abi/> 1. Title of nominated achievement* 2. Name(s) of nominee(s)* 3. 30 word (maximum) summary of the person and project, for the selection committee to use for identification purposes* 4. Expanded statement of merit with examples (2-3pages). This must include short bio(s) of the nominated person(s) and address the following issues: Describe the impact and how it was measured. Was the action taken with respect to a specific situation? What motivated the nominee(s) to take action? Did he/she/they encounter any significant challenges?** 5. Resume or curriculum vitae** 6. Letters of reference (2-3)** 7. Nominator's name, e-mail address, phone number and relationship to nominee* *You will submit the nomination title, nominee(s) name(s), summary statement and your contact information via web forms at https://ssl.linklings.net/organizations/abi/. For more information about the Awards, please visit: http://anitaborg.org/programs/awards/ <http://www.anitaborg.org/programs/awards/>. **The expanded statement of merit, resume or curriculum vitae, and letters of reference must be in separate Microsoft Word or text documents. Additional information about this award may be found at http://anitaborg.org/programs/awards/ <http://www.anitaborg.org/programs/awards/>.Questions may be emailed to the Chair of the Anita Borg Social Impact Award Committee, Amy Pearl at socialaward_2007(a)anitaborg.org <mailto:socialaward_2007@anitaborg.org> *Schedule* Nomination packages due April 16, 2007 Finalists selected May 14, 2007 Award recipient notified July 9, 2007 Awards ceremony in Orlando, Florida October 18, 2007 Selection Committee The 2007 Anita Borg Award for Social Impact is chaired by Amy Pearl.

1 0

[Fwd: [At-Large] NomCom: seeking candidates for ICANN leadership positions]
by alice 11 Apr '07

11 Apr '07

Hi, ICANN's NomCom is recruiting candidates, we are selecting: * 3 seats on the ICANN Board of Directors. * 3 members of the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC), from Africa, Latin America and Caribbean and Asia/Australia/Pacific regions. * 2 members to Generic Names Supporting Organization Council (GNSO). * 1 Country Code Names Support Organization Council (ccNSO) member. NomCom website <http://nomcom.icann.org> has information about the process and more information about the positions. You can nominate yourself. You can suggest someone you think would be a good candidate (details of how to do that here <http://nomcom.icann.org/formal-call-2007.html#H>). Or just send me the names of anyone you think would be a good candidate for any of the positions. Please pass on this information to your ALS or any other groups and individuals you think may be interested. I would be happy to help anyone with questions, please forward my email address <ajp(a)glocom.ac.jp>. Deadline for applications in 1 May 2007. I should have asked this list long ago for advice, ALAC --the RALOs and ALS-- is the strongest link to the ICANN user community and potential source of candidates. Apologies. Many thanks, Adam (2007 NomCom Associate Chair) _______________________________________________ ALAC mailing list ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann.org www.alac.icann.org www.icannalac.org

1 0

[Fwd: [DigAfrica] High Phone Charges Hamper Region's Growth, Says W Bank]
by alice 10 Apr '07

10 Apr '07

Our never ending connectivity problems and the prices we pay..... The East African Standard (Nairobi) NEWS April 10, 2007 Posted to the web April 10, 2007 By Benson Kathuri and Robert Nyasato Nairobi International phone call and high-speed Internet connection charges are beyond the reach of average classes in 25 East and Southern African countries. A report by the World Bank says the region is the only one not connected to the global optical fibre broadband infrastructure. "The 'missing link' explains why the region accounts for less than one per cent of the world's international bandwidth capacity," says the report released in Washington last week. These countries lack direct terrestrial access to global information and communications infrastructure, relying on expensive satellite connectivity to link up with the rest of the world. As a result, telecommunication users face some of the highest costs in the world, says the study: African Region Communications Infrastructure Programme Report. The countries are Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya. The rest are Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. "International wholesale bandwidth prices are 20 to 40 times higher than in the United States, and international calls are on average 10 to 20 times more than in other developing countries," says the report. This, according to the report, has limited regional and international trade, job creation, use of information and communication technology in learning, good governance, and transparency. "The region's growth and development is being held back by this lack of access to low price and high quality telecommunications services." However, the World Bank has initiated a multi-billion shilling project, the Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme (RCIP) to address the 'missing link'. By the end of the programme, it is expected that all capitals and major cities in East and Southern Africa would be linked to competitively priced high-bandwidth connectivity. "To put 25 agents on the phone, it will cost us close to US$17,000 (Sh1.2 million) a month while elsewhere, it will only cost US$600-900 (Sh42, 000 -Sh56, 000) a month," said Nicholas Nesbitt, CEO of KenCall. Meanwhile, in Kisii town, Internet service charges have doubled in the past two months due to power failure. Many cyber cafes now charge Sh2 a minute up from one shilling. "Whenever there is a power outage, we have to increase the cost of browsing because we use a generator, which is more expensive," said Ms Josephine Kerubo, a worker at one of the Internet shops in the town. Other sops have closed down due to the unreliable supply. Posta withdrew its Internet services earlier this year in unclear circumstances. __._,_.___ Messages in this topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/message/5852;_ylc=X3oDMTM0YnU3NzN1B…> (1) Reply (via web post) <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwaTMwdnJzBF9TAzk3M…> | Start a new topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZ3AzYXZrBF9TAzk3M…> Messages <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJldWhrM2MwBF9TA…> | Links <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmYWoxcDBoBF9TAzk3…> | Polls <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmMjQ1NTZpBF9TAzk3…> | Calendar <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkZnJsOW40BF9TA…> 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=X3oDMTJkNTI0M2RvBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5M…> Change settings via the Web <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJmN2NwYjE4BF9TAzk3M…> (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=X3oDMTJkNHEwYnU2BF9TAzk3MzU5Nz…> | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> | Unsubscribe <mailto:DigAfrica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=> Recent Activity * 5 New Members <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZjY2aGlmBF9TAz…> Visit Your Group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica;_ylc=X3oDMTJlOW1pZ3VkBF9TAzk3MzU5Nz…> SPONSORED LINKS * Africa safaris <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjYWduaWszBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzEEZ…> * Africa east safari <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjMzl1bXE2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzIEZ…> * Information and communication technology <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjazNwZWtjBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzMEZ…> * Africa wildlife safari <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjaG5scGxiBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzQEZ…> * Africa calling card <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjNGhqamFvBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzUEZ…> Jobs Jobs Jobs Yahoo! HotJobs <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12i12f1sk/M=493064.9803220.10510213.8674578/D=g…> Find the right one today Yahoo! Mail You're invited! <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12ibfjlit/M=493064.9803214.10510208.8674578/D=g…> Try the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta Ads on Yahoo! Learn more now. <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12irrsijg/M=493064.9803227.10510220.8674578/D=g…> Reach customers searching for you. . Web Bug from http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=2902444/grpspId=1705116291/msgId… __,_._,___

1 0

[Fwd: Kenya and EASSy?]
by alice 10 Apr '07

10 Apr '07

I'm confused: I was under the impression, not the least from Bitange Ndemo's* *comments on the KICTANeT list, that Kenya had pulled out of EASSy? Any clarifications welcome. Alan EASSY winner of fibre-optic cable race By A STAFF WRITER The EastAfrican, April 9 2007 Which of the upcoming submarine cable projects out of Mombasa will rollout first? That is the big question in Kenya where the government is investing in two parallel projects at the same time — namely. The East African Marine System (TEAMS) and the East Africa SubMarine Cable System (EASSy). Although the government has justified the investment in TEAMS on the grounds that the EASSy project will take too long to roll out, the indications so far is that EASSy which has already received the support and commitment of 22 telecom operators representing 20 countries, — 90 per cent of which are African operators, both private and public — is likely to move much faster. So far, the project has secured all its funding targets and committed leading development financial institutions to the project. Its funding arrangement is structured to allow equity partners to either participate through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) or come in as direct investors. The SPV, consisting mainly of regional operators, has already been incorporated in Mauritius under the name West Indian Ocean Cable Company Ltd. Financial instruments for the SPV are in process and have been finalised in partnership with the development funding institutions comprising the World Bank, IFC Group, European Investment Bank, KFW of Germany, AFD Prop Arco of France, the African Development Bank and the Development Bank of South Africa. On March 9, nine EASSy members formally signed the supply contract with Alcatel-Lucent, who will be implementing the EASSy fibre-optic cable project on a full turnkey basis. The process of manufacturing the necessary equipment is going on and the approximation is that the project will be concluded by the end of 2008. The overall project cost will be in excess of $200 million. In compliance with international and national regulatory requirements, all operators having been conducting environment and social impact analyses studies which are expected to conclude this month. The EASSy submarine network will span nearly 10,000km linking eight countries from Sudan to South Africa via Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar and Mozambique. The initial capacity will be 20 gigabits per second with ultimate capacity of 320 gbits/s per fibre pair. Last week, the EASSY project received a major boost when the World Bank announced that it has approved $164.5 million for high speed connectivity for Kenya, Burundi and Madagascar. East and Southern Africa is the only region in the world that is not connected to the global broadband infrastructure and accounts for less than one per cent of the world’s international bandwidth capacity. As a result of this “missing link,” the region relies on satellite connectivity, with costs among the highest in the world. One Kenyan call-centre entrepreneur told the World Bank board of directors that the region simply cannot compete with others. “To put 25 agents on the phone will cost us close to $17,000 a month. Elsewhere, it will only cost $600-$900 a month,” said Nicholas Nesbitt, chief executive of KenCall. “It is absolutely imperative that something be done right now to make bandwidth affordable. Otherwise, we’re going to miss a huge opportunity and people are simply going to say that Africa is not ready for these kinds of jobs, is not ready for business.” By the end of the programme, it is expected that all capitals and major cities in East and Southern Africa will be linked to competitively priced high-bandwidth connectivity

2 1

[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] SA considering second, cheaper undersea cable]
by alice 10 Apr '07

10 Apr '07

SA considering second, cheaper undersea cable By Lesley Stones, Financial Mail, April 4 2007 ARGUMENTS about the cost of bandwidth on a telecommunications cable to be laid around Africas east coast could see more money pumped into a duplicate cable laid in direct competition to the original R300m project. A second multimillion-dollar cable to replicate the planned East Africa Submarine System (EASSy) may be laid because of a clash between private investors wanting to profiteer and governments demanding cheaper bandwidth to reduce the cost of doing business and stimulate economic growth. Partners in the long-awaited EASSy cable include Telkom, which is 38% government owned. But yesterday the communications departments director-general, Lyndall Shope-Mafole, confirmed that SA might lead a rival cable-building project because of the EASSy consortiums intransigence. Ideally, the EASSy cable will be a key component in a project to increase Africas bandwidth launched by the New Partnership for Africas Development (Nepad). But private investors in the EASSy consortium were more interested in profits than in providing affordable bandwidth, Shope-Mafole said. Telkom CEO Papi Molotsane has repeatedly said Telkom will only invest in EASSy if it can make a decent return on its investment. The EASSy consortium members have complained that African governments are trying to hijack the project, with its finance committee chairman, Donald Nyakairu, recently telling the Ugandan newspaper The Monitor that the politicians are making unreasonable demands. If a compromise is not reached, Nepad will lay a rival undersea connection. We hope it will be the same cable. There is no cable right now but we could absolutely build another one, he said. Twelve African governments have signed an agreement pledging that access to a cable linking SA to Sudan must not be monopolised by a private cabal. International bandwidth is so crucial that Africa can no longer be held to ransom by private companies looking to profiteer, the governments believe. Their policy for international connectivity is dubbed the Nepad Network, based on a submarine cable and a terrestrial network covering landlocked countries. The policy insists that all telecoms operators, internet service providers and other bandwidth-hungry businesses will be able to use the cable for the same price as the companies that invested in the infrastructure. That is a direct attempt to prevent companies from capitalising on Africas lack of bandwidth by charging exorbitant fees, much as Telkom charges punishing fees for access to bandwidth on the Sat-3 cable around Africas west coast. In an interview with the Financial Times this week, President Thabo Mbeki blasted Telkom for charging absolutely phenomenal rates for access to Sat-3 and said the government was applying pressure on Telkom to cut its fees. About 10 companies in SA will be invited to invest up to $2m each to fund the Nepad Network, whether it is based on the EASSy cable or on a rival venture. Technology and telecommunications companies, internet service providers and bandwidth-intensive banks and other businesses would be asked to invest, Shope-Mafole said. Another investor could be InfraCo, a new state-owned entity created with a budget of R647m to supply wholesale bandwidth. Shope-Mafole also said the department would give Mbeki the telecoms price cuts he was demanding when Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri made some policy announcements on May 24. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

1 0

[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Will EASSy will the war of the cables?]
by alice 10 Apr '07

10 Apr '07

EASSY winner of fibre-optic cable race By A STAFF WRITER The EastAfrican, April 9 2007 Which of the upcoming submarine cable projects out of Mombasa will rollout first? That is the big question in Kenya where the government is investing in two parallel projects at the same time namely. The East African Marine System (TEAMS) and the East Africa SubMarine Cable System (EASSy). Although the government has justified the investment in TEAMS on the grounds that the EASSy project will take too long to roll out, the indications so far is that EASSy which has already received the support and commitment of 22 telecom operators representing 20 countries, 90 per cent of which are African operators, both private and public is likely to move much faster. So far, the project has secured all its funding targets and committed leading development financial institutions to the project. Its funding arrangement is structured to allow equity partners to either participate through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) or come in as direct investors. The SPV, consisting mainly of regional operators, has already been incorporated in Mauritius under the name West Indian Ocean Cable Company Ltd. Financial instruments for the SPV are in process and have been finalised in partnership with the development funding institutions comprising the World Bank, IFC Group, European Investment Bank, KFW of Germany, AFD Prop Arco of France, the African Development Bank and the Development Bank of South Africa. On March 9, nine EASSy members formally signed the supply contract with Alcatel-Lucent, who will be implementing the EASSy fibre-optic cable project on a full turnkey basis. The process of manufacturing the necessary equipment is going on and the approximation is that the project will be concluded by the end of 2008. The overall project cost will be in excess of $200 million. In compliance with international and national regulatory requirements, all operators having been conducting environment and social impact analyses studies which are expected to conclude this month. The EASSy submarine network will span nearly 10,000km linking eight countries from Sudan to South Africa via Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar and Mozambique. The initial capacity will be 20 gigabits per second with ultimate capacity of 320 gbits/s per fibre pair. Last week, the EASSY project received a major boost when the World Bank announced that it has approved $164.5 million for high speed connectivity for Kenya, Burundi and Madagascar. East and Southern Africa is the only region in the world that is not connected to the global broadband infrastructure and accounts for less than one per cent of the worlds international bandwidth capacity. As a result of this missing link, the region relies on satellite connectivity, with costs among the highest in the world. One Kenyan call-centre entrepreneur told the World Bank board of directors that the region simply cannot compete with others. To put 25 agents on the phone will cost us close to $17,000 a month. Elsewhere, it will only cost $600-$900 a month, said Nicholas Nesbitt, chief executive of KenCall. It is absolutely imperative that something be done right now to make bandwidth affordable. Otherwise, were going to miss a huge opportunity and people are simply going to say that Africa is not ready for these kinds of jobs, is not ready for business. By the end of the programme, it is expected that all capitals and major cities in East and Southern Africa will be linked to competitively priced high-bandwidth connectivity _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

1 0

why i voted fo .xxx- by susan crawford
by Rebecca Wanjiku 10 Apr '07

10 Apr '07

i thought we should expect reasons/explanations like this from ICANN representatives on the board, just a thought, read on Why I Voted for .XXX By Susan Crawford The ICANN Board voted today 9-5, with Paul Twomey abstaining, to reject a proposal to open .xxx. This is my statement in connection with that vote. I found the resolution adopted by the Board (rejecting xxx) both weak and unprincipled. I am troubled by the path the Board has followed on this issue since I joined the Board in December of 2005. I would like to make two points. First, ICANN only creates problems for itself when it acts in an ad hoc fashion in response to political pressures. Second, ICANN should take itself seriously as a private governance institution with a limited mandate and should resist efforts by governments to veto what it does. Role of the Board This decision, whether to admit a particular non-confusing, legal string into the root, is put before the ICANN Board because (1) we purport to speak on behalf of the global internet community and (2) the U.S. Department of Commerce defers to the judgments of that community when deciding what to tell its contractor to add to the authoritative root zone file. As a Board, we cannot speak as *elected* representatives of the global internet community because we have not allowed elections for Board members. This application does not present any difficult technical questions, and even if it did we do not as a group claim to have special technical expertise. So this is not a technical stability and security question. It seems to me that the only plausible basis on which the Board can answer the question in the negative ("a group of people may *not* operate and use a lawful string of letters as a top level domain") is to say that the people affected by this decision have a broadly shared agreement that the admission of this string to the root would amount to unjustifiable wrongdoing. Otherwise, in the absence of technical considerations, the Board has no basis for rejecting this application. Let me explain. The most fundamental value of the global internet community is that people who propose to use the internet protocols and infrastructures for otherwise lawful purposes, without threatening the operational stability or security of the internet, should be presumed to be entitled to do so. In a nutshell, “everything not prohibited is permitted.” This understanding, this value, has led directly to the striking success of the internet around the world. ICANN’s role in gTLD policy development is to seek to assess and articulate the broadly shared values of the internet community. We have very limited authority and we can only speak on behalf of that community. I am personally not aware that any global consensus against the creation of an .xxx domain exists. In the absence of such a prohibition, and given our mandate to create TLD competition, we have no authority to block the addition of this TLD to the root. It is very clear that we do not have a global shared set of values about content online, save for the global norm against child pornography. But the global internet community clearly *does* share the core value that no centralized authority should set itself up as the arbiter of what people may do together online, absent a demonstration that most of those affected by the proposed activity agree that it should be banned. Process More than three years ago, before I joined the Board, ICANN began a process for new sponsored top level domains. As I have said on many occasions, I think the idea of “sponsorship” is an empty one. *All* generic TLDs should be considered “sponsored” in that they should be able to create policies for themselves that are not dictated by ICANN. The only exceptions to this freedom for every TLD should be, of course, the (very few) global consensus policies that are created through the ICANN forum. This freedom is shared by the country code TLDs. Notwithstanding my personal views on the vacuity of the “sponsorship” idea, the fact is that ICANN evaluated the strength of the sponsorship of xxx (the relationship between the applicant and the “community” behind the TLD) and, in my view, concluded that this criteria had been met as of June 2005; ICANN then went on to negotiate specific contractual terms with the applicant. Since then, real and “astroturf” comments (filed comments claiming to be grassroots opposition that have actually been generated by organized campaigns) have come in to ICANN that reflect opposition to this application. I do not find these recent comments sufficient to warrant re-visiting the question of the “sponsorship” strength of this TLD which I personally believe to be closed. No applicant for any “sponsored” TLD could ever demonstrate unanimous, cheering approval for its application. We have no metric against which to measure this opposition, and thus we have no idea how significant it is. We should not be in the business of judging the level of market or community support for a new TLD before the fact. We will only get in the way of useful innovation if we take the view that every new TLD must prove itself to us before it can be added to the root. It seems to me that what is meant by “sponsorship” (a notion that I hope we abandon) is to show that there is enough interest in a particular TLD that it will be viable. We also have the idea that registrants should participate in (and be bound by) the creation of policies for a particular string. Both of these requirements have been met by this applicant. There is clearly enough interest (including more than 70,000 pre-registrations from 1,000 or more unique registrants who are members of the adult industry), and the applicant has undertaken to us that it will require adherence to its self-regulatory policies by all of its registrants. To the extent some of my colleagues on the board believe that ICANN should be in the business of deciding whether a particular TLD makes a valuable contribution to the namespace, I differ with them. I do not think ICANN is capable of making such a determination. Indeed, this argument is very much like those made by the pre-divestiture AT&T when it claimed that no “foreign attachments” to its network (like answering machines) should be allowed, in part because AT&T asserted there was no public demand for them. The rise of the internet was arguably made possible by allowing many “foreign attachments” to the network - called modems. We established a process for sTLDs some time ago. We have taken this applicant through this process. We now appear to be changing the process. We should not act in this fashion. Politics Discomfort with this application may have been sparked anew by (1) the letter from individual GAC members Janis Karklins and Sharil Tarmizi (to which Amb. Karklins has told us the GAC acceded as a whole by its silence), and (2) the letter from the Australian government. I am not at all opposed to receiving advice from the Government Advisory Committee. But the entire point of ICANN’s creation was to avoid the operation of chokepoint content control over the domain name system by individual or collective governments. The idea was that the US would serve as a good steward for other governmental concerns by staying in the background and overseeing ICANN’s activities, but not engaging in content-related control. Australia’s letter, and concerns expressed in the past by Brazil and other countries about xxx, are explicitly content-based and thus inappropriate, in my view. If, after creation of an xxx TLD, certain governments of the world want to ensure that their citizens do not see xxx content, it is within their prerogative as sovereigns to instruct internet access providers physically located within their territory to block such content. Also, if certain governments want to ensure that *all* adult content providers with a physical presence in their country register exclusively within xxx, that is their prerogative as well. (I note that such a requirement in the U.S. would violate the First Amendment to our Constitution.) But this content-related censorship should not be ICANN’s concern, and ICANN should not allow itself to be used as a private lever for government chokepoint content control by making up reasons to avoid the creation of such a TLD in the first place. To the extent there are public policy concerns with this TLD, they can be dealt with through local law. Registration in (or visitation of) domains in this TLD is purely voluntary. If ICANN were to base its decisions on the views of the Australian (or US, or Brazilian) government, ICANN would have compromised away its very reason for existence as a private non-governmental governance institution. Conclusion I continue to be dissatisfied with elements of the proposed xxx contract, including but not limited to the “rapid takedown” provision of Appendix S,1 which is manifestly designed to placate trademark owners and ignores the many due process concerns that have been expressed about the existing UDRP. I am confident that if I had a staff or enough time I could find many things to carp about in this draft contract. But I am certain that if I complained about these terms my concerns would be used to justify derailing this application for political reasons. I plan, therefore, to turn my attention to the new gTLD process that was promised for January 2007 (a promise that has not been kept) in hopes that we will someday have a standard contract and objective process that can help ICANN avoid engaging in unjustifiable ad hoc actions. We should be examining generic TLD applicants on the basis of their technical and financial strength, and we should avoid dealing with “content” concerns to the maximum extent possible. We should be opening up new TLDs. I hope we will find a way to achieve such a sound process in short order. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/

4 8

Fwd: Mobile phone ICE Information
by Judy Okite 10 Apr '07

10 Apr '07

Thought of the day! ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Mureithi [KoRANDU]" <mureithi(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 09:37:38 +0300 Subject: Mobile phone ICE Information To: Hello All, if u know anyone who can pass this on to the right person at Safcom and/or Celtel and make a nation wide campaign in close coordination with the Emergency Care Medical Fraternity, I think it would be very useful. I know a friend who was shot and it would have been a great help if we had the ICE markers. right now the only way to figure out who to call (In Case of Emergency) is to read the SMSes and hope a loved one SMSed recently, and this is also highly inefficient as "the loved one who SMSed" may not be the right person to call In Case of Emergency. read on * * *We all carry our mobile phones with hundreds of names/ numbers stored in its memory but yet nobody, other than ourselves, know which of these numbers belong to our near and dear ones? * * In case we are involved in an accident or had a heart attack and the people attending us get hold of our mobile phone but don't know which number to call to inform our family members. Yes, there are many numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? * * For this reason, we must have one or more telephone numbers stored under the name ICE (In case of Emergency) in our mobile phones. * * Recently, the concept of "ICE" is catching up quickly. It is simple, an important method of contact during emergency situations. * * As cell phones are carried by majority of the population, just store the number of a contact person or person who should be contacted at during emergency as ICE" (meaning In Case of Emergency). * * The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when they went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call. * * He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. * * Following a disaster in London, the East Anglican Ambulance Service has launched a national "In case of Emergency (ICE)" campaign. * * In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital staff would then be able to quickly contact your next of kin, by simply dialing the number stored as "ICE". * * **It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. * * For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference! * * Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our mobile phones today! Please forward to your all nearest and dearest * -- KoRANDU Ltd. mureithi(a)korandu.com {Yahoo/MSN/Skype} ID: kamisenki Hotline: +254 (0)722 371340 Office: +254 (0)20 2731477/4 -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there."

1 0

Conversation around African Internet Infrastructure
by Eric Osiakwan 09 Apr '07

09 Apr '07

Dear All, I would like to invite you either physically or through second life to join our conversation on African Internet Infrastructure at the Berkman Centre tomorrow - http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/home/ Eric here 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"

1 0

Conversation around African Internet Infrastructure
by Eric Osiakwan 09 Apr '07

09 Apr '07

Dear All, I would like to invite you either physically or through second life to join our conversation on African Internet Infrastructure at the Berkman Centre tomorrow - http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/home/ Eric here 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"

1 0

Conversation around African Internet Infrastructure
by Eric Osiakwan 09 Apr '07

09 Apr '07

Dear All, I would like to invite you either physically or through second life to join our conversation on African Internet Infrastructure at the Berkman Centre tomorrow - http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/home/ Eric here 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"

1 0

CCK: Internet Tariffs Affordability
by Alex Gakuru 09 Apr '07

09 Apr '07

"Although the average price of 1 Mbps leased line bandwidth of Ksh 364,317 to the customers appears to be lower than the Ksh 403,032 that ISPs pay to the IBGOs, data shows that for every 1 Mb/s purchased from the IBGO, the ISPs connect about 6 customers using 1 Mb/s links. That is, there is a ratio of at least 1 to 6 between bandwidth purchased and bandwidth sold." <http://www.cck.go.ke/internet_tariffs_affordability/> At these figures, rural internet cannot "make a business case" therefore there exists a serious need to re-think rural connectivity. Alex --------------------------------- Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta.

2 3

[Fwd: Vacancy at BRIDGE - Senior Gender Officer]
by alice 08 Apr '07

08 Apr '07

Senior Gender Officer (ref 196) BRIDGE gender and development programme BRIDGE (http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk/) is an innovative gender and development unit within the Information Department of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). It supports policymakers and practitioners with accessible research reports and disseminating information on gender equality. BRIDGE seeks a committed gender and development specialist who is enthusiastic about the role that information can play in furthering the goals of gender equality and realising women's rights. You will have the skills and drive to push the BRIDGE team to increase the impact of its written work and ensure we respond to the needs of our Southern and Northern constituencies. To ensure the quality of our written resources you will have a significant editing role, as well as undertaking selected research and writing tasks. Your management duties will include overseeing staff, managing ad hoc projects, and deputising for the BRIDGE Manager. You will require a postgraduate qualification in gender and development or proven specialist knowledge, excellent editing, research, writing and communications skills, and significant project management experience. You will draw on your extensive writing and editing of gender-focused resources and of working in the global South on these issues. The Senior Gender Officer reports directly to the BRIDGE Manager. We offer an attractive salary, favourable holiday allowance, a flexible working ethos and membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme. The post is based in Brighton, Sussex. It is a permanent position. Salary: £29,055 - £38,448 per annum, subject to experience Closing Date: 15th May 2007 (11:00 am UK time) Interview Date: week commencing 28th May 2007 OFFICIAL APPLICATION FORMS ONLY, CVs are not accepted For further information and to download an application form please log on to: http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/recruit/196_SGO_Bridge_Ad.html Alternatively to receive an electronic or hard copy please email Human Resources, hr(a)ids.ac.uk or call our confidential answerphone on: 01273-678682 [Int +44 1273] Please ensure that you quote the correct reference number We strongly encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of sex, race, religion or religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation and age.

1 0

[Fwd: An educational event to transform your organisation]
by alice 07 Apr '07

07 Apr '07

*Diary Notification* * * *Event: *The African Satellite & Wireless Broadband Conference (SatWiBB Africa) & African VoIP Forum * * *Location: *Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi** *Dates: * 1-8 June 2007 (Exhibition 5-7 June) * * *Description: * Satellites still provide a communications lifeline for a large proportion of Africa’s internal and external traffic. And wireless broadband technologies are increasingly providing the continent’s intermediate and last mile links. SatWiBB Africa is the first conference to cover both ends of this increasingly integrated and converging communications paradigm. Satellite and wireless communications and VoIP are not just IT topics – they go to the heart of every organisation’s culture, processes and productivity. This convergence event brings together the latest in wireless network and mobile device applications that can help enterprises reduce costs and improve business practices. And a three-day specialised exhibition that is part of the event will showcase the latest and demonstrate the best ways to cost, plan and deploy technologies such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX, 3G, and VoIP. * Wireless Cities Masterclass, by Paul Munnery, head of Wireless Digital Cities in the UK; * Wireless Security Strategies, by Maiendra Moodley, Technical Security Advisor at the South African Reserve Bank; * An interactive workshop for corporate users, will provide a detailed introduction to VoIP, by a leading expert from Nigeria, Sunday Folayan, MD of Skannet Nigeria; * Survival strategies for Telcos, ISPs & Cyber Cafes, by Russell Southwood, CEO of Balancing Act, UK. The wide-ranging event programme will be as follows: *Friday * *1 June* *Monday * *4 June* *Tuesday * *5 June* *Wednesday * *6 June* *Thursday * *7 June* *Friday * *8 June* *Morning* Masterclass: Wireless Security Strategies African CDMA Showcase SatWiBB Conference SatWiBB Conference VoIP Forum Workshop: VoIP for Corporate Users *Afternoon* Masterclass: Wireless Cities Workshop: Survival Strategies for Telcos & ISPs EXHIBITION (9am – 6pm) Top-level executives from equipment suppliers, telecom operators and ISPs will share knowledge with delegates as they debate strategy, policies and implementation techniques.** * * *Delegate fees:* SatWiBB Conference $540 CDMA Showcase: Free by invitation Wireless Security Masterclass $350 Wireless Cities Masterclass: $240 VoIP Forum: $450 VoIP for Corporate Users Workshop: $240 Survival Strategies for Telcos & ISPs Workshop: $240 *To register as a delegate, log on to www.aitecafrica.com <http://www.aitecafrica.com/>* I hope you can attend the event and look forward to seeing you there. Sean Moroney Chairman AITEC Africa seanm(a)aitecafrica.com <mailto:seanm@aitecafrica.com> UK Tel: +44-(0)1480-880774 UK Fax: +44-(0)1480-880765 UK Mobile: +44(0)7973-499224 Kenya Mobile: +254(0)721-845674 Nigeria Mobile: +234(0)802--0571766 SA Mobile: +27(0)72-610-7153 Skype: seanmoroney www.aitecafrica.com <http://www.aitecafrica.com/>

5 7

[Fwd: [governance] VeriSign Raises: .com & .net Registry Fees]
by alice 06 Apr '07

06 Apr '07

When VeriSign renegotiated its domain contacts for .com and .net, many feared the company would begin raising rates. It appears as if some of those fears are being realized. The company said later Thursday that it would raise the fees for .com domains to $6.42 from $6, a 7 percent increase, and from $3.50 to $3.85 for .net domains, a 10 percent increase. The changes would take effect on October 15. ... [News Report: http://www.betanews.com/article/VeriSign_Raises_com_net_Registry_Fees/11758… 6 ] -- ____________________________________________________________ You received this message as a subscriber on the list: governance(a)lists.cpsr.org To be removed from the list, send any message to: governance-unsubscribe(a)lists.cpsr.org For all list information and functions, see: http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance

1 0

Autoreply: Re: Tom Friedman
by kfourati＠idrc.ca 06 Apr '07

06 Apr '07

I am currently traveling. I will not have access to emails between the 9th and 15th of april and will have limited access to emails after that. It may take me sometime to reply. I will be back to the office on the 30th. Je suis actuellement en déplacement et je n'aurais pas accès à mon courriel entre le 9 et le 15 avril. je ne pourrais pas consulter mon courriel fréquemment après le 15. Il se peut que je ne puisse pas vous répondre rapidement. Je serais de retour au bureau le 30 avril

1 0

2007 Economic Report on Africa
by Rebecca Wanjiku 05 Apr '07

05 Apr '07

Dear Sir/Madam, I am pleased to forward you an electronic copy of the newhttp://www.uneca.org/era2007/ , along with some updated information. The report was officially launched on 3rd April 2007 at the headquarters of the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia . If you have any questions please contact me. Regards J.Max Bankole Jarrett OIC, Information and Communication Service Office of the Executive Secretary Economic Commission for Africa 00 2511 1 5 516294 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

1 0

of ICANN and acronyms
by Rebecca Wanjiku 05 Apr '07

05 Apr '07

this is for all those who dont speak the foreign language of ICANN and the acronymsread on... Domains Explained, Part 1: Registrants, Registries, Registrars and Resellersby Joey deVilla on Fri 30 Mar 2007 03:49 PM EDT | Permanent Link In Monday's article -- Questions to Ask Before You Pick Your Domain Name Registrar -- Elliot covered a lot of ground in his list of things you should know about when picking a domain name registrar. In this series of articles, I'll expand on what he wrote and explain some of the finer points of domain names that you might not be aware of. Registrants, Registries, Registrars and ResellersThe last question in Elliot's list was Are you a registrar or a reseller? If these terms, along with registry and registrant are unfamiliar to you, read on -- I'm going to explain what each one means. Let me begin with the diagram below. It provides a brief description of each of these terms... RegistrantRegistryRegistrarReseller...and also illustrates the relationships among them. I'll explain each of these terms in greater detail after the diagram: RegistrantThe registrant is the easiest one to explain. The registrant for a domain name is the person or organization who registered and owns the domain name. If you've ever registered a domain name, you're its registrant. RegistryBefore I can talk about registries, I need to talk about top-level domains first. A top-level domain -- often shortened to TLD -- is the last part of any domain name. You're probably familiar with the generic TLDs .com, .org and .net and country code TLDs such as .ca, .de, .eu and .jp. Each top-level domain is managed by an organization called a registry, which is responsible for: Managing the domain names within its assigned top-level domain.Maintaining the WHOIS database for that domain, which stores information on each domain name in the top-level domain, such as the domain's registrant, registrar and expiry date.Maintaining the root servers for that top-level domain, which act as an "address book" for all nameservers responsible for the top-level domain. I'll cover root servers and other parts of the domain name system in a later article.RegistrarIn order to keep the domain name system working and stable, only organizations accredited by ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, one of whose jobs is to manage the assignment of domain names and IP addresses) can register domain names. If you're curious about what sort of process an organization has to go through to become an accredited registrar, ICANN has a page that describes it in detail. There are a few hundred ICANN-accredited registrars worldwide; Tucows is just of them. One way for you to register a domain name is to select one of these registrars, who will electronically make the appropriate arrangements with the registry and activate your domain name. There's another way for you to register a domain name: through a reseller. ResellerIn the previous section, I mentioned that Tucows is a registrar. However, we're a little unusual. We don't directly register domain names on behalf of registrants. Instead, we sell our capability to register domain names to other companies, who then resell this capability to registrants. Hence the name reseller. You're probably wondering why you'd want to go through a reseller rather than a registrar. Two very important reasons are: Most of the time, you don't buy just a domain name by itself. You also buy services that the domain name points to, such as a website, a blog, email mailboxes and so on. A good reseller will often offer package deals or bundles comprising what they feel are the best services, just as a good retail store will carry a selection of what they feel are the best brands.Customer service. By reselling our domain name registration service, a reseller can spend less time worrying about the technical and regulatory issues that registrars face and spend more time on what's really important: their customers.One thing to keep in mind when registering domain names through a reseller: they're bound by the policies of the registrar whose services they resell. Make sure you know which registrar your reseller uses and what their domain name policies are. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL

2 1

Business Daily - Kenya edges into open source software
by Bill Kagai 05 Apr '07

05 Apr '07

Kenyan companies have been slow to warm to open source software – the free software built by boffins who believe the world's software knowledge should be a free resource. http://bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=498&Itemid=27…

1 0

Africa joins thousand voices at ICANN
by Rebecca Wanjiku 05 Apr '07

05 Apr '07

Thousands of Voices Get Direct Say At ICANN 29 March 2007 Internet users from three of ICANN's five global regions will now have direct input to the organization thanks to the creation of three Regional At-Large Organisations (RALOs). Memorandums of Understanding creating RALOs for Africa and Europe were signed today by ICANN and member groups of the RALOs in a special ceremony at ICANN's 28th Public Meeting in Lisbon. The third RALO — Asia-Australia-Pacific — was announced and will be formally signed at the 30th Public Meeting to be held later this year. “This is a fantastic day for Internet users in Africa, in Europe, and in the Asia-Australia-Pacific region. The creation of RALOs gives average Internet users the chance to influence decisions that shape the security and stability of the Internet,” said Dr Paul Twomey, President and CEO of ICANN. The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) of ICANN represents Internet users in ICANN. "ICANN deals with issues that are technical but hugely important to Internet users. At-Large is the place to be if you want to participate — and RALOs provide direct input to us," said Jacqueline Morris, ALAC Chair from Trinidad and Tobago. The first RALO, the Latin America - Caribbean Regional At-Large Organization was created at the 27th ICANN public meeting held in São Paulo in December 2006. Today's announcement means four of ICANN's five global regions have RALOs. The people who RALOs represent are incredibly diverse. For example, groups from Africa taking part in today include a network of journalists based in Tanzania reporting on Internet issues (JUSTA-AFRICA), and Internet Society chapters from countries as diverse as Mali, Benin, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. European user groups participating include Internet Society chapters throughout Eastern and Western Europe, a network of science and Information and Communications Technology professionals in Germany, and academic professionals. More information on the creation of RALOs is available at http://alac.icann.org/applications/ Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/

1 0

spanish IDN update
by Rebecca Wanjiku 05 Apr '07

05 Apr '07

Spanish .ORG IDNs Registrations Available March 3rdFeb 21, 2007 | Inside: IndustryBy PIRPrint | Email As part of its ongoing efforts to improve the Internet and ensure access for users worldwide, Public Interest Registry (PIR), the .ORG registry, will make available Spanish Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) on 03 March 2007. The Domain Name System originally was limited largely to the characters used in English and the ASCII character set. Technical standards will now enable the registration of Spanish IDNs that use specific characters (e.g., á, é, í, ñ, ó). These characters are created using Punycode, a simple and efficient way to translate non-ASCII characters into a string of characters allowed in host name labels (ASCII letters, digits and hyphens) and back again. Spanish .ORG IDN registrations will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Spanish IDNs registered during the first 30 days of operation—specifically between 19:00 UTC, 03 March 2007 and 19:00 UTC, 02 April 2007—will be placed on Server Delete Prohibited, Server Transfer Prohibited, Server Update Prohibited, Server Renew Prohibited and Server Hold. These statuses will remain in effect until 02 May 2007 to allow intellectual property interests to file dispute resolution actions, if warranted. “With more than 100 million Spanish-speaking Internet users in Latin America, enabling IDNs in Spanish will bring .ORG and the power of the Internet to a significant population, especially to the civil sector, that may not have had adequate access before,” says Erick Iriarte Ahon, director of Alfa-Redi and a .ORG Advisory Council member. In addition to Spanish IDNs, PIR allows IDN registrations in several other scripts, including Danish, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Korean (Hangul), Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish and Swedish. See PIR’s Web site for more information on IDNs and to see the list of .ORG registrars that offer IDN registration. The latest copy of Public Interest Registry’s (PIR) newsletter, “The World of .ORG” and free subscription form is available online. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/

1 0

Internet Market Study -where is it?
by John Walubengo 04 Apr '07

04 Apr '07

The DG (CCK) promised that the above study that was launched last week would be uploaded on the CCK website (www.cck.go.ke) by yesterday. I have looked hard on their site but I am not seeing it. Could someone share an advanced copy with list? We want to start 'hacking' this report ;-) walu. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Don't pick lemons. See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos. http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html

2 1

[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Fwd: World Bank Approves US$164.5 Million for Connectivity...]
by alice 03 Apr '07

03 Apr '07

fyi... -Steve ----------------------------------- World Bank Approves US$164.5 Million for Connectivity to Make Kenya, Burundi and Madagascar More Competitive Up to 25 countries in East and Southern Africa could benefit from the broader US$424 million Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (RCIP) -------------------------------------- WASHINGTON, D.C., April 2, 2007 ¡ª The World Bank Board of Directors approved on March 29, an International Development Association (IDA) financing package of US$164.5 million for Kenya, Burundi and Madagascar as the first tranche of the US$424 million Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (RCIP) for high-speed connectivity in East and Southern Africa. The region is being held back by the prohibitive costs of international connectivity. Businesses are unable to compete in the global economy; university students suffer because they cannot access the Internet; and Government agencies cannot communicate effectively with each other and their citizens because they are not connected. East and Southern Africa is the only region in the world that is not connected to the global broadband infrastructure and accounts for less than one percent of the world¡¯s international bandwidth capacity. Asa result of this ¡®missing link¡¯, the region relies on satellite connectivity, with costs amongst the highest in the world. One Kenyan call-center entrepreneur told the World Bank Board of Directors the region simply cannot compete. ¡°To put 25 agents on the phone, it will cost us close to US$17,000 a month. Elsewhere, it will only cost US$600-900 a month¡± said Nicholas Nesbitt, CEO of KenCall. ¡°It is absolutely imperative that something be done right now to make bandwidth affordable. Otherwise, we¡¯re going to miss a huge opportunity and people are simply going to say that Africa is not ready for these kinds of jobs, is not ready for business.¡± The Board of Directors responded to the appeal and Governments¡¯ requests for assistance by unanimously endorsing RCIP, which will bring affordable high speed connectivity to as many as 25 countries1 in East and Southern Africa. The US$164.5 million first tranche of funding consists of IDA credits in the amount of US$114.4 million to Kenya and US$30 million to Madagascar, and an IDA grant in the amount of US$20.1 million to Burundi. RCIP is an innovative example of the emphasis on regional integration, which accounts for more than 10% of total World Bank support to Africa. ¡°Improving broadband connectivity will add tremendous public value for Africa. Low cost, high quality communications is essential for economic competitiveness¡± said Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank Group. ¡°Africa is becoming more plugged in - this is very encouraging for the continent. Our partner countries are sending a strong signal to the world that they are open for business and ready to leap into the information age.¡± RCIP financing of terrestrial networks will be a catalyst to attract and maximize private sector investment in telecommunications infrastructure. RCIP complements regional undersea cable initiatives, such as the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) developed by telecommunications operators with support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and other development partners. By the end of the Program, it is expected that all capitals and major cities in East and Southern Africa would be linked to competitively priced high-bandwidth connectivity. This will equip Africa to trade on a level playing field, extend education beyond the classrooms, and accelerate good governance. ### To watch the RCIP video presented to the World Bank Board of Directors, visit www.worldbank.org/rcip/video <http://www.worldbank.org/rcip/video> For information on the Africa Regional Communications Infrastructure Program, visit www.worldbank.org/rcip <http://www.worldbank.org/rcip> For more information on the World Bank in Africa, visit www.worldbank.org/africa <http://www.worldbank.org/africa> Background Information The World Bank Group¡¯s Work on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) The World Bank RCIP initiative to leverage private sector investment in terrestrial networks and the IFC support to the private sector-led EASSy submarine cable are part of a broader joint World Bank/IFC effort to address connectivity issues and promote private sector participation in Africa. For the past decade, the World Bank has focused on partnering with Governments to deepen reforms and improve the investment climate for private sector participation in the telecommunications sector. The World Bank endorses private competition in a level playing field environment, and is currently partnering with 30 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in this area. The IFC is an early financier and investor in Africa-based telecommunications private sector operators who have now become regional leaders. The IFC is currently a direct or indirect financier for private sector telecommunications operators in 25 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and has in the recent years mobilized close to US$1 billion for the sector. These efforts have played a role in creatinga demonstration effect, which, coupled with positive changes in the investment environment, has contributed to changing the perception of investors towards Africa, who are now attempting to replicate this success in other infrastructure and business areas. *** NO LONGER INTERESTED IN RECEIVING THESE UPDATES? *** Please reply to this message with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line to be removed from this distribution list. -- Steve Song <ssong(a)idrc.ca> Manager ICT4D Africa Programs http://www.connectivityafrica.org http://www.idrc.ca/acacia International Development Research Centre Tel. +1 613 236 6163 x2268 Mobile: +1 613 302 8233 Skype: steve_l_song _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

1 0

[Fwd: Re: [governance] ICANN Board Vote Signals Era of Censorship in Domain Names]
by alice 03 Apr '07

