- KICTANet - KICTANet

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/

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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.

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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"

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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.

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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.

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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

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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. _

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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 >

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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

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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.

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.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 ]

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{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). 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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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 __

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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

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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

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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."

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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

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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

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{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 _____

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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

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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 >

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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. > >

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[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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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/

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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/

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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

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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/

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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! 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[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

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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

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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

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

21 Mar '07

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

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! 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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! 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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… __,_._,___

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[Fwd: [APC Forum] EPFL Executive Master in e-Governance (e-Gov) - Call for applications & scholarsh]
by alice 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

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

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Welcome Goooogle!
by Alex Gakuru 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

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

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

20 Mar '07

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

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joining the mail list
by Fatma Bashir 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

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

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

19 Mar '07

Hi all, Seems to me, like Eric says, that KICTANet should waste no time to call a series of emergency meetings or convenings to take proactive action on the ICT Board; delibrate and elaborate on who ought to be represented on that board before the decision is taken and it will be too late to influence it. Or is the board already constituted? If so what part did KICTANet play in this? Or what does it envisage for its ( the ICT Board) future actions and directions? Secondly, it is time to call a cross sectoral meeting to discuss the serious consequences of the absence of an SNO and devise a practical way forward which should then be forwarded to the appropriate government or other responsible for their attenion e.g. CCK, Infocom Ministry. The problem affects all of us and we all should show good will by being involved in a constructive way. Cheers, FE Florence Etta P.O. Box 14285,00800 Westlands-Nairobi, Kenya Tel: Mobile + 254-733-621851 Terrestrial: + 254-20-7121506 Fax: + 254-20-7125732 Alternative Email:florence.etta@gmail.com ----- Original Message ---- From: Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk Sent: Monday, 19 March, 2007 12:45:24 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] RELIANCE MISSES OUT ON SNO LICENCE IN KENYA Muriuki, Issues well raised and am sure the government would like to listen. I would suggest that a KICTANET meeting at which the larger framework of vertical as opposed to horizontal layering or unified licensing as opposed to Open Access of the communication system is discussed in detailed with the pros and cons. This meeting should end with some majority consensus and should have all the stakeholders so that as sector we are clear at least on the framework of our engagement going forward. I would also submit that a seperate meeting at which the local ownership of foreign stake and the mechanism for SME uptake as well as growth path is clearly outlined so that whiles you need some big fishes now you can also create your own big fishes in the future and more so as the sector progress with time. Eric here On 19 Mar 2007, at 11:58, Muriuki Mureithi wrote: It is time we reviewed the bidding system this country has adopted to remove conflict of policy interest and move this country forward. We must address ourselves to the purpose of the licence - is it to make money for the government to fill treasury gaps or to expand the telecommunications infrastructure. By demanding to have the cake and eat it, we are nowhere 5 years after starting the process of SNO and Third Cellular Operator. It is a lesson well documented in countries that Kenya copied ref Senegal and Malawi among others. At the heart of the conflict is a government stating that ICT is the driver of growth yet put barriers which cripple the operators even before they start. The requirements of local partnership while sweet for political reasons is difficult to realise because the international partners have inadequate time to assess the right partner and hence the problems for SNO and third cellular We need immediate action - first, scrap the requirement of 30% local owner by the time of application of licence but require that within 3 years the winner has brought on board local shareholders through the stock exchange and raise ownership to at least 49% by year 5 of operation . This has worked well for Tz - Second, the licence is not a cash cow - we need infrastructure badly now therefore that licence money should be invested to enable the new entrant to compete with the incumbents and roll out rapidly . Licence should not cost more that USD1. What the entrants should compete with is the cash they will invest in Kenya and the timeline. -finally, CCK should address the anomaly of conflicting policies it issues. In 2004, CCK issued a policy which translates to adoption of horizontal licensing regime to move away from vertical licensing regime. The SNO licence is in direct contradiction of the 2004 policy. Was the policy rescinded? The danger of the unified licence is that it denies Kenyan ICT entrepreneurs a natural growth path and condemns Kenya to permanently have few mega operators and many small operators without a path to migrate from small to big. Should the envisaged fast growing economy to vision 2030 be hinged on few mega operators whose power can sometimes rival the regulator? We need a paradigm shift towards horizontal licensing Cheers Muriuki Mureithi --------------------------------------- Summit Strategies Ltd - ICT Consultancy & Research in Eastern & Central African markets Contacts : Tel +254 (20) 3875824 , Cell + 254 (722) 520090, email: mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke alternate email : muriuki.mureithi(a)gmail.com -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+mureithi=summitstrategies.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+mureithi=summitstrategies.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of alice Sent: 19 March 2007 09:01 To: mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke Subject: [kictanet] RELIANCE MISSES OUT ON SNO LICENCE IN KENYA From BALANCING ACT: RELIANCE MISSES OUT ON SNO LICENCE IN KENYA The Communications Commission of Kenya has cancelled a tender for the second national operator (SNO) licence that it had awarded Reliance Communications, after the consortium failed to pay for the fees. This is the second cancellation, after CCK annulled the licence it had given a consortium led by Dubai-based Vtel Holdings in January, for failing to pay the US$169 million (Sh12 billion) licence fee it had bid. Reliance, which was the second highest bidder at US$111 million (Sh7.8 billion), was allowed to apply for the licence, but on condition that it pay Sh12 billion to match Vtel's bid. Reliance confirmed that it would take up the offer and requested for more time to prepare for the licence. CCK said last week Reliance had a deadline of March 15. "By the expiry of the said deadline at 4.00 p.m. yesterday (Thursday) Reliance Communications had not made a formal application for the licence as required," CCK said. The Commission's director-general John Waweru said they had resolved to immediately restart the tendering process for the licence. (SOURCE: The Nation) _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mureithi%40summitstrategies.c o.ke -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/721 - Release Date: 13/03/2007 16:51 _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/feanywhere%40yahoo.co.uk ___________________________________________________________ To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. http://uk.security.yahoo.com

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

19 Mar '07

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

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

19 Mar '07

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

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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>

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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) *

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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

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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

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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"

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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

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[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

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[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.

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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.

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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

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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"

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- 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

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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

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[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

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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

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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.

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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. ____________________________________________________________________

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[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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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OFC final report
by Rebecca Wanjiku 09 Mar '07

09 Mar '07

here is the OFC final report. i have attached a copy and given the executive summary below, hope it will make good reading and background info.... Executive Summary The East African Coast remains the only seabed that is yet to be covered by International Submarine Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) Connectivity. With over three prospective Submarine Optical Cables in the offing, East Africans are standing at the threshold of new opportunities and are expecting better and more affordable communication services that OFCs have provided in other parts of the globe. But the question remains which model of OFC provisioning, will bring about meaningful and sustainable Socio-economic gains for the majority of citizens in East Africa and its environs? The Online Discussion explored this question by investigating the existing models for providing OFC and evaluating how each model would impact on the Key Stakeholders. The Key Stakeholders identified included the Regulator, the Consumers, the Government, the Development Financial Institutions (DFIs), the Private Operators and Investors. Efforts were made to understand each Stakeholders objectives with a view to ensuring that a model that can closely balanced out most of the conflicting interests could be arrived at. The generic models of Consortium, Open-Access and Privately provisioned OFC were discussed and their requirements and the impacts they (would) have on the various stakeholders were elicited. The role of the Regulator with regard to protecting Consumer interests in whichever of the above models were particularly emphasised and considered fundamental. The Open-Access principles were preferred irrespective of the OFC provisioning methods adopted especially with respect to allowing market-rate access both to existing and future Data Operators. With regard to ownership and financing of the OFC, it was felt that a mixture of Public, Private and DFIs sources of capital maybe the most efficient. In such a case, the owners would then constitute a body (Special Purpose Vehicle, SPV) to operate and maintain the OFC in the interest of the stakeholders. On the other hand, there was also the other alternative that placed less or no emphasis on the construction and ownership of the International OFC. Instead, it suggested that more emphasis should be placed towards developing a comprehensive and national (domestic) OFC. A comprehensive and active domestic infrastructure, coupled with local content would be expected attract Internet Backbone Providers (IBPs) wishing to tap into this new source of domestic traffic. Such Operators would therefore construct and extend their own OFC into the region at their own cost - as long as the local (domestic) Operators can guarantee to purchase an economic capacity of International bandwidth from the IBPs at market rates. Both the Online discussions as well as the Face-to-Face workshop provided a rich source of information that is hoped will provide valuable input in shaping the Policy and Regulatory direction regarding the provisioning of this critical submarine cable that would finally conquer the last frontier the East African Coast. 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/

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[Fibre-for-africa] Invigorating debate on EASSy and other fibre
by A. Wanjira Munyua 09 Mar '07

09 Mar '07

Dear Listers, > > A short note here to draw your attention to some of the new resources that > have recently been uploaded on the Fibre for Africa website > (www.fibreforafrica.net) which provides information about international > bandwidth in Africa, its costs and the existence of monopoly access to it: > > 1) Question and Answer Interview with Dr Edmund Katiti, Policy and > regulatory Advisor for the NEPAD eAfrica Commission. He speaks about the > plans for forming the Special Purpose Vehicle to develop, own, operate, > and maintain the regional ICT broadband network for Eastern and Southern > Africa; moves toward engaging consultants to attract shareholders in the > network; and how the Commission views cables being planned by countries > such as Kenya and South Africa. > 2) Question and Answer Interview with Mr Edmond Nyakairu, chairman of the > finance committee of the EASSy Memorandum of Understanding signatories: On > the operators current feelings about the NEPAD eAfrica Commission; on the > Commissions continued use of the name EASSy; the impact which building > EASSy would have on proposed Kenyan and South African cables; on whether > EASSy makes commercial sense; and the way forward in delivering cheaper > and more accessible bandwidth to east and southern Africa. > 3) Article on the cables planned for the East Coast of Africa: This > resource lists the various initiatives to build cables that are parallel > to EASSy and questions whether this will not render EASSy less competitive > or even unviable. But how viable will these cables themselves be, and are > they planning on embracing Open Access principles? > 4) Paper on Enabling Open Access through Universal Access: This paper > makes the case for Open Access Infrastructure in addressing Africas > connectivity headaches; it examines flaws that are common in some of the > connectivity (including Universal Access) programmes on the continent; and > concludes that regional infrastructure undertakings like EASSy require > Universal Access to be correctly implemented and to address demand in > order for Open Access principles to prevail. > > EASSy appears to be at crossroads, with operators and the Commission > maintaining major disagreements. It is not clear when the champagne > bottles will be popped for its ground-breaking ceremony, or even who the > investors in it will be. The clock is ticking. Debate on what needs to be > done to secure a win-win situation not just for the NEPAD and the > telcos but importantly as well for the users who endure slow service at > exorbitant prices, needs to be sustained at this time. > > 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

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My Evening in Jail (O.K, next to Jail)
by John Walubengo 08 Mar '07

08 Mar '07

O.K, before the moderator tells me to take this conversation off the list - I wish to promise that it will end with an IT twist... Yesterday evening, I was stopped by the Traffic Police at Madaraka Roundabout (next to Strath University). As a law abiding citizen, I stopped and without being asked, I opened the boot, stepped out and handed over my Driving Licence. After 5minutes (eternity for me!) I realised that the young police officer was struggling with his torch trying to shine the lamp on my annual renewal licences. I moved closer and he seemed happy to have discoverd and even happier to confirm that I had FORGED it (what???). He was alleging that it expired last year and since I was the clever-one, i simply extended the year by overwriting the original deadline and replacing it with next year (i.e from 2006 to 2008 expiry date) I tried to say indeed the overwriting was truly there, but it must have been done by the KRA (Kenya Revenue Officials, they are human and can make mistakes) but he was adamant that I must visit their Police station and be checked in. I tried to say that if I had committed a traffic offence , I would have expected that he would write me a ticket/summons? to appear in court sometime later in the week and stand accused awaiting defence/judgement/penalty..(lawyers could correct me on that). Later on he agreed that he will write the Summons from the Poice Station and so we drove to the nearest police station for this summons to be written. We reached there (Nyayo Stadium Police Station) and he asked me to sit right next to the Cells (which were full of some very mean looking 'Matheri' type of characters). After 5min, he came back to say that his Boss, the Officer in Charge of the Station is not in and so I have to be locked in until tomorrow morning, when he will come and write me the summons (hallooo??- next to THOSE guys?). To cut down the story, my wife new someone, who knew some Senior cop, whom she called and he eventually gave instructions to have me released - on Condition that I apologise for the offense (O.K. now what had I done again?). Here is the IT angle - isn't it time their website www.kenyapolice.go.ke gave the Citizens the correct position regarding Police Procedures for Civil/Criminal offence? I mean I never knew a traffic offence could earn you 1-night accomodation with General Ali's (the Police Commissioner) guests. Further more, when are those so called Tamper-proof Driving Licences going to hit the market? walu. nb: the overwriting was explained to me by KRA this morning - they say that it often happens and all they do is to double-stamp the affected license which they actually done- but I never knew the implication of that double-stamp. Am sure the young Police Officer had seen the double-stamping but was not in a hurry to educate me - he preferred to drag me to next to his cells for whatever (you are allowed to speculate) reasons. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL

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Fw: [COMO Alliance] Media and Religion
by Florence Etta 08 Mar '07

08 Mar '07

Sorry for cross posting! The Communication and Media Research Institute has great pleasure in announcing the publication of the latest issue of our Open Access Journal Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture. Volume 4 Number 1 is dedicated to the them Media and Religion. You can access this issue and back numbers without charge at: http://www.wmin.ac.uk/mad/page-880. Alternatively, you can click on the links below for direct access to the articles. MEDIA AND RELIGION Anthony McNicholas Editorial Michael Bailey `He Who Has Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear: Christian Pedagogy and Religious Broadcasting During the Inter-War Period Diego Contreras Coverage of Complex Theoretical Content. The Case of Dominus Iesus Timothy J. White Catholicism and Nationalism in Ireland: From Fusion in the 19th Century to Separation in the 21st Century Dominica Dipio Religion in Nigerian Home Video Films Erica Baffelli Mass Media and Religion in Japan: Mediating the Leaders Image Book Reviews Maria Way Religion and Film: An Introduction Religion in a Changing Europe: Between Pluralism and Fundamentalism _______________________________________________ COMO_Alliance mailing list COMO_Alliance(a)lists.asc.upenn.edu http://lists.asc.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/como_alliance ___________________________________________________________ Now you can scan emails quickly with a reading pane. Get the new Yahoo! Mail. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

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AfriNIC Meeting: Abuja, Nigeria 23rd April-4 May 2007
by A. Wanjira Munyua 08 Mar '07

08 Mar '07

Dear Colleagues The next AfriNIC Meeting will be held in Abuja, Nigeria from 23rd April to 4 May 2007, together with AfNOG, INET Africa, AfTLD and AFREN meetings. It is an open forum to discuss issues related to internet number resource management within the AfriNIC service region. This meeting will also host a regional IPv6 conference where network operators will share their experiences on IPv6 deployment. We are looking for presentations and tutorials of relevance from anyone. Tutorials are usually 2 to 4 hour workshops, while presentations may last between 10 and 30 minutes. Presentations / Tutorials may cover the following topics: - IPv6 deployment - Routing Best Practice/Address Space Prefix Filtering - Reverse DNS implemenation - DNSec - Fighting Spam We would like to have as many practical, hands-on presentations as possible and they do not have to be long. Policy proposals are also usually discussed at the meeting, but must pass through the appropriate phases of the Policy Development Process (please see http://www.afrinic.net/pdp.htm) If you would like to make a presentation or tutorial, please send your proposal to meeting(a)afrinic.net Your proposal should contain the following information: - Full Name - Email Address - Affiliation - Short biography - Title of Talk - A detailed abstract or outline describing the presentation - Draft slides for the presentation (if ready/available) - Length of talk (minutes/hours/days) - Need (or not) for sponsorship or assistance to attend the meeting (travel and/or accommodation, etc) The audience at AfriNIC meetings is mainly composed of technical network operators and engineers with a wide range of experience levels from beginners to several years of experience. Presentations that contain any sort of marketing and commercial content are usually not encouraged at such meetings. Best Regards Hisham R. Rojoa Membership Liaison & Communications Officer AfriNIC

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internet news, research papers - international
by Rebecca Wanjiku 07 Mar '07

07 Mar '07

makes good bachground material/.....incase of interest... The rise of technology addiction http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/6411495.stm Mobile Content Usage is Higher in Developing Countries http://clickz.com/stats/sectors/wireless/article.php/3625143 *************** RESEARCH PAPERS *************** Mobile Commerce consumer issues and policy challenges for a promising market (OECD) Mobile commerce is a promising market both for consumers and businesses. However, consumer troubles and complaints are increasing and can sometimes become serious, including issues for minors. Member countries experiences show that we should ensure that consumers benefit. In particular, countries may review their instruments with regard to a more effective scheme for information disclosure, liability protection over SIM and RFID cards, effective notice to excessive consumption, and the importance of consumer education. Businesses may also consider more effective consumer protection schemes. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/22/52/38077227.pdf The 'agreement' that sparked a storm At a recent legal presentation attended by prominent intellectual property lawyers and law professors, a loaded question was posed to the audience: "By a show of hands and be honest, now how many of you read the terms and conditions presented in an end-user license agreement?" Of the nearly 100 people in the auditorium, not a single hand was raised. Shocking? Only if such an admission is unexpected. It really isn't. http://www.abanet.org/buslaw/blt/2007-01-02/kahana.shtml The Net Neutrality Debate: Twenty Five Years After United States v. AT&T and 120 Years After the Act to Regulate Commerce by BRUCE OWEN (Stanford Law and Economics Oline Working Paper) Abstract: Net neutrality policies could only be implemented through detailed price regulation, an approach that has often failed, in the past, to improve consumer welfare relative to what might have been expected under an unregulated monopoly. Regulatory agencies often settle into a well-established pattern of subservience to politically influential economic interests. Consumers, would-be entrants and innovators are not likely to be among these influential groups. History thus counsels against adoption of most versions of net neutrality, at least in the absence of refractory monopoly power and strong evidence of anticompetitive behavior - extreme cases justifying dangerous, long shot remedies. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=963623 Helping Hands: Design for Member-Maintained Online Communities This thesis studies the design of member-maintained online communities, systems where many members help perform upkeep. A key design challenge is motivating members to contribute toward maintenance. Social science theories help to explain why people contribute to groups. We use these theories to design two general mechanisms for increasing peoples motivation to contribute. http://www-users.cs.umn.edu/~cosley/thesis/final.pdf Where Antitrust Ends and IP Begins by Katarzyna A. Czapracka (Yale Journal of Law and Technology) U.S. antitrust enforcers see little scope for antitrust policy to mitigate the consequences of imperfect IP policies. They are reluctant to intervene in what is perceived to be the sphere of IP policy and take the view that any competitive concerns are better remedied by changes in the IP policy. This trend corresponds with shielding antitrust policy away from fields occupied by other forms of regulation. Exactly the opposite tendencies are present in EU competition law. Both the European Commission and the ECJ seem to see a role for competition law to correct improvidently defined IPRs, even if it entails adjusting competition principles. It may seem reasonable, as unlike competition policy, most issues relating to IP policy within the European Union are still decided at the national level. Yet, there is an inherent danger in this approach. It may lead antitrust authorities to adopt analytically questionable approaches that undermine the coherence of antitrust law. Competition agencies must be particularly cautious in adopting the measures to curb IP laws, as they may discourage private R&D investment. The views of the Commission on application of Article 82 to interoperability information, as expressed in the Microsoft Decision and the Article 82 Paper, confirm that these reservations are valid. http://research.yale.edu/lawmeme/yjolt/files/20062007Issue/fall06-czapracka… The Race Robert Kuttner learns that newspapers have a bright future as print-digital hybrids after all-- but they'd better hurry. http://cjr.org/issues/2007/2/Kuttner.asp Does information beget information? by Dennis S. Karjala (Duke L. & Tech. Rev) Using the language of mathematics, Professor Polk Wagner has recently argued that the impossibility of fully appropriating the value of information in a rightsholder leads to the surprising conclusion that expanding the degree of control of intellectual property rights will, in the long run, increase the sum total of information not subject to ownership claims and therefore available as part of the cultural and technological base on which new growth and development can occur. Indeed, he claims that open information will grow according to the formula for compound interest, where the interest rate is 100% plus or minus a factor z supposedly related to creation incentives. This article demonstrates that Professor Wagner's mathematical analysis is simply wrong and does not lead to any of the conclusions he reaches concerning the growth of open information. It also shows both the difficulties and the dangers of the lay use of the language of mathematics in resolving complex social problems even if one does the math correctly. http://www.law.duke.edu/journals/dltr/articles/2007dltr0001.html Internet 3.0: Identifying Problems and Solutions to the Network Neutrality Debate by ROB FRIEDEN (Pennsylvania State University) This paper examines the network neutrality debate with an eye toward refuting and dismissing the many false and misleading claims and concentrating on the real problems occasioned by the Internet's third evolution. The paper accepts as necessary and proper many types of price and quality of service discrimination. However the paper identifies other types of hidden and harmful discrimination. The paper concludes with an identification of best practices in good discrimination that should satisfy most network neutrality goals without creating disincentives that might dissuade ISPs from building the infrastructure needed for Internet 3.0 services. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=962181 The Internet and the Project of Communications Law by SUSAN P. CRAWFORD (Cardozo Law School) Abstract: The internet offers the potential for economic growth stemming from online human communications, but recent industry and government actions have disfavored these possibilities by treating the internet like a content-delivery supply chain. I recommend that the internet be at the center of communications policy and that laws affecting internet access be evaluated in terms of whether they further U.S. economic growth by facilitating increased emergent online diversity. The article criticizes the nearly exclusive focus of communications policy on the private economic success of infrastructure and application providers, and suggests that communications policy be focused on facilitating communications themselves. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=962594 Internet Think by SUSAN P. CRAWFORD (Journal on Telecommunications and High Technology Law) Abstract: This essay suggests that how "the internet" is understood has substantial legal, social, and cultural consequences. Beginning in the 1940s, Netheads adopted an understanding of man-computer symbiosis that continues to be attractive to internet futurists. Later on, in the 1970s, Engineers addressed the architectural needs of the future in a concrete way, seeking to interconnect diverse networks. In recent years, the Telcos have increasingly taken the position that "the Internet" is no more than the sum of their privately-owned pipes and wires. These three different approaches to "the Internet" are now informing a complex and important public policy debate about "network neutrality." http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=962596 Rebooting Cybertort Law by MICHAEL L. RUSTAD & THOMAS KOENIG (Washington Law Review) Abstract: Cyberspace provides an ideal legal environment for tortfeasors and online criminals because Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have no duty to mitigate harms caused by ongoing torts, crimes, and infringing acts. Courts have stretched Congress's express language in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act from the narrow purpose of immunizing ISPs as publishers to the expanded purpose of shielding them from all tort liability. This Article proposes imposing a limited duty of crae on ISPs to remove or block ongoing tortious activities on their srvices when they have been given actual notice. This reform will harmonize American ISP liability law with the European union's Electronic Commerce Directive, which imposes an affirmative duty on ISPs to take down objectionable materials. It also will unify U.S. law by creating procedures consistent with the takedown policy mandated by the Digital Copyright Act. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=961885 Authors v. Archivers: The Copyright Infringement Battle Over Web Pages by KINARI PATEL Abstract: Archiving Internet content by storing old versions of Web pages is currently a growing trend because of the educational, cultural, and evidentiary value it provides. Google and the Internet Archive are two examples of Internet archives that provide this service. However, by storing old versions of Web pages without first obtaining the permission of authors, Internet archives infringe on the copyrights of authors. Under the fair use exception to copyright infringement, Internet archives may be legally authorized to archive old versions of Web pages without first obtaining the permission of authors in certain situations. However, this paper argues that, in all cases, the burden should be placed on authors to notify Internet archives that they wish for their Web pages to be excluded from the archive, rather than placing the burden on Internet archives to contact authors before they archive Web pages. By not overburdening Internet archives, the current opt-out policy is more advantageous than an opt-in policy because it allows Internet archives to continue to provide the benefits of archiving old Web pages to the public. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=965199 Corporate Complicity in Internet Censorship in China: Who Cares for the Global Compact or the Global Online Freedom Act? by SURYA DEVA (George Washington International Law Review) This article critically evaluates the efficacy of two regulatory initiatives - the UN Global Compact and the US Global Online Freedom Act - in dealing with the specific challenges posed by doing business with or within China. In considering how much promise these two initiatives offer in ensuring that corporations take their human rights responsibilities seriously, two specific claims are advanced. First, that the Global Compact has failed not only in convincing US corporations to embrace, support and enact its ten principles, but also in ensuring that participant corporations seriously fulfill their undertaken commitments. Such a US-specific inquiry is especially relevant because many MNCs that have been sued for human rights abuses have a presence in the US. The second claim is that although home state extraterritorial regulation is a potential option to tame MNCs' abusive activities, it is unlikely that the Freedom Act, even if enacted, will achieve its goal of promoting Internet freedom globally by combating censorship by authoritarian foreign governments. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=964478 The Structure of Search Engine Law by JAMES GRIMMELMANN (Yale Law School Information Society Project) Abstract: This article will provide a road map to the legal issues posed by Internet search engines. It will indicate what questions we must consider when thinking about search engines, and it will detail the interconnections among those questions. It will not endorse any particular normative framework for search. Nor will it recommend who should regulate search. Instead, it will provide the necessary foundation for informed decision-making, by whatever regulator and whatever its normative approach. Part I will explain how modern search engines function and describe the business environment within which they operate. Part II, the heart of the article, will present a descriptive analysis of the legal struggles over search, showing how questions of search policy, many of which have long been latent in different fields of Internet law, are increasingly confronting lawyers, courts, and regulators. Part III will then show, with five examples, how taking a broad view of search yields otherwise unavailable insights into pressing controversies. This is not to say that the end result must be a body of search-specific law, only to note that failing to consider the larger forces at work in search is antithetical to sensible policy-making. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=963118 Internet Jurisdiction: A Comparative Analysis (Harvard Law Review) The difficult jurisdictional issues raised by the Internet have captured significant attention, prompting one federal judge to comment that, [t]o paraphrase Gertrude Stein, as far as the Internet is concerned, not only is there perhaps no there there, the there is everywhere where there is Internet access. This lack of clear borders creates tension between different interests. The media desire certainty regarding when online content creates a basis for personal jurisdiction so that they can avoid defamation lawsuits in distant places. Sovereign nations want to ensure that the ubiquitous nature of the Internet does not undermine their ability to enforce substantive laws balancing speech and reputation rights. This Parts comparison of U.S. and Commonwealth cases reveals differing approaches to determining when to exercise jurisdiction over media defendants based on Internet content. U.S. courts have adopted a targeting test that requires purposefully directing activity at a forum as opposed to merely providing content accessible there. Courts in Commonwealth countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, have based jurisdiction on foreseeability, exercising jurisdiction over any online media content that could harm a plaintiffs reputation in the forum. Although these inconsistent jurisdictional tests are a matter of procedure, they stem from different substantive laws and from Commonwealth courts underlying unfriendliness to U.S. free speech protections. Media defendants have argued for special jurisdictional rules applicable to the Internet alone; however, any such call for reform must recognize that the procedural divergence results from entrenched substantive differences. Thus, this Part argues that absent an international agreement harmonizing the jurisdictional analysis, courts are not likely to adopt special Internet rules, and media groups will instead be compelled to turn to technological solutions. http://www.harvardlawreview.org/issues/120/feb07/DEVO/DEVO_intro07.pdf *********** CENSORSHIP *********** au: Industry closes anti-coal website THE mining industry has used copyright laws to close an anti-mining website launched by a small protest group in Newcastle. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/03/04/1172943275688.html Egypt's bloggers test state media control (Reuters) Egyptian bloggers have come into the spotlight, on the one hand as an important forum for political debate, on the other as the target of government attempts to limit their freedom of expression. http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKL2870055620070304 Movement to free Kareem looks to UN We've learned all too well by now that many parts of the globe won't tolerate any perceived insult to Islam, however unintentional. Invite cartoonists to draw Muhammad, as Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten did in 2005, or be one of the dozens of other publications that reprinted the caricatures in solidarity with Jyllands-Posten, and watch the death threats pour in and lethal rioting start as some Muslim organizations try to get the government to levy criminal charges. http://hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layo… Egyptian Blogger Appeals Prison Sentence (AP) Lawyers filed an appeal Monday on behalf of a blogger who was sentenced to four years in prison for insulting Islam and Egypt's president. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/27/AR200702270… *************** DIGITAL DIVIDE *************** ca: The Digital Divide: Is There A Solution? Definition of the Digital Divide: The difference in opportunities available to people who have access to modern information technology and those who do not. Traditionally the working poor and homeless have been at a big disadvantage by not having access to the latest technology available. The disadvantages are many. Lack of access to information and being less competitive in the job market are two of the most significant. http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/03/04/064418.php ie: ComReg report reveals a growing digital divide The latest Trends Series survey, which was conducted by Amarach Consulting during November and December 2006, indicates that 45 percent of home internet users now have broadband subscriptions. This compares to 48 percent of home internet users who still access the web via dial-up. http://www.enn.ie/frontpage/news-9943682.html FastWeb founder turns his attention to Internet television and video-on-demand In seven and a half years, Silvio Scaglia transformed FastWeb from a start-up with a plan to bring fiber-optic cables into houses from Milan to Palermo into a company with 1.3 billion in annual sales and 1.1 million clients. http://iht.com/articles/2007/03/04/business/nettv05.php ***** VoIP ***** us: FCC: Local telephone carriers must connect to VOIP The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has ruled that incumbent local exchange carriers must connect to VoIP services, overruling two state public service commission opinions. http://infoworld.com/article/07/03/02/HNlocalphonevoip_1.html ********************************** ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a PS3 game guru. Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. http://videogames.yahoo.com/platform?platform=120121

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EASSy: What's in a Name?
by A. Wanjira Munyua 07 Mar '07

07 Mar '07

----- Original Message ----- From: "Wairagala Wakabi" <wakabi(a)cipesa.org> To: "APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants" <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 3:28 PM Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] EASSy: What's in a Name? > Here are the views of CIPESA Senior Policy Associate Anthony Mugeere on > the reported renaming of EASSy. He wonders whether change of name would > achieve anything but that. > -- > > EASSy re-naming is not an EASY option > > By Anthony Mugeere > > So what, as renowned playwright William Shakespeare once asked, is in a > name? Does a rose (flower) by any another name still smell the same? > > The recent pronouncement by South Africas communications minister, > Matsepe-Casaburri that the East African Submarine Cable System (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. This was in direct > reference to the closed access model, believed to be widely favoured by > the consortium telecom operators who conceived the EASSy project way back > in 1992. > > Whereas the merits and demerits of closed access have been widely debated > by all and sundry, the assertion gives further credence to what some > analysts have for long asked: What really does the World Bank stand for? > In the early 1990s, the Washington-based financial institution pushed for > the liberalisation and privatisation of the telecom sub-sector in almost > all African countries - with resounding success. By so doing, the World > Bank wanted governments to get out of utility services such as > telecommunications so that the profit-driven and often more efficient > private sector takes centre stage. Countries like Uganda, that implemented > the structural adjustment policies are now role models of accepting the > closed access model of telecom growth and are reaping big dividends. So > has the World Bank changed its thinking on liberalisation when it supports > NEPADa representative of regional governments? That however, is another > story. > > Todays story is entirely about the change of name by NEPAD. On the > outlook, there is nothing to write home about. It is just a change of > name, period! Two glaring facts are however very clear about the > development: First, NEPAD is now the regional initiative that is > implementing the once much-publicised EASSy project. Secondly, that EASSy > thing as it was once labelled by a member of the NEPAD e-Africa > Commission is just a component of what NEPAD is doing now. The > Pretoria-based commission is currently working implementing the overall > broadband infrastructure network. > > Whereas the implementation of the project is only awaiting signing and > ratification of the protocol and perhaps the announcement of the new > landing point for the second undersea cable, the renaming of the project > further shows that the founding fathers of the EASSy cable are being > relegated to a less fancied position in the decision making hierarchy. > Although NEPAD has, on several occasions, denied claims by some consortium > members that it hijacked their thing, the renaming of the project would > lend more sympathy to the club members in the cause than to the regional > body. The situation is akin to constructing a houses internal water and > sewerage systemcomplete with high-density pipes - without working on the > outside system that connects it to the municipality or national grid. > > When will NEPAD, given the bureaucratic protocol issues, pull off the > broadband project all the way from South Africa through Botswana, > Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Uganda to Kigali as explained by the > communications minister? Wont individual countries like Uganda who are in > the process of laying their own backbone infrastructure complete theirs > and tap onto the Kenyan link and trigger a tapping wave from its > neighbours especially Rwanda and Burundi? Wont private investors, who > have already smelt a business opportunity cash in on the situation to tap > on the Kenya line to do closed access business before NEPAD opens up its > network? > > NEPAD needs to ponder these and more questions as it embarks on > implementing the regions eagerly awaited infrastructure project. Having > re-named the baby, it is not wise to throw out young EASSys bed just yet. > Implementing the EASSy project, as first conceived in 2002 would have > delivered immediate relief to those in urgent need of affordable bandwidth > and reliable connectivity than implementing a massive broadband project, > subject to bureaucratic and funding bottlenecks under a new name. The > equation is simple: If it sounds like EASSy, it should be easy. Wrapping > rose flowers to be delivered as a Valentines Day gift to your spouse or > lover with inscriptions reading, accept these bougainvillea flowers does > not, in any way negate the fact that they are rose flowers. But then, when > have EASSy matters ever been easy? > -- > > 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

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Fwd: [TIER] Kenyans to transfer money using cell phones
by Eric Osiakwan 07 Mar '07

07 Mar '07

Begin forwarded message: > From: Omar Bakr <ombakr(a)cs.berkeley.edu> > Date: 7 March 2007 08:10:12 GMT+03:00 > To: tier(a)tier.cs.berkeley.edu > Subject: [TIER] Kenyans to transfer money using cell phones > Reply-To: ombakr(a)cs.berkeley.edu > > http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070306/tc_nm/ > kenya_safaricom_dc;_ylt=Ag4Aze84R.NQ0AijtjDj_24jtBAF > _______________________________________________ > TIER mailing list > TIER(a)tier.cs.berkeley.edu > https://mail.millennium.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/tier Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

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Celtel Malawi says fire cuts off network
by Tiwonge Msulira Banda 07 Mar '07

07 Mar '07

Its now 5 days since Celtel Malawi went off as a result of fire. More on the following links: http://za.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID… http://www.nationmalawi.com/articles.asp?articleID=20927 Regards, Tiwonge -- Tiwonge Msulira Banda ___________ The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (Numbers 6:24-26, King James Version)

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Fwd: SANTECemailList Digest, Vol 79, Issue 1
by Judy Okite 05 Mar '07

05 Mar '07

FYI Kind Regards, ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: santecemaillist(a)mailman.unisa.ac.za To: <santecemaillist(a)mailman.unisa.ac.za> Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2007 14:34:52 +0200 Subject: [SANTECemailList] Second Call for Papers - Virtual Reality in Distance Education * Second Call for Papers - Virtual Reality in Distance Education This second Call for Papers is for a theme issue of the International Journal of Social Sciences (IJSS) (http://www.enformatika.org/ijss/) entitled Virtual Reality in Distance Education. The projected publication date is October 2007 (Volume 1, N. 4). The Guest Editor is Gulsun Kurubacak, Ed.D. (gkurubac(a)anadolu.edu.tr) International Journal of Social Sciences (IJSS) is a scholarly open access, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, quarterly and fully refereed journal focusing on theories, methods and applications in social sciences. This open access, peer-reviewed journal encourages top-flight social science inquiry and research across all social science disciplines. It also recognizes contributions made by the social science research community to other disciplines, including biological and physical sciences, and promotes connections between all research communities. Welcome are submissions on Virtual Reality communications, pedagogies, technologies, and managements. The aim of this Special Issue is to add to the body of literature and encourage discussions and promote the exchange of ideas and information on Virtual Reality in Distance Education. Our intent is to stimulate critical debate and research, and add to the theoretical foundation used to underline Virtual Reality research, approaches, principles, and applications. Improvements in Virtual Reality have powerful impressions on digital society; therefore concentration will also be paid to communicational, educational, organizational, psychological and also sociological aspects. All submissions will be peer reviewed. Those submissions accepted for publication will be published in the International Journal of Social Sciences (IJSS). DEADLINES: * Submission Proposals: March 30, 2007 * Notification of Acceptance: April 15, 2007 * Papers Due: May 31, 2007 * Peer Reviews Returned: July 15, 2007 * Finalized Papers Due: August 30, 2007 * Publication Date: October 01, 2007 SUBMISSION PROPOSALS Individual or multiple-authors must first submit an abstract-length proposal of approximately 500-750 words to International Journal of Social Sciences (IJSS) Guest Editor, Gulsun Kurubacak, at gkurubac(a)anadolu.edu.tr . Those who have had their abstracts accepted will be formally invited by the Guest Editor to submit a full-length paper of approximately 5000 to 7000 words. For IJSS's submission guidelines, visit: http://www.enformatika.org/ijss/instructions.html All full length papers submitted to IJSS will be subject to multiple blind peer review. All blind peer reviews will be shared with the authors. While influenced by the outcome of the blind peer reviews, the Guest Editor, Gulsun Kurubacak reserves the right to decide on final publication. TOPICS MAY INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED: * Virtual Reality as A New Media * Building and Implementing Virtual Reality Strategies in Educational, Medical, etc. Institutions, Corporations and Government * Emerging Hardware and Software for Virtual Reality * Computer Graphics and Real-Time Simulation Technologies for Virtual Reality * Building Interactive and Collaborative Virtual Reality Milieus * Building Knowledge Networks through Virtual Reality * Theoretical Considerations for the Development of Virtual Reality * Media Technology for Virtual Reality * Pedagogy for Virtual Reality * Implementing Virtual Reality * Management of Virtual Reality Processes * Evaluation in Virtual Reality * The Strengths and Limits of Virtual Reality * Informal Learning and Communications Utilizing Virtual Reality * Educational Design for Virtual Reality * Communicational Design for Virtual Reality * Learner Support in Virtual Reality * Learning Objects for Virtual Reality * Multicultural Implications of Virtual Reality * Virtual Reality for Diverse Learners * Establish Virtual Reality Milieus for a Global Community * Building Democratic and Egalitarian Virtual Worlds * Identities in Virtual Reality * Virtual Reality and Culture * Virtual Reality for the Next Generation * Virtual Reality for Mutual Understanding * Quality Insurance in Virtual Reality * Accreditation for Virtual Reality * Case Studies, Qualitative, Qualitative and Mixed Researches in Virtual Reality For more information contact: Gulsun Kurubacak, Ed.D Assistant Professor in Distance Education Anadolu University College of Open Education Distance Education Dept Email: gkurubac(a)anadolu.edu.tr * _______________________________________________ The SANTECemailList mailing list is SANTECemailList(a)mailman.unisa.ac.za http://mailman.unisa.ac.za/mailman/listinfo/santecemaillist -- 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."

