- KICTANet - KICTANet

Kenic, Communicart, send smiles back to Korogocho slums
by Rebecca Wanjiku 15 Jun '07

15 Jun '07

KICTANet members make a difference at Koch FM When Carol Wanjiru and Hellen Wanjiku gave their presentation about Koch Fm, the challenges and successes, the crowd was delighted. It was a capacity crowd of Kictanet members who turned up probably to listen to the opportunities and challenges to development and maintenance of local content in local radio stations and websites. For a station that started as a pirate radio at the Korogocho slums in Nairobi, Koch Fm officially launches tomorrow (Saturday June 16th) The station broadcasts at 99.9 at a radius of 2km, incidentally, the same frequency is licensed to Ghetto Fm at Majengo slums. If they exceed the radius, then they interfere with each others frequencies. In this respect, Koch Fm would like to stream online so that even those living beyond Korogocho can listen to them. But they have no website. That was made history yesterday by KENIC and Communicart. KENIC will organise for them to get a domain while Communicart will develop their website and ensure its interactive. Because Koch Fm wants to encourage qualified youth to abandon crime and seek employment or entrepreneurship, the website will allow organizations and individuals to post employment and training opportunities which will be broadcast at the station. Ends Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool.

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Radio Simba to train Koch Fm presenters
by Rebecca Wanjiku 15 Jun '07

15 Jun '07

Simba Fm to train presenters at Koch Fm When Carol Wanjiru agreed to make a presentation at KICTANets monthly forum, she did not expect the response to be that overwhelming. I knew good things would come, but this is more than good. Thank you KICTANet! she said. Apart from having an operational website, Radio Simba invited Koch Fm presenters for a hands-on training at their offices in Lavington. Nicola Munene, from Radio Simba, confirmed that the station would be delighted to expose the volunteers at Koch Fm to the rigors of a commercial radio station and how they make presentation beneficial to the community. We will arrange when they can come over to our offices. I think it will be mutually beneficial, said Munene. Koch Fm is operated by youth at Korogocho slums on voluntary basis. Ends 6 Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV.

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Kenic, Communicart, sends smiles back to Korogocho slums
by Rebecca Wanjiku 15 Jun '07

15 Jun '07

KICTANet members make a difference at Koch FM When Carol Wanjiru and Hellen Wanjiku gave their presentation about Koch Fm, the challenges and successes, the crowd was delighted. It was a capacity crowd of Kictanet members who turned up probably to listen to the opportunities and challenges to development and maintenance of local content in local radio stations and websites. For a station that started as a pirate radio at the Korogocho slums in Nairobi, Koch Fm officially launches tomorrow (Saturday June 16th) The station broadcasts at 99.9 at a radius of 2km, incidentally, the same frequency is licensed to Ghetto Fm at Majengo slums. If they exceed the radius, then they interfere with each others frequencies. In this respect, Koch Fm would like to stream online so that even those living beyond Korogocho can listen to them. But they have no website. That was made history yesterday by KENIC and Communicart. KENIC will organise for them to get a domain while Communicart will develop their website and ensure its interactive. Because Koch Fm wants to encourage qualified youth to abandon crime and seek employment or entrepreneurship, the website will allow organizations and individuals to post employment and training opportunities which will be broadcast at the station. Ends Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Get the free Yahoo! toolbar and rest assured with the added security of spyware protection.

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forum at palm room
by Rebecca Wanjiku 14 Jun '07

14 Jun '07

just to let you know the forum will be held at the Palm room in Jacaranda at 3 pm hope to see you there regards 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.

