- KICTANet - KICTANet

Reuters/Nokia Collaboration Has Potential for Citizen Journalists
by Rebecca Wanjiku 31 Oct '07

31 Oct '07

Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ Reuters and Nokia Research Center have teamed up to advance the usage of mobile journalism with the release of a new mobile toolkit and reporting try-out. Although the initiative is currently aimed at professional reporters, the project has implications for citizen journalists around the world. In a trial that began over the summer, Reuters journalists were given a lightweight " mobile toolkit " that included a Nokia N95 mobile phone, a tripod, a folding bluetooth keyboard, a Sony microphone, and Power Monkeys. The Power Monkey Explorer was used in Senegal and allowed the phone to be charged using solar power. The toolkit also includes text editing and multimedia capabilities. According to Nokia, "metadata facilities" combine everything that the phone already knows about the story, such as GPS location, time, date and other information. The toolkit allows journalists to write and publish stories from the field to deliver up-to-date news and instant reporting. The trial involved journalists reporting on everything from New York Fashion Week to the US presidential campaign. Archived stories are available on Reuters Mobile Journalism website. Although the mobile toolkit's usage has been confined to professional journalists, usage could be expanded in the future to include non-professionals as well. According to Nokia's press release, The implications of the research could be much wider in the long term. Timo Koskinen, project manager with Nokia Research Center, said: "The term 'citizen journalism' has been in use for several years, but technological innovations - particularly the introduction of mobile multimedia computers - have transformed the concept. 'Citizen journalism' is beginning to embrace a wide range of public engagement with the media, from groups of contributors organized around subject or geographic areas to the casual participation of observers who are lucky - or unlucky - enough to be at the scene of a newsworthy event." The Nokia/Reuters collaboration joins other mobile journalism projects, including Voices of Africa, a project of AfricaNews that we have previously written about. Voices of Africa allows citizen journalists throughout Africa to submit videos, photos, and stories via mobile phone. The project seeeks to make news coverage more democratic by expanding reporting abilities to those who aren't represented by the conventional media with the basic premise that "the bigger the number of people expressing their opinions through that technology, the stronger becomes democracy, and the more valuable is the contribution to good governance efforts in Africa." http://mobileactive.org/reuters-nokia-collaboration 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 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

ICANN opens 30th meeting in LA
by Rebecca Wanjiku 30 Oct '07

30 Oct '07

ICANN Opens Historic 30th International Public Meeting in L.A. Meeting marks end of Vint Cerf's term, offers updates on major changes to Internet 29 October 2007 LOS ANGELES: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has opened its 30th International Public Meeting in Los Angeles. "It's fitting to host such an historic meeting in California. ICANN will be looking at issues impacting the future of the Internet in the place where, in many ways, the Internet was born and grew up," said Dr Paul Twomey, ICANN's President and CEO. "The ICANN model is working and these meetings are pivotal. As a bottom up, consensus-driven organization, help us get the community together to discuss the direction we need to head, and how we will get there." Attendees and on-line participants can be part of more than 30 sessions and workshops, and will help ICANN continue improving the global coordination of the Internet's unique identifiers. Some of the highlights of the Los Angeles meeting include: ICANN's ongoing technical test of Internationalized Domain Names, Developing policies on how IDNs will be implemented so global internet users can get their names in their languages, A major workshop on Increasing consumer choice through the development of the application and approval process for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs, which are the part of web addresses after the dot — like .com or .info), Enhancing protection for domain name registrants through amendments to the Registrar Accreditation Agreement. "I can't over emphasize the importance of IDNs and new gTLDs — when ICANN reaches the implementation point on these projects we will see an incredible change in the way people interact with the Internet and each other," Dr Twomey added. "ICANN stands for a single, globally interoperable Internet — and the work on IDNs and new gTLDs is part of enhancing that." Dr Twomey also welcomed the announcement from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration that the NTIA will consult with interested stakeholders regarding the mid-term review of the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) between the Department and ICANN. "ICANN and the Department agreed to a mid term review in 2006," Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information John Kneuer said at the ICANN meeting this morning. "It is important that all interested stakeholders have an opportunity to directly share their views on ICANN during the JPA mid-term review," Kneuer added. "We feel strongly that our review must be informed by your experiences with ICANN and perspectives regarding its evolution." The NTIA release is available at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2007/PR_ICANNJPA_10292007.html. "We welcome this public consultation. ICANN stands for one, global interoperable Internet. If you believe in that, this is your opportunity to tell the NTIA that the ICANN model is our best one to ensure co-ordination not control," Dr Twomey added. "It's also an historic meeting because it is Vint Cerf's last official function as board chair," Dr Twomey added. "His contributions to ICANN, and the Internet, have been immeasurable. We are going to celebrate his achievements at a special tribute during the meeting." The complete schedule for ICANN's Los Angeles meeting, as well as links to webcast sessions and our public participation website, can be found at: http://losangeles2007.icann.org/. . Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