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Global growth in cell phone connections
by Harry Hare 05 Mar '07

05 Mar '07

Dear Colleagues, The cellular market in Africa is expected to grow by 28% this year making it the fastest growing region globally. It is also predicted that there will be an estimated 409 million new connections this year making the total global cellular phone connections to 3 billion..serious numbers if you asked me. You can read more on http://cgap.org/portal/site/portfolio/Feb2007Data/ Harry -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.5/707 - Release Date: 3/1/2007 2:43 PM -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.5/707 - Release Date: 3/1/2007 2:43 PM

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KDN’S WULFF EXPRESSES DOUBTS ABOUT EASSY PROJECT
by alice＠apc.org 05 Mar '07

05 Mar '07

INTERNET NEWS FROM BALANCING ACT * KDN’S WULFF EXPRESSES DOUBTS ABOUT EASSY PROJECT Many consumers, African Governments and companies are pinning their hopes on the East African Submarine System (EASSy) to lower international bandwidth costs allowing for cheaper broadband services. But is the project doomed for failure? Speaking at the Institute for International Research Broadband Conference, Dr. Kai Wulff, Managing Director of Kenya Data Networks (KDN), expressed serious doubts over the EASSy project as a whole. Wulff described EASSy as a project which evolved out of the noble need to drive down broadband costs, but is essentially a group of ministers which ‘decided to invest some money, which they don’t have, into a system which they do not know what it should look like.’ While the development of an open access submarine system is a good idea, the project as whole has evolved to a stage where the effectiveness and cost of access on the cable is not guaranteed. Wulff further warned that EASSy is falling increasingly under the control of monopolistic operators like Telkom SA, and this shift is threatening the principle upon which the project was founded which is to bring more affordable broadband services and bandwidth to African consumers. Questions were raised about the rather strange termination point of Djibouti for the EASSy cable, especially since the investors in the cable may then be reliant on the monopolistic Djibouti Telecom for onward bandwidth to the rest of the world. The KDN MD asked whether the Djibouti termination point would have still been selected if Djibouti Telecom was not part of the EASSy consortium. Wulff said that unless investors in EASSy can be offered certain guarantees, like the price of bandwidth on the cable, the price of onward bandwidth from Djibouti and access to the termination points of the cable, it does not make sense to blindly invest in such a system. He pointed out that unless investors have open access to the EASSy termination points, they may have to pay exorbitant fees for onwards bandwidth from Djibouti which will eliminate the advantages of the cable, even if prices on the system itself are very low. Wulff said that before KDN, one of the few potential investors who have their money ready, signs the EASSy agreement, they will need to receive clarity regarding onward bandwidth capacity, pricing of bandwidth on the actual system and access to the cable landing stations. Another issue which was challenged is the concept of ‘Open Access’. While the philosophy behind an open access network is commendable, Wulff questioned how the pricing levels will be set and who will be responsible for these levels. With EASSy being touted as a direct competitor to the current SAT3/SAFE system, a system which Telkom currently profits from, it raises questions concerning Telkom’s dedication to see the new cable become a success story. Currently SAT3/SAFE is serving a large portion of the international bandwidth needs of South Africa, and with exclusivity rights on SAT3, Telkom stands to lose millions in profit if EASSy provides competition on international bandwidth to Southern African countries. A basic South African – Djibouti link may however serve Telkom’s African ISP aspirations, which is significant if one considers their recent R 142.6 Million purchase of Africa Online. This cable can supply Telkom with better control of the East African ISP market, and may explain why consortium members like Telkom may not be too concerned about onwards international bandwidth from Djibouti. When asked whether a 2008 launch date for EASSy is feasible, Wulff made it clear that it will never happen. He said that a minimum of 18 months is needed to roll out the system after the ‘money is ready’, something that may take a very long time in itself to materialize. (SOURCE: MyADSL)

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Eassy renamed The Nepad Broadband Infrastructure Network
by alice＠apc.org 04 Mar '07

04 Mar '07

(Apologies for cross posting) -----Original Message----- From: Raymond Smith (R) Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 2:19 PM To: Johan Meyer (JP); Prince Radebe (PJ); Peet Janse Van Rensburg (HP); Kobus Stoeder (JF) Subject: Eassy renamed The Nepad Broadband Infrastructure Network Cape Town | ITWeb, 20 February 2007 ] - Eassy (The East African Submarine Cable System) has been renamed The Nepad Broadband Infrastructure Network (NBIN), because Kenya has opted out of the South African-led continental fiber optic backbone system, says communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri. Speaking before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications today, Matsepe-Casaburri gave a rundown on the structure of the network, such as the special purpose vehicles (SPVs) that are being created to manage, maintain, operate and fund the terrestrial and undersea components of the system. According to the minister, the network will be controlled through a "golden share" scheme, whereby African countries would be able retain control of the various entities that are to be created to run the entire network and keep it from falling into foreign hands. Matsepe-Casaburri says the ratification of the inter-governmental treaty should appear before Parliament around June and that 12 out of 23 countries that had initially agreed to it had signed the treaty. The NBIN aims to provide a number of landlocked African countries, mainly on the eastern side of the continent, access to two broadband networks. One will run as backbone from South Africa through Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Uganda to terminate in the Rawandan capital of Kigali. The second is an undersea cable that will run up the African east coast and was supposed to land in Kenya. The new landing point has not been announced as yet. Other countries that have signed up are Lesotho, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritius, Namibia and Madagascar. Special vehicles According to Matsepe-Casaburri, three types of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) will be created to maintain, operate and finance the network. The use of SPVs was recommended because they would be able to go and raise the capital needed without having to resort to individual government loan applications to international financial institutions. African governments to operate and maintain the terrestrial networks will own the first type of SPV. The second type of SPV will be a hybrid model that would include African governments and private companies that are licensed to operate telecommunications networks. The third type of SPV will operate and maintain the undersea system and this will allow the participation of foreign-owned telecommunications operators, although they would not be allowed to have controlling stakes. No foreigners Matsepe-Casaburri says the participation of foreign-owned firms in NBIN will be limited to ensure that it remains an African-led project, and to ensure the security of the network. She noted that the model developed is not what international financial institutions such as the World Bank would have liked. However, she says, it is based on an open access model with non-discriminatory pricing meaning that anyone, whether a shareholder or not, would pay the same fees. "We wanted to avoid the club-type situation we have had with the (Telkom) SAT-3 undersea cable, but this did not sit well with a number of other countries and institutions," Matsepe-Casaburri says. She wanted to elaborate on her comment, but then realised that the media were present. South African companies that have already been identified as potential partners in the project are Telkom, Sentech, MTN, Vodacom and Cell C. However, Matsepe-Casaburri says the door is not closed on other potential investors. ________________ Raymond Smith Senior Specialist International Market Development Telkom Market Strategy and Development Phone: +27 12 311 6478 Mobile +27 82 7750558 FAX: +27 12 311 7910

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Re: [kictanet] KIXP History in the making!
by Wainaina Mungai 03 Mar '07

03 Mar '07

hi... please contact Dr. Matunda Nyanchama on matunda(a)hotmail.com He has been active in the Canada chapter of Kenyans abroad. --- 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: Midafrica <media(a)midafricanet.co.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] KIXP History in the making! > Sent: 02 Mar '07 07:41 > > > > Jambo Wote, > > I wish to get in touch with Kenyans living in Canada, and especially in > Torronto. If they have a Kenyan community association, I would like to know > their names and e-mails. > Wagatharia > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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/media%40midafricanet.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/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org >

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U.S. Trade and Development Agency Sub-Saharan Africa Information and Communications Technology Conference San Francisco, California ● March 19-21, 2007
by alice＠apc.org 03 Mar '07

03 Mar '07

Hi all Anyone on the list attebnding this meeting? U.S. Trade and Development Agency Sub-Saharan Africa Information and Communications Technology Conference San Francisco, California ● March 19-21, 2007 PRELIMINARY AGENDA Monday, March 19, 2007 09:00 -19:30 Registration 09:15 - 09:45 Briefing for Project Presenters and Commercial Service Officers (by Invitation) 10:00 - 10:30 Briefing for African Communications Ministers and Dignitaries (by Invitation) 10:30 - 11:00 Briefing for U.S. Company Participants 11:00 - 12:30 Pre-Conference Technology Workshops: Workshop 1: New Service Technologies and Advanced Media Content This workshop will explore new technologies rapidly expanding across Africa, such as VOIP and mobile telephony, and the advanced services that they can provide. Workshop 2: Extending the Grid: Wireless, Rural Rollout, and Last Mile Connectivity Solutions This workshop will examine the role of wireless technologies and other innovations that are extending the grid to reach rural populations. 12:30 – 14:00 Lunch Break 14:00 - 15:00 Opening Plenary and Welcome 15:00 - 16:30 Overview of African ICT Environment This session will bring together prominent industry leaders from the public and private sector to discuss the current African ICT Environment and some of the significant issues that will guide future growth in the sector. 16:30 - 17:00 Press Briefing 19:00 – 20:30 Welcome Reception Tuesday, March 20, 2007 07:30 -18:00 Registration 07:45 - 09:00 Continental Breakfast – Partnership Breakfast African ICT companies will introduce themselves giving U.S. companies the opportunity to learn about potential African partners. 09:00 - 10:00 Creating a Winning ICT Environment This session will focus on African countries that have successfully developed policies that create an enabling environment for ICT businesses and are attracting significant ICT investment. 10:00 - 10:15 Networking Break 10:15 – 12:00 Project and Business Opportunities 1: ICT Infrastructure Development African delegates will present upcoming ICT infrastructure development projects and business opportunities, such as the installation of fiber optic networks, sub-sea cables, and satellite infrastructure. 12:00 – 13:30 Luncheon USTDA Grant Signing 13:30 - 14:30 African IT Workforce: Availability, Development and Training This session will focus on how companies investing in Africa can best employ, empower and expand the existing IT workforce on the Continent. 14:30 - 14:45 Networking Break 14:45 - 16:15 Project and Business Opportunities 2: E-Service Initiatives African delegates will present upcoming E-Service projects and business opportunities, such as E-Government, E-Post, and E-Health initiatives. 16:15 - 18:00 Pre-scheduled One-on-One Meetings 19:00 - 20:30 Reception and Dinner Wednesday, March 21, 2007 08:00 -18:00 Registration 08:15 - 09:00 Continental Breakfast 09:00 - 10:00 Financing ICT Investment This panel discussion will present strategies for financing ICT investment in Africa, and provide case studies of successful transactions. 10:00 - 10:15 Networking Break 10:15 – 12:00 Project and Business Opportunities 3: Telecom Service Sector African delegates will present upcoming telecom service sector projects and business opportunities, such as the issuance of new global licenses, private-sector network expansion strategies, and telecom liberalization. 12:00 - 14:00 Luncheon 14:00 - 15:00 Technology Workshops Workshop 3: Infrastructure Development and Network Expansion This workshop will examine technology solutions for country, regional, and international access. Workshop 4: E-Services This workshop will focus on technology used in the implementation of E-Government, E-Health, and E-Education programs. 15:00 – 15:15 Networking Break 15:15 – 16:15 Government /Business Roundtable The roundtable will highlight observations, lessons learned, and next steps toward project implementation, based on discussions and information gained during the conference. The participants will comprise a cross-section of U.S. and African public and private sector conference participants. 16:15-18:30 Pre-scheduled One-on-One Meetings 19:30 - 21:30 Closing Reception * A Technology Showcase Exhibit Area will be present for the duration of the Conference ** Preliminary Conference Agenda is subject to change. Updated information on the conference agenda, confirmed delegates and projects can be found at www.trademeetings.com

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EUROPEAN SUMMER SCHOOL ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE:
by alice＠apc.org 03 Mar '07

03 Mar '07

EUROPEAN SUMMER SCHOOL ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE: INTERACTIVE LEARNING IN A MULTISTAKEHOLDER ENVIRONMENT Meissen, Germany, July 30 - August 4, 2007 Internet Governance was one of the most controversial issues in the process of the UN sponsored "World Summit on the Information Society" (WSIS). Based on a broad definition of Internet Governance the Tunis phase of WSIS decided in November 2005 to establish an Internet Governance Forum (IGF) for further discussion of the various dimensions of Internet Governance and to launch a process towards enhanced cooperation among involved institutions and organisations like ICANN, ITU and others. The issue of Internet Governance is rather new not only for economic activities, political debate and diplomatic negotiations but it is also new both for scientific research and academic education. The European Summer School on Internet Governance (EURO-SSIG) will help to promote the understanding of the different dimensions of Internet Governance as it was defined in the Final Report of the UN Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) in July 2005. It will bring together students from different stakeholder groups to support a practice oriented interactive learning in a multistakeholder environment. The first European Summer School on Internet Governance (EURO-SSIG) will take place in the Evangelian Academy of the former St. Afra Monastir in Meissen/Germany, from Monday, July 30 - Saturday, August 4, 2007. The EURO-SSIG offers 40 hours of lectures and seminars on the different aspects of Internet Governance by leading international experts. The programme covers lectures on the technical, political, legal, socio-economic and cultural dimension of Internet Governance as well as theories on global governance in the information age and multistakeholderism. Faculty members include Prof. Jonathan Zittrain from the Oxford Internet Institute (OII), Dr. David Souter from the London School of Economics (LSE), Dr. Jeanette Hofmann from the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin and former WGIG Members Dr. Bill Drake and Jovan Kurbilja from the Geneva Institute for Higher International Studies (HEI), Avri Doria from Lulea Technology University (LTU) and Prof. Wolfgang Kleinwächter from the University of Aarhus who will chair the EURO-SSIG Faculty. Additionally to the lectures there will be evening round tables with leading professionals from government, private sector and civil society. EURO-SSIG is open both for students and academic staff members. There is a limited numbers of places for fellows from governmental agencies and the private sector. Fellows will get a signed certificate. The privileged participation fee - which includes accommodation (five nights), all meals, teaching material, the touristic program and the gala dinner - for students and academic staff members is 500.00 EUR (plus 19% VAT) per person. There are special tariffs for governmental and private sector representatives. Application forms can be found unter www.euro-ssig.eu. The dateline for applications is May, 15th, 2007. There is a limited number of fellowships for students which can be obtained on request and availability. The Summer School is organized by a consortium of European universities under the leadership of the Department of Media and Information Studies of the University of Aarhus in close cooperation with the "Global Internet Governance Academic Network" (GIGANET). It is supported by DENIC. Cooperation partners are UNESCO and the Diplo Foundation. To get more information contact the EURO-SSIG secretary Sandra Hoferichter under info(a)hoferichter.eu <mailto:info@hoferichter.e> or go to the EURO-SSIG website http://www.euro-ssig.eu <https://server1.medienkomm.uni-halle.de/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://ww…> which provides also special information with regard to accommodation and transportation.

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Re: [kictanet] KIXP History in the making!
by Wainaina Mungai 03 Mar '07

03 Mar '07

hi... please contact Dr. Matunda Nyanchama on matunda(a)hotmail.com He has been active in the Canada chapter of Kenyans abroad. --- 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: Midafrica <media(a)midafricanet.co.ke> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] KIXP History in the making! > Sent: 02 Mar '07 07:41 > > > > Jambo Wote, > > I wish to get in touch with Kenyans living in Canada, and especially in > Torronto. If they have a Kenyan community association, I would like to know > their names and e-mails. > Wagatharia > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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/media%40midafricanet.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/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org >

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Eassy renamed The Nepad BroadbandInfrastructureNetwork
by alice＠apc.org 02 Mar '07

02 Mar '07

And another question.....remember NEPAD advocated and still advocates for greater participation in the world economy etc etc. So I ask, in view of the recent developments Re; EASSy.....on whose terms? alice > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Alex Gakuru" <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> > To: <alice(a)apc.org> > Cc: "Kenya ICT Policy" <media(a)kictanet.or.ke>; > <civilsociety(a)kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 5:53 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Eassy renamed The Nepad Broadband > InfrastructureNetwork > > >> Wow! >> Q: So South Africa can unilaterally rename a Pan-African initiative >> alone? >> Q: Was Kenya not to remain in the delay-prone project for redundancy? >> Q: I also believed Kenya had stated we were building a regional TEAMS the >> vast capacity? >> Q: Is South African Freedom of Information really working properly for >> their media? >> >> More questions than answers according to me... >> >> /Alex >> >> alice(a)apc.org wrote: (Apologies for cross posting) >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Raymond Smith (R) >> Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 2:19 PM >> To: Johan Meyer (JP); Prince Radebe (PJ); Peet Janse Van Rensburg >> (HP); Kobus Stoeder (JF) >> Subject: Eassy renamed The Nepad Broadband Infrastructure Network >> >> >> Cape Town | ITWeb, 20 February 2007 ] - Eassy (The East African >> Submarine Cable System) has been renamed The Nepad Broadband >> Infrastructure Network (NBIN), because Kenya has opted out of the South >> African-led continental fiber optic backbone system, says communications >> minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri. >> >> Speaking before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications >> today, Matsepe-Casaburri gave a rundown on the structure of the network, >> such as the special purpose vehicles (SPVs) that are being created to >> manage, maintain, operate and fund the terrestrial and undersea >> components of the system. >> >> According to the minister, the network will be controlled through a >> "golden share" scheme, whereby African countries would be able retain >> control of the various entities that are to be created to run the entire >> network and keep it from falling into foreign hands. >> >> Matsepe-Casaburri says the ratification of the inter-governmental treaty >> should appear before Parliament around June and that 12 out of 23 >> countries that had initially agreed to it had signed the treaty. >> >> The NBIN aims to provide a number of landlocked African countries, >> mainly on the eastern side of the continent, access to two broadband >> networks. One will run as backbone from South Africa through Botswana, >> Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Uganda to terminate in the Rawandan capital >> of Kigali. The second is an undersea cable that will run up the African >> east coast and was supposed to land in Kenya. The new landing point has >> not been announced as yet. Other countries that have signed up are >> Lesotho, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritius, Namibia and >> Madagascar. >> >> Special vehicles >> >> According to Matsepe-Casaburri, three types of special purpose vehicles >> (SPVs) will be created to maintain, operate and finance the network. The >> use of SPVs was recommended because they would be able to go and raise >> the capital needed without having to resort to individual government >> loan applications to international financial institutions. >> >> African governments to operate and maintain the terrestrial networks >> will own the first type of SPV. The second type of SPV will be a hybrid >> model that would include African governments and private companies that >> are licensed to operate telecommunications networks. The third type of >> SPV will operate and maintain the undersea system and this will allow >> the participation of foreign-owned telecommunications operators, >> although they would not be allowed to have controlling stakes. >> >> No foreigners >> >> Matsepe-Casaburri says the participation of foreign-owned firms in NBIN >> will be limited to ensure that it remains an African-led project, and to >> ensure the security of the network. >> >> She noted that the model developed is not what international financial >> institutions such as the World Bank would have liked. However, she says, >> it is based on an open access model with non-discriminatory pricing >> meaning that anyone, whether a shareholder or not, would pay the same >> fees. >> >> "We wanted to avoid the club-type situation we have had with the >> (Telkom) SAT-3 undersea cable, but this did not sit well with a number >> of other countries and institutions," Matsepe-Casaburri says. >> >> She wanted to elaborate on her comment, but then realised that the media >> were present. >> >> South African companies that have already been identified as potential >> partners in the project are Telkom, Sentech, MTN, Vodacom and Cell C. >> However, Matsepe-Casaburri says the door is not closed on other >> potential investors. >> >> ________________ >> Raymond Smith >> Senior Specialist >> International Market Development >> Telkom Market Strategy and Development >> Phone: +27 12 311 6478 >> Mobile +27 82 7750558 >> FAX: +27 12 311 7910 >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> 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/alice%40apc.org > > > _______________________________________________ > media mailing list > media(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/media > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/media/alice%40apc.org

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test
by alice＠apc.org 02 Mar '07

02 Mar '07

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KIXP History in the making!
by Michuki Mwangi 02 Mar '07

02 Mar '07

FYI, KIXP hit its highest traffic capacity rates yesterday following the online publication of the KCSE Results 32Mbps. This is clear leadership from the Government in promoting/generating local content. We need a couple more of such. Bravo! -- Michuki Mwangi KENIC

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Needed: Experts for Detailed Feasibility Study for the implementation of asubmarine cable system for the Indian Ocean Commission countries
by Harry Hare 28 Feb '07

28 Feb '07

FYI .apologies for cross-posting. Harry ------- Original Message ------- >From : Jane Møller Larsen[mailto:-jml@ict.danishma-nagement.-dk] Sent : 2/28/2007 2:34:21 PM To : jml(a)ict.danishmanag-ement.dk Cc : Subject : FW: Needed: Experts for Detailed Feasibility Study for the implementation of asubmarine cable system for the Indian Ocean Commission countries Dear Sir/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: Detailed feasibility study (DFS) for the implementation of a submarine cable system for the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) countries Application deadline: As soon as possible and at the latest 9 March 2007 Contract duration: Short term Company: Danish Management A/S (http://www.-danishmanagement-.dk/) for the RICTSP/COMESA. ____________-_________-_________-_________-_________-_________-_________-__ General information: The objective: The IOC requires a Detailed Feasibility Study (DFS) exploring all options to ensure adequate and sustainable international broadband connection to its member countries (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion Island and Seychelles). Scope of work: The DFS will cover the technical, commercial and financial feasibility investigations, developing and analyzing detailed configurations, as well as economic and financial analysis for connecting the countries to a submarine cable system. Results to be delivered: i. A complete traffic study for IOC countries over a 10-15 year period; ii. A description of the competitive environment and its impact on the ICT development on the islands; iii. A technical, commercial and financial analysis for each cable option; iv. A review and subsequent recommendation on the optimal financing and ownership structures; v. A desktop study of the base configuration including the potential landing sites in the IOC Mission days/total: The assignment is scheduled to cover 168 man-days in total, with a team of two experts. One economist as Team Leader, and one ICT engineer. Regions/Countries to visit: Zambia, Kenya, South Africa, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion Island and Seychelles Estimated contract start: As soon as possible. Profiles of the Experts: Economist 15 years working experience with broad experience in the development of models and forecasting scenarios in the telecommunications sector, as well as in assessment of business environment and of technical and competitive commercial options including analysis of cost estimations. Telecommunications engineer Knowledge of submarine cable connectivity configurations, with 10 years of working experience in feasibility studies for international connectivity, including 3 years experience in submarine cable systems. Experience with inter-island connectivity will be an asset. Experience in carrying out feasibility studies in the formulation of telecommunication and international connectivity strategies. 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 Languages: The team must be proficient in ENGLISH and FRENCH. Background information: Website of Indian Ocean Commission: http://www.coi--info.org/ http://www.eafricac-ommission.-org/project_-infrastructure.-html http://www.eassy.-org/ http://www.fibrefor-africa.net/ Please find ToR enclosed. 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)danishmanag-ement.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 __._,_.___ -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.412 / Virus Database: 268.18.4/703 - Release Date: 2/26/2007 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.412 / Virus Database: 268.18.4/703 - Release Date: 2/26/2007

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Elections take center-stage on the internet
by Bill Kagai 28 Feb '07

28 Feb '07

Hiya, I have received a fone call from an ODM supporter wishing to find out why their website www.odm-kenya.org is pointing to a government website. This poses a serious challenge to us in the 'internet business' with regard to whether we have secure systems in place. However, upon digging a bit deeper, I have realised that possibly, this is a simple blackmail prank since the WHOIS records have not been altered and only the MX record has been changed to point the website to an innocent Govt server. Tracert'ing the address also shows that it is the admin and registrant of the website who have access to the odm website registry. I am sure many ODM supporters might be pointing a finger at Govt just because someone managed to ping the communications website and put the server address on the opposition website to create a furore and possibly make money Pablo Escobar Way. [Plata o plomo] Spanish for [silver or lead] literally meaning pay up the bribe or face assassination. How do we contain these Matheri's of the internet???. Seems the games have just begun??? -- -- With Kind Regards, Bildad Kagai MD - Circuits & Packets Communications Ltd Content & Training Partner - JKUAT E-Government Academy Suite B2, Tetu Apartments, State House Avenue P. O. Box 20311 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.circuitspackets.co.ke URL. www.JKUATEgovAcademy.ac.ke

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Fwd: [ke-internetusers] Wi-fi explained
by Alex Gakuru 27 Feb '07

27 Feb '07

ABC of Wi-Fi Judy Adhiambo <judy.adhiambo(a)gmail.com> wrote: Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:54:23 +0300 From: "Judy Adhiambo" <judy.adhiambo(a)gmail.com> To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net Subject: [ke-internetusers] Wi-fi explained Q&A: Wi-fi explained Wireless hotspots are spreading across the UK, with blanket wi-fi zones now being rolled out in many city centres. Operators are promising wireless surfing at the touch of a button from the park, the bus or the street corner. So what does the wireless future have to offer and will it live up to the hype? What is wi-fi? Wi-fi is the acronym for Wireless Fidelity, essentially a set of standards for transmitting data over a wireless network. Wi-fi allows you to connect to the net at broadband speeds without cables, as long as you have the right equipment and, in most cases, a regular internet service provider and a wi-fi account. To understand the technology behind wi-fi, imagine using a walkie-talkie. Your voice is picked up by a microphone, encoded onto a radio frequency and transmitted with the antenna to another walkie-talkie, which decodes your voice. Wi-fi works in broadly in the same way, but using a better radio that is capable of handling a lot more data per second. HOW DOES WI-FI WORK? 1: Wi-fi uses antennas around which wi-fi "hotspots" are created. The hotspots are outlets equipped to receive the radiowaves that power wireless networking. Until recently, wi-fi has been confined to more than 10,000 hot-spots in cafes, bars and airport lounges. But various projects are under way to set up city-wide zones, where a series of antennas are installed in the streets, on lampposts or street signs. The hotspots around them together create a much wider area of coverage. Norwich has a mesh network which links each lamppost antenna to the next creating a seamless wi-fi hotspot around the centre of the city. 2: The source internet connection is provided by a PC or server to which the antennas are connected either wirelessly or via a cable. 3: Some mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDA) now have wi-fi chips installed. With mobile phones, this means conventional networks can be bypassed and inexpensive long-distance calls made over the web (using Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP). 4: Many laptops and handheld computers now come with built-in wi-fi connectivity; it is also possible to add wi-fi to your computer with a special card that plugs into a port on your laptop. How do I use a giant wi-fi zone? In the UK, there are already more than 10,000 wi-fi hotspots in public places such as restaurants, hotels, cafes, libraries and airports. Wi-fi-enabled laptops and phones can be set up to connect to these hotspots automatically; usage is generally paid through a credit card at a login page on a web browser. Frequent users may even have accounts with service providers such as T-Mobile, BT Openzone, O2, SkypeZones and Nintendo wi-fi. Will it catch on? So far, wi-fi has been a service that is most useful for business people who need to work on the move; but operators want to make it available to all. However, some analysts warn that wi-fi could be the "next dotcom crash", mainly because of patchy hotspot coverage, lack of enabled hardware and uncertainty over how to make money. There are still a few big challenges ahead for wi-fi. Finalising interoperability and standards is one, and the concern over security is another. Just because there are more than 10,000 wi-fi hotspots in the UK does not mean that a pass to use one means you can use all of them. Currently wi-fi hotspots are divided by who controls them. In Norwich the local authority and regional development agency are pioneering a free wi-fi service. This model could catch on, if successful. More than 3,000 connections are being made to the city's wi-fi network each week Logging on to the internet via wi-fi in different locations brings the risk (just as it does at home or in the office) of your computer being infected by computer viruses and worms. Experts advise you to install security software and update it regularly. Who stands to profit? Some critics argue that wireless hotspots can be a rip-off - the price of installing a wireless router in, say, a coffee shop, involves a one-off cost of a few hundred pounds but customers may be charged upwards of £5 an hour. Users of the new city-wide wi-fi networks will be required to pay access charges to an account provider, such as BT Openzone or T-Mobile. The revenues will be shared between the owners of the street furniture on which the equipment is installed (usually local councils), wi-fi hotspot suppliers and the internet service providers. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4758722.stm _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers --------------------------------- Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A. _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers

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Fwd: [Idlelo2] FW: [ipr] WIPO: Winds of Change
by Judy Okite 27 Feb '07

27 Feb '07

FYI ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ashraf Patel <AshrafP(a)osisa.org> Date: Feb 27, 2007 4:05 PM Subject: [Idlelo2] FW: [ipr] WIPO: Winds of Change To: idlelo2(a)fossfa.net -----Original Message----- From: owner-ipr(a)mailhost.soros.org [mailto:owner-ipr@mailhost.soros.org] On Behalf Of Vera Franz Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2007 1:38 PM To: ipr(a)mailhost.soros.org Subject: [ipr] WIPO: Winds of Change The reform of WIPO, which many of us had first discussed at the TACD Meeting in October 2003, made important progress here in Geneva yesterday: As part of the Development Agenda process, Member States agreed that WIPO will have to take into account access to knowledge concerns, such as the protection of the public domain and the control of anti-competitive practices. WIPO might finally abonadon its vision of a maximalist IP regime. More below, as well as at eff.org, eifl.net, cptech.org http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-love/wipo-embraces-reform-on-i_b_419 51.html WIPO Embraces Reform on Intellectual Property Mission <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-love/wipo-embraces-reform-on-i_b_41 951.html> by JAMES LOVE Geneva: Today the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) concluded the first of a two-part review of proposals for a reform effort called the "development agenda." In doing so, WIPO and its member states have done something very positive, and surprising -- both because it signals important reforms, and because it happened with very strong support from all of the WIPO members, including the United States and members of Europe, delegations that usually take a hard line in global negotiations on intellectual property issues. <http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/huffingtonpost/blog/politics;nickname=ja mes-love;entry_id=41951;United+States=1;European+Commission=1;Geneva=1;p tile=2;sz=300x250;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;abr=!ie6;ord=123456789?> The negotiations have just broken up. This is our statement on the outcome: Knowledge Ecology International Statement on WIPO Development Agenda negotiation The agreement on dozens of WIPO reforms was broader and more substantive than had been anticipated. Some of the measures signal important changes in this controversial UN body. WIPO members agreed to "consider the preservation of the public domain within WIPO's normative processes and deepen the analysis of the implication and benefits of a rich and accessible public domain." WIPO agreed to "promote measures that will help countries deal with IP related anticompetitive practices." "Norm-setting activities shall . . . take into account different levels of development" and "take into consideration a balance between costs and benefits." WIPO adopted an expanded mandate to undertake studies to assess the economic, social and cultural impact of intellectual property practices and norm setting activities. All of this signals a new tone and approach for WIPO. In a sense, WIPO is finally entering the new century, and responding to the growing demand for reforms, and a more balanced ! approach to intellectual property protection. In some areas, however, the agreement was quite limited. The cluster that included "access to knowledge," was quite thin, for example. In June, WIPO will look at a much more ambitious set of proposals, most of which were opposed by the United States or the European Commission in 2005. The June meeting, which is expected to be much more difficult, will look at topics such as proposed treaty on access to knowledge -- a startling departure from WIPO's longstanding efforts to focus largely on expanding the scope and enforcement of intellectual property rights. This week's negotiation went far better than almost anyone had anticipated, and many share the credit for the excellent outcome. The United States government had greatly moderated its positions and tone, and was credited by many delegates for its constructive and open approach to the negotiations on a topic for which the US is normally considered a hard-liner. Several European States, including for example the UK, Germany and Switzerland had worked hard to find ways to reaching consensus with key developing countries. Indian persistent efforts to engage the US and European negotiators was helpful and effective. Argentina and Brazil were among the countries that had pushed the hardest for the reform agenda. Chile's leadership on the issue of the public domain was key. The contributions from the Africa Group were excellent, including for example countries like South Africa. Very high marks were given to Trevor Clarke, the impressive Chair of the meeting, who hails from Barbado! s. Many non-government organizations (NGOs) and experts have labored long and hard on the development agenda negotiations, not all of which were able to attend this meeting, which comes after at least seven WIPO meetings where this topic has been discussed. The contributions of the (north and south, east and west) development, consumer, free software, library and public interest groups working on technology issues were very important, and it has been a pleasure to work with all of them. It is now time to turn our attentions to the June negotiations on the next group of proposals for the development agenda, which go much further, and present more controversy. It is also important to ensure that WIPO implements the new reforms. The first step is very important, but it is a long journey. Here are some quotes from others who are here: (Indian Delegate) "As a delegation we feel it is a very significant forward movement. The meeting concluded in a spirit of compromise and consensus. This augers well for future deliberation which may lead to the finalization of a development agenda for WIPO. It is imperative that the member states maintain this spirit in the next meeting of the PCDA." (Nigerian Delegate) "It has been a very long and tortuous route but we have at last come out of the tunnel into the brilliant prospects of implementing the Development Agenda in WIPO." Teresa Hackett (EIFL.NET) "The Chairman was breath of fresh air. After two years, it feels like things are moving forward. The public domain received unexpected attention, but it gave us the opportunity to talk about why WIPO should care about a rich and accessible public domain." Miriam M. Nisbet (American Library Association) "Despite some confusing and conflicting statements about the public domain, it has been gratifying to hear lively debates by the WIPO delegates that reinforce the importance of the topic." Ren Buchholz (Electronic Frontier Foundation) "WIPO made a refreshing amount of progress this week. The excellent Chair kept things moving and Member States seemed happy to be hard at work. However, it's critical that the spirit of this session is present at the June meeting. If certain countries obstruct fair consideration of the rest of the proposals -- and there are many -- we should not be surprised if this week's success suffers." David Tannenbaum (Yale Information Society Project) "It is disorienting to see such a breathtakingly good outcome come out of a process that was largely closed. The language is very general and it will be important to use these principles to guide current and future treaty negotiations." Cliffor Guimares (Brazilian Copyright Office) "The final results of the discussions of the Annex A are positive. Group B showed some flexibility in order to reach an agreement. . The African Group devoted a lot of effort to reaching agreement on technical assistance matters. Of course, Annex A comprises only part of the negotiation. Brazil hopes that the spirit of cooperation and goodwill displayed in PCDA3 is extended to PCDA4." Iryna Kuchma (eIFL) "It was my first participation at PCDA and it was a pleasure for me to see the progress in the Development agenda. As an Eastern European the only pity I have is that other East European countries don't realize that Development agenda will be as beneficial for them as for the Friends of Development." Malini Aisola (Knowledge Ecology International) "After many days of negotiations, I am glad that WIPO Member States were able to reach decisions on Annex A proposals. This is surely a favorable first result in the development agenda process. In order for the process to be completed, it is crucial that member states rise to the challenging task of reaching consensus on the remaining proposals in the June meeting. Witnessing the cooperation and collaboration of the nations at the PCDA has been a valuable experience for me." Eddan Katz (Yale Information Society Project) "This is an important moment for the recognition of the role of human development in innovation. agreement on these principles will help us move forward in promoting access to knowledge as a commitment for the whole world." (Senior member of the US delegation) "We sensed a different atmosphere on both sides this time". Vera Franz "With this week's meeting we are a step closer to making WIPO fit for the 21st century. Back in 2003 WIPO had argued that a meeting on open collaborative knowledge projects would fall outside the agency's mandate. With today WIPO has put these issues firmly on its agenda, acknowledging that in a healthy and competitive knowledge economy more IP is not always better. What is next? These changes will have to impact future norm-setting at the agency." Thiru Balasubramaniam (Knowledge Ecology International) "The Chair, Ambassador Trevor Clarke of Barbados, steered the helm of the Development Agenda process with judicious authority rejuvenating hopes that WIPO can mainstream public interest concerns into its core mandate. Kudos to Pakistan, Chile, India, Brazil, South Africa and the United States for their spirit of cooperation and goodwill It was refreshing to hear WIPO Member States laud the value of the public domain. Crunch time begins in June where proposals detailing an elaboration of a Treaty on Access to Knowledge and a Medical R&D Treaty will be discussed." <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-love/wipo-embraces-reform-on-i_b_41 951.html> _______________________________________________ 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."

