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Safaricom starts Sh20 a day loan for buying smartphones
by David Indeje 28 Jul '20

28 Jul '20

Dear Listers, Safaricom from Tuesday will start selling smartphones on credit to its subscribers who will make daily payments of as little as Sh20 a day for up to a year dubbed Lipa Mdogo Mdogo. This is a novel idea from the telco in ensuring the 'access gap is closed" The CEO Peter Ndegwa says it will enable users to access 4G. https://bit.ly/2EnOOew As this unfolds, the issue of: 1. affordability 2. right infrastructure - power 3. What are competitors doing? Will still need to be addressed going forward. *Kind Regards,* *David Indeje * +254 (0) 711 385 945 | +254 (0) 734 024 856

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The effects of digital taxes on smes in Kenya
by tevin mwenda 23 Jul '20

23 Jul '20

Hi Listers I wanted to share an article I wrote on the KICTANET website on the effects of the new digital taxes on SMEs in Kenya and possible solutions. Happy reading. https://www.kictanet.or.ke/kenyas-burden-the-effects-of-digital-taxes-on-sm… Thank you Kind Regards Tevin Mwenda Gitonga

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Fwd: [KPTJ_Communications] Fwd: New Ford-Funded RFP on Digital Infrastructure
by Beryl Aidi 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

Hi Listers Might be of interest to you. There is also a web event tomorrow in addition to the RFP. Beryl ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Ochiel, Linda <l.ochiel(a)fordfoundation.org> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2020 at 16:06 Subject: New Ford-Funded RFP on Digital Infrastructure To: Linda Ochiel <l.ochiel(a)fordfoundation.org> Hello, This may be of interest. Please, feel free to disseminate to those who may be interested in looking into public interest digital infrastructure. All the best, L ---------- Forwarded message --------- Hello! As many of you know, Ford works in the realm of digital infrastructure - the technical underpinnings of a free and open internet. This is a complement to our long-standing strategy on internet policy issues. One of our focus areas is open source code as a public good. As part of that we are launching a new RFP focused on the research and implementation of open source infrastructure: how do we ensure its sustainability, security and maintenance? We are having an event *tomorrow at 12:30pm ET* to launch the RFP. If interested, you can register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/digital-infrastructure-building-our-digital-wo… You can also view the RFP directly here: https://fordfoundation.forms.fm/2020-digital-infrastructure-research-rfp/ Please do share this with anyone you think might be interested. One of our failings in our last effort is the lack of grantees based outside of global north countries and I would like to focus efforts to build a more globally diverse set of grants this time. Ford Tech and Society Team _______________________________________________ Kptj_communications mailing list Kptj_communications(a)kptj.africog.org http://kptj.africog.org/mailman/listinfo/kptj_communications_kptj.africog.o… -- Beryl *********************************************** Beryl Aidi Freelance Campaign and Communication Specialist Skype: beryl.aidi Twitter: @thespannergal Darkness cannot put out the Light. It can only make God brighter. —Author Unknown.

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Kindly WhatsApp Me!
by David Indeje 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

Listers, How many times have you asked folks to share something with you on your WhatsApp platform? This is an interesting read from Mail and Gurdian. A school of thought says in future, elections will be won via such platforms. How true would they be? Is WhatsApp shaping democracy in Africa? https://mg.co.za/africa/2020-07-21-is-whatsapp-shaping-democracy-in-africa/

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Webinar on 4IR for Africa
by Adam Lane 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

May be of interest…. https://twitter.com/go2uj/status/1284055999750590465?s=20 【Link】 https://zoom.us/webinar MEETING ID: 93948312212 ALL WELCOME [cid:image001.png@01D65BBF.985867A0]

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Thank you for attending the Engagement between the Senate Standing Committee on ICT and KICTANet
by Grace Githaiga 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

Dear Listers We are grateful to all those who attended the meeting between the Senate ICT committee and KICTANet on July 15. The meeting deliberated on challenges and emerging issues that require attention in particular during this covid 19 period. A report of the meeting will be shared as soon as it is finalized. Again, asanteni sana. Rgds Grace

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July 29 Better World Summit 2020
by Adam Lane 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