ITU and AfDB join hands
by Rebecca Wanjiku 30 Oct '07

30 Oct '07

ITU and AfDB join forces to Interconnect African Capitals and Major Cities Collaboration to achieve key Connect Africa Summit Goals Issued jointly by ITU and the African Development Bank Kigali, Rwanda, 30 October 2007 — The International Telecommunication Union and the African Development Bank (AfDB) agreed to collaborate on interconnecting all African capitals and major cities with ICT broadband infrastructure and strengthen connectivity to the rest of the world by 2012. Commenting on the challenge ahead, Mr Kaberuka said, “In recent years, private investment in ICT infrastructure, especially in mobile phone networks, has had an enormous impact in many parts of Africa, but major gaps remain. The development banks and other financing partners have a responsibility to step in where these gaps are holding back development in the region.” Secretary-General of ITU, Dr Hamadoun Touré and President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Mr Donald Kaberuka announced this today at the Connect Africa Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. “The solution for African development is not charity,” Dr Touré said. “African countries need modern, reliable broadband ICT infrastructure to attract investment for jobs and economic growth. This is about economic independence and strengthening Africa’s competitive position in the global economy.” As part of this collaboration, ITU and AfDB will actively mobilize partners and financing to close ICT broadband infrastructure gaps between major centres in Africa. AfDB hosts the Secretariat of the African Infrastructure Consortium, which brings together major donors and financial institutions active in the region. This group plays a crucial role in the financing of projects, as well as in ensuring a coherent approach among those involved. “The Bank aims to stimulate economic growth and climate and facilitate economic integration. We want to make the economies of Africa more competitive, and therefore AfDB is committing to the development of information and communication technology across the continent,” Dr Kaberuka said. To support the implementation of ICT infrastructure projects funded by the AfDB or other interested financing partners, ITU will serve as an executing agency and provide telecommunications expertise and technical assistance, where the need arises. ITU will also mobilize its base of more than 650 Sector Members, including many leading ICT industry players. To support new ICT infrastructure investments and fill in remaining gaps, ITU and AfDB will jointly undertake feasibility studies and develop project proposals in consultation with Member States and other stakeholders in the region. With the aim of rationalizing available funds and building on efforts in other sectors, ITU and AfDB will also work together to promote wider integration of ICT with other major infrastructure investments. This would include laying broadband fibre alongside transport and energy projects, as well as encouraging innovative infrastructure sharing approaches among telecommunication/ICT operators. ITU and AfDB also agreed to collaborate in assisting countries to develop policies and regulations to encourage new ICT infrastructure investments. About AfDB The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution which is dedicated to combating poverty and improving living conditions across the continent. The ADB Group is also engaged in mobilizing resources for the economic and social progress of its Regional Member Countries. The Bank’s mission is to promote economic and social development through loans, equity investments and technical assistance. The Group includes: The African Development Bank (ADB) is a multilateral development bank whose shareholders include 53 African countries (regional member countries—RMCs) and 24 non-African countries from the Americas, Asia, and Europe (non-regional member countries—non-RMCs). It was established in 1964, with its headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and officially began operations in 1967. The Bank has been operating from its Temporary Relocation Agency in Tunis since February 2003. The African Development Fund (ADF). Established in 1973, the ADF, which comprises the ADB and State Participants, became operational in 1974. Its main objective is to reduce poverty in RMCs by providing low-income RMCs with concessional loans and grants for projects and programs, as well as technical assistance for studies and capacity-building activities. About ITU ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues, and the global focal point for governments and the private sector in developing networks and services. For more than 140 years, ITU has coordinated the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoted international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, worked to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and established the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems. ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums bringing together the most influential representatives of government and the telecommunications industry to exchange ideas, knowledge and technology for the benefit of the global community, and in particular the developing world. From broadband internet to latest-generation wireless technologies, from aeronautical and maritime navigation to radio astronomy and satellite-based meteorology, from phone and fax services to TV broadcasting and next-generation networks, ITU continues to play a central role in helping the world communicate. About Connect Africa The Connect Africa Summit takes place in Kigali, Rwanda, 29-30 October 2007, under the patronage of Mr Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda and Mr John Kufuor, President of the Republic of Ghana and Chairman of the African Union. It is being organized by the International Telecommunication Union, the African Union, the World Bank Group and the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development, in partnership with the African Development Bank, the African Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the Global Digital Solidarity Fund. The overall objective of the Connect Africa Summit is to mobilize the human, financial and technical resources required to close Information and Communication Technology (ICT) gaps throughout Africa. The Summit offers a venue for leaders from the public, private and financial sectors to network face-to-face and forge new partnerships. Debate centres on the key success factors vital to advance ICT investment and boost growth in Africa, including the expansion of broadband infrastructure, “last mile” access and rural connectivity solutions, establishing a business-friendly policy and regulatory environment, developing an ICT skilled workforce and relevant applications and services, and striking a balance between private and public investment. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Fwd: [TIER] Wireless School at ICTP
by Eric Osiakwan 30 Oct '07