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Re: [kictanet] Will the new alliance against Celtel last?
by Florence Etta 27 Feb '07

27 Feb '07

CELTEL really ought to go ahead and consolidate a continental position across al the countries where they operate and have a first continental roaming/home rate arrangement to the chagrin of their competitors and the joy of thier customers. They should show us their true capitalist spirit and drive prices down and their banks accounts bursting with one stroke of genius! Imagine the scoop of joining Nigeria to the CELTEL EA network. Thats CAPITALISM right? Or have I missed soemthing? 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: "alice(a)apc.org" <alice(a)apc.org> To: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk Sent: Tuesday, 27 February, 2007 9:04:06 AM Subject: [kictanet] Will the new alliance against Celtel last? Will the new alliance against Celtel last? When Celtel unveiled its single EA network there was a lot of trepidation in the communications sector on the implications of such a move. Talking heads and officious spectators immediately began wondering how the other two communications service providers in the Ugandan market, MTN and Uganda Telecom, would react. The decision to embrace East Africa, a first from Celtel, startled its competitors. The genius who came up with the idea deserves every bit of his pay cheque and more. No strategy will possibly have as far reaching results as this first from Celtel - who in Uganda were the pioneer mobile-phone service provider, although they squandered all the advantages of first entry with a premium pricing strategy - but that is a story for another day. The responses have been rapid and varied. MTN immediately commenced negotiations with Vodafone and Safaricom and presto, we have the three musketeers. The challenge posed by Celtel was sorted, or was it? Uganda Telecom, on the other hand, quickly signed a multimillion deal to sell Uganda's international gateway (256) to Gemtel, a Sudanese-based firm whose ownership is still being investigated by parliament. Before entering into an analysis of the merits and demerits of such a course of action, let us utilise the timeless lessons taught to us by our forefathers in Acholi folklore. There once was an able and robust hunter who chanced upon a baby leopard deserted by its mother. Nyaga, fascinated by the beautiful fur, carried the leopard home and commenced looking after it. Elders admonished Nyaga, women cautioned him on the folly of keeping something no human being had ever dared to keep, noting that the creature had long, sharp nails. To all this well-intentioned advice, Nyaga blocked his ears. In consequence, as the leopard grew bigger and bolder, one day in jest it wounded Nyaga. Niccolo Machevelli had nothing but disdain for mercenaries or auxiliaries in the defence of a principality. Similarly, auxiliaries leave the one who calls them in a lurch if they are defeated and in the power of the mercenaries if they win. It is through this prism that I choose to look at the response of the three musketeers to the challenge posed by Celtel. Yet even after painting such a grim scenario, we are yet to address the question of who the tiger in the alliance is or how long it will be sustained. Watmon Mike Kinyera via e-mail http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/Opinion/opinion2602073. htm _______________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________________________ New Yahoo! Mail is the ultimate force in competitive emailing. Find out more at the Yahoo! Mail Championships. Plus: play games and win prizes. http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/evt=44106/*http://mail.yahoo.net/uk

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Fwd: [UgaBYTES] From KTN2 Kenya Network of Telecentres-KENTEL
by chelimo kenneth 27 Feb '07

27 Feb '07

Note: forwarded message attached. --------------------------------- The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing.

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Ground laid for TEAMS roll out project
by alice＠apc.org 27 Feb '07

27 Feb '07

Ground laid for TEAMS roll out project By JOHN KORIR Plan for the implementation of the multi-billion East African Marine Systems popularly known as TEAMS have been finalised, Information and Communication Permanent Secretary Dr Bitange Ndemo said yesterday. Speaking at a Nairobi hotel during an Information Communication Technology (ICT) industry stakeholders meeting, Dr Ndemo said the new technology will link the East African Coastline to the rest of the world, saying the coastline is the only one in the African continent that remains unconnected by the submarine cable. The PS told participants thatthe preparatory process for laying the framework is in high gear with a special team appointed working round the clock to ensure the detailed plans and other basic elements are put in place before the implementation of the project begins. He said the TEAMS will be laid from Fujairah and Mombasa , linking Kenya to the rest of the world. The PS said the new technology is a major milestone in the economy of the country. "With the shrinking distances round the world, our dreams and aspirations in being part of the rest of the world will only be realzed when our communication infrastructure enables us to undertake business with the rest of the world in real time and cheaply," Ndemo said. Dr Ndemo said the government is keen to stimulate the investments in ICTs and particularly the deployment of high bandwidth fibre-optical backbone newtworks. He further said the government is continuously developing the framework that facilitate the deployment of the telecommunications facilities and services. The PS observed that the country stands to benefit immensely from the connectivity, saying consumers are constantly yearning for high speeds and broadband connectivity that can propel the growth of e-commerce as well as lowering the costs of telecommunication acccess. Dr Ndemo at the same time called on players in the industry to explore ways of adopting the principle of infrastructure sharing so that resources could be optimally used. He said there was need for those in the industry to make efficient use of existing network facilities and save on costs that in most cases become sunk, saying the principle of infrastructure sharing is a global initiative aimed at cutting costs on the part of the players

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Will the new alliance against Celtel last?
by alice＠apc.org 27 Feb '07

27 Feb '07

Will the new alliance against Celtel last? When Celtel unveiled its single EA network there was a lot of trepidation in the communications sector on the implications of such a move. Talking heads and officious spectators immediately began wondering how the other two communications service providers in the Ugandan market, MTN and Uganda Telecom, would react. The decision to embrace East Africa, a first from Celtel, startled its competitors. The genius who came up with the idea deserves every bit of his pay cheque and more. No strategy will possibly have as far reaching results as this first from Celtel - who in Uganda were the pioneer mobile-phone service provider, although they squandered all the advantages of first entry with a premium pricing strategy - but that is a story for another day. The responses have been rapid and varied. MTN immediately commenced negotiations with Vodafone and Safaricom and presto, we have the three musketeers. The challenge posed by Celtel was sorted, or was it? Uganda Telecom, on the other hand, quickly signed a multimillion deal to sell Uganda's international gateway (256) to Gemtel, a Sudanese-based firm whose ownership is still being investigated by parliament. Before entering into an analysis of the merits and demerits of such a course of action, let us utilise the timeless lessons taught to us by our forefathers in Acholi folklore. There once was an able and robust hunter who chanced upon a baby leopard deserted by its mother. Nyaga, fascinated by the beautiful fur, carried the leopard home and commenced looking after it. Elders admonished Nyaga, women cautioned him on the folly of keeping something no human being had ever dared to keep, noting that the creature had long, sharp nails. To all this well-intentioned advice, Nyaga blocked his ears. In consequence, as the leopard grew bigger and bolder, one day in jest it wounded Nyaga. Niccolo Machevelli had nothing but disdain for mercenaries or auxiliaries in the defence of a principality. Similarly, auxiliaries leave the one who calls them in a lurch if they are defeated and in the power of the mercenaries if they win. It is through this prism that I choose to look at the response of the three musketeers to the challenge posed by Celtel. Yet even after painting such a grim scenario, we are yet to address the question of who the tiger in the alliance is or how long it will be sustained. Watmon Mike Kinyera via e-mail http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/Opinion/opinion2602073. htm

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Freedom of Information Bill Advances in Nigeria
by joseph kihanya 27 Feb '07

27 Feb '07

Dear All, Looks like we may only be fifth after all. Kihanya --- Justice Initiative <info(a)mail.justiceinitiative.org> wrote: > Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:08:45 -0500 (EST) > To: kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com > Subject: Freedom of Information Bill Advances in > Nigeria > From: "Justice Initiative" > <info(a)mail.justiceinitiative.org> > > For immediate release > > Contact: Maxwell Kadiri +234 803 304 0558 (Abuja) > David Berry +1 212 548 0385 (New York) > > FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL ADVANCES IN NIGERIA > > Following Adoption by Parliament, Bill Awaits > Presidential Signature > > Abuja, February 22, 2007The Open Society Justice > Initiative today > hailed the Nigerian Parliament's final approval of a > harmonized > freedom of information bill and called on President > Olusegun Obasanjo > to sign it into law quickly. > > The bill, if it becomes law, will guarantee > Nigerian citizens the > right to access government-held information. Nigeria > is set to become > just the fourth African nation with a freedom of > information law, > following South Africa, Uganda, and Angola. > > "This is a significant moment in Nigeria's > history," said Maxwell > Kadiri, a staff attorney with the Justice > Initiative's Abuja office. > "With President Obasanjo's signature, this new law > should set Nigeria > on the path to more open and more accountable > government." > > The bill has been pending in Parliament since 1999. > The Nigerian > House of Representatives approved one version of the > bill in 2004, > and the Senate unanimously approved a slightly > different version in > late 2006. The two versions were reconciled and > adopted by the full > Parliament yesterday. Now the bill requires the > assent of President > Obasanjo in order to become law. The Justice > Initiative and other > advocates expressed hope that this step would take > place without > delay. > > The bill's passage is a significant victory for > Nigeria's freedom of > information advocates, who have championed its > passage for over eight > years. It is also an impetus for other African > nations to enact > similar laws and for those nations that already have > freedom of > information laws to enforce them more vigorously. > > "This bill enables the Obasanjo administration to > claim as its > legacy the foundations of open and transparent > government in Nigeria. > President Obasanjo has always said he wants to > change the country for > the better and ensure the people's business is > done," said Kadiri. > "Through this bill, he can realize this ambition. We > look forward to > his signing it into law at the earliest possible > opportunity." > > The URL for this page is: > http://www.justiceinitiative.org/db/resource2?res_id=103632 > {http://www.justiceinitiative.org/db/resource2?res_id=103632} > > > > > -- > To unsubscribe from this list visit > http://www2.soros.org/newsletters/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=4e96a0eee7750a1d… > > To update your preferences visit > http://www2.soros.org/newsletters/lists/?p=preferences&uid=4e96a0eee7750a1d… > > > > -- > Powered by PHPlist, www.phplist.com -- > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html

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Senegal Lesson ( 2004 )
by Alex Gakuru 26 Feb '07

26 Feb '07

[USATODAY] "Outsourcing comes to Africa, bringing jobs and fake Parisian accents" Posted 7/10/2004 DAKAR, Senegal (AP) On the job, she's Dominique Mercier nattering in lilting French, working her headset eight hours a day, and hawking telephone services to Europeans. Come day's end, the accent drops, and Dominique's true identity stands revealed: Fatou Ndiaye, 32-year-old Senegalese college graduate, and one of thousands of operators dialing up the West from booming call centers in West Africa.... <http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2004-07-10-outsource_x.htm> ------------------------------------------------------ /Alex --------------------------------- Need a quick answer? Get one in minutes from people who know. Ask your question on Yahoo! Answers.

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FW: PROGRAMME COORDINATOR, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION INDICATORS PROGRAMME
by alice＠apc.org 26 Feb '07

26 Feb '07

PROGRAMME COORDINATOR, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION INDICATORS PROGRAMME Location : Pretoria South Africa Country : South Africa Company : NEPAD Description : Responsibilities The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is the socio-economic programme of the African Union (AU). NEPAD’s Office of Science and Technology (OST) is the designated technical and administrative secretariat for the implementation of Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA). Its mandate is to coordinate the implementation of the CPA and provide technical backstopping to the AU Commission and the African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST). NEPAD OST is launching a new programme to develop African science, technology and innovation indicators. The programme comprises of training workshops, national and regional surveys, establishing an observatory, and the production of an African Science and Innovation Outlook. These will be implemented through inter-governmental processes and activities by a network of carefully selected leading African and international organizations. Financial support for the programme is provided by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). NEPAD OST seeks to recruit a coordinator for the new programme. Based in Pretoria South Africa, the coordinator will work under the guidance and direction of the Director of NEPAD OST. He or she will be responsible for provision of effective operational management and implementation of the programme. The incumbent’s main functions will include: (a) initiating, supervising and carrying out activities as outlined in the programme proposal agreed upon between NEPAD OST and Sida, and the work-plan to be approved by an inter-governmental committee of AMCOST; (b) Overseeing the preparation of relevant manual(s), training materials and background studies; (c) Developing guidelines and procedures for the organization and conduct of national and regional science, technology and innovation surveys; (d) Coordinating activities of a network of expert institutions, including organizing meetings and tele-conferences for the network; (e) Organizing national and regional training workshop on indicators and surveys; (f) Reviewing national surveys and preparing regional comparative analysis or synthesis of the surveys; (g) Preparing quarterly reports on the implementation of the programme; (h) Participating in international, regional and national meetings and providing expertise and inputs; (i) Ensuring that all members of the AU and international partners are frequently informed of activities of the programme; and (j) Developing new proposals and mobilizing financial resources for the implementation of the programme and related follow-up activities. Qualifications : Qualifications Applicants for the post must have a doctoral degree in natural sciences or science policy studies and proven ability to conduct research on science, technology and innovation policy issues. They must possess skills for extensive inter-agency and inter-governmental networking; proven experience in project formulation and management. They should also have excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to plan and delegate responsibility as well as to develop strategies to accomplish objectives and to lead a multidisciplinary team is necessary. The Successful applicant will be issued with a two years contract renewable subject to performance and availability of funds. Internationally competitive salary and benefits are offered. Contact Details Contact Person : NEPAD OST Telephone : Fax : +27128414414 E-mail : Science(a)nrf.ac.za Apply Online : Website : Reference : FJA-NEP-OST1 FORWARD TO A FRIEND "AfricaRecruit one of The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) big achievements for just 4 years" The Journey So Far NEPAD Secretariat June 2005 www.findajobinafrica.com www.africarecruit.com www.africadiaspora.com

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Transparency and Silence: A Survey of Access to Information Laws and Practices in 14 Countries
by alice＠apc.org 25 Feb '07

25 Feb '07

Transparency and Silence: A Survey of Access to Information Laws and Practices in 14 Countries by Helen Darbishire and Thomas Carson This report details the results of a study undertaken by the Open Society Justice Initiative and its partners to discover how government offices and agencies in 14 countries respond to specific requests for information. The purpose of the study was to explore the strategy of, and trends in, one specific aspect of transparency: the passage of laws on freedom of information (FOI), or public access to government information and records. This report documents how various countries did - or did not - honour the right of access to information. As part of the study, partners of the Justice Initiative in Latin America, Europe and Africa filed a total of 1,926 requests for information; the Justice Initiative and its partners then evaluated and analysed how the people who made requests were treated, how government offices and agencies responded, and the nature and quality of the responses to the requests. The report concludes with a number of specific suggestions to help countries imp! lement effective FOI laws and regulations. http://www.comminit.com/trends/ctrends2006/trends-321.html

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Blogger jailed for 'insulting' Islam
by Rebecca Wanjiku 24 Feb '07

24 Feb '07

Colleagues, An 'interesting' story here about an Egyptian blogger who has been jailed. Raises those nagging questions about just where we should stop as journalists in the exercise of our freedoms, and when authorities need to control what they term 'harmful' writings. But perhaps this should be of particular concern given that this wasn't a mainstream but an online missive by a blogger, which represents a growing interest by the state in what people do in what bloggers otherwise consider their private spaces in which they would want to freely express themselves with as minimal interference from authorities as possible. Wakabi ===== Blogger jailed for 'insulting' Islam Fri, 23 Feb 2007 An Egyptian blogger was sentenced to four years in jail on Thursday for insulting Islam and defaming President Hosni Mubarak, triggering condemnation from international human rights groups. A court in the Mediterranean costal city of Alexandria sentenced Abdel Karim Suleiman to three years for insulting Islam and to one year for defaming the president. This was the first time a blogger has been sentenced in Egypt for writings published on the Internet. Suleiman has been in custody since November 2006 and his trial started on 25 January. He denied all the charges. The 22-year-old blogger, also known by his pen name Karim Amer, was arrested after posting an entry on his blog lashing out at Cairo's Al-Azhar University the highest seat of learning in Sunni Islam. "I say to Al-Azhar and its university and its professors and preachers who stand against anyone who thinks differently to them: 'You are destined for the rubbish bin of history, where you will find no one to cry for you, and your regime will end like others have," he wrote. Despite worldwide appeals for his release, the court ruled that the young Muslim blogger should be jailed for posting a string of writings insulting Islam. "The Moharram Beik criminal court has sentenced the blogger after he created a website through which he attacked Islam," Judge Ayman Okkaz said. "On his site, he claimed that Islam incited terrorism, hatred and murder." The conviction was based on a series of vaguely worded articles in the penal code that forbid the spreading of false information, insulting Islam or other revealed religions, and "affronting the President of the Republic." Fellow blogger and rights activist Dalia Ziyada told AFP that Suleiman's defence team would lodge an appeal on Saturday. Crackdown on political bloggers Egypt recently launched a crackdown on political bloggers, who rose to prominence by challenging Mubarak's regime during the 2005 elections and more recently by highlighting cases of police brutality. Amnesty International lambasted the Egyptian judiciary for its unprecedented sanction against a blogger. "This sentence is yet another slap in the face of freedom of expression in Egypt," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa Deputy Programme Director, in a statement. "The Egyptian authorities must protect the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression, even if the views expressed might be perceived by some as offensive," she said, adding that Amnesty now considers Suleiman a prisoner of conscience. Sentence is a 'disgrace' The press freedom organisation Reporters without Borders called the sentence a "disgrace," noting that it would have a chilling effect on Egypt's vibrant blogging scene. "Suleiman's conviction and sentence is a message of intimidation to the rest of the Egyptian blogosphere, which had emerged in recent years as an effective bulwark against the regime's authoritarian excesses," a statement said. The sentiment was echoed by the New York-based Human Rights Watch, which saw the sentence as "a chilling precedent in a country where blogs have opened a window for free speech," said Middle East directior Sarah Lee Whitson. RSF also called on the United Nations to reject Egypt's request to host the 'Internet Governance Forum' in 2009. AFP visit our website at www.penplusbytes.net our blog is located at http://penplusbytes.blogspot.com/ --- --You are currently subscribed to penplusbytes as: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com --To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-penplusbytes-352938B(a)dgroups.org Penplusbytes online list is hosted on Dgroups- a joint initiative of Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, IICD, OneWorld, UNAIDS ____________________________________________________________________________________ TV dinner still cooling? Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV. http://tv.yahoo.com/

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SA government to switch to open source
by Bill Kagai 24 Feb '07

24 Feb '07

SA government to switch to open source http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=1377&s=news By *Staff Writer* 22 February, 2007 The South African Cabinet today announced that it had approved a free and open source strategy and that government would migrate its current software to free and open source software. At a Cabinet media briefing government said that it had "approved a policy and strategy for the implementation of free and open source software (FOSS) in government. In a statement the cabinet said "all new software developed for or by the government will be based on open standards and government will itself migrate current software to FOSS. This strategy will, among other things, lower administration costs and enhance local IT skills." "All the major IT vendors in the country have both supported the initiative and made contributions to the development of FOSS. Government departments will incorporate FOSS in their planning henceforth." Government plans to set up a FOSS project office by April this year. The office will be established by the department of ccience and technology, the CSIR and the State Information Technology Agency (Sita). Reuters writes that Themba Maseko told reporters the cabinet would use the open source Linux operating system in a bid to lower administration costs and enhance local IT skills. "This is going to be a long process... What this (open source) initiative is basically trying to streamline (is) our use and development of software in the country," Maseko said. Maseko said it was too early to provide timeframes for implementing Linux. South Africa joins governments in other emerging markets like Brazil, China, Spain, India and Malaysia in adopting open source software, with proponents of Linux arguing that the free software could help slash the cost of getting computers into schools, homes and community centres.

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contribution to Fiber discussion
by Michuki Mwangi 23 Feb '07

23 Feb '07

Something to learn from Bangladesh Click on the photos for full-sized versions: http://radio.woodynet.net/pics/index.php?photo=photos/2005/05.02-Dhaka/DSC0… http://radio.woodynet.net/pics/index.php?photo=photos/2005/05.02-Dhaka/DSC0… http://radio.woodynet.net/pics/index.php?photo=photos/2005/05.02-Dhaka/DSC0… http://radio.woodynet.net/pics/index.php?photo=photos/2005/05.02-Dhaka/DSC0… Those were taken in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The good news is that a significant portion of what's being hauled out of the way of that big restaurant stove is fiber, rather than copper, and that there are seven competing fiber providers in the city, with very low prices and aggressive installation schedules. Regards, -- Michuki Mwangi KENIC

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you can lay your own cable.....
by Rebecca Wanjiku 23 Feb '07

23 Feb '07

Twenty years ago, countries in south Asia were faced with similar problems of connectivity that most of Africa faces today. That time, there was no government commitment, whether longsighted or myopic. Then, a group of individuals decided to lay the cable. They got minimal staff and divers to do the work and the connected most of the countries. For them, it was a question of meeting demand and providing it at an affordable cost. That time, no one had looked at issues their way but they knew of a future market. The story, was told by Brian Longwe- a reknowned ICT expert, and as he argued, the southern part of Asia is one of the most connected and has various cables, laid by individuals, companies and government consortia. Internet costs there as well as connectivity to other vital services have been considerably reduced. So what stops me and my friends from laying our own cable and selling it to willing buyers? Longwe asked Dr. Bitange Ndemo, Permanent Secretary at the ministry of Information and communication. Dr. Ndemo replied that there is nothing stopping any group from laying their own cable, provided they do not become a monopoly. There is no law blocking anybody from laying the cable. The government does not want to promote monopolies, he added. The debate took place at the workshop discussing the Optic Fibre Cable and the various models that the country may adopt to bridge the digital divide. The workshop was a conclusion of the two week-long online discussion on OFC. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.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

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Kai vs Dr. Ndemo
by Rebecca Wanjiku 23 Feb '07

23 Feb '07

SPICING UP THE DEBATE When Kai Wulff, CEO , KDN and PS 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. They hold varied opinions on ownership and financing, and discussions are frank and honest, no holding back. It is hard to get bored when discussions start, it can only leave participant more informed of the varied opinions. For instance at the OFC workshop, PS Ndemo says that anybody can lay the cable so long as they are not a monopoly, that is, they must talk to other players in the sector. The PS notes if Kai wants to do it alone, then thats selfish. And Kai answers, I have talked to all of you but for two years no one wants to listen! So one may wonder, what is this heated debate all about? Its about OFC financing, ownership and operations, who allowed and who is not. For Kai, its about the service, let the guys laying the cable do their work, and all we do is promise them capacity that when the service is in Mombasa, they will get the business. In this model, one buys the services at competitive prices just like anywhere else in the world. It is a question of who offers the cheapest reliable service. Kai draws an analogy from supermarket business. If we can have OFC supermarkets in Mombasa, they can advertise their prices and services and if another one opens shop and has a better deal, then we can move there. Kai is simply opposed to Kenya laying the infrastructure, he wants others to come looking for business here. They lay the cable at their own cost, ours is just to give them the capacity. Loyalty is a good party if it serves both parties and will be bad if one is locked in a marriage one cant get out of, Kai said. His contention is that governments should be consumers not competitors to private sector in this field. But the PS has an alternative view, he argues that the government has taken the lead because the private sector is taking long. He told the meeting that one company had promised to lay the cable by 2009 and the government insisted that that would be too long, it should be done in a year. Out of 20 companies, the PS said, only Kai was complaining about the government. Thought the companies were not divulged, Kai just shook his head when the comment was made. The PS agreed that the government should be a consumer mainly but added that there is need for rural connectivity. He said that in many cases, private sector would be driven by profits and most of these rural areas do not have the profits. On the question of Telkom representing the government in TEAMS, Dr. Ndemo said that only happened because proper mechanisms had not been put in place. At the end of it, the PS invited Kai to his office so that they can discuss more issues affecting the sector. Dr. Ndemo argues that Kenya is willing to turn down international banks willing to invest in TEAMS because it is convinced that the Kenyan private sector has the financial might to back the cable investment. Dont let us down! the PS concluded. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/

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Re: [kictanet] government to woo investors
by Jose' 23 Feb '07

23 Feb '07

We need more players in bandwidth provision considering more people are venturing into BPO business. The bandwith we are being offered now are throt cutting for small business who are trying to stay afloat. Kudus to the Ministry of Communications. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 4:22:45 PM Subject: [kictanet] government to woo investors In April/ May, the government will commence a spirited campaign aimed at wooing investors and maintaining the existing ICT investors by tendering for bandwidth supply from companies. Much of the bandwidth will be subsidized by the World Bank and will be provided to universities and Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) organizations. The exercise is expected to kick off in July this year. Speaking at the OFC workshop, Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Information and Communication Bitange Ndemo said he had put down mechanisms at the treasury to ensure the process goes smoothly. Rebecca Wanjiku, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ 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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Any questions? Get answers on any topic at www.Answers.yahoo.com. Try it now.

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taxes to be slashed
by Rebecca Wanjiku 23 Feb '07

23 Feb '07

Good news to mobile phone campanies! The government is going to waive the excise duty and push connectivity to about 18 million subscribers. But dont hold your breadth! This was a proposal given by PS Ndemo to other arms of government that are concerned with collecting taxes. Ndemo said the government was committed to reducing taxes to ensure universal connectivity. The song about duty and other charges continues, but lets hope something is done soon. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/features_spam.html

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government to woo investors
by Rebecca Wanjiku 23 Feb '07

23 Feb '07

In April/ May, the government will commence a spirited campaign aimed at wooing investors and maintaining the existing ICT investors by tendering for bandwidth supply from companies. Much of the bandwidth will be subsidized by the World Bank and will be provided to universities and Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) organizations. The exercise is expected to kick off in July this year. Speaking at the OFC workshop, Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Information and Communication Bitange Ndemo said he had put down mechanisms at the treasury to ensure the process goes smoothly. Rebecca Wanjiku, 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

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deletion of outdated domains
by Rebecca Wanjiku 23 Feb '07

23 Feb '07

ICANN U-turn over outdated domainsNick Wilsdon According to Cnews, plans by ICANN to delete some of the more ‘outdated’ domain extensions in their index have been derailed. They had opened a public discussion in San Paulo with a view to removing these extensions, which ended last month. Top of their list of their list for deletion was the Russian .su (Soviet Union) extension and the former Yogoslav Republic’s .yu. However the public proceedings have been dogged by protests and threats of legal action from domain owners, less than happy at the prospect of loosing their domain, marketing and branding expenses. ICANN finally agreed to leave the extensions alone. This is not the first time ICANN have deleted an extension, Great Britain’s .gb, was replaced by .uk, East Germany’s .dd and Zaire’s .zr after the country became the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However supporters of the .yu and .su domains have pointed out that these extensions are far from obsolete, they have a healthy number of subscribers. There are currently 7′000 .su domains in circulation, with an additional 250 being sold each month. The .su domain has remained popular in Russia, despite it’s higher cost, because so many valuable one-word phrases and brands remain available. This news will certainly breath new life into these extensions and their continued growth will make it even harder, if not impossible for ICANN to close them in the future. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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IGF- is it more than talk??
by Rebecca Wanjiku 23 Feb '07

23 Feb '07

Internet Governance Forum: Is It More Than Talk? By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Multi-stakeholder dynamic coalitions of the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) are pushing to have privacy, intellectual property, open standards and freedom of expression on the agenda of the second meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next autumn. At a 13 February IGF stocktaking meeting in Geneva, several of the coalitions formed at the first IGF (in Athens in October-November 2006) presented short progress reports. Agenda-setting, the role of the coalitions, the IGF as a whole and the IGF output are still to be debated. IGF activists and organisers also look to New York where the new UN Secretary General has yet to make his first comments on Internet governance issues. The dynamic coalitions so far are the most visible and practical outcome of the IGF in preparation for the second IGF meeting in Rio. The 50-member IGF coalition on privacy sponsored by the governments of France, United Kingdom, companies like Microsoft and Cisco Systems, and data protection officials from various countries, met on Sunday before the meeting. According to Ralf Bendrath, expert in privacy policy at the University of Bremen, the Privacy Coalition will publish issue papers shortly on privacy and identity, privacy and development, and privacy and freedom of expression. An Italian government delegate announced a meeting for discussion on an Internet Bill of Rights this summer. The A2K@IGF Coalition, another large dynamic coalition, aims at coordinating participation and awareness of access to knowledge (A2K) activities at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), including proposals for a Development Agenda and an Access to Knowledge Treaty at WIPO. One focus of the coalition is setting methodologies or best practice norms for the implementation of laws dealing with technological protection measures (TPMs) and digital rights management (DRM) restrictions, which have been shown to present serious impediments to access to knowledge and the free flow of information, said Robin Gross, executive director of IP Justice, which is instrumental in the coalition. Gross said coalition member Franklin Pierce College Law Center was for example checking on the effects of free trade agreements. Strong interest in the issue which was nearly untouched at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was shown by the growing partner list of the coalition. Ghana has joined the coalition and I think more countries will follow, said Gross. Key deliverables for Rio, according to Gross statement, are development of best practice norms for DRM technologies and anti-circumvention laws. Nitin Desai, senior UN official and IGF chair selected by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, said with regard to IGFs role on intellectual property issues: We are very well designed in providing a space for discussion. The IGFs non-negotiating role might help to look for some common ground. Any resolution on a recommendation or official output naturally would have to be taken at the WIPO level, he said. IGF Executive Secretary Markus Kummer said, The IGF is a neutral environment to discuss these issues. Kummer also referred to another aspect of the IP problem that he said would stay with the IGF: the question of open and non-proprietary standards. The IGF was criticised during the stocktaking phase for relying only upon proprietary formats. There are no easy answers, said Kummer. The role of the IGF as a pure discussion forum - a neutral, non-binding and non-duplicative process as the EU presidency put it - was intensively discussed during the stocktaking meeting. While hailed as a liberation of the bounds of classical diplomacy by some, several governments and NGOs asked for a more formalised output. As for the results it is important to have some kind of written conclusion or concluding statement that could be a reference for the meeting, said the head of the Brazilian delegation. In fact, the mandate given to the IGF in paragraph 72 refers to the possibility to make recommendations. Without a more formal role accompanied by more dialogue between governments, we risk entering into a course whose result will be the lack of interest for the IGF process, he warned. Several civil society members as well as government delegates said they did not agree with Desais point of view that formal decisions or votes were made impossible by the non-member nature of the IGF. Ideas like rough consensus", messages from the IGF or other compromises were put on the table beside the recommendations mentioned in the 2005 Tunis WSIS agenda. But US business and many Western governments warn against a mission creep of the IGF. What the final agenda for Rio will look like had to be left very much open. Procedures for next steps still have to be cleared by the new UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The future of the IGF Advisory Committee that was tasked with the preparations and programming of the first IGF still is not clear. While he would recommend keeping the advisory group, Desai said, the final decision lies with him. An update on another hot issue, the so-called enhanced cooperation process also had been delayed, said Desai, because of the change in New York. Several governments urgently asked about the outcome of bilateral consultations Desai held over the last month. Enhanced cooperation was agreed upon by the WSIS as a complementary process to the IGF. Its target was - at least as some interpret it - better cooperation between governments and relevant organisations on Internet governance. Whether or not the management of Internet infrastructure resources should be placed more prominently on the IGF agenda was a second issue of debate at the stocktaking meeting. A strong appeal to tackle it came from the non-governmental Third World Network. The issues of root servers, domain name servers and Internet Protocol are among the most important issues in Internet governance, Riaz Tayob urged participants. If they are absent from the agenda, the core issues are absent. Tayob complained that while the IGF was mainly established because these issues had not been resolved, it had been kept off the agenda. Supporters of the current governance model should not try to preclude discussion, and the IGF should not be a party to such censorship, he said. Brazils representative recommended to at least invite Internet governance organisations like the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) or UN International Telecommunication Union to give an update at every IGF session. Patrik Faltstrom, former member of the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), said he personally would reject discussion on issues like root servers at the IGF as long as the questions to be answered were not more specified. While there might be aspects of the technical system that could be discussed at the IGF, so far questions had been very vague. In a way, Gross told Intellectual Property Watch, the infrastructure issue and the IP issue were related as both were facets of US attempts to have a certain control over the Internet. The IGF had to tackle both issues. The IGF should not, said Bendrath, shy away from the most controversial issues and be satisfied with simply being a multistakeholder-model accepted by everybody. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started. http://mobile.yahoo.com/mail