03 Apr '07

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [governance] ICANN Board Vote Signals Era of Censorship in Domain Names Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:14:03 -0400 From: Lee McKnight <LMcKnigh(a)syr.edu> Reply-To: governance(a)lists.cpsr.org, "Lee McKnight" <LMcKnigh(a)syr.edu> To: <expression(a)ipjustice.org>, <governance(a)lists.cpsr.org>, <NCUC-DISCUSS(a)LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>, "Milton Mueller" <Mueller(a)syr.edu>, <goldstein_david(a)yahoo.com.au> As to 'what does this decision say ICANN is becoming?' - um, well, it looks and acts like an industry self-regulatory body, right? So, it is an industry regulator. Is anyone shocked? No, didn't think so. Some regulatory decisions are made on technical grounds, others on economic, process, and some yes for reasons of policy, which may reflect more or less community including political input. And affect speech on the Internet, free or otherwise. What is still lacking is an 'Administrative Procedures Act' for the Internet, in partidular to guide ICANN on how it should go about and what it may or may not consider in its decisionmaking, whether for gtld's or anything else. Lee Prof. Lee W. McKnight School of Information Studies Syracuse University +1-315-443-6891office +1-315-278-4392 mobile >>> Mueller(a)syr.edu 4/3/2007 10:59 AM >>> David: I was at the ICANN meeting and have been carefully following the .xxx controversy since the US government intervened in August 2005. Robin is correct that the .xxx rejection is fundamentally about ICANN trying to avoid, or actively discourage, controversial top level domain names. This was evident from the many conversations and comments at the meeting, especially among governments. No one familiar with the facts of this case can deny that there are free expression issues. You also ignore the broader context -- this rejection happened at the same time as a new TLD approval process is being proposed that would openly and explicitly veto any proposals that generate opposition. Take a look at the transcripts of the public forum discussion, in which the Chair of the GNSO admits that objections from the Catholic church would have to be taken seriously if a TLD that mentioned "abortion" was proposed. You speak of "community support." ICM had 77,000 advance registrations, which exceed by a factor of 10-20 the number of hostile comments. That shows that it was viable economically and would be used. Of course there are adult online sites whose interests were threatened by a .xxx, and they opposed it. But any domain name proposal might generate opposition from someone in the world, for some reason. If ICANN turns TLD approval into a popularity contest then it is, de facto, a massive restriction of freedom of expression. Do you need community support to start a newspaper or a web site? You shouldn't need "community support" to be able to speak on the Internet. Whether .xxx would in fact "protect children" or uses a "Western" concept of porn are fankly silly arguments that people grab at to rationalize their opposition. How does it "protect children" to continue the status quo in .com, which is full of easily accessible porn sites, some of it misleadingly labeled? How can any effort to identify and label porn avoid embodying a specific culture? These kids of arguments are simply rationalizations. --MM >>> goldstein_david(a)yahoo.com.au 4/2/2007 10:43 PM >>> Robin, I strongly disagree with your comments Robin. First, one prerequisite is for applicants for a TLD to have community support. There was no community support from the adult/porn industry. ICM claimed there was but never showed it. My contacts in the adult industry cannot find anyone in the industry who has supported the creation of this TLD. The opposition of religious groups should have been inconsequential, but as subscribers to my news will have seen, they're crowing about their input into the rejection. I would have thought the lack of community support was reason enough to not approve the proposed TLD. Second, I have major reservations about the role ICANN may be forced to play in content regulation should problems eventuate with ICM. In addition, the creation of such a TLD should never have got off the ground. It does nothing to protect children unless there is enforced registrations of adult content in this field. It also uses a western concept on what is adult content. You could easily argue that it is all about western, and mostly American, views about protecting children. Further, those voting against the resolution put forward at the meeting only voted against supporting the resolution. They did not necessarily vote in favour of the creation of a .xxx TLD. To call this censorship is plain wrong. Cheers David ____________________________________________________________ You received this message as a subscriber on the list: governance(a)lists.cpsr.org To be removed from the list, send any message to: governance-unsubscribe(a)lists.cpsr.org For all list information and functions, see: http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance ____________________________________________________________ You received this message as a subscriber on the list: governance(a)lists.cpsr.org To be removed from the list, send any message to: governance-unsubscribe(a)lists.cpsr.org For all list information and functions, see: http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance

1 0

Re: [kictanet] .xxx rejected
by alice 03 Apr '07

03 Apr '07

John Walubengo wrote: > Long Live SUSAN CRAWFORD! > > She articulated it exactltly the way I always thought. If > the guys want .XXX give them .XXX and more. Don't get me > wrong - i happen to be the religious type and don't support > porn (adult or otherwise). > > However, i find it a very clever way to 'controlling' porn. > Give them one ID (domain name) so that it becomes > technically easier to 'Block' them off. Technically it is > easier to issue one single command against 'XXX' and the > whole country is 'DENIED' access to XXX (porn) than it is > to try and search millions of domains for porn content in > order to block them (the current solutions against porn). > > In security terms it is known as the 'Honey-Pot' syndrome. > If you want to trap all the flies, create a single point of > attraction (e.g. XXX) and then 'Zap' them right in there. > And this zapping (Blocking) can be done at Country, > District and Local(organisational) Level. So give them > their damn 'XXX', it becomes easier to control porn that > way. > > walu. > > karenb(a)gn.apc.org > --- "A. Wanjira Munyua" <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: > > >> Hi all >> >> Today the ICANN board rejected the .XXX proposal >> The board votes were: >> >> 9 votes against >> 5 votes in favor >> 1 abstention >> >> >> >> Below some excerpts of the discussions from the ICANN >> ALAC list but entire >> discussion can be accessed online. >> >> >> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >> SUSAN CRAWFORD: As a board, we cannot speak as elected >> representatives >> of the global Internet community because we have not >> allowed elections >> for board members. This application does not present any >> difficult >> technical questions, and even if it did, we do not, as a >> group, claim to >> have special technical expertise. ... >> >> >>JOICHI ITO: I vote no against the resolution, and I >> would like to >> comment briefly. I think Peter, Susan and David have >> articulated most of >> the points. I would also like to point out that the >> discussions and >> arguments about how we would end up by default becoming >> entangled in the >> content aspect of this is not sufficient reason for me to >> vote in favor >> of this resolution. It is a reason to look at again, as >> Susan says, the >> whole process of gTLDs but maybe even at a higher level >> the raison >> d'etre and the existence of ICANN and how it should >> progress. >> >> Susan's full statement is worth reading, so I've >> reproduced it below. >> >> --Wendy >> >> SUSAN CRAWFORD: I must dissent from this resolution, >> which is not only >> weak but unprincipled. I'm troubled by the path the board >> has followed >> on this issue since I joined the board in December of >> 2005. I'd like to >> make two points. >> >> First, ICANN only creates problems for itself when it >> acts in an ad hoc >> fashion in response to political pressures. Second, ICANN >> should take >> itself seriously, as a private governanced institution >> with a limited >> mandate and should resist efforts by governments to veto >> what it does. >> >> I'd like to talk about the role of the board. >> >> This decision whether to admit a particular non-confusing >> legal string >> into the root is put before the ICANN board because, >> first, we purport >> to speak on behalf of the global Internet community. And >> second, the >> U.S. Department of Commerce defers to the judgments of >> that community >> when deciding what to tell its contractor to add to the >> authoritative >> root zone file. >> >> As a board, we cannot speak as elected representatives of >> the global >> Internet community because we have not allowed elections >> for board >> members. This application does not present any difficult >> technical >> questions, and even if it did, we do not, as a group, >> claim to have >> special technical expertise. >> >> So this is not a technical stability and security >> question. >> >> It seems to me that the only plausible basis on which the >> board can >> answer the question in the negative -- so could say a >> group of people >> may not operate and use a lawful string of letters as a >> top-level domain >> -- is to say that the people affected by this decision >> have a >> broadly-shared agreement that the admission of this >> string to the root >> would amount to unjustifiable wrongdoing. >> >> Otherwise, in the absence of technical considerations, >> the board has no >> basis for rejecting this application. >> >> Let me explain. >> >> The most fundamental value of the global Internet >> community is that >> people who propose to use the Internet protocols and >> infrastructures for >> otherwise lawful purposes, without threatening the >> operational stability >> or security of the Internet, should be presumed to be >> entitled to do so. >> In a nutshell, everything not prohibited is permitted. >> >> This understanding, this value, has led directly to the >> striking success >> of the Internet around the world. >> >> ICANN's role in gTLD policy development is to seek to >> assess and >> articulate the broadly-shared values of the Internet >> community. We have >> very limited authority. And we can only speak on behalf >> of that >> community. I am personally not aware that any global >> consensus against >> the creation of a triple X domain exists. >> >> In the absence of such a prohibition, and given our >> mandate to create >> TLD competition, we have no authority to block the >> addition of this TLD >> to the root. It is very clear that we do not have a >> global shared set of >> values about content on-line, save for the global norm >> against child >> pornography. But the global Internet community clearly >> does share the >> core value that no centralized authority should set >> itself up as the >> arbiter of what people may do together on line, absent a >> demonstration >> that most of those affected by the proposed activity >> agree that it >> should be banned. >> >> I'd like to speak about the process of this application. >> >> More than three years ago, before I joined the board, >> ICANN began a >> process for new sponsored top-level domains. As I've said >> on many >> occasions, I think the idea of sponsorship is an empty >> one. All generic >> TLDs should be considered sponsored, in that they should >> be able to >> create policies for themselves that are not dictated by >> ICANN. The only >> exceptions to this freedom for every TLD should be, of >> course, the very >> few global consensus policies that are created through >> the ICANN forum. >> This freedom is shared by the country code TLDs. >> >> Notwithstanding my personal views on the vacuity of the >> sponsorship >> idea, the fact is that ICANN evaluated the strength of >> the sponsorship >> of triple X, the relationship between the applicant and >> the community >> behind the TLD, and, in my personal view, concluded that >> this criteria >> had been met as of June 2005. ICANN then went on to >> negotiate specific >> contractual terms with the applicant. >> >> Since then, real and AstroTurf comments -- that's an >> Americanism meaning >> filed comments claiming to be grass-roots opposition that >> have actually >> been generated by organized campaigns -- have come into >> ICANN that >> reflect opposition to this application. >> >> I do not find these recent comments sufficient to warrant >> revisiting the >> question of the sponsorship strength of this TLD, which I >> personally >> believe to be closed. >> >> No applicant for any sponsored TLD could ever demonstrate >> unanimous, >> cheering approval for its application. We have no metric >> against which >> >> > === message truncated === > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. > Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta. > http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/features_spam.html > >

1 0

[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Ex-Africa One Honcho bringing Optical Fibre to East Africa in another project]
by alice 02 Apr '07

02 Apr '07

from Brian Longwe: Fibre for Africa mailing list: Interesting to note that the former top gun at Africa One - the failed "fibre necklace for Africa" - is spearheading this initiative. One more piece of evidence that Africa holds the key to the future of the global telecoms business. OUTSIDER EAST COAST FIBRE PROJECT COMES IN FROM THE COLD – SEACOM GOES PUBLIC (From Russell Southwood's Balancing Act) There are four projects to build an international fibre cable to connect the east coast of Africa. There’s EASSy, the Kenyan Government’s TEAMS, Flag Telecom…and the fourth project? Sithe’s SEACOM has been working quietly on the fringes to put together a privately funded “carriers’ carrier” project. News has been filtering out about it but Sithe’s Brian Herlihy made his first public presentation of the project at a United Stated Trade Development Agency Africa conference ten days ago in San Francisco. Russell Southwood spoke to him about what SEACOM will be and how it will work. The new cable follows the same route as the EASSy cable down the eastern seaboard but it will either connect internationally directly into Italy or India via VNSL. The latter is important because the total cost of international fibre transit will include any second leg beyond the point where the cable lands. Brian Herlihy is a veteran of Africa One who has learned the lessons of that over-ambitious project. Sithe is owned by venture capital company Blackstone but is raising private equity to complete the cable which will be called SEACOM. It wants to become a carriers’ carrier for what it sees as an “underserved” market. Thus far, it has raised money from the following sources: American funding from an African infrastructure fund, an Africa and Middle East Fund based in Europe and two private equity groups in Africa. At the conference presentation, Herlihy told delegates that “50% of the shareholders are African.” In order to act as a “carriers’ carrier”, it will outsource day-to- day operations and is currently in discussions with an internationally reputable carrier. It will either invest in terrestrial backhaul directly or buy it from others. It has excess funding targeted at inland backhaul. It is talking to ISPs and carriers about Capacity Purchase Agreements. In effect, it is selling IRUs where the purchaser will put 5% of the price down by an agreed date and make the final 95% contribution at the start of operations. One of the current obstacles the project has overcome is that the South African Government will not allow it to land the cable in that country itself. Therefore it will make a commercial agreement with an existing carrier (Neotel) and transfer the operation of the landing station to it. Under the ECA Act, it will make sure that the fibre offers open and fair access to all operators and allows co-location of other POPs. By contrast, in Tanzania it will obtain its own licence and build its own landing station and a large co-location centre and put a large ICT park alongside if it proves to be feasible. It will follow the same licensing and operating route in Kenya and also build a co- location centre there. It is currently talking to the Kenyan utility companies about obtaining terrestrial backhaul. A factor that will affect all four East African fibre projects is the tightening market for optic fibre cable and build capacity. Having been in the doldrums for a number of years, the two main international submarine cable-laying companies are believed to be both short of fibre optic cable and ships over the next three years. There are now a large number of new fibre projects, particularly in the Pacific. EASSy has chosen Alcatel Lucent as its contractor and we understand that it also bid for the TEAMS project. The Kenyan Government chose Tyco as its contractor. Neither Flag nor SEACOM has appointed contractors although Herlihy says it will do so this month (April 2007). On pricing, Herlihy told delegates”We have lowered expected pricing twice to unlock pent-up demand.” He said that the company would act as a wholesaler and that it expected that a reseller market would develop for bandwidth in much the same way as already operated in the satellite market. On pricing, he was coy about starting prices but expected prices to drop to US$91 per mbps per month in ten years time. He noted that the price of bandwidth was “killing more business cases (in Africa) than other factor”. Asked whether his company would be interested in building a competitive alternative to SAT3, he replied that there was already interest in Guinea (where it was involved in an aluminium smelting project) and several groups had already approached it. It is interesting to note that the countries with more competitive markets like Kenya and Tanzania are attracting new operator interest, whilst South Africa is not really open for business in quite the same way. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

1 0

general internet news - 2 April
by Rebecca Wanjiku 02 Apr '07

02 Apr '07

cut and paste the links........ *************** DIGITAL DIVIDE *************** in: Wi-fi buses drive rural web use Buses equipped with wi-fi are being used to deliver web content to remote rural villages in the developing world. In rural India and parts of Rwanda, Cambodia and Paraguay, the vehicles offer web content to computers with no internet connection. The buses and a fleet of motorcycles update their pages in cities before visiting the hard-to-reach communities. As well as offering popular pages, the United Villages project also allows users to request specific information. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6506193.stm *************** RESEARCH PAPERS *************** Life online: The Web in 2020: A study by the Social Issues Research Centre The Life online report, looking as it does toward a vision of the Web in the year 2020, aims to provide an outline and analysis not only of projected technological developments but also their social, political and economic implications. What will the Web look like in 2020? What will it do? Where will it be? How will we use it? SIRC’s starting point has been the notion that the Web in 2020 will meet human needs more fully than it does at present, with many resulting social and political implications. It will have come to provide a renewed forum for social cohesion and democracy as well as continuing as a platform for information, entertainment, communication, shopping, etc. But will it, as some predict, provide a digital alternative to ‘real life’, with the distinction between Human and machine becoming ever-more blurred? Or will it, as we believe, be not so indistinguishable from the Web we know today. http://sirc.org/publik/web2020.shtml http://sirc.org/publik/web2020.pdf *********** CENSORSHIP *********** China bans mucky text messages Chinese police are warning mobile users to think again before sending pornographic pictures or text messages from their phones. Anyone caught sending explicit messages could face a fine of 3,000 yuan ($388) and up to two weeks in prison. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/29/china_bans_mucky_messages/ Viet Nam: Internet activist priest imprisoned Father Nguyen Van Ly, a 60-year-old Catholic priest who helped set up an internet petition calling for democratic change, was today sentenced to eight years imprisonment for "conducting propaganda" against the state. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA410032007 ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ au: Your sons and daughters 'at same risk' from online predators Parents are being warned their sons are just as likely to be targeted by internet predators as their daughters, with a survey revealing boys are less hesitant to reveal personal information online. The survey was conducted by Australian federal government body NetAlert and ninemsn. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10432101 http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21476332-662,00.html au: Parents warned to watch boys while online Parents are being warned their sons are just as likely to be targeted by internet predators as their daughters, with a new survey revealing boys are less hesitant to reveal personal information online. http://stuff.co.nz/4011368a19716.html au: Girls beat boys at Internet safety (news release) Two independent surveys recently conducted by ninemsn and NetAlert have found that girls are more responsible online than boys. The results of the online surveys, undertaken by parents and children separately, also show that while parents say they know what their children are up to when online; the kids are telling a different story. http://netalert.net.au/03857-Girls-beat-boys-at-Internet-safety.asp Swedish queen urges more action to fight child porn Japan's law enforcement bodies must collaborate with the private sector, including Internet service providers, to combat the sexual exploitation of children online, Queen Silvia of Sweden told a Thursday symposium in Tokyo against child pornography. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070330a8.html us: A shameful surrender to pornographers Another federal judge has struck down the Child Online Protection Act. Had it taken effect, the 1998 law would have done one simple thing: require Internet pornographers to verify the age of customers through the use of adult-access codes or credit cards. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0402/p09s01-coop.html ie: Increase in reports of child porn on Internet A report from the Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland has indicated an increase in the number of reports of illegal child pornography found on the internet. The association operates an online service to which 2,677 complaints were made last year. http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0329/porn.html http://www.electricnews.net/frontpage/news-10019402.html uk: Police probe ‘web torture’ at top school One of Britain’s top independent schools is under police investigation over allegations of pupil bullying involving the use of internet images of torture, murder and child pornography. Officers are examining computers taken from the school, in southeast England, for any evidence of such extreme websites being viewed. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/education/article1596698.ece *************************************** CYBERCRIME, CYBERSECURITY AND PRIVACY *************************************** us: Adult site's legal battle could aid Web hosting services A federal appeals court ruling in a case involving an adult publisher appears to have delivered broader legal protections for online service providers against lawsuits claiming privacy violations and other illicit behavior by their users. http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6172184.html ca: The Clinton Ad and Fair Dealing by Michael Geist The hot video of the week is the remarkable mash-up of the Apple 1984 advertisement, which in its new incarnation stars Hillary Clinton and promotes Barack Obama. The video has been viewed more than two million times and received considerable mainstream media news coverage. An Associated Press story caught my attention as it discussed the prospect of Apple suing the creator of the Clinton version. The article concludes that a suit is unlikely, given the strong fair use protection for political speech. That may be true from a U.S. perspective, but would the same analysis apply in Canada? http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/1825/125/ Sports organizations' new event: Guarding online revenue When the Pan American Games start in Brazil in July, thousands of top athletes will run, wrestle and leap, but they will not be able to indulge in one popular daily exercise: blogging. Neither will their physicians, coaches or massage therapists, in a blanket ban affecting some 7,000 people during two weeks of competition ending July 29 in Rio de Janeiro. That rule may make some participants wince in virtual pain, but it reflects a spreading trend among international sports institutions to impose vigorous controls over the online use of game information and photographs. http://iht.com/articles/2007/04/01/news/sports.php fr: Briton sacked for writing Paris blog wins tribunal case A British woman sacked for writing a personal blog has won a tribunal against the company that fired her. Catherine Sanderson, 34, was dismissed from her job as a secretary with the Paris branch of British accountancy firm Dixon Wilson last summer after bosses discovered her popular blog. http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,,2046398,00.html Indian Web site defacing on the rise As many as 1,190 Indian websites have been defaced by hackers in the first two months of 2007, reflecting a more than three-fold rise in such crimes compared to the corresponding period of last year. http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/30deface.htm uk: Chatroom users face charges over suicide Dozens of internet users who allegedly goaded a depressed father to hang himself could face criminal charges. Kevin Whitrick, 42, killed himself live on the internet after being incited by chatroom users who initially believed he was play-acting. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2047502,00.html uk: Internet suicide inquest opens The inquest into a man’s apparent suicide, which was broadcast live on the internet, will open today. The body of Kevin Whitrick was found at his home in Telford, Shropshire, on March 21 after a chat room user contacted police to report that the father-of-two had “self-harmed” while online. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article15… us: N.Y., N.J. Hit Internet Gambling Rings New York and New Jersey law enforcement officials busted two Internet bookmaking operations today that allegedly handled more than half a billion dollars in sports wagers over the last 16 months. Authorities said the arrests targeted "traditional mob-run" bookie operations. http://www.internetnews.com/ec-news/article.php/3668526 Betonsports founder arrested in Dominican Republic (Reuters) The founder of the U.K.-based online gambling operation Betonsports.com, Gary Stephen Kaplan, was arrested late Wednesday in the Dominican Republic, a U.S. attorney in Missouri said. http://news.com.com/2100-1030_3-6172352.html us: Who's guarding your data in the cybervault? In a remarkable turnaround, ChoicePoint, the giant data broker excoriated two years ago for its lack of precautions as it went about gathering and selling personal data, has recast itself as a model corporate citizen. California's milestone data-theft disclosure law forced ChoicePoint in February 2005 to reveal that it had sold sensitive information for at least 166,000 people to a Nigerian con artist posing as a debt collector. The Federal Trade Commission hit ChoicePoint with a record $10 million fine and ordered it to set aside $5 million to aid data breach victims. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/infotheft/2007-04-01-cho… ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** kh: Ban on texts during elections Text messaging has been banned in Cambodia this weekend, amid fears of political unrest as the country votes for local government administrators. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article1593741.ece http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6513027.stm WTO Rules Against US Net Gambling Ban The WTO said the U.S. ban on Internet gambling is out of line with international trade policy. This ruling gives hope to Web gambling firms that have been battered by U.S. regulatory and law enforcement activity in recent months. The WTO ruled in favor of the Caribbean nations of Antigua and Barbuda, which had filed a complaint in May of 2004 and had already won preliminary judgment against the U.S., including possible trade sanctions. That ruling said the U.S. had failed to live up to an earlier agreement to open up Internet gambling after it had put adequate regulations in place. http://ecommercetimes.com/story/56626.html http://iht.com/articles/2007/03/30/business/gamble.php http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1175245440129 Grass Roots Planted In Cyberspace John Edwards's Campaign Leads the Field In Political Use of Social Networking Sites: If there's a social networking site that John Edwards is not a part of, we'd like to know what it is, pronto. No one's sure exactly what role these sites -- a.k.a. socnets -- will play in the upcoming election. But whatever it is, Edwards isn't taking any chances. The man's flooding the zone. He's on the big ones: Flickr, YouTube, Facebook, et al., where supporters and well-wishers are sending their best to his wife, Elizabeth. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/29/AR200703290… ***** SPAM ***** Comment and Trackback Spam Pollutes Blogs Blog spammers have found ways to automate inserting their unwanted messages into online conversations, but the few tools available to block them lag woefully behind. http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130297-c,spam/article.html Spam experts at MIT lift curtain on search If there is a solution to search engine spam, no one's going to reveal it, according to experts at the MIT Spam Conference 2007 on Friday. http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6172199.html ***************************** INTERNET & NEW TECHNOLOGY USE ***************************** ICT drives 50% of EU growth, says Commission's annual report on the digital economy Public and private investment in information and communication technology is bearing fruit, finds the Commission's annual progress report on i2010 - the digitally-led strategy for growth and jobs. Technology is fuelling innovation and productivity, and there are signs of fundamental change in markets and user behaviour, as Europe moves towards a knowledge-based economy. http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=… The race to preserve the third space There are few public spaces on the net, says Bill Thompson, and we need lots more of them: Tila Tequila has more than 1.5 million contacts on MySpace and a profile filled with pages of her scantily-clad form draped over chairs, cars and poles. Visit her page and you get some audio bubblegum to entertain you - apparently a track from her eagerly awaited debut album, for the multi-skilled Ms Tequila is a singer as well as a model. Now she has become the latest online celebrity to come into conflict with a social network site. http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6496351.stm IBM helps blind 'see' web video IBM has developed a multimedia browser to make content accessible to vision impaired people http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6507189.stm http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130300-c,browsers/article.html Web news readers have greater attention span: study (Reuters) People who use the Internet to read the news have a greater attention span than print readers, according to a U.S. study that refutes the idea that Web surfers jump around and don't read much. http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKL292443320070331 uk: Web ad spend overtakes newspapers Spending on UK internet advertising surged in 2006, overtaking newspaper ads for the first time, a report says. Online advertising expenditure jumped 41.2% to £2.01bn during the year, the report by the Internet Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6502773.stm It may start as innocent flirtation, but be warned, you too could become a lonely MySpace addict by Peaches Geldof (daughter of Bob!) MySpace is ruining my social life. I have become a serial blogger. It started as a flirtation, something innocent, like a fleeting summer romance. My little sister Pixie was on the computer. As is the custom, I moaned at her to get off (feigning non-existent A-level work I had to do "before it's too late"), then noticed a page full of pictures of her. "Hah! Ego-surfing again, are we?" I cried jubilantly. "No, Peaches, you're the only one who does that," she said. "I'm just uploading some photos on to my MySpace, actually." http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2046136,00.html Brazil to offer free Internet access to Amazon tribes Brazil's government said it will provide free Internet access to native Indian tribes in the Amazon in an effort to help protect the world's biggest rain forest. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/30/1174761713574.html uk: Report predicts new digital divide A report by a British think tank has made several predictions about how we will live in the year 2020. One prediction is by that time, a new 'digital divide' will have opened, between those who use the internet and computers by choice, and those who 'drop out' in a movement to break away from technology. http://www.computeractive.co.uk/computeractive/news/2186784/report-predicts… ************ FILE SHARING ************ Beatles and iTunes talk growing EMI and Apple arrange a media event, prompting speculation that Beatles songs will finally go online. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6516189.stm No Beatles in Apple/EMI deal: source Speculation swirls around Apple and music label EMI's "exciting new digital offering". http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/04/02/1175366120017.html YouTube May Have Met Its Match With friends like News Corp., who needs YouTube? Not NBC Universal, apparently. Ditto for AOL, Microsoft, and a who's who of other Internet giants throwing their weight behind a News Corp.-NBC video-sharing service that could prove to be a potent alternative to Google's YouTube. http://businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2007/tc20070323_690765.htm ********************************* COMMENT, MICROSOFT & DEVELOPMENTS ********************************* uk: I'm yours for £12,000! A wannabe Cambridge University student has joined the weird and wacky items for sale on eBay in a bid to secure the £12,000 he needs to study in the city. ... But while he's got the brains, he lacks funds to make the course a reality and has come up with a novel way to raise the £12,000 fees - selling himself on auction site eBay. http://cambridge-news.co.uk/news/city/2007/03/31/a4a24230-962d-4d98-8d81-e3… Share my life on the internet, 24 hours a day In the era of CCTV, The Truman Show, Big Brother, blogging and YouTube, the only question left is how far can you go. Now we have the answer. Justin Kan has strapped a camera to the side of his head and invited the world to log on and share his entire life, 24/7. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2047486,00.html Google Fools: Web Service Through Toilet Presiding over a company with a market value of $143 billion apparently gives Silicon Valley's most famous billionaires a good sense of humour _ and a case of corporate potty mouth. Senior executives at Google Inc. launched their annual April Fools' Day prank Sunday, posting a link on the company's home page to a site offering consumers free high-speed wireless Internet through their home plumbing systems. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/04/02/1175366111024.html http://www.ioltechnology.co.za/article_page.php?iSectionId=2883&iArticleId=… http://businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8O869EG0.htm Is Google Too Powerful? As the Web giant tears through media, software, and telecom, rivals fear its growing influence. Now they're fighting back: It's the year 2014, and Googlezon, a fearsomely powerful combination of search engine Google and online store Amazon.com, has crushed traditional media to bits. Taking its place is the computer-generated Evolving Personalized Information Construct—an online package of news, entertainment, blogs, and services drawn from all the world's up-to-the-minute knowledge and customized to match your preferences. And it's all collected, packaged, and controlled by Googlezon. http://businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_15/b4029001.htm ******************* TELECOMMUNICATIONS ******************* eu: Telecommunications Competition Must Increase -Report Competition among Europe's telecommunications operators must increase in order for the sector to prosper, the European Commission said Thursday in its annual report on the state of the European telecom market. http://nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20070329%5cACQDJON200703… Telecoms in the developing world: At your service The idea of “universal service” is being extended from voice to broadband: The rapid growth of India's telecoms industry is visible not just in the subscriber numbers—over 6m Indians now sign up for a mobile phone every month—but in other ways, too. This week the government was to have announced the winners of an auction of the rights to create and run networks in remote rural areas. Around the world, such networks are often subsidised by a “universal service fund” (USF) paid for by taxes on existing telecoms services. Auctions are held, and the network operators that demand the smallest subsidies win. They must then provide a certain number of public payphones, as well as signing up subscribers. http://economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8931851 Bush and Clinton cameo at wireless show Former U.S. Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton on Thursday told wireless executives at an industry event here how important their work is in shaping democracies and economies around the world. http://www.zdnetindia.com/news/communication/stories/173662.html ***** VoIP ***** uk: Net phone service rules announced Net phone service providers must be upfront about limitations of their services, regulator Ofcom says. It said suppliers in the fast-growing Voice over IP (VoIP) sector must explain when selling services whether they include emergency services access. Providers, including Skype, must also spell out other limits, including where directory listings are unavailable. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6507587.stm http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/29/ofcom_voip/ http://out-law.com/page-7917 http://publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&s… nl: Dutch consumer VoIP market reaches 1.8 mln subscribers The number of VoIP subscriptions sold in the Dutch consumer market segment reached almost 1.8 million at the end of 2006, giving digital telephony a market share of almost 30 percent, according to the latest research from Telecompaper. http://telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?id=162996 VoIP and the Emerging-Market Call Center Many call centers in emerging markets are making the migration from legacy voice and data communications to VoIP platforms as a means of obtaining a much wider range of features that can increase productivity, reduce costs and lead to more efficient and effective management. http://ecommercetimes.com/story/56575.html us: Study reveals need for apt VoIP tools Despite widespread adoption of VoIP in businesses across the United States, a study released by Network Instruments found that network engineers often lack the appropriate tools to manage and troubleshoot VoIP performance problems. According to the study, nearly half of the organizations surveyed have implemented the technology, and 32 percent of these organizations lacked the ability to monitor VoIP performance. http://www.eetasia.com/ART_8800458761_499488_8f4091b520070329_no.HTM ____________________________________________________________________________________ It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/

1 0

Forget ICT Bill. The law is there....
by Alex Gakuru 02 Apr '07

02 Apr '07

<snip> Long awaited ICT bill is already law calming sector anxieties and disquiet over threateningly envisaged sluggish legislative processes is a special issue of the Kenya Gazette notice number 2431, of The Kenya COmmunications Act (No.2 of 1998), dated 31 March 2006 in a move that caught industry players, lobbyists and consumers alike by surprise. Using the Ministers discretionary authority provided for by sections 5(4) (a) of law, Mutahi Kagwe-minister for Information and Communications, effectively fast tracked legislation of hitherto the Kenya Information and Communications Bill-2006 by publishing the changes as policy guidelines amendment to existing law. Created new-look Communications Commission of Kenya -a converged Regulator for the entire ICT sector, including broadcasting under a new framework regulation framework in the converging and competitive environment, and also to manage a universal service fund established to finance ICTs in rural areas and under-served segments..... <snip> http://ictconsumer.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.

3 3

Re: [kictanet] [AfrISPA.Discuss] Ex-Africa One Honcho bringing Optical Fibre to East Africa in another project
by Eric Osiakwan 02 Apr '07

02 Apr '07

Anders, you have taken the wind out of my sail but to add one more small point to the ensuing argument that Africa has the trump card and we must paly it to the advantage of the larger societal good, extreme profit interest not withstanding. Again the challenge is "Africa cannot afford another of the same mistake". Eric here On 2 Apr 2007, at 13:00, Anders Comstedt wrote: > Hi Brian, > > It is true that the situation is heating up a bit, but "One more > piece of > evidence that Africa holds the key to the future of > the global telecoms business" is perhaps to stretch things a bit to > say the > least. > On the contrary, there is a lot to look out for to ensure that, > whatever the > solution, SSA is not trapped in a SAT-3 look-a-like situation also > on its > Eastern side. None of the proposals on the table are ready to > clearly spell > out how they will ensure a level playing field in the countries > concerned, > in fact several have been asked to say how, not least during the > meeting > Balancing Act refered to. > > The major thing now seems to be landing rights and termination of > international connectivity/traffic as seen from the side of the > respective > cable projects, and equally, access to the landing station and the > international connectivity from all operators in any country on > non-discrimination conditions as this point may be controlled by a > local > dominant player. > > And what about terrestrial backhaul to landlocked countries? There > is not > much of a clear open situation developed there either,or? > > The fact that Africa is still such a thin market will not support > multiple > cables in the near future. There is a distinct first mover > advantage for > anyone capable to handle the combined political and commercial > risk. What is > good is the increased policy maker awareness of the need to have a > more open > situation, and the work by the regulators to find ways to handle the > dilemmas in changing the situation. > > The debate over the various caracteristics of the projects also > raise the > question of not only getting to just any fibre cable connecting to > Rest of > World, but what the conditions really would be to get all the way > to global, > competitive hubs, mainly in Europe. > > The only thing that seems to be eliminated at this very point seems > to be > the argument that "if we do not get a monopoly we will not invest". > That > bogus card seems to have been all to frequently played before in > all kinds > of telecom situations, also in this. > Several players seem to be just wanting to be allowed, not > restricted, to > make the investment, considering of cause also the first mover > advantage. > Also, the number of statements saying that they accept to make > capacity > available on level conditions implies that there is even a > readiness to > accept an "essential facilities" thinking on most of the projects. > Finding > and applying a regulatory regime along those lines will therefore be > difficult to avoid. Many parts are readily available as templates > anyway, > including all the counter arguments for that matter. > > The external stakeholders (also called USERS) can still not sit back > comfortably. > > Anders > > -----Ursprungligt meddelande----- > Från: Discuss-owner(a)afrispa.org [mailto:Discuss-owner@afrispa.org] > För Brian > Longwe > Skickat: den 2 april 2007 09:55 > Till: kicTANet Kenya ICT Action Network -; Discuss(a)afrispa.org; APC - > Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants > Ämne: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Ex-Africa One Honcho bringing Optical Fibre > to East > Africa in another project > > Interesting to note that the former top gun at Africa One - the > failed "fibre necklace for Africa" - is spearheading this initiative. > One more piece of evidence that Africa holds the key to the future of > the global telecoms business. > > > OUTSIDER EAST COAST FIBRE PROJECT COMES IN FROM THE COLD – SEACOM > GOES PUBLIC > (From Russell Southwood's Balancing Act) > There are four projects to build an international fibre cable to > connect the east coast of Africa. There’s EASSy, the Kenyan > Government’s TEAMS, Flag Telecom…and the fourth project? Sithe’s > SEACOM has been working quietly on the fringes to put together a > privately funded “carriers’ carrier” project. News has been filtering > out about it but Sithe’s Brian Herlihy made his first public > presentation of the project at a United Stated Trade Development > Agency Africa conference ten days ago in San Francisco. Russell > Southwood spoke to him about what SEACOM will be and how it will work. > > The new cable follows the same route as the EASSy cable down the > eastern seaboard but it will either connect internationally directly > into Italy or India via VNSL. The latter is important because the > total cost of international fibre transit will include any second leg > beyond the point where the cable lands. > > Brian Herlihy is a veteran of Africa One who has learned the lessons > of that over-ambitious project. Sithe is owned by venture capital > company Blackstone but is raising private equity to complete the > cable which will be called SEACOM. It wants to become a carriers’ > carrier for what it sees as an “underserved” market. > > Thus far, it has raised money from the following sources: American > funding from an African infrastructure fund, an Africa and Middle > East Fund based in Europe and two private equity groups in Africa. At > the conference presentation, Herlihy told delegates that “50% of the > shareholders are African.” > > In order to act as a “carriers’ carrier”, it will outsource day-to- > day operations and is currently in discussions with an > internationally reputable carrier. It will either invest in > terrestrial backhaul directly or buy it from others. It has excess > funding targeted at inland backhaul. > > It is talking to ISPs and carriers about Capacity Purchase > Agreements. In effect, it is selling IRUs where the purchaser will > put 5% of the price down by an agreed date and make the final 95% > contribution at the start of operations. > > One of the current obstacles the project has overcome is that the > South African Government will not allow it to land the cable in that > country itself. Therefore it will make a commercial agreement with an > existing carrier (Neotel) and transfer the operation of the landing > station to it. Under the ECA Act, it will make sure that the fibre > offers open and fair access to all operators and allows co-location > of other POPs. > > By contrast, in Tanzania it will obtain its own licence and build its > own landing station and a large co-location centre and put a large > ICT park alongside if it proves to be feasible. It will follow the > same licensing and operating route in Kenya and also build a co- > location centre there. It is currently talking to the Kenyan utility > companies about obtaining terrestrial backhaul. > > A factor that will affect all four East African fibre projects is the > tightening market for optic fibre cable and build capacity. Having > been in the doldrums for a number of years, the two main > international submarine cable-laying companies are believed to be > both short of fibre optic cable and ships over the next three years. > There are now a large number of new fibre projects, particularly in > the Pacific. EASSy has chosen Alcatel Lucent as its contractor and we > understand that it also bid for the TEAMS project. The Kenyan > Government chose Tyco as its contractor. Neither Flag nor SEACOM has > appointed contractors although Herlihy says it will do so this month > (April 2007). > > On pricing, Herlihy told delegates”We have lowered expected pricing > twice to unlock pent-up demand.” He said that the company would act > as a wholesaler and that it expected that a reseller market would > develop for bandwidth in much the same way as already operated in the > satellite market. On pricing, he was coy about starting prices but > expected prices to drop to US$91 per mbps per month in ten years > time. He noted that the price of bandwidth was “killing more business > cases (in Africa) than other factor”. Asked whether his company would > be interested in building a competitive alternative to SAT3, he > replied that there was already interest in Guinea (where it was > involved in an aluminium smelting project) and several groups had > already approached it. > > It is interesting to note that the countries with more competitive > markets like Kenya and Tanzania are attracting new operator interest, > whilst South Africa is not really open for business in quite the same > way. > > To unsubscribe send a mail to: imailsrv(a)afrispa.org. Type the > following in > the body of your mail (not header): "Unsubscribe discuss" (without > quotes). > This List is operated by ZAnet Internet Services: www.zanet.co.za > on behalf > of www.afrispa.org. For any List Admin queries send mail to > William(a)zanet.co.za > > To unsubscribe send a mail to: imailsrv(a)afrispa.org. Type the > following in > the body of your mail (not header): "Unsubscribe discuss" (without > quotes). > This List is operated by ZAnet Internet Services: www.zanet.co.za > on behalf > of www.afrispa.org. For any List Admin queries send mail to > William(a)zanet.co.za > 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"

1 0

ISP providers cry foul over bandwidth prices
by A. Wanjira Munyua 31 Mar '07

31 Mar '07

A thought-provoking piece here Listers: ISPs in Kenya say their hopes that they would pay significantly lower costs for bandwidth once providers Telkom and Kenya Data Networks unleashed cable, are yet to materialise. They wonder why. The thinking was that once these two providers replaced satellite links with fibre between the two cities of Mombasa and Nairobi, they would see a sizeable cut in prices they pay for their bandwidth. Worth noting is that these networks which KDN and Telkom have built, and which ISPs say have failed to deliver the expected fall in prices, represent a key link in Africas fibre. The two companies are extending theis fibre towards the Ugandan border, where it will link up with the fibre owned by Uganda telecom and MTN Uganda, then run through Uganda to the Rwandan border to link up with MTN Rwandacells fibre. KDN and Telkom Kenya are frontrunners in more than one venture to connect the eastern coast of Africa to international fibre, and no doubt this Mombasa-Nairobi link which Kenyan ISPs are grumbling about will play a pivotal role regardless of which marine cable goes live first. Question: If the KDN and Telkom Kenyas Nairobi-Mombasa fibre has not resulted in the benefits the industry expected, should we be optimistic that once they hook onto international fibre we shall get the 60% or greater falls in prices? Whats to be done to assure the benefits are forthcoming? Wakabi ISP providers cry foul over bandwidth prices By Okuttah Mark, Business Daily, March 29, 2007 Defying predictions of cheap online access, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are yet to experience significant price reductions on bandwidth charges since Telkom Kenya and Kenya Data Networks laid terrestrial optic fibre between Mombasa and Nairobi. Mr Sammy Buruchara, the managing director of ISP NairobiNet, said charges levied by the two operators remain prohibitive, thus hindering their expansion. There is no difference from what they are charging now to what we used to pay for the satellite link, said Mr Buruchara, while referring to the VSAT links which have been used in the absence of cable. For a 2Mbps broadband link from Nairobi to Mombasa, Mr Buruchara said he pays over Sh500,000 (US$7,142.) per month. Kenya has 23 ISPs with an estimated 1.5 million Internet users. Most are in Nairobi and Mombasa. But an official at Telecoms disputed the charge. Mr Patrick Njagi, a data service manager, said a combination of increased competition and the fibre optic cables have reduced broadband prices by almost 40 per cent since last October. The price has drastically reduced, especially in Nairobi because of stiff competition since the licensing of various Public Data Network Operators (PDNOs) by the Communications Commission of Kenya, he said. So far CCK has licensed more than 14 PDNOs to build and operate telecommunication Infrastructure such as fibre optic cables. Advertisements Telkom Kenya has been running since the launch of its Mombasa-Nairobi cable claim that its bandwidth prices have reduced by half. Telkom Kenyas website states that rending a 2Mbps line from Nairobi to Mombasa costs Sh700,000 (US$10,000) per month, exclusive of VAT. The prices are still quite high even if they say they have reduced them, said Mr Buruchara. It is still impossible to do video-conferencing. Who can raise the Sh1.8 million for 10 Mbps per month currently being charged by Telkom Kenya? he asked. But Telkoms Mr Njagi blamed the high Internet connection fee on International prices. Our subsidiary company JamboNet has very little to do with the Internet bandwidth pricing, he said. Those are determined by the international satellite operators.

6 7

Need Alice (to) contact urgently
by Alex Gakuru 31 Mar '07

31 Mar '07

Would Alice kindly call me, or better still, pay me visit at the office 4th Ngong Avenue, Gordon Melvin House. It's a bit urgent.Anyone knows how I could her? This business of consumer freedom fighting sometimes lands one on treasure;-) Regards, Alex fixed lines: 020 -2732311/2 mobiles: 020 - 2013393 (cdma), 0722-739100 (safaricom) --------------------------------- Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta.