30 Oct '07

Begin forwarded message: > From: Marco Zennaro <mzennaro(a)ictp.it> > Date: 30 October 2007 11:43:35 GMT+03:00 > To: tier(a)tier.cs.berkeley.edu > Subject: [TIER] Wireless School at ICTP > > The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) > is organizing a School on "New Perspectives in Wireless Networking > Applications", to be followed by "Relevance of Low Cost Wireless > ICT Solutions for Development: an Awareness Workshop" from 11 > February to 5 March 2008. The venue will be ICTP in Trieste, Italy. > > > PURPOSE AND NATURE > The School is addressed to a limited number of candidates coming > from academic and research institutions of Developing Countries and > having an adequate working knowledge of IP networking. It will > include tutorial lectures and laboratory work, where wireless > solutions will be experienced through hands-on-sessions. > > The Laboratory work will be dedicated to practical exercises and > demonstrations on: > > - Basics of wireless networking with Wi-Fi/WiMax technologies > - Wireless Sensor Networks > - Powering remote sites > > AWARENESS WORKSHOP > In the Awareness Workshop participants and international experts > will discuss the most advanced and cost-effective low cost wireless > technology available to help the educational, scientific, social > and economic development of Least Developed Countries. > > Deadline for requesting participation is 5 November 2007. > > > More info is available at: http://cdsagenda5.ictp.trieste.it/ > full_display.php?smr=0&ida=a07142 > > > Marco Zennaro > Aeronomy and Radiopropagation Laboratory > the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics > Strada Costiera 11 > 34014 Trieste > Italy > > Telephone: +39 040 2240 406 > E-mail: mzennaro(a)ictp.it > > > > _______________________________________________ > TIER mailing list > Website: http://tier.cs.berkeley.edu > TIER(a)tier.cs.berkeley.edu > https://www.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"

1 0

Intellectual Property (IP), Copyrights, Infringement, Access to Knowledge
by Alex Gakuru 29 Oct '07

29 Oct '07

Dear All, I have an assignment that will definitely strengthen the consumer but for that to happen much sooner,better, and a lot easier I need your help. A practical example: Cyber cafes around town infringing on Microsoft Windows 2000 have less than 1-month to purchase XP or Vista else they will be arraigned in court by the company and/or its agents. Anyone who wants to purchase "licences" for the Windows 2000 cannot do so because Microsoft says they no longer support that product. This means that one has to upgrade to Vista, quite an unpopular product according to this study: http://www.windowsvistaweblog.com/2007/09/22/2-percent-of-companies-upgrade… Meagre revenue generating Cyber cafe are expected to spend more 15 million in new hardware to support vista in addition to Microsoft software licenses else they face legal action. Fortunately, Free and Open Source Software run very fast on old computers. (Mine is 533 MHz! and it runs great) In total, Kenya has about 700,000 computers most running on whatever windows and it is also said that the level of infringement is 85% (see below). If every computer were to run on "licensed" windows, them the capital flight from Kenya would be 700,000(PCs) x 17, 000 (windowsXP) = Kshs 11,900,000,000 (approx.20 billion). Add Shs 17.5 billion for Microsoft Office retailing at Kshs 25,000 per copy making a total of shillings 29.4 billion (about the amount Finance Ministry hopes to get from sale of Safaricom shares?) Free and Open Source Software has free OpenOffice and hundred of thousands of other free software... ------------------------------------------------------------- Country GDP/cap (US$) PCs('000) Piracy ------------------------------------------------------------- Kenya 1,200 700 81% S.Africa 13,300 3,100 35% USA 44,000 200,000 21% Malawi 600 60 85% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Source: Speaker at Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation's "Connecting Rural Communities-Africa Forum" at Nairobi. (I prefer use of "license infringement" as opposed to pre-condemning "piracy") In order to assist me in addressing this consumer and development and related issues, please fill and send back the attached questionnaire.For more info see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Access_to_Knowledge_movement. I have attached the questionnaire in two of various "save as" formats OpenOffice Word Processor offers ( Microsoft Word".doc" and OpenOffice .odt). Please fill and return ASAP to help me make a more informed Rapid Assessment Study. asante. Alex __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