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quick test - 20070222 3.45p.m -plse ignore
by John Walubengo 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

testing, testing... walu. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html

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Stakeholder Workshop on Submarine Cable Provisioning: Friday 23rd Feb 2007- Jacaranda hotel
by alice＠apc.org 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

Dear all Please see below programme for tomorrows meeting and apologies for cross posting. --------------------------------------------------------------- 8:00-8:30: Registration- 8.30-8:45am: Introductions - Walu 8:45-9:15am: Background Info on Models for Provisioning of OFC (Private, Consortium & Open Access) *Walu 9:15-10:30 a.m: Brainstorming on Private-Sector Provisioned OFC *Walu/All *Critical Success Factors/Requirements expected of Regulator, Govt, consumers *Projected Impact on Stakeholders 10:30-11:00a.m.T/Break 11:00-11:45a.m: Brainstorming on the Consortium Provisioned OFC Walu/-All *Critical Success Factors/Requirements expected of Regulator, Govt, consumers *Projected Impact on Stakeholders 11:45-12:30p.m: Brainstorming on the Open Access Provisioned OFC *Walu/ALL *Critical Success Factors/Requirements expected of Regulator, Govt, Consumers *Projected Impact on Stakeholders 12:30p.m-12:45p.m: Brief by PS on TEAMs/EASsy -PS Ndemo 12:45p.m-1:15p.m: Wrap-up & Way Forward (Rapporteur and Brian Longwe) 1:15pm-Lunch and then Guest leave at their pleasure. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/

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OFC program for tommorrow
by Rebecca Wanjiku 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

Stakeholder Workshop on Submarine Cable Provisioning Friday 23rd Feb 2007- Jacaranda Hotel, Programme 8:00-8:30: Registration- 8.30-8:45am: Introductions - Walu 8:45-9:15am: Background Info on Models for Provisioning of OFC (Private, Consortium & Open Access) Walu 9:15-10:30 a.m: Brainstorming on Private-Sector Provisioned OFC Walu/All *Critical Success Factors/Requirements expected of Regulator, Govt, consumers *Projected Impact on Stakeholders 10:30-11:00a.m. T/Break 11:00-11:45a.m: Brainstorming on the Consortium Provisioned OFC Walu/-All *Critical Success Factors/Requirements expected of regulator, Govt, consumers *Projected Impact on Stakeholders 11:45-12:30p.m: Brainstorming on the Open Access Provisioned OFC -Walu/ALL *Critical Success Factors/Requirements expected of Regulator, Govt, Consumers Projected Impact on Stakeholders 12:30p.m-12:45p.m: Brief by PS on TEAMs/EASsy -PS Ndemo 12:45p.m-1:15p.m: Wrap-up & Way Forward (Rapporteur and Brian Longwe) 1:15pm-Lunch and then Guest leave at their pleasure. 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/

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OFC program
by Rebecca Wanjiku 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

Stakeholder Workshop on Submarine Cable Provisioning Friday 23rd Feb 2007- Jacaranda Hotel, Programme 8:00-8:30: Registration- 8.30-8:45am: Introductions - Walu 8:45-9:15am: Background Info on Models for Provisioning of OFC (Private, Consortium & Open Access) Walu 9:15-10:30 a.m: Brainstorming on Private-Sector Provisioned OFC Walu/All *Critical Success Factors/Requirements expected of Regulator, Govt, consumers *Projected Impact on Stakeholders 10:30-11:00a.m. T/Break 11:00-11:45a.m: Brainstorming on the Consortium Provisioned OFC Walu/-All *Critical Success Factors/Requirements expected of regulator, Govt, consumers *Projected Impact on Stakeholders 11:45-12:30p.m: Brainstorming on the Open Access Provisioned OFC -Walu/ALL *Critical Success Factors/Requirements expected of Regulator, Govt, Consumers Projected Impact on Stakeholders 12:30p.m-12:45p.m: Brief by PS on TEAMs/EASsy -PS Ndemo 12:45p.m-1:15p.m: Wrap-up & Way Forward (Rapporteur and Brian Longwe) 1:15pm-Lunch and then Guest leave at their pleasure. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a PS3 game guru. Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. http://videogames.yahoo.com/platform?platform=120121

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training opportunity
by Rebecca Wanjiku 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

DATES: 19th March 23rd March or 26th March -30th March VENUE: Safari Park Hotel PRICE: Kshs. 69,500 per person What and Why? With a Quality Management System you demonstrate predictability of your internal operations and ability to meet customer requirements. An effective Quality Management System will help enhance customer satisfaction. Quality management is what organizations practice to ensure that their procedures conform to the customer's requirements. Moving away from ad hoc processes gives you an overview that makes your internal processes easier to manage, measure, and improve. It is the first step on a journey toward continual business improvement. Taking control of your processes for improve bottom-line An implemented and documented Quality Management System enables you to control your different internal processes as defined by your scope: You will increase your efficiency and minimize the risk that obligations to customers are not met. You have a foundation from which to gradually improve your internal processes and strengthen your organization's ability to meet strategic objectives. You can measure your management system against various international and industry standards through third party certification. Putting your customer first A company working according to a Quality Management System is a more efficient and effective company. In addition, you will see that staff responsibility, motivation, and commitment will improve. A certified Quality Management System is also increasingly a condition of contract. The certificate proves to customers that you have the necessary systems in place to fulfill your obligations to them. What standards can you be certified to? To get on the road to certification, you should begin by reading about: The international ISO 9001:2000 quality management standard applicable to any manufacturing or service industry. ISO 9000 Series ISO 9000 Series ISO 9001:2000 An ISO 9001:2000 certificate proves that your Quality Management System has been certified against a best practice standard and found compliant. Issued by a third party certification body/registrar, the certificate lets customers know they can trust that you have implemented the necessary internal processes to meet obligations. The internationally recognized ISO 9001:2000 standard is generic. It is not a product standard, but applicable to any manufacturing or service industry. Created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), its objective is to set international requirements for Quality Management Systems. Upgraded version ISO 9001:2000 is the latest version of the standard, issued December 15, 2000. The new edition has combined 1994 editions of ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003. What is different? The new standard places more emphasis on continual improvement and customer satisfaction than the 1994 versions. It applies to the processes of an organization that influence quality. The major clauses in the new standard are: Quality Management System Management Responsibility Resource Management Product Realization Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement Where do I go from here? For third party certification, you need to implement an effective Quality Management System complying with the requirements of the standard. The first step is to get on the road to certification. Road to Certification Certification, or registration, to a standard is the outcome of a successful assessment by an independent third party like Ignite Consulting. After having decided on the management system you wish to implement, there are certain steps to get you started. Experience has shown that some simple tips, often seemingly trivial, have proven invaluable to companies seeking certification. As you set out, keep these in mind: Make sure you begin the process with the right attitude. Have a complete understanding of the concept set forth in the standard, and use the standard as a guide template to define your management system. Know what application and implications of the standard will mean to your company. Use the standard as a tool for improvement. Have an understanding of the risks and processes that affect your organization's ability to realize its business strategy. Select your partner (certification body/registrar) carefully. What steps should I follow? Below you will find 10 general steps that will take you down the road to certification: Assemble a team and define your strategy: The adoption of a management system needs to be the strategic decision of the whole organization. It is vital that your senior management is involved in the creation process. They decide the business strategy that an efficient management system should support. In addition, you need a dedicated team to develop and implement your management system. Determine training needs: Your team members responsible for implementing and maintaining the management system(s) will need to know the full details of the applicable standard(s). There is a wide range of courses, workshops, and seminars available designed to meet these needs. We provide a number of public and in-house training courses. Contact Ignite Consulting for more information. Obtain a standard: Obtain and read a copy of the standard to familiarize yourself with the requirements. Then you should decide if certification/registration to this standard makes good sense for your organization. Review literature and software: There is a large amount of published information available that is designed to assist you in understanding and implementing a standard. Review consultant options: Independent consultants will be able to advise you of a workable, realistic, and cost effective strategy plan for implementation. Develop a management systems manual: Your management systems manual should describe the policies and operations of your company. Through the manual, you will provide an accurate description of the organization and the best practice adopted to consistently satisfy customer expectations. Develop procedures: Procedures describe the processes of your organization, and the best practice to achieve success in those processes. These procedures should answer the following questions about each process: why who when where what how Implement your management system: Communication and training are key to a successful implementation. During the implementation phase, your organization will be working according to the procedures that were developed to document and demonstrate the effectiveness of the management system. Consider a pre-assessment: You can choose to have a preliminary evaluation of the implementation of your management system by a certification body/registrar. The purpose of this is to identify areas of non-conformance and allow you to correct these areas before you begin the accredited certification process. Receiving a non-conformance means that a particular area of your management systems is not compliant with the requirements of the standard. Select a certification body/registrar: Your business relationship with the certification body/registrar will be in place for many years, as your certification has to be maintained. In this age of corporate scrutiny, it is imperative to choose a certification body/registrar with a reputation beyond reproach. Why Ignite Consulting? All management system certificates are not equal. Ignite offers more than a ticket to trade. When partnering with us, you begin a journey toward business improvement, and ultimately business excellence. With the following qualities, we are well equipped to satisfy your organization's certification needs: We offer Risk Based Certification as the standard way of conducting all management system certification. With our risk-based approach to certification, you get more than just a certificate. Our auditors will also evaluate how your management system handles risks, i.e. identifying strengths, weaknesses, and improvement opportunities. We provide a "one stop shopping" concept by offering a range of both single and integrated certification services that enhance the effectiveness of the certification process. We have partners all over the world that can provide local service to you. Our consultants and partners speak your language and know your local needs, customs, and market. For more information access www.igniteconsulting.co.ke or call us on 254-20-3673250-9 -- Catherine Murai Ignite Consulting & Investment Limited EDEN SQUARE 7th Floor, Chiromo Road, Westlands P.O. Box 15568 00100 GPO Nairobi, Kenya Tel: 254-20-3673250-9 Fax: 254-20-3673231 Email: njeri.murai(a)igniteconsulting.co.ke URL: www.igniteconsulting.co.ke Professional, Life Skills Coaching, Value Added Training on Conformity and Compliance, Business Management, Organizational Development and Facilitation. 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

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direct contact
by Rebecca Wanjiku 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

for those interested in this, please contact them directly, its easier.... Informationen zum Abbestellen des Newsletters finden Sie ganz unten. Press release, February 21, 2007 ************************************************** Berlin, Germany / Nairobi, Kenya - The first African Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Summit "Access and Inclusion for TVET in Africa through new ICT-based solutions" will take place in conjunction with this year's eLearning Africa, the annual pan-African conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training. The Summit will be held on 28 May 2007 in Nairobi. The African TVET Summit will bring together TVET experts, policy makers and practitioners to share experiences, discuss strategies, and implement mechanisms for the promotion and sustainability of best practice. Innovative ICT-based TVET initiatives will be identified by a panel of experts in the field and their developers will have the opportunity to present their work at the Summit. The panel will designate one TVET project as the "African Educational ICT Landmark Project" and it will receive support until the next Summit in 2008, when another landmark initiative will be selected. Discussions and plenaries will investigate how eLearning can be used effectively in technical vocational education and training, how ICT-based training can help bridge the gap between theory and practice, and which best-practice cases from other backgrounds can serve as role models. The event will provide insight into the current status of eLearning in TVET and enable participants to exchange experience. The African TVET Summit is supported by the Kenyan Ministry for Education, the UNESCO International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNESCO-UNEVOC), the UNESCO Regional Office for Education in Africa (UNESCO/BREDA), the Commonwealth of Learning, the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training and the organisers of the eLearning Africa conference, ICWE and Hoffmann & Reif Consultants. Regularly updated information on the Summit and the eLearning Africa conference programme can be found at www.eLearning-Africa.com. eLearning Africa 2007 takes place from May 28 to 30, 2007, under the patronage of the Hon. Prof. George Saitoti, Minister for Education, Kenya. It is the largest pan-African conference with a focus on ICT for development, education and training on the Continent. It is organised by ICWE GmbH and Hoffmann & Reif Consultants to establish and link a network and community of decision makers from governments and administrations with universities, schools, governmental and private training providers, industry, and important partners in development cooperation. Each year a different African country will serve as the venue. ***************************************** Notes for editors eLA - eLearning Africa, 2nd International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training, May 28 - 30, 2007 Organisers: ICWE GmbH, www.icwe.net, Hoffmann & Reif Consultants, www.hoffmann-reif.com Contact: ICWE GmbH, Tel.: +49-30-327 6140 info(a)elearning-africa.com, www.eLearning-Africa.com Press contact: Beate Kleessen ICWE GmbH Leibnizstraße 32 10625 Berlin, Germany Tel.: +49-30-327 61420 Fax: +49-30-324 9833 press-service(a)icwe.net www.icwe.net ____________________________________________________________________________________ Don't pick lemons. See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos. http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html

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Re: [kictanet] eLearning Africa 2007 Launches the TVET Summit
by Jose' 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

Wow! This is so great.How do we go about getting identified by the panel of experts? Please send them over to our Kimathi Information Centre.this is a very good opportunity to expose our craving eastlands youth to show case how there lives have been transformed by the centre. My number is desplayed down. "Innovative ICT-based TVET initiatives will be identified by a panel of experts in the field and their developers will have the opportunity to present their work at the Summit." 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, February 21, 2007 10:54:46 PM Subject: [kictanet] eLearning Africa 2007 Launches the TVET Summit Informationen zum Abbestellen des Newsletters finden Sie ganz unten. Press release, February 21, 2007 ************************************************** Berlin, Germany / Nairobi, Kenya - The first African Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Summit "Access and Inclusion for TVET in Africa through new ICT-based solutions" will take place in conjunction with this year's eLearning Africa, the annual pan-African conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training. The Summit will be held on 28 May 2007 in Nairobi. The African TVET Summit will bring together TVET experts, policy makers and practitioners to share experiences, discuss strategies, and implement mechanisms for the promotion and sustainability of best practice. Innovative ICT-based TVET initiatives will be identified by a panel of experts in the field and their developers will have the opportunity to present their work at the Summit. The panel will designate one TVET project as the "African Educational ICT Landmark Project" and it will receive support until the next Summit in 2008, when another landmark initiative will be selected. Discussions and plenaries will investigate how eLearning can be used effectively in technical vocational education and training, how ICT-based training can help bridge the gap between theory and practice, and which best-practice cases from other backgrounds can serve as role models. The event will provide insight into the current status of eLearning in TVET and enable participants to exchange experience. The African TVET Summit is supported by the Kenyan Ministry for Education, the UNESCO International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNESCO-UNEVOC), the UNESCO Regional Office for Education in Africa (UNESCO/BREDA), the Commonwealth of Learning, the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training and the organisers of the eLearning Africa conference, ICWE and Hoffmann & Reif Consultants. Regularly updated information on the Summit and the eLearning Africa conference programme can be found at www.eLearning-Africa.com. eLearning Africa 2007 takes place from May 28 to 30, 2007, under the patronage of the Hon. Prof. George Saitoti, Minister for Education, Kenya. It is the largest pan-African conference with a focus on ICT for development, education and training on the Continent. It is organised by ICWE GmbH and Hoffmann & Reif Consultants to establish and link a network and community of decision makers from governments and administrations with universities, schools, governmental and private training providers, industry, and important partners in development cooperation. Each year a different African country will serve as the venue. ***************************************** Notes for editors eLA - eLearning Africa, 2nd International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training, May 28 - 30, 2007 Organisers: ICWE GmbH, www.icwe.net, Hoffmann & Reif Consultants, www.hoffmann-reif.com Contact: ICWE GmbH, Tel.: +49-30-327 6140 info(a)elearning-africa.com, www.eLearning-Africa.com Press contact: Beate Kleessen ICWE GmbH Leibnizstraße 32 10625 Berlin, Germany Tel.: +49-30-327 61420 Fax: +49-30-324 9833 press-service(a)icwe.net www.icwe.net Klicken Sie auf die folgende URL, um sich von diesem Newsletter abzumelden oder Ihre Einstellungen zu ändern: http://nl.webmart.de/abo.cfm?K=3122361&E=239643605 _______________________________________________ secretariat mailing list secretariat(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/secretariat This message was sent to: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/secretariat/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users._______________________________________________ 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!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] E-Centre in Eastlands-Kimathi Estate
by Jose' 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

That will be a great opportunity for exposure for the centre to appear in the magazine. I am not a journalist but I love reading alot of books.I am a mobile phone technician working with a Nokia Authorized dealer shop on Koinange street.I am having the centre run with two other directors,who we all work on part time.The youth we trained run the centre and we get update after every hour on how the centre is doing. Yes its a business venture for the youth and its profitable.Fully self sustaining its self.Fully fledged one stop youth E-centre.Comp Games,newspapers,books and very soon an entertainment game centre fully fledged with X-boxes,Ps-games and TFT 21" television sets.Self funding venture run by the youth,for the youth,in benefit of the who community.We train the older folks on how to send emails and how to use the computers. At the moment,we are partnering with Kenya Police to actually train them in return for security.They guard the centre,and we train them for free.We haven't rolled it out fully but currently,we are having a pilot pro gramme of training two Police men for the next three months.If we succeed,we shall have up to 30 Policemen get trained with us.(We have trained ourselves to see an opportunity out of every adversity with now the current insecurity in our area.) Our plan is to roll it out the E-learning centres,by franchising with having it in every estate in Eastlands run by the youth but owned by Kimathi Information Centre.Whereby,we shall be training the youth,who in turn we shall supply computers to them. "Please call me thank you" I need to tell you more. or again log on to www.kimathiinformationcentre.com if I have left some issues out.My number is just beside my name below. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: munyiva ritah <rmunyiva(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 8:34:58 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] E-Centre in Eastlands-Kimathi Estate Tell me jose' as in more about the centre. Am a journalist, are you one? Can give some mileage on the project in some magazine-Business Post. Is it a business venture for youth...in eastlands what exactly is it? --- Jose' <ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > True that Ritah, > we partnering with local organized youth groups in > Easlands to train them and give them a chance to > learn how to run such a centre. > > Jericho Estate popularly know to as "JERII" watch > out for an e-learning centre soon. > > Hope Ya'all shall find time to come. > > Best Regards, > Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: munyiva ritah <rmunyiva(a)yahoo.com> > To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com > Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 3:20:01 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] E-Centre in > Eastlands-Kimathi Estate > > Cool idea on the E-centre, maybe we could get more > of > this in Eastlands. > Ritah > --- Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > This is soo cool...Jose, > > > > I need to link up with you of the > list...please.... > > > > Kind Regards, > > > > On 2/21/07, Jose' <ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > > > Checkout, > > > > > > www.kimathiinformationcentre.com > > > > > > some of the pages are still under construction > > like the forum,chat and > > > guest book pages.Oh! also the donation page :-) > > > > > > We reach out to the Easltands community with > free > > ICT lessons > > > also we are a one stop E-centre. > > > > > > We are in the process of organizing a youth > > symposium that will focus on > > > preparing youth in creating business > > proposals,business plans and how to > > > apply for loans and in particular the Youth > loan. > > > > > > All keep y'all posted > > > > > > 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, 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 > === 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/rmunyiva%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Any questions? Get answers on any topic at www.Answers.yahoo.com. 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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com

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Executive Summary of comments KICTANet Freedom of Information Discussions
by alice＠apc.org 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

Dear all Below is an executive summary of the discusions on the freedom of information policy that took lace last week. Prepared and submitted by J. Kihanya. best regards alice ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Freedom of Information Policy as drafted and put out for discussion bythe Ministry of Information and Communications was greeted with approval andlauded as a great step towards achieving one of the most fundamental rightsthat underpins all other rights in Kenya.The discussion was not very high but a consensus emerged from the variouspresenters that the following should guide the policy direction. a.. The right to information is the bedrock of all other human rights. The United Nations recognized this in 1946 when the General Assembly resolved:"Freedom of Information is a fundamental human right and the touchstone forall freedom. In its most basic form, a right to information ensures thepeople of a democracy: they have the right to demand and receive informationfrom their government and place an additional obligation on the governmentto pro-actively disclose key information to the public. It also allowscitizens to secure information from private bodies where it is necessary forthe protection or exercise of their rights. It is an excellent tool in thefight against corruption and provides a mechanism for deepening the public'sengagement in development activities and to meaningfully engage andparticipate in democracy. a.. The right must be considered within a broader human rights framework. a.. The right to know should be indicated as a right that is enforceableby the public. It should be a freedom that should not be derogated from bygovernment which must allow for its full enjoyment. a.. That the legislation that emanates from the debate should seek toprotect the free flow of information through e-government and the creationof accountability. a.. That the costs that may be charged on accessing information frompublic bodies should be minimal if at all. a.. That journalists and hence the media should be exempted from payingthe costs that relate to access to information. a.. That the timelines provided under the policy for the access toinformation viz. 15 days are too long and should be reduced. a.. That the practice and culture of secrecy under the Official SecretsAct should be changed if the policy is to allow for the effective use oflegislation. a.. Those private bodies should be required to protect personal data. a.. That the public and private bodies should be required t=o seek onlysuch personal information that is relevant under the circumstances and thatthat which is unnecessary or may cause discrimination should not be requiredof a citizen. a.. That all public bodies should be subjected to the FOI legislationirrespective of the fact that they are run in partnerships with developmentpartners, or not. a.. That when national security is used as a limitation on FOIlegislation, it must be precisely that and not imagined embarrassment to thegovernment. a.. That pro-active publication must take root and e-government used formost or all public pronouncements within a strict timeframe. a.. That the right should extend to all citizens and should not be viewedas a tool only for the media. a.. That all organizations that have the capacity or are directly involvedwith contact with the public and that affect the rights of the public shouldbe designated as organizations that the FOI legislation can affect. a.. A Data protection policy for social cultural and economic reasons mustbe put in place to cater for development concerns.The discussion underscored that the right to know is one that has beendeemed important and has been given to citizens in over 80 jurisdictionsaround the world and that Kenya should join South Africa and Uganda on thisfront in Africa if only to keep pace with especially Sough Africa ondevelopment paths.

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Re: [kictanet] E-Centre in Eastlands-Kimathi Estate
by Jose' 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

True that Ritah, we partnering with local organized youth groups in Easlands to train them and give them a chance to learn how to run such a centre. Jericho Estate popularly know to as "JERII" watch out for an e-learning centre soon. Hope Ya'all shall find time to come. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: munyiva ritah <rmunyiva(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 3:20:01 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] E-Centre in Eastlands-Kimathi Estate Cool idea on the E-centre, maybe we could get more of this in Eastlands. Ritah --- Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: > This is soo cool...Jose, > > I need to link up with you of the list...please.... > > Kind Regards, > > On 2/21/07, Jose' <ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > Checkout, > > > > www.kimathiinformationcentre.com > > > > some of the pages are still under construction > like the forum,chat and > > guest book pages.Oh! also the donation page :-) > > > > We reach out to the Easltands community with free > ICT lessons > > also we are a one stop E-centre. > > > > We are in the process of organizing a youth > symposium that will focus on > > preparing youth in creating business > proposals,business plans and how to > > apply for loans and in particular the Youth loan. > > > > All keep y'all posted > > > > 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, 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: > === 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/rmunyiva%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Cheap talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates. http://voice.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 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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eLearning Africa 2007 Launches the TVET Summit
by Rebecca Wanjiku 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

Informationen zum Abbestellen des Newsletters finden Sie ganz unten. Press release, February 21, 2007 ************************************************** Berlin, Germany / Nairobi, Kenya - The first African Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Summit "Access and Inclusion for TVET in Africa through new ICT-based solutions" will take place in conjunction with this year's eLearning Africa, the annual pan-African conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training. The Summit will be held on 28 May 2007 in Nairobi. The African TVET Summit will bring together TVET experts, policy makers and practitioners to share experiences, discuss strategies, and implement mechanisms for the promotion and sustainability of best practice. Innovative ICT-based TVET initiatives will be identified by a panel of experts in the field and their developers will have the opportunity to present their work at the Summit. The panel will designate one TVET project as the "African Educational ICT Landmark Project" and it will receive support until the next Summit in 2008, when another landmark initiative will be selected. Discussions and plenaries will investigate how eLearning can be used effectively in technical vocational education and training, how ICT-based training can help bridge the gap between theory and practice, and which best-practice cases from other backgrounds can serve as role models. The event will provide insight into the current status of eLearning in TVET and enable participants to exchange experience. The African TVET Summit is supported by the Kenyan Ministry for Education, the UNESCO International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNESCO-UNEVOC), the UNESCO Regional Office for Education in Africa (UNESCO/BREDA), the Commonwealth of Learning, the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training and the organisers of the eLearning Africa conference, ICWE and Hoffmann & Reif Consultants. Regularly updated information on the Summit and the eLearning Africa conference programme can be found at www.eLearning-Africa.com. eLearning Africa 2007 takes place from May 28 to 30, 2007, under the patronage of the Hon. Prof. George Saitoti, Minister for Education, Kenya. It is the largest pan-African conference with a focus on ICT for development, education and training on the Continent. It is organised by ICWE GmbH and Hoffmann & Reif Consultants to establish and link a network and community of decision makers from governments and administrations with universities, schools, governmental and private training providers, industry, and important partners in development cooperation. Each year a different African country will serve as the venue. ***************************************** Notes for editors eLA - eLearning Africa, 2nd International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training, May 28 - 30, 2007 Organisers: ICWE GmbH, www.icwe.net, Hoffmann & Reif Consultants, www.hoffmann-reif.com Contact: ICWE GmbH, Tel.: +49-30-327 6140 info(a)elearning-africa.com, www.eLearning-Africa.com Press contact: Beate Kleessen ICWE GmbH Leibnizstraße 32 10625 Berlin, Germany Tel.: +49-30-327 61420 Fax: +49-30-324 9833 press-service(a)icwe.net www.icwe.net Klicken Sie auf die folgende URL, um sich von diesem Newsletter abzumelden oder Ihre Einstellungen zu ändern: http://nl.webmart.de/abo.cfm?K=3122361&E=239643605 _______________________________________________ secretariat mailing list secretariat(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/secretariat This message was sent to: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/secretariat/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/features_spam.html

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Questions whether open source software can covert the software world?
by alice＠apc.org 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

>From Panos ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For many people in developing countries, commercial software packages are not an option because they are expensive, do not come in local languages and cannot be shared or adapted. Advocates of the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) movement argue that the tools of information and communication should be in the public domain. But commercial software companies say they spend huge sums of money on research and development, and need to recoup their investments. This latest media briefing on the information society explores how these opposing views can be reconciled in the interests of millions of potential software users in the developing world. Visit: http://www.panos.org.uk/PDF/reports/wsistoolkit5.pdf

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Fw: [DigAfrica] African VoIP Markets: Answers to pressing question
by alice＠apc.org 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

>From Balancing Act: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ African telcos are having to react either to price pressure from the grey market or newly legal VoIP service providers. The impact of VoIP on international prices is only the beginning: in newly legal VoIP markets, the arbitrage opportunity is moving to the national level. Many operators are seeking to remain competitive by simply offering cheaper prices to their customers, either through a specific VoIP service offering or to all customers. But in any price war with the grey market there is only way one for prices to go: downwards. But VoIP is the precursor of much larger changes for operators and they need to create new strategies to remain in the game in more competitive markets: Price cutting cannibalises existing income but also increases volumes: in other words, increased volumes may cover income losses from higher rates. Do you know what has happened to the traffic volumes of those carriers who have lowered prices? A small number of African countries have more or less legalised VoIP for a new generation of VoIP service providers. Further countries are in the queue to do the same and some countries have an anomalous use of VoIP for certain carriers. Do you know which these countries are and how it will affect your business? There has been much talk of NGN networks but for nearly all carriers this is a much more complicated process of transition. Do you know where you are in that transition process and where your competitors have got to? A number of African carriers have convinced themselves that "triple play" is one strategy to combat leakage of customers to the new VoIP service providers. You might think that these carriers have got a clearly defined strategy. But do you know what the rates and market potential is for a service like this that includes VoIP? African VoIP Markets is a 170 page report with 28 tables that looks at all aspects of VoIP in the region. Can you answer the questions facing your business? go to: http://www.balancingact-africa.com/voipmarks.html

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Re: [kictanet] Sasanet not working?
by Jose' 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

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 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

3 3

Re: [kictanet] E-Centre in Eastlands-Kimathi Estate
by Jose' 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

Thanx Judy, Yeah its n awesome centre. How is the website? out of 10?let me know what y'all find it.Is it opening fast at your end?Am being told that in some places it aint opening I wonder why :-( Give me a call we shall organize a mtg.It will be exciting to show what we do through empowering the youth. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 2:52:08 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] E-Centre in Eastlands-Kimathi Estate This is soo cool...Jose, I need to link up with you of the list...please.... Kind Regards, On 2/21/07, Jose' <ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Checkout, www.kimathiinformationcentre.com some of the pages are still under construction like the forum,chat and guest book pages.Oh! also the donation page :-) We reach out to the Easltands community with free ICT lessons also we are a one stop E-centre. We are in the process of organizing a youth symposium that will focus on preparing youth in creating business proposals,business plans and how to apply for loans and in particular the Youth loan. All keep y'all posted 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, 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 It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. _______________________________________________ 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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Want to start your own business? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-index

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Re: [kictanet] Sasanet not working?
by Jose' 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

I think they are just maintaining there systems.I use the Sasanet not only to send free sms' but also store my names in their address book this is one way of making your mind at ease when Mathira's crew do the "needful" to your "Hallo Moto!" phone. Lets give them a chance.we wait.Patience is a virtue. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri ----- Original Message ---- From: Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 2:46:43 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Sasanet not working? 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/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

E-Centre in Eastlands-Kimathi Estate
by Jose' 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

Checkout, www.kimathiinformationcentre.com some of the pages are still under construction like the forum,chat and guest book pages.Oh! also the donation page :-) We reach out to the Easltands community with free ICT lessons also we are a one stop E-centre. We are in the process of organizing a youth symposium that will focus on preparing youth in creating business proposals,business plans and how to apply for loans and in particular the Youth loan. All keep y'all posted 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, 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. http://tv.yahoo.com/

3 2

AT&T to no longer support calls originating from Kenya
by Mike Theuri 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

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.

4 6

Accountability Statement
by Wainaina Mungai 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

"What Kibaki has doen with your money" http://www.communication.go.ke/development/default.asp ....an interesting read! --- 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] Sasanet
by Mike Theuri 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

Perhaps there is more than meets the eye considering their site seems to be up and running per a visual inspection ? Is there more behind the scenes that might not be obvious ? On 2/19/07, 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<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=49679/*http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/spon…>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/mike.theuri%40gmail.com >

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advice if I can place my opinion
by Jose' 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

please advice if I can post my opinions because I am getting a bounced mail always. Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ____________________________________________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com

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DAY 5... How would users update their data ? and WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD
by joseph kihanya 21 Feb '07

21 Feb '07

Dear all, Any last views...before we close today's and the entire discussion prior to the meeting on tuesday?... regards Kihanya ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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Kenya Telecentre Network Workshop
by chelimo kenneth 20 Feb '07

20 Feb '07

Dear All, The First Kenya Telecentre Network workshop takes place from 21-23rd February, 2007 at Busia Trailer Inn Hotel in western Kenya. The workshop is being facilitated jointly by Ugunja Community Resource Centre (www.ugunja.org) a rural based resource centre in Siaya district, Kenya Telecentre Network and Ugabytes Initiative (www.ugabytes.org) . Ugabytes initiative based in Uganda is the telecentre network support organization in East and Central Africa. It is affiliated to the international network support organization www.telecentre.org a project of IDRC based in Canada. The theme of the workshop is using telecentres to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban communities in Kenya. The workshop has received substantive support from other organizations mainly from Microsoft International which has expressed interest in empowering rural communities with ICTs using telecentres as access points to disadvantaged communities in Kenya. The workshop will be a follow up of East Africa and Africa Leaders Telecentre forums held in Uganda (October,2006) and Benin (November) respectively. Among deliberations expected will be on internet connectivity and ISPs in rural areas, sustainability and management of telecentres, women,youth and ICTs,ICT policy and government involvement etc. Participants will be drawn from various models of telecentres (resource and information centres) based in rural and slum communities across the country . Ken Chelimo National Coordinator, Kenya Telecentre Network --------------------------------- Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.