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Re: [kictanet] Apology for non attendance
by Innovative Lawyering 14 Jun '07

14 Jun '07

Hi all, I will not be able to attend the forum at the Jacaranda hotel today due to earlier engagements. However I will send a representative. Regards Ben Sihanya ____________________________________________________________________________ Dr Ben Sihanya, Ph.D. (Stanford) Teacher, Intellectual Property Attorney, Author, Advocate, CPS (K), Consultant Intellectual Property, Constitutionalism, and Communication Law University of Nairobi Law School & ©opyright Africa & Innovative Lawyering Trainer on TRIPs, WTOs Regional Trade Policy Course, University of Namibia Parklands Law Campus, Room B10 Box 1313, Sarit Centre, 00606 Nairobi, Kenya Telefax (254-20) 3741769 (O); +4343259 (H); Cell: +722897825 email: copyrightafrica(a)innovativelawyering.com; sihanya(a)innovativelawyering.com; innovativelawyering(a)wananchi.com; url:www.innovativelawyering.com

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citizens' rights to a nondiscriminatory Internet
by Alex Gakuru 14 Jun '07

14 Jun '07

Telco lobbyists thwarted as Net Neutrality resolution passes MAINE IS FIRST STATE IN NATION TO PASS NET NEUTRALITY RESOLVE [SOURCE: maineinternetfreedom.com press release] A diverse coalition of Mainers applauded the enactment today of the first net neutrality resolve in the nation. The resolution, LD 1675, recognizes the importance of full, fair and non-discriminatory access to the Internet and instructs the Public Advocate to study what can be done to protect the rights of Maine Internet users. "Maine is the first state in the nation to stand up for its citizens' rights to a nondiscriminatory Internet," said Senator Ethan Strimling, the original sponsor of LD 1675. "The rest of the nation should follow suit and study what can be done to protect net neutrality." Maine is once again leading the way in protecting the rights of its citizens, said Shenna Bellows, Executive Director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union. This resolution will help re-establish the Internet as the free and open arena of democracy it was always intended to be. Advocates say that restoring net neutrality is essential to protecting the right of Internet users to access the information they choose. "Net neutrality principles are key to keeping control of the Internet in the hands of the people," said Chellie Pingree. "With this resolution, the Legislature has put the needs of Mainers before the needs of the telecom companies." http://www.maineinternetfreedom.com/node/57 * Links to coverage at: \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n----------------------------------------------------------\u003cbr\>\n WWWhatsup NYC\u003cbr\>\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://pinstand.com\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>http://pinstand.com\u003c/a\> - \u003ca href\u003d\"http://punkcast.com\" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>http://punkcast.com\u003c/a\>\u003cbr\>\n---------------------------------------------------------- \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003c/p\>\n \u003c/div\> \n\n \n \u003cspan width\u003d\"1\" style\u003d\"color:white\"\>__._,_.___\u003c/span\>\n \n \u003cdiv\>\n \u003cspan\>\n \u003ca href\u003d\"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/isoc-ny/message/1647;_ylc\u003dX3oDMTM0dTRoNj…" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\n Messages in this topic \u003c/a\> (\u003cspan\>1\u003c/span\>)\n \u003c/span\>\n \u003ca href\u003d\"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/isoc-ny/post;_ylc\u003dX3oDMTJwMjNobG9iBF9TAz…" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\n \u003cspan\>\n Reply \u003c/span\> (via web post)\n \u003c/a\> | \n \u003ca href\u003d\"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/isoc-ny/post;_ylc\u003dX3oDMTJla2tobmRzBF9TAz…" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>\n Start a new topic \u003c/a\>\n \u003c/div\> \n \n \n \u003cdiv\>\n \u003ca href\u003d\"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/isoc-ny/messages;_ylc\u003dX3oDMTJlOWU0Zjg3BF…" target\u003d\"_blank\" onclick\u003d\"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)\"\>Messages",1] ); //-->http://www.mainewebreport.com/2007/06/12/telco-lobbyists-thwarted-as-net-ne… ---------------------------------------------------------- WWWhatsup NYC http://pinstand.com - http://punkcast.com ---------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more.