ITU and Microsoft launch online platform to track ICT development
by Rebecca Wanjiku 29 Oct '07

29 Oct '07

ITU and Microsoft launch online platform to track ICT development Support for ICT infrastructure and capacity building pledged at Connect Africa Summit Issued jointly by ITU and Microsoft Kigali, Rwanda, 29 October 2007 - ITU Global View, a virtual earth-based online platform to track and help accelerate the implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) goals in Africa was launched today on the opening day of the Connect Africa Summit. Governments, along with industry, development banks and international organizations are gathered in Kigali to mobilize the human, financial and technical resources required to expand the development of ICT infrastructure and ensure it is used effectively in pursuit of the WSIS development goals for Africa. For full text see: http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2007/32.html __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Statement from CS meeting on African Connectivity Kigali Oct 2007
by Eric Osiakwan 29 Oct '07

29 Oct '07

fyi Begin forwarded message: > From: "Anriette Esterhuysen" <anriette(a)apc.org> > Date: 29 October 2007 16:44:29 GMT+03:00 > To: aPC-forum(a)lists.apc.org > Cc: fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org, apc.africa(a)lists.apc.org > Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] Statement from CS meeting on African > Connectivity Kigali Oct 2007 > Reply-To: anriette(a)apc.org, APC - Private list for use by EASSY > Workshop Participants <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> > > Hallo all > > For all your information. > > Attached is a statement developed by APC and > partners (CIPESA, AfrISPA, KictaNet, OSIWA, > and RERN) held in Kigali, Rwanda on 28 > October 2007 prior to the Connect Africa > Summit convened by the ITU on 29 and 30 > October. Please address queries to Abi Jagun > (abi(a)apc.org) and Coura Fall > (coura(a)apc.org) > > Anriette > > PS- APC members and partners and friends in > Kigali please note we are meeting for dinner at > Hotel Chez Lando at 19h30 today, 29 October > 2007. > > > ------------------------------------------------------ > Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director > Association for Progressive Communications > anriette(a)apc.org > http://www.apc.org > PO Box 29755, Melville, South Africa. 2109 > Tel. 27 11 726 1692 > Fax 27 11 726 1692 > > The following section of this message contains a file attachment > prepared for transmission using the Internet MIME message format. > If you are using Pegasus Mail, or any other MIME-compliant system, > you should be able to save it or view it from within your mailer. > If you cannot, please ask your system administrator for assistance. > > ---- File information ----------- > File: Kigali_mtng_recom291007.pdf > Date: 29 Oct 2007, 15:43 > Size: 56319 bytes. > Type: Unknown_______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

1 0

Fwd: (KAZI-AFRICA) THE APPRENTICE!!!- Africa!!
by Michael Kipsang Bullut 27 Oct '07