1 0

CCK urges more Internet access
by A. Wanjira Munyua 31 Mar '07

31 Mar '07

It is a weird recommendation. Unless they have attempted to put it within the context of universal access in practical terms. I do not see how licensing additional ISPs would necessarily increase internet access/usage/uptake best alice Harry Hare wrote: > "The study recommends licensing of more ISPs to provide Internet > access and switching services." > > - will more isps increase the number of internet users? Not lower costs, > power in rural areas, pc penetration, awareness.... > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/harry%40africanedevelopment.o > rg > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/alice%40apc.org

2 1

CCK urges more Internet access
by A. Wanjira Munyua 31 Mar '07

31 Mar '07

CCK urges more Internet access By James Ratemo and Edith Fortunate The Government has promised to expand Internet infrastructure. Communications Commission of Kenya Director General, Mr John Waweru, says low uptake of the Internet poses the risk of Kenya lagging behind in reaping the benefits from the fast evolving digital economy. Waweru was speaking in Nairobi when he received a CCK-commissioned study that found there are more than 2.7 million Internet users in the country. This figure is in contrast to an earlier International Telecommunications Union's estimate of only 1.5 million. Nairobi Province has the highest concentration, taking over 80 per cent of the Internet users followed by Coast at a paltry 9.4 per cent. A local ICT and management consultancy firm in Nairobi, Netcom Information Systems, Conducted the study Internet Market Study from last October. There are more than 50 Internet service providers (ISPs), 20 public data network operators, six Internet back-bone and gateway operators and over 20 local loop operators. Only about 20 per cent of the users are spread in the small towns, the study says. Releasing the report, Netcom Director, Prof Timothy Mwololo, said the cost of bandwidth and leased-line tariffs had remained high despite liberalisation of the sub-sector. The study recommends licensing of more ISPs to provide Internet access and switching services. _

5 4

Re: [kictanet] 2-Day eHealth Workshop closes with a suprise
by Wainaina Mungai 31 Mar '07

31 Mar '07

> Did you all note that none of the bills that affect the communications > sector were mentioned as priorities for parliamentary discussions. Correction: The ICT Bill was actually mentioned by the President as priority legislation "to provide for a single regulator for the sector." "To enable the Information and Communications Technology sector realize its full potential for employment and wealth creation in Kenya, my Government will table an ICT Bill this year to provide for a single regulator for the sector." Source: http://www.statehousekenya.go.ke/speeches/kibaki/march07/2007200301.htm > -------Original Message------- > From: A. Wanjira Munyua <alice(a)apc.org> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] 2-Day eHealth Workshop closes with a suprise > Sent: 26 Mar '07 19:51 > > Agree we talk a lot, write a lot of papers, develop many policies, form > committees that develop and submit comprehensive recommendations, etc but > never seem to have the drive/will or is it resources to implement. Look at > the IC bill, our impressive E-government strategy and many others. > Did you all note that none of the bills that affect the communications > sector were mentioned as priorities for parliamentary discussions. > well, I am sorry I am not offering any constructive suggestions just > sharing frustration here. > > best > alice > > > > Michuki Mwangi wrote: > > Walu, > > > > John Walubengo wrote: > >> It always beats me:- How comes we are having to learn from > >> Rwanda every now and then and yet we are supposedly the > >> 'big brother'? > >> > > > > Maybe we talk too much? ;) > > > > I first heard of tele-medicine back in 2001 - 2002, its been 5yrs since > > not sure how much has been done as a result of the forums and > > discussions held back then. > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org >

4 3

The Shuttleworth Foundation Newsletter - March 2007
by Rebecca Wanjiku 30 Mar '07

30 Mar '07

| Supporting Social Innovation | The Shuttleworth Foundation Newsletter - March 2007 A MESSAGE FROM THE TEAM This month we bring you the second article in our series of education and technology trends, compiled by the Institute for Futures Research. In this edition we focus on key technology drivers and how they are impacting education in the developing context. We hope you find it as useful and engaging as the last edition. We are in the process of upgrading our website so that it can more effectively convey our new direction. If you have any comments on how the website or this newsletter could be more useful to you - please do not hesitate to email us at: info(a)shuttleworthfoundation.org TECHNOLOGY TRENDS The One Laptop per Child Project Nicholas Negroponte, who launched the project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab two years ago before spinning One Laptop into a separate non-profit organisation, had as the main design motive the goal of stimulating education better than previous computer endeavours have, and with an affordable PC. In November 2006 the first 10 units of the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) XO-1 were hand-assembled to evaluate the system’s many custom components and to perform systems integration testing. The machines are being made by Quanta Computer Inc, and countries will get versions specific to their own languages. Governments or donors will buy the laptops for children to own, along with associated server equipment for their schools. The project has so far received $29m in funding from companies including Google, News Corp and Red Hat. The laptop has been developed to be as low cost, durable and simple to use as possible. The aim is to sell the machine to developing countries for $100 but the current cost of the machine is about $150. By July this year, several million are expected to reach Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, N igeria, Libya, Pakistan, Thailand and Palestine. Three more African countries have expressed interest, and the Inter-American Development Bank is trying to get the laptops to multiple Central American countries. India’s government originally expressed interest but backed out. Even though Brazil plans to take part, it is hedging its bets by evaluating $400 ‘Classmate PCs’ from Intel. To keep costs and power demands low, the XO uses a slim version of the Linux operating system, a 366-megahertz processor and no hard disk drive. Instead it has 512 megabytes of flash memory, plus USB ports where more storage can be attached. It has wireless connectivity, a built-in camera and a colour display that converts to monochrome so it’s easier to see in sunlight. The first children to try out the XO are expected to do so in February, and when they turn on the small green-and-white computers they will be greeted by a basic home screen with a stick-figure icon at the centre, surrounded by a white ring. The entire desktop has a black frame with more icons. The ‘neighbourhood’ (not ‘desktop’) signifies the student at the middle. The ring contains programs the student is running, which can be launched by clicking the appropriate icon in the black frame. When the learner opts to view the entire ‘neighbourhood’, other stick figures in different colours might appear on the screen. Those would indicate schoolmates who are nearby, as detected by the computers’ built-in wireless networking capability. Moving the PC’s cursor over the classmates’ icons will pull up their names or photos. With further clicks the students can chat with each other or collaborate on projects. Negroponte said he deliberately wanted to avoid giving children computers they might someday use in an office. ‘In fact, one of the saddest but most common conditions in elementary school computer labs (when they exist in the developing world), is that children are being trained to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint ... I consider that criminal, because children should be making things, communicating, exploring, sharing, not running office automation tools.’ Folders are not the organizing metaphor on the XO, because folders force users to remember where they stored their information rather than what they used it for. Instead, the XO machines are organized around a ‘journal,’ an automatically generated log of everything the user has done on the laptop. Users can review their journals to see their work and retrieve files created or altered in those sessions. The open - source user interface, nicknamed Sugar, has received mixed reviews. Some have said that even as Sugar avoids complexities inherent in familiar operating systems, it just creates a different set of complexities to be mastered. Wayan Vota, who launched the OLPCNews.com blog to monitor the project’s development because he is sceptical it can achieve its aims, called Sugar ‘amazing, a beautiful redesign.’ Vota is director of Geekcorps, an organization that facilitates technology volunteers in developing countries. One Laptop plans to send a specialist to each school who will stay for a month helping teachers and students get started. But Negroponte believes that children ultimately will learn the system by exploring it and then teaching each other. The OPLC XO-1 will be available to the general public in 2008, but buyers will have to pay for two, with the second going to the developing world. UNHCR ninemillion.org education Campaign for Refugee Children supported by Microsoft The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ninemillion.org. global campaign, launched last year to provide sports and education for 9 million refugee children around the world, has received a boost from Microsoft. The software giant has announced that every Internet search performed at click4thecause. live.com using Microsoft’s Live Search facility will raise $0.01 for the campaign. Microsoft will guarantee a minimum donation of $100 000, with a maximum donation payable by Microsoft of $250 000, equivalent to 25m search queries. Ninemillion.org was launched as a new public and private-sector initiative. Two-thirds of the money raised will be distributed by UNHCR to support education in refugee communities. Wireless Technologies for Developing Countries An examination of emerging wireless technologies for developing countries by Gunasekaran and Harmantiz concludes that the network readiness of such a country indicates the ability of its principal stakeholders (government, citizens, businesses) to leverage the potential of information and communication technology. WiFi and WiMax are not only revolutionizing broadband communications in the developed world but they also offer to developing countries the opportunity to bridge or even ‘leap- frog’ the digital divide that may exist in their communities and to increase the number of people who are connected. A quick adaptation to such next-generation wireless technologies will offer advantages over traditional wired infrastructures, and policymakers should actively seek suitable strategies to promote these vital broadband technologies. The review proposes a strategic wireless framework to address challenges in three different economic sectors of a developing country: the metro economy, which is well-urbanized and integrated with the global economy; the sub-urban economy, which has niche economic or development activities compared to the metro economy; and the rural economy, characterized by informal economic activity and poverty. It is unfortunate that wireless connectivity (with the exception of voice communication) is largely the domain of the formal business sector and the well-off individual in South Africa, and that there appears to be no strategic wireless framework in place for the sub-urban and rural communities in South Africa. Need for Science and Technology Transfer in Africa The executive director of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, Mohamed H. A. Hassan, says that developing countries must build world-class universities to be serious players in the knowledge based global economy. Traditionally, technology has always flowed from developed to developing countries, with the scant resources and expertise in the developing world used to address apparently more immediate concerns, such as increasing agricultural productivity and providing greater access to safe drinking water. But such thinking ignored the fact that many of these challenges could not be met without first building indigenous capacity in science and technology, and for the poorest developing countries, ‘outsourcing’ the development and assessment of technology and innovation has been economically catastrophic, with policies designed to alleviate poverty and to create wealth suffering as a result. Hassan says that developing countries are now changing course and seeking to build their own scientific and technological capabilities, but if technology transfer is to truly benefit those most in need and contribute to making the global economy more equitable, much more effort is required. He calls on universities across the developing world to play a central role in technology transfer. They should provide not only training and research in scientific disciplines, but also in science and technology management. Developing countries must also encourage internal technology transfer, from universities to the private sector, by creating incentives for researchers to apply their knowledge to technological and policy innovation. Strategically, this means changing universities’ culture from institutions that exist apart from their societies to institutions that are integral to them. Tactically, this means creating such mechanisms as technology transfer offices within universities. Increasingly, technology transfer aims to help alleviate poverty, create wealth, improve public health and ensure long-term environmental well-being. Universities have an unprecedented opportunity to participate in this effort. But they can only do so if they engage in fundamental reforms to become, not only superior sources of information, but also unique mechanisms for promoting innovation. Education and Technology in South Africa In South Africa today the majority of learners and schools do not have access to ICT infrastructure. Only 3 in 10 schools (there are 26 000 schools for 12m learners) have access to ICT. Only 1 in 10 schools have access to the Internet, and this is mainly through slow, inefficient and expensive dial-up connections. The department of education has plans, together with the provinces, to place ICTinfrastructure in all schools. The department of education is finalising an implementation plan for the National Teacher Development Framework where all teacher development is addressed, from initial training to continuing professional teacher development. Within this, the department is developing guidelines for teacher development in ICT so that teachers who wish to excel in the use of ICT for teaching and learning will be able to do so. To date the department has trained more than 22 000 teachers to use ICT in education. This has been carried out through partnership agreements with Intel, CompTia and Microsoft. A principal’s guide to implement and use ICT in schools has also been developed and distributed. A quality science and mathematics education at the secondary level with adequate numbers of successful matriculants with good passes in these subjects is one of the prerequisites for a country’s ability to compete in the technologically-driven global economy. The poorest pass marks in South Africa’s 2006 matric exams have been recorded in science and mathematics. According to newspaper reports, South Africa is considering recruiting Zimbabwean science and mathematics teachers to improve pass rates in the two subjects. A number of Zimbabwean teachers had applied for posts as science and mathematics teachers. ‘We don’t have a crisis, but we don’t have many trained maths and science teachers. We anticipate a crisis. If we can’t get enough maths and science teachers, we will look into this pool of Zimbabwean teachers,’ said Education Minister, Naledi Pandor. Critics have however said that South Africa should not exploit the situation in Zimbabwe by taking advantage of its ability to offer higher wages to lure its neighbour’s teachers. According to the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Zimbabwe lost 4 000 teachers to neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia in 2005 alone. The department of education’s Thutong project aims to connect schooling communities with theirteachers through the internet. Thutong is an online education experience-based web portal and means place of learning in SeTswana. Its purpose is to provide learners and educators with information for use in the classroom and ideas for projects, providing students and teachers with printable, quality-assured materials which support the outcomes-based education curriculum. Specifically, the portal provides access to a range of curriculum and learner support materials; professional development programmes for teachers; and administration and management resources for schools. It also provides education policy documents and general information related to the latest developments in the country’s educational system. In total it has 21 000 learning objects for use by teachers and learners. The portal is interactive and is intended to be open to all. Priority is given to disadvantaged and rural schools. Users can download curriculum materials, create their own materials and share them with others, and interact with their peers throughout the country and abroad. Thutong carries news supplied by provincial departments of education, official news providers and organisations involved in the education arena. All educational content contained in the portal has been cross-referenced against the National Curriculum Statement (NCS). The online resources are also designed to facilitate professional and lifelong learning. According to the portal’s organisers, ‘The content is highly relevant to the lives and learning contexts of South African learners, educators, education managers/administrators and parents. The portal aims to expand and become a representative of users’ interests and needs.’ A key partner to the Thutong portal is the Mindset Network, which provides assistance through a satellite-based technology platform that distributes high-quality multimedia educational content. Mindset provides educational materials as well as training in the use of the associated technology. The organisation has installed receiving equipment in more than 1 500 schools and 250 hospitals and clinics. Content is also available in 1.5m homes via satellite broadcast. In December 2006, Mindset Network was chosen from more than 160 nominees as the winner of the 2006 Development Gateway Award on the theme of youth. The award was presented at the International Telecommunications Union Telecom World 2006 in Hong Kong. The partners in the Thutong project include the Department of Education, the South African Institute for Distance Education, Multichoice Africa Foundation, the Gauteng Institute for Education Development, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, SchoolNet South Africa, Mindset, Reusable Objects, SABC Education and M-Web. Educational Developments in the United States The SCALE-UP project at some American universities is an effort to create studio classes that would be large enough to provide an effective, yet affordable alternative to large classes taught via the standard lecture/laboratory format. The Student-Centered Activities for Large Enrollment Undergraduate Programs (SCALE-UP) Project establishes a highly collaborative, hands-on, computer-rich, interactive learning environment. Research indicates that students should collaborate on interesting tasks and be deeply involved with the material they are studying. SCALE-UP promotes active learning in a redesigned studio- style classroom of 100 students or more. Class time is spent primarily on hands-on activities, simulations, and interesting questions as well as hypothesis-driven labs. Students sit in three groups of three students at a number of round tables. Instructors circulate and work with teams and individuals, engaging them in Socratic-like dialogues. Rigorous evaluations of SCALE-UP find that ability to solve problems is improved, conceptual understanding is increased, attitudes are improved, failure rates are drastically reduced (especially for women and minorities), and performance in following (physics and engineering) classes is positively impacted. For the past 10 years, the Loudoun County (Virginia, US) public school system has been a leader in introducing the latest technology into classrooms. One advanced-technology tool that Loudoun uses is the SMART Board, a touch-screen white board that eliminates the traditional chalk and erasers associated with teaching. A teacher writes on the screen with a finger, and whatever is written is stored electronically. Students can retrieve the information later by visiting the teacher’s Web site. Betty Korte, a maths teacher, said the technology has made it easier to teach her grade 9 and 10 students. ‘In maths, where a lot of abstract concepts need to be understood, I can use a lot of the features to make it more real for the kids,’ Korte said. ‘I’ve been able to see the difference in their ability to understand these concepts before and after using the tool. In my mind, there’s just no comparison.’ Loudoun has equipped each of its 45 schools with one or two SMART Boards and aims to have a SMART Board in every classroom by 2010. Loudon offers online courses through a partnership with George Mason University. Students who can’t complete classes because of long-term illness or scheduling problems, may register for online classes. The classes are self-taught and teachers answer questions via e-mail. The pass rate for online courses has been exceptionally high and students have given the service high marks. Loudoun believes the next big thing will be wireless connectivity at its schools. Education Trends is compiled by the Institute for Futures Research. P.O.Box 4163, Durbanville 7551, South Africa Tel + 27 21 970 1200 • Fax + 27 21 970 1201 www.shuttleworthfoundation.org • info(a)shuttleworthfoundation.org Please contact worth-e(a)shuttleworthfoundation.org to be added to or removed from this mailing list, or visit our website. This newsletter is constructed and managed with Ubuntu Media's E-Bean publishing system ____________________________________________________________________________________ Don't get soaked. Take a quick peek at the forecast with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather

1 0

The Real Problem with dot-XXX
by Alex Gakuru 30 Mar '07

30 Mar '07

Absent Kenya Information and Communications Law, I am trying to relate below with a known appetite for the "pictures" and trust me, when the international fibre connects at Mombasa, they will flow in Gigabytes starting with coast tourist guest houses. I totally agree with Walu and Muriuki Mureithi advocating passage of the Bill as "terribly" urgent! A radical parent recently suggested that when you find the kids watching porn in the sitting room, just sit next to them and watch the whole show , that way they will think thrice before "borrowing" or downloading that next video. Porn "content" risks filling every PC early next year after the connect. [CircleID] Shakespeare has Marcellus say in Act 1 of Hamlet, Somethings rotten in the state of Denmark. Meredith Wilson, in the Music Man, sings, Well, ya got trouble, my friend, right here, I say trouble right here in River City. Dick Darman, patron saint of Internet funding in the second Reagan Administration, said, If it looks like a duck, if it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, then its a duck. Milton Mueller, in his recent post to this site, would have us believe that since ICANNs Board long ago agreed that ICMs application for dot-xxx registry satisfied its own criteria for a sponsored TLD, then the only explanation for all the delay is, Im beginning to think that ICANNs approach to TLD approval was cooked up by a demented sergeant from Abu Ghraib. Milton goes on to assert that ICMs claim on dot-xxx is protected by the 1st Amendment. If this is so, then why after more than six years of discussion, is dot-xxx still raising such a fuss? Now, its certainly true that the porn industry, which definitely includes ICM, since it says it represents a consensus chunk of that business, has notoriously deep pockets for almost anything it fancies, from leading edge technology, to high priced lawyers, to expensive and well placed lobbyists. But if this was a money issue, ICANN would have been bought, or not bought, by now and the fuss would be over. No, theres something more fundamental at stake. There are limits to the First Amendment. The report of the U.S. Congressional Research Service [PDF] puts it this way: "The First Amendment provides: Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. In general, the First Amendment protects pornography, with this term being used to mean any erotic material. The Supreme Court, however, has held that the First Amendment does not protect two types of pornography: obscenity and child pornography." Herein lies the quandary. As a long list of indictments and successful prosecutions attest, Web-based pornography frequently slides into criminality. Not only that, but the freedom and openness of the net have established new frontiers in predatory behavior across state and national lines, to the point that in the US, it takes a joint federal-state task force of lawyers, net experts, FBI agents and local police to try to keep up with the illegal behavior of a pathological fringe. So what we have, stripped down to essentials, is a moral contest. On the one side are the free expression advocates, such as Milton, who see the greater good in the avoidance of any form of censorship, accompanied by a laissez faire economic conviction that markets will solve most any problem in sight. On the other side are those who wonder how ICANN could have gotten itself entangled in a tawdry business that not infrequently preys on innocent youngsters and enjoys a lot of profit at the same time. How could any amount of rational sounding registry approval process be used as insulation from the downright evil acts which seek cover under the First Amendment? Six years ago, ICANNs Initial Board told the pornographers to go away, they werent in the business of finding a correct moral position in an ocean of sex. Pornography is the single most profitable application on the Internet, and it hardly needs its own registry to enhance consumer choice or expand its profit horizons. Is the current ICANN Board going to hide behind process, or is it going to fulfill its own pledge of transparency and take sides on the morality of dot-xxx? <http://www.circleid.com/posts/real_problem_with_dot_xxx/> ---- If it costs up to shs 750,000/= to connect firms Nairobi-Mombasa branches for a video conference via already laid fibre, will international bandwidth be any cheaper even after Fujaira-Mombasa cable completion? Could we just be re-creating yesterdays equivalent of City Hall water network and billing systems - they owned the pipes so they could charge whatever they wanted, for whatever did or did not flow in "their pipes", at times chalk was good enough for chroline to Nairobians consuming the water and put all their faith in prayer! "Open access" remains the only way to ensure equitable access for everyone! ---- --------------------------------- Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users.

1 0

.xxx rejected
by A. Wanjira Munyua 29 Mar '07

29 Mar '07

Hi all Today the ICANN board rejected the .XXX proposal The board votes were: 9 votes against 5 votes in favor 1 abstention Below some excerpts of the discussions from the ICANN ALAC list but entire discussion can be accessed online. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SUSAN CRAWFORD: As a board, we cannot speak as elected representatives of the global Internet community because we have not allowed elections for board members. This application does not present any difficult technical questions, and even if it did, we do not, as a group, claim to have special technical expertise. ... >>JOICHI ITO: I vote no against the resolution, and I would like to comment briefly. I think Peter, Susan and David have articulated most of the points. I would also like to point out that the discussions and arguments about how we would end up by default becoming entangled in the content aspect of this is not sufficient reason for me to vote in favor of this resolution. It is a reason to look at again, as Susan says, the whole process of gTLDs but maybe even at a higher level the raison d'etre and the existence of ICANN and how it should progress. Susan's full statement is worth reading, so I've reproduced it below. --Wendy SUSAN CRAWFORD: I must dissent from this resolution, which is not only weak but unprincipled. I'm troubled by the path the board has followed on this issue since I joined the board in December of 2005. I'd like to make two points. First, ICANN only creates problems for itself when it acts in an ad hoc fashion in response to political pressures. Second, ICANN should take itself seriously, as a private governanced institution with a limited mandate and should resist efforts by governments to veto what it does. I'd like to talk about the role of the board. This decision whether to admit a particular non-confusing legal string into the root is put before the ICANN board because, first, we purport to speak on behalf of the global Internet community. And second, the U.S. Department of Commerce defers to the judgments of that community when deciding what to tell its contractor to add to the authoritative root zone file. As a board, we cannot speak as elected representatives of the global Internet community because we have not allowed elections for board members. This application does not present any difficult technical questions, and even if it did, we do not, as a group, claim to have special technical expertise. So this is not a technical stability and security question. It seems to me that the only plausible basis on which the board can answer the question in the negative -- so could say a group of people may not operate and use a lawful string of letters as a top-level domain -- is to say that the people affected by this decision have a broadly-shared agreement that the admission of this string to the root would amount to unjustifiable wrongdoing. Otherwise, in the absence of technical considerations, the board has no basis for rejecting this application. Let me explain. The most fundamental value of the global Internet community is that people who propose to use the Internet protocols and infrastructures for otherwise lawful purposes, without threatening the operational stability or security of the Internet, should be presumed to be entitled to do so. In a nutshell, everything not prohibited is permitted. This understanding, this value, has led directly to the striking success of the Internet around the world. ICANN's role in gTLD policy development is to seek to assess and articulate the broadly-shared values of the Internet community. We have very limited authority. And we can only speak on behalf of that community. I am personally not aware that any global consensus against the creation of a triple X domain exists. In the absence of such a prohibition, and given our mandate to create TLD competition, we have no authority to block the addition of this TLD to the root. It is very clear that we do not have a global shared set of values about content on-line, save for the global norm against child pornography. But the global Internet community clearly does share the core value that no centralized authority should set itself up as the arbiter of what people may do together on line, absent a demonstration that most of those affected by the proposed activity agree that it should be banned. I'd like to speak about the process of this application. More than three years ago, before I joined the board, ICANN began a process for new sponsored top-level domains. As I've said on many occasions, I think the idea of sponsorship is an empty one. All generic TLDs should be considered sponsored, in that they should be able to create policies for themselves that are not dictated by ICANN. The only exceptions to this freedom for every TLD should be, of course, the very few global consensus policies that are created through the ICANN forum. This freedom is shared by the country code TLDs. Notwithstanding my personal views on the vacuity of the sponsorship idea, the fact is that ICANN evaluated the strength of the sponsorship of triple X, the relationship between the applicant and the community behind the TLD, and, in my personal view, concluded that this criteria had been met as of June 2005. ICANN then went on to negotiate specific contractual terms with the applicant. Since then, real and AstroTurf comments -- that's an Americanism meaning filed comments claiming to be grass-roots opposition that have actually been generated by organized campaigns -- have come into ICANN that reflect opposition to this application. I do not find these recent comments sufficient to warrant revisiting the question of the sponsorship strength of this TLD, which I personally believe to be closed. No applicant for any sponsored TLD could ever demonstrate unanimous, cheering approval for its application. We have no metric against which to measure this opposition. We have no idea how significant it is. We should not be in the business of judging the level of market or community support for a new TLD before the fact. We will only get in the way of useful innovation if we take the view that every new TLD must prove itself to us before it can be added to the root. It seems to me that what is meant by sponsorship -- a notion that I hope we abandon in the next round -- is to show that there is enough interest in a particular TLD that it will be viable. We also have the idea that registrants should participate in and be bound by the creation of policies for a particular string. Both of these requirements have been met by this applicant. There is clearly enough interest, including more than 70,000 preregistrations from a thousand or more unique registrants who are members of the adult industry, and the applicant has undertaken to us that it will require adherence to its self-regulatory policies by all of its registrants. To the extent some of my colleagues on the board believe that ICANN should be in the business of deciding whether a particular TLD makes a valuable contribution to the namespace, I differ with them. I do not think ICANN is capable of making such a determination. Indeed, this argument is very much like those made by the pre-divestiture AT&T in America, when it claimed that no foreign attachments to its network -- like answering machines -- should be allowed. In part, because AT&T asserted at the time that there was no public demand for them. The rise of the Internet was arguably made possible by allowing many foreign attachments to the Internet called modems. We established a process for sTLDs some time ago. We have taken this applicant through this process. We now appear to be changing the process. We should not act in this fashion. I would like to spend a couple of moments talking about the politics of this situation. Many of my fellow board members are undoubtedly uncomfortable with the subject of adult entertainment material. Discomfort with this application may have been sparked anew by first the letter from individual GAC members Janis Karklins and Sharil Tarmizi, to which Ambassador Karklins has told us the GAC exceeded as a whole by its silence, and, second, the letter from the Australian government. But the entire point of ICANN'S creation was to avoid the operation of chokepoint content control over the domain name system by individual or collective governments. The idea was that the U.S. would serve as a good steward for other governmental concerns by staying in the background and overseeing ICANN's activities, but not engaging in content-related control. Australia's letter and concerns expressed in the past by Brazil and other countries about triple X are explicitly content based and, thus, inappropriate in my view. If after creation of a triple X TLD certain governments of the world want to ensure that their citizens do not see triple X content, it is within their prerogative as sovereigns to instruct Internet access providers physically located within their territory to block such content. Also, if certain governments want to ensure that all adult content providers with a physical presence in their country register exclusively within triple X, that is their prerogative as well. I note as a side point that such a requirement in the U.S. would violate the first amendment to our Constitution. But this content-related censorship should not be ICANN's concern and ICANN should not allow itself to be used as a private lever for government chokepoint content control. >>VINT CERF: Susan -- >>SUSAN CRAWFORD: I am almost done. >>VINT CERF: No, no, no. I was asking you to slow down. The scribes are not able to keep up with you. I think you want this to be on the record. >>SUSAN CRAWFORD: I do, and I will give it to them also in typed form. ICANN should not allow itself to be used as a private lever for government chokepoint content control by making up reasons to avoid the creation of such a TLD in the first place. To the extent there are public policy concerns with this TLD, they can be dealt with through local laws. Registration in or visitation of domains in this TLD is purely voluntary. If ICANN were to base its decisions on the views of the Australian or U.S. or Brazilian government, ICANN would have compromised away its very reason for existence as a private non-governmental governance institution. So in conclusion, I continue to be dissatisfied with elements of the proposed triple X contract, including but not limited to the rapid take-down provision of Appendix S, which is manifestly designed to placate trademark owners and ignores the many of the due process concerns that have been expressed about the existing UDRP. I am confident that if I had a staff or enough time, I could find many things to carp about in this draft contract. I'm equally certain if I complained about these terms, my concerns would be used to justify derailing this application for political reasons. I plan, therefore, as my colleague Peter Dengate Thrush has said, to turn my attention to the new gTLD process that was promised for January 2007, a promise that has not been kept, in hopes that we will some day have a standard contract and objective process that can help ICANN avoid engaging in unjustifiable ad hoc actions. We should be examining generic TLD applicants on the basis of their technical and financial strength. We should avoid dealing with content concerns to the maximum extent possible. We should be opening up new TLDs. I hope we will find a way to achieve such a sound process in short order. Thank you. [ applause ]

1 0

{Disarmed} FW: [www.eThinkTankTz.org] FW: Needed: Experts for Harmonization of the EA Communications Regulatory Regime (COMESA/RICTSP/EAC)
by Harry Hare 29 Mar '07

29 Mar '07

Apologies for cross posting. Harry _____ From: eThinkTankTz(a)yahoogroups.com [mailto:eThinkTankTz@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Simbo N Ntiro Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 9:01 AM To: aisi-l(a)lyris.bellanet.org; tzgateway(a)yahoogroups.com; ethinktanktz(a)yahoogroups.com Subject: [www.eThinkTankTz.org] FW: Needed: Experts for Harmonization of the EA Communications Regulatory Regime (COMESA/RICTSP/EAC) Greetings, Please see the posting below as it might be of interest to some of you. Cordially, Simbo _____ From: Jane Møller Larsen [mailto:jml@ict.danishmanagement.dk] Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 6:52 PM To: jml(a)dictm.dk Subject: Needed: Experts for Harmonization of the EA Communications RegulatoryRegime (COMESA/RICTSP/EAC) Dear Sirs/Madam, Please also distribute this to personal contacts and networks where you believe that experts could find interest in this. Thank you in advance. ____________________________________________________________________ We are presently looking for experts who have an interest in the following position: Project title: Harmonization of the EA Communications Regulatory Regime Application deadline: As soon as possible and at the latest Wednesday 4 April 2007 Contract duration: Short term Company: Danish Management A/S (http://www.danishmanagement.dk/) for the RICTSP/COMESA (and for this specific assignment EAC). ____________________________________________________________________ General information: The objective: The short-term expert (STE) will analyse and assess the status of the regulatory regime in each country in terms of liberalization, efficiency, openness, connectivity, affordability and as enabler for economic development. The STE shall develop a proposal for Harmonized Regional Communications Regime including the legal aspects, preliminary formulation of new bills and a mechanism for regulating the communication sector. Scope of work: The STE will: * Analyse and assess the status of the regulatory regime in each country. * Create a preliminary proposal and common base for the regulatory regime in these countries * Streamline the proposal with the commonly adopted international best practices * Prepare recommendations on legal aspects * Create and propose a mechanism for regulating the communications industry in the EA Region. * Propose recommendations and actions to be taken to ultimately achieve the proposed Harmonized Communications Regulatory Regime. * Recommend framework and mechanism for coordinating of the sector with other Regional Integration Organizations (COMESA, IGAD,IOC) Results to be delivered: * Report the regulatory regime in each country with proposal on harmonized base for the regulatory regime * Completed proposal streamlined with adoptable best practices for the regulatory regime in the EA partner states * Recommendations on amendment of specific existing Communications Acts in the Partner States * Proposal of new bills for consideration by the East African Legislative Assembly with the objective of having the regional enforcement * Proposal on a mechanism for regulating the communications industry in the EA Region. * Recommendations and actions to be taken to ultimately achieve the proposed Harmonized Communications Regulatory Regime and to coordinate the sector with other RIOs Total amount of man-days: 25 man-days of total input Regions/Countries to visit: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda Estimated contract start: As soon as possible. Profiles of the Experts: The STE will possess a university degree or higher qualifications in electronics engineering, telecommunications or similar relevant degrees. The STE must have at least 10 years of working experience in the telecommunication sub-sector and have a proven, extensive experience on telecommunication regulation related issues. The STE must have excellent report writing skills. Languages: Excellent command of English. Eligibility (who can apply?): EU citizens and citizens from: Angola, Burundi, DR Congo, Malawi, Rwanda, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan AND citizens of the ACP member states: http://www.acpsec.org/en/acp_states.htm Background information: The East African Community (EAC): http://www.eac.int/ COMESA ICT Policy and model legislation: http://www.comesa.int/ict/policy/view Please find ToR enclosed (dates of completion of assignment and deliverables to be revised) If you find the position of interest and your - or one of your proposed expert's - profile complies with the stated criteria, please contact us immediately and send us a short professional presentation of yourself and an updated CV with relevant similar experience (stating your age, nationality, languages spoken, education and exactly in what you are an expert). Send your application to: ictjobs(a)danishmanagement.dk Contact person: Jane Moeller Larsen Danish Management A/S Margretheholmsvej 2 1432 Copenhagen, Denmark Phone: +45 70 200 298 Direct: +45 35 250 655 Kind regards, Jane Moller Larsen __._,_.___ Messages <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/message/9931;_ylc=X3oDMTM0ajhrOX ZxBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BG1zZ0lkAzk5Mz EEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDdnRwYwRzdGltZQMxMTc1MTUwNDUxBHRwY0lkAzk5MzE-> in this topic (1) <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwb3VyOGZhBF9TAz k3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BG1zZ0lkAzk5MzEEc2VjA2 Z0cgRzbGsDcnBseQRzdGltZQMxMTc1MTUwNDUx?act=reply&messageNum=9931> Reply (via web post) | Start <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlMW5yZXU5BF9TAz k3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA250cG MEc3RpbWUDMTE3NTE1MDQ1MQ--> a new topic Messages <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJlODVoOThpBF 9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2 1zZ3MEc3RpbWUDMTE3NTE1MDQ1MQ--> | Files <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJmN2V2dDQ1BF9TA zk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2Zpb GVzBHN0aW1lAzExNzUxNTA0NTE-> | Photos <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/photos;_ylc=X3oDMTJlaTc1MnVxBF9T Azk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Bo b3QEc3RpbWUDMTE3NTE1MDQ1MQ--> | Links <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmajZqazRnBF9TA zk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2xpb mtzBHN0aW1lAzExNzUxNTA0NTE-> | Database <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/database;_ylc=X3oDMTJjamVyZGx0BF 9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2 RiBHN0aW1lAzExNzUxNTA0NTE-> | Polls <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmMXFmdTU3BF9TA zk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3Bvb GxzBHN0aW1lAzExNzUxNTA0NTE-> | Members <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJldjh1NWt0BF9 TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA21 icnMEc3RpbWUDMTE3NTE1MDQ1MQ--> | Calendar <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkY3RrdnZpBF 9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2 NhbARzdGltZQMxMTc1MTUwNDUx> Anyone who would like to join eThinkTankTz is welcome to do so by sending a blank email to: eThinkTankTz-subscribe(a)yahoogroups.com <http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkM2w3ZG9wBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzIyO TM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2dmcARzdGltZQMxMTc1MTUwNDUx> Yahoo! Groups Change <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJmMnJiNjhhBF9TAz k3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3N0bm dzBHN0aW1lAzExNzUxNTA0NTE-> settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch <mailto:eThinkTankTz-digest@yahoogroups.com?subject=Email%20Delivery:%20Dige st> delivery to Daily Digest | Switch <mailto:eThinkTankTz-traditional@yahoogroups.com?subject=Change%20Delivery%2 0Format:%20Traditional> format to Traditional Visit <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz;_ylc=X3oDMTJkbWRhZnVxBF9TAzk3NDc 2NTkwBGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2hwZgRzdGl tZQMxMTc1MTUwNDUx> Your Group | Yahoo! Groups <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> Terms of Use | Unsubscribe <mailto:eThinkTankTz-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=> Recent Activity * 4 New <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNGk0NDdoBF9 TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3Z tYnJzBHN0aW1lAzExNzUxNTA0NTE-> Members Visit <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eThinkTankTz;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNGU1Y2c3BF9TAzk3MzU 5NzE0BGdycElkAzIyOTM4NTQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTEwMjY2BHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3ZnaHAEc3R pbWUDMTE3NTE1MDQ1MQ--> Your Group SPONSORED LINKS * Tanzania <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjZHZjZnE5BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzEEZ 3JwSWQDMjI5Mzg1NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTAyNjYEc2VjA3NsbW9kBHN0aW1lAzExNzUxNTA0N TI-?t=ms&k=Tanzania+safaris&w1=Tanzania+safaris&w2=Tanzania+travel&w3=Inform ation+and+communication+technology&w4=Communication+technology&w5=Ict&c=5&s= 128&g=2&.sig=ikZbbrGN2CRf3ZLluX-dww> safaris * Tanzania <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjMWZiNjdvBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzIEZ 3JwSWQDMjI5Mzg1NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTAyNjYEc2VjA3NsbW9kBHN0aW1lAzExNzUxNTA0N TI-?t=ms&k=Tanzania+travel&w1=Tanzania+safaris&w2=Tanzania+travel&w3=Informa tion+and+communication+technology&w4=Communication+technology&w5=Ict&c=5&s=1 28&g=2&.sig=GM3gm7xMaae2Pusc4TJOLw> travel * Information <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjdWY2MzM1BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzMEZ 3JwSWQDMjI5Mzg1NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTAyNjYEc2VjA3NsbW9kBHN0aW1lAzExNzUxNTA0N TI-?t=ms&k=Information+and+communication+technology&w1=Tanzania+safaris&w2=T anzania+travel&w3=Information+and+communication+technology&w4=Communication+ technology&w5=Ict&c=5&s=128&g=2&.sig=m6uHwrPujg5JggwMnaSfwQ> and communication technology * Communication <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjYmRlZDBoBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzQEZ 3JwSWQDMjI5Mzg1NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTAyNjYEc2VjA3NsbW9kBHN0aW1lAzExNzUxNTA0N TI-?t=ms&k=Communication+technology&w1=Tanzania+safaris&w2=Tanzania+travel&w 3=Information+and+communication+technology&w4=Communication+technology&w5=Ic t&c=5&s=128&g=2&.sig=PLWxXsLVW5eMMgyOJoHZDw> technology * Ict <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjNWxhZXMwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzUEZ 3JwSWQDMjI5Mzg1NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTAyNjYEc2VjA3NsbW9kBHN0aW1lAzExNzUxNTA0N TI-?t=ms&k=Ict&w1=Tanzania+safaris&w2=Tanzania+travel&w3=Information+and+com munication+technology&w4=Communication+technology&w5=Ict&c=5&s=128&g=2&.sig= IhuVS4bHqSNtPAk65HIDOg> Yahoo! Music Check <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12iir3rck/M=493064.9803222.10510215.8674578/D=g roups/S=1705110266:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1175157652/A=4013955/R=0/SIG=13rrrq42o/*ht tp:/us.rd.yahoo.com/launch/ms/ygroups/NetworkContentModule/FS001/evt=44398/* http:/music.yahoo.com/promotions/whosnext> Who's Next Discover new bands before anyone else Yahoo! Mail You're <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12i4luj92/M=493064.9803214.10510208.8674578/D=g roups/S=1705110266:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1175157652/A=3848569/R=0/SIG=12jcbehhh/*ht tp:/us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42410/*http:/advision.webevents.yahoo.com/handraiser s> invited! Try the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta Y! Messenger Talk <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12isjd159/M=493064.9803215.10510209.8674578/D=g roups/S=1705110266:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1175157652/A=3848589/R=0/SIG=12dds2hov/*ht tp:/us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42403/*http:/messenger.yahoo.com/feat_voice.php> it up - free! Call your friends worldwide - free! . <http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=2293854/grpspId=1705110266/msgId =9931/stime=1175150451/nc1=4013955/nc2=3848569/nc3=3848589> __,_._,___

1 0

SA Govt to strong-arm Telkom
by A. Wanjira Munyua 29 Mar '07

29 Mar '07

more intriques Re; EASSy. ------- Original Message from Wakabi, Fibre for Africa List...... Telkom SA, champion of an EASSy run on the terms of telecos who will invest in it, but owned by a government that is dead-set to see the regional fibre undertaking built under the aegis of NEPAD, on stringent Open Access standards. Talk of a being caught between a rock and hard place. Wakabi Govt to strong-arm Telkom BY PAUL VECCHIATTO , ITWEB JOURNALIST ITWeb, 28 March 2007 - Government will use its board voting power to make Telkom toe the line in participating in the East African Submarine Cable System (Eassy), says Lyndall Shope-Mafole. The Department of Communications director-general made this statement after delivering her department's 2007-2010 strategy to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications yesterday afternoon. She also attacked the Eassy supplier contract signed on 9 March between Telkom, the network operators and equipment supplier Alcatel Lucent. She said it was outside the policy framework. Government would use its six seats on the Telkom 10-member board to ensure the telecommunications utility follows policy, Shope-Mafole noted. This is the most overt statement, by a senior government official, that the state will use the power its 38% stake gives it in Telkom. The entity listed on the Johannesburg and New York stock exchanges in 2002. The Public Investment Corporation, another state-owned entity, owns a further 7.1% of Telkom's shares. At odds The Eassy project has been marked by conflicting points of view between government and companies. The former wants open and non-discriminatory access, meaning one charge irrespective of whether the user is an investor. Companies, on the other hand, want it to be run along commercial lines. Telkom CEO Papi Molotsane previously said his company's participation in Eassy would be along commercial lines  a stand that has placed Telkom at odds with government's policy. On 9 March, Telkom, along with the cellular network operators, signed an Eassy supply contract with international equipment vendor Alcatel Lucent. This was a final legal step before the construction of the $300 million submarine cable. However, the South African government, under the auspices of the African Union, is still trying to get more of the original 23 countries that agreed to the Eassy project to sign the protocol. Only 12 countries have signed so far, and only one, Rwanda, has had the protocol ratified by its Parliament. The Eassy supplier contract is outside the project's policy framework, says communications department DG Lyndall Shope-Mafole.Responding to concerns that there seemed to be two Eassy processes, Shope-Mafole said the supply contract was not within the policy framework as developed for the project. I have indicated this to Telkom and have had discussions with their CEO, but have not discussed it with the other companies that signed it. That is why Sentech did not sign, because Sentech understands it can't sign outside a policy framework, and I suppose the others will learn. Eassy is not two processes. What we at the Department of Communications have to make businesses understand is that ICT is not just a business, it is far more important than that. Our policy is that it must be an open, non-discriminatory access model. Shope-Mafole said all the governments that had signed the Eassy protocol were determined the cable would not be dominated by one consortium, as had happened with the SAT-3 west coast submarine cable. Limit investment Shope-Mafole said the framework was based on that of non-discriminatory access, whereby investors would benefit from the number of users and not through owning the infrastructure. At the next Eassy Intergovernmental Assembly in Zimbabwe, on 30 March, government would propose investor participation in the Eassy project would be limited to $2 million (R14.5 million), so that large companies do not dominate the cable, she noted. Shope-Mafole pointed out there was no adversarial relationship between government and Telkom, as the telecoms utility had been involved in the Eassy project since the beginning. But they are just like any other company and will try their luck. Telkom declined to comment. In mid-morning trade, Telkom's share price was down 100c, at R163. Eassy is also known as the Nepad Broadband Infrastructure Network, because it comprises the submarine cable and a terrestrial component running through land-locked African countries. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

1 0

Govt to strong-arm Telkom
by A. Wanjira Munyua 29 Mar '07

29 Mar '07

more intriques Re; EASSy. ------- Original Message from Wakabi, Fibre for Africa List...... Telkom SA, champion of an EASSy run on the terms of telecos who will invest in it, but owned by a government that is dead-set to see the regional fibre undertaking built under the aegis of NEPAD, on stringent Open Access standards. Talk of a being caught between a rock and hard place. Wakabi Govt to strong-arm Telkom BY PAUL VECCHIATTO , ITWEB JOURNALIST ITWeb, 28 March 2007 - Government will use its board voting power to make Telkom toe the line in participating in the East African Submarine Cable System (Eassy), says Lyndall Shope-Mafole. The Department of Communications director-general made this statement after delivering her department's 2007-2010 strategy to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications yesterday afternoon. She also attacked the Eassy supplier contract signed on 9 March between Telkom, the network operators and equipment supplier Alcatel Lucent. She said it was outside the policy framework. Government would use its six seats on the Telkom 10-member board to ensure the telecommunications utility follows policy, Shope-Mafole noted. This is the most overt statement, by a senior government official, that the state will use the power its 38% stake gives it in Telkom. The entity listed on the Johannesburg and New York stock exchanges in 2002. The Public Investment Corporation, another state-owned entity, owns a further 7.1% of Telkom's shares. At odds The Eassy project has been marked by conflicting points of view between government and companies. The former wants open and non-discriminatory access, meaning one charge irrespective of whether the user is an investor. Companies, on the other hand, want it to be run along commercial lines. Telkom CEO Papi Molotsane previously said his company's participation in Eassy would be along commercial lines  a stand that has placed Telkom at odds with government's policy. On 9 March, Telkom, along with the cellular network operators, signed an Eassy supply contract with international equipment vendor Alcatel Lucent. This was a final legal step before the construction of the $300 million submarine cable. However, the South African government, under the auspices of the African Union, is still trying to get more of the original 23 countries that agreed to the Eassy project to sign the protocol. Only 12 countries have signed so far, and only one, Rwanda, has had the protocol ratified by its Parliament. The Eassy supplier contract is outside the project's policy framework, says communications department DG Lyndall Shope-Mafole.Responding to concerns that there seemed to be two Eassy processes, Shope-Mafole said the supply contract was not within the policy framework as developed for the project. I have indicated this to Telkom and have had discussions with their CEO, but have not discussed it with the other companies that signed it. That is why Sentech did not sign, because Sentech understands it can't sign outside a policy framework, and I suppose the others will learn. Eassy is not two processes. What we at the Department of Communications have to make businesses understand is that ICT is not just a business, it is far more important than that. Our policy is that it must be an open, non-discriminatory access model. Shope-Mafole said all the governments that had signed the Eassy protocol were determined the cable would not be dominated by one consortium, as had happened with the SAT-3 west coast submarine cable. Limit investment Shope-Mafole said the framework was based on that of non-discriminatory access, whereby investors would benefit from the number of users and not through owning the infrastructure. At the next Eassy Intergovernmental Assembly in Zimbabwe, on 30 March, government would propose investor participation in the Eassy project would be limited to $2 million (R14.5 million), so that large companies do not dominate the cable, she noted. Shope-Mafole pointed out there was no adversarial relationship between government and Telkom, as the telecoms utility had been involved in the Eassy project since the beginning. But they are just like any other company and will try their luck. Telkom declined to comment. In mid-morning trade, Telkom's share price was down 100c, at R163. Eassy is also known as the Nepad Broadband Infrastructure Network, because it comprises the submarine cable and a terrestrial component running through land-locked African countries. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

1 0

Fibre optic project shifts gear
by A. Wanjira Munyua 29 Mar '07

29 Mar '07

Fibre optic project shifts gear By Philip Mwakio The fibre optic sub-marine cable project spearheaded by the Government has gone a notch higher following the completion of a route survey.The East Africa Marine Systems (Teams) undersea cable should be operational in three years, Information and Communications Permanent Secretary, Dr Bitange Ndemo has said. "This occasion marks a momentous milestone for Telkom Kenya and the country at large as it takes us nearer to our cherished dream of commissioning a fibre optic backbone network in the next three years," he said. Ndemo spoke on Thursday when he received a route survey report presented to him by the project scientists, whose ship docked at the port of Mombasa. The survey started in Fujaira in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ended in Mombasa, covering a distance of 4,726 km, said project manager, Mr Boris Shirokozhukhov. Cruising at a speed of eight knots, the ship took three months to complete the route. Ndemo added that the deployment of a high bandwidth fibre optic backbone network under the Teams initiative was an achievable feat. Tendering to start Following the route survey completion, the Government is now on course to establishing a separate company special purpose vehicle to manage laying of the cable, linking Fujaira and East Africa. RV Gelendzhik, operated by Tyco Telecom Company of the US undertook the survey and mapping services to facilitate laying the cable to link the three East African countries. On board was a crew of 30, including 22 scientists and two Telkom Kenya officers. The PS termed the survey completion as a milestone that would further advance local telecommunication standards. The survey project costed $2.7 million (Sh191 million). Immediately the report was received, concerned authorities announced they would work on the modalities for tendering. Team's chairperson in charge of the Technical Committee, Projects and Contracts, Ms Atieno Ochola, said they are now working on the design of request for proposals. "The survey forms portion of the project and what we are awaiting is the actual construction or laying of the cable under the seabed," she said. A landing base has been identified near the historical Fort Jesus Museum, overlooking the Indian Ocean. Alongside other investors, the Government is expected to own 40 per cent of the project. Standard Chartered Bank is the project's financial adviser and was represented at the ceremony to welcome the ship by Mr Fred Michuki, a senior lender, public sector. Last year, the Government, through Telkom Kenya and the UAE, through its telecommunication service provider Etisalat, entered into a memorandum of understanding for implementing Teams. Other top officials at the function included Communications Commission of Kenya Director General, Mr John Waweru, Mombasa District Commissioner, Mr Raphael Letimalo, Telkom Kenya Coast Regional Manager, Mr David Molel and Kenya Ports Authority Harbour master, Mr Twalib Khamis.