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programme
by Rebecca Wanjiku 13 Jun '07

13 Jun '07

KICTANet MONTHLY FORUM THURSDAY June 14th , 2007 PROGRAMME TIME ACTIVITY 3.00- 3.15pm introduction 3.15-3.45pm local content issues- M. Mwangi 3:45-3.50pm Q&A 3.50-4.20pm Promoting local content- Simba Fm- N. Munene 4.20-4.25pm Q&A 4.25- 4.50pm Koch Fm- what do we address? C. Wanjiru 4.50- 5:15pm Q&A 5.15 pm Tea GUESTS LEAVE AT THEIR PLEASURE Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today!

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REPORT on Completion of KICTANET Server.
by Odhiambo WASHINGTON 13 Jun '07

13 Jun '07

Hello Alice, I have finally completed (I did it a few days ago) the server installation and testing. And I have put it online at Wananchi's co-location house. I do know that you are still awaiting word from Joe about hosting of the server by Wananchi. Let's just say I have used my position to get the server co-located on the strength of the fact that Wananchi Online Ltd had offered to host KICTAnet's services for free, and I had volunteered to be the systems administrator for those. I hope Joe will be able to resolve any issues when they arise, but I am almost 99% sure Wananchi will not love the shame of bringing the server offline just because the management changed. The next step for me will be to setup the e-mail accounts for all KICTAnet members that you'd think of, starting with the initial five:-) Once the e-mail accounts are working, I will migrate the mailing lists the way we had discussed before - LISTNAME(a)kictanet.or.ke will work, and so is LISTNAME(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke - thus making the move transparent to list members. From that point, all that I will be left to do is the maintenance of the server. We do not have a maintenance contract, but I guess that can be handled later. I will simply continue performing my role to ensure the services continue running. Technically, the job is finished. What remains is showing the secretariat how they will interact with the server. This will then be followed by the website! Now about the website, I am already working with two groups of people whom I have informed that I MUST have a website up and running by end of this week. I am having a meeting with them tomorrow and will update you on the progress. At the moment, www.kictanet.or.ke shows "under konstruction" (sorry for that:-)) I do believe I will break the Jinx. PS: Evelyne, do you need anything else other than the above writeup as being the report? If I need to include some details I have missed, please let me know. You may not be knowing this, but the new management of Wananchi Online decided that I should be looking at other things, so they have laid me off through redundancy. I am having my exit interview with Mr. Richard Bell tomorrow morning. I will be able to know why he decided to take this step (although I feel I know why, but what I know might be different than what he had in mind). Everyone else has left. Why not me? :-) As such, my last official date of work was 7Th June 2007. This week is mainly for clearance with the company, and I believe I should be done by Friday, and gone.... I will still have considerable influence at Wananchi, especially with the technical staff, because there are alot of things they still need my help with, and that can only work by reciprocal arrangement. So you should rest easy I will be able to handle matters with them. Lastly, there is one request I need to make regarding the server: When it was bought, it came with a monitor as well, but the monitor is not at all required for the co-location of the server since the server can run without any peripherals. I wanted to request you to allow me keep the monitor. I only used it when I was doing the installation and testing. I took the server to the co-location facility and moved the monitor to my house, since I am already moving anything that "belonged to me" away from the Wananchi's office in preparation for the exit. If this request might complicate any matters, then I am just too glad to bring the monitor to KICTAnet's offices. Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON.

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forum reminder..
by Rebecca Wanjiku 12 Jun '07

12 Jun '07

just a reminder-- KICTANet's monthly forum on Thursday June 14 at Jacaranda at 3pm Michuki Mwangi from Kenic will be speaking about local content, Simba, KOCH Fm will also share, plan to be there.. see you there, Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.