27 Oct '07

Sambaza... ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Karoki, Rachel <Rachel.Karoki(a)ke.standardchartered.com> Date: 17 Oct 2007 15:12 Subject: (KAZI-AFRICA) THE APPRENTICE!!!- Africa!! To: carol agunda <carole(a)bobmilgroup.com>, Sebastian Ogutu Owino < SOwino(a)cfcbank.co.ke>, "Sylvia N. Karanu" <Sylvia(a)mabati.com>, "J.K Maina" < jkmaina(a)ihlkenya.com>, Joe Mutisya <jmutisya(a)ccsabco.co.za>, caroln(a)africaonline.co.ke, charlynneke(a)yahoo.com, itotia carolyne < citotia(a)yahoo.com>, jane.rama(a)ec.europa.eu, kagzd(a)yahoo.com, kamauroza(a)yahoo.com, maureenkmanthi(a)yahoo.com, mercy.kimani(a)ec.europa.eu, mwankris(a)yahoo.com, nimonice(a)yahoo.com, shikokarim(a)yahoo.com, stellag(a)kwal.co.ke, suziegeshi(a)yahoo.com, wakimani2002(a)yahoo.com, Anne Mwangi <amwangi(a)rosewoodofficesystems.com>, anzwelmwangi(a)yahoo.ie, jmumbi(a)uonbi.ac.ke, Faith <mumbingatia(a)yahoo.com>, grace.gichobi(a)kenya-airways.com, Maryanne muthoni <Muthoniwaruingi(a)yahoo.com>, Maryanne Nguchu <wairimunkm(a)yahoo.com>, mercy <mercymmus(a)yahoo.com>, Milka Waithera <wwmilcah(a)yahoo.com>, Phyllis <pmwikaly(a)yahoo.com>, shernaine(a)yahoo.com, stella <stellawaruinge(a)yahoo.com>, Zipporah Nyandiah < nyandiah(a)yahoo.com>, amos(a)dyerandblair.com, evelyne.vutagwa(a)yellowpageskenya.com, larandi(a)nation.co.ke, lydia(a)fuelomatafrica.com, MNdung'u(a)safaricom.co.ke, beatrice.n(a)nssfkenya.co.ke, Innocent.Nyakwara(a)unilever.com, "simon lihanda < kads70(a)hotmail.com>" <slihanda(a)yahoo.com>, vodhiambo(a)nation.co.ke, Cate < kavulana(a)gmail.com>, Shtaqs <ashtaqs(a)yahoo.com> Cc: kaziafrica(a)googlegroups.com Finally Apprentice Africa is here with us……..18 contestants from across Africa and diaspora competing for a lucrative corporate job; annual salo of $200,000 (Ksh. 13.5M p.a) +other perks like a luxury limousine etc... Are you up for the challenge???? Then Apply here.. http://www.theapprenticeafrica.com/apply.php, I just did... will U? This email and any attachments are confidential and may also be privileged. If you are not the addressee, do not disclose, copy, ci rculate or in any other way use or rely on the information contained in this email or any attachments. If received in error, notify the sender immediately and delete this email and any attachments from your system. Emails cannot be guaranteed to be secure or err or free as the message and any attachments could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, delayed, incomplete or amended. Standard Chartere d PLC and its subsidiaries do not accept liability for damage caused by this email or any attachments and may monitor email traffic. Standard Chartered PLC is incorporated in England with limited liability under company number 966425 and has its registered office a t 1 Aldermanbury Square, London, EC2V 7SB. Standard Chartered Bank ("SCB") is incorporated in England with limited liability by Royal Charter 1853, under reference ZC18. The Principal Office of SCB is situated in England at 1 Aldermanbury Square, London EC2V 7SB. In the United Kingdom, SCB is authorised a nd regulated by the Financial Services Authority under FSA register number 114276. If you are receiving this email from SCB outside the UK, please click http://www.standardchartered.com/global/email_disclaimer.html to refer to the information on other jurisdictions. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "KAZI-AFRICA" group. Email to kaziafrica(a)googlegroups.com Subscribe ,kaziafrica-subscribe(a)googlegroups.com Unsubscribe, kaziafrica-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/kaziafrica?hl=en www.kazi-africa.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- -- "To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wildflower...hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour..." ~ William Blakeg. --

1 0

GET YOUR HANDS OFF THE WEB
by Alex Gakuru 27 Oct '07

27 Oct '07

Others say.. GET YOUR HANDS OFF THE WEB [SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Stephen H. Wildstrom] [Comentary] The behavior of the top telecommunications companies, especially Verizon Communications and AT&T, has convinced me that more government involvement is needed to keep communications free of corporate interference. There's a certain irony here. The carriers warn that without premiums to pay for advanced services, the U.S. risks falling behind other nations in broadband. But the U.S. is already losing ground to the rest of the industrialized world in broadband speed and percentage of homes served. Last year the U.S. fell from 12th to 15th in broadband penetration among 29 countries ranked by the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development. Most of those nations are enthusiastic regulators. The hands-off approach hasn't served consumers well. And the Web is far too important to entrust the free flow of information to the shifting whims of a few big companies. Government must step in and tell them to leave our content alone. http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2007/tc20071024_623695.ht… ---------------------------------------------------------- WWWhatsup NYC http://pinstand.com - http://punkcast.com ---------------------------------------------------------- __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Re: [kictanet] [Fibre-for-africa] RE: The tables are turned
by Eric Osiakwan 26 Oct '07