1 0

Up date on CS participation in ITU activities
by A. Wanjira Munyua 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

For all those interested in ITU processes, below is an update from CONGO - the WSIS Civil Society Secretariat re: consultation process with civil society groups for participation in ITU following the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference of Resolution 141. best regards alice --------------------------------------------------------------- Dear all, This is to inform you that, in the follow adoption by the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference of Resolution 141 up to the - Study on the participation of all relevant stakeholders in the activities of the Union related to the World Summit on the Information Society (also here attached), we have been approached by the ITU Secretariat to kick-start a process of consultation with civil society entities. This resolution, recognising the need to enhance the participation of WSIS stakeholders in the ITU, provided: - the conduct of a study on the participation of all relevant stakeholders in the activities of the ITU related to WSIS - the creation of a Working Group of the ITU Council to perform this study and to propose some reform on the basis of that study. The terms of reference and the mandate of this working group are included in the annex to resolution 141. This Working Group will be composed of ITU member states with mention that their delegations may include appropriate legal, technical and regulatory experts and will conduct open consultations. This Working Group is expected to start meeting on 15 June 2007. In implementing ITU Resolution 141, the ITU Secretariat took up the following steps: Establishing the webpage of the Working Group of the Council on Resolution 141: http://www.itu.int/council/groups/stakeholders/ On line call for written contributions for all stakeholders, as indicated on the previous page: all contributions will be made public. There is no deadline for submission at the moment. Written contributions should be sent to: ITU-Stakeholders(a)itu.int. Establishing a webpage on the ITU sources on civil society: http://www.itu.int/council/groups/stakeholders/resources.html Organisation on 18 May 2007 (10:00-13:00) at the ITU, in the framework of the WSIS related cluster of events, of an Informal consultation between ITU and civil society in which the ITU SG Hamadoun Touré will participate, as well as probably delegations of the two countries in charge of facilitating the work of the Working Group. More information will be circulated soon on this meeting. All the best, Philippe Dam Philippe Dam CONGO - WSIS CS Secretariat 11, Avenue de la Paix CH-1202 Geneva Tel: +41 22 301 1000 Fax: +41 22 301 2000 E-mail: wsis(a)ngocongo.org Website: www.ngocongo.org The Conference of NGOs (CONGO) is an international, membership association that facilitates the participation of NGOs in United Nations debates and decisions. Founded in 1948, CONGO's major objective is to ensure the presence of NGOs in exchanges among the world's governments and United Nations agencies on issues of global concern. For more information see our website at www.ngocongo.org

1 0

in the news
by Rebecca Wanjiku 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

this interview was during the monthly forum, hope you will not miss the next one on April 26 at Jacaranda at 3pm..... Door opens for new non-profit telecom firms Written by Okuttah Mark http://bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=363&Itemid=25… Licence-free band spectrum, courtesy of the airwaves’ regulator, could allow non-profit organisations to own and operate telecom companies. The Communication Commission of Kenya’s offer of the ISM Band 2.4 and 5.8 spectrum to registered community groups is on a first-come-first-served basis, and already organisations from Mukurweini, Khwisero, Limuru and Rangwe have expressed interest. Countries like Tanzania, Namibia, Bangladesh and India have used the concept of free frequencies in efforts to bridge the ‘digital divide’ with the West. Alex Gakuru, of the ICT Consumers Association of Kenya (ICAK) , hailed the move by the CCK. He said it will enable those in far flung areas to manage their information systems without waiting for operators who might not see a good business case for moving into those areas. “Telecommunication companies have failed consumers on liberalisation promises of cheaper, better and widespread services,” said Mr Gakuru. In 1999, placing a one minute call through Telkom Kenya network was just Sh1, while now after sector liberalisation it stands at seven shillings, he said. Through his association, Mr Gakuru is advocating for the cause of community owned telecoms. He said now most customers have little input into the products and services being offered by the telecommunication companies. As demand for ICT services rise so does price. Consumers are bombarded with products and services that don’t fit their communication needs. For example, the wireless data transfer service known as General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), which failed to take off despite promising speeds of up to 115Kbits per second. “In the current situation ICTs cause more poverty than prosperity. It is cheaper to board a matatu, take a 10megabits file than attempt to upload via email at 32 kilobits per second,” he said. To Mr Gakuru, the best way to protect consumers is to allow them to own their own telecom companies. In Khwisero, the constituents have placed communications at the top of their needs and through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), they have put a proposal to spare between Sh3 million-Sh5 million for connecting the area with fibre and deploying wireless networks. The community intends to use Wifi enabled mobile phones to access both voice and data communication. In Rangwe, there are plans by the constituents to connect the area with fibre over electric cables. Although ICTs future is still bright, only companies who have user centric models will survive, points Gakuru. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/features_spam.html

1 0

Privatisation the only way to keep Telkom afloat
by A. Wanjira Munyua 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

Privatisation the only way to keep Telkom afloat Story by JAINDI KISERO Publication Date: 3/28/2007 Finally, the Government has made the first step towards selling Telkom Kenya to a strategic equity partner. Last week, it circulated "a preliminary information memorandum" in which it invited potential investors to put in indicative bids for a 26 per cent stake in the State-owned company. I don't understand why this significant development was not announced formally. I only came across the information from contacts in South Africa. Potential investors have been asked to respond by writing a brief note to the Government confirming interest in buying Telkom. The memorandum also contains indicative pre-qualification criteria for the tender. For instance, the Government will only look in your direction if you have an annual ICT turnover of $200 million. YOU MUST ALSO DEMONSTRATE good financial standing, capacity to invest, and a clear vision for a future Telkom Kenya. In this initial stages, the Government is merely teasing the market by collecting the feedback it will need when designing the actual transaction. According to the plan, an additional 34 per cent shares of the company will be sold once the strategic investor comes in. Where is interest most likely to come from? It is too early to predict. Suffice to note, however, that these days, the biggest players in privatisation deals in the telecommunications sector, or infrastructure in general, have tended to be South Africans, Chinese or companies from the Middle East. For inexplicable reasons, the big European Telcoms have tended to give the region a wide berth when it comes to such transactions. Privatisation is a very painful thing. Indeed, many Kenyans will be sent to the streets to pave the way for this transaction. The plan is to bring down Telkom's 17,000-strong workforce to 3,200 ahead of the transaction. In an economy that has been losing formal jobs faster than it is creating, where automatic graduate employment by the Government was discontinued several years ago, the privatisation transaction is coming at a high social cost indeed for the country. Yet the case for privatising Telkom remains strong. If we choose to protect jobs at the expense of restructuring, then the company itself will not survive in future, let alone keeping the jobs. Despite the fact that Kenya has experienced phenomenal growth in the telecommunications sector, and that mobile companies have become the most profitable companies in the country, Telkom is in dire financial straits. While the number of mobile lines have been increasing exponentially, fixed line connections have fallen from a peak of 320,000 in 2002 to under 280,000 currently. Between 2003 and 2006, turnover has declined by an annual rate of 10.5 per cent. In 2003, the corporation returned a net loss of $27 million with the figure growing to $36 million in 2005. The point is this. If we postpone painful decisions now merely because we want to protect jobs, we will be left with a wobbly company that will sooner or later find it hard to survive competitive pressure from the more leaner and nimbler players. Predictably, there will be voices who will oppose the deal on the grounds that we should not sell what Harold Macmillan once described as the "family silver" to foreigners. I fail to understand why we tend to be obsessed with "owning" and controlling parastatals while ignoring the fact that at the end of the day, it is the quality and the prices of the services which these utilities offer that matters to the ordinary Kenyan. To the majority of citizens, the mere fact that the Government owns 100 per cent of of a parastatal matters little. In fact, our own experience has shown that state ownership of these parastatals only serves the interests of the political elite and their cronies, providing them with the means of rewarding political loyalty and allowing them to appoint their relatives to boards of these organisations. Privatisation is not popular in Africa because it removes parastatals from the control of the ruling elite. We all know how they make money from these institutions. There is, for example, the award of lucrative contracts at inflated prices to well connected merchants. And there is also the transfer of assets belonging to paratatals (especially land and residential property) to individuals. IN SOME CASES, MINISTERS AND managing directors have committed parastatals into massive investment into big capital projects of doubtful economic viability such as sports complexes, staff housing schemes, complete with nursery schools, games facilities and swimming pools. Ostensibly, this is to assist workers but, in reality, it is to create kickback opportunities for well-connected contractors. Left in the hands of ministers and politically-appointed directors and CEOs, Telkom Kenya will not be able to raise money to finance new investment or buy new equipment. If privatisation and restructuring is implemented well, the large and sick parastatals we see today can be broken up into several small successful enterprises operating in a competitive environment and providing wananchi with competitively priced services. Mr Kisero is the managing editor of The EastAfrican. http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp? category_id=25&newsid=94670 __

1 0

Request for information: Offshore software development in Africa
by A. Wanjira Munyua 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

Dear all A Kenyan IT masters student requesting for information on offshore software development. Anyone with info please respond to her directly to her @: Leah.Riungu(a)lut.fi best alice -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Offshore software development in Africa Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 12:01:30 +0300 From: Leah Riungu <Leah.Riungu(a)lut.fi> To: <alice(a)apc.org> Dear Alice, I am a master's in IT student at Lappeenranta University of Technology in Lappeenranta, Finland. I am writing my master's thesis titled "Outsourcing and Offshore Software Development in Africa." The aim is to investigate the history, the current state and the expected future of offshore software development practices in Africa. I read an article you wrote about New Generation of Policy Development. I would like to request you for any information that you might have regarding offshore outsourcing of software development in Africa. Anything ranging from written reports, articles or contacts to companies that are providing offshore software development services will be gladly appreciated. If you are interested in my findings, I can send you a pdf version of the thesis upon completion. Looking forward to your response, Best Regards Leah Riungu Leah Riungu International Master's Programme in Information Technology(IMPIT) Student Lappeenranta University of Techonology P O Box 20 53851 LAPPEENRANTA FINLAND tel(mobile) +358 4 6840 8744

3 4

Re: [kictanet] Sasanet not working?
by Jose' 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

Eh!! Alex,I didn't know such figures existed thats interesting.I will visit there offices and ask.Tomorrow I should have an answer. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 4:07:50 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Sasanet not working? There were 400 million sms sent were from Safaricom and Celtel in (NOTE) 2005 when we had about half the current 8 GSM million subscribers. At 5/= per sms this amounts to shs 2 billion additional revenue to the networks. Assuming per user texting levels remained in 2006 when the subscribers doubled then the number of sms could have also doubled, implying shillings 4 billion to the two (Telkom CDMA sms of shillings 2.5 may not have had a big impact). SMS traffic usually increases wherever affordability lessens...... but I am looking for the actual data. Considering a company such as Kenya Breweries' annual profits last year were 1 billion, I am convinced it would not be unreasonable nor unfair to ascertain the real reasons why *little* sasanet is down? We only want to ascertain that no extraneous forces are at play here than we are all happy to have this piece of information. Regards, Alex Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: In simpler English, Sasanet gives its subscribers an opportunity to send 10 sms's free to the local network(celtel or safcom)a total of 90 characters...then an advert takes up the rest of the characters,to make 160(a norm sms). For this service to be provided..sasanet fully depends on the sposnsors(adverts),like any other business definately you cannot give your clients the real reason as to why the services are not available.........but there are no sponsors...as per now to support the free sms......if any one one has been using this services,frequently,then you can agree that it has been an ON/OFF...kind of service...but since its free why make noise? just keep checking till it works......So there's no need to panic, it has nothing to with AT&T or something fishy,reading between the lines..... Kind Regards, On 2/21/07, Jose' <ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Hi Walu, What Alex is expressing is the free sms service that sasanet gives.Everything else is up and running except the free sms service thats why we use it. I copied and pasted this from the site FYI "Due to a system upgrade that is currently in progress, the Sasanet Free sms service and purchase of sms credits are temporarily unavailable. Please check back again later." We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused, but strive to continually improve our service to you. Best Regards, Njuki-Imwe ----- Original Message ---- From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 7:45:48 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Sasanet not working? well, am not a subscriber to them - i got jittery when their registration form had too many of what I thought were personal questions without equivalent demonstration of how they would secure my data... Nway, I just checked their website and it is up and running...so what do you mean when you say they are no longer working? walu. --- Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Wouldn't you be curious to find out a very popular free > internet-based www.sasanet.co.ke is now no longer > working? I wonder why? > > /Alex > > Mike Theuri <mike.theuri(a)gmail.com> wrote: Alex, > > Thank you for sharing the blog on the anti-consumer > setting in the country. The blog has very useful > information that is not being shared with Kenyan > consumers and it is key that consumer rights are upheld. > Your blog out to be brought to more attention of key > stakeholders in ICT and to consumers alike. > > Yes, the Ministry and CCK are best placed to > authoritatively comment on such an issue. However I > believe that what AT&T is discontinuing is the ability to > use a "call back" number from Kenya to the US. It is very > likely that the call back numbers which are 0800 numbers > are no longer profitable for AT&T especially given that > they cost as high as $3/min. Technically they are > supposed to be cheaper to use than if one was to "call > back" the US direct from any other country be it Kenya or > the UK. However with AT&T's rate to call the US from > Kenya as high as it is and with local providers beating > their tariffs they may have opted to drop this service. > What this might do, is it might leave AT&T US based > customers unable to call the US using their AT&T calling > cards for what would otherwise be exorbitant prices. > > The wording of the AT&T notice on the lack of no future > support for calls originating from Kenya wasn't very > clear and after some digging around it appears that it > referred to users of AT&T who utilize call back services > while traveling overseas, it might just be due to stiff > competition now that VOIP has been deregulated and > tariffs have fallen (though not low enough) and that no > one in their right mind would be willing to pay $3+ per > minute for a call to the US when for a extremely small > fraction one could make the same phone call at a lower > rate. > > Even then the tariffs in general are not fair enough for > Kenyan consumers and it is an uphill battle to enforce > changes when some of the largest tax payers happen to be > communication providers. It is unthinkable that the > government would do much to jeopardize a large and steady > tax revenue stream to save the honorable consumer. > Increasingly huge profits in a formerly depressed and now > recovering economy like ours raise the question whether > the consumer is getting a fair deal. It is akin to oil > companies making several times over some nations GDP in > profits and claiming that they are struggling themselves > and offering the best prices possible. Price regulation > in the industry is something that should be looked into > to further to try and strike a fair balance between > consumers needs and investors return on equity. > > Mike > > On 2/18/07, Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Mike: > > Although this is a consumer issue, you may notice we have > quite some domestic wars with the prevailing > anti-consumer setting, http://ictconsumer.blogspot.com/ > for example. > > By engaging foreign networks, I am afraid the ICT > Consumers Association of Kenya could be considered acting > ultra vires thus the Ministry of Information and > Communications, CCK, and perhaps also Foreign Affairs are > best suited to comment. > > Would a provocative question, like "why has a private US > telco unilaterally cut-off communication from Kenya to > the US jeopardizing both a basic human right and the > national outsourcing strategy" earn a quick response from > government? > > rgds, > > Alex > > Mike Theuri <mike.theuri(a)gmail.com > wrote: As an after > thought, this may mean calls dialed through this number > which by itself is a very expensive option and which may > reflect the effects of voip and lowered costs of > international calls: > > Kenya 0-800-2201-15 (608) > > On 2/18/07, Mike Theuri <mike.theuri(a)gmail.com > wrote: > Does anyone know why the below might be the case ? AT&T > printed this in small print on bills sent to customer in > January. Considering > that AT&T is the largest telco in the US this is a > serious issue : > > International Call Origination: > Effective March 1, 2007, our International Call > Origination service will change. Current access > numbers for calls originating internationally > will change. Please visit att.com/dialing-guide > to print the new dialing-guide for your reference; > or call the number on your bill to order a new > dialing guide. Calls from Kenya to US will > no longer be supported. International to > international calling from St. Martin will no > longer be supported. Also, International > service will be expanded to over 60 additional > countries. To find out rates and countries where > we provide service, please visit > att.com/intl-rates. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com > > > --------------------------------- > The fish are biting. > Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search > Marketing. > > _______________________________________________ > 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/mike.theuri%40gmail.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com > > > --------------------------------- > Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. > Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta.> _______________________________________________ > 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 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com TV dinner still cooling? Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV. _______________________________________________ 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/judyokite%40gmail.com -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there." _______________________________________________ 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/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business._______________________________________________ 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/ngunjirijnr%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

11 12

Fwd: [Chix] Chris Nichol FOSS Prize - Reminder
by Judy Okite 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

FYI ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jennifer Radloff <jenny(a)apcwomen.org> Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 10:08:14 +0200 Subject: [Chix] Chris Nichol FOSS Prize - Reminder To: chix(a)africalinuxchix.org Cc: femme(a)africalinuxchix.org Please circulate ==================================================== APC CHRIS NICOL FOSS PRIZE 2007 - Last days to apply! The nominations for the prize will be collected until the end of March 2007. ==================================================== The APC Chris Nicol FOSS Prize recognises initiatives that are making it easy for people to start using free and open source software (FOSS). The prize will be awarded to a person or group doing extraordinary work to make FOSS accessible to ordinary computer users. The APC FOSS Prize has been established to honor Chris Nicol, a long time FOSS advocate and activist who for many years worked with APC. We are looking for initiatives that: * improve the accessibility to, knowledge of and/or usability of FOSS * are user-oriented * are documented so that others can learn from and replicate the model * have demonstrable impact and have increased the number of people using FOSS on a day-to-day basis THE PRIZE IS OPEN TO: Any person or group anywhere in the world who supports or promotes user-oriented free and open source software. The application form must be completed in either English or Spanish however there are no language restrictions regarding the language of the project. Small-scale activities are encouraged to apply. THE PRIZE: US$ 4,000.00 may be shared by up to two initiatives at the jury's discretion. DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: March 30, 2007 MORE ABOUT THE APC CHRIS NICOL FOSS PRIZE: http://www.apc.org/english/chrisnicol http://www.apc.org/espanol/chrisnicol or write to fossprize(a)apc.org ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION FOR PROGRESSIVE COMMUNICATIONS (APC) http://www.apc.org The Association for Progressive Communications is an international network of civil society organisations dedicated to empowering and supporting groups and individuals through the strategic use of information and communication technologies, especially internet-technologies. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: chix-unsubscribe(a)africalinuxchix.org For additional commands, e-mail: chix-help(a)africalinuxchix.org -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there."

1 0

CHAKULA: Opening access to Africa: Interviews and analyses
by A. Wanjira Munyua 27 Mar '07

27 Mar '07

CHAKULA Issue No. 16, February 2007: Opening access to Africa: Interviews and analyses CONTENTS 1. EASSy: MAPPING THE PLAYERS - EASSy stakeholder analysis by Abiodun Jagun - Interview with Edmund Katiti, the policy and regulatory advisor to NEPADs e-Africa Commission - Interview with Isidoro Pedro da Silva, CRASAs executive secretary - CIPESA speaks to Uganda Telecoms Donald Nyakairu - Whats in a name? The controversy over the EASSy name change 2. A CREDIBLE THREAT: Kenya in the drivers seat - Interview with Bitange Ndemo, Kenyas Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication - Wairagala Wakabi asks if too much competition is a bad thing - Its like waiting for a Matatu, says Russell Southwood - KICTANeT reports back on its online discussion and workshop - Rebecca Wanjiku spices up the debate 3. APC/UNDP WORKSHOP FOCUS - Interview with Ben Akoh, OSIWAs ICT programmme officer - Interview with Polly Gaster, head of the Centre for Information and Communication at the University Eduardo Mondlane (CIUEM) in Maputo, Mozambique - Links to workshop reports and presentations 4. LATEST ANALYSES - Satellite failure shows Africas underbelly, argues Russell Southwood - CIPESAs Vincent Bagiire questions whether open access will bear much fruit if universal access does not begin to create effective demand - Eric Osiakwan gets back to EASSy basics - Telkom SA under pressure from consumer activists 5. BACKGROUND READING - A selection of introductory content from www.fibreforafrica.net to get you going //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ INTRODUCTION: THE FIBRE RUSH FOR AFRICA If Kenya is anything to go by, the rush for cheap, effective broadband in Africa is moving fast: everyone from multinationals, to governments, to individual investors, both local and foreign, are involved, and they all seem to want a piece of the opportunity. A centrepiece of all the action is the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy), a much-maligned and delayed attempt to link up several coastal countries in Eastern and Southern Africa to other global submarine cables systems in the North (See: http:// fibreforafrica.net) The US$300 million plus project, which will result in about 9900km of fibre-optic cable being laid, is struggling, and a number of countries, like Kenya, have decided to go it alone. The project has the misfortune of raising several key issues about the fibre rush for Africa. Such as: Who is going to own and run the cable? Who is going to pay for it? And who will benefit and who will lose out? This issue of CHAKULA tries to offer some sense of direction. It maps out some of the players in the EASSy project, provides a taste of some of the recent controversies, asks questions about open access, and offers links to analyses, as well as background reading for beginners. Two useful links for those who need to orientate themselves to the discussions in this newsletter: In Saturating the marketplace (See: http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5057717) Wairagala Wakabi from Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) outlines some recent fibre-optic plans for the continent, and asks: Is too much competition a bad thing? It is a good place to get an overview of whats happening and some of the political and economic challenges involved. Some of these challenges are detailed, and technical in nature. Recently the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANeT) held an online discussion to talk about the various regulatory and institutional challenges to fibre-optic cables in Kenya. John Walubengo produced an excellent explanatory document on the ownership options to get the discussions going. (See: http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5058919) This issue of Chakula has been compiled by Abiodun Jagun, Ory Okolloh and Alan Finlay. //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ 1. EASSy: MAPPING THE PLAYERS STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS This paper by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) ICT policy researcher for the African region, Abiodun Jagun, adopts a stakeholder approach to analysing EASSy. It provides a graphical illustration of the hierarchy of power and interest among the different stakeholder groups engaged in the EASSy process. The paper highlights how different stakeholder groups are able - through forming coalitions to influence the proposed ownership structure of the fibre-optic cable. The paper provides a graphical illustration of the current impasse within the EASSy project, which has been described as a disconnect between the commercial and political ends of the cable. The analysis of this impasse shows two competing groups; one the NEPAD Protocol coalition, and the other the Submarine Fibre Consortium. The analysis identifies that the powerful position initially held by the consortium has been diluted, and that the impasse has created high levels of uncertainty about the viability of the EASSy project. Download the stakeholder analysis: http://fibreforafrica.net/ main.shtml?x=5057715 WERE NOT TELLING ANYONE WHAT TO DO Edmund Katiti is the policy and regulatory advisor to the New Partnership for Africas Developments (NEPADs) e-Africa Commission. The e-Africa Commission is charged with the coordinated development of NEPADs ICT policies, programmes and projects. A top priority is to ensure that all African countries will be connected to one another by broadband fibre-optic cable systems that will, in turn, link them to global telecommunications networks through existing or planned submarine cable systems. CHAKULA asked Katiti some easy, and more difficult questions [Interview took place in January 2007] ************************************* The NEPAD process of conducting business does not permit any country to dominate the process or behave undemocratically. -- Edmund Katiti, policy and regulatory advisor to NEPADs e- Africa Commission ************************************* CHAKULA: What exactly is NEPAD's role in the EASSy project? EDMUND KATITI [EK]: On the 9th March, 2003, the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee adopted the development of a broadband ICT network linking all countries in Africa to one another and, in turn, to the rest of the world as a top priority NEPAD project. As a result, the NEPAD e-Africa Commission has been working towards the development of two regional networks, and a continent- wide satellite network. The first network is what we call the NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network for Eastern and Southern Africa. This comprises a submarine (Eastern Africa Submarine Cable) segment, and a terrestrial segment. This network was agreed at a workshop of stakeholders (including telecom operators) held in Johannesburg in July 2004. The second regional network is the NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Network for Central, West and North Africa. Then theres the NEPAD e-Schools satellite network. As you can see from this, the submarine project is just part of a bigger ICT infrastructure programme for the African continent, and its the NEPAD e-Africa Commissions mandate to coordinate the structured developed of the ICT sector on the continent. CHAKULA: Youve also being working on regulatory barriers? EK: Yes. With a view to resolving policy and regulatory issues that may impede or prevent the realization of the rationalised network, the e-Africa Commission has worked with government ICT experts, ICT policy advisors, regulators, civil society, legal experts, executives of telecom companies, and development funding institutes to develop a policy and regulatory framework within which the network could be developed. The experts and policy advisors agreed that the integrated ICT broadband backbone should be based on several principles. These are: non-discriminatory open access; equitable joint ownership of the backbone infrastructure across the region; the separation of ownership of the infrastructure from its use; the use of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to build, own and operate the broadband ICT network; and that the infrastructure should be viewed as a public good and operated on a cost-recovery basis. CHAKULA: Do these principles apply to EASSy? EK: The experts and policy advisors agreed that these principles would cover the submarine cable as well as the terrestrial network. In addition, they recommended that a Protocol should be signed between the countries of the region in order to underpin their collaboration in developing this network. A Protocol that encapsulates these principles in a policy and regulatory framework, as well as the details of the SPVs that will own, operate and maintain the NEPAD network, was developed and accepted by a number of governments in Eastern and Southern Africa. This Protocol has been signed under the auspices of the African Union, by 12 countries: Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe [As of January 2007]. The countries that have not yet signed the Protocol may accede to it in the future. The NEPAD e-Africa Commission is the implementing agency of the Protocol, and is also the Secretariat of the Inter- Governmental Assembly (IGA). CHAKULA: Of the countries that haven't signed, the sticking point seems to be differences over the IGA. I understand the IGA to be a government-run structure for the ownership and management of the cable's inter-connection points between countries. How flexible is this issue, if countries continue to refuse to sign the protocol because of it? Could the requirements for an IGA be dropped from the protocol or changed? EK: The IGA is not an issue with most of the countries that are yet to sign the Protocol. Most countries were unable to sign because of the internal procedures for approving the signing of a regional treaty. In some of the countries the Protocol has to be approved by Parliament before the Minister responsible for the sector can sign the Protocol, and this takes longer than the three months the countries had from the date the Protocol was finalized to the deadline for signing. The countries that did not sign the Protocol by November 30, 2006, will be able to accede to the Protocol when it comes into effect sometime in the first half of 2007, when it has been ratified by seven signatory countries. The IGA is not a government-run structure for the ownership and management of the cables interconnection points between countries. The IGA will ensure that the policy and regulatory aspects of the Protocol are upheld by the SPVs. The SPVs will have a Board of Directors and a Management Team and these are the structures that will be responsible for the ownership and management of the SPVs. There is therefore no need for the IGA to be dropped from the Protocol. CHAKULA: Some role-players say that NEPAD is asserting ownership of the project. Is this true? EK: As you can see from the above, NEPAD was created before the submarine project was started, and the NEPAD e-Africa Commission has been involved in the project right from the beginning. CHAKULA: Kenya recently said South Africa was behaving undemocratically. One can't help the feeling that some tensions around NEPAD more generally (and South Africa's role on the continent) are being reflected in this specific issue. Do you feel this may be true? EK: The inability of some countries to sign the Protocol within the three months window was due to legislative procedures within those countries and not resistance to the Protocol. Only one country has expressed reservations about a few aspects of the Protocol. The NEPAD process of conducting business does not permit any country to dominate the process or behave undemocratically. ************************************* WE ARE NOT GIVING UP ON NEPAD Kenyas sudden exit from the EASSy project has set tongues wagging and the controversy has not been helped by South Africa apparently unilaterally changing the projects name to The Nepad Broadband Infrastructure Network (NBIN). CIPESA recently spoke to Uganda Telecoms Donald Nyakairu. Katiti is also canvassed by CIPESA for his views. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5058257 WHATS IN A NAME? The recent announcement by South Africas communications minister that the EASSy had been renamed the NEPAD Broadband Infrastructure Network (NBIN) was as astounding as her assertion, during the same function, that the original model developed for the cable is not what international financial institutions such as the World Bank would have liked, writes Anthony Mugeere. http://www.cipesa.org/246 See also: NOTHINGS FIXED, SAYS NEPAD NEPADs e-Africa Commission issued a statement saying that the projects shareholders can chose any name they want at an up-coming meeting in April/May. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5058917 OPEN ACCESS IS NO LONGER JUST A CONCEPT The Communications Regulators Association of Southern Africa (CRASA) is a forum of communications regulators and other ICT services stakeholders in Southern Africa. CRASAs objectives include introducing effective competition through liberalization, and promoting an effective and efficient regulatory environment. CHAKULA spoke to its executive secretary, Isidoro Pedro da Silva. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5058892 //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ 2. A CREDIBLE THREAT: Kenya in the drivers seat Kenya has become a vocal player in the drive for faster and cheaper connectivity in Africa, and the country is fast emerging as a spirited leader on the issue. It recently announced that it is pursuing no fewer than three major access initiatives in the country: The East African Marine System (TEAMS), a Kenya Data Network (KDN)/ Flag Telecom initiative, and EASSy. The countrys spiritedness has caused some controversy, with a representative from the World Bank adding fuel to the fire by stating that the Kenyan plans are a credible threat to the EASSy project. Indeed: it withdrew from EASSy a few months later. But, backed up by an open and inclusive policy development process, that involves a range of stakeholders and sectors through the countrys multi-stakeholder network KICTANeT, it looks like the countrys take no prisoners approach may yield results. Bitange Ndemo is Kenyas Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication which means, effectively, that hes the person who gets things done. CHAKULA asked him about TEAMS. ************************************* Bottom line we have real opportunity to change our country irreversibly. -- Bitange Ndemo, Kenyas Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication ************************************* CHAKULA: The Kenyan government is stepping up efforts to address the high cost of internet access in the country. Why has infrastructure become a priority for the government and your ministry, and what impact do you see these efforts having on the average Kenyan citizen? BITANGE NDEMO [BN]: Our national ICT Policy objectives include lowering cost of access to emerging technologies, including internet. Besides, unemployment in this country has reached chronic levels. To curb the problem the Government realized that we had an opportunity to utilize the highly educated youth in the Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) industry. We had the first conference in February this year [2006] and by then there was only one 200- seat call centre. We then started to market our country as a BPO destination. It became apparent that in spite of the human resource capacity that we have, bandwidth, with acceptable levels of latency in the BPO sector, was the bottleneck. Nevertheless, we now have 4,000 Kenyans working in this new sector. The cost of accessing internet continues to hurt the growth of ICT in the country. Thus the frustration with the delays in the implementation of EASSy. CHAKULA: The government recently announced the launch of TEAMS. Can you tell us a bit more about the project and how it will be financed? BN: Kenya is a regional gateway and as such cannot wait to be guided on what to do in the region. Although TEAMS is being driven by the Government of Kenya, the aim of the project is to fast track connectivity to the East African region. The ultimate ownership of TEAMS would not be entirely Government, but by willing investors and Governments in the region. This project is like a road whose objectives are to open up the region and on this road you can have many buses competing. Therefore on TEAMS shall be many operators and other investors from the region. We consider TEAMS as a means to an end that would enable us compete with India and other parts of the world. CHAKULA: Will non-governmental actors have a role in the project and how will you ensure that access to the fibre will be truly open? BN: The Government will have a minimum role; probably not beyond regulation. The initial seed money will come from the Government and as more operators/users join, the Government would maintain minimum shareholding but leave the running of a special purpose vehicle to the private sector that will be eventually be listed on the stock exchange through an IPO. The Government, as well as other public institutions (e.g. universities), would buy their capacity requirement like all other users. Our model is more like the Swedish one that is probably the Gold Standard of open access with minimal impact on the environment. Whether you are Telkom Kenya Limited (TKL) or a newly registered operator, you will buy your capacity requirement at the same price as TKL CHAKULA: How do you see EASSy co-existing with efforts like TEAMS? BN: Africas problems emanate from monopolies (read National Telecoms; and note the problems being experienced with SAT-3). We must avoid these problems by encouraging a competitive environment in all infrastructure projects. Therefore EASSy or TEAMS have a role in maintaining low prices that would make the continent competitive. Kenya also has another fibre project being undertaken by the private sector, and we as a government welcome all these developments as they truly become a means to economic and social development. Fujairah, for example, has four cables that are benefiting the region enormously [Interview by Ory Okolloh] ************************************* SATURATING THE MARKETPLACE Marine cables could flood the east coast of Africa, but how viable will the competing cables be? asks Wairagala Wakabi. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5057717 THE FINAL FRONTIER The East African coast remains the only seabed in Africa yet to be covered by international submarine fibre-optic cable. An online discussion and face-to-face workshop hosted by KICTANeT charted the best way forward. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5058762 ITS LIKE WAITING FOR A MATATU Its like waiting for a matatu. You wait for ages and none come along. But just when youre about to give up hope, three come along at the same time, all trying to come to a screaming halt in front of you. Balancing Acts Russell Southwood discusses Kenyas options. [Source: Balancing Act, www.balancingact-africa.com] http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5045073 SPICING UP THE DEBATE When Kai Wulff, CEO of KDN and Bitange Ndemo are in one room discussing issues of internet connectivity, you can be assured of fireworks. But the common denominator is that they are concerned about reducing internet connectivity charges, writes Rebecca Wanjiku. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5058921 //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ 3. APC/UNDP WORKSHOP FOCUS OPENING UP ACCESS FOR ALL Open access, what it means, and how best to get communities connected came under the spotlight at a three-day workshop held in Johannesburg late last year. The workshop was billed a dialogue and exchange on promising options and critical issues and was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and APC. It aimed to share project success stories and innovations, and explore ways of supporting policy and capacity development initiatives that promote open access on the continent. Participants include community ICT practitioners, researchers, policy advocates, regulators, academics and donors from across Africa. http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=n30084e_1&x=504386 3 WORKSHOP REPORT AND PRESENTATIONS For a run down of the workshop proceedings and links to presentations visit: http://www.propoor-ict.net/content/view/21/1/ WE CANT STOP AND WAIT FOR MEGA-PROJECTS LIKE EASSy Polly Gaster is the head of the Centre for Information and Communication at the University Eduardo Mondlane (CIUEM) in Maputo, Mozambique. She has been involved in telecentre development in Mozambique for many years, and attended the Johannesburg workshop. CHAKULA asked her what she expected from the EASSy project. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5058916 GETTING POLITICAL Ben Akoh is the ICT programmme officer at Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). OSIWA supports the creation of open societies in West Africa: societies marked by a functioning democracy, good governance, the rule of law, basic freedoms, and widespread civic participation. OSIWA is based in Dakar, Senegal. CHAKULA caught up with Akoh at the Johannesburg workshop. ************************************* Its about people talking to people for next to nothing, and its about encouraging my African brothers and sisters living outside the continent to return home and contribute in the building of our crumbled societies because there is cheap, affordable means of communication. --- Ben Akoh, ICT programme officer, OSIWA ************************************* CHAKULA: There were a number of definitions of open access put forward at the workshop. Yours struck me as having a distinctly political aspect to it, because it included the idea of media freedoms. What is open access to you? BEN AKOH [BA]: The concept of open access has been a tug-of- war within development circles. I have seen (or heard) definitions from 'open source' to 'open content' and then 'open access'. Pre- pending the word 'open' to any other word seems to automatically qualify that word to be included in what I will call the general 'open concept' framework or parlance. It becomes difficult to then define, and in turn accept as final, any one or the other definition of open access. I will also not attempt to define it, though at the workshop I managed to 'say' what it meant to me. And these are purely my thoughts on open access until it is subjected to scientific and social discuss, theorized and then proven - in scientific parlance. Russell Southwood and Eric Osiakwan [see below], in their open access infoDev paper say (carefully choosing my words) that open access is the separation of services from infrastructure and that the base infrastructure (which I will call the medium - and not to be confused with media) is the responsibility of those that have the means and power to build this. So in telecommunications it is the copper cable, fibre; in broadcasting it is the airwaves (frequency allocation, spectrum management and the associated speak - 'open spectrum') and the attendant last mile exchanges; in electricity it is the poles, transformers, substations; in mobile technology, the base stations, etc. And government usually has the means to build this type of capital-intensive infrastructure and should stick to it; although in recent years the private sector has entered into this space. The second component of the open access framework is the services which run on these mediums. The definition of open access has therefore been firstly the separation of this spectrum and secondly the advocacy for unrestricted access to any of the components of the spectrum (re: infrastructure - or mediums - and the services that run on these mediums). I have added the broadcast sector to this definition because of the sooner rather than later shift towards the convergence of technologies. It will become 'difficult' to separate what runs on the medium - difficult but not impossible to distinguish the type of traffic. And if convergence will 'force' all technologies towards a converged media then the broadcast sector should be included in the open' speak. Broadcast can be further subdivided into various little components - the content, the broadcaster, the human resource within the broadcast sector (re: journalists and his editor/publisher), the spectrum, base stations, policies that surround broadcast, public/private broadcasters, etc. This is a sector that is often held captive and tightly controlled by the state and/or ruling party in most countries of Africa, if not the world. Hence its political undertone. Advocating for open access in this sector (not known as that) has been a long-time struggle. Indeed media advocates have fought for some form of open access right back in the day with 'freedom of information' and 'freedom of expression' struggles. We should as well include the broadcast struggle in this fight. CHAKULA: How do you understand open access in the context of West Africa: Do you think West Africa is ahead of East Africa in the access stakes, so to speak? BA: One thing for sure is that SAT-3 had greatly improved connectivity in West Africa in spite of its high cost of connectivity induced by the closed consortium model of its ownership. This sets West Africa far ahead - in communication terms - of East Africa. Although the individual cost of connectivity per country still impacts heavily on the consumer, it may have improved the social life and living standards of West Africans in terms of their ability and the ease of communication and access to information. Also, SAT- 3 has spurred or incentivized the growth of other regional inland, terrestrial fibre or submarine cables. While it is important to build terrestrial networks, it is unclear, especially amongst investors in East Africa, how much value such 'internal infrastructure' would have without a regional submarine cable that carries the generated internal content to other parts of the world. I believe this is the underlying, hidden issue that has negatively impacted the rapid development and deployment of regional terrestrial and regional submarine infrastructure in that part of the continent. While no-one would say it this directly, it is the reason why the interest in EASSy and its open access debate has led to no cable being laid up until the present moment. I however postulate that regions in Africa should not be compared against themselves. Its not a question of how far the West exceeds the East in regional infrastructure development terms. But rather, it is how Africa as a whole sees itself in the connectivity debate - perhaps against the rest of the world. It is about how much capital flight happens annually and how that could be curbed. Its about how Africans should encourage internal communication, which will, of course, lead to the development of our continent as a whole and not a certain part of it while the other suffers. (Indeed while technology growth is evident in West Africa, there are other aspects of development in which West Africa lags far behind its East African counterparts). Its about continental economics versus the poverty picture that the continent portrays to the rest of the world. Its about people talking to people for next to nothing, and its about encouraging my African brothers and sisters living outside the continent to return home and contribute in the building of our crumbled societies because there is cheap, affordable means of communication. Which, in my opinion, contributes greatly to the underlying reasons why the diaspora refuses to return and invest in the continent. Lets look at the fibre issue as a continental issue, from a holistic point of view rather than the sectored, fractured spectacles we have used up until now - of EASSy for East Africa and SAT-3 for West Africa. Then perhaps 'open access' would lose its meaning and become just 'affordable access.' Then we would have achieved our objective. CHAKULA: What are the key challenges in West Africa, as far as open access is concerned? BA: Firstly, the availability of SAT-3 gives us an illusion that all our communication needs have been met and hence we do not need to further research or invest into alternative or more available means of connectivity. Although there has been private sector activity in this area (for example, the GlobalCom fibre link to London, the Festoon cable, etc.) it may be insufficient to meet the future needs of communication especially, as I have already mentioned, that all services, including broadcast signals, would run on some of these channels. This is one amongst many reasons why this medium may not be sufficient in the near future. Secondly, the open access debate has not been an issue on the table of most West African connectivity discussions, because of - you got it right - SAT-3. "It ain't broke, don't fix it." Hence the struggle by civil society has been to lower the cost and improve connectivity as opposed to directly challenging the rather 'political' status quo and structure of the closed consortium; political in the sense that incumbents are tied to governments and, believe it or not, governments have closely guarded interests in the revenue generated by their cash cows - the telcoms. While we also advocate for the opening up of the 'governing' structure held tightly by the agreements countries (and their telcos) may have signed binding them to secrecy, we also advocate for the ease of accessing this infrastructure from whatever landing station one chooses. Could this be open access in another form? Or perhaps from a West African perspective? CHAKULA: During the workshop you suggested that technology can have a detrimental affect, and that in some instances customs and cultural habits may be lost. In this way, a different kind of 'access' is under threat - access to culture as it is being practiced. Could you elaborate on this? BA: I will put the discuss in context here, as the workshop focused on access at the rural community level. I believe it is very important that our rural folks should be reachable and should be within either fixed or mobile coverage areas, fall within the electricity grid, have running water, and information (either via broadcast channels - TV, radio or the internet), etc. Our specific debate focused on the use and proliferation of 'free networks' in the rural community. This is clearly useful as I would be able to reach my grandmother from across the world and she me if that network is connected to the larger national backbone. But should my grand mum use that tool to speak to her neighbor in the next commune of huts - 10 meters away, just like we are used to doing in the urban areas? (Research shows that more 'neighborhood' calls amount for a larger percentage of the entire household phone bill). We happen to always drop into a friend's place as we find ourselves 'in the neighborhood' without making any prior calls or appointments. This social dynamic, though unpleasant in some ways, is often appreciated. I may be myopic in my thinking here and perhaps be looking at this using the eye of my village, the rural community that shaped my being. 'In the neighborhood' is not the unlikely, but rather the norm, in the rural context. Does the introduction of technology and rural communication affect this very fabric of rural culture? I believe so. When my grandmother would rather speak to her neighbor on the phone than visit her seems to me to negatively affect communication within the rural community - communication being the basis by which African communities exist. Ours is an oral culture. CHAKULA: As a donor, what sorts of initiatives do you think need to be supported in the context of open access in West Africa? BA: Clearly, the price of access needs to drop. Not just become affordable, but way below the disposable income of the rural person. Secondly, barter trade still subsists in must parts of African communities. I would like to see, putting it plainly, the ability to exchange a basket of tomatoes for x hours of airtime for the rural community farmer. I would also like to see the government, private sector, etc. putting rural access on the forefront of connectivity discuss and not just talking about it, but ensuring that something is done - enough of the talk now. And finally, I would like to see empowered and organised consumers and their interests cutting across rural and urban communities in the open access debate; and subsequent implementation. While I believe that regulation may be 'evil' in some form, a structured regulatory framework for both rural and urban infrastructure should exist as self-regulation may be totally impossible in connectivity issues. There are too many interests at stake. Background reading: Anders Comstedt, Eric Osiakwan and Russell Southwood (Spintrack AB): Open Access Model, Options for Improving Backbone Access in Developing Countries (with a Focus on Sub- Saharan Africa), 2005. http://www.infodev.org/files/ 2569_file_OPEN_ACCESS_REPORT.pdf //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ 4. LATEST ANALYSES SATELLITE FAILURE SHOWS AFRICAS UNDERBELLY The cost of satellite bandwidth has rocketed as much as 50% following the failed launch of a satellite last January. The story shows just how vulnerable Africa is. Russell Southwood explores the issue. [Source: Balancing Act, www.balancingact-africa.com] http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5058882 ENABLING OPEN ACCESS THROUGH UNIVERSAL ACCESS In this paper, CIPESAs Vincent Bagiire questions whether open access will bear much fruit if universal access does not begin to create effective demand. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5056029 OPENING UP EASSy In the wake of what he calls the EASSy fallout", Eric Osiakwan goes back to the basics of open access to get the project's engines started again. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5042385 BLOWING THE WHISTLE ON TELKOM SA The Telecoms Action Group (TAG) has been making waves in South Africa. That's after it took out a full-page advert in two South African newspapers slamming Telkom SA for its higher-than-fair connectivity costs. CHAKULA spoke to Alastair Otter, founding editor of Tectonic, who is part of the TAG initiative. http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=he_1&x=5052971 See also: CONSUMERS SHOULDNT SUBSIDISE TELKOM argues APC Director Anriette Esterhuysen http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5057602 //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ 5. BACKGROUND READING WHY AFFORDABLE INTERNATIONAL BANDWIDTH MATTERS Currently Africa has amongst the highest international bandwidth costs anywhere in the world. Although it varies, the international element of the cost to the consumer is significant proportion of the overall cost he or she pays. The same is true for institutional users like governments or for companies in the private sector. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=4051584 FINANCING INFRASTRUCTURE Before markets were liberalised, telephone companies were in the main government-owned institutions. When they wanted to build undersea cables, governments financed this activity and the project was carried out by the government-owned telephone company. In the age of liberalisation, things get a bit more tricky. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=4051585 HOW FAR DOES DEMAND FOR LOW-COST CALLS GO? Up until relatively recently, making international calls from Africa has been expensive. People were less inclined or unable to afford to make an international call and the majority of international calling was either corporate or government. A number of factors have fundamentally changed this position. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=4051587 SATELLITE vs FIBRE: DIFFERENT COSTS FOR DIFFERENT THINGS Satellite is extremely effective in reaching places where the volume of traffic would not justify a fibre connection. However satellite connectivity is often costly. On the other hand, the comparatively low price of fibre connectivity for the consumer may not be sustainable over the long-term in some instances. http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=4051583 FLATTENING THE WORLD WITH FIBRE This paper aims to define fibre optic technology, how fibre-optic networks function, and explains how different this technology is from other communication infrastructures. The paper further outlines the prospects for fibre-optic technology in Africa, looks at some fibre- optic networks on the continent, as well as at how fibre-optic applications are being used to enhance technological and economic development. http://www.comminit.com/africa/strategicthinking/st2006/ thinking-1897.html //\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\ CHAKULA is a newsletter produced by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)s Africa ICT Policy Monitor <http:// africa.rights.apc.org> which aims to mobilise African civil society around ICT policy for sustainable development and social justice issues. We welcome your opinions about this newsletter. Send your comments, feedback or contributions to chakula(a)apc.org. To subscribe or unsubscribe e-mail chakula(a)apc.org or go to: http://lists.apc.org/cgi- bin/mailman/listinfo/chakula _______________________________________________ Grace mailing list Grace(a)apcafricawomen.org http://lists.apcwomen.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/grace