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EAC RICTSP Incubator Project: Open Call for Proposals, Deadline 9 July 2007]
by alice 12 Jun '07

12 Jun '07

Apologies for Cross Posting ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EAC RICTSP Incubator Project: Open Call for Proposals, Deadline 9 July 2007 http://www.wougnet.org/Events/projectnews07.html#RICTSP The overall objective of the Regional ICT Support Programme (RICTSP) is to contribute to the Eastern and Southern Africa regional integration agenda through an effective and efficient Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) environment. The primary purpose of the RICTSP is to achieve a reduction in the "digital divide" by removing some of the constraints to the efficient use of ICT. The EAC RICTSP Incubators Project is established to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and private entrepreneurs in initiatives where ICTs are used to boost business or which are regarded as ICT service businesses. The aim of the Incubators Project is that the entrepreneurs integrate ICT tools in their daily business, create new business opportunities using modern ICT solution or create new type of business or services using ICT as vehicle for the business and for cross-sectoral solutions or having impact in the development of the society. Special attention, although not exclusive, will be given to enterprises run by women. For more information, visit: www.eac.int/advertisements.htm <http://www.eac.int/advertisements.htm>

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Sprint Systems
by Kagwe James 12 Jun '07

12 Jun '07

Dear all, A company called sprint Systems is sending letters and calling companies saying that they want to come in and audit Microsoft systems for licenses. Does anyone know of the company and whether Microsoft has really given them this role or it's another blackmail of sorts. Please enlighten me if you have the information. Kind Regards, James Kagwe ************************************************************************ ********** Alexander Forbes Financial Services (EA) Ltd 9th floor, Nation Centre, Kimathi Street P. O. Box 52439 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254) 20 - 216 986 Fax: (254) 20 - 221 470 Confidentiality Warning ======================= The contents of this e-mail and any accompanying documentation are confidential and any use thereof, in what ever form, by anyone other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify actuaries(a)aforbes.co.ke or benefits(a)aforbes.co.ke and delete it immediately from your system.. Alexander Forbes Financial Services (EA) Limited from whom this e-mail originates accepts no responsibility for losses or damage as a result of any viruses and it is your responsibility to check attachments (if any) for viruses.

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[Fwd: [APC Forum] Job opening: Interactive Campaigner Vacancy at Oxfam GB]
by alice 12 Jun '07

12 Jun '07

Oxfam Great Britain campaigns unit is a new team and will work with campaigners across all of Oxfam’s campaign issues, in order to engage and inspire the general public to be informed and put pressure on key campaign targets. looking for a dynamic, interactive campaigner with strong online communication skills, knowledge on online campaign techniques and understanding of communicating to multiple audiences and much more. Location: Oxford Closing date 22 June 2007 - Interviews during week of 02/07/07 Full details and application process are available online http://www.i-grasp.com/fe/tpl_oxfam.asp?newms=jj&id=25000 Please pass on to people who you think would be interested and sorry for any cross postings you might receive. ======================================= 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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Policing the Media
by Wainaina Mungai 12 Jun '07

12 Jun '07

Interesting articles on Media and other stories http://www.madeinkenya.org/forum/

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discussing the bills, holding leaders accountable,
by Rebecca Wanjiku 12 Jun '07

12 Jun '07

i hope we have all accessed the bills from the doc. link provided earlier, i believe that these bills may come to parliament soon, you never know, for us to be prepared of any eventuality, i think its good if shared our opinions, which can be considered by the MPs the comments can begin, regards Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when.

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training opportunities-in case of interest....
by Rebecca Wanjiku 12 Jun '07

12 Jun '07

for those interested in training, here are some, just in case you had not seen... regards Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today!