Dear KICTANeters We would like to invite you to attend our global online Better World Summit, which will be held on July 27th-29th, 2020 and is entirely free. The pandemic has changed the world around us, touching on every aspect of work and life. Throughout this process, ICT infrastructure has proven to be a potent bulwark in our fight against the coronavirus and the broader social challenges it brings. This summit is designed to explore how ICT can be used to more effectively combat the spread of COVID-19 and boost post-pandemic economic recovery. Alongside telecom carriers, regulators, analysts, media, and our partners around the globe, we will delve into how ICT is providing new value in a wide range of fields, including telemedicine, remote education, telework, and public health services. And we will also explore the strategic foundations it lays for a brighter, more prosperous tomorrow. It is several hours split over 3 days, though the July 29 will focus more on policy and may be of interest to those on the list. Here is the agenda for the July 29 Policy related session. [blob:https://web.whatsapp.com/c21cb8f1-5fa0-4122-ae35-1b7d0815c223] 　Time Topic Confirmed Speakers 16:00-16:15 Huawei： Share the responsibility, Build the Future Catherine Chen Corporate Senior Vice President and Director of the Board, Huawei 16:15-16:55 International Industry organization: Accelerating Digital Inclusion to Embrace the New Normal Mario MANIEWICZ, Director of Radio communication Bureau, ITU Derek O'Halloran, Head of the Shaping the Future of Digital Economy and New Value Creation, WEF John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer, GSMA Luc Hindryckx, Director General, ECTA 16:55-17:45 National regulatory/industry association： Strengthen the development of ICT infrastructure and digial economy Wei Liurong, Deputy Chief Engineer of Policy and Economic Research, China Academy of Information and Communication Technology Mrs.Vunnaporn Devahastin, Secretary-General of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission, Thailand Stella Tembisa Ndabeni-Abrahams, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, South Africa Alexander Rabe, CEO of ECO, Germany 17:45-18:00 Analyst： How ICT Industry Policies and digital economies Boost National Economies Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer, ABI Research Rajesh Duneja, Partner, Head of Regulatory Competence Centre, ADL Please view the entire agenda and register here: https://carrier.huawei.com/en/events/bws2020 [cid:image002.jpg@01D65BBE.8D0CD2B0] [cid:image004.png@01D65492.C1312470]

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Re: [kictanet] Something that We Cannot See Is Holding 5G Back in Africa
by Kathy Mwai 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