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Reliance to build submarine cable to rival EASSy
by Rebecca Wanjiku 20 Feb '07

20 Feb '07

some food for thought before the friday meeting........ Reliance to build submarine cable to rival EASSy By A CORRESPONDENT The EastAfrican Reliance Corporation, one of India's largest information technology firms, says that it will construct a submarine cable along the eastern Africa seaboard by 2009. The fibre optic cable, the company said recently, will link South Africa and Kenya, and also serve Tanzania, Mauritius, Mozambique and Madagascar as well as some land-locked countries. The cable link will be laid down by Reliance subsidiary, Flag Telecom Last December, Reliance announced that it would invest $1.5 billion to put up the world s most extensive Internet access network through submarine cables covering more than 60 countries. News of the latest plans to lay a cable along the eastern seaboard are likely to cause a certain level of alarm among the partner states involved with the controversy-prone East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) cable. By last December, only 12 countries out of the targeted 23 stretching from South Africa to the Sudan had pledged support to the project. Proponents of an eastern seaboard fibre optic cable say that it would lower Internet slashing bandwidth costs by as much as a third, and spur the development of outsourcing centres along the eastern coast to compete with similar centres in Asia. Valued at $300 million, EASSy itself is planned to run from Mtunzini in South Africa to Port Sudan in Sudan, with landing points in six countries, and connected to at least five landlocked countries. The thinking is that these countries will subsequently no longer have to rely on expensive satellite systems to carry voice and data services. The project, to be funded largely by the World Bank and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, was initiated on January 2003. Since inception, however, the EASSy project which is now expected to be completed by the end of 2008 has been dogged by disagreements over financing and access among partner states, with Kenya opting to sit the project out. Kenyan officials were reportedly particularly peeved by South African efforts to control the project, reports indicated. Last September, Kenya announced that it would seek funding to finance its own undersea cable running from Mombasa to Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman in a bid to accelerate the emergence of the country a business outsourcing centre. The cable, Nairobi said, would be made available to any interested party along the way. Analysts say that the announcement by Reliance, by introducing a third player, could change the dynamics somewhat, raising the possibility that the Kenyan government may seek a partnership with the Indian multinational to counter-balance the South African-led EAS http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/News/News1902078.htm _______________________________________________ secretariat mailing list secretariat(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/secretariat This message was sent to: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/secretariat/rebeccawanjiku%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/

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FOI meeting Tuesday feb 20
by Rebecca Wanjiku 19 Feb '07

19 Feb '07

just a reminder that the meeting on FOI at KSMS will take place tommorrow please plan to attend KICTANet will present a report of the just concluded list discussion ____________________________________________________________________________________ Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL

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TYCO WINS CONTRACT TO BUILD KENYAN GOVT’S FIBRE CABLE
by Rebecca Wanjiku 19 Feb '07

19 Feb '07

more background info for the friday meeting....... TYCO WINS CONTRACT TO BUILD KENYAN GOVTS FIBRE CABLE Communication in Kenya is to set for a major revolution, following the start of an undersea fibre optic link to the rest of the world through Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman. American company Tyco last week won a contract to undertake a marine survey that should be ready in two months, at a cost of Sh187 million. The Government will 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 complete by early next year. The contract will be awarded competitively by April this year. The Government, through Telkom Kenya, is working with Dubai-based Etisalat, a telecoms company, to build the cable. The private sector will be invited to either buy shares, or to prove its capacity to raise funds through plans worked out by the financial arranger. Information and Communication minister Mutahi Kagwe says fast-tracking the East African Marine System (Teams) will ensure that Kenya does not lag behind in information and communication technology (ICT). "The East African coast is the only one without a fibre optic cable. We are racing against time," he said. The cost of data transmission would come down, leading to lower cost of communication. The price of a megabyte is expected to plunge from a high of Sh490,000 (US$7,000) to Sh14,000 (US$200). All East Africa countries are part of the project, while Ethiopia wants to join them. The project was conceived by the Kenya Government after it became evident that a similar one from South Africa to Port Sudan, popularly called East Africa Sub-Marine Cable System (EASSY) would not take off. Kenya declined to sign the EASSY project protocol, citing inclusion of the New Partnership for Africa Development (Nepad) into the programme without specifying its mandate. Also, Kenya opposed Nepad's attempts to own the project, saying the group should not be involved as that would negate its noble concepts. The country also took issue with non-involvement of the private sector as it would be difficult to implement the protocol without it, once it was signed. But Kenya will not pull out of EASSY. It will remain a key participant and use it as back-up should there be any breakdown of Teams project. "We decided to work on a parallel project after it became difficult to make decisions on the EASSY one. The latter had too many players, some of whom were coming in every other day. But we will be involved in the project...The more the cables, the better. That will induce competition, which will bring down the prices". (SOURCE: The Nation) _______________________________________________ secretariat mailing list secretariat(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/secretariat This message was sent to: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/secretariat/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com

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NCC DEMANDS US$150M FOR 3G LICENCE IN NIGERIA
by alice＠apc.org 19 Feb '07

19 Feb '07

>From Balancing Act ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NCC DEMANDS US$150M FOR 3G LICENCE IN NIGERIA The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has placed a reserve price of US$150 million on its Third Generation (3G) licence that it plans to issue in seven categories through public auction from April 2, this year. NCC's Head of Public Affairs, Dave Imoko, disclosed in Abuja that the licence to be offered include universal access, digital mobile, fixed wireless access, and metropolitan fibre cable network licenses. Other spectrum on the card were the national carrier and the private network link licenses. He explained that bidders have up to Feb. 16, to submit their letters of interest, but warned that companies applying for the licence must have no link whatsoever. Imoko said the adoption of the auction process in the issuance of the licence was to ensure fairness and promote competition among existing telecommunication operators in the country. The issuance of the 3G licence has been limited to existing GSM operators and is expected to enhance the quality of GSM services and reduce tariffs on subscribers. The spectrum blocks to be made available for auction include the 40MHz of spectrum within the 2GHz band. The Commission, according to him, would offer the spectrum as four paired blocks of 10 MHz. Spectrum pairs, he added, would be separated by a 90MHz duplex spacing. "Blocks will be allocated as follows, Block A:1920-1930MHz paired with 2110-2120 MHz, Block B: 1930-1940MHz, paired with 2120-2130MHz, Block C: 1940-1950, paired with 2130-2140MHz and Block D: 1950-1960MHz paired with 2140-2150MHz." The statement added that "Spectrum will be allocated on a service and technology neutral basis without the specification of guard bands. Licensees will be required to co-ordinate spectrum use to avoid interference. "However, applicants according to the notice will not be required to submit financial or technical plans in the pre-qualification process, except details of company ownership structure and confirmation of compliance with the rules of the auction. "To participate in the auction, a bidder must be a limited liability company incorporated in Nigeria and must not be involved with any other bidder. "A Consortia according to the statement may bid for a licence subject to the requirement that they include a Nigerian telecommunications licensee. Bidders will also be required to lodge a $15million dollars (i.e.10% of Reserve Price) Intention to Bid Deposit with the Commission. The auctioning process will commence on the second of April following the receipt of the expression of interest on February 16, while issue of information memorandum a week later. (SOURCE: This Day)

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Balancing Act Top Story: THE AFRICAN LAKES SALE – QUESTIONS BEGIN TO PILE UP
by alice＠apc.org 19 Feb '07

19 Feb '07

>From Balancing Act TOP STORY: THE AFRICAN LAKES SALE – QUESTIONS BEGIN TO PILE UP _____________________________________________________________________ The sale of African Lakes (the owner of pan-African ISP Africa Online) has had more twists and turns than a Grand Prix race-track. Everyone involved – those selling the company and the two potential buyers – probably only agree on one thing: the sale ought to have been done by now. Russell Southwood looks at the lengthening number of questions emerging from this deal not yet done. On 28 January 2007 in issue 340 we announced erroneously that African Telecoms Company (ATC) had secured 52.66% of African Lakes and increased its offer to £18.50 a share, giving the deal a total value of GBP5.04 million. So in one corner you have African Telecoms Company, a grouping that includes Richard Bell, Kenyan ISP Wananchi, several local Kenyan investors and the US Schneider Media and Holding Group. And in the other corner is South African incumbent telco Telkom that is trying to put together a regional acquisitions strategy that will equip it to face a competitive future. True to form, it refused to say what it was doing: “The reports linking Telkom SA as a bidder for Africa Online are speculative and Telkom will not comment on media speculation”. Telkom had made no public offer at this point despite having been in discussion since an earlier point in 2006. The African Lakes Board did not recommended the ATC offer on the basis that it could obtain more money for shareholders from another bidder, the as-yet-unnamed Telkom. In the third corner is African Lakes that is chaired by David Montgomery, whose main claim to fame has been cutting the cost base of the UK’s Mirror Newspapers after the death of Robert Maxwell. ATC thought it had secured victory because it had acquired an “irrevocable” on the shares of one of the key shareholders, RAB Capital (18.9% of the total shareholding at that point). On 8 February ATC formally issued notice of its increased offer. The offer expires on 23 February. This triggered two things: a frantic scramble by ATC and African Lakes to sign up shareholders to their cause and the need for the somewhat indecisive Telkom to issue a public bid. In its 12 February press release announcing the Telkom bid African Lakes said it had “received strong support for it from shareholders holding more than 60% of the voting rights of the Company. Unfortunately the Panel ruled on Friday that of this number shareholders holding 18.9% of the voting rights cannot have their support counted in favour of the Telkom disposal as their voting rights have passed to ATC as a consequence of them accepting the ATC Offer prior to the Board concluding its negotiations for the Telkom Disposal. Furthermore, attempts by these shareholders to have their acceptances withdrawn were also deemed invalid under the conditions of the ATC Offer”. The Telkom offer was for what was claimed would be £25 per share, valuing the deal at £9.72m. But it emerged on 15 February that as it would only be buying what must be the controlling Africa Online Company – Africa Online (Mauritius) - it would not be dealing with the historic liabilities of African Lakes as a company. These would be dealt with using the cash from the deal and shareholders would be paid on liquidation of the African Lakes Company. Shareholders were assured that the offer figure of £25 a share had been based on a company audit of liabilities. On the same day it issued a correction saying an audit of liabilities had not been completed. Indeed a review of liabilities had only been started. The fight to gain shareholder acceptances was clearly getting tight as on 14 February African Lakes issued a notice saying that it had exercised various share options and issued more share to T Hoare Nominees, Lesley Davey and Paul West: the latter two are both senior Managers of African Lakes and Board members. Furthermore it issued shares to African Lakes employee, George Ezzat. On being rung by a member of the ATC consortium, it is alleged that Ezzat was unaware that the shares had been issued to him. This has been a dense and often complicated struggle for the company and in the interests of comprehension we have sought to summarise events above. But the number of questions that need answering just keeps getting longer: - If there is no audit of African Lakes’ liabilities, how can the company say with any confidence what the final outcome price of the Telkom offer will be to its shareholders? - What were the circumstances in which shares were issued to George Ezzat? Why (as alleged) did Ezzat know nothing about this share option issue when asked about it by an ATC shareholder? Why were additional share options granted during what was clearly an offer period when at least two offers were being publicly discussed? - It is not clear what number of subscribers Africa Online has but it is certain that it has fewer than the figures named in the last publicly available documents. What is the number and what is the Average Revenue Per User? It is one thing for a group of private investors to take a risk of this magnitude but how does a publicly quoted company like Telkom think that it will make a return on the purchase price? What expertise does Telkom have to run a pan-African retail ISP in competitive environments? What has been the success of its existing pan-African connectivity sales operations? Africa Online has the potential to become a pan-African player in the new competitive landscape that includes both voice and data. But it will need determined and experienced management capable of investing more than the purchase price to take it from where it is now to a successful future. Faced with these two potential buyers, who would you choose to carry out this task? ____________________________________________________________________

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Day 4: What Data should be exempted from the Act (access) &
by joseph kihanya 19 Feb '07

19 Feb '07

Dear All, Thank you for all your comments over the last 3 days. Today's theme is veru crucial in that FOI as a right is limited for certain public policy/interest considerations in almost all jurisdictions.The question is how many(how far should they go) of these restrictions should we have and why? The list under the policy are; National security Privacy Confidentiality Public safety Decision making processes Article 19 has under this heading in its Principles of FOI said; PRINCIPLE 4. LIMITED SCOPE OF EXCEPTIONS Exceptions should be clearly and narrowly drawn and subject to strict harm and public interest tests All individual requests for information from public bodies should be met unless the public body can show that the information falls within the scope of the limited regime of exceptions. A refusal to disclose information is not justified unless the public authority can show that the information meets a strict three-part test. The three-part test the information must relate to a legitimate aim listed in the law; disclosure must threaten to cause substantial harm to that aim; and the harm to the aim must be greater than the public interest in having the information. No public bodies should be completely excluded from the ambit of the law, even if the majority of their functions fall within the zone of exceptions. This applies to all branches of government (that is, the executive, legislative and judicial branches) as well as to all A complete list of the legitimate aims which may justify non-disclosure should be provided in the law. This list should include only interests which constitute legitimate grounds for refusing to disclose documents and should be limited to matters such as; law enforcement, privacy, national security, commercial and other confidentiality, public or individual safety, and the effectiveness and integrity of government decision-making processes. Exceptions should be narrowly drawn so as to avoid including material which does not harm the legitimate interest. They should be based on the content, rather than the type, of the document. To meet this standard exceptions should, where relevant, be time-limited. For example, the justification for classifying information on the basis of national security may well disappear after a specific national security threat subsides. Refusals must meet a substantial harm test It is not sufficient that information simply fall within the scope of a legitimate aim listed in the law. The public body must also show that the disclosure of the information would cause substantial harm to that legitimate aim. In some cases, disclosure may benefit as well as harm the aim. For example, the exposure of corruption in the military may at first sight appear to weaken national defence but actually, over time, help to eliminate the corruption and strengthen the armed forces. For non-disclosure to be legitimate in such cases, the net effect of disclosure must be to cause substantial harm to the aim. Overriding public interest Even if it can be shown that disclosure of the information would cause substantial harm to a legitimate aim, the information should still be disclosed if the benefits of disclosure outweigh the harm. For example, certain information may be private in nature but at the same time expose high-level corruption within government. The harm to the legitimate aim must be weighed against the public interest in having the information made public. Where the latter is greater, the law should provide for disclosure of the information. Let us have your views Kihanya ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/

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OFC meeting on February 23
by Rebecca Wanjiku 19 Feb '07

19 Feb '07

hi, i am glad that you are planning to come for the OFC meeting at the jacaranda this friday, please fwd your confirmation for logistic purposes, some people have confirmed, so theres no need to reconfirm am waiting for that email. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Cheap talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates. http://voice.yahoo.com

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WIRELESS NET NEUTRALITY [Tim Wu]
by Alex Gakuru 17 Feb '07

17 Feb '07

WIRELESS NET NEUTRALITY: CELLULAR CARTERFONE AND CONSUMER CHOICE IN MOBILE BROADBAND [SOURCE: Tim Wu, Professor, Columbia University School of Law] Over the next decade, regulators will spend increasing time on the conflicts between the private interests of the wireless industry and the publics interest in the best uses of its spectrum. This report examines the practices of the wireless industry with an eye toward understanding their influence on innovation and consumer welfare. In many respects, the mobile wireless market is and remains a wonder. Thanks to both policy and technological innovations, devices that were science fiction thirty years ago are now widely available. Over the last decade, wireless mobile has been an infant industry, attempting to achieve economies of scale. That period is over: today, in the United States, there are over 200 million mobile subscribers, and mobile revenues are over $100 billion. As the industry and platform mature, the wireless industry warrants a new look. This report finds a mixed picture. The wireless industry, over the last decade, has succeeded in bringing wireless telephony at competitive prices to the American public. Yet at the same time, we also find the wireless carriers aggressively controlling product design and innovation in the equipment and application markets, to the detriment of consumers. In the wired world, their policies would, in some cases, be considered simply misguided, and in other cases be considered outrageous and perhaps illegal. Four areas warrant particular attention: 1) Network attachments, 2) Product design and feature clipping, 3) Discrimatory broadband services, and 4) Application stall. http://www.newamerica.net/publicati \n \n---------------------------------------------------------- \n WWWhatsup NYC \nhttp://pinstand.com - http://punkcast.com \n---------------------------------------------------------- \n \n \n \n\n \n __._,_.___\n \n \n \n \n Messages in this topic (1)\n \n \n \n Reply (via web post)\n | \n \n Start a new topic \n \n \n \n \n Messages \n | ",1] ); //-->ons/policy/wireless_net_neutrality ---------------------------------------------------------- WWWhatsup NYC http://pinstand.com - http://punkcast.com ---------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users.

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Fw: [COMO Alliance] Oxford Media Law Fellowship
by Florence Etta 16 Feb '07

16 Feb '07

FYI. Sorry for cross posting. Cheers, FE Subject: Oxford Media Law Fellowship Dear Friends, Please see attached and circulate... The time allocated for the process is quite tight! "The closing date is no later than 5.00 pm on the 2nd March. Applications received after this time will not be considered. Please quote reference CX07002 in all correspondence. FAX or e-mail applications will not be accepted. Short-listed candidates will be asked to attend an interview around mid-date." "Mid-date" seems to be mid March! Thanx, Best wishes, David _______________________________________________ COMO_Alliance mailing list COMO_Alliance(a)lists.asc.upenn.edu http://lists.asc.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/como_alliance ___________________________________________________________ How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos http://uk.photos.yahoo.com

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Day 5: How would users update their data ? and WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD
by joseph kihanya 16 Feb '07

16 Feb '07

Dear All, I am posting this out before Day 5 (tomorrow). It may be that we can take comments on both Day 4 and 5, just as we may take comments on any of the earlier days. No comments are in yet on Day 4. The question of the correction of data held by public bodies and sometimes by private bodies is one that generates interest considering that wrong entries may cause one to suffer hardship or miss on entitlements. Consider the case of retirees and a pension scheme or that of a medical case file.In the latter case, in an emergency, would it be crucial that all your details, including allergies, blood types etc, be absolutely CORRECT? Lets have some views. Kihanya ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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Wirelessweek: It�s All Mobile Now
by Alex Gakuru 16 Feb '07

16 Feb '07

Strange with shillings 1.4 million one WiMAX base station is up and running? ..... Adaptix announced the pricing and availability of its compact mobile base stations and mobile terminals for mobile WiMAX. The companys BX-3000 series of base stations are priced starting at $19,995 for a single-sector configuration, with three-sector configurations starting at $39,995. Adaptix also announced that its BX-3000 base station and San Francisco-300 mobile terminal participated in the recent WiMAX Forum interoperability PlugFest. < http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA6379821.html > /Alex --------------------------------- We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love (and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list.

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meetings, please note
by Rebecca Wanjiku 15 Feb '07

15 Feb '07

the ministry is organising FOI workshop on 20th at KSMS registration is thro info(a)information.go.ke the OFC meeting will be held at Jacaranda hotel on 23rd confirmation is thro rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com during this meeting, PS Ndemo will be there to answer questions regarding TEAMS, EASSy, FLAG or any other questions that one may have, starts at 8.30 am to 2pm hope this makes it clear, becky ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/

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Re: [kictanet] OFC meeting, friday 23rd
by Jose' 15 Feb '07

15 Feb '07

Where is the venue of the meeting? Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 8:34:08 AM Subject: [kictanet] OFC meeting, friday 23rd just to let you know that the OFC meeting was changed from the earlier date (22nd) because the PS was not available then, please note in its next friday, 23rd, Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ Have a burning question? Go to Yahoo! Answers and get answers from real people who know._______________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html

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FOI--- how good is it??
by Rebecca Wanjiku 15 Feb '07

15 Feb '07

Kihanya, thanks for the background, some thoughts on some of the questions raised, Right to verses freedom I think it should be freedom of information because in legal terms, the two terms are different. Though am not a lawyer, I read about the positive rights (right to) and the negative rights (freedoms) Now, governments are quick to obey the negative rights as opposed to positive rights. For instance, we can all go and demonstrate about our freedom from torture or detention without trial and the government will easily heed to our demands, (I guess so) But what about other recognized rights like the right to water? Can the government be compelled to honour our right to water, i think the main objective of the FOI should be to protect e-government and accountability but the bill talks about charging a minimal fee to those accessing information, what will happen to those people out of town, it talks about photocopying and perusal charges, but what about provision of such information in electronic format, do we still pay?? and will it serve the overall objective?? Thats my take on it Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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Day 3: What Policies should inform the FOI?
by joseph kihanya 15 Feb '07

15 Feb '07

Dear Rose, Indeed. FOI is all about each and every individual's right.In some countries it even extends to non-citizens. The contextualization is important. Kihanya ____________________________________________________________________________________ Any questions? Get answers on any topic at www.Answers.yahoo.com. Try it now.

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OFC meeting, friday 23rd
by Rebecca Wanjiku 15 Feb '07

15 Feb '07

just to let you know that the OFC meeting was changed from the earlier date (22nd) because the PS was not available then, please note in its next friday, 23rd, Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ TV dinner still cooling? Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV. http://tv.yahoo.com/

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Re: [kictanet] Day 3: What Policies should inform the FOI?
by joseph kihanya 15 Feb '07

15 Feb '07

Dear Dorcas, Indeed. The ICT policy does not mention data protection as a key issue at all. The IC Bill 2006 only mention data protection at section 58,62 and 62 but then only making it an offence to "hack" into protected systems. Nothing about.....deliberate disclosures/ sale..etc of data...how long it should be kept etc. Australia has Data protection/Privacy laws on this see ( a bit old but a good summary) http://www.efa.org.au/Issues/Privacy/privacy.html Kenya will soon require to legislate on this. It may be that the FOI policy may only mention this obliquely as it would require that a separate Bill deals with this issue. Kihanya ----- Original Message ---- From: Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni(a)gmail.com> To: kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 7:52:31 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 3: What Policies should inform the FOI? Hi Kihanya, Want to draw a poniter to a related matter as is being dealt in a different country. Please see the link below. http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid14_gci1242… Walu had mentioned something related: the protection of consumer data by private companies too. It is important that this is captured. Sorry, cannot find the actual mail on the thread but sure he can relate it. Muthoni On 2/14/07, John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Thanx Kihanya for your efforts. Indeed this is a fairly un-convential topic in that it has no obvious or immediate financial connotations - hence the slower responses... But back to my contribution. I think the policy informing the Freedom Of Information bill should look towards empowering the citizens through facilitating their access to knowledge/information. We need to think through how our collective data regarding our heritage, history, social and economic transactions can be harnessed and made to serve the common good. I know this bill has tended to create controversy because it has often been looked at in the narrow terms of the Govt vs the Media i.e. Media seeks info visa-vis Govt sits on Info. True, this could be one of the issues but it should not limit our scope because the bill should be a reflection of broader policy issues that touch on different data sitting on various platforms such as (Private) Media Broadcasters, Mobile service providers, ISPs, eBankers, etc. How for example can KTN be asked to share (or sell) their valuable film clips to the Kenya Archives dept? How can the East African Standard avail their 100years+ data to the public? When or Why should Safaricom/Celtel divulge the SMS transcript of a certain subscriber to the Police, to the Media or the Private Investigator? What kind of data security standards and practices should we place for critical and national data stores such as KRA, KPA, Immigration, etc? What of the Certification Authority (CA) providers that are likely to play a cenral role in a future eCommerce environment, how will they collect, protect and avail their data? So I think these are some of the Policy issues that need to be thrashed out in the process of coming up with the final FOI bill. walu. --- joseph kihanya <kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Dear All, > > I trust we may now move on to day 3. Those with comments > still on day 1 and 2 can still do so. > The themes were... > > Day 1: Why Freedom of Information (FOI) Act? > Day 2: What are the current modalities for accessing data > held by Data Handlers (Govt or Private Sector)? > > > Today's topic really looks as to waht should be the basic > reasoning behind the FOI policy and hence law. > > The principles listed hereunder have been recognized by > Article 19 ( an international organizatioin dealing with > freedomm of te press and related issues) as what should > guide the FOI laws(policy). > > PRINCIPLE 1. Maximum disclosure > > That the law should seek this as its underpinning > philosophy. > > PRINCIPLE 2. Obligation to publish > > That there should be an obligation to publish and > requests should be for non-crucial/ essential / bulky > information. > > PRINCIPLE 3. Promotion of open government > > That the law should promote / recognise the importance > of open government. > > PRINCIPLE 4. Limited scope of exceptions > > That the exceptions should be clear , precise and > allowable in a democratic society/ i,e should not take > away what the law seeks to grant. > > PRINCIPLE 5. Processes to facilitate access > > Clear processes for request should exist. > > PRINCIPLE 6. Costs > > These should be kept at a minimum for the public has > already paid for the creation of the information through > taxation. > > PRINCIPLE 7. Open meetings > > Other than informnation, there should bea promotion of > open dialogue at decsion making level. > > PRINCIPLE 8. Disclosure takes precedence > > The tests that are to be applied by the commssioner and > the appeal tribunal should seek disclosre unless the > exceptions and the public interest demand otherwise. > > PRINCIPLE 9. Protection for whistleblowers > > That those who disclose information that is in the public > interest, inspite of the exceptions should not be > victimised/ should be protected. > > > Lets go! > > Kihanya > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > 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/jwalu%40yahoo.com > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL _______________________________________________ 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/dmuthoni%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/kihanyajn%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Cheap talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates. http://voice.yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] Day 3: What Policies should inform the FOI?
by joseph kihanya 15 Feb '07

15 Feb '07

Hi, Thanks Walu. Between my Intro and your post I think that is the summary for the day! Alex, I am making a comment on your post too. Oh well, day 4 approaches. All the three days themes are open to all until friday when I must summarise al comments to present on Tuesday 20th . Kihanya ----- Original Message ---- From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 3:42:08 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 3: What Policies should inform the FOI? Thanx Kihanya for your efforts. Indeed this is a fairly un-convential topic in that it has no obvious or immediate financial connotations - hence the slower responses... But back to my contribution. I think the policy informing the Freedom Of Information bill should look towards empowering the citizens through facilitating their access to knowledge/information. We need to think through how our collective data regarding our heritage, history, social and economic transactions can be harnessed and made to serve the common good. I know this bill has tended to create controversy because it has often been looked at in the narrow terms of the Govt vs the Media i.e. Media seeks info visa-vis Govt sits on Info. True, this could be one of the issues but it should not limit our scope because the bill should be a reflection of broader policy issues that touch on different data sitting on various platforms such as (Private) Media Broadcasters, Mobile service providers, ISPs, eBankers, etc. How for example can KTN be asked to share (or sell) their valuable film clips to the Kenya Archives dept? How can the East African Standard avail their 100years+ data to the public? When or Why should Safaricom/Celtel divulge the SMS transcript of a certain subscriber to the Police, to the Media or the Private Investigator? What kind of data security standards and practices should we place for critical and national data stores such as KRA, KPA, Immigration, etc? What of the Certification Authority (CA) providers that are likely to play a cenral role in a future eCommerce environment, how will they collect, protect and avail their data? So I think these are some of the Policy issues that need to be thrashed out in the process of coming up with the final FOI bill. walu. --- joseph kihanya <kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Dear All, > > I trust we may now move on to day 3. Those with comments > still on day 1 and 2 can still do so. > The themes were... > > Day 1: Why Freedom of Information (FOI) Act? > Day 2: What are the current modalities for accessing data > held by Data Handlers (Govt or Private Sector)? > > > Today's topic really looks as to waht should be the basic > reasoning behind the FOI policy and hence law. > > The principles listed hereunder have been recognized by > Article 19 ( an international organizatioin dealing with > freedomm of te press and related issues) as what should > guide the FOI laws(policy). > > PRINCIPLE 1. Maximum disclosure > > That the law should seek this as its underpinning > philosophy. > > PRINCIPLE 2. Obligation to publish > > That there should be an obligation to publish and > requests should be for non-crucial/ essential / bulky > information. > > PRINCIPLE 3. Promotion of open government > > That the law should promote / recognise the importance > of open government. > > PRINCIPLE 4. Limited scope of exceptions > > That the exceptions should be clear , precise and > allowable in a democratic society/ i,e should not take > away what the law seeks to grant. > > PRINCIPLE 5. Processes to facilitate access > > Clear processes for request should exist. > > PRINCIPLE 6. Costs > > These should be kept at a minimum for the public has > already paid for the creation of the information through > taxation. > > PRINCIPLE 7. Open meetings > > Other than informnation, there should bea promotion of > open dialogue at decsion making level. > > PRINCIPLE 8. Disclosure takes precedence > > The tests that are to be applied by the commssioner and > the appeal tribunal should seek disclosre unless the > exceptions and the public interest demand otherwise. > > PRINCIPLE 9. Protection for whistleblowers > > That those who disclose information that is in the public > interest, inspite of the exceptions should not be > victimised/ should be protected. > > > Lets go! > > Kihanya > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > 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/jwalu%40yahoo.com > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kihanyajn%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started. http://mobile.yahoo.com/mail

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Day 3: What Policies should inform the FOI?
by joseph kihanya 14 Feb '07

14 Feb '07

Dear All, I trust we may now move on to day 3. Those with comments still on day 1 and 2 can still do so. The themes were... Day 1: Why Freedom of Information (FOI) Act? Day 2: What are the current modalities for accessing data held by Data Handlers (Govt or Private Sector)? Today's topic really looks as to waht should be the basic reasoning behind the FOI policy and hence law. The principles listed hereunder have been recognized by Article 19 ( an international organizatioin dealing with freedomm of te press and related issues) as what should guide the FOI laws(policy). PRINCIPLE 1. Maximum disclosure That the law should seek this as its underpinning philosophy. PRINCIPLE 2. Obligation to publish That there should be an obligation to publish and requests should be for non-crucial/ essential / bulky information. PRINCIPLE 3. Promotion of open government That the law should promote / recognise the importance of open government. PRINCIPLE 4. Limited scope of exceptions That the exceptions should be clear , precise and allowable in a democratic society/ i,e should not take away what the law seeks to grant. PRINCIPLE 5. Processes to facilitate access Clear processes for request should exist. PRINCIPLE 6. Costs These should be kept at a minimum for the public has already paid for the creation of the information through taxation. PRINCIPLE 7. Open meetings Other than informnation, there should bea promotion of open dialogue at decsion making level. PRINCIPLE 8. Disclosure takes precedence The tests that are to be applied by the commssioner and the appeal tribunal should seek disclosre unless the exceptions and the public interest demand otherwise. PRINCIPLE 9. Protection for whistleblowers That those who disclose information that is in the public interest, inspite of the exceptions should not be victimised/ should be protected. Lets go! Kihanya ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

4 3

SU: Kenyan Anti-Corruption Campaigner Accepts Canadian Fellowship: International Development Research Centre
by harry＠africanedevelopment.org 14 Feb '07

14 Feb '07

harryhare (harry(a)africanedevelopment.org) has sent you a site! "Kenyan Anti-Corruption Campaigner Accepts Canadian Fellowship" - Kenyan Anti-Corruption Campaigner Accepts Canadian Fellowship: International Development Research Centre http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-109139-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html You can see my other favorites here: http://harryhare.stumbleupon.com Thanks, harryhare --- StumbleUpon lets you discover great sites with a single click. Give it a try at: http://www.stumbleupon.com/start.php?friend=2292570&emailcode=yr92pmukdexch…

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Day 3: What Policies should inform the FOI?
by joseph kihanya 14 Feb '07

14 Feb '07

Dear All, We are really in need of views.....Any views. Kihanya ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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OFC meeting
by Rebecca Wanjiku 14 Feb '07

14 Feb '07

RE: FACE TO FACE DISCUSSION Pursuant to the successful online discussion on Optic Fibre Cable(s), KICTANET has organised a face to face meeting on February 23, 2007. The meeting will be a follow-up to the online discussion and meant to facilitate discussions on areas that may not have been well covered in the online forum. 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 Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication Dr. Bitange Ndemo will be present to answer any lingering questions or clarifications on the issues discussed. The meeting will be held at the Jacaranda Hotel, Westlands from 8.30 am to 2pm Please plan to attend because your opinion counts. Confirm attendance to Rebecca Wanjiku- rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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Re: [kictanet] Day 1: Why Freedom of Information (FOI) Act? AND Day 2: What are the current modalities for accessing data
by Rebecca Wanjiku 14 Feb '07

14 Feb '07

there are no laws guarding issues such as chief or police asking for your ID, they say they want to know if one is kenyan or not or if one is a wanted criminal or not... the closest we came to dealing with this as i can recall is the IPPG document which said one does not have to walk with the ID, it was however not made law and therefore no mechanism for enforcement. going to sheria house for info.....hmm that is debatable in regard to confidentiality, i think we have a right to est who owns what, but again this is subject to abuse, the case of logbook information given by times tower suffices, crooks were using the information provided to forge logbooks and sell non existent vehicles, so there need for information that can be supplied, maybe minimal information should be provided and like in the Google/Earthlink case, they should define what is minimal information....to make sure we all secure somehow.. about the speeches being posted on respective websites, that will reduce the amount of requests and make sure all ministries update their websites.... ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> To: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 6:22:19 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 1: Why Freedom of Information (FOI) Act? AND Day 2: What are the current modalities for accessing data This is slightly long contribution and I hope no information overload again... Q: When the police, Chief, etc ask for one's ID, does it expose the individual to tribal discrimination? Q: When one asks Sheria House for registered companies returns, does it breach corporate confidentiality (along the way "babyteleas") ? Q: Is one entitled to archived/historical data within 30 days, for example, the names of all chiefs that served, say, Makadara since independence? Q: Foreign entities operating in government offices, e.g. Maji House, Research Centres, etc must equally be subjected to disclose research information they are collecting.... - "National Interests" must be better defined to safeguard against past abuses. - All government speeches must be published at their respective ministries 'websites within 24 hrs - Companies must disclose personal information collected, the purposes and the uses made - otherwise discriminatory consumer profiling will defeat the spirit of this policy. -------- sorry in case below overloads------ A recent US example on consumer concerns regarding "Information Society, Users Profiling, Privacy and Individual Freedoms" ACLU slams final San Francisco Wi-Fi contract Civil liberties protection group claims the contract EarthLink and Google signed with the city fails to provide ample protection against data collection By Stephen Lawson, IDG News Service February 07, 2007 The ACLU has turned up the political heat on EarthLink and Google's plan for Wi-Fi in San Francisco, telling the city's Board of Supervisors that the proposed contract doesn't have enough privacy or free speech protections. The ACLU of Northern California said in a letter to the supervisors on Tuesday that both EarthLink's paid service and Google's free offering would fall short of most of the group's recommendations on collection and sharing of personal data and possible tracking of users. Among other things, there are no limits on what kind of information EarthLink can or will collect, and terms for the Google service call for requiring "minimal" information on login without defining "minimal," the letter said. In addition to privacy concerns, the group is worried that knowing information is being collected will cause users to limit what they say and do on the Internet. The city and EarthLink agreed on a contract last month, and EarthLink is confident the closely watched project will get off the ground with deployment of a proof-of-concept network starting in April, said company spokesman Jerry Grasso. But the proposal has been under fire since before the contract was completed, and some members of the board have said a municipally owned system would be better for the city. EarthLink negotiated the deal with the city and would build and operate the network, bringing Google in as a tenant providing the free, slower service. Some critics have warned that San Francisco could be giving a virtual monopoly on citywide Wi-Fi to private companies without ensuring user privacy or complete coverage. The ACLU said a municipal Wi-Fi network should let users opt in or out of any service that collects data on what they look at or search for on the Internet, or their e-mail messages. There are no provisions for that in the paid or free service terms, it said. EarthLink can only save location information for 60 days, but there's no limit to how long it can store personal protected information and no limit to how long Google can store any information, the ACLU said. Users of the EarthLink service can opt out of receiving marketing materials, but EarthLink has free reign to share personal information with partner companies that help it deliver or promote the service. Both service providers can hand over users' personal information for law enforcement or national security reasons without a warrant or notification of the user, though they would require "court-ordered documentation" before doing so. If information is sought for a civil suit, EarthLink or Google would have to tell the user first. EarthLink's Grasso declined to comment on the ACLU's letter, saying EarthLink has not seen it. Google and city representatives could not immediately be reached for comment. http://www.infoworld.com /article/07/02/07/Hnaclusfwifi _1.html?source=rss&url=http:/ /www.infoworld.com/article/07 /02/07/Hnaclusfwifi_1.html joseph kihanya <kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Dear all, These is a Summary of the two days posts. Day 1 That FOI should be framed as a right not a freedom. That FOI should seek to protect e-government/ promote accountability That if FOI is through e-government, should it not be at no cost? That FOI will allow for a flow of information thereby eliminating rumours. That the periods of access under the policy are too longi.e 15 and 30 days, the later being after appeal on refusal Day 2 That the current environment for access to information is dictated byb the Official Secrets Act which is understood in government service? that all information is secret.Case in point ICT policy. Thata policy on access( protection) to data held by the private sector is required. ************************* This has come from the two posts which is greatly appreciated by yours truly. The comments are few. The days are going by and it may be that extensions on these tow important themes would have to be extended to tomorrow with the addition of DAY 3's THEME. Does anyone have an idea as to how debate may be stimulated further.The Policy document understandably is not very sassy.....law most times is not...but there must be a way.... Anybody? Also ,Please somebody comment on the Bolivia story.....public interests group persons? Kihanya P.S.I will introduce theme for day 3 tomorrow. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/features_spam.html _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com Everyone is raving about the all-new 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/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html

2 1

Day 1: Why Freedom of Information (FOI) Act? AND Day 2: What are the current modalities for accessing data
by joseph kihanya 13 Feb '07

13 Feb '07

Dear all, These is a Summary of the two days posts. Day 1 That FOI should be framed as a right not a freedom. That FOI should seek to protect e-government/ promote accountability That if FOI is through e-government, should it not be at no cost? That FOI will allow for a flow of information thereby eliminating rumours. That the periods of access under the policy are too longi.e 15 and 30 days, the later being after appeal on refusal Day 2 That the current environment for access to information is dictated byb the Official Secrets Act which is understood in government service? that all information is secret.Case in point ICT policy. Thata policy on access( protection) to data held by the private sector is required. ************************* This has come from the two posts which is greatly appreciated by yours truly. The comments are few. The days are going by and it may be that extensions on these tow important themes would have to be extended to tomorrow with the addition of DAY 3's THEME. Does anyone have an idea as to how debate may be stimulated further.The Policy document understandably is not very sassy.....law most times is not...but there must be a way.... Anybody? Also ,Please somebody comment on the Bolivia story.....public interests group persons? Kihanya P.S.I will introduce theme for day 3 tomorrow. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/features_spam.html