1 0

articles
by Rebecca Wanjiku 27 Mar '07

27 Mar '07

hi, we are in the process of finalising the Kictanet newsletter, i had earlier asked for articles and updates but got no response, if you would like us to feature your organisation or any updates, please send them directly to me, not to the list, just cut and paste my email, dont hit the reply button, regards becky ____________________________________________________________________________________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html

1 0

{Disarmed} FW: Rwanda's Knowledge Revolution
by Harry Hare 27 Mar '07

27 Mar '07

Fyi.. _____ From: Harry Hare [mailto:harry@africanedevelopment.org] Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 9:11 AM To: 'KICTanet Committee' Subject: Rwanda's Knowledge Revolution Very interesting reading, I think a lot of African countries can borrow a leaf from this. But what is probably evident in this article is the seriousness that leadership of the country has placed on ICT as an enabler to its development effort. It is the leadership that has facilitated the "from rags to riches" ICT development. Read on Harry (http://www.businessinafrica.net/tech_telecoms/633087.htm) <javascript:self.close()> <javascript:window.print()> Rwanda's knowledge revolution Andrew Mack and Jeremy Goldberg '28-FEB-07 23:00' There was again, the same look - a combination of concern and disbelief - when I told a colleague that I'd been working in Rwanda. After all, what do we in the outside world know about Rwanda? A small country with a history of unspeakable violence and ethnic division, perhaps, but a place of opportunity? A leader of Africa's march into the 21st century? Rwanda? For all its challenges, Rwanda is by nearly all accounts making tremendous strides, working to re-build into a modern, knowledge-based economy. In fact, a number of Rwanda-watchers these days see the country on track to become the hottest IT spot between Cairo and Durban, a kind of "Silicon Valley of East-Central Africa." But it certainly did not have to be this way. In a region where so much has gone wrong, what went right in Rwanda? Everything started with vision. While much of the development of IT and the Internet around the continent has historically been ad hoc, Rwanda decided early on to build IT into its strategic plans for the future - in tangible, not just rhetorical ways. Since coming to power, President Kagame had stressed his eagerness to move the country from an agriculturally-based economy to a creative, competitive and more knowledge-based system. So following extensive consultations with different groups across Government and society at large in and around the year 2000, Rwanda launched its Vision 2020, the country's roadmap for development, with a focus on IT as a crucial cornerstone. It was an unusual vision, one that looked over the horizon with a confidence rarely shown by developing nations. In a country that needed so much, it was easy to ask the question "Why Internet? Why tech?" But consider Rwanda's position: landlocked, with long distances to the sea, troublesome infrastructure in neighbouring countries, instability in bordering Congo and Burundi. Add to this crushingly expensive air rates - the Nairobi-Kigali route is believed to be the second most expensive flight per kilometre in the world - one can see how traditional, goods-focused export trade would be challenging to say the least. Building a knowledge economy was and remains more than a logical choice. It is an enlightened necessity. So to make this vision work, the Government decided to invest in people - especially teachers and the tools they needed. After the genocide in 1994, Rwanda needed to rebuild the country's tech infrastructure, but had a shortage of trained local people to get the job done. To address the issue, in 1997 the Government opened the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). Since then, KIST has graduated thousands of Rwandan tech experts and is now recognised as a leader in the development of biogas technology and renewable energy. And the investment wasn't just limited to the capital, or to university-level students. As part of its IT outreach Rwanda focused on bringing computers and Internet access to young people across the country. Josh Kron, a Kigali-based journalist, recently recounted to me the story of a Danish IT consultant who came to Rwanda in 2002 with a container full of 57 computers to donate to schools. At that time it was one of the largest (if not the largest) shipments of its kind. Today over 1200 primary schools (not to mention secondary and university classrooms) have computers available. It's currently estimated that some 10 percent of all Rwanda's secondary schools already have wireless internet access, and plans are underway to expand this substantially. According to Musabayezu Narcisse, Secretary General in the country's Ministry of Education, "As of today (December 2006) [the Government has] given out 4 000 computers to secondary schools around the country." This combined with a proliferation of private access points - Kigali is home to literally dozens of internet cafes - has put Rwanda on a steep path to integrating IT into everyday life and development. Quite a change from 2002. At the same time, the country also set high goals for spending and investment in infrastructure to match the focus on training. In March of 2006 Rwanda committed to spend some $1bn to build and promote telecentres, specifically aimed at bringing rural areas online and promoting broader-based use of technology for business. This spending was part of an overall concentration in science. In January of this year Kagame reminded his fellow heads of state at an African Union summit that the country had set its science and technology spending at 1,6 percent of GDP, bringing it in line with typical OECD nations (as opposed to other African nations, which average less than 0.5%). He compared the IT future of Rwanda to that of Australia, as opposed to Kenya. Of course to make the kinds of big investments the country needed, Rwanda would need big support from the international donor community. And they got it, focusing a significant part of its donor-funded work on IT-related projects, among them a $20mn Public Sector Capacity Building project and in 2006, a $10mn e-Government project - both funded by the World Bank. The goal was to use technology to reach out over the head of logistics challenges, streamlining communications, and using video conferencing to facilitate work with district leaders in different parts of the country. As Albert Butare, Minister of State in Charge of Energy and Communications, explained simply, Rwanda wanted to use IT solutions to enable local government leaders to function "without them having to come to Kigali all the time". After all, e-government should be able to save time, promote accountability, efficiency and transparency and lower cost in Rwanda - if it can in Washington. Rwanda has also worked hard to re-design its business environment, promoting a new openness to investment and a series of reforms to create a business-friendly climate. The country was described as a top regional reformer in the recent World Bank Doing Business survey, noting some big changes in 2006. To ease company start-up, a presidential decree dramatically increased the number of authorised notaries, shrinking the time it takes to register a new business from 21 days to 16 days. Rwanda also decreased its corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 30 percent in 2005. The process of reform is far from complete, but international investors began to take notice. In fact, it didn't take long to attract telecommunications and software companies. Terracom brought wireless broadband internet to Kigali. Microsoft is bringing e-learning classrooms. Nokia set up a village phone programme, and just last month, a partnership was announced with the One Laptop per Child programme (the $100 laptop scheme). And these days Rwanda is saying the proof is in the fibre. Yes, fibre. Rwanda has become one of the most wired countries in the region. Terracom has laid more than 220 miles of fibre-optic cable. According to Christopher Lundh, Terracom's CEO, "Rwanda, through fibre-optic and CDMA technology, enjoys without question, the most advanced communications technology in Africa." And as a testament to this expertise, last year African countries unanimously voted Rwanda the headquarters of the East Africa Submarine Cable Project (EASSy). This $280mn project will serve Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Lesotho. A Rwandan will serve as the Chair of its Working Committee. Finally, Rwanda is taking steps to build its reputation - its brand - as an information hub for the long term. Just days ago Rwanda made public its offer to provide up to 100 ICT scholarships for students from East and Central African nations, starting in 2009. If East Africa were an IT village, Rwanda might now be seen as one of the village elders. So Rwanda is getting it right. But does that really matter for Africa as a whole, or for other emerging markets? Perhaps the most encouraging thing about this entire story is that the reasons for Rwanda's success are no mystery. Rwanda's IT-focused approaches work and can work elsewhere. If you don't yet believe me, believe The Economist - they recently reported that Rwanda is well on its way to achieving several of the Millennium Development Goals. And, Rwanda is not the only example of IT turning around an emerging market country. I could easily wave the Mauritian flag. Mauritius, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean, is now an IT powerhouse attracting growing numbers of foreign investors. Why shouldn't these new technologies be used to help modernise the government and infrastructure in Sierra Leone? Freetown is already looking to Rwanda as an example of the possibilities, with IT as one of the central objectives in their own Vision 2025. Could IT help trade for landlocked countries like Burundi and Uganda as they work to enhance exports through Tanzania and Kenya? The answer is of course yes. IT could help improve supply chain management, expedite port clearance delays, and increase the reliability of customs operations. all things that experts touched on at a recent World Bank Government seminar. In a region where so much has gone wrong, Rwanda is an example of how much can be accomplished with a focus on IT. Investment in people, clarity of vision and a focus on technology infrastructure have given the country new, entrepreneurial options for the future. Especially given the challenges of its past, we should recognise a country so focused on its potential, one that is looking over the horizon, beyond simple rebuilding. So, three cheers for Rwanda, the 'Singapore of Central Africa' - a model for post-conflict nations on the continent and beyond. Andrew Mack is a former World Bank official and the Principal of AMGlobal -Business <http://www.businessinafrica.net> in Africa Magazine _____

1 0

2-Day eHealth Workshop closes with a suprise
by Jose' 27 Mar '07

27 Mar '07

Reality check, We all have to start from the grass roots.The only way Kenya can be seen implementing what they have policy made is for the government especially the ministry of Info and technology to work with E-learning centres,equip them with internet connectivity and fund them to implement what they(Government) have policy made. Thereafter its the duty of the E-learning centre(e.g Kimathi information cente),to train the communities on a certain level then another higher institution picks them up and takes them to a much higher level. The government has the capacity.All it needs is to slot in E-learning centres on the grassroots level.We are doing it in our Kimathi community.It surely works!! Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri ----- Original Message ---- From: Pauline Muthigani <pauline(a)nordic.co.ke> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 9:20:29 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] 2-Day eHealth Workshop closes with a suprise Hello, I too had a chance to attend the same workshop .And relate to what Walu is saying.I have studied many African countries and I can simply state that the difference between Kenya and the likes of Rwanda and Namibia is that Kenya we are GREAT In policy making BUT not as GREAT when it comes to implementation! Kenya got GREAT plans/policies but challenged when it comes to fast implementation. SA ,Namibia Morocco,Egypt, Tunisia and the Rwandas of Africa have their govt supporting ICT fully, same here our government does , but then why is the implementation speed so low. What must we do to expedite implementing of these.. WE NEED ACTION ACTION ACTION!! albest, Pauline > Last week on Wed 21st/Thrs 22nd, I had the opportunity to > attend the above regional (East African) meeting on eHealth > at the Nairobi Safari Club. Member states (Ke, Ug, Tz, Rw, > & Burundi) were showcasing their eHealth projects and > sharing experiences. > > As usual, Rwanda's experience was way ahead of the pack. > The chaps are pretty focused and have established eHealth > Task forces that have been on the ground for over five > years. The have a comprehensive (Vision, Mission, > Objective, Activities, etc) eHealth Strategy that is well > integrated into their National Health Plan (Solved their > Budget/Funding Wars that way). > > Amongst some of the acitivities they have implemented was > to link up their three National Referral Hospitals with > fiber and are running Telemedicine & Other applications > such as: Doctor-to-Doctor Consultations, Doctor-to-patient > consultations(e.g. sharing digitized X-rays), Drug > Inventory Control & Monitoring, Blood Bank Control & > Monitoring, Epidemic Surveillance amongst others. > > They are currently looking forward to mapping their Health > Information Systems (HIMS) onto a Geographical Information > Systems (GIS) in order to extract 'Health-Intelligence' > from their data. For example, using the two systems, they > would be able to 'see' why consumption of Malaria drugs is > higher in some locations as compared to the other - > probably due to the surrounding swampy conditions. This > would get their Health managers to intervene by way of > treating the swampy conditions rather than just increasing > the stock levels of Malaria drugs for that region. {I think > that is clever} > > It always beats me:- How comes we are having to learn from > Rwanda every now and then and yet we are supposedly the > 'big brother'? > > walu. > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Don't get soaked. Take a quick peek at the forecast > with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut. > http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather > > _______________________________________________ > 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/pauline%40nordic.co.ke > > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > -- Pauline Muthigani Telecom/ ICT Strategy Analyst Nordic Consulting P.O Box 61191, 00200 Nairobi-Kenya Tel: 254 20 2736633 Cell: 254 7222614771 Fax: 254 202731194 ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world" _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing listc 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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love (and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list. http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265

1 0

Re: [kictanet] 2-Day eHealth Workshop closes with a suprise
by A. Wanjira Munyua 27 Mar '07

27 Mar '07

Okay Soberly now, having shared my frustrations, we need to seriously consider re-framing the way we advocate for ICTs for development. Perhaps linking them to concrete livelihood issues could be a start making it easier for policy makers to place ICTS within the broader development/poverty reduction frameworks. We could then lobby to ensure that ICTs as tools and the sector in general is taken seriously. Lobbying parliamentarians to remind them of the pending communications/ICT related bills/policies would not hurt. Luckily for us in Kenya we have a government that listens and accomodates! best alice A. Wanjira Munyua wrote: > Agree we talk a lot, write a lot of papers, develop many policies, form > committees that develop and submit comprehensive recommendations, etc but > never seem to have the drive/will or is it resources to implement. Look at > the IC bill, our impressive E-government strategy and many others. > Did you all note that none of the bills that affect the communications > sector were mentioned as priorities for parliamentary discussions. > well, I am sorry I am not offering any constructive suggestions just > sharing frustration here. > > best > alice > > > > Michuki Mwangi wrote: >> Walu, >> >> John Walubengo wrote: >>> It always beats me:- How comes we are having to learn from >>> Rwanda every now and then and yet we are supposedly the >>> 'big brother'? >>> >> Maybe we talk too much? ;) >> >> I first heard of tele-medicine back in 2001 - 2002, its been 5yrs since >> not sure how much has been done as a result of the forums and >> discussions held back then. >> >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/alice%40apc.org >

2 1

Re: [kictanet] 2-Day eHealth Workshop closes with a suprise
by A. Wanjira Munyua 26 Mar '07

26 Mar '07

Agree we talk a lot, write a lot of papers, develop many policies, form committees that develop and submit comprehensive recommendations, etc but never seem to have the drive/will or is it resources to implement. Look at the IC bill, our impressive E-government strategy and many others. Did you all note that none of the bills that affect the communications sector were mentioned as priorities for parliamentary discussions. well, I am sorry I am not offering any constructive suggestions just sharing frustration here. best alice Michuki Mwangi wrote: > Walu, > > John Walubengo wrote: >> It always beats me:- How comes we are having to learn from >> Rwanda every now and then and yet we are supposedly the >> 'big brother'? >> > > Maybe we talk too much? ;) > > I first heard of tele-medicine back in 2001 - 2002, its been 5yrs since > not sure how much has been done as a result of the forums and > discussions held back then. > >

1 0

[Fwd: PROJECT OFFICER: KNOWLEDGE COMMUNICATIONS position with IISD]
by A. Wanjira Munyua 26 Mar '07

26 Mar '07

---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------------- Subject: PROJECT OFFICER: KNOWLEDGE COMMUNICATIONS position with IISD From: "A. Wanjira Munyua" <alice(a)apc.org> Date: Mon, March 26, 2007 12:16 pm To: kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke -------------------------------------------------------------------------- KICTANet Listers, Interesting position with International Institute for Sustainable Development. Please respond to the e-mail address listed at the end of this notice not to KICTANet list. best alice --------------------------------------------------------- PROJECT OFFICER KNOWLEDGE COMMUNICATIONS IISD is seeking a Project Officer to support the initiatives of its Knowledge Communications program. This position is located in Ottawa. Specific duties and responsibilities with respect to the Knowledge Communications program: Research policy linkages between the information society and sustainable development. o Develop a program of work on Internet Governance and its impact on sustainable development: monitor the Internet governance debates, within the IGF, ICANN, and other relevant arenas; prepare information briefs, research papers and organize workshops that contribute to an understanding of the importance of the Internet Governance debate to sustainable development practitioners and policy makers. o Liaise between the key actors (IGF, ICANN, ITU, IDRC, and others) and IISD. o Analyze ICT4D policies in developing countries and develop recommendations for policy coherence with sustainable development strategies, Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, Millennium Development Goals and other development frameworks and agendas. o Develop new projects and funding proposals to advance this work. Support capacity building initiatives with young people as leaders in using information and communications technologies to achieve more sustainable development. Contribute to the Knowledge Communications program of work on the operation, management and assessment of networks and other models for individual and inter-organization collaboration o Support evaluations of networks (interviews, surveys, etc.) as assigned o Conduct research on knowledge management and communications topics, as assigned. Other duties as assigned General The Project Officer supports all initiatives of IISD as assigned. General responsibilities include: managing assigned projects, controlling budgets, and supervising IISD or external staff associated with those projects; maintaining contacts with domestic and international project partners; identifying and initiating new projects through IISDs project planning and review mechanism; developing proposals and raising funds for new project initiatives; contributing to IISD projects under various strategic objectives; representing IISD at local, national and international fora; organizing meetings and holding discussions with appropriate persons/groups according to the needs of IISDs initiatives; participating on IISDs Planning and Review Committee as requested; other duties as assigned. The Project Officer reports to the Director, Knowledge Communications. Travel within and outside Canada may be required. Qualifications and Skills The Project Officer should hold a Masters degree in an appropriate field (such as international affairs, environmental studies or ICT policy), with two years relevant experience. S/he should be familiar with the literature and organizations within the fields of Internet governance, ICT for development, knowledge for development, communications for development and institutional collaboration. In particular, s/he should have knowledge of institutions involved in the WSIS (including WSIS follow-up processes) and IGF. S/he should also have a broad knowledge of sustainable development issues. S/he should understand accountability and transparency issues in governance processes and how they relate to sustainable development, be aware of issues related to security and stability of the Internet and their potential implications for the global South, and be able to draw on linkages between ICT and PRSPs. The Project Officer will have demonstrated capacity for managing projects and budgets, and for working with minimal supervision. S/he should be a team player with good interpersonal skills. Excellent writing skills, the ability to work virtually with distributed teams and the capacity to research and communicate via the Internet are essential. Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other languages is desirable. Candidates must be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. Closing Date: April 6, 2007 Reply in confidence to: Director, Human Resources & Administration International Institute for Sustainable Development 6th Floor, 161 Portage Avenue East Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4 Fax: +1 (204) 958-7710 E-mail: info(a)iisd.ca

1 0

PROJECT OFFICER: KNOWLEDGE COMMUNICATIONS position with IISD
by A. Wanjira Munyua 26 Mar '07

26 Mar '07

KICTANet Listers, Interesting position with International Institute for Sustainable Development. Please respond to the e-mail address listed at the end of this notice not to KICTANet list. best alice --------------------------------------------------------- PROJECT OFFICER KNOWLEDGE COMMUNICATIONS IISD is seeking a Project Officer to support the initiatives of its Knowledge Communications program. This position is located in Ottawa. Specific duties and responsibilities with respect to the Knowledge Communications program: Research policy linkages between the information society and sustainable development. o Develop a program of work on Internet Governance and its impact on sustainable development: monitor the Internet governance debates, within the IGF, ICANN, and other relevant arenas; prepare information briefs, research papers and organize workshops that contribute to an understanding of the importance of the Internet Governance debate to sustainable development practitioners and policy makers. o Liaise between the key actors (IGF, ICANN, ITU, IDRC, and others) and IISD. o Analyze ICT4D policies in developing countries and develop recommendations for policy coherence with sustainable development strategies, Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, Millennium Development Goals and other development frameworks and agendas. o Develop new projects and funding proposals to advance this work. Support capacity building initiatives with young people as leaders in using information and communications technologies to achieve more sustainable development. Contribute to the Knowledge Communications program of work on the operation, management and assessment of networks and other models for individual and inter-organization collaboration o Support evaluations of networks (interviews, surveys, etc.) as assigned o Conduct research on knowledge management and communications topics, as assigned. Other duties as assigned General The Project Officer supports all initiatives of IISD as assigned. General responsibilities include: managing assigned projects, controlling budgets, and supervising IISD or external staff associated with those projects; maintaining contacts with domestic and international project partners; identifying and initiating new projects through IISDs project planning and review mechanism; developing proposals and raising funds for new project initiatives; contributing to IISD projects under various strategic objectives; representing IISD at local, national and international fora; organizing meetings and holding discussions with appropriate persons/groups according to the needs of IISDs initiatives; participating on IISDs Planning and Review Committee as requested; other duties as assigned. The Project Officer reports to the Director, Knowledge Communications. Travel within and outside Canada may be required. Qualifications and Skills The Project Officer should hold a Masters degree in an appropriate field (such as international affairs, environmental studies or ICT policy), with two years relevant experience. S/he should be familiar with the literature and organizations within the fields of Internet governance, ICT for development, knowledge for development, communications for development and institutional collaboration. In particular, s/he should have knowledge of institutions involved in the WSIS (including WSIS follow-up processes) and IGF. S/he should also have a broad knowledge of sustainable development issues. S/he should understand accountability and transparency issues in governance processes and how they relate to sustainable development, be aware of issues related to security and stability of the Internet and their potential implications for the global South, and be able to draw on linkages between ICT and PRSPs. The Project Officer will have demonstrated capacity for managing projects and budgets, and for working with minimal supervision. S/he should be a team player with good interpersonal skills. Excellent writing skills, the ability to work virtually with distributed teams and the capacity to research and communicate via the Internet are essential. Fluency in English is required; knowledge of other languages is desirable. Candidates must be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. Closing Date: April 6, 2007 Reply in confidence to: Director, Human Resources & Administration International Institute for Sustainable Development 6th Floor, 161 Portage Avenue East Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4 Fax: +1 (204) 958-7710 E-mail: info(a)iisd.ca

1 0

PRESIDENTS ADDRESS AT THE INAUGURATION OF COMMONWEALTH CONNECTS: INTERNATIONAL E-PARTNERSHIP SUMMIT, 23RD MARCH 2007, NEW DELHI
by Harry Hare 26 Mar '07

26 Mar '07

Dear Colleagues, Below is President Dr Abdul Kalami's speech when inaugurating the first commonwealth connects International ePartnership Summit in New Delhi India last Friday. It is important to note that the President did not just read his speech, but he used a PowerPoint presentation to visualize his ideas. It was quite a trip for those who were there. Kindest Regards Harry PRESIDENTS ADDRESS AT THE INAUGURATION OF COMMONWEALTH CONNECTS: INTERNATIONAL E-PARTNERSHIP SUMMIT, NEW DELHI _____ Following is the text of the President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalami's Address at the Inauguration of Commonwealth Connects: International E-Partnership Summit here today: Evolution of Commonwealth Knowledge Grid "Connectivity enriches the societies" I am indeed delighted to participate in the inauguration of Commonwealth Connects: International e-Partnership Summit. I am happy that the summit is aiming to promote effective global partnerships between public and private sectors in developing and implementing strategies which will bridge the digital divide across the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. My greetings to the ICT Ministers of the Commonwealth, CEOs, Managing Directors, Government Officials and Senior Representatives from Civil Society. Today when I am with you, I would like to share with you some of the Indian experience in connectivity for achieving the societal transformation. This along with the experiences of other participating Commonwealth countries can lead to evolution of a multi-lateral connectivity between and among nations. Hence, I would like to discuss with you on the topic "Evolution of Commonwealth Knowledge Grid". Broadband economy for prosperity The telecom revolution in India has opened multiple windows of opportunities and the benefits of this revolution are in the process of percolating to the vast majority of our villages. It is through this network that people living in the villages would be able to access modern education, healthcare services and employment opportunities. And I believe, this would be true for many countries in the Commonwealth spectrum. Broadband connectivity is key to realizing the stated socio-economic goals. Large scale utilization of local languages would enable people of the Commonwealth to create content with ease and authenticity which, when shared, would have a positive effect in the growth of economy of all the countries of Commonwealth through the benefits of telecom revolution and related Internet and multimedia tools. Bandwidth is demolisher of imbalance: The bandwidth is the demolisher of imbalances and a great leveler in the knowledge society. Making the bandwidth available is like the Government laying the roads. Movement of materials through these roads creates wealth in the industrial economy and the government recovers more than the investment on the roads by way of taxes and enhanced prosperity to its people. In the modern digital economy driven by knowledge products, bits and bytes traverse the network and create wealth and this will recover the cost of investments in the bandwidth. Thus, a singular action of making the bandwidth available to all our people will bridge the perceived divide. The free bandwidth will make economic sense if we appropriately cost the services offered using the bandwidth. We have the fiber infrastructure ready up to block level, last mile wireless technologies are being implemented and the VSAT technologies for the unreachable are in place in the form of Satellite services. Hence, we are well on course to bridge the digital gap. We are in the midst of convergence of digital technologies. The total installed bandwidth capacity in India, is in the range of 19-20 Terra bytes and lit-up capacity is progressively increasing with enhanced economic activity. Empowerment through Connectivity The total land area of India is around 3.3 million square kilometers with 7000 kilometers of coast line. The entire area is spread into deserts, hilltops, mountains, sea shores, islands, valleys and plains. Out of the billion plus population in the country 70% live in six hundred thousand villages. We are in the process of a societal transformation towards sustainable development for our growth. This we propose to realize in a time bound manner through a knowledge society for empowering the entire nation. Electronic and knowledge connectivity is the key to realize this goal. Connecting a billion people gives multiple challenges. Now, I would like to discuss about societal transformation. In the proposed model, the inter-connectivity among the three sectors of the economy is brought about by four grids: namely, Knowledge Grid, Health Grid, e-Governance Grid and the Rural Grid,. Each grid is a system of multiple portals. This system of grid will bring prosperity to 700 million people in the rural areas and 300 million plus people in the urban areas. In the process, it will ensure that the lives of 220 million people are transformed from below the poverty line. First let me discuss about knowledge grid. Knowledge Grid The endeavor is indeed to build and transform an information society into a knowledge society. The knowledge society will be a society producing, marketing and using products and services that are rich in both explicit and tacit knowledge, thus creating value-added products for national and international consumption. In the knowledge economy, the objective of a society changes from fulfilling the basic needs of all-round development to empowerment. The education system instead of going by textbook teaching will be promoted by creative, interactive self learning ? formal and informal with focus on values, merit and quality. The workers instead of being skilled or semi-skilled will be knowledgeable, self- empowered and flexibly skilled. We have rich knowledge institutions but what we have to add is connectivity. This connectivity today is technologically possible but would need creation of high bandwidth reliable network infrastructure to the extent of minimum 10 Gigabits per second all through the country to provide uniform access of knowledge in different regions leading to the creation of Knowledge GRID. Now, I would like to discuss on establishing the next network in the system of GRIDs across the country, namely Health Grid. Health Grid The mission of telemedicine with healthcare Grid is gaining momentum and it will spread to all the equipped Primary Health Centres in the country, medical colleges and research institutions. Connectivity between 35 urban super-specialty hospitals with 165 remotely located Healthcare Centres has been established through Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) telemedicine grid. This will enable unique case studies and experiences to be exchanged between the super specialists through this health grid. It will also be possible to conduct Conferences of specialist doctors from multi centers to discuss the critical disease patterns and provide treatment. Now I would like to take up e-Governance Grid. Connectivity for E-Governance Good governance is being recognized as an important goal by many countries across the world. They have taken up specific initiatives for open and transparent governance. Freedom of information is being redefined and supported by detailed guidelines. The internet revolution has proved to be a powerful tool for good governance initiatives. An important dimension of the internet potential is the possibility of providing services any time anywhere. Along with this there is a conscious effort to put the citizen as the centre of focus of the governance. Citizens are being perceived as customers and clients. E-governance has to be citizen friendly. Delivery of services to citizens is considered as a primary function of the government. Particularly in a democratic nation of a billion people like India, e-Governance should enable seamless access to information and seamless flow of information across the state and central government in the federal setup crossing the inter-departmental barriers. Typical scenario: I visualize an election scenario, where a candidate files his nomination from a particular constituency. Immediately the election officer verifies his/her authenticity from the national citizen ID database through multifactor authentication, through a multipurpose Citizen ID card. The education credentials of the candidate come from the university records. Candidate's track record of employment comes from various employers with whom the candidate had worked. His or her income and wealth resources come from the income-tax department, and other sources. Candidate's property record comes from the registration of land authority across the country. Candidate's credit history comes form various credit institutions like banks. Candidate's civic consciousness and citizenship behaviour comes from the police crime record. Candidate's legal track records come from the judicial system. All the details arrive at the computer terminal of the election officer within few seconds automatically by the act of e-Governance software agents which crawls across the various state and central government web services directories through the network GRID and collects the information automatically and presents the facts in real-time without any bias. Artificial intelligence software analyses the credentials of the candidate and gives a rating on how successful he or she will be as a politician. Election officer sitting at the remote block of the country decides on the spot and the election process starts. All the voters vote from their home through virtual polling booths. If we consider the breakthroughs and expansion in telecommunication and internet in the last five years, this visualization is no longer a dream and is possible to be achieved by many nations. To establish a system what I have visualized, we need a high bandwidth broadband connectivity across the many Government departments such as State and District Administration, Election commission, Universities, Banks, Home/Police Departments, Insurance companies etc., This scenario requires vertical and horizontal e-Governance grid established across various institutions and the Government. Hence, we can draw information and feed information from these GRIDs for seamless flow of data to achieve the goal of good governance. Now let me discuss the significance of the sustainable development through establishing Rural Grid. Rural Grid India with six hundred thousand villages and seven hundred million people living in the rural areas needs an unique rural development model called PURA. PURA envisages provision of three connectivities namely physical connectivity, electronic connectivity and knowledge connectivity leading to economic connectivity. For providing the knowledge connectivity to the PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) complexes, Village Knowledge Centers will act as frontline delivery system. The Village Knowledge Centre should provide the essential data required for the targeted population such as farmers, fishermen, craftsmen, traders, businessmen, entrepreneurs, unemployed youth and the students. Now the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is in the process of establishing 100,000 Common Service Centre (CSC?s) across the country through public-private partnership model. We have so far discussed all the four connectivities at the national level required for the societal transformation leading to empowerment. Now, I would like to share with you the experience of establishing a Pan African e-Network for providing connectivity among 53 African nations. Pan African e-Network During the year 2003-04, I visited African countries such as Sudan, Tanzania, Zanzibar and South Africa. I addressed the Pan African Parliament on 16 Sept 2004, at Johannesburg, South Africa which was attended by Heads of 53 member countries of the African Union. Based on my study of the communication, healthcare and education needs of the African countries, I proposed the concept of Pan African e-Network for providing seamless and integrated satellite, fiber optics and wireless network connecting 53 African countries. The Pan-African e-Network project is estimated to cost around US$100 million. As part of the project 12 universities (7 from India and 5 from Africa), 17 Super Specialty Hospitals (12 from India and 5 from Africa), 53 tele-medicine centers and 53 tele-education centres in Africa will be connected. The pilot project on tele-education and tele-medicine in Ethiopia has already been commissioned. One of our Indian Universities has taken up the MBA Course for 34 Ethiopian students of Addis Ababa and Harmaya Universities. As regards, tele-medicine, the specialists from CARE Hospital, Hyderabad are providing one-hour live tele-consultation to doctors in Black Lion Hospital, Addis Ababa in Cardiology and Radiology since November 2006. The Pan African e-Network will primarily provide Tele-Education, Tele-Medicine, Internet, videoconferencing and VOIP services. It also supports e-Governance, e-Commerce, infotainment, resource mapping and meteorological services. Each remote location will be able to access the Internet through the network by linking the HUB to Internet backbone. Using this network the Heads of the State in all the 53 countries will be connected for instant communication. The network is designed to have 169 terminals and a central hub to deliver tele-education and tele-medicine services. The proposed network will utilize state-of-the-art technology and can be integrated with the latest broadband technologies like Wi-Fi and Wi-Max. The network is scalable to support different applications catering to increased number of users. I am happy to inform you that 22 countries will be connected in the first half of 2007 and the rest will be operationalized by early 2008. RB Multimedia Studio Now, I would like to share with you another experience when I delivered 2006 Phillip Tobias Lecture on 27th September 2006 from Rashtrapati Bhavan Multimedia studio using Multimedia tele-conferencing. After the lecture, I was interacting with Prof Tobias and his team at Durban, Johannesburg in South Africa and Sanfrancisco in USA. This experience made me realize the power of technology as an integrator of minds leading to a borderless world without geographical barriers ? a symbol of universalisation. Based on these interactions, I have suggested one of our leading scientific institutions to collaborate with specialists in South Africa in Anthropology for promoting conservation of certain types of endangered species. I am sure many Commonwealth countries participating in today?s summit have several experiences to share and Commonwealth connects programme can formulate a plan to integrate the core-competence of nations for mutual benefit. This power of networking can definitely be used by Commonwealth countries for sharing their core competencies and building a knowledge platform for serving the development aspirations of the individual nations through collective wisdom. Suggestions I would like to give few suggestions for the consideration of the Commonwealth Connects 2007: International e-Partnership Summit. 1. Evolving guidelines for common telecommunication policy to share resources, network, infrastructure, without any barrier and facilitate implementation through a Commonwealth co-ordination centre. 2. Evolving guidelines for Common Information Security policy in IT. 3. Modernizing education through state of the art skill development programmes among the Commonwealth nations leading to skill certification and acceptance among the countries for global employment opportunities. 4. Undertaking study of e-governance implementations across the Commonwealth nations and suggest the best practices for the G2G and G2C implementations. 5. Creating a mechanism which will facilitate pooling of core competence of nations for developing knowledge products and systems for serving the global market in education, healthcare and e- governance. 6. Identifying gaps in educational standards of IT professionals in the Global business scenario in IT, ITES and BPO services and creating institutional mechanisms for training, accreditation and grading based on performance. Creating a common web portal for sharing information and knowledge among Commonwealth countries. 7. Creating a Commonwealth Connects Fund and Institute a Commonwealth committee to address the above mentioned suggestions. Conclusion The 53 countries of Commonwealth constitute a population of 2 billion i.e. one third of the population of the Planet. This network of independent nations in the past has taken up many initiatives for interconnecting their heritage in art, culture, science and technology, history, sports and way of living. Such a strong base of relationship and the core competence of the countries can be further integrated into a very useful partnership by providing connectivity through the Evolution of a Commonwealth Knowledge Grid. This can address many common challenges for development such as developing a knowledge society through quality education, providing affordable quality healthcare to all, sustainable rural development through cluster approach, providing transparent people-friendly-governance and above all evolution of an enlightened society for improving the National Prosperity Index of all the partner countries. The model developed by the Commonwealth Nations will have the potential to be extended to the entire Planet. With these words, I inaugurate the Commonwealth Connects: International e-Partnership Summit. My best wishes to all the participants of the Summit for success in their mission of creating a productive e-Partnership between and amongst all the Commonwealth countries. May God bless you.