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Holding our Leaders Accountable(delay in response)
by Mr President 12 Jun '07

12 Jun '07

Hi All First of all my apologies to you all, as am unsure wether this debate is over, but my reson for wanting to input my ideas is because i agree with ceryain sentiments. The chai concept, is polite and a means to an end, it was utilised by Njoki Ndungu and, i agree that to have a workshop, seminar for MPs would be ideal. Guys get real, HOW do we talk about E-govt and members of parliament are ICT illiterate ?? How do we drive demand, with the puiblic when those who represent them need mail and not E-mails ?? I consistently say, that we sahould borrow a leaf from Rwanda, The Head of state, conducts Govt online, bunge there uses electronic voting, the state is divided into four regions and all Hqs are served via a WAN. What is the state of our E-govt and the use of the same? Tho Mps may not be ICT lerned, then they should get assistants/ interns- tho not Lewinsky- to assist them in ResearchBills before the houseNational and constituency issuesICT and its benefits We agreed to lead by example, let us invite the Waheshimiwas and enlighten them and better still form and ICT lobby forum for use now and later, Example ? the media and ICT bills these would be the same MPs we would invite for informal then formal talks and for those who understand Govt like in the US we as KICTANET should learn to lobby, to me that is being Pro active as opposed to being Re active Have a thoughtful and blessed week end Njenga M.Pthose who fear to fail.will never try to succeded,for to fail to plan is to plan to FAIL _______________________________________________ No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

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Cisco Systems opens IT training centre in Kibera
by Alex Gakuru 12 Jun '07

12 Jun '07

[Business Daily] 12-June-2007 Author : Kui Kinyanjui A unique educational programme in Kibera slums of Nairobi will see residents learn to build personal computers and connect them to local area networks. Technology solutions provider Cisco Systems Incorporated has opened an information technology (IT) training centre in the informal settlement, aimed at providing training opportunities for disadvantaged peoplemany who may have never used a computer before. The Kibera Academy is about improving IT skills and boosting local peoples prospects for the future and elevating their standard of living, said Hital Muraj, Ciscos area academy manager for East Africa. Cisco is one of a growing number of global technology giants to create specialised solutions for the Kenyan market. Increasingly, more international technology firms are shifting focus away from purely commercial interests in developing countries to more social ventures that allow them to enrich the technology skills of target population. http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1399&Item… --------------------------------- Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids.

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why member profile
by Rebecca Wanjiku 11 Jun '07

11 Jun '07

kictanet would like to encourage members to know each other, this is a network of networks and would like to feature the organisations represented or individuals, it will be a way of members knowing each other and what we do... if you feel your organisation or individual is doing a good job to promote ICTs, please feel free to contact me, regards Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta.

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forum reminder..
by Rebecca Wanjiku 11 Jun '07

11 Jun '07

just a reminder-- KICTANet's monthly forum on Thursday June 14 at Jacaranda at 3pm Michuki Mwangi from Kenic will be speaking about local content, Simba, KOCH Fm will also share, plan to be there.. see you there, Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! FareChase.

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doc link
by Rebecca Wanjiku 11 Jun '07

11 Jun '07

just to let you know that the media council bill and the KC amendment bill are available on the APC Africa website, once the Kictanet website is done, we will have them there.... http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=he_1&x=5077882 --------------------------------- Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center.

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doc link
by Rebecca Wanjiku 11 Jun '07

11 Jun '07

just to let you know that the media council bill and the KC amendment bill are available on the APC Africa website, once the Kictanet website is done, we will have them there.... http://africa.rights.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=he_1&x=5077882 --------------------------------- Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.

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[Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] EASSy breaks fresh ground]
by alice 11 Jun '07