2 1

Summarised THEMES- FOI POLICY DAY 1 AND 2
by joseph kihanya 13 Feb '07

13 Feb '07

Dear all, These are the revised thematic guides for the days courtesy of Walu( Thanks a lot guy!). Day 1 issues/ theme continues today( The background info is included again for ease of reference) and contributions on day 2 are welcome. Day 1: Why Freedom of Information (FOI) Act? Day 2: What are the current modalities for accessing data held by Data Handlers (Govt or Private Sector)? Day 3: What Policies should inform the FOI? Day 4: What Data should be exempted from the Act (access) & Why? Day 5: How would users update their data Day 6: Way Forward. ************************************************************************************************************************************ DAY ONE( 1) Background Info What is FOI? Freedom of information is a fundamental right that the United Nations in a resolution in 1946 declared to be the touchstone of all freedoms. It is generally a right of any individual to access information held by government. Is it a right? Why Access? Why freedom? There are many terms used in relation to this. Freedom of Information Right to Know Right of Access to information Right to information They are referring to the same thing and the important point is that they can be interchanged but require that one be selected for use in a particular jurisdiction for consistency. Which one should Kenya Use? The Moderator will use FOI in this first mail. How would FOI help in a country like Kenya? Arguments exist for and against FOI laws. Arguments for. I. It makes government more accountable. II. Increases public participation. III. Promotes human rights. IV. Allows for good decision making V. Protects privacy VI. Makes private companies more accountable. VII. Promotes health VIII. Strengthens the economy IX. Protects the environment What are the arguments against FOI? What are your views on the principles of FOI Laws? What do they mean essentially? Does the policy agree with these principles? PRINCIPLE 1. Maximum disclosure PRINCIPLE 2. Obligation to publish PRINCIPLE 3. Promotion of open government PRINCIPLE 4. Limited scope of exceptions PRINCIPLE 5. Processes to facilitate access PRINCIPLE 6. Costs PRINCIPLE 7. Open meetings PRINCIPLE 8. Disclosure takes precedence PRINCIPLE 9. Protection for whistleblowers What are / should be the Objectives FOI Legislation? Vision Does this capture the intent of the right/ freedom optimally? Mission Does this optimally capture the implementation/purpose of the right/ freedom? Introduction (Entrenching Openness?) Do the introductions in the following paragraphs reflect this? How should they read? Paragraphs 1.1- 3.2.3 My comments; This is policy and resultant Bill/ Act may be the most important thing to happen to our democracy since independence! I feel honoured to be part of this debate. ************************************************************************************************************** DAY TWO(2) What are your thoughts on the current modalities / Existing Framework for managing information held by public/ private organizations. Is is known? Does it serve a purpose? What purpose should it primarily serve? Should the dat be protected? Accessible? By whom? for what reason? How long should data be held? Lets go. Kihanya ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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Re: [kictanet] calling media
by joseph kihanya 13 Feb '07

13 Feb '07

Dear Becky, I hear you. The FOI is sometimes viewed as an elitist right That only journalists and scientists/researchers are to use it) However, consisder a situation today if you were not allowed to ask questions and get answers BY RIGHT ( as published by government in the daily papers in the last two weeks on the RVF in Kenya)? Remember the controversy on the spread of SARS.....in the Far East...was a lack of info not a key issue? This is how basic this right when enacted would entail..... proactive publication in the public interest. More views please. Kihanya ----- Original Message ---- From: Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com> To: kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 8:13:58 PM Subject: [kictanet] calling media the FOI bill affects the media sector more than any other, can the media practioners please fwd their contributions....... Kanja?????? it may be important to discuss these issues before going too far (read ICT debate and the whole question of cross ownership) the earlier we raise them, the better, somebodyyyy?????? Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ Finding fabulous fares is fun. Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kihanyajn%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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Re: [kictanet] FOI discussion
by Rebecca Wanjiku 13 Feb '07

13 Feb '07

please contribute if you have anything to say about the FOI bill coz even after the one week meetings and imputs to the ICT policy document, the media is opposed to sections of the draft bill that relate to cross ownership, we have all the time to discuss these things online before the meeting, i think thats one thing ICTs give us, to move from the more traditional insistence of face to face meetings, i believe the forum will be an opportunity to present to the PS what the media stakeholders will have discussed in form of a report, those present will have an opportunity to discuss from the floor and those who will not make it can make their presentations online.... ----- Original Message ---- From: Midafrica <media(a)midafricanet.co.ke> To: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 7:25:16 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] stakeholders workshop During the preparations/drafting of the ICT policy, there were several stakeholders workshops, with a major one week workshop held in Mombasa. After this major workshop a team later went to Mombasa again to draft and fine tune the ICT policy document, and incorporating suggestions,amendments and inputs from stakeholders. This was one of the most inclusive exercise, that I can recall. Micugu ----- Original Message ----- From: Rebecca Wanjiku To: media(a)midafricanet.co.ke Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 7:06 AM Subject: [kictanet] stakeholders workshop even with the stakeholders workshop, there is need for those online to identify issues for discussion, the one day forum may not give media stakehlders a chance to read the document that day, it will be assumed they have read. i think for the few media practioners online, they can identify such issues on behalf of others, thats what mainly happens in other discussions like the just concluded discussion on OFC, i hope we can discuss it before that day, regards ----- Original Message ---- From: "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> To: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 8:54:33 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] calling media For your information, there shall be a stakeholder meeting on February 20, 2007 at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies starting at 8am till 5 pm. You have to register before Feb 16 by at info(a)information.go.ke. Regards Bitange Ndemo. > I suggest a stakeholders' workshop to go through the document. Not all > stakeholders are online,and may not be in a position to participate in > this online discussion. > > Micugu > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Rebecca Wanjiku > To: media(a)midafricanet.co.ke > Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 8:13 PM > Subject: [kictanet] calling media > > > the FOI bill affects the media sector more than any other, > can the media practioners please fwd their contributions....... > Kanja?????? > it may be important to discuss these issues before going too far (read > ICT debate and the whole question of cross ownership) > the earlier we raise them, the better, > > somebodyyyy?????? > > > > Rebecca Wanjiku, > journalist, > p.o box 33515, > Nairobi.00600 > Kenya. > > Tel. 254 720 318 925 > > blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Finding fabulous fares is fun. > Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight > and hotel bargains. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/media%40midafricanet.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" > > _______________________________________________ > 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/bitange%40jambo.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" _______________________________________________ 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 Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast with theYahoo! Search weather shortcut. _______________________________________________ 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/media%40midafricanet.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 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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stakeholders workshop
by Rebecca Wanjiku 13 Feb '07

13 Feb '07

even with the stakeholders workshop, there is need for those online to identify issues for discussion, the one day forum may not give media stakehlders a chance to read the document that day, it will be assumed they have read. i think for the few media practioners online, they can identify such issues on behalf of others, thats what mainly happens in other discussions like the just concluded discussion on OFC, i hope we can discuss it before that day, regards ----- Original Message ---- From: "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> To: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 8:54:33 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] calling media For your information, there shall be a stakeholder meeting on February 20, 2007 at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies starting at 8am till 5 pm. You have to register before Feb 16 by at info(a)information.go.ke. Regards Bitange Ndemo. > I suggest a stakeholders' workshop to go through the document. Not all > stakeholders are online,and may not be in a position to participate in > this online discussion. > > Micugu > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Rebecca Wanjiku > To: media(a)midafricanet.co.ke > Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 8:13 PM > Subject: [kictanet] calling media > > > the FOI bill affects the media sector more than any other, > can the media practioners please fwd their contributions....... > Kanja?????? > it may be important to discuss these issues before going too far (read > ICT debate and the whole question of cross ownership) > the earlier we raise them, the better, > > somebodyyyy?????? > > > > Rebecca Wanjiku, > journalist, > p.o box 33515, > Nairobi.00600 > Kenya. > > Tel. 254 720 318 925 > > blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Finding fabulous fares is fun. > Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight > and hotel bargains. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/media%40midafricanet.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" > > _______________________________________________ > 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/bitange%40jambo.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" _______________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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Mobile Satellite Internet Solutions
by Alex Gakuru 13 Feb '07

13 Feb '07

Visit the link at the end to view pictures of the trucks... Press a button on the Magellan MSS and 3 to 7 minutes later your computer(s) will be browsing the Internet at high-speed. The Magellan MSS (Mobile Satellite System) is manufactured by Ground Control as a self-contained, automatic pointing, wireless hotspot, mobile satellite Internet system that requires little or no training to operate. Simply park your Vehicle/Truck/RV/Trailer, touch a button, and the dish will deploy and lock on signal automatically. As long as you have a view of the southern sky, you can connect 1 or all of your computers to the mobile network. Broadband download speeds average between 400 to 2000 Kbps and upload speed between 50 and 500 Kbps.... < http://www.groundcontrol.com/prod_ig2500_001.htm > Thanks /Alex --------------------------------- We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love (and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list.

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calling media
by Rebecca Wanjiku 12 Feb '07

12 Feb '07

the FOI bill affects the media sector more than any other, can the media practioners please fwd their contributions....... Kanja?????? it may be important to discuss these issues before going too far (read ICT debate and the whole question of cross ownership) the earlier we raise them, the better, somebodyyyy?????? Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html

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Re: [kictanet] OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE ALREADY LOADED WITH EMADDO
by charles nduati 12 Feb '07

12 Feb '07

Hi Sang, I thank you for congratulating us on the emaddo, I want to inform you all that being a research institution, by year end certain parts will be really manufactured in kenya. Above all, we already have school management software , library and e- learning open source softwares we can buddle together with maddo for schools. Just place your emaddo order with us and see Charles CHARLES N. NDUATI BUSINESS MANAGER JKUAT ENTERPRISES LTD JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY JUJA MAIN CAMPUS, THIKA P. O. BOX 79324-00200 NAIROBI, KENYA TEL: 254-067-52420 OR 254-067-52711 FAX: 254-067-52438 MOBILE:254-722728815 EMIAL:charlesnduati2002@yahoo.co.uk www.jkuat.ac.ke ----- Original Message ---- From: Mr. Barnabas Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> To: charlesnduati2002(a)yahoo.co.uk Sent: Thursday, 8 February, 2007 1:02:50 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] adopt a school Alex, I totally agree with you considering that only 35% of secondary schools do not have commercial power, the rest should be e-enabled. Approximately 10% of the Primary Schools do have electricity. Comprehensive Secondary Education ICT Strategy (Sub-set of National ICT Strategy for Education and Training Developed in 2005 under the Kenya Education Sector Support Programme - KESSP) can be developed through multi-stakeholder forum like the one Walu moderated on the OFC (critical for much wanted connectivity for education institutions). Regards B.K.S. ----- Original Message ----- From: Alex Gakuru To: bksang(a)education.go.ke Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 11:49 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] adopt a school I thank and really encourage everyone helping to make the Internet for Everyone a reality in Kenya. Collectively, it appears we may actually make National ICT policy target of all secondary to have access to the internet in 2 years and 10 months (by 2010). Nice job Walu, at least no keyboards or monitors got smashed:-) Alex "Mr. Barnabas Sang" <bksang(a)education.go.ke> wrote: Muthoni, Thanks for the highlights on FOSS/FLOSS, which the education sector have been following for the last three years. During the last one year, we have been evaluating and inquiring for proponents of FOSS/FLOSS to come forth with a concrete proposal that will ensure government get a solution that will provide the features and advantages you have highlighted (perhaps another call made here). By the way, for the 142 Schools to be equipped by March, all bidders are expected (mandatory feature) to have dual boot to both Open Source OS (Ubuntu or equivalent) and Windows OS. The challenge is that we are yet to see bidders with enough capacity to handle this kind of deployment in our schools. There is lots of potential on FOSS/FLOSS. Statistic in Europe and Asia indicate to us the direction education institutions are taking in order to ensure TCO and ROI on ICT in education investments are justified. I got a CD from your stand in the ongoing ICT for Development Expo which is quite informative (productwise). Missing though is the e-learning platforms like moodle, which could interest enterprises and institutions of higher learning. Otherwise, Thanks, will take note of your advice on issues you've touched. Kind regards Sang ----- Original Message ----- From: Dorcas Muthoni To: bksang(a)education.go.ke Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 8:35 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] adopt a school I believe that Free and Open Source Software (FOSS/FLOSS) can a play significant role on the software acquisition frontier, capacity building, security (no viruses) and CUTTING COSTS. We surely do not need discounts on software to make e-centers/ digital schools a reality. Muthoni On 2/7/07, Mr. Barnabas Sang <bksang(a)education.go.ke> wrote: Numbers are no longer an issue taking into consideration the current momentum of e-leaders in our amidst: Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centers - 29,500 Primary Schools - 19,890 Secondary Schools - 4,125 Tertiary - 3,200 ICT as an means.... The challenge is to increased access to Secondary Education which currently stand at 60% transition (i.e. percentage of class eight graduates to Secondary education). Big question then is, Does ICT provide answers to such an issue? Yes.... Thus need for prioritization of ICTs targeting Secondary Schools and Community Learning Centers to allow youth out of formal schooling to access Secondary Education. Research also indicates that PC presence in schools, especially in Primary, have some influence on grade performance (sciences and mathematics). Primary schools with ICT infrastructure can benefit from huge knowledge-base and variety of digital content (largely Universal) available. For digital villages and e-schools to succeed, the following have to be prioritized: Content: appropriate content which supplements or complement current curriculum. Thanks to Mr. Sammy Kirui (Telkom) for identifying this need in ICT for Development Expo speech. This is the number one case: Without appropriate content, ICT becomes a luxury and hence no school management committees can justify ICT in education investment. Will there be some significant change in school performance after investment? Can school retention of students (against dropouts or transfers) be sustained? Will the syllabi be better delivered than is the case now? Capacity building: yes digital content can be in place and infrastructure and all software we need to have envisaged e-institutions. Without training to manage the resources and utilized them, the investment will be run down within no time. Challenges of security (antivirus: experience we are observing in the NEPAD e-Schools), malfunctioning of hardware (physiological differences of our landscape - dust, heat, wind/ power access and physical security) and social threats of Internet introduced in our schools. Definitely, training is key. follow-up training is critical as well. ICT Integration: This is an activity that involves integration of ICT in each subject area, making ICT a media for instruction, tool for delivery and channel for information access. e.g. if you're a biology teacher, we expect you to take students to a computer lab twice a week to teach some topics which require animation for better comprehension. If one teaches Kiswahili, we expect some lesson in "Ngeli na sentensi..." to be done in the lab... using Swahili version of software... This is what will demystify ICT from being a preserve for tech teachers to being a tool for every teacher every student rather than for computer students. ICT Infrastructure access: the Numbers, yes, 30,000 Schools as indicated would require some resources. For an e-school to be effective, assuming two students will share a PC in our schools, a 45 Student stream class would use 25 PCs per lab. If the school is three streams, then you require a minimum of two labs. To have sharing of materials and resources done effectively and efficiently, a LAN is definitely required. National and Regional ICT Support Centers: to act as institutions where issues are resolved as they arise in our e-institutions. Could it be content? Repair? Training follow-up? Replacement etc. Support centre should provide some helpdesk services. Connectivity comes to add value to all interventions, especially when an e-institutions realize they have content that require others to access or they would require access to shared resources in some portal. In some cases, Internet might be supplementary to the above key points. Yes, we know Internet is a resource where the learner and info-seekers would benefit. It still lies with having content (appropriate content and security), capacity building (on sites, portals) and Sustainable connectivity options. Thanks to Kai and others who're sounding an alarm for provision of this treasured resource to our esteem education institutions (for Free!). With launch of various products by service providers in the recent past, it is expected that connectivity will be available in most parts of our country / continent! (CEO Safaricom and CEO Celtel -> ICT for Dev Expo quotes). I will be more observant to see demos of these products in a few e-institutions. Thanks to PS InfoCom and all of you working to make eMado (Madaraka) PC a reality. I hope we have other players thinking on content (especially for e-education/e-learning) for various target groups; that will indeed make the eMado attractive. Kind regards, B. K. Sang ICT Department Ministry of Education P O Box 30040-00100 Nairobi ----- Original Message ----- From: Alex Gakuru To: bksang(a)education.go.ke Cc: David Owino Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 5:51 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] adopt a school Whoaa... 30,000 Kenya schools? Gakuru Kai Wulff <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> wrote: Hello, we are willing to ADOPT the connectivity to all the schools for free! Kai ----- Original Message ----- From: Rebecca Wanjiku To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 15:09 Subject: [kictanet] adopt a school Adopting Schools It all started with "Adopt a light", an ambitious city lighting project. Now, Manu Chandaria, industrialist cum philanthropist wants to apply the same concept in ICTs. Speaking at the ICT for Development Expo opening ceremony on February 7, Chandaria challenged Kenyans to adopt schools and make sure they can access computers. "You can change the face of your village school. Just go there and donate a computer. You can change the face of Kenya," Chandaria said. He also disclosed that he will finance a digital training centre in Mariakani. The centre will be expected to act as a base to establish digital villages in coastal area. One digital village will cost approximately shs 140,000 (USD 2000). ends 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. _______________________________________________ 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/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com 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/bksang%40education.go.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/dmuthoni%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/bksang%40education.go.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/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com TV dinner still cooling? 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FOI--- how good is it??
by joseph kihanya 12 Feb '07

12 Feb '07

Dear Becky, Indeed you are right. The Right/ Freedom debate is one that rages in legal circles.We may not settle it here, unfortunately, save to say that a consensus should emerge on whether it should be stated / and implemented as a right( preferable- and in keeping with its basic tenet- than as a a freedoom.it really sometimes is just sematics as freedoms and rights are subject to exceptions-due to the cometiting nature of other rights/freedomse.g. right to expression versus right to reputation. Civil and political rights also get precedence in most jurisdictions over social and economic rights. Access clauses/ implementation AND Costs are issues too that indeed need to be tackled.See Day 3 / Principle 6 On a serious side of FOI see... http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foi/story/0,,1170196,00.html Any more views...?Anyone? Kihanya ----- Original Message ---- From: Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com> To: kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 1:16:45 PM Subject: [kictanet] FOI--- how good is it?? Kihanya, thanks for the background, some thoughts on some of the questions raised, Right to verses freedom I think it should be freedom of information because in legal terms, the two terms are different. Though am not a lawyer, I read about the positive rights (right to) and the negative rights (freedoms) Now, governments are quick to obey the negative rights as opposed to positive rights. For instance, we can all go and demonstrate about our freedom from torture or detention without trial and the government will easily heed to our demands, (I guess so) But what about other recognized rights like the right to water? Can the government be compelled to honour our right to water, i think the main objective of the FOI should be to protect e-government and accountability but the bill talks about charging a minimal fee to those accessing information, what will happen to those people out of town, it talks about photocopying and perusal charges, but what about provision of such information in electronic format, do we still pay?? and will it serve the overall objective?? Thats my take on it Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ Don't be flakey. Get Yahoo! Mail for Mobile and always stay connected to friends. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kihanyajn%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] DDOS attack on Root Servers
by Kagwe James 12 Feb '07

12 Feb '07

Just thought it's not wise to broadcast information about physical location for root servers. May trigger physically attacks. Just a thought......... Regards, James Kagwe -----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 Nick Wambugu Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 1:09 PM To: Kagwe James Subject: Re: [kictanet] DDOS attack on Root Servers Thanks Mich, the information is quite good as security is one of the major concern nowadays. Also to informs guys that we got these servers hosted at KIXP/TESPOK. Thanks, Nick. On Fri, 2007-02-09 at 10:50 +0300, Michuki Mwangi wrote: > FYI, > > Communiqué from RIPE about massive DDos attack again root servers that > happened on 6th Feb 2007: > > http://www.ripe.net/news/global-root-server.html > > In the press: > > http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INTERNET_ATTACKS?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=H… > > It is worth noting that Kenya is host to two Root Servers namely F-Root > and J-Root in addition to serving .COM,.NET and .KE Root zones locally. > In essence adding resilience to the local Internet infrastructure and > making it independent of the external disruptions. > > Best regards, > -- All what I can is what i can and do..... God give I strength.... _______________________________________________ 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

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FOI and journalists
by Rebecca Wanjiku 12 Feb '07

12 Feb '07

It may be presumed that the main object of the FOI was to improve accountability and flow of information as well as answer critics who have complained about govt red tape and lack of information from the govt. Govt spokesperson Alfred Mutua will also tout it as a remedy to those journalists peddling rumours and defending themselves by saying govt officials were not available for comment or could not release the information But a cursory glance at the bill will reveal that it does not make special exemptions for journalists who in many cases need this government information. For instance, the bill provides that requests for information shall be dealt with within 15 days and if 30 days lapse without any response, then it shall be deemed the info was denied. How many newspapers can wait for 15 days before publishing a story or verifying derived from investigative work?? Are there any journalists in the house???? Can you champion your cause??? Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.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

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Online Discussion on the Draft Freedom of Information Policy by INFOCOM - JANUARY 2007
by joseph kihanya 12 Feb '07

12 Feb '07

Dear all, I have been requested to moderate the discussion on the above policy document. I have drawn greatly from previous discussions and especially from the OFC provsioning one that ended last week. I trust I will be up to it as we all shall. The ground rules shall remain as those appertaining to the list discussions. Please submit all your views. A draft programme of the 5 day discussion is attached. The second attachment in relation to a case in point makes interesting reading.It is drawn from a course offered by Oxford University. Day one (1) begins hereunder. ************************************************************************************************************************ Draft Freedom of Information (FOI) Policy Review and thematic analysis. Day 1. Background Info What is FOI? Freedom of information is a fundamental right that the United Nations in a resolution in 1946 declared to be the touchstone of all freedoms. It is a right that is not to be found standing on its own under international law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 subsumes the right under the right of freedom of expression. Freedom of expression also inclused the right to receive and impart information. The International Covennant on Civil and Political Rights also subsumes the right under the right to freedom of expression. The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights recognises the right as free standing. Kenya is party to all three (3) of the sited international law documents. The Kenyan Constitution at section 79 also subsumes the right under the right to free expression. The rejected draft Constitution for the first time recognised the right as free standing and would have required that FOI law be passed within six (6)months of the adoption/coming into force of the new constitution. Only THREE (3) countries in Africa have an FOI legislation. South Africa, Uganda and Angola. Nigeria or Kenya may become the FOURTH allowing success of pending parliamentary procedures. African and Commonwealth governments have collectively and separately agreed on principles of FOI laws.See www.humanrightsinitiative.org It is generally a right of any individual to access information held by government. Is it a right? Why Access? Why freedom? There are many terms used in relation to this. Freedom of Information Right to Know Right of Access to information Right to information They are referring to the same thing and the important point is that they can be interchanged but require that one be selected for use in a particular jurisdiction for consistency. Which one should Kenya Use? The Moderator will use FOI in this first mail. How would FOI help in a country like Kenya? Arguments exist for and against FOI laws. Arguments for. I. It makes government more accountable. II. Increases public participation. III. Promotes human rights. IV. Allows for good decision making V. Protects privacy VI. Makes private companies more accountable. VII. Promotes health VIII. Strengthens the economy IX. Protects the environment What are the arguments against FOI? A case in point ? (To be provided by moderator - see attachment) Useful websites on FOI? www.unhcr.ch www.humanrightsinitiative.org www.foiadvocates.net www.freedominfo.org www.cfoi.org.uk What are the principles of FOI Laws? What do they mean essentially? Who has agreed to these principles? Should Kenya agree to these principles? Does the policy agree with these principles? Contributions based on these headings are welcome. PRINCIPLE 1. Maximum disclosure PRINCIPLE 2. Obligation to publish PRINCIPLE 3. Promotion of open government PRINCIPLE 4. Limited scope of exceptions PRINCIPLE 5. Processes to facilitate access PRINCIPLE 6. Costs PRINCIPLE 7. Open meetings PRINCIPLE 8. Disclosure takes precedence PRINCIPLE 9. Protection for whistleblowers What are / should be the Objectives FOI Legislation? Vision Does this capture the intent of the right/ freedom optimally? Mission Does this optimally capture the implementation/purpose of the right/ freedom? Introduction (Entrenching Openness?) Do the introductions in the following paragraphs reflect this? How should they read? Paragraphs 1.1 1.2. 1.3 1.4. 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 3.1.1 3.1.2 3.2.1 3.2.2 3.2.3. ********************************************************************************************************************** LETS GO! Joseph Kihanya ____________________________________________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] Idlelo2 Digest, Vol 13, Issue 7
by Judy Okite 10 Feb '07

10 Feb '07

Prof. Derek, I do share in your grief!! Bottom line,we cannot afford to despise our "humble begginings"(M$)but that does not mean that we remain there? is it about the money? or the software ? if M$ can afford to pay guys to make noise,then we can change that to reality with action......You get all this with FOSS: the firewalls-free, Webservers-free, databases-free, Openoffice-free, so much FREE and it is more secure operating system not that it is just free and yet,For those who need support,then they can buy Foss Enterprise softwares (much cheaper)and get the support......besides why buy a clone worth Ksh 21,000 and and a licence worth the same amount.....how does this work for a common mwananchi? How do I afford all this? at this rate we will NEVER be able to fight PIRACY. For all the kenyan FOSS user's we may have to setup a forum and air out our experiences and state why guys need to see this REALITY!! and stop using FOSS under the table..................e.g for the locally assembled systems' plse let's insist on Dual boot(M$ & Linux),It could be a start........... A request to the PS : Before the government of Kenya,makes any decision on software's,can both sides of the coin be given an opportunity?? I am not shunning M$,its just that I cannot afford it,I cannot customise it.....etc Kind Regards, On 2/8/07, idlelo2-request(a)fossfa.net <idlelo2-request(a)fossfa.net> wrote: > > Send Idlelo2 mailing list submissions to > idlelo2(a)fossfa.net > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://mailman.dst.gov.za/mailman/listinfo/idlelo2 > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > idlelo2-request(a)fossfa.net > > You can reach the person managing the list at > idlelo2-owner(a)fossfa.net > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Idlelo2 digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about negotiating for > cheaper development tools (John Walubengo) > 2. Re: Permanent Secretary of Kenya speaks about negotiating > forcheaper development tools (PROF. HENRY M. THAIRU) > 3. Re: Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about negotiating for > cheaper development tools (Jonah Munyua) > 4. Re: Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about negotiating for > cheaper development tools (Dorcas Muthoni) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 01:59:30 -0800 (PST) > From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Idlelo2] Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about > negotiating for cheaper development tools > To: dkeats(a)uwc.ac.za, Idlelo <idlelo2(a)fossfa.net> > Message-ID: <442956.64301.qm(a)web56604.mail.re3.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Derek, > > my take on this is two-fold: > 1. FOSS does lack the might(economic, political, marketing, > etc) to demonstrate its huge benefit. > 2. FOSS need not mean 'NOT MICROSOFT'. > > I wish to further comment on point 2. in that the current > realities in KE and most of the world really is that the > desk-top is largely M$ and we shouldn't really mourn too > much about that - after all, it does pay the bills for a > large number Kenyans who have created careers around M$. > > A preferred strategy to deal with the omni-present M$ would > be one whereby we are co-existing but with a long-term view > to become omni-present. And this brings us back to FOSS > limitations - point 1 above- we just don't have the dollar > might to pull it off. > > Currently, a lot is happening in .KE regarding ICTs. And > in most cases, including this morning's Grand Opening > Ceremony of the ICT Expo at Kenyatta Int. Conf. Center, M$ > sits on th e high-table. Why? because we in FOSS seem to > lack the might and probably the incentives to pull strings > at high-levels...M$ has the budget to do it. FOSS doesn't > and at the end of the day, it is all about $$. > > Using this might M$ is set to burn their costly OS on every > PC that the Kenya Govt is set to assemble for Computers in > Kenyan schools. Where's Open-source in this long-term > game-plan? I did hint to the Project Manager's about OS on > these computers, but hey, you need more than hints, you > need a sustained, almost full-time job of pushing the > idea/agenda. I believe M$ has a clear budget to pay their > people to sing their tune, on a sustainable basis. We > don't. > > Finally, I would repeat: I prefer FOSS, but if M$ comes > along I can use it as well. At least upto and when FOSS > does wake up in a sustained, coherent way. And I think the > PS Min of Info has to work with what is visible, sustained > and available. M$ in .KE is simply being more visible than > FOSS and we have had to work with it in a co-existent sort > of a way... > > walu. > > --- Derek Keats <dkeats(a)uwc.ac.za> wrote: > > > > > I am writing this from the 1st International Conference > > in Computer > > Science and Informatics (COSCIT 2007), in Nairobi Kenya. > > In the opening > > session, Dr. B. Ndemo, Permanant Secretary in the Kenyan > > Ministry of > > Information & Communication, gave a speech about ICT in > > Kenya. He spent > > quite a bit of time talking about negotiating a deal with > > Microsoft to > > make their software cheaper for Kenyans, including > > developer tools so > > that Kenyans could become software developers. The local > > Microsoft > > representative was in the audience, naturally. Members of > > the Microsoft > > "technical officer" team follow politicians and policy > > makers around > > like flies follow sick dogs. She left when the Permanant > > Secretary left. > > Apparently, a meeting of many of the computer scientists > > in Kenya was > > not important enough for her; certainly not as important > > as being > > visible to the Permanant Secretary. > > > > When the Permanant Secretary made this pronouncement > > about these > > negotiations, completely ignoring all that is happening > > in Kenya with > > respect to FOSS, I was shocked and saddened. I wanted to > > ask why waste > > time removing impediments to creating Kenyan software > > developers, when > > with FOSS we can start immediately. There is nothing to > > negotiate, the > > tools are as good or better than the tools for Windows, > > and there are no > > barriers to innovation. Java, C, C++, C# Python, .NET, > > PHP, BASIC, and > > most other environments are available on GNU/Linux. Why > > do Kenyans need > > to waste their money getting permission from Microsoft to > > use these > > languages for training software developers? This mystery > > that is only > > explainable by the constant lobbying pressure from the > > "technical > > officers" and their like. There is absolutely no rational > > basis for it. > > > > The minister is implicitly saying that it is right for > > Kenya to pay > > money to Microsoft and create a long-term dependence on > > them, thus using > > the Kenyan taxpayer's money to create development > > opportunities in > > Redmond Washington, an area of the world that really > > needs dollars from > > Kenya. It is clear that Dr. Ndemo does not understand > > that innovation > > happens faster when barriers are as few as they can > > reasonably be. With > > Free Software, this is the case. With propriteary tools, > > barriers have > > to be negotiated, and this limits and inhibits > > innovation. > > > > I wanted to show the Permanant Secretary my Ubuntu > > desktop, equipped > > with Free Software development tools for which I need > > neither permission > > nor to pay license fees to use, and which I can use > > immediately, no > > negotiation required. The Permanant Secretary clearly > > just doesn't get > > it. Unfortunately, the session did not have a question > > peroid, and he > > left along with the Microsoft lap dog (er, I mean > > representative) before > > I could use my own keynote space to show him what Free > > Software can do. > > > > So Kenyans active in FOSS, you have a responsibility, > > this man is in > > need of some educating. Please make an appointment, go > > see him. Show him > > what you are accomplishing with software Freedom. We need > > to find a way > > to balance the lobbying power of Microsoft, so that truth > > and logic have > > a reasonable chance of prevailing. > > > > cheers > > Derek > > > > > All Email originating from UWC is covered by disclaimer > > > http://www.uwc.ac.za/portal/uwc2006/content/mail_disclaimer/index.htm > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Idlelo2 mailing list > > Idlelo2(a)fossfa.net > > http://mailman.dst.gov.za/mailman/listinfo/idlelo2 > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. > http://new.mail.yahoo.com > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 19:00:16 +0300 > From: "PROF. HENRY M. THAIRU" <hmthairu(a)wananchi.com> > Subject: Re: [Idlelo2] Permanent Secretary of Kenya speaks about > negotiating forcheaper development tools > To: <dkeats(a)uwc.ac.za>, "'Idlelo'" <idlelo2(a)fossfa.net> > Message-ID: <003201c74ad1$223b9960$0600010a@prof> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1250" > > Dear Derek. > It is good to hear your very clear voice again. We are impressing on the > PS > on the importance of FOSS. Nobody needs permission to use these tools. > Thank > you for this letter. > Henry Thairu > > -----Original Message----- > From: idlelo2-bounces+hmthairu=wananchi.com(a)fossfa.net > [mailto:idlelo2-bounces+hmthairu=wananchi.com@fossfa.net] On Behalf Of > Derek > Keats > Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 9:44 AM > To: Idlelo > Subject: [Idlelo2] Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about negotiating > forcheaper development tools > > > I am writing this from the 1st International Conference in Computer > Science and Informatics (COSCIT 2007), in Nairobi Kenya. In the opening > session, Dr. B. Ndemo, Permanant Secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of > Information & Communication, gave a speech about ICT in Kenya. He spent > quite a bit of time talking about negotiating a deal with Microsoft to > make their software cheaper for Kenyans, including developer tools so > that Kenyans could become software developers. The local Microsoft > representative was in the audience, naturally. Members of the Microsoft > "technical officer" team follow politicians and policy makers around > like flies follow sick dogs. She left when the Permanant Secretary left. > Apparently, a meeting of many of the computer scientists in Kenya was > not important enough for her; certainly not as important as being > visible to the Permanant Secretary. > > When the Permanant Secretary made this pronouncement about these > negotiations, completely ignoring all that is happening in Kenya with > respect to FOSS, I was shocked and saddened. I wanted to ask why waste > time removing impediments to creating Kenyan software developers, when > with FOSS we can start immediately. There is nothing to negotiate, the > tools are as good or better than the tools for Windows, and there are no > barriers to innovation. Java, C, C++, C# Python, .NET, PHP, BASIC, and > most other environments are available on GNU/Linux. Why do Kenyans need > to waste their money getting permission from Microsoft to use these > languages for training software developers? This mystery that is only > explainable by the constant lobbying pressure from the "technical > officers" and their like. There is absolutely no rational basis for it. > > The minister is implicitly saying that it is right for Kenya to pay > money to Microsoft and create a long-term dependence on them, thus using > the Kenyan taxpayer's money to create development opportunities in > Redmond Washington, an area of the world that really needs dollars from > Kenya. It is clear that Dr. Ndemo does not understand that innovation > happens faster when barriers are as few as they can reasonably be. With > Free Software, this is the case. With propriteary tools, barriers have > to be negotiated, and this limits and inhibits innovation. > > I wanted to show the Permanant Secretary my Ubuntu desktop, equipped > with Free Software development tools for which I need neither permission > nor to pay license fees to use, and which I can use immediately, no > negotiation required. The Permanant Secretary clearly just doesn't get > it. Unfortunately, the session did not have a question peroid, and he > left along with the Microsoft lap dog (er, I mean representative) before > I could use my own keynote space to show him what Free Software can do. > > So Kenyans active in FOSS, you have a responsibility, this man is in > need of some educating. Please make an appointment, go see him. Show him > what you are accomplishing with software Freedom. We need to find a way > to balance the lobbying power of Microsoft, so that truth and logic have > a reasonable chance of prevailing. > > cheers > Derek > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.29/673 - Release Date: 2/6/2007 > 5:52 PM > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.29/673 - Release Date: 2/6/2007 > 5:52 PM > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 08:30:59 -0800 (PST) > From: Jonah Munyua <jonah_bits(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Idlelo2] Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about > negotiating for cheaper development tools > To: idlelo2(a)fossfa.net > Message-ID: <946250.46064.qm(a)web35301.mail.mud.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Derek, > > I am saddened by the Permanent Secretary's proclamation. It is evident > that Microsoft has been stalking and hijacking all ICT events in Kenya. To > them what matters is not what the stakeholders have to say rather what the > government says and thats why the representative left as soon as the PS made > his speech. > > Being a software developer using FOSS i understand the revolution that it > can bring to this country and the developing world at large. Microsoft > Products require expensive PC's to run them. I thus see no logic in trying > to get Microsoft to lower the cost of their Softwares as there will still be > the inhibiting cost of acquiring the PC's. > > It is unfortunate that even the local universities are not taking FOSS > with the seriousness it requires. Computer literacy courses in Kenya are > geared towards Microsoft products and thus the current scenario where very > few users know that they can use FOSS to achieve what they can on MS > products. > > The government is putting unnecessary effort and collaboration with MS to > fight piracy of MS products. To me these efforts should be geared towards > the promotion of FOSS. > > I wish that these sentiments from the PS will serve as a calling to all > FOSS users and advocates in Kenya to intensify the campaign for FOSS in > Kenya. > > Regards > > > --------------------------------- > Finding fabulous fares is fun. > Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and > hotel bargains. >

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adopt a school
by Rebecca Wanjiku 10 Feb '07

10 Feb '07

Adopting Schools It all started with Adopt a light, an ambitious city lighting project. Now, Manu Chandaria, industrialist cum philanthropist wants to apply the same concept in ICTs. Speaking at the ICT for Development Expo opening ceremony on February 7, Chandaria challenged Kenyans to adopt schools and make sure they can access computers. You can change the face of your village school. Just go there and donate a computer. You can change the face of Kenya, Chandaria said. He also disclosed that he will finance a digital training centre in Mariakani. The centre will be expected to act as a base to establish digital villages in coastal area. One digital village will cost approximately shs 140,000 (USD 2000). ends 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.