1 0

Re: [kictanet] SYMPOSUIM FOR THIS WEEKEND."MUST HAVE ATTEND"
by Jose' 26 Mar '07

26 Mar '07

I understand.Thank you.Tho you may order a recorded tape you get to hear what the speakers said.Its not all lost.I am sorry. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2007 9:55:44 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] SYMPOSUIM FOR THIS WEEKEND."MUST HAVE ATTEND" Sorry Jose', On behalf of the Chix....please give ample notice in the future. Kind Regards, On 3/23/07, Fatma Bashir <fbashir(a)cyberschooltech.com> wrote: hi Jose' I'll have to post my regrets and for my team as well, we are off to the field today for the whole weekend...perhaps the next time around...but good luck. Fatma ----- Original Message ----- From: Jose' To: fbashir(a)cyberschooltech.com Cc: CATHY ATIENO ; Goria Lilian ; FRANCIS MWANGI Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 10:42 AM Subject: [kictanet] SYMPOSUIM FOR THIS WEEKEND."MUST HAVE ATTEND" Dear Colleague, Financing is one of the setbacks that the youth face to start up there small businesses enterprises. It with this concern that,Kimathi Information centre in collaboration with the Ministry of youth,Ministry of Information and technology,IMAC/KAYE,KWFT,business consultants,Investors,UN Habitat,GEEP,CFSK and Faulu Kenya have organized a Symposium that shall bring together up to 250 youth delegates be able to address the need of financing and how the delegates are going to get hold of the resources/finances to see the SME businesses get a kick start. I also attach the program for your perusal.Come see also the youth show case and what they sell in the exhibition tables. "THIS IS A MUST HAVE ATTEND SYMPOSIUM" DATE:24th March 2007 TIME:0900hrs to 1400hrs VENUE:KENYA ASSEMBLIES OF GOD MULTI PURPOSE HALL-BAHATI ENTRANCE FEE:50ksh(FIFTY SHILLINGS ONLY) Including all taxes Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. Check it out. _______________________________________________ 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/fbashir%40cyberschooltech.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" _______________________________________________ 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/judyokite%40gmail.com -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there." _______________________________________________ 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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/

4 4

tips
by Rebecca Wanjiku 26 Mar '07

26 Mar '07

just in case this business hots up in kenya, here are the tips.... How To Get Started As A Domainer28 Tips, Techniques and Resourcesdigg_url = 'http://digg.com/offbeat_news/How_To_Get_Started_As_A_Domainer '; How to Get Started as a Domainer: 28 Tips, Techniques and Resources10 Comments » How does a salary of $10,000 per day sound to you? Webmaster and marketing extraordinaire Marcus Frind reportedly pulls in $10,000 per day in Google AdSense from his dating website PlentyofFish.com. But that’s chump change compared to the $100,000 per day that domainer Yun Ye was pulling in before he sold his domain portfolio for about $164M in 2004 and subsequently disappeared under the radar. When it comes to making a buck on the internet it seems that everyone has a solution, although few of them seem to work. But if you’re looking to capitalize on one of the most powerful cash earning enterprises on the internet that is actually making plenty of people money, you should check out domaining. Although you may not be quite as successful as these two entrepreneurs, it’s never too late to start in the domaining industry. A domainer is someone who earns a profit buying and selling domain names. The philosophy is similar to the stock market: buy low and sell high. Here are 28 tips, tools, techniques and financing options to get you started on your way to successful domaining. Domain Buying StrategiesDomaining is a lot like stock investing, the very best in the field have moved beyond basic strategies and have developed their own specific formulas for success. But just as with stocks, to obtain the skills necessary to reach that advanced stage, beginners must first understand the fundamentals of strategic domain buying. In this section we introduce you to five traditional domain buying strategies, and explain a bit about each. Trademark Typo Domains. One of the original domainer buying strategies was to hunt for any trademarked names that hadn’t yet been purchased, and failing that, to purchase typos of those domains. These trademark typo domains often yielded a lot of type-in traffic, and because e-commerce law hadn’t yet developed to its current state, companies would often buy out these domainers at very inflated prices. But if you’re thinking about getting into trademark typo domaining, the ship has sailed. Current trademark law treats domainers that are seeing lots of traffic from a typo domain, and don’t otherwise have a legitimate business use for owning the name, as illegal trademark diluters. As such, trademark typo domainers typically have to turn over the domain to the trademark holder with little or no compensation. Simply stated, avoid the trademark typo strategy altogether. Keyword Typo Domains. While the trademark typo domain loophole has closed, a very legitimate and ethical domaining technique is pursuing keyword typo domains. Keyword typo domains (e.g., Mortgeges.com) can bring in a good deal of type-in traffic and are often significantly undervalued. While normally these aren’t the type of domains that someone would want to build a high-value company around (though typo domain Voyuer.com went for $112,000 in 2005), smaller individual webmasters are always in the market for targeted type-in traffic, so these sites are often in high demand among small-time domain purchasers.Automated Volume Buying. The next strategy, automated volume buying, is simply that; using an application to automatically search for available domains that meet your pre-set criteria, and purchasing the domains that result from the search. Automated volume buying requires, first and foremost, an excellent application to accept your search criteria and conduct the searches. While there are a number of domain research tools available for purchase, many top domainers use a customized version. No matter which volume buying tool you’re using, however, they all work in roughly the same way by allowing you to search WHOIS servers and filter results by keywords, Overture price ranges, search engine results, etc. So, for example, you could filter your potential domains by those that have a minimum of 1000 keyword searches per month and which yielded more than a top bid of $1.00 on Overture. While it is certainly true that now that more people are using automated volume buying tools the easiest bargains are usually taken, domainers can still find a good haul of cheap .com’s as long as they stay ahead of the curve by getting creative with their filter criteria.Trendwatching. If you’re looking for a domaining strategy that is longer-term but that can be highly lucrative, you might consider trendwatching. Trendwatching is simply the practice of anticipating popular domains before they become popular. The keys to successful trendwatching are good sources and creativity. One of the biggest mistakes novice domainers make, is attempting to trendwatch a very diverse group of industries, rather than focusing on a few and becoming an expert in those areas. The best way to start trendwatching is to pick two or three niches that you feel comfortable with and which are reasonably lucrative, then add eight to ten blogs within that niche to your RSS feed. Bloglines, Newsgator, and Google Reader are all free web-based feed readers, just in case you are unfamiliar with RSS. If you’re in a competitive niche, time is of the essence, so regularly check your feed for information on rising stars, new technologies, burgeoning trends or hot products, and once you hear of the trend, pounce on it immediately by buying up some relevant domains. In addition to RSS feeds, Google Trends can also help keep you on top of developing trends by showing relative query volume for one to five keywords or phrases. One thing to keep in mind when trendwatching, is that not every predicted trend will pan out, so anticipate plenty of total losses for every big hit. As a consequence, it is important to keep your domain holdings diversified, so that you aren’t too heavily invested in a single trend, and thus you can afford to wait out the staggering returns when one of your trend predictions proves true.Brute Force. Automated Domain Research Tools (DRT’s) allow you to sift through millions of available domains to find the few thousand that you might be interested in buying. But getting from those thousand to identifying the few specific domains you want to purchase can often be accomplished only through brute force. By “brute force” we refer to the most common domaining technique, which involves the use of a compilation of different manual research tools to identify the most lucrative domains. Each tool listed in this category simply helps to facilitate the process of manually going through and examining each potential domain on an individual basis (thus the “brute force” moniker). While it is impractical to cover every sort of tool that would fall into the “brute force” category, we have compiled a few of the most common tools to get you started. AjaxWhois is a convenient web2.0 domain search engine that executes multiple Top-Level Domain (TLD) queries on a root domain name. This can be a time-saver if you already have a specific root domain name in mind to purchase. dnScoop provides a variety of information about a domain, including whois, traffic, domain history and popularity, appraisal, pagerank check, inbound links and more. DigitalPoint is a set of webmaster tools geared more for websites and SEO’s, but which also provides some helpful tools such as a keyword recommendation tool which can help you come up with new domain ideas and word combinations. DomainState tools is a suite of browser-based domaining tools and links to trademark databases. Domain Tools has a suite of useful tools for domainers, including domain history, reverse IP (to see what other websites are hosted on an IP), DNS tools (whois, traceroute, etc.), domain monitor, and more. PagerankPredict is a very simple tool that gives you a predicted Google pagerank for a domain. This tool is handy if you plan to build out a domain with content. It is also free, but the site limits you to 5 queries per hour. SearchStatus is a robust SEO, SEM and domaining tool that works as a plugin for the Firefox browser. It will enable you to quickly get an overview of a potential purchase as well as a look and what backlinks are powering your competitors’ sites.The Marchex Model. Back in early 2005, Marchex Inc. paid a whopping $164 million for 100,000 high-quality hand selected domains, planning in the short term to leverage the domains’ type-in traffic for revenue, and in the long-term to selectively sell their appreciating portfolio. Individual domainers can follow a similar strategy, by targeting domains in the $1,000 to $5,000 range that are of higher quality and thus have a higher long-term upside potential. By targeting a dozen or so sites in this higher price range, Marchex Model domainers can eliminate most casual domainer competition and though they face higher risks, there is the possibility of much higher returns. It should go without saying, that having access to cheap capital is a must, as well as having a good understanding of domain appraisals. Unlike brick and mortar real estate, the domain name resale market is still not fully competitive, meaning that domains are often wildly under-priced, but can also be wildly overpriced. As a result, simply following market valuation for a domain without having a firm grip on your own appraisal metrics, is a certain way to fail when Marchex domaining.Financing Your DomainingNo matter what buying strategy you decide to follow, the first step to getting into domaining is acquiring enough capital to play in the market. Put simply, the more capital you have, the easier it is to build your domaining portfolio. So in this section we cover some simple strategies for coming up with the right types of capital you need to get your domaining off the ground. Spend only cheap capital. What’s the point of making a profit domaining only to pay it right back out again with high credit card interest rates? It is difficult to consistently make a return of more than 20-50% on your domain flipping, but you will need that return just to break even if you are funding your operations on credit card debt. So to minimize the risk of paying out all or most of your gains in credit card fees, make sure that early on you are only purchasing domains with only the money you have, and not what your credit limit says you are worth. If you do buy domains on credit, make sure that you are paying off the cards before they start accumulating interest and fees; otherwise you’ll start to see your domaining profits shrink as your break even point becomes that 20-50% interest rate. Partnership. Nobody likes to share their profits. But teaming up with a few partners who bring capital to the partnership will allow you to diversify your holdings and overall lower your risks and increase your net earnings. Just remember, however, that if the partnership dissolves, you may be forced to pony up cash to buy out your partners, or sell domains for less than you were hoping for. So if you and your partners have different ideas about how to profit from domaining, it may be a good idea to instead opt for a joint venture in which everyone’s obligations are spelled out ahead of time. Credit card balance transfer arbitrage. If you’ve opened up your mail lately, you’ve probably noticed that 0% APR credit card offers have now replaced AOL Free Trial CDs as the most abundant piece of mail in the world. Well, some card issuers have taken the free credit offer one step further by offering you something called a transfer check, which is simply a 3-18 month interest free loan. They make the offer to entice you to use their credit card, but if want to live dangerously, this can also be an easy way to come up with some quick cash. This advanced financing method, known as balance transfer arbitrage, will allow you to use that “free” money before the offer period expires, then pay it back. This is a very risky technique, however, because if you run into emergencies or other financial problems and cannot pay back the free loan before the regular high interest kicks in, then you are sunk. But in a situation where you come across the once in a lifetime deal, engaging in ‘balance transfer arbitrage’ may be worth the risk. Bootstrap and reinvest. Bootstrapping isn’t so much a single fundraising technique, as it is a ‘do it yourself’ mindset of leveraging what you earn back into growing your business. Entrepreneurs engaged in bootstrapping take very little of the company profits out of their business early on, and instead use those funds in lieu of a formal bank loan or venture capital. If you are anxious to quickly expand your domaining portfolio and can afford to live without the immediate profits, consider leaving all or most of your profits in the business to leverage new purchases. Bootstrapping is the poor entrepreneur’s way to compete against larger competitors, because by reinvesting their gross profits back into the business, bootstrappers gain a return which is functionally equivalent to compound interest. Important PracticesNow that you have decided on a strategy for identifying domains to purchase as well as secured the financing to make those purchases, it is time to turn to the actual practice of holding and maintaining your domains. In this section we cover some basic ground rules and insider tips to keep in mind as you purchase and manage your domains. Organize and auto-renew. If you’re holding domains for longer than a year, it’s a very good idea to have them all set to auto-renew. Make sure all of your contact info is correct and updated, and if necessary, change registrars. Whatever source of funds (credit card, PayPal) you use to pay for auto-renew should always have enough in extra funds so that in case you miss the notices, you’re still able to avoid auto-cancellations, which usually cost more to get back than a new registration. Don’t fall in love with a domain name. Plain and simple, your goal in domaining is to make a consistent profit. One of the biggest mistakes new domainers make is holding on to a domain just because they like the name, or personally feel its worth more than the market will bear. If a domain doesn’t sell and you can’t monetize it to at least cover its costs, the domain is just dead weight. A name may sound unique or potentially popular, but you have to face the possibility that it may not have a market value beyond what you paid for it. Ridiculous domain names (the very sort new domainers tend to get attached to) can be lucrative, but the buzz may not last long enough for you to hold out for more money after a decent bid comes in. So when you are dealing with a gimmicky domain name and you get your chance to make a quick profit, take it. Name that domain. Whether creating new domains or acquiring existing ones, the current trend (which doesn’t show signs of changing) is to stay away from those domains that have digits and/or hyphens, as both naming schematics devalue a domain. The only exceptions are specific 3- and 4-digit domain names, most of which are all taken. Taste this. After you register a domain, many registrars offer a few day grace period during which you can rethink your purchase and still get a full refund. Domain tasting, is the ethically questionable, but legal, act of utilizing this loophole by parking a domain, testing the amount of type-in traffic, then cancelling it before the grace period expires. Most registrars are starting to recognize these loopholes and are quickly cracking down on this unscrupulous practice, but with those registrars that haven’t yet barred the practice, this can be a very good way of minimizing the risk of a purchase. Create traffic. If you own domains that aren’t receiving a lot of type-in traffic, you may want to try to increase their value by getting them indexed into the search engines so that the eventual purchaser will find it easier to get the site to rank for relavent search engine results. The easiest way to do that is to place a link with relavent anchor text to the domain on one of your own related websites. In addition to getting the domain indexed, this is also a way to advertise the domain to interested buyers. Linking to your domain is generally allowable by most parking sites, but you may want to check with yours just to make sure. Forums. Everyone loves to use forums to exchange information and to connect with people who have similar interests, and as a result many new domainers buy up “forum” domains. But if you’ll notice, very few people are getting rich managing forums, and even fewer are making money holding on to forum domains. Popular forums can generate tons of traffic, but domains with “forum” in the name are worthless without the actual site. Unless you can find a buyer capable of turning it into a site, or can build the site yourself, stay away from “forum” domain names. Be prepared, legally. If you decide to domain full-time, talk to an accountant about at what point in the yearly tax cycle is financially most advantageous for you to form your domaining enterprise into a legal entity. Forming a legal entity can be a headache, but by not doing so, you may be missing out on business deductions you might otherwise be able to take. So, just in case, keep all your relevant receipts, even if you’re just starting out, to prove to the IRS how much you invested.Potentially more important than financial concerns, however, are the legal ones. Deciding to form a limited liability entity (Inc. or LLC) will limit your personal financial risk if legal problems ever arise. Though the legal differences between LLC’s and corporations can be subtle, they are not insignificant, (e.g. differing tax treatment) so you should do your research before forming an entity. Watch for pinchers, swipers, and thieves. Sex.com was stolen from its owner using a fake transfer form, eventually costing the owner millions. Slammers, spammers, swipers, and claim jumpers will try various tricks to get a domain away from you, including fake renewal email messages or snail mail letters (e.g., Domain Registry of America scam letters). If you fall for one of these sneaky transfer forms, you may end up paying extra for a domain or accidentally “permitting” the transfer of your domains to someone else.In addition to having your existing domains hijacked through subversive transfers, there are an increasing number of reports of people having their domain ideas pinched before they can register the domain themselves. It appears that a number of domain research tools are culling the data from users’ searches, and using that data to instantly purchase the searched domains before the searcher himself can do so. So, for example, if you are using a tool to research available domains and come across a real gem, the owner of the tool you are using may swoop in and buy up the domain, thus taking advantage of your ingenuity while depriving you of a great domain. Because of this possibility, it is important that if you come across a previously unregistered gem domain, spend the few bucks right then to buy it up rather than take the chance on losing it by waiting a few minutes. Beyond pinches and swipers, you also need to keep an eye on your registrar. There are a number of reports of domain registrars being intentionally slow or unresponsive in the days leading up to a domain’s expiration so as to ensure that the domain expires and reverts back to the registrar. If you have a dispute, check with WIPO for mediation, but the best policy is just to protect yourself in the first place by having at least a full-month’s buffer when transferring registrars. Techniques for MonetizingFor almost every domainer, the big money is in the actual flip, not the domain maintenance. So just as with real estate, one of the biggest keys to domaining success is to limit your overhead during the holding period when you are waiting for your buyer. In this section, we cover some common and not-so-common techniques for monetizing your domain to cover your overhead expenses. Duke of URL: type-in traffic. Google may control most of the western world’s web traffic, but they don’t yet control everything. In fact, a good keyword based domain can receive loads of type in traffic. With a well converting PPC landing page, this type in traffic can bring in from $100 to $1000 per day for a top-notch domain. Not a bad way to bide your time waiting for that perfect buyer to come along! So, when you’re searching for domains, keep in mind that type-in traffic is entirely defensible, meaning it doesn’t rely on a search engine or any other third party to send traffic your way, and that with enough of it, you can entirely cover your overhead expenses. Optimize your parked domains. Some registrars allow you to add content and advertising directly to your parked domain’s page at no extra cost. If that is the case in your situation, you should definitely take advantage of this opportunity by optimizing your landing page. Try various configurations and combinations of affiliate ads and PPC ads to see what yields the highest return. Often simply changing the color of your landing page is enough to double your click-through rate. So, don’t sell yourself short by using a default ad configuration, or worse, not placing any advertising at all. The (traffic) collector. If you already have your own well-converting highly monetized website within the same niche as your domain, instead of optimizing your landing pages, it may be more profitable for you to simply redirect your parked domains to that website. The key consideration when making this decision is simple, can I make more money by optimizing or redirecting? By electing the more immediately profitable option, you ensure that the maximum amount of your domaining overhead costs are offset, which may ultimately enable you to hold out for the right buyer longer than you might otherwise be willing to. Park and go. While running your own PPC or adsense is the more lucrative solution, some domainers who are short on time or technical expertise choose to simply park domains at a service like Sedo. These sites allow you to optimize your parked page template, and they run PPC (Pay Per Click) ads such as AdSense for you, in exchange for taking a cut of any PPC revenues your domain earns. While this is a fine solution for those that are flipping sites on a very short timeline, for those domainers planning to hold the site for any significant length of time, the technical knowhow required to optimize on your own is very small relative to the earnings you may be giving up by sharing with a site like Sedo. Community spirit. Converting expired domains with traffic into web 2.0 community sites is one of the most popular new trends in domaining. The theory goes, that by starting your own community, regular focused traffic will visit your website in great numbers which you will be able to leverage to offset maintenance costs. Unfortunately, the hype surrounding web 2.0 typically overshadows the reality, which is that most community sites eventually fail, so trying something like this will require a lot of time, effort, money and luck. For those of you working on a tight budget, good ole’ fashioned domain parking may still be the best solution. Creating your own lead generation. Buying up older expired domains with a niche focus can serve as an internal lead generation system. For domains with a narrow focus, redirecting them to specific landing pages on your more general high-converting website can be an excellent way of leveraging your domains into a sort private Adwords / PPC campaign. Adsense Arbitrage. Google AdSense arbitrage is the practice of buying traffic at a relatively cheap price, and leveraging that traffic by having those users click through to ads which are relatively more lucrative than the cost of bringing in the traffic. When considering whether adsense arbitrage is the best monetization solution for your domains, it is first necessary to consider whether it is allowed by your parking host. Even if it is, however, adsense arbitrage is a very risky game which is in almost every instance better left for more experienced domainers and webmasters. Choose volume over quality early on.. It’s the volume domain purchasers who consistently earn the highest profits from domaining. New domainers are often intrigued by the possibility of owning THE keyword in a niche (keyword.com) But more often that not, it is better to diversify your holdings, start small, then later bootstrap your early profits into domains a bit higher up the food chain. Think of it like this: it’s easier to sell 100 domains at $10 profit than one domain at $1000 profit. Tools for the TradeIn the business of domaining, automation and resource tools are your friend. Because the key to regular success is volume, not that one big hit, utilizing quality resources and tools will go a long way to improving your bottom line by marginally increasing the profitability every transaction you make. I’m pickin’ up good registrations. Since you’re dealing in volume, a cheap registrar is important, especially when you’re first starting out. But some deals are too good to be true, and occasionally registrars will go out of business. For good cheap hosting, GoDaddy is a baseline option, but it’s not ideal for many high volume domainers or high quality domains. For your biggest domains, the ones you hope to sell and retire from the proceeds with, you may want to try Moniker. Whatever direction you decide to take, make sure to shop around, and at a minimum check the resource list at the end of this article for a few more of your options. Traffic monitors and predictors. Keeping track of a site’s traffic and popularity are both important metrics in valuating your own domains as well as those of potential acquisitions. The following tools, despite their individual limitations, are designed to provide you with a method of obtaining those stats on your own domains, as well as those of your competitors.Alexa is the benchmark traffic rankings directory. It is widely regarded as inaccurate, however, its relative numbers are still very valuable when studying a domain for purchase. Alexaholic is based on Alexa but allows you to compare the traffic charts of multiple domains. The value of Alexaholic (and Alexa) is that you don’t need the current owner of a domain to have installed a traffic monitoring script (which is usually not possible on a parked domain anyway) to estimate the volume of traffic the site is receiving. Ranking.com provides the popularity of a website and requires script installation on your domain. Ask the Owner. A domain parking service will provide traffic statistics for the site’s owner. So if you’re interested in a domain, simply ask the owner for proof of statistics.Resource SitesIn domaining, as with most industries, a key to success is keeping yourself educated about new developments in the field and constantly learning from the successes and failures of your peers. As a result, we have compiled a list of a few popular sites that offer domaining related news or services: Daily Domainer.DNJournal.Domainer’s Edge. Domain Editorial.Domain Name Forum(a)WebHostingTalk.Domaining Blog. Domain Name Wire.Domain Sponsor. Domains Magazine.Earner’s Forum domaining thread. Monetizing Domains Network. Moniker. Parked. Sedo. TDnam. Sitepoint Marketplace. As the value of domains continue to increase, the industry of domaining becomes continually more sophisticated and competitive. But for the person willing to do the necessary research, planning and investing, domaining can prove a very lucrative profession. In this article we have introduced you to some of the basic strategies, tips, and tools used by domainers. Recognizing, however, that no single article can fully cover even the basics of this complex industry, we recommend that you constantly seek out new and more domain investing information, even as you begin to go out and compile your own domaining portfolio. Best of luck! ____________________________________________________________________________________ No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started. http://mobile.yahoo.com/mail

1 0

SYMPOSUIM FOR THIS WEEKEND."MUST HAVE ATTEND"
by Jose' 24 Mar '07

24 Mar '07

Dear Colleague, Financing is one of the setbacks that the youth face to start up there small businesses enterprises. It with this concern that,Kimathi Information centre in collaboration with the Ministry of youth,Ministry of Information and technology,IMAC/KAYE,KWFT,business consultants,Investors,UN Habitat,GEEP,CFSK and Faulu Kenya have organized a Symposium that shall bring together up to 250 youth delegates be able to address the need of financing and how the delegates are going to get hold of the resources/finances to see the SME businesses get a kick start. I also attach the program for your perusal.Come see also the youth show case and what they sell in the exhibition tables. "THIS IS A MUST HAVE ATTEND SYMPOSIUM" DATE:24th March 2007 TIME:0900hrs to 1400hrs VENUE:KENYA ASSEMBLIES OF GOD MULTI PURPOSE HALL-BAHATI ENTRANCE FEE:50ksh(FIFTY SHILLINGS ONLY) Including all taxes Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ____________________________________________________________________________________ Don't get soaked. Take a quick peek at the forecast with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather

3 2

Re: [kictanet] Junior Achievement Online
by Jose' 23 Mar '07

23 Mar '07

Thanks Ritah. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: munyiva ritah <rmunyiva(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 3:16:47 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Junior Achievement Online Alex, Guess this guys are thinking, JA alumni have ideas led by Evans Njoro the regional director JA. But again let them seek advice from all corners since publishing goes beyond writing articles, if we have to buy the publication or guys have to advetise then articles must be well done and informative. Then the youth out there need motivation and ideas useful to them so tell them not to turn Slick into a tabloid of just fashion and music...we have so much of these in magazines and newspapers. By the way Jose Ngunjiri, try have KIC featured there, i think you and your patners inspired me. --- Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > They have formed Billionaire Inc. company that > intends to publish > teen stuff (by teens for teenies)", quoting their > Tedd The CEO :- > > "The magazine `Slick`is a soon to be launched teen > magazine that > will act as a platform for youngsters to stage > creative ideas and > exchange views that will help better their lives in > both present > and future times. > > It will contain articles written by high schoolers > for high schoolers, > articles on inspiring people such as Michael Joseph > Safaricom CEO > thereby motivating the youth to achieve greater > things in life. > > We aim at enlightening young people on available > career opportunities > and bridging the gap between students from schools > across the republic > by holding social functions. > > It is also our goal to facilitate the creation of a > youth hotline that will > help guide and counsel troubled youngsters. > > Through the website youngsters will be able to > access the magazine > contents,get latest news on items in various fields > and get entertained > through listening to some local music online. > > The board consists of 8 members; 2 fomerly of > Alliance Girls High > School,1 fomerly of Makini High School, 5 fomerly of > Starehe Boys > Centre. All of whom have attained a minimum grade of > A minus > and above. > > That is basically all about the magazine in brief. > The remaining details > will be in the Business Plan which is in the > process of being concluded. > > Teddius Onyango, > CEO - Billionaire Inc., > Ben Waweru - Marketing > Ken Kago - HR > Alfred Cheserem - Productions > Kevin Kundu - Finace > > 'Slick' Editorial Board > Grace Nyau > Nur Fatma Rasool - Chief Editor > Tedd Onyango > Maureen Magoma > Ben Waweru > > > Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Dear > Kictanet Members, > > I have been approached by school leavers who were > former members of Junior Achievement Kenya to assist > them get online and don't these young adults have > quite powerful visions. > > Specifically, they need our support in website > development, .ke domain registration, and hosting > services. > > Because I just could not allow myself to be the way > of their dreams, if volunteered website development, > thus they are still short of domain registration and > hosting. > > If you would like to sponsor any of these remaining > components, kindly announce your pledge online. > > Sincerely, > > > Alex Gakuru > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate > in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink > Q&A._______________________________________________ > 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/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com > > > --------------------------------- > TV dinner still cooling? > Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV.> _______________________________________________ > 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/rmunyiva%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

1 0

Junior Achievement Online
by Alex Gakuru 23 Mar '07

23 Mar '07

Dear Kictanet Members, I have been approached by school leavers who were former members of Junior Achievement Kenya to assist them get online and don't these young adults have quite powerful visions. Specifically, they need our support in website development, .ke domain registration, and hosting services. Because I just could not allow myself to be the way of their dreams, if volunteered website development, thus they are still short of domain registration and hosting. If you would like to sponsor any of these remaining components, kindly announce your pledge online. Sincerely, Alex Gakuru --------------------------------- Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A.

2 2

Corporate Email Security Training
by Dorcas Muthoni 23 Mar '07

23 Mar '07

Dear Colleague, It is another month in which OPENWORLD is all set to serve your business communication and professional development needs. Email is very core to modern business communication today. At the same time, if you don't have confidence in your corporate email security, then you can't have confidence in your corporate communications. You just cannot afford to let your email communications be compromised by anything. OPENWORLD will be conducting a training on Corporate Email Security as advertised on yesterday's (21/03/07) Daily Nation. Course details are as follows: *Dates: April 4th - 5th 2007* *Venue: The International Finance Corporation, SME Solution Center, AfricaRe Centre, 1st Floor.* *Lead Facilitator: Nigel Kukard; CEO, Linux Based Systems Design (South Africa).* *The Theme of the training will be "Designing, Implementing and Managing Comprehensive Email Systems".* Nigel our lead facilitator has extensive knowledge and experience in the design and development of email security solutions and he sure has a lot in store for his audience! He will do a profound exploration on issues like Email High Availability, AntiPhising, Virus Protection, Spam Filtering,email encryption and much more. The Training fee is Kshs. 35,000 + VAT. Discounts Apply. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to learn how to achieve effective business email solutions. Please confirm attendance by Friday 30th March 2007 for planning purposes. Further details are attached. Best Regards, Agnes Kyengo -- Training @ OPENWORLD LTD P.O Box 10918 00100 GPO NAIROBI Tel: 020 6750212/3751712 Fax: 020 3751712 Cell: 0722494105, 0733494015 Email: training(a)openworld.co.ke<http://mail.openworld.co.ke/src/compose.php?send_to=training%40openworld.co…> URL: www.openworld.co.ke/training.html

1 1

ammended programme
by Rebecca Wanjiku 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

KICTANet monthly forum- Jacaranda thursday march 22nd 3pm to 5pm 3.00 pm Introduction - Becky 3.15pm rural-urban digital divide, consumer perspectives- Alex Gakuru 3.35 pm Access and connectivity- current status - Sammy Buruchara (TESPOK) 3.50 pm Kimathi Information Centre- linking the youth- Jose Ngunjiri 4.15 pm challenges of intergrating ICT to rural schools- Fatma Bashir 4.30 pm questions for all the speakers 5.00 pm tea and snacks guests leave at their pleasure Please confirm attendance by replying directly to me, ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/

1 0

meeting on Thursday march 22
by Rebecca Wanjiku 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

hi, i hope you are planning to attend Kictanet monthly forum on thursday at 3pm at the jacaranda (JCC) Alex Gakuru, and a representative from Tespok will be discussing rural-urban connectivity, the challenges and successes, the media will be there and we should all be there just in case more interviews are needed from a cross-section of Kictanet representatives, it will be a chance to meet these journalists and you can have a chance to give your opinion on other issues, hope to meet you at the JCC. regards becky ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/

4 3

Re: [kictanet] reminder-monthly forum tommorrow at 3pm
by Jose' 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

Hi, i confirm attendance and inform you that I shall be comminmg with Carthy Agallo my Co-director. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 7:36:28 AM Subject: [kictanet] reminder-monthly forum tommorrow at 3pm just to remind you to be there on time, at 3pm tommorrow at the Jacaranda this month's theme is bridging the rural-urban digital divide, you dont want to miss presesntations by Alex Gakuru, who will set the pace, give consumer perspectives, what has been done and what can be done to bridge the rural-urban digital divide. Jose Ngunjiri who will will tell us of challenges and successes working with the youth at the Kimathi Information centre in Nairobi's Eastlands,- by the way, Kimathi Information centre has won accolades from PS Ndemo and WB country director Bruce Fatma Bashir from cyber school technologies will make a presentation about their efforts to connect rural schools that have no power hope to meet you there, for logistics purposes, please confirm. can write back to me, not to the whole list, if you hit the reply button, it goes to the list, regards becky KICTANet We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love (and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list._______________________________________________ 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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091

1 0

Re: [kictanet] programme
by Jose' 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

Hey Becky, I confirm attendance on behalf of Kimathi Information Centre.Allow me to come with my co-director Carthy Atieno Agallo to assist me with the Q & A session. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 8:08:03 AM Subject: [kictanet] programme KICTANet monthly forum- Jacaranda thursday march 22nd 3pm to 5pm 3.00 pm Introduction - Becky 3.15pm rural-urban digital divide, consumer perspectives- Alex Gakuru 3.35 pm Kimathi Information Centre- linking the youth- Jose Ngunjiri 3.55 pm connecting rural schools- Fatma Bashir 4.15 pm questions for all the speakers 4.55 pm tea and snacks guests leave at their pleasure Please confirm attendance by replying directly to me, Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games._______________________________________________ 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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ TV dinner still cooling? Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV. http://tv.yahoo.com/

1 0

Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: [DigAfrica] Kenya sets world first with money transfers by mobile]
by Kagwe James 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

Telkom, KPLC, Nairobi Water company etc should be thinking of how they can partner with Safaricom and modify the M-pesa initiative to enable us pay utility bills through our mobile phones. Just a thought................. -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=aforbes.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+jkagwe=aforbes.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of alice Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 6:12 PM To: Kagwe James Subject: [kictanet] [Fwd: [DigAfrica] Kenya sets world first with money transfers by mobile] 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! Groups Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> | Unsubscribe <mailto:DigAfrica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=> Recent Activity * 10 New Members <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJmcmJlbnZzBF9TAz…> Visit Your Group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica;_ylc=X3oDMTJlM2Ftb2dpBF9TAzk3MzU5Nz…> SPONSORED LINKS * Africa safaris <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjdDVlZmcyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzEEZ…> * Africa east safari <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjcXNmdjZ0BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzIEZ…> * Information and communication technology <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjZWNhcTQ4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzMEZ…> * Africa wildlife safari <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjaWJtNmlsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzQEZ…> * Africa calling card <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjbzI3cTVjBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzUEZ…> Be Discovered! Yahoo! HotJobs <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12i8q7gth/M=493064.9803220.10510213.8674578/D=g…> Employers find you Upload your resume New business? Get new customers. <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12i5ck674/M=493064.9803227.10510220.8674578/D=g…> List your web site in Yahoo! Search. Yahoo! Mail Get it all! <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12i62hj2l/M=493064.9803214.10510208.8674578/D=g…> With the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta . Web Bug from http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=2902444/grpspId=1705116291/msgId… __,_._,___ _______________________________________________ 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/jkagwe%40aforbes.co.ke

1 0

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

21 Mar '07

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Fibre optic delays cost 5000jobs a month]] Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 23:30:59 +0300 From: Gerhard MAY <gerhard.may(a)gmail.com> To: alice <alice(a)apc.org> References: <46001ACD.6070907(a)apc.org> I read the article and my opinion is that the crucial point is missed totally. Kenya requires a fibre optic connection to reduce cost of doing business in Kenya and ensuring that Kenyan companies can compete successfully with their competitors abroad. This is very important for all existing companies in kenya and will let them grow. This BPO is from my point of view a absolute niche and too narrow minded. What impact will call centres lets say with even 10.000 agents make on the GDP? This are peanuts. MY logical chain is: fibre optic cable reduces cost of telecoms; fibre optic cable improves quality of service eg speed, reliability etc kenyan companies are producing at lower cost, respond faster etc (additonal companies consider kenya as attractive) this will push employment and grow GDP Lets create an enabling environment for the economy by providing good quality telcoms at reasoanble cost. gm On 3/20/07, *alice* <alice(a)apc.org <mailto:alice@apc.org>> wrote: Hi Gerhard Would you like to be part of this community?????or are you completely out of sorts with the ICT sector? -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Fibre optic delays cost 5000jobs a month] Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 20:01:47 +0300 From: Kai U. Wulff < kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke <mailto:kai.wulff@kdn.co.ke>> Reply-To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@kictanet.or.ke>> To: alice(a)apc.org <mailto:alice@apc.org> Hello, As much as I agree that we need at least 2 cables, please see the following cost calculation: Assume a 1 Mbps duplex Sat capacity costs USD 6 000 per month (it is actually lower). Compression for good quality ranges from 8 Kbps to 16 Kbps, so let's take an average of 12.8Kbps So on one Mbps you can have a minimum of 80 calls or 4800 call minutes per hour. On a 20 hour operation this leads to 96 000 call minutes per day a and in a 30 day month to 2 880 000 call minutes per month. You communication cost per call minute = 0.14 KSH !! If you say your call centre is only loaded by 50% = a quarter of a KSH per call minute. What is the cost of electricity, labor, rent ... in perspective? I still believe we can build competitive call centers even on SAT basis! Rgds Kai -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff= kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke>] On Behalf Of alice Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 18:06 To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke <mailto:kai.wulff@kdn.co.ke> Subject: [kictanet] [Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Fibre optic delays cost 5000jobs a month] 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, Kenya's 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. "Kenya's 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 Kabugua's 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 Government's 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 <mailto:Fibre-for-africa@lists.apc.org> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@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 ************************************************************** Scanned by eScan Anti-Virus and Content Security Software. Visit http://www.mwti.net for more info on eScan and MailScan. ************************************************************** ************************************************************** Scanned by eScan Anti-Virus and Content Security Software. Visit http://www.mwti.net for more info on eScan and MailScan. ************************************************************** _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke <mailto:kictanet@kictanet.or.ke> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alice%40apc.org

1 0

programme
by Rebecca Wanjiku 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

KICTANet monthly forum- Jacaranda thursday march 22nd 3pm to 5pm 3.00 pm Introduction - Becky 3.15pm rural-urban digital divide, consumer perspectives- Alex Gakuru 3.35 pm Kimathi Information Centre- linking the youth- Jose Ngunjiri 3.55 pm connecting rural schools- Fatma Bashir 4.15 pm questions for all the speakers 4.55 pm tea and snacks guests leave at their pleasure Please confirm attendance by replying directly to me, ____________________________________________________________________________________ Don't get soaked. Take a quick peek at the forecast with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather

1 0

reminder-monthly forum tommorrow at 3pm
by Rebecca Wanjiku 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

just to remind you to be there on time, at 3pm tommorrow at the Jacaranda this month's theme is bridging the rural-urban digital divide, you dont want to miss presesntations by Alex Gakuru, who will set the pace, give consumer perspectives, what has been done and what can be done to bridge the rural-urban digital divide. Jose Ngunjiri who will will tell us of challenges and successes working with the youth at the Kimathi Information centre in Nairobi's Eastlands,- by the way, Kimathi Information centre has won accolades from PS Ndemo and WB country director Bruce Fatma Bashir from cyber school technologies will make a presentation about their efforts to connect rural schools that have no power hope to meet you there, for logistics purposes, please confirm. can write back to me, not to the whole list, if you hit the reply button, it goes to the list, regards becky KICTANet ____________________________________________________________________________________ Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091

1 0

[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

4 5

[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! Groups Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> | Unsubscribe <mailto:DigAfrica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=> Recent Activity * 10 New Members <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJmdW5maHJoBF9TAz…> Visit Your Group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica;_ylc=X3oDMTJldHVuc3RpBF9TAzk3MzU5Nz…> SPONSORED LINKS * Africa safaris <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjMDBoZ2J1BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzEEZ…> * Africa east safari <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjYzU1ZmNsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzIEZ…> * Information and communication technology <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjazEwOWU1BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzMEZ…> * Africa wildlife safari <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjaDFmNWw2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzQEZ…> * Africa calling card <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjamxucGpyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzUEZ…> Give Back Yahoo! for Good <http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylc=X3oDMTJtNzdmcmFrBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzEEZ3JwSW…> Get inspired by a good cause. Y! Toolbar Get it Free! <http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylc=X3oDMTJvb2Fubmg4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzIEZ3JwSW…> easy 1-click access to your groups. Yahoo! Groups Start a group <http://groups.yahoo.com/start;_ylc=X3oDMTJvbXJzaGplBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzME…> in 3 easy steps. Connect with others. . Web Bug from http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=2902444/grpspId=1705116291/msgId… __,_._,___

3 2

[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! Groups Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> | Unsubscribe <mailto:DigAfrica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=> Recent Activity * 10 New Members <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJmcmJlbnZzBF9TAz…> Visit Your Group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica;_ylc=X3oDMTJlM2Ftb2dpBF9TAzk3MzU5Nz…> SPONSORED LINKS * Africa safaris <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjdDVlZmcyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzEEZ…> * Africa east safari <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjcXNmdjZ0BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzIEZ…> * Information and communication technology <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjZWNhcTQ4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzMEZ…> * Africa wildlife safari <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjaWJtNmlsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzQEZ…> * Africa calling card <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjbzI3cTVjBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzUEZ…> Be Discovered! Yahoo! HotJobs <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12i8q7gth/M=493064.9803220.10510213.8674578/D=g…> Employers find you Upload your resume New business? Get new customers. <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12i5ck674/M=493064.9803227.10510220.8674578/D=g…> List your web site in Yahoo! Search. Yahoo! Mail Get it all! <http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12i62hj2l/M=493064.9803214.10510208.8674578/D=g…> With the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta . Web Bug from http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=2902444/grpspId=1705116291/msgId… __,_._,___

1 0

[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

1 0

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.

1 0

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! Groups ><http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkZDlwdmIzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5M >DI0NDQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTE2MjkxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2dmcARzdGltZQMxMTc0MzMyMDE3> > > >Change settings via the Web ><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJmMTBwZzFuBF9TAzk3M >zU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5MDI0NDQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTE2MjkxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3N0bmdzB >HN0aW1lAzExNzQzMzIwMTc-> >(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%20Fo >rmat:%20Traditional> > >Visit Your Group ><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica;_ylc=X3oDMTJkdDE1MWFhBF9TAzk3MzU5Nz >E0BGdycElkAzI5MDI0NDQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTE2MjkxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2hwZgRzdGltZQ >MxMTc0MzMyMDE3> >| Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> | >Unsubscribe <mailto:DigAfrica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=> >Recent Activity > > * > 10 > New Members > ><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJmdW5maHJoBF9TAz >k3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI5MDI0NDQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTE2MjkxBHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3ZtYn >JzBHN0aW1lAzExNzQzMzIwMTc-> > >Visit Your Group ><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigAfrica;_ylc=X3oDMTJldHVuc3RpBF9TAzk3MzU5Nz >E0BGdycElkAzI5MDI0NDQEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MTE2MjkxBHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3ZnaHAEc3RpbW >UDMTE3NDMzMjAxNw--> > >SPONSORED LINKS > > * Africa safaris > ><http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjMDBoZ2J1BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzEEZ >3JwSWQDMjkwMjQ0NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTYyOTEEc2VjA3NsbW9kBHN0aW1lAzExNzQzMzIwM >Tg-?t=ms&k=Africa+safaris&w1=Africa+safaris&w2=Africa+east+safari&w3=Informa >tion+and+communication+technology&w4=Africa+wildlife+safari&w5=Africa+callin >g+card&c=5&s=143&g=2&.sig=uLZtqRGZx3_bNeVHCWNbIg> > * Africa east safari > ><http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjYzU1ZmNsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzIEZ >3JwSWQDMjkwMjQ0NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTYyOTEEc2VjA3NsbW9kBHN0aW1lAzExNzQzMzIwM >Tg-?t=ms&k=Africa+east+safari&w1=Africa+safaris&w2=Africa+east+safari&w3=Inf >ormation+and+communication+technology&w4=Africa+wildlife+safari&w5=Africa+ca >lling+card&c=5&s=143&g=2&.sig=W-WAPmE36f8LCkH7FSV5eQ> > * Information and communication technology > ><http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjazEwOWU1BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzMEZ >3JwSWQDMjkwMjQ0NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTYyOTEEc2VjA3NsbW9kBHN0aW1lAzExNzQzMzIwM >Tg-?t=ms&k=Information+and+communication+technology&w1=Africa+safaris&w2=Afr >ica+east+safari&w3=Information+and+communication+technology&w4=Africa+wildli >fe+safari&w5=Africa+calling+card&c=5&s=143&g=2&.sig=6QYp2hD7zUAtzJnsCtvUaA> > * Africa wildlife safari > ><http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjaDFmNWw2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzQEZ >3JwSWQDMjkwMjQ0NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTYyOTEEc2VjA3NsbW9kBHN0aW1lAzExNzQzMzIwM >Tg-?t=ms&k=Africa+wildlife+safari&w1=Africa+safaris&w2=Africa+east+safari&w3 >=Information+and+communication+technology&w4=Africa+wildlife+safari&w5=Afric >a+calling+card&c=5&s=143&g=2&.sig=C2HodMxrYdimQiFU2I8AdA> > * Africa calling card > ><http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJjamxucGpyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzUEZ >3JwSWQDMjkwMjQ0NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTYyOTEEc2VjA3NsbW9kBHN0aW1lAzExNzQzMzIwM >Tg-?t=ms&k=Africa+calling+card&w1=Africa+safaris&w2=Africa+east+safari&w3=In >formation+and+communication+technology&w4=Africa+wildlife+safari&w5=Africa+c >alling+card&c=5&s=143&g=2&.sig=cEqrI68cHr1PNjV-1aMhCA> > >Give Back > >Yahoo! for Good ><http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylc=X3oDMTJtNzdmcmFrBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzEEZ3JwSW >QDMjkwMjQ0NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTYyOTEEc2VjA25jbW9kBHNsawNicmFuZARzdGltZQMxMT >c0MzMyMDE3;_ylg=1/SIG=11314uv3k/**http%3A//brand.yahoo.com/forgood> > >Get inspired > >by a good cause. > >Y! Toolbar > >Get it Free! ><http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylc=X3oDMTJvb2Fubmg4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzIEZ3JwSW >QDMjkwMjQ0NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTYyOTEEc2VjA25jbW9kBHNsawN0b29sYmFyBHN0aW1lAz >ExNzQzMzIwMTc-;_ylg=1/SIG=11c6dvmk9/**http%3A//toolbar.yahoo.com/%3F.cpdl=yg >rps> > >easy 1-click access > >to your groups. > >Yahoo! Groups > >Start a group ><http://groups.yahoo.com/start;_ylc=X3oDMTJvbXJzaGplBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzME >Z3JwSWQDMjkwMjQ0NARncnBzcElkAzE3MDUxMTYyOTEEc2VjA25jbW9kBHNsawNncm91cHMyBHN0 >aW1lAzExNzQzMzIwMTc-> > >in 3 easy steps. > >Connect with others. > >. >Web Bug from >http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=2902444/grpspId=1705116291/msgId= >5760/stime=1174332017/nc1=1/nc2=2/nc3=3 > >__,_._,___ > > >_______________________________________________ >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/eadera%40idrc.or.ke

1 0

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"

1 0

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

2 1

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. --------------------------------------------

1 0

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)

6 6

Kibaki sets up ICT advisory body
by alice 19 Mar '07

19 Mar '07

thats encouraging massage from the president of Kenya ----- Original Message ---- From: Chifu <chifu2222@gmail. com> To: DigAfrica(a)yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 2:43:10 AM Subject: [DigAfrica] Kibaki sets up ICT advisory body Kibaki sets up ICT advisory body By John Oyuke A new parastatal has been set up to spearhead development of information and communications technology (ICT) in the country. The Kenya Information and Communications Technology Board will advise the government on all relevant matters on development, co-ordination and promotion of ICT industries in the country. President Mwai Kibaki authorized setting up of the new Corporation through an order in a Kenya Gazette supplement dated March 2 this year. Kenya Information Communications and Technology Board Order details how the board of the corporation would be instituted and functions. The corporation will be expected to promote — both locally and internationally — opportunities for investment in ICT and also appoint agents within and outside the country to carry out defined functions. It will also facilitate and manage ICT products and services, and industrial incubation and technology parks. The development comes at a time when the government is promoting large-scale communications infrastructure capable of delivering efficient and affordable services as a critical prerequisite for economic growth. It is also seen as part of a broader strategy that seeks to make the country the regional ICT hub by 2010 and create employment. Speaking during the opening of an Information Communication Technology (ICT) strategy conference in Nairobi last year, President Kibaki noted that development of any country is dependent on accessibility to knowledge, information and communications. He said the Government would set aside funds in the next Financial Year to re-skill and re-orient Kenyans towards the demands of ICT. Information and Communication Permanent Secretary, Mr Bitange Ndemo, said local ICT standards must be in line with global expectations to enable the country compete in the $300 billion (Sh2 trillion) outsourcing market. http://www.eastanda rd.net/hm_ news/news. php?articleid= 1143966148 <http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143966148>

2 1

KENYA TAKES PUBLIC JOB APPLICATIONS ONLINE
by alice 19 Mar '07

19 Mar '07

>From BALANCING ACT: KENYA TAKES PUBLIC JOB APPLICATIONS ONLINE People can now apply for Public Service Commission jobs online. The commission launched automated recruitment to improve service delivery. The Head of Public Service, Francis Muthaura, said the move is part of the ongoing reforms in the Public Service. The commission chairman, Titus Gateere, said apart from accessing vacancies and applying for them, the public could also obtain information regarding the status of their applications. The project, which was developed by experts from different ministries, is expected to save over Sh300 million that would have been spent on outsourcing, Applications should be made through www.publicservice.go.ke and applicants can find out about the status of their applications after one week via sms, by sending the words: "PSCK ON" to 5556 on both mobile phone service providers. For now the commission will operate the online and manual systems since access to online facilities are still limited. The recruitment will take 70 working days instead of the earlier 160 days. (SOURCE: The East African Standard) *