11 Jun '07

EASSy breaks fresh ground By Wairagala Wakabi CIPESA/ Fibre for Africa Kampala, June 11, 2007 The East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) has concluded interconnection agreements with three cable systems to carry traffic between Africa, Europe and Asia. It has also included the Comoros in its planned fibre network, to which 29 African entities are party. The cables are SAFE/SAT3, SEA ME-WE and FLAG, according to John Sihra, the coordinator of EASSy and a director with Tanzanian operator ZANTEL. The SAT3/WASC cable runs from Portugal, through Spain, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola to South Africa. SAFE begins from South Africa, to La Reunion, Mauritius, on to India and Malaysia. FLAG covers the Indian sub-continent and is extending to the Middle East and North Africa, while SEA ME-WE runs in the Middle East and North Africa. Sihra and other members of the EASSy steering committee ended a three-day meeting in Kampala, Uganda last Friday June 8 to finalise legal paperwork for the interconnection deals and the inclusion of the Comoros, among others. They also harmonised the various legal documents they had drawn up since they signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in December 2003. Open Access Sihra and other parties to the EASSy MoU told Fibre for Africa that the EASSy project cost remained $235 million, and reiterated that the cable would be operated along open access principles. Even 10 years from now other operators who come on board will get capacity at the same price as existing operators, said Sihra. We have had some pressure from NEPAD (the New Partnership for African Development) to make sure the project takes into account the expectation of regional governments, namely that capacity pricing should be competitive and cost based, and that new companies have non-discriminatory access to it. We have addressed these concerns. But at exactly what price shall EASSy bandwidth come? We cannot give exact prices now, he said. There are many competing cables coming up; everyone now wants to build a cable round east Africas coast. They were sleeping but EASSy woke them up, he added, suggesting that revealing at what price EASSy would lease out its bandwidth could play into the hands of competitors. Completion date With EASSy expected to be ready for commercial operations in the fourth quarter of 2008, signatories to the MoU said they were certain to be the first cable on the eastern coast of Africa. They promised competitive prices and high quality services, which they believed would make EASSy the most viable marine cable in the region. The actual laying of cables, which will be done by Alcatel Lucent Submarine Networks of France with whom a contract was signed on March 9 2007, will take 6-7 months. A detailed feasibility study was concluded, so has an environment impact assessment which the operators said found the cable would not negatively impact on the marine ecosystem. A marine survey is due to start, to map the cable route, and ascertain whether the findings of earlier studies are accurate regarding best route and length of the fibre system. Landing points Under the new arrangement there will be landing points at Grand Comoro and at Mayotte, and these will be funded by the Comoros government. Their inclusion will bring to 10 the number of EASSy landing points the others being at Mtunzini in South Africa, Maputo (Mozambique), Toliary (Madagascar), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Mombasa (Kenya), Mogadishu (Somalia), Djibouti (Republic of Djibouti) and Port Sudan (Sudan). The operators said because EASSy is regional in nature with shareholders from 17 countries, and because these shareholders are not in EASSy to make money from bandwidth sales but to use the cable to improve their services, EASSy bandwidth would be competitively priced and the cable would be especially viable. We shall be the first cable to go into water, and for that we shall have an advantage, said Sihra, adding that operators who will lease from third parties who will be in the business of selling bandwidth will end up with high costs and low capacity. The operators said the interconnection agreements they had concluded with other cables would enable EASSy to offer the public and other operators services from the point of origin of the call to any part of the world. International carriers like BT, France Telecom, and Sauditel are part of EASSy and we will have multiple choices for accessing the international system, which will also make us competitive, one official said. Funding Donald Nyakairu, chairman of the EASSy finance committee, said their funding was all in place, with parties such as MTN and Vodacom having contributed directly, while others would contribute through the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) known as the Western Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) which MoU partners have set up. He said the maximum amount of loans EASSy could accept was $170 million but it was likely that borrowed money would not exceed $110 million. The Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) announced early in June that it was ready to commit up to $40 million to EASSy but promoters say they might not need all of DBSAs kitty. Backhaul system Nyakairu, also chair of the East African Backhaul System (EABS) and corporation secretary of uganda telecom, said by the time EASSy is completed, there will be a fibre system running from Mombasa, through Nairobi, the Uganda-Kenya border town of Malaba and all the way to the Ugandas capital Kampala. The network will also have extended from Kampala through the Uganda-Rwanda border town of Kabale, to Kigali (Rwanda), through to Bujumbura, to the Tanzanian border and mainland, and onto the landing point at the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam. From the Uganda-Rwanda perspective, we see no problem of hooking up from Mombasa all the way to Rwanda, said Noel Meier, chief executive of MTN Uganda. Telkom Kenya is this year extending the fibre to Malaba from where Ugandan operators will pick it up. MTN currently has fibre from Kampala to the town of Bugiri not far from Malaba; while uganda telecom leases Uganda Electricity Transmission Company capacity that carries fibre to Tororo town, also near the border. On the western side, MTN has fibre to the Ugandan town of Mbarara, and uganda telecom is due to build fibre from there to the Rwandan border where it will link to the fibre that MTN Rwandatel is erecting to that point. Within Uganda, the EABS is expected to be hooked to a national fibre backbone which government is building with Chinese funding of up to $110 m. A backhaul system similar to EABS will be developed by operators in southern Africa. Parties to the MoU Parties to the EASSy MoU comprise of 11 operators who are 100% government owned and 18 who are either partially government owned or fully private sector-owned. They are: 1) Botswana Telecom 2) Onatel (Burundi) 3) Telecel (Burundi) 4) Comoro Telecoms 5) Djibouti Telecoms 6) Ethiopia Telecoms Corporation 7) Kenya Telkom 8) Kenya Data Networks 9) Lesotho Telecom Authority 10) Telcom Malagasy (Madagascar) 11) France Telecom (Mayotte) 12) Mauritius Telecom 13) Telecom de Mozambique 14) Vodacom (Mozambique) 15) MTN Rwanda 16) Dalkon (Somalia) 17) MTN South Africa 18) Telkom South Africa 19) Vodacom (South Africa) 20) Neotel (South Africa) 21) Canartel (Sudan) 22) Sudatel (Sudan) 23) Satcom Tanzania 24) Vodacom Tanzania 25) ZANTEL (Tanzania) 26) Tanzania Telecoms Company (TTCL) 27) MTN Uganda 28) ZAMTEL (Zambia_ 29) Tel.One (Zimbabwe) The non-African members are: BT (UK), Saudi Telecom, VSNL/Teleglobe (India), AT&T (USA), Verizon/ ex MCI (USA), France Telecom, and Etisalat (United Arab Emirates). Ends _______________________________________________ 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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Opportunity - ICT in Education Prize: call for nominations]
by alice 11 Jun '07