You do make a case for 5G in Africa, and Kenya specifically. It was only yesterday however that Britain decided to strip Huawei out of its 5G network implementation. While I am not indicating this is the trend that Kenya should follow, the point I want to make is that I do not think we are going to accept 5G infrastructure in our residential areas particularly without questioning it. Yes, they may just be conspiracy theories about the radiation dangers of 5G, but if I could use my neighbourhood as an example, the residents here have decided to contend with poor network connection than have the telecommunications company install a mast. It is not an easy decision because the emerging technologies do require 5G strength to work optimally. I wonder if there are groups working to educate people on how to mitigate the radiation effects of 5G. There are some I know online and it would help everyone to get themselves educated on it so that when the inevitable time of 5G rollout comes, then you can protect yourself - to an extent! Kathy On Wed, 15 Jul 2020 at 15:47, Adam Lane via kictanet < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > https://blog.huawei.com/2020/07/14/something-that-we-cannot-see-is-holding-… > > > Something that We Cannot See Is Holding 5G Back in Africa > > > > There is an intangible resource that most people do not know exists and > cannot be seen or touched. That resource is holding Africa back from > rolling out high-speed 5G mobile services. If we don’t solve managing this > resource better, then we won’t get 5G in Africa and we’ll be left behind. > > > Spectrum is of critical importance in Africa. Not necessarily because > Africans need high-speed mobile phone services, nor because they are likely > to have tens of thousands packed into stadiums or highly dense areas > (especially this year). And it’s not because self-driving cars will be > populating the continent’s roads any time soon. > > > It is of critical importance because so few homes and businesses have > fiber in Africa. > > > However, through Fixed Wireless Access (FWA/WTTx) solutions, 5G can > provide fiber-like services without requiring the expense or time needed to > install fiber. Upgrading existing base stations and deploying a CPE > (Customer Premises Equipment) like a mobile router or dongle inside or > outside an office or home instantly yields the fiber-like speeds that are > critical for e-commerce and online learning. And now more than ever, it is > clear how important both are. > > > Spectrum 101 > > > Most people may think of spectrum as a range of colors in a rainbow, or a > range on which political opinions belong. > > > But it also refers to the range of wavelengths of electromagnetic > radiation. Even though these are generally invisible to the human eye, > spectrum matters for communications, whether it is radio, Wi-Fi, mobile > phones, or satellite broadcasts — all use electromagnetic waves to travel > and reach a user. > > > The Role of Governments > > > The use of these intangible wavelengths are regulated by governments to > prevent multiple users using the same frequencies of spectrum, as this > would cause interference and nothing would reach the user. At a global > level, the UN oversees a process for all countries to agree on the kind of > users for different frequencies (such as for Wi-Fi, mobile phones, or > meteorological use). At the national level, the government decides which > specific organisations or companies can use that spectrum. > > > National governments often charge a fee to commercial companies for using > this — one purpose is to recoup the costs for managing, monitoring, and > enforcing the regulation of spectrum. Another is to generate revenue for > the government. And a third (and arguably the most important) is to weed > out those who may not be serious about using the spectrum. In other words, > they want companies that have the resources to invest in the infrastructure > to use it. So the thinking goes that if serious players can afford the > spectrum, they can also afford to pay for the infrastructure. > > > Regulators want to support existing actors with solid track records to > deliver infrastructure, but they don’t want to restrict new entrants to the > market or innovation. So, they face striking a balance — to allow new > companies to come in even if they do not have much in the way of resources > yet, but are serious and could still make good use of the infrastructure in > the future. There is also pressure from the treasury to generate as much > money as possible. This may come from the richest companies, but could in > turn affect these companies’ finances, so they cannot subsequently invest > in building networks. > > > For high-speeds, it is necessary to have large amounts of spectrum in a > big block. But right now, few companies in Africa have that, which means no > company can provide it. Lots of companies each have small amounts of > spectrum, so none can provide a high-speed network to lots of people. It is > critical that this changes — and urgently. Companies, whether big or small, > existing or new, must be given access to that spectrum. And there must be > enough to go around, providing it is only given to companies that are > really serious about using it and are seriously able to make the necessary > investments. > > > During COVID-19, South Africa has temporarily made spectrum available to > its operators. This has resulted in two new operators launching 5G (one > launched last year with the spectrum it already had). With the > affordability of Internet data creating such a critical challenge in > Africa, the prices local operators are charging for 5G are telling: > > > - Comparing 5G with 4G, one operator will give you 10 times more data > for only 4 times the price, or 40 times more data for only 6 times the > price. > > -.Another provides unlimited data and charges by speed instead, just > like a traditional fiber service, even though they are using mobile. > > > Countries like Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya have strong technology sectors, > innovative local companies, a significant presence from international > companies, and a strong focus on creating jobs involving technology. They > need to move faster with 5G to ensure future development. > > > Future businesses in the technology industry and the profits, social > impact, and jobs that come with that, rely on having high-speed Internet > for consumers through FWA. Millions of Africans could use that connectivity > to get trained online, get jobs online, earn money online, and create tech > businesses. And now is the time to make that happen. > > -------------------------------------------------- > M: +254-790985886 > Deputy CEO, Government Affairs > Huawei Kenya > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kathymwai%40gmail.com > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > -- *Dream and Your Dreams Will Fall Short <kathymwai(a)gmail.com>...*

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Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN68 Virtual MEA Online Readout Session | Tuesday 21 July 2020 | 11.00 - 12.30 UTC
by Bob Ochieng 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

Dear Listers, Please see below details for the ICANN68 Online Readout Session . Thanks. Regards Bob. > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Yaovi Atohoun <yaovi.atohoun(a)icann.org> > Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN68 Virtual MEA Online Readout Session | Tuesday 21 July 2020 | 11.00 - 12.30 UTC > Date: 16 July 2020 at 12:47:55 EAT > To: AfrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net> > Reply-To: AfrICANN Community List <africann(a)afrinic.net> > > Hello everyone, > > You are cordially invited to attend the ICANN68 Virtual Middle East and Africa Online Readout Session. > > When: Tuesday 21 July 2020 at 11.00 - 12.30 UTC (90 minutes) > Registration: Please register here >> https://icann.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xEWTLEHeQ5qbyLxNBlj3bw <https://icann.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xEWTLEHeQ5qbyLxNBlj3bw> > > The readout session will be available in Arabic, English (default language in the Zoom room), and French. > > Information on agenda and others can be found here >> https://go.icann.org/3923lrF <https://go.icann.org/3923lrF>. > > We look forward to seeing you. > > Thanks > > -- > Yaovi Atohoun > Stakeholder Engagement and Operations Manager- Africa; ICANN > www.icann.org <http://www.icann.org/> > > > > _______________________________________________ > AfrICANN mailing list > AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net <mailto:AfrICANN@afrinic.net> > https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/africann <https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo/africann>