1 0

domain name news
by Rebecca Wanjiku 19 Mar '07

19 Mar '07

The Real Problem with dot-XXX by Michael Roberts ... So what we have, stripped down to essentials, is a moral contest. On the one side are the free expression advocates, such as Milton, who see the greater good in the avoidance of any form of censorship, accompanied by a laissez faire economic conviction that markets will solve most any problem in sight. On the other side are those who wonder how ICANN could have gotten itself entangled in a tawdry business that not infrequently preys on innocent youngsters and enjoys a lot of profit at the same time. How could any amount of rational sounding registry approval process be used as insulation from the downright evil acts which seek cover under the First Amendment? http://www.circleid.com/posts/real_problem_with_dot_xxx/ ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** Cybersquatting remains on the rise with further risk to trademarks from new registration practices (news release) The number of cybersquatting disputes filed with WIPO in 2006 increased by 25% as compared to 2005. In a related development, the evolution of the domain name registration system is causing growing concern for trademark owners, in particular some of the effects of the use of computer software to automatically register expired domain names and their 'parking' on pay-per-click portal sites, the option to register names free-of-charge for a five-day 'tasting' period, the proliferation of new registrars, and the establishment of new gTLDs. The combined result of these developments is to create greater opportunities for the mass, often anonymous, registration of domain names without specific consideration of third-party intellectual property rights. http://www.wipo.int/edocs/prdocs/en/2007/wipo_pr_2007_479.html http://www.wipo.int/edocs/prdocs/en/2007/wipo_pr_2007_479a.pdf Cybersquatting complaints rise 25 percent, U.N. says (AP) WIPO saw cybersquatting complaints increase 25 percent in 2006. WIPO received 1,823 complaints in 2006 alleging abusive registrations of trademarks as Internet domain names. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/13/1173722427174.html http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/16888915.htm http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/03/13/1173722464147.html Domain name chaos needs measured response Imagine a Wild West town where the street signs can be hired by the year. For that year, the hirer gets to say where they point but if they don't renew quickly enough, someone else can nip in and swing them around. Follow the sign to the town library, and you'll end up at the liquor shop the shopkeeper has more money than the librarian, and has a gang of kids wandering around nabbing old signs and putting up new confusing ones as quickly as they can. It would be frustrating chaos, and you'd soon be looking for a saner place to live. Yet that's not so far from the way internet domain names are currently managed, with predictable results documented by WIPO. http://opinion.zdnet.co.uk/leader/0,1000002208,39286281,00.htm Cybersquatting cases rose 25% in 2006 WIPO has reported that cybersquatting incidents have increased 25 percent to 1,823 complaints in 2006. http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view_article.php?article_i… 'Cybersquat' threat to trademarks Trademark owners face a disturbing new "cybersquatting" threat from internet developments that enable automatic registering of website addresses, WIPO warned on Monday. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/62a5d2ae-d109-11db-836a-000b5df10621.html Do Speculative Domains Threaten the Internet? (Reuters) The Internet's key site identity system is in mounting danger from new techniques that could cause havoc by turning it into a free-for-all market, the World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO warned on Monday. http://networks.silicon.com/webwatch/0,39024667,39166311,00.htm http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/3991579a28.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=137&objectid=10428563 http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39286280,00.htm Domain name system in danger from speculators, cybersquatters, says U.N. agency (Reuters) The Internet's key site identity system is in mounting danger from new techniques that could cause havoc by turning it into a free-for-all market, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) warned yesterday. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonom… McAfee Reveals List of Riskiest Country Web Sites for Malicious Downloads, Browser Exploits and Unwanted E-Mail (news release) McAfee, Inc. announced the results of their SiteAdvisor research report that creates a global road map of the riskiest, and the safest, places to surf and search on the World Wide Web. McAfee analysed and ranked 265 TLDs based on McAfee's Web safety tests for spyware, spam, exploits and scams. The report, "Mapping the Mal Web," revealed surprisingly large differences in safety from one domain to another. This global portrait estimates that each month, Internet users make more than 550 million clicks to risky Web sites and that even relatively safe domains like .de or .uk account for millions of risky clicks. The safest 10 TLDs are .gov, .fi, .ie, .no, .is, .se, .au, .co, .sg and .si. http://www.siteadvisor.com/studies/map_malweb_mar2007.html Study shows .info domain is a Net ghetto The .info domain is the online equivalent of an unsafe neighbourhood, according to a new SiteAdvisor report from McAfee. McAfee said there was a 73.2 per cent chance of receiving spam after registering an email address at a random .info domain. This domain was also the most unsafe top-level domain with 7.5 per cent of sites labelled 'risky'. http://www.pcpro.co.uk/security/news/107158/study-shows-info-domain-is-a-ne… McAfee names most risky domains Ireland has the second least risky country domain name (.ie), according to a new report by McAfee. The report found that internet users make more than 550 million clicks to risky websites a month. http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/news.nv?storyid=single7940 http://businessworld.ie/livenews.htm?a=1664497 http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/0313/breaking74.htm Vikings Best, Polynesians Worst In Domain Safety SiteAdvisor has completed an extensive scan of 265 TLDs on the Internet, ranking sites by the percentage of malicious code found in visiting the site. The survey found that 4.1 percent of all Web sites pose some sort of risk to a visitor, whether it's viruses, adware, spyware, phishing or some other form of malware. http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3665441 http://www.forbes.com/technology/2007/03/12/web-domain-risk-tech-security-c… East European domain names pose most risks to users (Computeract!ve) People who surf on sites with Romanian and Russian domain names are more likely to fall victim to scammers than those who access websites from Japan and Australia, a report has found. http://www.computeractive.co.uk/computeractive/news/2185379/russian-romania… http://www.whatpc.co.uk/computeractive/news/2185379/russian-romanian-domain… Internet Map: Here There Be Malware Where are the Web's most dangerous neighborhoods? Security firm McAfee analyzed and ranked 265 top-level domains to find out. It released its findings Monday. The most risky country domain names belong to Romania and Russia, with China rapidly ascending. Least risky are Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Ireland. http://www.technewsworld.com/story/56252.html Dot-gov safest domain around, says McAfee The safest websites on the internet end in dot-gov, according to McAfee. McAfee found no risky websites within the domain for US government agencies, it said in a report. In contrast, one in 10 sites that end in dot-tk, the domain for the tiny island of Tokelau, either spread malicious software or warrant a warning because of pop-ups or other nuisances, McAfee said. http://software.silicon.com/malware/0,3800003100,39166312,00.htm http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6166564.html McAfee publishes statistics on dodgy domains McAfee have released research to provide consumers with a global road map, which uncovers the riskiest and the safest places to surf and search on the Internet. http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/6995/8019/mcaffee-publishes-do… http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&article… Profitable mistakes - typosquatting We all make mistakes when typing website addresses but a new breed of online fraudsters known as "cybersquatters" are generating huge profits from illegal businesses set up to exploit our errors. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/corporate/article1515229… Coming to terms with the language of cybersquatting The Financial Times provides a handy guide defining cybersquatting, typosquatting, domainer, dropcatcher, domain tasting and domain parking. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/e2356676-d17f-11db-b921-000b5df10621.html Microsoft hits 'cybersquatters' Microsoft is pursuing five alleged UK-based cybersquatters in its battle against firms and individuals who have registered variations or misspellings of its key brands, such as Xbox. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6449363.stm Microsoft files lawsuits against cybersquatters Microsoft has filed two new lawsuits against companies it accuses of registering domain names similar to certain Microsoft trademarks. It has also settled three similar suits with other companies, it said Wednesday. http://infoworld.com/article/07/03/14/HNmssuescybersquatters_1.html Microsoft to sue 'cybersquatters' over related web domain names Microsoft Corp. said it plans to file a new round of lawsuits in the U.S. and Britain this week against people it says are profiting from registering Internet domain names that contain the company's trademarked terms. http://www.mddailyrecord.com/article.cfm?id=133607&type=Daily http://www.ft.com/cms/s/fbddb398-d19e-11db-b921-000b5df10621.html http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,21385687%5e15306%5e%5enbv%5… http://news.com.com/2110-7355_3-6167004.html http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=198000845 Microsoft pursues UK "cybersquatters" (Reuters) Microsoft Corp. took its fight against so-called "cybersquatters" overseas, seeking a payment of damages from five U.K. companies for registering Web site domain names that infringe on its trademarks and brand, Microsoft said on Tuesday. http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&story… Google finds itself stymied by cybersquatters Google, which should be one of the most internet savvy companies in the world, has recently been struggling with a rash of cybersquatting. The internet search company is facing several obstacles as it tries to secure rights to domain names for its Gmail internet e-mail service around the world. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/c1934d34-d17f-11db-b921-000b5df10621.html ICANN RegisterFly update: March 13, 2007 This shows the number of domains transferred away from RegisterFly.com for the dates of March 9, 10, 11, 2007, these being 1,114, 707 and 345 respectively. http://blog.icann.org/?p=47 RegisterFly update: March 12, 2007 After discussions today with RegisterFly it seems clear that RegisterFly now has no technical impedements to do whats necessary to service its eNom customers, including obtain auth-codes. http://blog.icann.org/?p=46 Two RegisterFly Sites Online as Ousted CEO Returns ICANN is continuing to press RegisterFly to repair its management systems so domain owners can manage their names, but is now dealing directly with company founder Kevin Medina, who has been awarded control of RegisterFly by a New Jersey court. ICANN met Saturday with Medina to demand immediate action on RegisterFly's failure to provide adequate WHOIS information and make critical transfer codes (known as auth-info codes) available to customers. http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2007/03/12/two_registerfly_sites_online_a… International Domain Names May Be Introduced By 2008 ICANN is running tests to see if spelling Internet domains with non-English characters like Chinese or Arabic will affect the Net's efficiency. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006729310 Recent Submissions by Proposed ICM Registry in Support of Sponsorship Criteria Adopted by the Board http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-13mar07.htm ICANN: Anycast And Communication Foiled February's Root Server Attack ICANN's evaluation analyzes what happened during the attack on the root servers, which ones were hit the hardest, and what kept them running. http://informationweek.com/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=198000575 GoDaddy Makes Reporting Invalid Whois Easy Want to report an invalid whois record? Just click the link. http://domainnamewire.com/2007/03/13/godaddy-makes-reporting-invalid-whois-… Whirlpool gives IP address management a spin While Whirlpool focuses on the business of making kitchen and laundry appliances, lead network engineer Gregory Fisbeck keeps his eye on thousands of IP addresses. With some 80,000 employees and 200 locations worldwide, Whirlpool network staff has always had its hands full managing multiple DNS zones and thousands of IP addresses. But last year's acquisition of Maytag increased Whirlpool's eight or nine DNS zones under management to some 16, shining a spotlight on a much-needed operational upgrade, Fisbeck says. http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;1806000247;fp;2;fpid;2 http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1806000247;fp;4;fpid;78268965 U.K. Secondary Domain Name Market Sees a Growth of More than 150% in 2006 - Growth in .co.uk domain value exceeds that of .com (news release) Annual statistics for 2006 compiled by domain marketplace Sedo and DNJournal reveal a surge of 153% in the value of all published .CO.UK domain sales worldwide, in comparison to a growth of 79% in 2005. Already one of the worlds most expensive online addresses with an average sales value of £2,062.15. The increasing scarcity of quality .CO.UK domains, and the continued recovery in the UK online industry, have steadily driven prices higher in the past years http://www.sedo.co.uk/presse/presse_130307.php4?tracked=&partnerid=&languag… Hundreds of Thousands of .mobi Domains Registered Over 400,000 .mobi domains have been registered since the domain for mobile devices was launched last October, according to dotMobithe organization charged with managing .mobi, which includes the allocating of top level names. http://www.psionplace.com/articles/2007/3/2007-3-9-Hundreds-of-Thousands.ht… Topix.com Sells for $1M An article in the Wall Street Journal confirmed that the domain name Topix.com was purchased for $1M in January. The new owner is Topix.net, which receives 10M visitors per month. The company understood the user confusion of not owning the .com version of the domain and negotiated the purchase. http://domainnamewire.com/2007/03/13/topixcom-sells-for-1m/ Domain Sales Explode as Buyers Brush Off Signs of a Slowing Economy What a roller coaster ride the past couple of weeks have been. Last week we witnessed one of the slowest domain sales weeks we've seen in some time. Yesterday former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said we may see an economic recession by the end of the year and today (Feb. 27) the stock market plunged a breathtaking 416 points in the biggest drop since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. So, does that mean the domain market's steady ascent is about to end? From the numbers out this week, we can only say "Forget about it!" http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2007/domainsales03-06-07.htm Net copes with key character test Tests are carried out to see how the net's addressing system copes with international character sets such as Chinese and Arabic. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6441093.stm ____________________________________________________________________________________ No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started. http://mobile.yahoo.com/mail

1 0

general internet news -
by Rebecca Wanjiku 19 Mar '07

19 Mar '07

just in case of interest.... Becky *************** RESEARCH PAPERS *************** American Latinos Online Latinos comprise 14% of the U.S. adult population and about half of this growing group (56%) goes online. By comparison, 71% of non-Hispanic whites and 60% of non-Hispanic blacks use the internet. http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/204/report_display.asp Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies: A Survey by Mary Rundle and Chris Conley (UNESCO) This story tells of a bright future in which emerging technologies are applied to the benefit of all humanity. History suggests, however, that technology can also be used to limit rather than to promote human rights and dignity. Thus, it is important to consider how these technologies may promote or thwart the realization of infoethics goals. Conclusion: The most important part of coming to terms with this “far more connected, global computing and information-sharing” paradigm that the Information Society is entering is that (1) everyone must understand it, and that (2) each piece ultimately shares responsibility (a) for the success of the system as a whole, and (b) for the fact that a person’s actions have ramifying and amplifying effects on people far away that he might not even see. It is a challenge to educate all people to be able to live in a world like that. There are huge benefits and shared risk. To a greater extent than before because of technology, organizational heads do not represent the best knowledge to address problems. There is a systematic bias to ask only the heads to be in the room for decision-making. However, children aged 0-20 are much more aware of cultural and technological issues than older people are. They are more knowledgeable about evolving cultures than older people who assume the children will resemble them. (They will not.) Therefore it is important to incorporate children in decision-making processes more. If society cannot let them vote, it should at least listen to what they are saying and honestly try to understand the people who are adjusting to new technologies at a rapid pace. Places where de novo adoption is occurring are the places to learn. Those people are appropriating new technologies without prior constraints – and they may show the rest of the Information Society what is possible or what is useful. The $100 Laptop is a nice example: It will teach about cultural adaptation to technology. The Information Society must recognize that the scale of things is larger and the reach of things is longer systematically. People need to learn to focus not just on local phenomenon but on global phenomenon. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001499/149992E.pdf *********** CENSORSHIP *********** Iranian blogger freed and reporting once again When a bruised Kianoosh Sanjari climbed from the police van last October, he immediately recognised the familiar drab buildings of Evin prison section 240, run by the plainclothes branch of the Revolutionary Guards. His crime? Reporting for his weblog on the violent arrest of a religious group by security forces. http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2359096.ece Chinese surfers overturn book ban Censors in China have bowed to pressure from the country's online community to allow eight books on the banned list to remain in shops. http://www.itnews.com.au/newsstory.aspx?CIaNID=47945 ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ us: States scrutinize minors' security on MySpace Connecticut could become the first state to require social networking sites and chatrooms to verify a user's age. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0313/p03s03-stct.html us: Keeping children safe online It hardly restricts our freedom to filter pornography out of the web in schools and libraries: The merits of filtering out internet pornography in schools and libraries is an issue which will not die. In the United States, the Children's Internet Protection Act passed in 2000 by Congress has been the subject of several legal challenges. The objection to keeping porn from children revolves around two issues: the accuracy of the filtering mechanism and free speech rights. http://mercatornet.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=500 au: Coonan's PC porn filter six months late Australians are not likely to get government-provided free online content filters for their PCs until June this year at the earliest, some six months after initially stipulated. http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Coonan_s_PC_porn_filter_six… Mobile dangers for kids The dangers and opportunities of the internet will soon spread to mobile phones, industry experts predict, raising serious questions about how parents can control what their children see and who they contact. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/14/1173722475474.html nz: InternetNZ supports NetSafe with strategic partnership agreement (news release) InternetNZ (The Internet Society of New Zealand) has formed a strategic partnership with NetSafe (The Internet Safety Group), expanding further its historical support for the organisation. http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/netsafepartnership Internet groups form alliance InternetNZ has formed a strategic partnership with internet safety group NetSafe. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488120/1028534 *************************************** CYBERCRIME, CYBERSECURITY AND PRIVACY *************************************** us: FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center Releases 2006 Statistics (news release) The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) today released its annual Internet Fraud Crime Report. From January 1 through December 31, 2006, the center received 207,492 complaint submissions. These filings were composed of fraudulent and non-fraudulent complaints primarily related to the Internet and included many different fraud types to include auction fraud, non-delivery, and credit/debit card fraud, as well as non-fraudulent complaints, such as computer intrusions, spam/unsolicited email, and child pornography. http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel07/ic3report031607.htm Internet Crime: The Latest Numbers - FBI report When it comes to crime, the Internet is like a Swiss Army knife—a multi-purpose tool that’s easy to use and highly versatile. That’s made crystal clear by the 2006 annual report just issued by our Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which shows how criminals used the ‘Net to launch nine different varieties of fraud alone. http://www.fbi.gov/page2/march07/ic3031607.htm Viacom v Google: The $1bn battle for content The article notes that YouTube will cite the Citing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act claiming “‘safe harbour’ under rules that protect web hosts from having to monitor the activities of their users - as long as they ‘expeditiously disable access to material’ when informed that it breaches copyright.” YouTube claims it takes down content when asked by copyright owners. But with bloggers and websites increasingly reproducing entire articles to “provoke debate and sell advertising on their sites” this is becoming a huge issue, but a costly one for any content creator to go after legally. To deal with this, the World Association of Newspapers “is working to create an international protocol to regulate online use of newspaper content.” The article notes that “there is an urgent need for clear case law to set guidelines - and Viacom's case may provide this.” The case, assuming it goes to court, will have far reaching implications, some of which the article discusses. http://news.independent.co.uk/media/article2368890.ece They're interfering with TV: please adjust your mindset Think of it as mud-wrestling, but at a higher level. Viacom is suing Google for a billion dollars because YouTube (which Google purchased a while back for $1.6bn) continues to host clips of Viacom's video properties. The documents launching the suit express moral outrage wrapped in three coats of prime legal verbiage. The gist, however, is clear: nasty bully Google is getting rich on the back of poor little artists and the companies that support them. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,2036423,00.html Make Way for Copyright Chaos by Lawrence Lessig Last week, Viacom asked a federal court to order the video-sharing service YouTube to pay it more than $1 billion in damages for some 150,000 videos that Viacom claims it owns and YouTube users have shared. “YouTube,” the complaint alleges, “has harnessed technology to willfully infringe copyrights on a huge scale,” threatening not just Viacom, but “the economic underpinnings of one of the most important sectors of the United States economy.” http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/opinion/18lessig.html http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&article… Big media strike back at Google In a landmark battle between old and new media, Viacom is suing over copyright breaches at YouTube. Dominic Rushe reports from New York http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/… http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21404564-643,00.html Awaiting a Compromise on YouTube (sub req'd) The problem for both Google and Viacom is that copyright law is filled with compromises and ambiguity. http://select.nytimes.com/2007/03/17/business/17nocera.html Privacy bodies back Google step Privacy bodies welcome Google's decision to anonymise personal data it receives from web searches. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6453137.stm au: eBay thief stole $42,000 A man stole $42,000 after hacking into eBay and Commonwealth Bank accounts last year, with eBay now set to trial individual security keys to protect members. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/18/1174152882305.html us: The Ol' Bait and Click The eBay vendor had a glowing record -- more than 900 successful sales, with only a single complaint amid a long series of positive testimonials from customers. So when a Georgia bidder won the seller's auction for an Olympus digital camera in January, there seemed little reason to worry about dispatching almost $700 into cyberspace. But the camera never arrived. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/15/AR200703150… uk: Advertising guru tells of hurt caused by blogs Sir Martin Sorrell was made to sound like a "ruthless criminal" with "mafia connections" in internet postings by a disgruntled former colleague and his associate, the High Court heard yesterday. In evidence, the advertising tycoon described his "terrible upset" at the "vengeful and vindictive" blog attacks which were part of an "orchestrated" campaign against him. http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article2362762.ece uk: Tycoon tells of ‘war’ on the internet Sir Martin Sorrell told a judge yesterday that a fiery Italian colleague had portrayed him on a weblog as a ruthless Mafia don. The global advertising tycoon described the anonymous blog, allegedly posted by Marco Benatti after he had been sacked by Sir Martin, as a vindictive character assassination. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1522417.ece Webmaster Claims Spider Entered Contract In Suit The Web and artificial intelligence have brought about some surreal, science fiction like questions. The most recent mind-bending concept is whether or not robots can enter into contracts – that is, is a Web crawler implicitly entering a contract posted on a website announcing copyright conditions? http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2007/03/16/webmaster-claims-spider-entere… German Gmail blocker wouldn't sell up for millions The German businessman behind trade mark cases that could wreck Google's email branding across Europe would refuse millions of dollars for the G-Mail trade mark he owns, according to his lawyer. The man has already turned down a Google offer of $250,000. http://out-law.com/page-7882 uk: Cricket simulation beats Newsnight painting as copyright dodge, says expert A cricketing website has found what it hopes is an inventive way to bypass copyright laws to show users action from the Cricket World Cup. http://out-law.com/page-7883 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/16/cricket_simulation_copyright_dodge/ us: Two plead guilty in Internet gambling case (Reuters) A Miami executive and his wife pleaded guilty to participating in a $3.3 billion (1.7 billion pound) illegal Internet sports gambling operation in New York on Friday, the Queens District Attorney's office said. http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKN1623695620070317 ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** UNESCO states position on ethical issues in the information society UNESCO has published a brochure entitled "Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies" dealing with the consequences of the use of RFID chips, biometric identification systems, and location-based services (LBSs). Written by lawyers from the US, the brochure was published as part of the "NGO Geneva Net Dialogue" in which non-governmental organizations stated their case after the UN World Summit on Information Freedom and the Internet Governance Forum. The results of the dialogue are to be included in the WSIS Action Line C10 ''Ethical dimensions of the Information Society." http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/86719 th: Thailand's Internet governance is a mess The state of Internet governance today in Thailand is in confusion. Online stakeholders, in government, private and civil society do not know what they are doing. Worse, they do not understand what is really going on in the cyber world. They all pursue their own agendas, thinking positively that they are indeed contributing to Internet openness and freedom of expression. http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/16/opinion/opinion_30029416.php eu: Mobile TV warned to standardise A European Commission (EC) official has issued a stern warning to those involved in mobile TV to agree on adopting a single technology standard. EC telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding said that if the industry did not agree on one, she would do it for them. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6459161.stm us: Net Neutrality Debate Remains Contentious The haggling over whether Internet service providers should be able to charge more money for some traffic, or whether the law should mandate equal access, is increasingly contentious. Here's a guide to the players. http://informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=198001557 us: Politicians press for antispyware law yet again Members of the U.S. House of Representatives vowed Thursday not to let a bill aimed at curbing spyware die for a third time. Leaders of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee focused on consumer protection issues said they were mystified that earlier versions of the so-called Spy Act overwhelmingly passed the House in 2004 and in 2005 but were ignored by the Senate. Politicians from both parties said they hoped the third time would be the charm. http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6167595.html http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6167595.html au: Labor hopes to close child porn loophole Labor will move to close a legal loophole which means there is no specific offence of sending child pornography through the mail. ... He (Senator Ludwig said federal Labor's proposed laws would: ... create a consistent maximum penalties of 10 years' imprisonment and fines of $275,000 or both for transmission of child pornography and abuse materials by any means; increase penalties from $11,000 to $275,000 for internet service providers that fail to promptly notify authorities when they become aware child pornography and abuse materials can be accessed from their service. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/03/19/1174152895465.html http://nyngan.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?story_id=567038 us: Police want to upgrade the law This year, the GBI is asking the Legislature to update the 1999 act to include technology few imagined would be used to entice children electronically. If Senate Bill 98 passes, predators would be subject to prosecution not only for using computers but also for using cellphones, video games, removable memory devices and other electronic equipment to lure children. http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/legis07/stories/2007/03/16/0317metle… us: Rep. Frank may seek to restore online gambling (Reuters) Rep. Barney Frank plans to give details in the coming weeks on possible legislation to repeal a ban imposed last year on online gambling. Frank, chairman of the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, said Thursday that he is in no hurry and plans to consult with others on the matter. http://news.zdnet.com/2110-9588_22-6167864.html EU consumer chief eschews another bite at Apple (Reuters) The European Union's consumer chief soft-pedalled her views on Apple Inc (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday, backing off the line that its iTunes online music store must become more compatible with other formats. http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSL139204020070313 ***** SPAM ***** If we can't sort out spam, what hope do we have for tackling global warming? Dave Rand doesn't have the air of an optimist defeated by reality, though one would have thought that someone who set up a company in 1994 with the expectation of purging the internet completely of spam within five or so years might look less happy with how things have turned out. http://technology.guardian.co.uk/weekly/story/0,,2033511,00.html ***************************** INTERNET & NEW TECHNOLOGY USE ***************************** Flat prospects: Digital media and globalisation shake up an old industry Reports of the death of paper, rampant in the 1990s, were evidently greatly exaggerated. The paperless office never materialised; nor, yet, have e-books. People still print letters and flip through pages of magazines. They also eat cereal and drink milk from cartons, and wipe their bottoms with loo roll. Computers have, oddly, failed to do away with such habits. Even so, the vast pulp-and-paper multinationals have been hard hit by the electronic age, especially in America. Demand for many types of paper there is declining, though mill closures and shrinking capacity buoy prices. Newsprint has been worst hit (see chart), as circulation and classified advertising at newspapers fall and the Wall Street Journal and other papers grow skinnier. North America's two biggest newsprint-makers, Abitibi of Canada and Bowater of South Carolina, are merging. http://economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8856093 Is this the age of the online avatar? As Internet communities grow, virtual alter-egos are becoming mainstream. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0316/p11s01-stct.html Magazine publishers see future, but no profit, in shift to Internet At conference in Hannover, industry executives from 25 countries tell of small returns for money spent on digital assets. http://iht.com/articles/2007/03/18/yourmoney/mags.php us: Social Networking Goes Niche MySpace and Friendster’s runaway popularity and exposure have helped spawn an array of targeted networking sites. Advertisers are noticing http://businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2007/tc20070314_884996.htm New Technology, Old Habits Despite world-class IT networks, Japanese and Korean workers are still chained to their desks http://businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/mar2007/gb20070315_019175.htm Crotch watch A study of how people read the internet has concluded that men “fixate on any visible genital areas in photos”. The study, by Jakob Nielsen, an expert in website usability, used an eye-tracker to measure attention. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1527803.ece Porn Industry is Booming Globally Every 39 minutes a new pornographic video is being produced in the United States. Every second, 28,258 Internet users view pornography worldwide and 372 Internet users are typing search keywords looking for adult-oriented material. http://redorbit.com/news/technology/872894/porn_industry_is_booming_globall… Italy bans mobile phones in classrooms (Reuters) Italy has banned schoolchildren from using mobile phones in class in an attempt to stop ringtones disrupting lessons and prevent pupils messing about with video cameras. The rules force schools to discipline children who persist in using their phones, with punishments ranging from the confiscation of phones to excluding pupils from final exams. http://news.com.com/2110-1039_3-6168179.html http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&article… *************** DIGITAL DIVIDE *************** America's Digital Divide Narrows One way or another, many Latinos and other minorities are getting online—but they're missing the full range of interactive Web features according to Latinos Online, a report by the Pew Internet & American Life Project (see below). http://businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2007/tc20070315_573361.htm Digital divide grows for older Britons as others connect to new media Mobile phones, the internet and digital televisions are increasingly transforming the lives of many British people - but also leaving millions of others stranded on the other side of the digital divide, a report from the Office for National Statistics said. http://technology.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2035468,00.html ********************************* COMMENT, MICROSOFT & DEVELOPMENTS ********************************* ‘Microsoft sucks’, says top blogger Robert Scoble, formerly Microsoft’s tame blogger has bitten the software company that made his name when it employed him as a “technology evangelist”. Scoble writes the Scobleizer web log, one of the most-read sources of technology commentary on the internet. ... At a “global summit” of its most-valued software developers, Microsoft repeatedly declared that it would “win” in search and other parts of its Windows Live internet strategy. “The words are empty,” Scoble responded. “Microsoft’s internet execution sucks (on the whole). Its search sucks. Its advertising sucks. If that’s ‘in it to win’, then I don’t get it.” He continued: “Microsoft isn’t going away. Don’t get me wrong. They have record profits, record sales, all that. But on the internet? Come on." http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/… Cool kids invade domain once held strictly by geeks Technology aficionados may know Cebit as the fair where Heinz Nixdorf introduced his legendary 820 universal computer in 1965 or where Nokia demonstrated its first GSM phone in 1987. Those impressed by size might note that it is the world's biggest technology trade fair, expected this year to draw 430,000 visitors and 6,200 exhibitors from 70 countries. For many others, however, Cebit has all the appeal of an oversized office supply store. http://iht.com/articles/2007/03/14/technology/btmedia.php uk: Church court bans phone masts on spires as work of the Devil Churches and cathedrals throughout England could lose thousands of pounds in revenue after a church court ruled against a mobile phone mast because it would “facilitate access to pornography”. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article1527809.ece Google expansion leads to impatience Wall Street seems to be losing patience with how long Google 2.0 is taking to build – and how expensive the project is turning out to be. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/72b7dede-d579-11db-a5c6-000b5df10621.html Cisco Ups Ante in War with Microsoft In an escalating arms race for control over the unified communications market, Cisco's acquisition of WebEx is its largest yet http://businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2007/tc20070316_657554.htm Google grapples with increasingly political Web With the Internet poised to be the "epicenter" of the 2008 elections, Google is contemplating how best to keep candidate information readily accessible without allowing the Web to transform into a giant tabloid. http://www.zdnetindia.com/news/communication/stories/173192.html Google Phone in the works Google Inc. is developing its own mobile phone, according to industry insiders and analysts, while a Google official in Spain last week acknowledged the company is "investigating" such a project. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488120/1028544 http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKN1823690420070319 ******************* TELECOMMUNICATIONS ******************* Report highlights NZ's broadband woes A report by the Ministry of Economic Development is critical of the state of telecommunications in New Zealand, in particular the prices paid by private consumers and buinesses, and the lack of high-end broadband services. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411419/1027447 nz: Call for faster action on fast net New Zealand needs to move faster to improve broadband services, Communications Minister David Cunliffe said yesterday after releasing a report that again highlights the country's poor international ranking. The Ministry of Economic Development report comparing New Zealand's telecommunications performance http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10429476 nz: Broadband waiting list shortens Telecom says the number of people waiting to be connected to its broadband network because all the ports in their local exchange or roadside cabinet are full has fallen in recent months, with 711 customers now in the queue. http://stuff.co.nz/3998024a28.html ***** VoIP ***** Vodafone takes hybrid approach to mobile VOIP Vodafone is demonstrating a service that allows mobile phone customers to call users of Internet phone services. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/17/AR200703170… Integration is key to effective VoIP We seem to be well along the way to converging our voice and data networks, utilising voice over IP (VoIP). As we bring everything together and allow a single group of techies to look after the voice and data, surely we will achieve efficiency and effectiveness gains? http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/03/15/222430/integration-is-key… ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR CHILD PORN ********************************** au: 17,000 child porn pics found on laptop Over 17,000 pornographic images of young children and 160 movie files have been found by police on a computer belonging to a 62-year-old man in Darwin. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/16/1173722718017.html au: Police charge man with child porn offences after raid A man from Armidale in northern New South Wales has been charged with multiple child pornography offences. http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1874490.htm http://au.news.yahoo.com/070317/21/12sbn.html http://au.news.yahoo.com/070317/21/12s8u.html ____________________________________________________________________________________ Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit. http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097

1 0

Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Kenya's fibre optic cable project queried]
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 18 Mar '07

18 Mar '07

Dear Wakabi, Thank you for raising the question on whether the Ministry ignored best practices in procurement. The answer is No. There are three approved methods of procurement, that is, open tender, selective tender and single sourcing. Open tender you have got to adverise and any interested party can bid to supply service. It is a lengthy procedure (takes a minimum 45 days). It is the most competitive of all. Logically it applies to goods that can be obtained from many sources. Selective tendering however, is mostly applied to a sitiation where the popolation of the suppliers is limited as in Marine works. There are two companies, that is, Tyco and Alcatel that have the necesary experience to do such jobs. There are three other companies, that is, NEC, Fujistu and Global Marine/Huaweii that are usually subcontracted by the larger two. They have limited experience compared to the big two. Therefore it would have been absolutely non sense and wasteful to advertise for the the works in the local papers. Single sourcing is used where there is only one supplier of service/good or where there is an emergence. The committee which is tasked with the Teams project comprising the Investment Secretary, Director, Directorate of Procurement, MD Telkom, Solocitor General, and CCK Director General agreed to fast track the project by seeking authority from Treasury to procure Detailed Feasibility Study (DFS), Detailed Technical Study (DTS), and The Mirine Survey (MS)using the later methods and subjected Financial Arrager (FA) tender to an open tender. If you look at the overall project, the four services DFS, DTS, MS and FA are crucial to determining the time the project takes. Three of these projects DFS, DTS, and FA are complete and once the MS is complete, it would enable us to procure the supply contract with sufficient knowledge. Secoindly, whoever is awarded the contract, will actually immediately procure the material since all the information is available. The argument that the MS is given along with the Suply contract does not hold water since there are many cable networks that have used the model. EASSY for example will not know the material requirement until the MS is complete. In technical terms they are several months behind Teams. You must understand that there are several interested parties, some who want to make quick bucks. Ask yourself: what is it they are seeing that our people can't see? Consider Germany cable operators bagging in more that 6 billion euros in the last world cup in one month. My friend we need a serious talk. Seriously, if I had my way, I would give the entire works as a tunkey project. By now we could be at least three months to getting connected. Regards Bitange Ndemo. ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

6 7

Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Viacom v YouTube/Google
by Alex Gakuru 17 Mar '07

17 Mar '07

Looking over yonder ... /Alex Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 08:14:51 +0300 To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Subject: [ke-internetusers] Viacom v YouTube/Google [actual txt of Viacom complaint: <http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/Viacom031207.pdf >http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/Viacom031207.pdf ] [benton] VIACOM IN $1 BILLION COPYRIGHT SUIT VERSUS GOOGLE, YOUTUBE [SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Kenneth Li and Michele Gershberg] Viacom sued Google and its Internet video-sharing site YouTube for more than $1 billion on Tuesday in the biggest challenge yet to the Web search leader's strategy to dominate the online video market. The lawsuit accuses Google and its popular online video unit of "massive intentional copyright infringement" for allowing users to upload popular shows, threatening ambitions to make YouTube a major entertainment and advertising outlet. The legal challenge from Viacom, home to the MTV and Comedy Central channels, also suggested a wider battle between traditional and Internet media companies that now compete for audiences and advertising dollars. http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSWEN535120070313 * Public Knowledge statement: "Without commenting on the specific allegations involved, we note that simply because material is "unauthorized" does not make its use illegal. There are limitations to copyright law, known as fair use, that do not require the copyright owner's permission before use of a work. Many of the users of YouTube who have posted short clips of main-stream media's works have done so using their fair use rights, for reasons of criticism, comment, education, and news reporting. We are confident YouTube and Google will continue to take appropriate actions in accordance with the safe-harbor provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). By a previous request of Viacom, YouTube has already removed some 100,000 clips." http://feeds.publicknowledge.org/~r/publicknowledge-main/~3/101398694/860 * Old Viacom doesn't get it, new CBS does http://feeds.publicknowledge.org/~r/publicknowledge-main/~3/101424170/861 * Viacom Sues YouTube Over Copyright http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/13/AR200703130… * Viacom sues Google's YouTube in $1B copyright suit http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070314/viacom14.art.htm * Viacom files $1-billion suit over YouTube http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fi-viacom14mar14,1,363811… * Viacom Sues Google Over Video Clips on Its Sharing Web Site http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/14/technology/14viacom.html * Viacom vs. Google: Test of key online law http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/16899987.htm * Viacom v. Google Could Shape Digital Future http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117379140954435400.html?mod=todays_us_marke… YOUTUBE'S FATE RESTS ON DECADE-OLD COPYRIGHT LAW [SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh] Whether YouTube suffers the same fate as Napster may depend on the wording of a nearly antique law written long before video-sharing Web sites were envisioned. The law is, of course, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA, which made its appearance in the U.S. Congress in July 1997. Central to the question of Google's legal liability is the phrasing of a densely worded portion -- Section 512 -- of the DMCA. Section 512's so-called safe harbor generally lets hosting companies off the hook for legal liability, as long as they don't turn a blind eye to copyright infringement and if they remove infringing material when notified. YouTube does the second part through a formal posted policy, and it prohibits uploads of unauthorized videos more than 10 minutes in length. But what about the safe harbor's first requirement of not ignoring massive infringement? Viacom's complaint says, "YouTube has failed to employ reasonable measures that could substantially reduce, or eliminate, the massive amount of copyright infringement on the YouTube site from which YouTube directly profits." (For its part, Google says it's confident that YouTube has respected the legal rights of copyright holders and predicts that the courts will agree.) http://news.com.com/YouTubes+fate+rests+on+decade-old+copyright+law/2100-10… * Google confident digital liability law protects it http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1316411620070314 _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers --------------------------------- It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers

1 0

[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Reliance Telecom set to roll into Kenya]
by alice 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Reliance Telecom set to roll into Kenya Reliance Telecom, the Indian telecoms giant which is the process of building a fibre optic cable between India, through the Middle East to the eastern coast of Africa, is part of a group which Kenyan authorities have allowed to take up the SNO slot. A report in Kenyas Business Day newspaper says Reliance, Triton Group (of Kenya) and Swedish communications firm Swedtel, will this week pay the local communications authority for the licence which Kuwaiti firm Vtel Communications initially won. Reliance hopes to connect Mombasa, Kenya, to the network it is erecting in the Gulf region in the second half of this year. The cable would then proceed to link to Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritius and South Africa, before end of 2009. Reliances entry into Kenya makes their vision easier to achieve, but may require the architects of EASSy and The East African Marine Systems (Teams) to return to the drawing board. Or does it? According to the Business Day report, EASSy promoters are in talks with TATA (a competitor to Reliance in their home market) to help put together a team that will give Reliance a run for its money. And where does all this leave the NEPAD eAfrica Commission and the aspiration for Open Access? Wakabi == Reliance to pay Sh12bn for telecom license Written by Kui Kinyanjui Indias Reliance Telecoms and its Kenyan partner are expected to pay nearly Sh12 billion for the second national telephone licence by the end of this week. Triton Group, the Kenyan member of the consortium poised to take up the SNO licence said the group had accepted the Communications Commission of Kenyas (CCK) offer to take up the licence that was initially awarded to a consortium led by Vtel Communications of Kuwait. Indias Reliance Telecoms and its Kenyan partner are expected to pay nearly Sh12 billion for the second national telephone licence by the end of this week. Triton Group, the Kenyan member of the consortium poised to take up the SNO licence said the group had accepted the Communications Commission of Kenyas (CCK) offer to take up the licence that was initially awarded to a consortium led by Vtel Communications of Kuwait. Yagnesh Devani, the executive chairman of Triton Group, told the Business Daily that the company will pay for the licence on Friday. Everything is on course and we have already taken up the offer. Paying up for this bill will firmly place on course the process of setting up a competitor to Telkom Kenya, nearly years since the process started. The cash kitty will also significantly boost efforts by the Treasury to raise money it had budgeted for and ultimately reduce government borrowing from domestic money markets. This could add further reduce interest rates and strengthen the shilling as banks and insurance companies which mostly lend to the government find themselves flush with money they cannot invest profitably. Triton and its partner Reliance were offered the opportunity to become Kenyas SNO two months ago, after the first placed consortium Vtel failed to meet regulatory standards and lost its bid. The last few weeks have seen the regulatory body, CCK, vacillate on exactly when the offer would be formally taken up by Reliance and its partners. As late as yesterday, the regulator would not commit to when the formal announcement of Reliances paying up for the licence would be made. Delay in making the announcement has raised industry-wide fears that the battle for the SNO licence would go the way of the third mobile provider which has been in suspension for the last four years. The Reliance consortium had to raise an additional Sh4.1 billion ($58 million) for the license above their initial bid of Sh7.8 billion ($111 million), to match Vtels bid offer of Sh11.8 billion ($169 million). It is expected that Reliance will put in an initial investment of around Sh10.5 billion ($150 million) for the licence, leaving its partner Triton to foot the rest of the bill. According to regulation, the consortium will be expected to pay CCK a substantial amount of the licence fee on Friday to act as a bond for the licence. The Reliance Consortium is led by one of Indias largest private telecom service providers, Reliance Telecoms, and Kenyas Triton Group. Swedish communications firm Swedtel is the technical partner. The entry of the SNO is expected to significantly add pricing pressure in the telecommunication market with the possibility of lowering charges and cutting communications costs across the economy. A national operator has a combined licence, meaning it can handle both mobile and fixed lines services as well as operate an Internet backbone. Under the terms of its licence, an SNO must roll out networks across the country to help shore up the number of people with access to a phone line, or tele-density. United Nations research shows that a one per cent increase in tele-density can lead to a corresponding increase in a countrys GDP of 0.3 per cent. Reliances immediate competitor will be Telkom Kenya, which has long disappointed Kenyan companies and added huge costs to their operations. Telkom recently rolled out its wireless platform hoping to take advantage of new revenue streams as consumer interest in land-lines wane. The national operator also has plans to privatize this April, which alongside an upcoming IPO for Safaricom will boost the companys investment and infrastructure plans ahead of Reliances entry. The entry of another internet backbone provider is further expected to lower internet connectivity charges. Internet prices have been on the decline since the government began liberalising the information and communications technology sector three years ago. Kenyans are expected to benefit from improved access to the internet, increased bandwidth, and quicker and efficient services. Reliance is investing a further $1.2 billion on an undersea cable system linking India to Kenya, a move which should expand its already sizable global network and provide the company with ready-made infrastructure that will give it an edge against competitors Telkom, Safaricom and Celtel in coming months. Africa is a budding battlefield for Indian telecommunications companies. Reliances competitor Tata is reportedly in talks with the Eassy fibre optic cable consortium in a bid to beat Reliances . Fridays formal announcement of Reliances acceptance will see Kenya narrowly escaping the African SNO syndrome, which is characterized by licensing processes stalling mid-way and politics. Senegal is the continents most famous case, with its SNO still not operational six years after the government announced its intentions to license a second operator. Politicking around the process has seen the countrys national operator left with monopolistic control over 80 per cent of the market. Malawis SNO process has taken almost a year to realize as the countrys regulatory body continually shies away from committing to a bid on technical footing. _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

1 0

[Fwd: C4IDEA.com - BusinessXchange Forum - Wednesday 28th March 2007]
by alice 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

c4IDEA.com invites you to the March 2007 BusinessXchange Forum on Wednesday 28th March 2007 at the Nairobi Serena Hotel from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. This month's presentation will focus on innovative tools that are important for individuals, and Companies, to be able to make an impression with Presentations. Our speaker this month is Mr. Terry Wan, the Sales Director of VOSA International, a Singapore based firm that specializes in the VOSA iBoard, the most Versatile, Operational, Stylish and Advanced Interactive Digital Board in the Market today. VOSA International has the latest Interactive Digital Board in the Market, suitable for Boardrooms, Conference rooms and Classrooms, and Call Centres that allows users to make there presentations come alive, and incorporates tools that no other interactive board can provide e.g. remote networking with the presentation from users PC's over the Internet and much, much more! Title: Enhancing Presentations using Innovation Speaker: Mr. Terry Wan, Sales Director, Vosa International Limited. Date: Wednesday 28^th March 2007 Venue: Serena Hotel, Nairobi Cost: KShs. 1,200.00. corporateXchange members FREE c4IDEA.com is a resource network that helps individuals and organizations exchange innovative and proactive ideas to develop world-class Kenyan leaders in different professions and disciplines. Please email or contact us to make a reservation for this special businessXchange forum. Please send this email to your friends and associates who would be interested in knowing more about using Innovative Technology in making Presentations. This is a perfect opportunity to see a truly innovative product and cutting edge Technology. Njoki Mumira Program Manager c4IDEA.com ----------------------------------------------- c4IDEA.com - Idea Factory Ltd The Office Park, Riverside Drive. PO Box 12, Sarit Centre 00606, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: 254-020-4449277. Tel: 254-020-4447655. Fax: 254-020-4449210.