11 Jun '07

For all those engaging in e-learning etc -------------------------------------------------------- ICT in Education Prize: call for nominations Open Access to Education is the theme of the 2007 UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICTS in Education. Funded by the Kingdom of Bahrain, the US$50,000 Prize is divided between two winners. The deadline for submissions is 31 July 2007. Launched in 2005, the prize aims to reward the projects and best practices of individuals, institutions and NGOs in using information and communication technologies (ICT) to enhance learning, teaching and overall educational performance. Winners will be celebrated at an award ceremony to be held on 19 December 2007 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Candidatures must be presented by the government of a Member State of UNESCO or an international non-governmental organization, maintaining formal consultative relations with UNESCO and active in the relevant fields covered by the Prize. Each government or international non-governmental organization is entitled to nominate only two candidates per year. A self-nomination cannot be considered. For further details about the application procedure please consult the PDF file below: How to Apply - Guidelines and Checklist http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=24691&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECT…

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Kenya E-Commerce
by Alex Gakuru 11 Jun '07

11 Jun '07

Break from "Hyde" park, our consumers network is currently holding a "HOW-TO" realise e-commerce in Kenya discussion at http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers and you are most welcome to contribute examples, successes, failures, ideas and suggestions on-list. Alternatively, if you do not wish to register on the consumers e-list, you may send your comment to me directly. Thank you. Alex Gakuru --------------------------------- Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more.

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member profile
by Rebecca Wanjiku 11 Jun '07

11 Jun '07

hi, this is a reminder to all Kictanet members who would like to be featured in our bulletin, please send us your profile, send to me directly, not to the list, regards becky --------------------------------- Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool.

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