26 Oct '07

Dear Peter, I also think this should be abitration after the two parties did not agree between themselves but one of them prefered to take it to the regulator whether rightly or wrongly but thats their choice. The regulator can then ask them to go abitrate. In Ghana when a similar situation happened between GT and IGH, the issue went up the regulator and the regulator said, thier next line of call after they could not agree was to abitrate and if abitration does not work then they come to the regualtor and if the decision of the regulator does not work then the courts comes in. Our regulations provide for such progression but i dont know about yours, may be Alex G. can again come to my rescue. Your last issue boaders on dominate market share, now as far as i know Kenya does not have competition regulation but ideally that should take care of such growths in the market as it is in the EU. Am just reading a story of Microsft surcumbing to that regulation in the EU. Eric here On 23 Oct 2007, at 12:49, Peter Othino wrote: > Hi Eric, > > I do agree Michael Joseph and the situation should be arbitration > and not a > regulator handling commercial differences in the field. > > Looking at it on the reverse, the current Telkom Operation on their > CDMA > platform they are no different from a GSM provider yet I believe the > licensing conditions were different this to me has no direct > commercials but > a regulatory aspect but I do not remember it being handled despite > concerns > raised. I do not believe that parties need to complain for > regulation to be > effected as that would kill the whole concept and drive about self > regulation that is the ultimate desired position. > > Yet again if a provider gets powerful for it is position in the > market I > believe it is part of the Matrix as this comes either as tangible or > intangible value adds above the rest associated with the service > delivered. > > Thanks, > > Peter Othino > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Timothy Kasonde KASOLO [mailto:timothy@africonnect.co.zm] > Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:08 PM > To: eadera(a)idrc.or.ke; APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop > Participants > Cc: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants; > KICTAnet ICT > Policy Discussions > Subject: RE: [Fibre-for-africa] RE: [kictanet] The tables are turned > > Hello, > I think the media needs to be balancing the articles .... > > Timothy > >> Michael, >> >> It would help to hear your side of the story so we can all be >> informed. >> >> We unfortunately do not have other sources of information at this >> point >> other than the media. >> >> Looking forward, >> >> Edith >> >> -original message- >> Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] RE: [kictanet] The tables are turned >> From: "Michael Joseph" <MJoseph(a)Safaricom.co.ke> >> Date: 23/10/2007 10:53 am >> >> What you have not mentioned whether the complaint had any merit and >> whether the Parties could not have resolved it between themselves >> rather >> than relying on the CCK to mediate every commercial dispute. There is >> much more to this than just the one-sided view quoted by the media >> but >> we have chosen not to try to resolve our disputes through the media. >> >> >> >> Regards >> >> >> >> Michael >> >> >> >> CEO >> >> Safaricom Limited >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> >> From: kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces >> +mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke] >> On Behalf Of Eric Osiakwan >> Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 12:27 AM >> To: Michael Joseph >> Cc: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants; >> KICTAnet >> ICT Policy Discussions >> Subject: [kictanet] The tables are turned >> >> >> >> Dear All, >> >> >> >> We are really living in interesting times especially in the ICT >> industry >> because a few years ago, it was the mobile operators and ISPs who >> would >> be knocking on the doors of the regulator complaining and sometimes >> weeping at the anti-competitive practices of the imcumbent PTT >> towards >> them. >> >> >> >> Today the tables have turned and in Kenya as per the story below, >> Telkom >> Kenya is rather asking CCK to put Safaricom in check because they are >> acting anti-competitively on the SMS platform against their CDMA >> operation. Five years ago, this would have being an "incorrect >> prophesy" >> but it has happen sooner than all would have expected. >> >> >> >> What is more interesting is the fact that Safaricom is 60% owned by >> Telkom Kenya which is fully owned by government that means that the >> mobile operators have become so powerful that the combined years >> of PTT >> operation and their political forces cannot turn the tables except >> the >> mediation of the regulator. This confirms Russell Southwood's recent >> story of the emergence of the mobile operators as the new >> incumbents of >> our time. >> >> >> >> May be one good thing is the fact that the mobile incumbents are so >> powerful that not a combiantion of PTT operation and political forces >> can impact them except the court of the regulator so the political >> leadership in some of our countries would now see