1 0

Satellite technology to monitor elections
by Alex Gakuru 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

Mamma Mia! This means no ferrying of voters in trucks( at night?). Transporters job losses... ;-) I learnt from the ARSK that there are always over 500 satellites hovering in orbits above the earth all the time. Satellites have "night vision" capabilities. Interesting reads on commercial spy satellites 1. "Orbit of change for satellite firms" (2006) < http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/tech/article/0,2777,DRMN_23910_437344… > "...companies are building and preparing to launch new satellites capable of snapping Earth-based objects 1 to 2 feet across in size." 2. "Spy Satellite Image Business Booms", (2000) < http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/business/commercial_remote_sense_00… > /Alex ----------------------------------------------- Story by NATION Correspondent Publication Date: 3/14/2007 Cartographers have developed a modern satellite system to monitor elections. As a result, the Electoral Commission of Kenya will this year assess the progress of the polls by tapping data and images from the American and Russian satellites in space and offer solutions to any hitches. The technology, the first of its kind in Africa, will enable the commission to intervene in areas where problems might occur without necessarily travelling there. Using the Global Positioning System (GPS), digital cartography and remote sensing, experts can provide solutions with mathematical precision in cases where ballot papers are delayed due to natural events such as floods. The technology has been developed by the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development, an international research organisation based in Nairobi The centre provides surveying, mapping and remote sensing services. Speaking during the launch of Global Navigational Satellite System, a permanent reference station yesterday, Lands minister Kivutha Kibwana said systematic recording of information could promote effective decision making. Effective and efficient decision making and the planning and development of our resources requires fundamental map information collected and maintained in a systematic approach, Prof Kibwana said. The minister said the station would provide skills in satellite data processing and dissemination. Survey boundaries Prof Kibwana said Kenya tested the modern technology recently to survey boundaries of the newly created districts. The technology can also help solve conflicts between countries over territorial boundaries. As we move closer to regional integration and adopt regional approach to peace and security, environmental management, trade and industry, our mapping coordinates must be harmonised to avoid conflicts, said Prof Kibwana. The regional centre was established in 1975 under the auspices of the United Nations Commission for Africa, which later became the Organisation of African Unity, todays African Union. --------------------------------- Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.

1 0

Test 1 @ 20070309-1854
by Odhiambo WASHINGTON 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

This is a test. Please ignore. cheers - wash +----------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ Odhiambo Washington . WANANCHI ONLINE LTD (Nairobi, KE) | wash () WANANCHI ! com . 1ere Etage, Loita Hse, Loita St., | GSM: (+254) 722 743 223 . # 10286, 00100 NAIROBI | GSM: (+254) 733 744 121 . (+254) 020 313 985 - 9 | +---------------------------------+------------------------------------------+ "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" --from a /. post

3 2

Global Online Course in ICT Journalism (April 20 to July 20 2007)
by Eric Osiakwan 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

After successfully pioneering an online course in ICT Journalism in 2006, The International Institute for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Journalism Penplusbytes is pleased to announce a three month (April 20th to July 20th 2007) online training opportunity for journalists in the area of ICT Journalism. Participants will be exposed to the wider context of ICTs assisted journalism including its history, how these technologies are impacting on the world of journalism, how ICT can be used in producing stories and how to manage change process in using innovative ICT tools. INTRODUCTION Course Description and Goals: This course teaches the theory and concept of ICTs journalism; the impact of ICTs on Journalism and how to increase excellence in journalism using ICTs as a tool. At the end of the course, the participants will learn four main set of skills: You will learn and understand broad spectrum of ICTs tools available for journalism You will learn how to research and publish content online You will learn that despite that the proliferation of technology for journalism the fundamental principles of journalism still apply. You will learn how to use a selection of ICT tools for journalism Prerequisites: This course does not have any special prerequisites though participants will need to have basic computer skills such sending and receiving mails, managing files and browsing the Internet. The course assumes participants are practicing journalists who have mastered journalism skills. Class Meeting: Participants are expected to meet online via group discussion weekly, it is expected that a participants must devote at least five hours per week online. Course Content -Introduction to ICT Journalism concept, theory and definition -ICT tools for Journalism web 2.0/3.0, wikis, blogs, podcasting, online collaborative tools, newsroom content management system and publishing platforms -The role of information and knowledge management in the newsroom -Specialization in ICT Journalism -Online Research -Business Models of Online Journalism -Future of ICT Journalism Materials Participants will be provided with regular resources during the duration of the course, these resources will available mostly online or via CD ROM. Grading: Participants are expected to undertake weekly assignment, participate in online discussion, make use of ICT tools and produce a final project work to be published on penplusbytes website. Certificates All participants who fully successfully complete the course and would be awarded a certificate. Application To apply, simply download and fill the application form (click on this link) Email completed form and statement to: info(a)penplusbytes.net Closing date for receipt of application and statement is 20th March 2007. Notification of acceptance: 2nd April 2007 LINKS Class bookmarks Class Blog Class Wiki Alumni list and 1st Online Course online Space 2nd Course Class online Space Ends Engaging, informative, and high-quality online training course created and offered by Penplusbytes. 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"

1 0

- Call - International Essay Contest for Young People 2007
by Brian Longwe 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

FYI Begin forwarded message: > > [forwarded message, on behalf of Raquel Aguirre] > > > > > > International Essay Contest for Young People 2007 > > > > Theme: > > "The role of media and information and communication technologies > in building a peaceful world"-- TV, radio, Internet and other forms > of media have great influence in shaping our lives and society. > What should be the role of the media and communication technologies > in the future. How would you make use of these various tools of > communication to help create a better world. > > > More info: > > http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/0702_00.htm > > ---------- Brian Longwe +254(0) 20 445 2327 - t Chief Executive Officer +254(0) 722 518744 - m InHand Limited +254(0) 733 518744 - m M3, Westlands Court, +254(0) 20 374 7881 - f Westlands Close, Westlands Rd. www.inhand.co.ke P.O. Box 30054-00100 SIP: 30753274(a)sip.epygi.com Nairobi, Kenya

1 0

Knowldege Management Training, 11-13 April 2007
by Harry Hare 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

Dear Colleagues, The value of Knowledge Management, relates directly to the effectiveness with which the managed knowledge enables the members of an organization to deal with today's situations and effectively envision and create their future. Without on-demand access to managed knowledge, every situation is addressed based on what the individual or group brings to the situation with them. With on-demand access to managed knowledge, every situation is addressed with the sum total of everything anyone in the organization has ever learned about a situation of a similar nature. Most organizations are built on structures that encourage self-reliance and islands of activities and thus knowledge. Interdependence between organizations that have complementary knowledge is completely cut out and lost in this structure. This, therefore, creates gaps in the available knowledge that need to be addressed and the situation corrected. To complicate this situation further, there is very little awareness of the power and usefulness of Knowledge Management as a tool to improve organizational efficiency and to facilitate better and more informed decision-making in the region. Common problems and challenges remain and continue recurring despite a wealth of knowledge albeit unmanaged and, therefore, un-usable or under-utilised. It is from this background that African eDevelopment Resource Center is hosting a three-day (11-13 April 2007) capacity building workshop on Knowledge Management in Nairobi, to bring information managers to speed with this very powerful process. The workshop will provide participants with both a theoretical and practical understanding of the key concepts of Information and Knowledge Management, and provide them with the skills to apply and facilitate effective Knowledge Management processes. Some of the areas that will be covered in the workshop include: * Introduction to Knowledge Management * Information and the Knowledge Economy * Knowledge Management as a Process * Knowledge Management Frameworks and Standards * Developing a Knowledge Management Strategy * Knowledge Management Strategies and Leadership * Knowledge Management Systems and Content Development The workshop will be conducted in both plenary and group session with participants taking hands-on activities. The Faculty for the workshop will be lead by Prof. Louis Fourie, who is the Chairman of Information Systems, Department of Information Systems, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Prof Fourie has been in this field for the last ten years and has conducted more than a dozen such courses in the continent. The registration fee for the workshop is US$ 550 which will cover all the documentation, administration and meals during the workshop. To participate in this workshop, please fill out the attached registration form and return it to the email or fax indicated. Due to the nature of the course we have a limited number of spaces available and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Should you need further information or want to participate, pls drop an email to me. Thanking you for your continuous support. Kindest Regards Harry Hare Executive Director African eDevelopment Resource Centre (AeRC) KE +254 20 4453445 CELL + 254 725 650044 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.8/717 - Release Date: 3/10/2007 2:25 PM

1 0

[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Kenya's fibre optic cable project queried]
by alice 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] Kenya's fibre optic cable project queried Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2007 08:32:18 +0300 From: Wairagala Wakabi <wakabi(a)cipesa.org> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> References: <mailman.0.1172828896.9025.fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> <45EBFF90.7090301(a)cipesa.org> <45EC0CF1.1050706(a)cipesa.org> So Kenya is pushing full throttle with its vision of building a cable to link the country to international fibre. The East African Marine System (TEAMS), promoted by government and expected to draw private financing as well, has been touted as the country’s answer to EASSy’s delays in getting off the ground – and in satisfying Kenya’s misgivings about the EASSy protocol, the role NEPAD has been playing in the initiative and – some say – South Africa’s attempt to dominate the show. But in the rush to get TEAMS off the ground, did the country ignore best practice in procurement? That is the question an article in today’s The EastAfrican newspaper asks. That is the question the country’s Attorney General’s Chambers has been asking. Their queries refer to the manner in which Tyco International Ltd. Was handed the $2.7 m deal to do prelim work on the deal “without competitive bidding”. One could join the AG’s office in asking questions: Will TEAMS go ahead with this plan anyway, now that some of the entities being expected to fund the construction of TEAMS have moved a step further with EASSy. Here we are referring to the likes of Telekom Kenya. And if EASSy goes ahead, then Flag Telcom/ Reliance Telecom actualise their advanced plan to build their cable (of which Kenya Data Network is a keenly involved party, just as it is in EASSy) how viable will these cables be? For more on cables planned on East coast of Africa, please see www.fibreforafrica.net . Wakabi -- Fresh snarl-ups in Kenya-Fujaira fibre optic cable project STAFF WRITER, The EastaAfrican, March 12, 2007 Controversy is simmering between the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Information and Communications over the procurement for a multimillion-dollar plan by Kenya to build a fibre-optic cable link from Mombasa to Fujaira in the United Arab Emirates. Known as The East African Marine System (TEAMS), the project is expected to be launched in parallel with the $200 million East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) — a fibre-optic cable link along the eastern seaboard of Africa, from South Africa to Sudan via a number of landing points including Mombasa. The EastAfrican has learnt that the Office of the Attorney General has raised queries over the manner in which Tyco International Ltd — a transnational that operates in 100 countries — was in January this year awarded a $2.7 million contract by the Information Ministry to conduct a marine survey without competitive bidding. The ministry had in January sought and was granted an exemption from the Directorate of Public Procurement to procure the contract for a marine survey through single-sourcing. However, the Office of the Attorney General has — in a letter signed by Solicitor-General Wanjuki Muchemi — argued that the application to the directorate was not done according to procedure and demanded minutes of the ministry’s technical evaluation committee that decided that the project be single-sourced. Apparently, the ministry had sought the exemption on the grounds of the onset of the monsoon season in the Indian Ocean and the consequent need to fast-track the project. It is understood that, during an earlier meeting in Dubai between Kenya government officials and the Dubai-based Etisalat Ltd — the main private sector sponsors of the project — the point was made to the officials that the marine survey contract and the cable construction contract could not be awarded to separate companies. The government had been warned that it was rare for a cable contractor to accept a marine survey conducted by another firm. Experts had also told the government officials that marine surveys are usually deemed to be part and parcel of construction works and that awarding the survey component separately would amount to giving the construction contract to the same firm. The Office of the Attorney General wants to know why the issues raised by experts had been ignored. TEAMS is one of the largest projects being undertaken by the government this year. The government decided to launch the project when it realised that the EASSy project was facing too many delays. The government is set to invite bids any time from now for a financial arranger who will design a plan to raise money for the project, tentatively expected to be completed by early next year. The contract will be awarded competitively by April this year. The government — through Telkom Kenya — is working with Dubai-based Etilasat to build the cable. The private sector will be invited to either buy shares in the project or will be brought in on the basis of proved capacity to raise funds through models worked out by the financial arranger. The information and communications technology sector in Kenya has for years been held back by reliance on expensive satellite connectivity to the international network. Interest in construction of fibre-optic cable links to the Kenya Coast has risen dramatically and Kenya appears set to acquire cheaper international connectivity in less than two years. First is the planned $200 million EASSy, which is beginning to pick up momentum after a prolonged three-year gestation period. Currently, the proposal is for an open-access operation modelled to allow new entrants to use the infrastructure without paying high entry charges. This is expected to result in low costs for connectivity and exponential growth in transmission. According to the financing plan, up to 85 per cent ($170 million) of the funding is to come from development finance institutions, including the International Finance Corporation. The EASSy Construction and Maintenance Agreement — an important project implementation landmark — was signed in Nairobi last month by 24 licensee parties of the EASSy consortium from 17 countries. It is the trigger that now makes the project fully funded and committed from an equity point of view. Reliance Group of India has also joined the fray. The giant company has announced plans for a third cable option along the East African coast that will link South Africa and Kenya and also serve Tanzania, Mauritius, Mozambique and Madagascar as well as some landlocked countries. The cable link will be laid down by Flag Telecom, a subsidiary of Reliance. Seith East Africa Ltd of the United States is also understood to have approached the government of Kenya to allow it to build a control centre around the Athi River area to serve a new cable link it is planning to build joining ports on the East African coast to the Arab world. The company is part of the Blackstone Group, one of the largest private equity companies in the world. ============== Wairagala Wakabi Research Associate CIPESA Plot 22 Bukoto Street, Kamwokya P.O Box 26970 Kampala, Uganda Tel. +256 41 531899 Cell: +256 772 406 241 Email: wakabi(a)cipesa.org www.cipesa.org _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

3 2

monthly forum, march 22
by Rebecca Wanjiku 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

Kictanet invites you to the monthly forum next thursday March 22nd. the theme will be Access and Connectivity; bridging the rural urban divide, there will be presesntations from Tespok and Alex Gakuru, a consumer representative. the meeting starts at 3pm at the Jacaranda. you are welcome to ask any further questions regarding access and connectivity, the forum is what was previously reffered to as monthly meetings, it was felt that the meeting should be a place where members can discuss issues and present them to policy makers. e.g when presenting to the PS, one can say, these were deliberations and recommendations from the Kictanet monthly forum ........ please plan to attend, regards becky ____________________________________________________________________________________ We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love (and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list. http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265

1 0

AFRICAN SNOs – LAST YEAR’S MODEL STRUGGLES AT THE START GATE
by alice 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

FROM BALANCING ACT: AFRICAN SNOs – LAST YEAR’S MODEL STRUGGLES AT THE START GATE Africa’s Second National Operator licence processes run the danger of becoming the beached whale of regulatory liberalisation. The latter usually runs through the following stages: single monopoly operator, same plus mobile operators, and then reaches for a wider and more complex competitive ecology. The SNO is the cautious regulator’s option for introducing competition. In the early stages of liberalisation it allows the vertically-integrated monopoly of the incumbent to be converted into a duopoly operated by two vertically-integrated companies. So Senegal’s announcement in 2001 that it would introduce an SNO to compete with incumbent Sonatel perhaps fitted the pattern. But here we are six years later and there is still no SNO announcement from the Government and political timetabling (the recent President elections and the latter assembly elections) dictate that there will probably be no announcement until the Autumn. Sonatel has continued to entrench its de-facto monopoly and controls 80-90% of any market worth having. In any other country this degree of monopoly would be the subject of a legal anti-competition challenge. Malawi’s SNO bidding process (started in April 2006) appears to be going into a similar holding pattern. A local report leaking the conclusions of the evaluation process for the SNO bidders seems to show that MACRA will not proceed with appointing an SNO if it follows the evaluation report. There were three bidders: Access Communications, African Communications Ltd; and AirTel Communications. Terracom (the bidding vehicle of former Telecel owner Rwanda Miko Rwayitare) asked for a licence to do data and VoIP services. The three formal applications are all Malawian. However regulator MACRA’s Acting Director-General Mike Kuntiya says that a successful bidder will be known when the Government has made a final decision. Kuntiya maintains that all its evaluation report has done is make recommendations and the final decision must be made by Government. Speed is not a characteristic of the SNO process as it is unlikely that a decision will be made before April, several deadlines having already come and gone. Based on a number of different criteria including ownership and control, the technical and business plans, experience and credibility, the evaluation’s author ranked the three companies as follows: Airtel (86.83 points), Access Communications (73.57), Aircomms (69.5) and Terracom (14.52). The Government’s Information Minister said it was considering the company that scored the highest markets as it only had weaknesses in certain areas and MTL needed competition. The wheels have also come off Kenya’s SNO process when the selected winner Vtel Consortium failed to make the first licence payment. After Vtel failed to make its first payment, Reliance was give a week to raise its similar first payment otherwise the process would be cancelled. No news has emerged since that point. The curse of the SNO Licence procedure? We shall see.

1 0

IT DON’T MEAN A THING IF IT AIN’T GOT THAT FRING – VOIP NIGHTMARE FOR MOBILE OPERATORS
by alice 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

TOP STORY FROM BALANCING ACT: IT DON’T MEAN A THING IF IT AIN’T GOT THAT FRING – VOIP NIGHTMARE FOR MOBILE OPERATORS _____________________________________________________________________ An early adopting reader alerted us last week to the existence of Fring. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s free Skype-style client specifically designed for mobile phones. This South African reader had been making use of it to phone friends and business contacts. If the Fring thing catches on – particularly in those African countries with reasonable broadband capacity – then it looks set to put a hole in the revenues of the mobile operators. It does both voice and SMS for the cost of the data use from the mobile provider that is much cheaper than current voice rates. Russell Southwood looks at the coming VoIP challenge for Africa’s new incumbents. Fring (http://www.fring.com] is an Israeli start-up that has developed a software that enables your mobile phone to call your friends at no cost using your UMTS or GPRS or WiFi data connection. The software can also use your Skype account to make calls to your Skype contacts or call landline or other mobile phones using SkypeOut. You can also chat using either MSN Messenger or Google Talk. The software is only available for Nokia phones at present but will doubtless migrate to other handsets before too long. The existence of mobile VoIP clients like Fring pose a significant challenge to mobile operators. It is already possible to use an IP client like Skype to make mobile calls over existing data-enabled networks. Depending on the data capacity enabled, quality will vary from the not very good to the perfectly adequate. African mobile operators are vulnerable on network quality issues in many countries (particularly on international calling) and therefore VoIP-enabled mobile calling will be attractive. As mobile operators now carry most voice traffic and often operate with low levels of competition, it is not unfair to describe them as having all the characteristics of the new incumbents. And faced with the VoIP threat, a number of operators have reverted to the incumbent’s chosen behaviour: try to close down anything new that threatens revenue. MTN has already announced in South Africa that it has banned Skype and that anyone it catches using it will be charged at its voice rates. This position has neither logic nor past experience behind it. European operators like T-Mobile announced publicly that it was banning Skype on its network but in late 2006 it said it was reversing the ban and would reach an agreement with Skype. The latter has already announced deals with Hutchinson in several markets and said it was making available a Pocket PC client that would enable wider user of its services. An example of the Hutchinson deals is 3G mobile operator 3 in the UK. Its pitch gives a clear idea of the shift in thinking required to offer a mobile VoIP service:”Why should you pay per minute, per message, per click, per megabit? In the real world, you buy your PC, pay for broadband and that’s it. Our principle is simple – X-Series customers will only pay a flat access fee on top of their basic subscription and then what’s free to use on the internet should be free to use on mobile broadband (subject to fair usage and international roaming conditions, of course)”. The other challenge will be Wi-Fi-enabled handsets. By October 2006 10% of hot-spot operator The Cloud’s traffic by kbps was coming from voice. It has achieved this by securing alliances with both traditional players and news entrants including: Net2Phone, Vonage and Skype. Its Ultra Wi-Fi offer allows unlimited use in the UK for US$23.36 a month and it has 7,500 hot-spots across Europe. But as it grows it is also doing business with existing mobile operators. In 2006 it signed an agreement to partner with Vodafone’s German operator D2 to provide WLANs. So what will African mobile operators do as they come to terms with a mobile VoIP future? At present, they have yet to commit but most do not yet appear to have come to grips with the implications of this challenge. ____________________________________________________________________

1 0

[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Operators ignore NEPAD, sign EASSy construction deal]
by alice 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] Operators ignore NEPAD, sign EASSy construction deal Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2007 08:28:01 +0300 From: Wairagala Wakabi <wakabi(a)cipesa.org> Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> References: <mailman.0.1172828896.9025.fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> <45EBFF90.7090301(a)cipesa.org> <45EC0CF1.1050706(a)cipesa.org> Major development on EASSy, listers. The companies that are signatories to the EASSy memorandum of understanding (MOU) have signed a deal with Alcatel-Lucent for construction of the cable. NEPAD has apparently been ignored in the exercise. A release from the group says 22 regional entities and a few international ones are party to the undertaking (just over a week ago they told Fibre-for Africa it was over 29 entities) so it is not clear who is and who is out. Cost of construction was at the weekend pegged at US$240 m by the MoU parties, down from the $300 m NEPAD has been mentioning. This latest development raises questions of whether NEPAD will go ahead with its NBIN, of which EASSy is the principal component, or will engage the MoU signatories with a view to reconciling and placing ‘their’ EASSy under the auspices of the NEPAD eAfrica Commission. And, will the EASSy holding company be headquartered in Rwanda (as a meeting called by NEPAD last June decided) or will it stay in Kenya, where it has been coordinated since inception in 2002? Worth of note is that at the weekend, Mr John Shira who has helped coordinate the project for quite a while, but whose voice had become fainter since NEPAD attempted to take the driver’s seat, was among those speaking on behalf of the MoU parties at the weekend. And then, how will the signing of the cable affect other in-the-pipeline plans to build alternative cables along Africa’s east coast? Telkom Kenya officials were among those who spoke, in a press release Alcatel-Lucent issued: "This project represents a milestone in the development of the African communication infrastructure, where there is a strong need for optical connectivity" Sammy Kirui, Chairman of the EASSy Project Management Committee and Managing Director of Telkom Kenya. "Alcatel-Lucent is recognized as one of the key turnkey suppliers in the submarine cable market and was selected through a competitive tendering process". See: http://www.companynewsgroup.com/communique.asp?co_id=116613 The NEPAD eAfrica Commission is planning a meeting in “April/May” to flesh out the issue of shareholders – yet here they are now already acting as a unit, even engaging contractors… Telkom SA said in a statement that the project would open new opportunities for it in Africa, an indication that the telcos are firmly behind the deal with Alcatel-Lucent. Wakabi ============== Wairagala Wakabi Research Associate CIPESA Plot 22 Bukoto Street, Kamwokya P.O Box 26970 Kampala, Uganda Tel. +256 41 531899 Cell: +256 772 406 241 Email: wakabi(a)cipesa.org www.cipesa.org _______________________________________________ Fibre-for-africa mailing list Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa

1 0

domain name & governance news
by Rebecca Wanjiku 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

hi, ICANN meeting takes place next week, here are some articles relating to Internet governance that can make good reading, hope you find them relevant,\ it doesn't open directly, can cut and paste... regards becky ***************** GOVERNANCE ***************** African At-Large Community MoU with ICANN Open for Public Comment The African region of At Large has reached a consensus on the contents of a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between the region and ICANN. http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-07mar07.htm Who is ICANN and Where Does it Fit With Internet Governance? by Kieren McCarthy Youd be surprised how many people are asking that question at the moment, but you wont be surprised to know that the only thing they agree on is that they either dont know, or that they disagree with the people that believe they do. I am not going to attempt to provide my own answer, but I will point to a paper just released by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). http://www.circleid.com/posts/who_is_icann_internet_governance/ http://blog.icann.org/?p=29 ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** Top-shelf domain names fetched a bundle in '06 The domain name aftermarket - or, if you prefer, speculation/ransom market - eclipsed the $100 million milestone for the first time last year, according to Zetetic, a research company. Here's a look at some of the numbers: A total of $111 million and change was spent on 17,974 names; The average price was $5,582, up 13 percent over the previous year's $4,954; That rate of increase surpassed the previous year's jump of 10 percent; And five names went for more than $1 million, four more than in 2005. http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=node/12149 ICANN locks down at-risk Registerfly domains ICANN plans to sue scandal-hit domain name registrar Registerfly.com tomorrow (6 March), saying the company is putting its customers' estimated 2 million domain names at risk. http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=80D83445-B5D5-47BC-B74D-D70E… RegisterFly Site Goes Offline The web site for troubled domain registrar RegisterFly went offline early Tuesday and remains unavailable. The downtime follows weeks of problems with the registerfly.com site, with domain name owners saying they have been unable to manage or transfer their domains. Amid growing concern about the status of domains at RegisterFly, ICANN has asked a California court to force RegisterFly to turn over its database of domain data and compel an emergency audit of its books and records. http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2007/03/06/registerfly_site_goes_offline.… But: RegisterFly Site Back Up A quick update - RegisterFlys website is back up and Glenn Stansbury of RegisterFly claims that transactions are being processed. http://blog.icann.org/?p=38 How to Get Help When You Have a Problem with Your Registrar ICANN successfully introduced competition in the registrar marketplace which has resulted in over 860 ICANN accredited registrars now offering a range of registration services. Go to http://www.icann.org/registrars/accredited-list.html for a complete list of ICANN accredited registrars. Registrants have the option of simply purchasing a domain name, or purchasing a domain name that includes a package of services such as web hosting services, domain name proxy services and other related services. With this range of registrar services available to the public, comes a range of customer service offerings. Registrants have found that some registrars offer 24 hour live customer service assistance, while others only offer customer service via e-mail. Accordingly, registrants are encouraged to carefully research a potential registrar before entering into a contract for registration services to determine if the potential registrar meets the needs of the registrant. http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-06mar07.htm RegisterFly Update ICANN provides the following update: PIR notified ICANN that the .ORG registry has restored the domains that were in RGP and placed those domains on Server Deleted Prohibited status; AND On March 5, 2007, RegisterFly provided a copy of domain name registration data in response to ICANN's request pursuant to RAA section 3.4.3. ICANN is analyzing the data for integrity and completeness. ICANN will respond to RegisterFly with questions regarding aspects of the material provided. http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-3-07mar07.htm When Domain Names Bite Back The domain-name registration industry is suffering a bloody blow with the recent calamity at one of its most popular registrars. Registerfly was once one of the fastest-growing discounters on the scene, amassing millions of domain registrations, until an awkward ownership struggle and a bout of sloppy customer support found countless owners watch their dot-com names expire without renewal. http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/03/07/when-domain-names-bite-bac… VeriSign Domain Name Industry Brief Shows Continued Strong Internet Growth (news release) VeriSign released the VeriSign Domain Name Industry Brief for the fourth quarter of 2006. According to the report, which highlights key industry data for worldwide domain name activity, total domain name registrations reached 120 million, representing a 32 percent increase over the previous year, and an eight percent increase over the third quarter of 2006. http://www.verisign.com/press_releases/pr/page_040772.html Domain name registrations increase 32 percent in 2006; China records 43 percent rise in a single quarter Domain name registrations reached 120 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, representing a 32 percent increase over the previous year, and an eight percent rise over the previous quarter. http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;887105837 VeriSign: 120M Domains Registered VeriSign released its quarterly Domain Name Industry Brief. Among the findings is that there are now 120M domain names registered across all top level domain names. This is up 32% compared to 2005. http://domainnamewire.com/2007/03/06/verisign-120m-domains-registered/ http://webhosting.info/news/1/verisign-releases-domain-name-industry-brief_… http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=8612 400,000 .mobi Domain Names Now Registered dotMobi announced more than 400,000 .mobi domains have been registered in 104 countries since the domains launch in October 2006. http://www.circleid.com/posts/400000_mobi_domain_names/ Over 400,000 .mobi domains registered The Dublin-headquartered provider of the international .mobi mobile internet domain has revealed that it has now registered over 400,000 domain names. http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/news.nv?storyid=single7903 http://mobile-ent.biz/news/25963/dotMobi-passes-400k http://www.betanews.com/article/mobi_Registrations_Pass_400000/1173125 http://earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,69442.shtml Price of domain names ending in .cn comes down China's top Internet address registration agency has slashed the price of domain names ending with .cn to win users from the ".com" service, whose server is overseas. ... The promotion by CNNIC, backed by the Ministry of Information Industry, charges only one yuan (US$0.13) a year for registration per domain name, which is confined to English names ending with .cn. http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2007/200703/20070308/article_308251… billgates.tel domain could be yours for the asking A new top level domain, .tel, will be launched next year designed to enable organisations and individuals to consolidate all their contact information in one place. Its backers have confirmed that individuals' domain names will be allocated on a first come first served basis. http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/10187/53/ Porn Industry Against New XXX Domain The renewed interest in the proposal of a ".xxx" TLD, created specifically for sexually explicit content, has once again sparked a controversial debate between the adult entertainment industry, domain distributor ICM Registry and conservative groups. The adult entertainment industry (through their professional organization Free Speech Coalition) issued a press release last Tuesday petitioning for help in opposing the proposal set by Stuart Lawley, head of ICM. The ICANN approved the TLD in June 2005, but in May 2006 voted against their contract with ICM. http://media.www.dailytitan.com/media/storage/paper861/news/2007/03/06/News…> nz: Bankers try again for second-level anti-phishing domain The Bankers Association is having another go at setting up a bank.nz second-level internet domain to mitigate the problem of phishing scams in the banking sector. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/8886E2E9D36A70BFCC257292000EB1B1 InternetNZ investigates becoming a charity InternetNZ, the organisation that manages New Zealand internet domain addresses among other functions, is exploring whether it qualifies for charitable status as an organisation that promotes the public good. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/1BC9033D86D9E026CC257292000E1A27 Why I left the ICANN At Large Advisory Committee John Levine writes "For about the last two years, I was a member of ICANNs At Large Advisory Commitee. In case anyone is wondering, heres why Im not on the ALAC any more." http://www.circleid.com/posts/why_i_left_icann_at_large_alac/ Social Networking and Web 2.0 Creating DNS Performance Issues for Carriers A revolution is taking place on the Internet, with new sites redefining how we interact online. The next-generation Internet is emerging in collaborative and interactive applications and sites with rich, varied media (images, video, music). As with many revolutions, this one is driven by the younger generation, which is adopting social networking sites like MySpace and video sharing sites like Google's YouTube. But the general shift is not restricted to the young, as more mature consumers and businesses alike are exploring the possibilities of collaborative, media-rich applications. This major shift in Internet applications has its unintended victims. One of them turns out to be the DNS. http://www.circleid.com/posts/social_web_2_dns_performance_carriers/ ICANN Successfully Conducts Laboratory Tests of Internationalised Domain Names In October, 2006, ICANN engaged Autonomica AB of Stockholm, Sweden, to develop, conduct, and report on the results of laboratory testing of internationalized top-level domains in a setting corresponding to the public root. Quoting from their report, "Autonomica AB has, under a contract with ICANN, investigated whether the addition of top level domains containing encoded internationalized characters (so called IDNs) would have any impact on the operations of the root name servers providing delegations, or the iterative mode resolvers used to look up the information. No impact at all could be detected. All involved systems behaved exactly as expected." http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-4-07mar07.htm ICANN gTLD Registry Data Escrow Report This report has been prepared as part of the Registry Failover Project, to assist with the review of ICANN's existing data escrow requirements for gTLD registries, and to contribute to the above mentioned deliverables. As a part of the review, ICANN is working with several gTLD registries to examine data from an escrow deposit for the purpose of determining whether the current requirements are sufficient or need to be improved. http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-05mar07.htm Asia/Australia/Pacific At-Large Community MoU with ICANN Open for Public Comment The Asia/Australia/Pacific (AP) region of At Large has reached a consensus on the contents of a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between the region and ICANN. http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-07mar07.htm Can't choose your typosquatters Commentator Bill Langworthy points out that, much as in real-world real estate, a domain name's value is all about location, location, location. And, good or bad, typosquatters are just a keystroke away. http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2007/03/06/AM200703061.html Domain Names & Defensible Traffic Andy Hagans recently posted about his linkbait marathon strategy to rank his sites at the top of the search results. Brian Provost posted about his love for domaining. Domain names may play a big roll not only in anchor text, but also in overall domain credibility, linkability, and defensibility. http://www.webpronews.com/blogtalk/2007/03/01/domain-names-defensible-traff… The 50 Most Important People on the Web - 35. Vinton G. CerfChairman, ICANN Board of Directors, and vice president and chief Internet evangelist, Google http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,129301-page,8-c,techindustrytrends/articl… FamilyAlbum.com and GoDaddy Update Heres the latest about the FamilyAlbum.com fiasco with GoDaddy. Domain Name Wires story about FamilyAlbum.com has garnered lots of attention. A story about the story has about 3,500 Diggs on Digg.com. Message boards are buzzing. Bloggers are blogging. But where does that leave us? Did GoDaddy have the right to delete FamilyAlbum.com? http://domainnamewire.com/2007/03/05/familyalbumcom-and-godaddy-update/ uk: Our Farm Holiday Website Has Been Hijacked to Sell Porn A luxury North Wales holiday farmhouse owner last night called for an investigation after a website promoting the business was hijacked to sell porn. ... Mr Thomas said: "We pay a monthly subscription and a yearly payment which may have gone through just a few days late. "I am not well up on computers, but it may have been lying dormant for three or four days during which time other users were able to get into it and add links." http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/861654/wales_our_farm_holiday_websi… The benefits of renting a domain name (member's sub req'd) Renting a domain name can have numerous benefits including economical profitability. These consequences can be tax benefits, retention of the domain name ownership even despite a bankruptcy filing as well as being able to use the domain name by the original owner. As for individuals that want to rent these domain names, there can be many benefits including the use of a restricted domain name for one. http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=articles&id=279587… ICANN Opens .museum Agreement Proposal for Comments ICANN, last week announced the proposed .museum sTLD registry agreement is posted for public comment and can be viewed at draft proposed agreement and appendices at proposed appendices. http://webhosting.info/news/1/icann-opens-.museum-agreement-proposal-for-co… NameMedia Launches New Domain Sales Platform (news release) NameMedia today announced the launch of ActiveExchange, providing domain owners access for the first time to the exclusive distribution network of the industry's leading domain marketplace. http://digital50.com/news/items/BW/2001/07/14/20070306006115/namemedia-laun… Godaddy Introduces Discounted Domain Club GoDaddy announced the introduction of the Discount Domain Club, a subscription-based service established for frequent domain buyers to save money. Membership in the Discount Domain Club affords domain name buyers registration prices that are up to 36% off of Go Daddy's domain pricing and includes free subscriptions to other Go Daddy services. http://webhosting.info/news/1/godaddy-introduces-discounted-domain-club_030… Demand Media Announces Social Networking Tools For .TV Domain Names (news release) Demand Media and eNom announced that eNom resellers will be able to offer their customers the Demand Media industry leading social networking tools with every .tv registration. http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/862129/demand_media_announces_socia… MindGenies Attains ICANN Accreditation MindGenies, an internet solutions and consultancy company, yesterday announced that it is now an ICANN accredited registrar. http://webhosting.info/news/1/mindgenies-attains-icann-accreditation_030707… British porn mastermind fights US Government (sub req'd) The British man behind the proposed .xxx Internet domain believes that the US Government has intervened to thwart his plans. http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=20070307084858371 Regierungskoalition macht sich für TLDs wie .berlin stark Die Koalitionsfraktionen von SPD und CDU/CSU im Deutschen Bundestag setzen sich für die Einführung neuer Top-Level-Domains vor allem für regionale und urbane Gemeinschaften wie beispielsweise ".bayern", ".nrw" oder ".berlin" ein. Die Bundesregierung soll aufgefordert werden, sich im Rahmen der Mitarbeit im GAC der ICANN für die Weiterentwicklung des Adressraums im Internet einzusetzen. http://golem.de/0703/50928.html http://www.pc-magazin.de/common/nws/einemeldung.php?id=50909 http://www.umts-report.de/news.php?ida=575911&idc=236 http://www.internet-magazin.de/common/nws/einemeldung.php?id=50909 Weiterentwicklung des Adressraums im Internet Anlaesslich der Einbringung des Antrages der Koalitionsfraktionen 'Weiterentwicklung des Adressraums im Internet' erklaert der medienpolitische Sprecher der SPD-Bundestagsfraktion im Deutschen Bundestag, Joerg Tauss: http://www.umts-report.de/news.php?ida=575911&idc=236 Bundestag widmet sich dem Domain Name System Die Bundesregierung solle sich für die Einführung neuer TLD im Domain Name System des Internets starkmachen allen voran TLDs für regionale und urbane Gemeinschaften. Den Vorschlag für einen entsprechenden Beschluss bringen die Koalitionsfraktionen nach Diskussionen im Unterausschuss Neue Medien noch diese Woche in erster Lesung in den Bundestag ein. Der Initiator des Vorschlags, Jörg Tauss, medienpolitischer Sprecher der SPD-Fraktion im Bundestag, teilte im Vorfeld mit, Adresszonen mit Regionalbezug ganz im Stil der neu eingeführten Zonen .eu für die EU, .cat für Katalonien und .asia für den asiatischen Raum seien von besonderer Bedeutung für deutsche Bundesländer, Städte, Gemeinden und Regionen. http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/86329 Aserbaidschan: Großer Sprung in den Cyberspace Ali Abbasow, Minister für Kommunikations- und Informationstechnologie von Aserbaidschan, nutzte die erste Vollversammlung der "Global Alliance for ICT & Development" (GAID) im kalifornischen Santa Clara, um für internationale Unterstützung des geplanten großen Sprunges seines Landes in den Cyberspace zu werben. http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/86193 Die wichtigsten Frauen der IT-Branche Esther Dyson Die Schweizerin beeinflusste als Kolumnistin der NY Times viele IT-Diskussionen, prägte als Vorstand der ICANN ( Verwaltung von Internet- Adressen) viele Web-Entwicklung und ist gefragte Netz-Beraterin. http://www.kurier.at/galerie/index/3636/1/nachrichten/techno CeBITaktion für DomainReseller von DNS:NET - -März.de oder Maerz.de? Kein Problem mit DNS:NET Domains (news release) Die DNS:NET Internet Service GmbH startet zur CeBIT ihr Aktionsprogramm für die über 600 Reseller im Bereich Domainregistrierung. 1998 als Domainserviceanbieter gestartet, ist die DNS:NET mittlerweile als Carrier und Telefongesellschaft national und international aktiv. http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2007-03/artikel-7864320.asp http://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachrichten/nachricht/2032209.html http://www.pressetext.com/pte.mc?id=98951 LICANN durcit sa position vis-à-vis de Registerfly Dans un communiqué publié le 2 mars, lICANN fait le point sur les actions en cours contre Registerfly, un registrar américain très critiqué pour son manque de rigueur. http://domainesinfo.fr/actualite/1146/l-icann-durcit-sa-position-vis-a-vis-… Nouvelle modalité de suppression des .FR et des .RE LAFNIC prévoit au 4eme semestre 2007 de sécuriser toute procédure de suppression de ses noms en lui associant une période de rédemption de 30 jours. http://domainesinfo.fr/extension/1147/france-nouvelle-modalite-de-suppressi… RegisterFly, dopo due anni l'ICANN si muove Su un caso che ha fatto discutere e che per due anni ha visto crescere le proteste dei clienti del registrar, l'ICANN decide finalmente di prendere provvedimenti http://punto-informatico.it/p.aspx?id=1914836 Telecomunicaciones : Llega el dominio ".tel" Los dominios ".tel" se emplearán para realizar comunicaciones a través de telefonía en Internet. ICANN publica en su blog que en breve podremos comenzar a registrar dominios ".tel". Una entrada para el dominio ".tel" acaba de ser creada en el "root zone". Los registros se podrán realizar en breve a traves de Telnic. http://www.faq-mac.com/mt/archives/021866.php De 50 mäktigaste på nätet - Vinton G. Cerf Vinton G. Cerf utvecklade TCP/IP-protokollen som internet vilar på, därmed går det att påstå att han är en internets grundare. För närvarande har är han ordförande i ICANN. 2005 blev han Googles vice-president och chefsevangelist. http://www.ekonominyheterna.se/nyheter/2007/03/06/natets3135viktigasteperso… Potíe registrátora RegisterFly trvají Webové stránky doménového registrátora RegisterFly jsou vypnuté od úterý tohoto týdne, upozornuje Netcraft. Situace okolo spolecnosti RegisterFly je ji delí dobu problematická. Po vlne obvinování se mezi vedením firmy a vlastníky dolo i na zmínky o prípadném zproneverení financních prostredku. RegisterFly navíc, podle informací z amerických médií, nezaplatil za své zákazníky registracní poplatky. http://digiweb.ihned.cz/c4-10072070-20604820-i00000_d-potize-registratora-r… Túl gyorsan terjedt a net, túl sok lett a visszaélés Az internet alapító atyja szerint számoltak ugyan a hálózat sebezhetoségével, ilyen fokú bunözéssel azonban, ami az almúlt években jelentkezett a világhálón, már nem - igaz, azzal sem, hgy az internet ennyire elterjedt lesz, mint ma. http://www.origo.hu/techbazis/internet/20070305huhh.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html

1 0

test 20070309 3:55pm EAT - ignore
by John Walubengo 09 Mar '07

09 Mar '07

test ____________________________________________________________________________________ 8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time with the Yahoo! Search movie showtime shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#news

1 0

ICANN publishes DNS Attack Factsheet
by A. Wanjira Munyua 09 Mar '07

09 Mar '07

ICANN's published a very good summary of the February 6 attack on the > root server system. > > <http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-08mar07.htm> > > "ICANN has today released a factsheet concerning the recent attack on > the root server system on 6 February 2007. The factsheet is intended > to provide an explanation of the attack for a non-technical audience > in the hope of enlarging public understanding surrounding this and > related issues. > > Aside from covering the attack itself and the engineers' response to > it, the factsheet also briefly reviews the root server system, the > domain name system, Anycast technology, and what can be done in order > to deal with such attacks in future. > > It is hoped that the factsheet will be the first in a series, with > ICANN's general manager of public participation, Kieren McCarthy, > acting as series editor. Future factsheets hope to follow a similar > approach of providing clear and topical non-technical information > about various aspects of the Internet in which ICANN is involved. > > We welcome whatever feedback the community may have, plus suggestions > for future factsheets. Please post any comments you have on the > related blog post. This factsheet is released under a Creative > Commons licence." > > Good to see creative commons license being used, help spread the word. > Blog post here <http://blog.icann.org/?p=37 > > Factsheet in PDF > <http://www.icann.org/announcements/factsheet-dns-attack-08mar07.pdf> > > > I imagine Kieren McCarthy would like to hear from people what he > should be covering next. And any comments on the factsheet itself. > > Adam > > _______________________________________________ > ALAC mailing list > ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org > http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann.org > > www.alac.icann.org > www.icannalac.org

2 1

Microsoft�s Ballmer rekindles Linux patent fears
by Alex Gakuru 09 Mar '07

09 Mar '07

Sparks fly less than a month after Microsoft and Novell signed partnership By John Fontana, Network World, 11/21/06 For the second time in two years, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer last week played the patent infringement card against Linux and again set off a round of negative speculation and vendor clarifications..... As part of the deal between Microsoft and Novell, the pair is making payments to each other not to assert patent claims. Novell is paying $40 million to Microsoft in exchange for the latter company's pledge not to sue SUSE Linux users over possible patent violations, and Microsoft is paying Novell $108 million for a similar agreement that says Novell wont sue Microsoft users.... Experts have speculated the Microsoft-Novell deal was, in part, a swipe at Linux leader Red Hat and that Ballmers recent comments over intellectual property were in that vein. I guess that could be the rationale, but is Red Hat that much of threat to stoop to this level? said Ovum Summits Davis. http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2006/112106-ballmer-linux.html?page=1 ----- /end test message/ --------------------------------- Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A.

1 0

attack on root server
by Rebecca Wanjiku 09 Mar '07

09 Mar '07

ICANN's summary of the February 6 attack on the > root server system. > > <http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-08mar07.htm> > > "ICANN has today released a factsheet concerning the recent attack on > the root server system on 6 February 2007. The factsheet is intended > to provide an explanation of the attack for a non-technical audience > in the hope of enlarging public understanding surrounding this and > related issues. > > Aside from covering the attack itself and the engineers' response to > it, the factsheet also briefly reviews the root server system, the > domain name system, Anycast technology, and what can be done in order > to deal with such attacks in future. > > It is hoped that the factsheet will be the first in a series, with > ICANN's general manager of public participation, Kieren McCarthy, > acting as series editor. Future factsheets hope to follow a similar > approach of providing clear and topical non-technical information > about various aspects of the Internet in which ICANN is involved. > > We welcome whatever feedback the community may have, plus suggestions > for future factsheets. Please post any comments you have on the > related blog post. This factsheet is released under a Creative > Commons licence." ____________________________________________________________________________________ Don't get soaked. Take a quick peek at the forecast with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather

1 0