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Something that We Cannot See Is Holding 5G Back in Africa
by Adam Lane 15 Jul '20

15 Jul '20

https://blog.huawei.com/2020/07/14/something-that-we-cannot-see-is-holding-… Something that We Cannot See Is Holding 5G Back in Africa There is an intangible resource that most people do not know exists and cannot be seen or touched. That resource is holding Africa back from rolling out high-speed 5G mobile services. If we don’t solve managing this resource better, then we won’t get 5G in Africa and we’ll be left behind. Spectrum is of critical importance in Africa. Not necessarily because Africans need high-speed mobile phone services, nor because they are likely to have tens of thousands packed into stadiums or highly dense areas (especially this year). And it’s not because self-driving cars will be populating the continent’s roads any time soon. It is of critical importance because so few homes and businesses have fiber in Africa. However, through Fixed Wireless Access (FWA/WTTx) solutions, 5G can provide fiber-like services without requiring the expense or time needed to install fiber. Upgrading existing base stations and deploying a CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) like a mobile router or dongle inside or outside an office or home instantly yields the fiber-like speeds that are critical for e-commerce and online learning. And now more than ever, it is clear how important both are. Spectrum 101 Most people may think of spectrum as a range of colors in a rainbow, or a range on which political opinions belong. But it also refers to the range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. Even though these are generally invisible to the human eye, spectrum matters for communications, whether it is radio, Wi-Fi, mobile phones, or satellite broadcasts — all use electromagnetic waves to travel and reach a user. The Role of Governments The use of these intangible wavelengths are regulated by governments to prevent multiple users using the same frequencies of spectrum, as this would cause interference and nothing would reach the user. At a global level, the UN oversees a process for all countries to agree on the kind of users for different frequencies (such as for Wi-Fi, mobile phones, or meteorological use). At the national level, the government decides which specific organisations or companies can use that spectrum. National governments often charge a fee to commercial companies for using this — one purpose is to recoup the costs for managing, monitoring, and enforcing the regulation of spectrum. Another is to generate revenue for the government. And a third (and arguably the most important) is to weed out those who may not be serious about using the spectrum. In other words, they want companies that have the resources to invest in the infrastructure to use it. So the thinking goes that if serious players can afford the spectrum, they can also afford to pay for the infrastructure. Regulators want to support existing actors with solid track records to deliver infrastructure, but they don’t want to restrict new entrants to the market or innovation. So, they face striking a balance — to allow new companies to come in even if they do not have much in the way of resources yet, but are serious and could still make good use of the infrastructure in the future. There is also pressure from the treasury to generate as much money as possible. This may come from the richest companies, but could in turn affect these companies’ finances, so they cannot subsequently invest in building networks. For high-speeds, it is necessary to have large amounts of spectrum in a big block. But right now, few companies in Africa have that, which means no company can provide it. Lots of companies each have small amounts of spectrum, so none can provide a high-speed network to lots of people. It is critical that this changes — and urgently. Companies, whether big or small, existing or new, must be given access to that spectrum. And there must be enough to go around, providing it is only given to companies that are really serious about using it and are seriously able to make the necessary investments. During COVID-19, South Africa has temporarily made spectrum available to its operators. This has resulted in two new operators launching 5G (one launched last year with the spectrum it already had). With the affordability of Internet data creating such a critical challenge in Africa, the prices local operators are charging for 5G are telling: - Comparing 5G with 4G, one operator will give you 10 times more data for only 4 times the price, or 40 times more data for only 6 times the price. -.Another provides unlimited data and charges by speed instead, just like a traditional fiber service, even though they are using mobile. Countries like Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya have strong technology sectors, innovative local companies, a significant presence from international companies, and a strong focus on creating jobs involving technology. They need to move faster with 5G to ensure future development. Future businesses in the technology industry and the profits, social impact, and jobs that come with that, rely on having high-speed Internet for consumers through FWA. Millions of Africans could use that connectivity to get trained online, get jobs online, earn money online, and create tech businesses. And now is the time to make that happen. -------------------------------------------------- M: +254-790985886 Deputy CEO, Government Affairs Huawei Kenya

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