reason to >> strengthen >> their regulators and make them independent enough to be the pivot to >> balance the weight of the mobile operators against their "cash cow" >> incumbents. >> >> >> >> Eric here >> >> >> >> >> >> Telkom Lodges SMS Petition Against Safaricom in Kenya >> >> In the fight for control of Kenya's lucrative telecoms industry, >> competition is becoming a useful weapon in the hands of rival firms >> -especially those that need to play the catch-up game to remain in >> the >> race. >> >> This market share war has become so intense that players are breaking >> all boundaries in the corporate rulebook. >> >> Five months ago, mobile phone service provider Celtel took its bigger >> and only rival Safaricom before the market regulator, accusing it of >> playing unfairly in the market to the disadvantage of the consumer. >> >> Now it is the national operator Telkom's turn to lodge a landmark >> complaint against its subsidiary -Safaricom. >> >> In its letter to Mr John Waweru, the Communications Commission of >> Kenya >> director general, Telkom Kenya is accusing Safaricom of practising >> anti-competitive behaviour in the market -especially in the Short >> Messages Services (SMS) segment of the business. >> >> Telkom says Safaricom has been blocking the exchange of SMSs >> between the >> two networks, thereby denying its customers access to key services >> that >> the national operator is offering such as the one that enables >> them to >> check their voter registration details with the Electoral >> Commission of >> Kenya (ECK). >> >> "Telkom Kenya is concerned that Safaricom is engaging in >> anti-competitive behaviour and in essence abusing its dominant market >> position by introducing barriers to new entrants targeting SMS market >> segment," Telkom says. >> >> Public attention was first drawn to the matter after some Safaricom >> subscribers complained that Safaricom was charging them for >> undelivered >> SMSs to Telkom Kenya's Wireless network. SMSs to Telkom network >> got an >> automatic reply indicating that delivery had failed yet the consumers >> were being billed. >> >> Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph acknowledged that some of its >> subscribers >> had sent messages to Telkom Kenya during the test period and may have >> been charged erroneously. >> >> He said that although the company was not billing SMSs to Telkom >> Wireless network between August 13 and August 27, some of its >> customers >> may have been billed. Safaricom later agreed to refund the affected >> subscribers. >> >> Telkom says that on August 16, the two interconnectivity negotiating >> parties met and agreed on interconnection rate and a technical >> testing >> schedule. >> >> During this period the parties also exchanged SMS test templates >> to be >> adopted in the tests. Safaricom has however not cooperated in >> facilitating the process, making it unable to commercialise the >> service. >> >> The matter seems to have reached fever pitch after Safaricom >> introduced >> a voter registry query service similar to the one Telkom Kenya had >> rolled out after it won an ECK tender. >> >> Telkom Kenya is complaining that failure by Safaricom to activate the >> SMS service is affecting its ability to use an innovative platform >> that >> delivers voter registry query services by utilizing the 460 >> numeric to >> access the ECK database. >> >> Telkom Kenya says Safaricom acted maliciously in delaying to activate >> the SMS service only to launch a similar service. >> >> "We are perturbed that Safaricom, having not been involved in the >> initial tender process is currently able to provide a similar >> services >> using the 460 prefix. This is a totally unacceptable anti-competitive >> behaviour," Telkom says. >> >> Mr Joseph declined to comment on the matter saying it was already >> before >> an arbiter. >> >> Telkom Kenya is the majority shareholder at Safaricom with a 60 >> per cent >> stake. It co-owns the company with the United Kingdom's Vodafone Plc >> which has a 40 per cent stake in the firm. >> (Source: Business Daily) >> >> >> >> >> >> 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" >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> 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. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Fibre-for-africa mailing list >> Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org >> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa >> >> >> >> -- >> This message has been scanned for viruses and >> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is >> believed to be clean. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Fibre-for-africa mailing list >> Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org >> http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa >> >> > > > Timothy Kasonde Kasolo, > Africonnect > NETWORK SUPPORT ENGINEER, > Plot 59, Great East Road, > Lusaka. > Phone: Lusaka +260-1-232005 > Mobile:+260-97-893922. > E-mail: timothy(a)africonnect.co.zm > www.africonnect.co.zm > www.iconnect.co.zm > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > > > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa > Eric M.K Osiakwan 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"

3 5