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Re: [kictanet] DDOS attack on Root Servers
by Michuki Mwangi 09 Feb '07

09 Feb '07

FYI, Communiqué from RIPE about massive DDos attack again root servers that happened on 6th Feb 2007: http://www.ripe.net/news/global-root-server.html In the press: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INTERNET_ATTACKS?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=H… It is worth noting that Kenya is host to two Root Servers namely F-Root and J-Root in addition to serving .COM,.NET and .KE Root zones locally. In essence adding resilience to the local Internet infrastructure and making it independent of the external disruptions. Best regards, -- Michuki Mwangi KENIC

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African Lakes - Kenyan Investors and Entrepreneurs are gettign screwed by Telkom South Africa and the self seeking Board of African Lakes's Chairman - David Montgomery
by alice＠apc.org 09 Feb '07

09 Feb '07

(Apologies for cross posting) From: Richard Bell <Richard(a)Bell.co.ke> Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2007 20:01:31 +0300 To: <mucheru(a)wananchi.com> Subject: FW: African Lakes - Kenyan Investors and Entrepreneurs are gettign screwed by Telkom South Africa and the self seeking Board of African Lakes's Chairman - David Montgomery You can send it to anyone else as well. We need as much publicity as we can get. First prize would be a statement from some government department indicating that they don't want South African firms simply marching into Kenya. Could Ndemo help? R -------------------------------------- Subject: African Lakes - Kenyan Investors and Entrepreneurs are getting screwed by Telkom South Africa and the self seeking Board of African Lakes's Chairman - David Montgomery Long time. Anyway we're in the process of getting screwed by Telkom South Africa and the Board of African Lakes. I'm attaching copies of the latest two announcements that went out (the juicy bits are in yellow). I'm also attaching a file that contains an exchange of emails that shows just how unreasonable the company are being (although this on can't be released verbatim since its supposed to be confidential). > http://www.londonstockexchange.co.uk/LSECWS/IFSPages/MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id > 1402054&source=RNS > > http://www.londonstockexchange.co.uk/LSECWS/IFSPages/MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id > 1402307&source=RNS > > Basically we are getting screwed and the only way that we can win now is > to > create sufficient bad publicity for Telkom South Africa that is scares > them > off. > > There follows some more background showing what Telkom South Africa have > been up to in other markets. "Does Kenya really want this thousand pound > bully boy taking over Kenya's Internet Industry?" > > Any chance you can get a piece into next week's East African. I am on > Email, can be called on +254 733 617 186 and up till tomorrow on my UK > Mobile + 44 7772 251 772. am ready to go on the record and am happy to be > quoted. > > Kind Regards, > Richard Bell > > PS. If you are in any doubts about whether the African Lakes' Chairman > David Montgomery is a shyster, just put in a call to Private Eye in > London. > They'll give you chapter and verse > > ======================================= > http://www.tag.org.za/tagad.jpg > > ============================== > http://whenrealitybites.blogspot.com/2007/01/telkom-faces-r2bn-bill-after-la > wsuit.html > > ================================== > > Telkom faces R2bn bill after lawsuit > > November 23, 2006By Thabiso Mochiko Johannesburg > > Telkom faces more than R2 billion in damages and legal fees after it lost > a > five-year legal battle against US-based computer software supplier > Telcordia. Telkom's costs, which have been estimated by Telcordia at > between > R2 billion and R2.5 billion, represent more than 20 percent of this > financial year's annual profit of R9.3 billion. > > > Telkom's shares dropped 3.7 percent to close at R130 yesterday. The Top 40 > index gained 0.38 percent. Telcordia's lawyer, Lennard Cowan, said > yesterday > that the two companies would now start negotiating the settlement, which > would amount to about R2.5 billion, including legal costs. He said the > negotiations were unlikely to be finalised before the end of December. > > > The group executive for legal services, Anton Klopper, said Telkom was > studying the judgment and evaluating "options regarding the protection of > its rights". "The consequence of the judgment is, among other things, that > the parties will return to and continue with the arbitration proceedings > as > they were prior to Telkom's review application to the high court," said > Klopper. He said the arbitrator had made an interim award that only > addressed certain aspects of the case. This had been effectively upheld by > the judgment of the supreme court of appeal. > > > The remainder of the matter would be dealt with at the upcoming > arbitration > proceedings. Two years ago Telkom estimated its contingent liabilities > from > the Telcordia matter to be $47 million (R340 million at yesterday's > exchange > rate). Telkom said in this year's annual report that in the 2001 financial > year, it had written off R119 million of this investment. It incurred > expenditure of R594 million up to March 2002. > > > Cowan said it was not clear whether Telcordia would set up shop again in > South Africa as it had opened a local office specifically for the Telkom > contract. The appeal court's judgment upheld a 2002 decision by an > international arbitrator, but overturned a 2003 judgment by the Pretoria > high court. The battle started five years ago when Telkom cancelled a > contract with Telcordia, claiming that the state-of-the-art software > applications ordered had not been delivered. > > > Telcordia then lodged a case with an international arbitrator, claiming > $130 > million plus interest at a rate of 15.5 percent a year for money > outstanding > and damages. Telkom reacted by making counterclaims against Telcordia > worth > about $331 million, including for a refund of money already paid to the US > company. The appeal court did not uphold this claim. Telcordia received a > partial ruling in September 2002 from an international arbitrator chosen > by > the two companies. The arbitrator accepted Telcordia's interpretation of > the > contract. But Telkom refused to accept this and applied to the Pretoria > high > court to review the judgment and set aside the partial award. In 2003 the > court ruled in favour of Telkom. But Telcordia then took the matter to the > appeal court, which said the high court had dealt with the matter as an > appeal and not a review, and therefore upheld the international court > award. > This meant Telcordia could recover damages from Telkom because it had > breached the agreement. > > > In this year's annual report, Telkom claimed that it had been approached > by > Telcordia's representatives to consider certain settlement proposals. - > With > additional reporting by Sapa > > > ========================================= > Press > > Telkom has also attracted attention for improperly conducting itself in > contract dispute with Telcordia resulting in a decision from the Supreme > Court of Appeal against its favour in which the Judge described Telkoms > legal team as conducting "verbal manipulation". [3] > > On the 19th January 2007, a full page advertisement was taken out in The > Mail and Guardian, a national South African newspaper. Money for the ad > was > donated by dissatisfied South African individuals and businesses. The page > is used as a public outcry, detailing some of the things Telkom has done > in > hopes of bringing more attention to the current situation in South > Africa's > telecoms industry. The effort was organised by the Telecoms Action Group, > TAG > > ------ End of Forwarded Message > >

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events and conferences
by Rebecca Wanjiku 08 Feb '07

08 Feb '07

if you have any events left out, please fwd to me, Conferences and events International Outsourcing Conference 28 February - 02 March 2007 Country: Nigeria City: Abuja ICANN meeting, Lisbon, Portugal, March 25-29, 2007 AITEC Uganda Exhibition & Conference 18-20 April 2007 Country: Uganda City: Kampala The African CDMA Forum 23-25 April 2007 Country: South Africa City: Johannesburg AITEC Kenya Exhibition & Conference 08-10 May 2007 Country: Kenya City: Nairobi East African Contact Centre Showcase 24-25 May 2007 Country: Kenya City: Nairobi AITEC Ghana Exhibition & Conference 20-22 June 2007 Country: Ghana City: Accra ICANN Meeting June 26-30, 2007 San Juan, Puerto Rico The African VoIP Forum, East Africa 26-28 June 2007 Country: Kenya City: Nairobi African BPO & Contact Centre Conference, Kenya 24-26 July 2007 Country: Kenya City: Nairobi AITEC Tanzania Exhibition & Conference 08-09 August 2007 Country: Tanzania City: Dar Es Salaam African VoIP Forum, West Africa 22-24 August 2007 Country: Nigeria City: Lagos ACT 8: The African Computing & Telecommunications Summit 04-07 September 2007 Country: South Africa City: Cape Town The African BPO & Contact Centre Conference, Mauritius 26-28 September 2007 Country: Mauritius City: The African Banking Technology Conference 17-19 October 2007 Country: Nigeria City: Lagos The African Satellite & Wireless Broadband Conference, East Africa - 2007 23-25 October 2007 Country: Kenya City: Nairobi The African Satellite & Wireless Broadband Conference, West Africa - 2007 12-14 November 2007 Country: Nigeria City: Lagos The Africa-Europe ICT Summit 16-20 July 2008 Country: United Kingdom City: London Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.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

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10 of 10: Reconciling Stakeholder Interests
by Eric Osiakwan 08 Feb '07

08 Feb '07

This sounds like a modern day sermon...... If we cant realise this then we loose the opportunity to leverage the last frontier in Societal strength which is the multi-stakeholder power. Eric here ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: <alice(a)apc.org> Reply-To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2007 09:09:30 +0300 >Sounds like utopia but realisable. In this day and age, no one sector can >deliver the complexities of sustainable development alone. Therefore, >partnerships between government, businesses, civil society and media (what >is referred to as multi stakeholder partnerships) have become a growing >feature world wide. Additionally, the interactions of ICTS with development >and poverty reduction goals are so complex that a range of resources and >competencies need to be brought together to create solutions to specific >challenges. One of the reasons that the UN WSIS process adopted multi >stakeholder process and now others like the ITU are following. >Kenya ICt Action network is based on this philosophy and one of the lessons >we have learnt is that diversity is a reality and it is important to >understand different values, encourage dialogue and integrate views into >joint solutions. And I believe that with the amount of discussions, e-mail >reading, listening, etc we are all in a position to understand and reconcile >our various interests to shape/build consensus. > > >alice > > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Michael Joseph" <MJoseph(a)Safaricom.co.ke> >To: <alice(a)apc.org> >Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 7:25 AM >Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 10 of 10: Reconciling Stakeholder Interests > > >>I think you have done a good job in summing up the objectives of the >> various participants and stakeholders. I think all the objectives can >> and should be met if all parties understood each other's key objectives >> and operating environments (including an understanding of the costs to >> achieve them). I think we have progressed a great deal in the last 4 >> years with operators, the regulator and the Government beginning to >> understand and appreciate each other roles. >> >> To improve matters, more honest dialog with each other in an environment >> where no one is superior to the other, where the "big whips" are packed >> away, and hopefully a new framework in terms of the new ICT bill where >> the roles and expectations of each stakeholder is clearly spelt out. >> >> Sounds like Utopia but that that's my opinion. >> >> Regards, >> >> Michael >> >> CEO >> Safaricom Limited >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On >> Behalf Of John Walubengo >> Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 7:03 PM >> To: Michael Joseph >> Subject: [kictanet] Day 10 of 10: Reconciling Stakeholder Interests >> >> <<<I must stay that the previous theme 'Projected Impact of >> OFC on Stakeholders' has been quite turbulent. We did >> recieve about 20 postings on this theme(during 4 calender >> days) and it has been a challenge trying to sieve through >> them in order to create a brief and reasonable account of >> the issues, proposals and predictions. In the interest of >> moving forward, I would wish to introduce the next theme >> and but will provide the summary of issues in the final >> report.>>>. >> >> In general, the Operators have an obligation to maximize >> profit for their shareholders by virtue of having taken a >> risk and committed funds into a particular line of business >> (OFC included). The Consumer on the other hand will always >> want services at the lowest cost possible (including free >> services). The Regulator is mandated - in part - to >> provide a level playing field for the Operators and a >> protection mechanism for Consumers. Finally, the >> Government's main role would be to improve the livelihoods >> of its citizens e.g. providing essential services, >> conducive policy, legislative and regulatory environment >> for all the stakeholders. >> >> Indeed, the above brings out the automatic tensions that >> come to play because each stakeholder wants to pursue their >> interests which in most cases would be in conflict. E.g. >> Private sector would naturally follow the lowest path to >> profit e.g. charge highly, concentrate in high-income zones >> and recoup their investments in the shortest time possible. >> Nothing illegal with that, but if the Government >> intervention is lacking in such a situtation, then certain >> parts of society (citizenry) would be excluded from >> accessing some of the (essential) services provided by the >> Businesses. On the other hand, forcing Business to provide >> these services to low income communities, or forcing them >> to under-price without compensatory schemes (incentives) >> would be the quickest way to run down the business (denying >> Govts Tax Revenues). >> >>>From the previous theme, it was evident that the current >> status and relationships, particularly between Consumers >> and Operators is not too healthy. Similarly, the existing >> relationship between Govt and the Regulator came into >> question and various models and frameworks for improving on >> these was proposed. Infact, if all things remain constant >> and the OFC was delivered tomorrow, I suspect that the >> tensions between the stakeholders may go a notch higher, >> possibly compouded by intense Operator(with OFC access) vs >> Operator(without OFC access) wars. >> >> How then can these wars be pre-empted? What are the top >> three things, each Stakeholder (Operators, Regulators, >> Consumers and Govt) should do in order to provide a win-win >> situation for everybody in the new OFC dispensation? Two >> days on this conclusive phase...start talking along this >> theme keeping in mind some Netiquette as recommended by the >> list administrator. >> >> walu. >> >> >> >> >> ________________________________________________________________________ >> ____________ >> Never Miss an Email >> Stay connected with Yahoo! Mail on your mobile. Get started! >> http://mobile.yahoo.com/services?promote=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/mjoseph%40safaricom.co.ke >> The information in this email and any attachments is confidential and may >> be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the named >> addressee. >> Emails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be >> guaranteed. Safaricom Limited does not accept legal responsibility for the >> contents of this email if the same is found to have been altered or >> manipulated. >> The contents and opinions expressed in this email are solely those of the >> author and do not necessarily represent those of Safaricom Limited. >> Safaricom Limited disclaims any liability to the fullest extent >> permissible by law for any consequences that may arise from the contents >> of this email including but not limited to personal opinions, malicious >> and/or defamatory information and data/codes that may compromise or damage >> the integrity of the recipient's information technology systems. >> If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and >> immediately delete this email from your system. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > > >_______________________________________________ >kictanet mailing list >kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/ kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org > -- Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" --

5 5

Fwd: Kenya Telecentre Network Workshop
by chelimo kenneth 08 Feb '07

08 Feb '07

Note: forwarded message attached. --------------------------------- Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A.

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Fwd: Gorbachev wades into piracy row
by Alex Gakuru 07 Feb '07

07 Feb '07

"Glasnost" open source community. If you anybody would like to have free Ubuntu Desktop installed, see link below http://www.billowsbpo.co.ke/ubuntu.html. Linux has never been this simple and so safe, and it is all free. (so no advertising here) Ubuntu - "Linux for Human Beings" Asante Bw. PS for the freedom of information, I foresee its my uses Gakuru Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: [BBC Online] Gorbachev wades into piracy row Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has urged Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to intercede in a computer piracy case against a Russian headteacher. The plea came in an open letter published on Mr Gorbachev's website. Microsoft representatives in Russia brought the case against Alexander Ponosov, accused of running pirated software on school computers. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also criticised the prosecution of Mr Ponosov, in Perm, east of Moscow. Mr Gorbachev's letter, on the website run by his charitable foundation, said "many people in Russia regard this scandalous case as trumped-up, launched on the initiative of Microsoft corporation to set a precedent". 'Show mercy' "We have great respect for the work of Microsoft's programmers... and are in no way casting doubt on the principle of punishment for intellectual property violations. "However, in this case we ask you to show mercy and withdraw your complaint against Alexander Ponosov," the letter read. Mr Gorbachev said that under Russian criminal law the teacher could face "imprisonment in Siberian camps". The Perm region lies in the Ural Mountains, between Moscow and Siberia. Microsoft accuses the teacher of knowingly using pirated Windows software in the school and causing the company losses put at 266,000 roubles ($10,000; £5,000). Mr Ponosov says he is innocent, that the software had been pre-installed and he did not know it was unlicensed when he obtained the computers. At his news conference on 1 February, President Putin said investigators should "go after the distributors, not the users". "It's ridiculous to just arrest a chap for using computers," he said. < http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6332441.stm > rgds, Alex Gakuru --------------------------------- Cheap Talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity 1 New Members Visit Your Group SPONSORED LINKS Kenya safaris Kenya travel Kenya phone card Corporate culture Kenya tanzania safari Yahoo! HotJobs Find the right one Search for jobs across the web Yahoo! Mail Get on board You're invited to try the all-new Mail Beta. Yahoo! Groups Start a group in 3 easy steps. Connect with others. . __,_._,___ --------------------------------- Don't be flakey. Get Yahoo! Mail for Mobile and always stay connected to friends.

2 3

adopt a school
by Rebecca Wanjiku 07 Feb '07

07 Feb '07

Adopting schools It all started with Adopt a light, an ambitious city lighting project. Now, Manu Chandaria, industrialist cum philanthropist wants to apply the same concept in ICTs. Speaking at the ICT for Development opening ceremony, Chandaria challenged Kenyans to adopt schools and make sure they can access computers. You can change the face of your village school. Just go there and donate a computer. You can change the face of Kenya, Chandaria said. He also disclosed that he will finance a digital training centre in Mariakani. The centre will be expected to act as a base to establish digital villages in coastal area. One digital village will cost approximately shs 140,000 (USD 2000). 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

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yote yawezekana na ICTs
by Rebecca Wanjiku 07 Feb '07

07 Feb '07

Yote yawezekana na ICT. In 1982, Kenya was holding a major conference seeking to bridge the missing link in telephone connectivity. Twenty five years down the line, another major conference- seeking to bridge the digital divide between the rural and urban areas. The ongoing expo, dubbed ICTs for Development, is bringing together people from all sectors and is geared towards improving connectivity and business prospects in rural areas. Information and Communication minister Mutahi Kagwe presided over the opening ceremony and reiterated the governments commitment to improve connectivity and boost business prospects in both rural and urban areas. To underline the governments commitment, Kagwe pointed at the fast tracking of multiple Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) i.e. TEAMS, EASSy and FLAG. The minister promised to speed up implementation of the ICT policy though the draft bill is yet to be published in the Kenya Gazette. Regarding telephone connectivity, the ministry wants to raise the number of users from the current 7.5 m lines to 23 million and raise the number of internet users from the current 1.5 million to 5 million. He commended the print media for highlighting ICTs issues but argued that the media could even play a bigger role. The ministry is organizing an ICT road show that will visit all major towns in the country, and the 210 constituencies. While the minister was quick to challenge the private sector to demystify e-commerce to ordinary men and women, he forgot to mention lack of proper legislation would hamper e-commerce in the country. As the private sector explains about e-commerce as the vehicle to economic recovery, there is need to explain that the same government that is touting ICTs as the savior to our economy is the same government that is dragging its feet on legislation. Whether it is the Attorney Generals responsibility or the ministrys the public assumes they all sing from the same hymn book and they all appreciate the role of ICTs. Yes, yote yawezekana na ICTs! Ends 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.

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Fwd: [Idlelo2] Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about negotiating for cheaper development tools
by Bill Kagai 07 Feb '07

07 Feb '07

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Derek Keats <dkeats(a)uwc.ac.za> Date: Feb 7, 2007 9:44 AM Subject: [Idlelo2] Permanant Secretary of Kenya speaks about negotiating for cheaper development tools To: Idlelo <idlelo2(a)fossfa.net> I am writing this from the 1st International Conference in Computer Science and Informatics (COSCIT 2007), in Nairobi Kenya. In the opening session, Dr. B. Ndemo, Permanant Secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Information & Communication, gave a speech about ICT in Kenya. He spent quite a bit of time talking about negotiating a deal with Microsoft to make their software cheaper for Kenyans, including developer tools so that Kenyans could become software developers. The local Microsoft representative was in the audience, naturally. Members of the Microsoft "technical officer" team follow politicians and policy makers around like flies follow sick dogs. She left when the Permanant Secretary left. Apparently, a meeting of many of the computer scientists in Kenya was not important enough for her; certainly not as important as being visible to the Permanant Secretary. When the Permanant Secretary made this pronouncement about these negotiations, completely ignoring all that is happening in Kenya with respect to FOSS, I was shocked and saddened. I wanted to ask why waste time removing impediments to creating Kenyan software developers, when with FOSS we can start immediately. There is nothing to negotiate, the tools are as good or better than the tools for Windows, and there are no barriers to innovation. Java, C, C++, C# Python, .NET, PHP, BASIC, and most other environments are available on GNU/Linux. Why do Kenyans need to waste their money getting permission from Microsoft to use these languages for training software developers? This mystery that is only explainable by the constant lobbying pressure from the "technical officers" and their like. There is absolutely no rational basis for it. The minister is implicitly saying that it is right for Kenya to pay money to Microsoft and create a long-term dependence on them, thus using the Kenyan taxpayer's money to create development opportunities in Redmond Washington, an area of the world that really needs dollars from Kenya. It is clear that Dr. Ndemo does not understand that innovation happens faster when barriers are as few as they can reasonably be. With Free Software, this is the case. With propriteary tools, barriers have to be negotiated, and this limits and inhibits innovation. I wanted to show the Permanant Secretary my Ubuntu desktop, equipped with Free Software development tools for which I need neither permission nor to pay license fees to use, and which I can use immediately, no negotiation required. The Permanant Secretary clearly just doesn't get it. Unfortunately, the session did not have a question peroid, and he left along with the Microsoft lap dog (er, I mean representative) before I could use my own keynote space to show him what Free Software can do. So Kenyans active in FOSS, you have a responsibility, this man is in need of some educating. Please make an appointment, go see him. Show him what you are accomplishing with software Freedom. We need to find a way to balance the lobbying power of Microsoft, so that truth and logic have a reasonable chance of prevailing. cheers Derek All Email originating from UWC is covered by disclaimer http://www.uwc.ac.za/portal/uwc2006/content/mail_disclaimer/index.htm _______________________________________________ Idlelo2 mailing list Idlelo2(a)fossfa.net http://mailman.dst.gov.za/mailman/listinfo/idlelo2

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Re: [kictanet] Day 10 of 10: Reconciling Stakeholder Interests
by Lucy Kimani 06 Feb '07

06 Feb '07

Walu: "What are the top three things, each Stakeholder (Operators, Regulators, Consumers and Govt) should do in order to provide a win-win situation for everybody in the new OFC dispensation?" In my humble opinion and this is of course from a consumer perspective I would list priorities as follows: 1)As was pointed out the Operators, Regulators and Govt have been working closely for the past 4 years, clearly missing was the consumer in this relationship, and this needs to change. I am glad the current discussions have highlighted the need to include the consumer as an important stakeholder in all policy making etc. 2)The consumer association that is yet to be registered for reasons not clear to me needs to be a reality -- The consumer needs a face, so there is an entity to negotiate, partner, and hold the various bodies accountable on behalf of consumers, and the consumers need to know they have an entity that will address their concerns. 3)I am confident I speak for many consumers when I say that we are all looking for quality and affordable telecommunciation services so whatever model the OFC adopts needs to ensure the consumer gets closer to achieving these objectives. LK > <<<I must stay that the previous theme 'Projected Impact of > OFC on Stakeholders' has been quite turbulent. We did > recieve about 20 postings on this theme(during 4 calender > days) and it has been a challenge trying to sieve through > them in order to create a brief and reasonable account of > the issues, proposals and predictions. In the interest of > moving forward, I would wish to introduce the next theme > and but will provide the summary of issues in the final > report.>>>. > > In general, the Operators have an obligation to maximize > profit for their shareholders by virtue of having taken a > risk and committed funds into a particular line of business > (OFC included). The Consumer on the other hand will always > want services at the lowest cost possible (including free > services). The Regulator is mandated - in part - to > provide a level playing field for the Operators and a > protection mechanism for Consumers. Finally, the > Government's main role would be to improve the livelihoods > of its citizens e.g. providing essential services, > conducive policy, legislative and regulatory environment > for all the stakeholders. > > Indeed, the above brings out the automatic tensions that > come to play because each stakeholder wants to pursue their > interests which in most cases would be in conflict. E.g. > Private sector would naturally follow the lowest path to > profit e.g. charge highly, concentrate in high-income zones > and recoup their investments in the shortest time possible. > Nothing illegal with that, but if the Government > intervention is lacking in such a situtation, then certain > parts of society (citizenry) would be excluded from > accessing some of the (essential) services provided by the > Businesses. On the other hand, forcing Business to provide > these services to low income communities, or forcing them > to under-price without compensatory schemes (incentives) > would be the quickest way to run down the business (denying > Govts Tax Revenues). > >>From the previous theme, it was evident that the current > status and relationships, particularly between Consumers > and Operators is not too healthy. Similarly, the existing > relationship between Govt and the Regulator came into > question and various models and frameworks for improving on > these was proposed. Infact, if all things remain constant > and the OFC was delivered tomorrow, I suspect that the > tensions between the stakeholders may go a notch higher, > possibly compouded by intense Operator(with OFC access) vs > Operator(without OFC access) wars. > > How then can these wars be pre-empted? What are the top > three things, each Stakeholder (Operators, Regulators, > Consumers and Govt) should do in order to provide a win-win > situation for everybody in the new OFC dispensation? Two > days on this conclusive phase...start talking along this > theme keeping in mind some Netiquette as recommended by the > list administrator. > > walu. > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Never Miss an Email > Stay connected with Yahoo! Mail on your mobile. Get started! > http://mobile.yahoo.com/services?promote=mail

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Internet Society (ISOC) will be forming Regional Policy Advisory Groups
by alice＠apc.org 06 Feb '07

06 Feb '07

If you are interested, please send an email to: rpag-africa(a)isoc.org ar --------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.isoc.org/pubpolpillar/RPAG.shtml ISOC to form regional policy advisory groups Call for Expressions of Interest The Internet Society (ISOC) will be forming Regional Policy Advisory Groups (RPAGs) to assist realize one of its key goals, that of further internationalizing its public policy work. An RPAG will be created for each region and will assist ISOC tailor its public policy activities at a regional and global level. The Regional Policy Advisory Groups will comprise a small number of experienced and articulate policy advisor volunteers. The RPAGs' role will be, inter alia, to actively work within ISOC and to provide advice as to the formation of ISOC policy programs and activities in region, identify and engage with influential thinkers and public policy makers as needed, contribute to shaping and supporting the focus and formation of the ISOC Regional Bureaus, and to promote and pursue the policy goals of the Internet Society as per the Strategic Operating Plan (www.isoc.org/isoc/mission/) The Regional Policy Advisory Groups will be managed by ISOC's Policy Director. Each RPAG will comprise individuals selected by the Internet Society from within each region and appointed for a year. The advisory nature of the RPAGs must be emphasized and the RPAGs themselves will have no particular legal standing, etc. The RPAGs will be supported via electronic means, with conference calls and meetings as needed. The RPAGs may be asked to represent ISOC interests’ vis-à-vis policy makers and influencers, and to support, as agreed, Chapter and Bureau activities. Those interested in being considered for a position on a Regional Policy Advisory Group should be recognized policy leaders and be committed to, and comfortable articulating, the principles, values and vision of the Internet Society. The Regional Policy Advisory Groups will be established on a staggered basis. We are currently seeking expressions of interest for two regions, Africa and North America. If you are interested in being considered for either, please respond to the appropriate e-mail address below with CV and cover note: rpag-africa(a)isoc.org rpag-northamerica(a)isoc.org

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Fw: Invitation to a Free Public Lecture on "Global Economic Prospects 2007: Managing the Next Wave of Globalization" on 8th February 2007 at KICC, Aberdares Rm @10.am
by alice＠apc.org 06 Feb '07

06 Feb '07

Global Economic Prospects 2007: Managing the Next Wave of Globalization Presented by the Lead Author Richard Newfarmer Economic Advisor, Trade Department, World Bank Thursday, 8th February, 2007, 10.00am ? 12.00noon Aberdares Room, KICC Imagine a world where developing countries are the key drivers behind global economic growth, where about half or more of the purchasing power of the global economy stems from the developing world, a world where the number of people living on less than $1 a day has fallen from 1.1 billion now to 550 million in 2030. These are the key messages of the Global Economic Prospects 2007: Managing the Next Wave of Globalization?a publication that has a lot of relevance to Kenya?s medium term development strategy, Vision 2030.=

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VRFY TST 1
by Odhiambo WASHINGTON 06 Feb '07

06 Feb '07

VRFY TST. 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

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quick test - 20070206 5.15p.m
by John Walubengo 06 Feb '07

06 Feb '07

plse ignore...if O.K. Otherwise I did send a message 30min ago and it hasn't popped up. walu. ____________________________________________________________________________________ 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

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Fwd: REF: CONTRACT: N°410.2 SUPPORT TO ICT SECTOR IN EAST AFRICA - MAURITIUS, MADAGASCAR AND KENYA
by Bill Kagai 06 Feb '07

06 Feb '07

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Patrice J. Ferriere <pferrier(a)intnet.mu> Date: Feb 6, 2007 3:23 PM Subject: REF: CONTRACT: N°410.2 SUPPORT TO ICT SECTOR IN EAST AFRICA - MAURITIUS, MADAGASCAR AND KENYA To: billkagai(a)gmail.com Sir, Our company has been short-listed by the CDE to carry out the project as referred to above. This project aims at improving the ICT sector of the concerned countries by reinforcing their management capacities, by generalizing the access to freeware use and by creating a flow of partnerships with European companies of the same sector. The project consist selecting in each country from three to five companies of the ICT sector, in analysing them and bringing them some additional training as regards to marketing and sales. Moreover these companies will be able in a second phase to have personalised coaching over a period of one year. This project will offer them the possibility to have access to managerial and technical training and will be able to participate in a program of distribution and utilisation of Open Source applications in the region and also to have the possibility to partner with European companies on the same size. I am actually in Nairobi until the 9th of February 2007, I am at Hotel Heron(2720740<javascript:void(0)>) and will be pleased to meet you any time convenient to you. Best Regards Patrice J. Ferriere Senior Consultant EXS/IBL *( * +230 202-8203 *8 * pferrier(a)intnet.mu *2 * +230 202-8210 *** 10, Dr Ferriere St. Port-Louis ~ Mauritius *) * +230 423-3007 *Disclaimer and confidentiality note:* ------------------------------ This communication is intended solely for the addressee and is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. If this email contains an attachment, please note the following paragraph: This material has been checked for computer viruses and although none has been found, I cannot guarantee that it is completely free from such problems and do not accept any liability for loss or damage which may be caused. Please therefore check any attachments for viruses before using them on your own equipment. If you do find a computer virus please inform me immediately so that I may take appropriate action. ------------------------------

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Day 10 of 10: Reconciling Stakeholder Interests
by John Walubengo 06 Feb '07

06 Feb '07

<<<I must stay that the previous theme 'Projected Impact of OFC on Stakeholders' has been quite turbulent. We did recieve about 20 postings on this theme(during 4 calender days) and it has been a challenge trying to sieve through them in order to create a brief and reasonable account of the issues, proposals and predictions. In the interest of moving forward, I would wish to introduce the next theme and but will provide the summary of issues in the final report.>>>. In general, the Operators have an obligation to maximize profit for their shareholders by virtue of having taken a risk and committed funds into a particular line of business (OFC included). The Consumer on the other hand will always want services at the lowest cost possible (including free services). The Regulator is mandated - in part - to provide a level playing field for the Operators and a protection mechanism for Consumers. Finally, the Government's main role would be to improve the livelihoods of its citizens e.g. providing essential services, conducive policy, legislative and regulatory environment for all the stakeholders. Indeed, the above brings out the automatic tensions that come to play because each stakeholder wants to pursue their interests which in most cases would be in conflict. E.g. Private sector would naturally follow the lowest path to profit e.g. charge highly, concentrate in high-income zones and recoup their investments in the shortest time possible. Nothing illegal with that, but if the Government intervention is lacking in such a situtation, then certain parts of society (citizenry) would be excluded from accessing some of the (essential) services provided by the Businesses. On the other hand, forcing Business to provide these services to low income communities, or forcing them to under-price without compensatory schemes (incentives) would be the quickest way to run down the business (denying Govts Tax Revenues). >From the previous theme, it was evident that the current status and relationships, particularly between Consumers and Operators is not too healthy. Similarly, the existing relationship between Govt and the Regulator came into question and various models and frameworks for improving on these was proposed. Infact, if all things remain constant and the OFC was delivered tomorrow, I suspect that the tensions between the stakeholders may go a notch higher, possibly compouded by intense Operator(with OFC access) vs Operator(without OFC access) wars. How then can these wars be pre-empted? What are the top three things, each Stakeholder (Operators, Regulators, Consumers and Govt) should do in order to provide a win-win situation for everybody in the new OFC dispensation? Two days on this conclusive phase...start talking along this theme keeping in mind some Netiquette as recommended by the list administrator. walu. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never Miss an Email Stay connected with Yahoo! Mail on your mobile. Get started! http://mobile.yahoo.com/services?promote=mail

4 3

Re: [Kictanet] Existing/Appropriate Regulatory Models for OFC (2days)
by joseph kihanya 05 Feb '07

05 Feb '07

The regulatory framework I am afraid has to have its background against what is and has become current over the last 15 years or so globally. It can be viewed both at the national level and at the international arena. It is important to note that regulation in telecommunications is a public policy matter for any country. 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. Telecommunications regulation in the transition from a monopolistic and largely anti- market based approaches to supply of services, to a market based approach in a liberalized era, mandated most governments and hence societies to seek regulatory oversight. This was against an anticipated reduction of oversight given that market forces/ competition was to guide, in the long term, the development of this industry as in others. Consensus appears to be that in the short term-as a guide/ facilitator to liberalization, regulatory bodies were and are required. It is indeed even anticipated that it is in this transitional stage that the regulators will be so busy – for the obvious reasons that the new players may gain dominance very quickly and attain the monopolistic tendencies of the historical operators. Why is regulation in telecommunications important? 1. It authorizes new operators. 2. It removes barriers to entry. 3. It mandates interconnection between players. 4. It oversees the penetration of services in areas that commercial imperatives would not allow or pursue. The objectives of transparent telecommunications regulation are mainly the following; Oversee competitive markets by;  Promoting efficient supply of services.  Ensuring good QOS  Promote advances services  Enable the maintenance of efficient pricing.  Prevent abuse of significant market powers.  Protect consumer rights/privacy rights.  Facilitate interconnection thereby efficient use of telecommunication services.  Oversee the optimal use of the finite radio frequency spectrum. From the foregoing, it is clear that, in the short term at least, most countries, Kenya included have an interest to regulate telecommunications services provision. The question therefore only remains as to whether the OFC is within the ambit of what may be regulated in the industry. Deregulation is a theme that is in play in most jurisdictions that have achieved above optimal competitive markets. The case of the UK under the Communications Act 2003 and the role of OFCOM are in point. Given that there is no direct call for deregulation even under the National ICT policy 2006, it would appear that the strategies suggested at 3.3.1 in relation to information technology infrastructure would entail a fair amount of regulation. This is especially given the fact that despite encouragement of the laying of the infrastructure, only so few options will be available, Indeed, in the OFC case, perhaps 2 will be a lucky option for many for the next 5-10 years or more. Do we then need a regulatory framework? My answer is yes and perhaps for tempering, a hesitant qualifier. Competition laws are likely to be the most fundamental “regulatory framework” for the OFC as indeed for any other services. It is particular to note that even in the UK the Office of Fair Trading and OFCOM share equivalent powers in relation to fostering competition. The CCK will have to; in the very short to medium term translate from the “licenser”- facilitator of entry- primarily- to a serious competition oversight body with sound, quick and efficient determinations. If I am not wrong the only recorded competition determination relates to the cyber-café association- common pricing attempt- I stand to be corrected. Interconnection determinations have been one- Kencell vs TKL ? This will be countered and perhaps also enhanced by an independent competition body- the workings of the anti-monopolies commissioner under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act (Chapter 504 Laws of Kenya), are highly opaque. Other countries, such as Australia have also undergone a transformation from maintaining industry specific competition principles and statutes for the telecommunication sector to an all inclusive co- competition oversight regime in the interim and a sustainable sole competition / regulatory framework for all industries. As such therefore, regulation for the OFC may be through the competition framework under the CA 1998 or the KICT BILL 2006. Complete lack of regulation may therefore not be an option at all. Whatever business model is adopted, the Key question is whether as a country in acute need of the OFC, we would facilitate its provisioning of services within the country without any regard to any oversight of any sort for whatever purpose. At the international level. The WTO and the ITU also anticipate regulatory oversight in telecommunications too and Kenya, being party to these organizations would be hard pressed to provision services without oversight (if that were possible), especially since the OFC will be extra-territorial. I would suggest that a reading of this Reference paper at the WTO would elaborate on this aspect. See www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/telecom_e/tel23_e.htm The best regulatory models would for me therefore be within the competition framework. It would be difficult to try and regulate any/the OFC, singularly, as it would also perhaps border on the unconstitutional, there being a bar againts discrimination under our Constitution. Sector specific competition regulation under the CA1998 may work in the meantime but in the long run a clear policy that has a generic definition of what significant market power is, would serve the industry best. Kihanya ----- Original Message ---- From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 5:45:10 PM Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Day 8 of 10 : - Projected Impact of OFC on the Stakeholders Cool! u r on e-record- we expect something Regulatory from you on or before Day 10. thanx, walu. --- joseph kihanya <kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Thanks Walu for the discussion moderation. > > I am doing something on the regulatory framework and will > post by day 10. > > On operators I would expect that there woulda be a > reciprocation in price and QOS issues. > I would expect that there would be publicly accessible > interconnection agreements under the non-discriminatory > technology-neutral Open Access principles . > I would also expect that there would have to bea busines > realignment to conform with new entrants at the local > lvel who the operators would indeed agree not to want to > "take over" asa soon asa a ROI looks good. > > > On the regulator, the paradigm shift in allowing > competition and enforcing it would be key.Competition > alone despite all that is siad about it is not known to > benefit consumers largely where duopolies or oligopolies > exits. product and price shadowing takes centre stage and > one is not sure that the alternatives are not > exhorbitant. > > The regulator must also enforce QOS. > > The consumer must be ready for a vibrant market and take > up alternatives that make the best "cents".He /She must > be able to walk out..and perhaps to an > ombudsman(regulator) where QOS is not as per SLA or > other "promises.Whining loudly may help(See South > Africans vs Telkom SA in the Daily News recently) > > Kihanya > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > To: kihanyajn(a)yahoo.com > Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 10:11:24 AM > Subject: [Kictanet] Day 8 of 10 : - Projected Impact of > OFC on the Stakeholders > > > I must thank all for your valuable views shared over the > last two days regarding the previous theme :- what are > the > Best Models for Provisioning submarine OFC. > > Three models seem to have persisted throughout the > discussion, namely, Open Access (EASsy), Private-led > (Flag), and our famous Consortium models. Where Mucheru > mentions separation of Cable ownership from Cable > Management fits in 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). 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 came in with a > variant model where the cable is –privately owned but > promises to open access to the Landing points - but aims > to maximise 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) > > Nobody really pushed the Consortium model, but probably > Badru did hint strongly for such a model when he > mentioned > that Commercial interest should be 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 aiming to build, own and operate a > submarine cable with aim of maximising their returns > (profit) in the shortest time possible –social > connotation > notwithstanding. > > And this is where the Consumer has suffered. The > short-terms interests of investors must be balanced > against > the long-term social benefits that would accrue from a > affordable bandwidth provisions. Alex and LK seem to be > voice of the consumer here, urging the Regulator to flex > their muscle – probably now and more in future when the > OFC > is laid-out. > > In all this, the various financing options were not so > pronounced as noted by Michael J. Apart from IPO > recommendation from Kai and Bill, the financing models > (Equity, Debt, etc) has not quite come through and I hope > someone could make comment on that within the remaining > three days as we discuss our next theme:- What is the > likely impact of the above models on the existing > stakeholders (Operators, Regulator and Consumers)? That > is, what do we see as the roles of the above stakeholders > in the new dispensation of the Optical Submarine Cable. > The > efloor is again open and we have two days on this one. > > walu. > Nb: a Face2Face meeting will follow up after this online > discussion where all these issues will be streamlined. > ~~~~~000~~~~~~ > Theme Reminder: > 1) Why OFC (1day) > 2) Existing Business Models for OFC provisioning (2days) > 3) Existing/Appropriate Regulatory Models for OFC (2days) > 4) Best Model (Business+Regulatory) for E. Africans > (2days) > <Ongoing-Open> > 5) Projected Impact on Stakeholders (2days) > <Pending> > 6) Reconciling Stakeholder interests/Conclusions (1day) > <Pending> > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Looking for earth-friendly autos? > Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green > Center. > http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/ > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kihanyajn%40yahoo.com > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Looking for earth-friendly autos? > Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green > Center. > http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/ > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Have a burning question? Go to www.Answers.yahoo.com and get answers from real people who know. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kihanyajn%40yahoo.com ____________________________________________________________________________________ Cheap talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates. http://voice.yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] [Kictanet] Existing/Appropriate Regulatory ModelsforOFC (Day 8 Cont'd)
by Wainaina Mungai 05 Feb '07

05 Feb '07

Apologies... 1. The correct link to the ICT consumer story is: http://www.madeinkenya.org/forum_files/forum0207.php . 2. Some consumer responses (graphs) on the impact of liberalisation/privatisation are available at http://www.madeinkenya.org/forum_files/forum0107.php > -------Original Message------- > From: Wainaina Mungai <wainaina(a)madeinkenya.org> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Kictanet] Existing/Appropriate Regulatory ModelsforOFC (Day 8 Cont'd) > Sent: 05 Feb '07 14:49 > > Increased participation by NGOs/not-for-profit would be one way to go for consumer-focused engagement. > > My understanding of the trust issues between consumers and other players is that the private sector rightfully pursue what makes them money. They have also fought for consumers and we are enjoying some of the benefits together. However, there are limits to what we should expect of commercial ventures. On the other hand, the government and the regulator have to delicately balance loyalties to all the players. > > The consumer needs: > 1. Education/information {most consumers do not make informed choices on ICT products/services} > 2. An non-governmental/not-for-profit platform for articulating issues (a consumer association or something in that line). > 3. Greater involvement in all ICT policy and implementation processes throgh both their initiative and deliberate involvement by government, regulator and other players. > > ##By consumer, I mean the mwananchi in a market centre in Bondo aka "Wanjiku" who is usually the final consumer. This definition deliberately leaves out service providers who are at a higher level as "consumers". See http://www.madeinkenya.org/forum0207.php for an example of what a small-scale business consumer thinks of ICTs. > > Regards, > > --- > Wainaina Mungai > http://www.madeinkenya.org/forum.php > > 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: alice(a)apc.org > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Kictanet] Existing/Appropriate Regulatory ModelsforOFC (Day 8 Cont'd) > > Sent: 05 Feb '07 09:38 > > > > Hi Alex and all > > > > (Please note that my views/contributions to this debate are personal and do > > not in any way reflect the official view of the CCK) > > > > There is normally quite a lot of tension between commitment and flexibility > > that all governments face when creating and implementing communications > > polices and rules. Primarily government is responsible for developing > > policy, which by extension establishes regulatory authorities which works to > > a mandate set by the legislation. The role of regulatory authorities is > > primarily facilitative it is not its role to provide detailed management of > > the sector and major policy issues should still be decided by government ( > > in the interest of the public read consumers) with operators themselves > > taking care of commercial and operational matters. > > Therefore the independence of a regulator cannot be absolute but it can and > > should operate with the sustained support of the government with which rests > > the ultimate responsibility for the health of the sector by the policies > > governments adopt and implement. > > > > Back to Walu's question "how can/should the Consumers as one of the > > > Key stakeholders engage with the others namely, Regulator, Operator, Govt, > > > in the future dispensation (when OFC has > > > been provisioned?)" > > > > >From a consumer perspective what would be ideal would be to get involved in > > development of consumer protection policies and regulations which would > > provide users with all the information required to make informed choices > > thus deriving benefits from competitive service provisioning. > > The regulators should also aim at maintaining public confidence through > > 1. Implementation of suitable consultation mechanisms > > 2.encouraging good practice by providers as well as provision of > > universal high quality service, > > 3. Ensure all providers are treated fairly while assuring consumers if > > fairness in tariffs transparency in billing as well as opportunity to > > redress poor performance and/or misconduct > > > > All the above and more should ideally be developed into a set of consumer > > affairs guidelines applying to all service providers in all categories, be > > it infrastructure etc and end users. > > > > best > > alice > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Alex Gakuru" <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> > > To: <alice(a)apc.org> > > Cc: <ke-intenetusers(a)bdix.net> > > Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 7:14 AM > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Kictanet] Existing/Appropriate Regulatory > > ModelsforOFC (Day 8 Cont'd) > > > > > > > Lucy, > > > > > > >not to mention the fact that "independent" regulator is just but a > > > theory, and government >foot prints are all over the place... > > > > > > It was shocking to hear, in contempt of court, they publicly proclaimed > > > that they were not "independent" but just a part of government (at the > > > World Bank breakfast meeting three weeks ago). As far as I know, this > > > contravenes a recent court ruling to the effect that CCK decisions are not > > > tied to government policy. Thus far, CCK is a not a "regulator", perhaps a > > > vested interests, sound proof glass house where consumer cries cannot > > > reach? > > > > > > But welcome to Kenya, and see how our laws are flouted and court played, > > > but when it comes to LICENSES... it is like "god" speaking to sinners. And > > > all the talk about fresh new laws...? > > > > > > When I learnt the poem "who killed Cock Robin" as a child, I had no idea > > > it would make any sense in my grown life. But with the so many official > > > barriers to affordable communication this robin poem > > > <http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/robin.htm> now makes a lot of sense. > > > > > > Have a laughly day. > > > > > > > > > Alex > > > Lucy Kimani <lkimani(a)comnews.co.ke> wrote: > > > Alex, > > > > > > Just to add to what you say below, my take just by observing the various > > > players in the telecom industry these couple of months, as well as the > > > policy makers and those suppossed to be regulating/implementing these > > > policies is that there is too much "conflict of interest" and no wonder > > > the consumer gets a raw deal! > > > > > > - A regulator that is more concerned with keeping the operators happy > > > rather than looking out for the tax payer paying their salaries not to > > > mention the fact that "independent" regulator is just but a theory, and > > > government foot prints are all over the place... > > > - Operators eager to keep the status quo, but in the meantime trying to > > > out do each other to steal, and or maintain the customer base, fighting > > > dirty comes to mind, or is it capitalism at its best? > > > - A government looking to grow the GDP and hopefully looking to lower the > > > bandwidth price in the process, but being pulled in different directions > > > by the various forces and one can only hope they dont wind up carrying the > > > donkey on their backs!!! > > > > > > LK > > > oops! > > >> > > >> ... but seriously there quite a number of underlying issues. But in > > >> short:- > > >> > > >> 1. Regulator - Should begin by establishing a relationship framework with > > >> consumers and multi-located businesses and facilitate them with their own > > >> fibre rollouts- Remember it is cheap and can pass overhead on electric > > >> poles, riverbeds, hills etc especially where big telcos do not find the > > >> business case to do it. Help change "LICENSE" a facilitative piece of > > >> paper not an intimidating obstacle to consumer - affordable > > >> telecommunication. > > >> > > >> 2. Operators - they assist in the operations/management of > > >> consumer-customer owned last mile fibre and/or mash (2.4 and 5.8 GHz) > > >> networks > > >> > > >> 3 Government - Ministry of Information should ensure the wonderful > > >> consumer protection clauses in the ICT policy (and upcoming Information > > >> laws) do not end as relics. The implementation strategy has to be theirs. > > >> So don't ask me :-) > > >> > > >> 4. Everyone - to be honest. > > >> > > >> Briefest I could get. > > >> > > >> /Alex > > >> > > >> John Walubengo wrote: Alex, > > >> > > >> Plse, to avoid information overload, plse give a preamble > > >> (executive summary) of what your links do elaborate in what > > >> I believe would be much detail. > > >> > > >> It will be much, much more helpful in that you would assist > > >> us in internalising the whole idea/model...so back to > > >> Mucheru's qtn. How can/should the Consumers as one of the > > >> Key stakeholders engage with the others namely, Regulator, > > >> Operator, Govt, in the future dispensation (when OFC has > > >> been provisioned?). > > >> > > >> walu. > > >> NB: we shall start on the Closing phase on Monday. I > > >> remembered Kenyans (and other African users?) are not > > >> active internet users on weekends.. > > >> > > >> --- Alex Gakuru wrote: > > >> > > >>> Glad to: > > >>> > > >>> Loss of internet users affects everyone and economic > > >>> retardation, knowledge society, will be washed away, just > > >>> like we lost fibre cable in 1995 see Vohra Speech < > > >>> http://www.isoc.or.ke/speeches/launch_vohra.pdf> > > >>> > > >>> Thus, read my frustrations in the light of the many > > >>> proposals made officially but nothing has ever been done. > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> Synopsis: > > >>> > > >>> 3 things for now maybe more later (if needed.) > > >>> > > >>> 1. Boost IT confidence for otherwise, there will not be > > >>> any market left for business, no e-government, > > >>> information society.... > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> You can find them on > > >>> http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/2156/a/22411 > > >>> > > >>> The two reports are: > > >>> > > >>> - Policy for the IT society - Recommendations from the > > >>> members of the IT > > >>> Policy Strategy Group > > >>> > > >>> An overall document with recommendations on what the > > >>> government should do. > > >>> It includes information from the 2nd report... > > >>> > > >>> - Broadband for growth, innovation and competitiveness > > >>> > > >>> > In April 2004 the Government´s IT Policy Strategy Group > > >>> set up a > > >>> > working group on IT infrastructure and broadband. The > > >>> primary task of > > >>> > the working group has been to support the Strategy > > >>> Group by working, > > >>> > within the framework of a free market, for futureproof, > > >>> accessible, > > >>> > competitionneutral, technologyneutral and coherent > > >>> electronic > > >>> > communications networks, which are capable of meeting > > >>> the challenges > > >>> > of the future. This report summarises the discussions > > >>> and proposals. > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> 2. Because Regulator apparently never catchup, then > > >>> establish consumer complaints portal (something like > > >>> http://spokane.bbb.org/) > > >>> - ICT policy provides for consumers to frequently > > >>> their concern areas ( a pity all our labored official > > >>> documents were pulled down and replace with a template at > > >>> www.information.go.ke documents. > > >>> - Consumers register complaints against businesses at > > >>> this portal. When the company addresses the issue, the > > >>> complaint is struck off. governments not allowed to > > >>> transact with business above certain complaints ratio - > > >>> Promotes business ethics. > > >>> - Register members=>Consumer make responsible > > >>> complaints not malicious to their competitors > > >>> > > >>> 3. Regulation. > > >>> > > >>> What is self regulation? > > >>> - A corporate basement corner "self-regulation" desk > > >>> or acceptance to complaints, criticism and accepting the > > >>> impact of one's action to others > > >>> - Regulator will have a "regulatory" job in this > > >>> environment > > >>> - Currently consumer complaints collected by CCK just > > >>> accumulate dust in their archives and this would be a > > >>> good way to measure their performance contracts. > > >>> (Business disputes area addressed in a flash) record. So > > >>> in a way consumers, will "regulate" the Regulator. > > >>> > > >>> This is just a synopsis let me know if it suffices > > >>> > > >>> Alex > > >>> > > >>> Joseph Mucheru wrote: Alex, > > >>> > > >>> I may have missed you post, but have you proposed an > > >>> appropriate > > >>> Consumer/Business/Regulatory structure that you believe > > >>> will work? It would > > >>> help to have an idea of what you are proposing as a > > >>> structure. > > >>> > > >>> Thank you > > >>> > > >>> -- > > >>> Joseph Mucheru > > >>> Executive Director > > >>> mucheru(a)wananchi.com > > >>> > > >>> > From: Alex Gakuru > > >>> > Reply-To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet > > >>> > Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 00:36:43 -0800 (PST) > > >>> > To: > > >>> > Cc: > > >>> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Kictanet] Existing/Appropriate > > >>> Regulatory Models for > > >>> > OFC (2days) > > >>> > > > >>> > Kenya has been profusely bleeding internet users. > > >>> > > > >>> > In 2005, we had 1.5 million internet users but in Sept > > >>> 2006, ITU revised the > > >>> > number to 1 million. CCK then urged some of us who > > >>> raised this concern that > > >>> > they disputed the figure and urgently launched an > > >>> Internet users study-census > > >>> > on 01 Nov 2006 at Mbagathi. We were all promised to > > >>> be called back before > > >>> > end December 2006 for study findings. That never > > >>> happened and January just > > >>> > end. > > >>> > > > >>> > Two week ago at the World Bank RCIP meeting at the > > >>> Jacaranda Hotel, the PS in > > >>> > his presentation stated the number of internet users to > > >>> be 1.25 million. > > >>> > > > >>> > Question, Going by the PS data, what could be causing > > >>> internet loss in Kenya? > > >>> > > > >>> > Eight years after CCK was formed and section 23 and 47 > > >>> of the communications > > >>> > act introduced, The Regulator is yet to show 1 > > >>> practical initiative they have > > >>> > ever implemented to protect consumers. Consumer > > >>> protection, it would appear, > > >>> > is petulant and the law is broken without a blink while > > >>> the Regulator embarks > > >>> > on situation containment-management, and life goes on. > > >>> > > > >>> > Is it time for Civil society to divorce itself from > > >>> over engagement on > > >>> > commercial arrangement discussions between government > > >>> and business and > > >>> > re-dedicate itself to serving the voiceless? > > >>> > > > >>> > 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, but as usual > > >>> > just in the future to keep hope high? > > >>> > > > >>> > In the meantime we continue talk on fibre while a third > > >>> of our internet users > > >>> > are lost. > > >>> > > > >>> > Alex Gakuru > > >>> > > > >>> > > > >>> > Rebecca Wanjiku wrote: the question of regulation > > >>> > is tricky but as Kihanya points out, it is going to > > >>> take a lot of > > >>> > consultations and concessions between government and > > >>> other stakeholders if the > > >>> > OFC is to work and serve the intended purposes, > > >>> > > > >>> > True, other countries have deregulated but what do > > >>> you do in a country like > > >>> > say, Kenya where the anti monopolies commissioner is > > >>> not in the fore front of > > >>> > addressing issues, am sure many people on the streets > > >>> may not know the > > >>> > existence of that office. > > >>> > > > >>> > In the article by Roland Alden that Walu has > > >>> recommended, he argues that > > >>> > many African govts have been resistant to change and > > >>> adds that what is needed > > >>> > is regulation liberalization. Maybe thatâ?Ts what is > > >>> needed. > > >>> > > > >>> > But how do we start talking of deregulation when we > > >>> canâ?Tt agree about the > > >>> > Act that will govern some of these issues. > > >>> > > > >>> > I may not be well versed with the law but am sure > > >>> with the technological > > >>> > development, there will arise disputes that were not > > >>> envisaged in our current > > >>> > laws, how do we deal with that within the judicial > > >>> system, we need an ACT > > >>> > Roland further contends that in some cases, > > >>> regulators may have ordered a > > >>> > party to fulfill its part of the bargain, but when it > > >>> failed, the judicial > > >>> > system "rarely provided any meaningful" compensation to > > >>> the aggrieved party. > > >>> > > > >>> > Regulation, deregulation, appropriate law, and am > > >>> sure > > >> === 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 > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> ____________________________________________________________________________________ > > >> Bored stiff? Loosen up... > > >> Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. > > >> http://games.yahoo.com/games/front > > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> 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 > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> --------------------------------- > > >> Access over 1 million songs - Yahoo! Music > > >> Unlimited._______________________________________________ > > >> 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/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > Everyone is raving about the all-new 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/alice%40apc.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/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org > > >

1 0

Re: [kictanet] [Kictanet] Existing/Appropriate Regulatory ModelsforOFC (Day 8 Cont'd)
by Wainaina Mungai 05 Feb '07

05 Feb '07

Increased participation by NGOs/not-for-profit would be one way to go for consumer-focused engagement. My understanding of the trust issues between consumers and other players is that the private sector rightfully pursue what makes them money. They have also fought for consumers and we are enjoying some of the benefits together. However, there are limits to what we should expect of commercial ventures. On the other hand, the government and the regulator have to delicately balance loyalties to all the players. The consumer needs: 1. Education/information {most consumers do not make informed choices on ICT products/services} 2. An non-governmental/not-for-profit platform for articulating issues (a consumer association or something in that line). 3. Greater involvement in all ICT policy and implementation processes throgh both their initiative and deliberate involvement by government, regulator and other players. ##By consumer, I mean the mwananchi in a market centre in Bondo aka "Wanjiku" who is usually the final consumer. This definition deliberately leaves out service providers who are at a higher level as "consumers". See http://www.madeinkenya.org/forum0207.php for an example of what a small-scale business consumer thinks of ICTs. Regards, --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org/forum.php 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: alice(a)apc.org > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Kictanet] Existing/Appropriate Regulatory ModelsforOFC (Day 8 Cont'd) > Sent: 05 Feb '07 09:38 > > Hi Alex and all > > (Please note that my views/contributions to this debate are personal and do > not in any way reflect the official view of the CCK) > > There is normally quite a lot of tension between commitment and flexibility > that all governments face when creating and implementing communications > polices and rules. Primarily government is responsible for developing > policy, which by extension establishes regulatory authorities which works to > a mandate set by the legislation. The role of regulatory authorities is > primarily facilitative it is not its role to provide detailed management of > the sector and major policy issues should still be decided by government ( > in the interest of the public read consumers) with operators themselves > taking care of commercial and operational matters. > Therefore the independence of a regulator cannot be absolute but it can and > should operate with the sustained support of the government with which rests > the ultimate responsibility for the health of the sector by the policies > governments adopt and implement. > > Back to Walu's question "how can/should the Consumers as one of the > > Key stakeholders engage with the others namely, Regulator, Operator, Govt, > > in the future dispensation (when OFC has > > been provisioned?)" > > >From a consumer perspective what would be ideal would be to get involved in > development of consumer protection policies and regulations which would > provide users with all the information required to make informed choices > thus deriving benefits from competitive service provisioning. > The regulators should also aim at maintaining public confidence through > 1. Implementation of suitable consultation mechanisms > 2.encouraging good practice by providers as well as provision of > universal high quality service, > 3. Ensure all providers are treated fairly while assuring consumers if > fairness in tariffs transparency in billing as well as opportunity to > redress poor performance and/or misconduct > > All the above and more should ideally be developed into a set of consumer > affairs guidelines applying to all service providers in all categories, be > it infrastructure etc and end users. > > best > alice > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Alex Gakuru" <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> > To: <alice(a)apc.org> > Cc: <ke-intenetusers(a)bdix.net> > Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 7:14 AM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Kictanet] Existing/Appropriate Regulatory > ModelsforOFC (Day 8 Cont'd) > > > > Lucy, > > > > >not to mention the fact that "independent" regulator is just but a > > theory, and government >foot prints are all over the place... > > > > It was shocking to hear, in contempt of court, they publicly proclaimed > > that they were not "independent" but just a part of government (at the > > World Bank breakfast meeting three weeks ago). As far as I know, this > > contravenes a recent court ruling to the effect that CCK decisions are not > > tied to government policy. Thus far, CCK is a not a "regulator", perhaps a > > vested interests, sound proof glass house where consumer cries cannot > > reach? > > > > But welcome to Kenya, and see how our laws are flouted and court played, > > but when it comes to LICENSES... it is like "god" speaking to sinners. And > > all the talk about fresh new laws...? > > > > When I learnt the poem "who killed Cock Robin" as a child, I had no idea > > it would make any sense in my grown life. But with the so many official > > barriers to affordable communication this robin poem > > <http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/robin.htm> now makes a lot of sense. > > > > Have a laughly day. > > > > > > Alex > > Lucy Kimani <lkimani(a)comnews.co.ke> wrote: > > Alex, > > > > Just to add to what you say below, my take just by observing the various > > players in the telecom industry these couple of months, as well as the > > policy makers and those suppossed to be regulating/implementing these > > policies is that there is too much "conflict of interest" and no wonder > > the consumer gets a raw deal! > > > > - A regulator that is more concerned with keeping the operators happy > > rather than looking out for the tax payer paying their salaries not to > > mention the fact that "independent" regulator is just but a theory, and > > government foot prints are all over the place... > > - Operators eager to keep the status quo, but in the meantime trying to > > out do each other to steal, and or maintain the customer base, fighting > > dirty comes to mind, or is it capitalism at its best? > > - A government looking to grow the GDP and hopefully looking to lower the > > bandwidth price in the process, but being pulled in different directions > > by the various forces and one can only hope they dont wind up carrying the > > donkey on their backs!!! > > > > LK > > oops! > >> > >> ... but seriously there quite a number of underlying issues. But in > >> short:- > >> > >> 1. Regulator - Should begin by establishing a relationship framework with > >> consumers and multi-located businesses and facilitate them with their own > >> fibre rollouts- Remember it is cheap and can pass overhead on electric > >> poles, riverbeds, hills etc especially where big telcos do not find the > >> business case to do it. Help change "LICENSE" a facilitative piece of > >> paper not an intimidating obstacle to consumer - affordable > >> telecommunication. > >> > >> 2. Operators - they assist in the operations/management of > >> consumer-customer owned last mile fibre and/or mash (2.4 and 5.8 GHz) > >> networks > >> > >> 3 Government - Ministry of Information should ensure the wonderful > >> consumer protection clauses in the ICT policy (and upcoming Information > >> laws) do not end as relics. The implementation strategy has to be theirs. > >> So don't ask me :-) > >> > >> 4. Everyone - to be honest. > >> > >> Briefest I could get. > >> > >> /Alex > >> > >> John Walubengo wrote: Alex, > >> > >> Plse, to avoid information overload, plse give a preamble > >> (executive summary) of what your links do elaborate in what > >> I believe would be much detail. > >> > >> It will be much, much more helpful in that you would assist > >> us in internalising the whole idea/model...so back to > >> Mucheru's qtn. How can/should the Consumers as one of the > >> Key stakeholders engage with the others namely, Regulator, > >> Operator, Govt, in the future dispensation (when OFC has > >> been provisioned?). > >> > >> walu. > >> NB: we shall start on the Closing phase on Monday. I > >> remembered Kenyans (and other African users?) are not > >> active internet users on weekends.. > >> > >> --- Alex Gakuru wrote: > >> > >>> Glad to: > >>> > >>> Loss of internet users affects everyone and economic > >>> retardation, knowledge society, will be washed away, just > >>> like we lost fibre cable in 1995 see Vohra Speech < > >>> http://www.isoc.or.ke/speeches/launch_vohra.pdf> > >>> > >>> Thus, read my frustrations in the light of the many > >>> proposals made officially but nothing has ever been done. > >>> > >>> > >>> Synopsis: > >>> > >>> 3 things for now maybe more later (if needed.) > >>> > >>> 1. Boost IT confidence for otherwise, there will not be > >>> any market left for business, no e-government, > >>> information society.... > >>> > >>> > >>> You can find them on > >>> http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/2156/a/22411 > >>> > >>> The two reports are: > >>> > >>> - Policy for the IT society - Recommendations from the > >>> members of the IT > >>> Policy Strategy Group > >>> > >>> An overall document with recommendations on what the > >>> government should do. > >>> It includes information from the 2nd report... > >>> > >>> - Broadband for growth, innovation and competitiveness > >>> > >>> > In April 2004 the Government´s IT Policy Strategy Group > >>> set up a > >>> > working group on IT infrastructure and broadband. The > >>> primary task of > >>> > the working group has been to support the Strategy > >>> Group by working, > >>> > within the framework of a free market, for futureproof, > >>> accessible, > >>> > competitionneutral, technologyneutral and coherent > >>> electronic > >>> > communications networks, which are capable of meeting > >>> the challenges > >>> > of the future. This report summarises the discussions > >>> and proposals. > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> 2. Because Regulator apparently never catchup, then > >>> establish consumer complaints portal (something like > >>> http://spokane.bbb.org/) > >>> - ICT policy provides for consumers to frequently > >>> their concern areas ( a pity all our labored official > >>> documents were pulled down and replace with a template at > >>> www.information.go.ke documents. > >>> - Consumers register complaints against businesses at > >>> this portal. When the company addresses the issue, the > >>> complaint is struck off. governments not allowed to > >>> transact with business above certain complaints ratio - > >>> Promotes business ethics. > >>> - Register members=>Consumer make responsible > >>> complaints not malicious to their competitors > >>> > >>> 3. Regulation. > >>> > >>> What is self regulation? > >>> - A corporate basement corner "self-regulation" desk > >>> or acceptance to complaints, criticism and accepting the > >>> impact of one's action to others > >>> - Regulator will have a "regulatory" job in this > >>> environment > >>> - Currently consumer complaints collected by CCK just > >>> accumulate dust in their archives and this would be a > >>> good way to measure their performance contracts. > >>> (Business disputes area addressed in a flash) record. So > >>> in a way consumers, will "regulate" the Regulator. > >>> > >>> This is just a synopsis let me know if it suffices > >>> > >>> Alex > >>> > >>> Joseph Mucheru wrote: Alex, > >>> > >>> I may have missed you post, but have you proposed an > >>> appropriate > >>> Consumer/Business/Regulatory structure that you believe > >>> will work? It would > >>> help to have an idea of what you are proposing as a > >>> structure. > >>> > >>> Thank you > >>> > >>> -- > >>> Joseph Mucheru > >>> Executive Director > >>> mucheru(a)wananchi.com > >>> > >>> > From: Alex Gakuru > >>> > Reply-To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet > >>> > Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 00:36:43 -0800 (PST) > >>> > To: > >>> > Cc: > >>> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Kictanet] Existing/Appropriate > >>> Regulatory Models for > >>> > OFC (2days) > >>> > > >>> > Kenya has been profusely bleeding internet users. > >>> > > >>> > In 2005, we had 1.5 million internet users but in Sept > >>> 2006, ITU revised the > >>> > number to 1 million. CCK then urged some of us who > >>> raised this concern that > >>> > they disputed the figure and urgently launched an > >>> Internet users study-census > >>> > on 01 Nov 2006 at Mbagathi. We were all promised to > >>> be called back before > >>> > end December 2006 for study findings. That never > >>> happened and January just > >>> > end. > >>> > > >>> > Two week ago at the World Bank RCIP meeting at the > >>> Jacaranda Hotel, the PS in > >>> > his presentation stated the number of internet users to > >>> be 1.25 million. > >>> > > >>> > Question, Going by the PS data, what could be causing > >>> internet loss in Kenya? > >>> > > >>> > Eight years after CCK was formed and section 23 and 47 > >>> of the communications > >>> > act introduced, The Regulator is yet to show 1 > >>> practical initiative they have > >>> > ever implemented to protect consumers. Consumer > >>> protection, it would appear, > >>> > is petulant and the law is broken without a blink while > >>> the Regulator embarks > >>> > on situation containment-management, and life goes on. > >>> > > >>> > Is it time for Civil society to divorce itself from > >>> over engagement on > >>> > commercial arrangement discussions between government > >>> and business and > >>> > re-dedicate itself to serving the voiceless? > >>> > > >>> > 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, but as usual > >>> > just in the future to keep hope high? > >>> > > >>> > In the meantime we continue talk on fibre while a third > >>> of our internet users > >>> > are lost. > >>> > > >>> > Alex Gakuru > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > Rebecca Wanjiku wrote: the question of regulation > >>> > is tricky but as Kihanya points out, it is going to > >>> take a lot of > >>> > consultations and concessions between government and > >>> other stakeholders if the > >>> > OFC is to work and serve the intended purposes, > >>> > > >>> > True, other countries have deregulated but what do > >>> you do in a country like > >>> > say, Kenya where the anti monopolies commissioner is > >>> not in the fore front of > >>> > addressing issues, am sure many people on the streets > >>> may not know the > >>> > existence of that office. > >>> > > >>> > In the article by Roland Alden that Walu has > >>> recommended, he argues that > >>> > many African govts have been resistant to change and > >>> adds that what is needed > >>> > is regulation liberalization. Maybe thatâ?Ts what is > >>> needed. > >>> > > >>> > But how do we start talking of deregulation when we > >>> canâ?Tt agree about the > >>> > Act that will govern some of these issues. > >>> > > >>> > I may not be well versed with the law but am sure > >>> with the technological > >>> > development, there will arise disputes that were not > >>> envisaged in our current > >>> > laws, how do we deal with that within the judicial > >>> system, we need an ACT > >>> > Roland further contends that in some cases, > >>> regulators may have ordered a > >>> > party to fulfill its part of the bargain, but when it > >>> failed, the judicial > >>> > system "rarely provided any meaningful" compensation to > >>> the aggrieved party. > >>> > > >>> > Regulation, deregulation, appropriate law, and am > >>> sure > >> === 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 > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> ____________________________________________________________________________________ > >> Bored stiff? Loosen up... > >> Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. > >> http://games.yahoo.com/games/front > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> 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 > >> > >> > >> > >> --------------------------------- > >> Access over 1 million songs - Yahoo! 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email courtesy
by Rebecca Wanjiku 05 Feb '07

05 Feb '07

i am glad that the discussions are passionate, they underline a desire to change and move the industry forward, but some of the emails are bordering on insults and this forum is open to everybody, whether they are right wrong, well-connected, not- so- well- connected and the discconected. whether in government, private sector or academia, everyone is free to contribute to the list without feeling like their comments will make them get crucified or hung out to dry, yes, there is freedom of information, expression, which we all uphold, but let us also have the freedom to let others enjoy the space, we welcome all opinions, leftists or rightists, bring them on.....minus the insults... make the point, no name calling, hope this is ok with everybody, regards becky Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- TV dinner still cooling? Check out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV.

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Banking Technology Conference
by Fiona Asonga 05 Feb '07

05 Feb '07

Hi Judy I would like to attend the Banking Conference and get the KICTANET free registration; I hope I am not too late. Fiona Asonga Administrator Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK) P.O Box 27589 – 00506 NAIROBI Tel: +254 20 245036 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- From: Sean Moroney To: bksang(a)education.go.ke Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 5:20 PM Subject: [kictanet] African Banking Technology Conference 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 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 www.aitecafrica.com -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.19/663 - Release Date: 2/1/2007 2:28 PM

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