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Protecting Critical Information Infrastructures: Something for RECs to think about?]
by alice 30 Mar '09

30 Mar '09

*Protecting Critical Information Infrastructures: Frequently Asked Questions* *What are Critical Information Infrastructures?* _*There is no globally shared definition of Critical Information Infrastructures (CII).*_ In its Green Paper on a European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection <http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2005:0576:FIN:EN:…> (EPCIP), the* *European Commission captured the concept of CII as being all* */"ICT systems that are critical infrastructures for themselves or that are essential for the operation of critical infrastructures (telecommunications, computers/software, Internet, satellites, etc.)"./ In 2008, the OECD defined CII as /"those interconnected information systems and networks, the disruption or destruction of which would have a serious impact on the health, safety, security, or economic well-being of citizens, or on the effective functioning of government or the economy"./ Despite the existing differences in national and international policy contexts, what is important is that the notion of CII is conducive to a holistic policy perspective on the secure and continuous functioning of ICT systems, services, networks and infrastructures (ICT infrastructures) of which the Internet is a very important component, due to its widespread diffusion and the process of technological convergence. *Why is action at EU level to protect these infrastructures urgently needed?* Cyber attacks have risen to an unprecedented level of sophistication. What used to be simple experiments are now turning into sophisticated activities performed for profit or political reasons. The recent large scale cyber-attacks on Estonia, Lithuania and Georgia are the most widely covered examples of a general trend. The huge number of viruses, worms and other forms of malware, the expansion of botnets^*[1] <http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/141&format=…>* and the continuous rise of spam confirms that this is a severe problem. The high dependence on CII, their cross-border interconnectedness and interdependencies with other infrastructures (e.g. energy infrastructures), as well as the vulnerabilities and threats they face raise the need to address their security and resilience in a systemic perspective as the frontline of defence against failures and attacks. Because of the transnational dimension of this issue, a more integrated and coordinated approach throughout the European Union will usefully complement and add value to the programmes which are already in place within Member States. This will also reinforce the wealth creation capabilities of the Single Market. It is clear that no single "silver bullet" solution will be able to provide all the answers, but simply leaving the situation as is will not lead to satisfactory results. It is necessary to establish the right policy framework – in particular for economic and societal drivers and incentives – on the basis of a shared responsibility and cooperation amongst all the involved stakeholders. It is vital to promote operational/ tactical cooperation in the short and medium term (until 2010-2011) as well as strategic policy discussion for long-term scenarios (2012 and beyond). The work must start now in order to prepare Europe against large-scale cyber attacks and disruptions. *How does this initiative relate to the debate around European efforts towards an increased and modernised network and information security policy?* The Commission's initiative on Critical Information Infrastructure Protection focuses on prevention, preparedness and awareness and defines a plan of immediate actions running until 2011 to strengthen the security and resilience of CII. The focus and timeframe are consistent with the debate launched at the request of the Council and the European Parliament to address the challenges and priorities for network and information security policy and the most appropriate instruments needed at EU level to tackle them beyond 2012. The work conducted and the lessons learned under the Commission's proposed action plan will be an important contribution to the more general debate on an increased and modernised European policy in this area. *Why is the Commission proposing voluntary rather than binding measures?* Ensuring the security and resilience of CII requires cooperation between public and private actors, which is largely based on trust. A non-binding approach will be more effective in steering a dialogue through which interested parties can work out the best way to cooperate and share best practices. During the consultation process prior to the launch of this initiative, Member States' and private sector representatives strongly supported the proposed initiative and confirmed the need and willingness to cooperate at EU level, as long as this remained voluntary. This does not mean that a binding approach can not be used to enhance the level of security and resilience of CII. Proposals by the European Commission to reform the Electronic Communication regulatory package – including provisions to strengthen operators’ obligations to ensure that appropriate security measures are taken, and those on mandatory security breach notification – show that binding measures are considered when it is feasible and useful. Moreover, there is not yet sufficient data on security incidents and their impact across the different sectors to define and frame additional regulatory measures in a consistent economic and public policy perspective. *What are the specific objectives of the Critical Information Infrastructure Protection initiative? * The Commission's proposal covers the following objectives: * Foster cooperation, exchange of information and transfer of good policy practices between Member States via a newly-established *European Forum*. * Develop a *public-private partnership* at the European level on security and resilience of CII to support sharing of information and dissemination of good practices between public and private stakeholders. * Enhance *incident response capability* in the EU by increasing national capacities, possibly built on National or Governmental Computer Emergency Response Teams/Computer Security Incidents Response Teams (CERTs/CSIRTs) as well as by encouraging and supporting the European cooperation between these entities with a view to facilitate the exchange of information, technical measures and good practices. * Promote the organisation of *national and European exercises for contingency planning and disaster recovery* on simulated large-scale network security incidents. * Reinforce *international cooperation* on global issues, in particular on resilience and stability of Internet. *What is the purpose and value of a European Forum for Member States? * Although there are commonalities among the challenges and the issues faced, measures and regimes to ensure the security and resilience of CII, as well as the level of expertise and preparedness, differ across Member States. Purely national approaches run the risk of producing fragmentation and inefficiency across Europe. Differences in national approaches and the lack of systematic cross-border co-operation substantially reduce the effectiveness of domestic countermeasures, /inter alia/ because, due to the interconnectedness of CII, a low level of security and resilience of CII in a country has the potential to increase vulnerabilities and risks in other ones. To overcome this situation a European effort is needed to bring added value to national policies and programmes by fostering the development of awareness and common understanding of the challenges; stimulating the adoption of shared policy objectives and priorities; reinforcing cooperation between Member States and integrating national policies in a more European and global dimension. These are the reasons why the Commission has proposed to establish a *European Forum* for Member States to share information and good policy practices on security and resilience of CII. *Why a Public-Private Partnership for Resilience (EP3R)? * Enhancing the security and the resilience of CII poses peculiar governance challenges. While Member States remain ultimately responsible for defining CII-related policies, their implementation depends on the involvement of the private sector, which owns or controls a large number of CII. On the other hand, markets do not always provide sufficient incentives for the private sector to invest in the protection of CII at the level that public authorities would normally demand. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have emerged at the national level as the reference model to address this governance challenge. However, despite the consensus that this approach would also be desirable on the EU level, European PPPs have not materialised so far. PPP at the EU level could play an important role to complement the work carried out by Member States at national level – in particular, in areas like the exchange/promotion of good policy practices and measures, the implementation of cross-border security and resilience measures for CII, the adoption of preventive measures and response strategies, etc. A Europe-wide multi-stakeholder governance framework, which may include an enhanced role of ENISA, could foster the involvement of the private sector in the definition of strategic European public policy objectives as well as operational priorities and measures. The focus would be on enhancing the security and resilience of CII and the coordination of preventive and response activities. This framework would bridge the gap between national and EU policy-making and operational reality on the ground. *What will be the remit and the form of the proposed Public-Private Partnership? * The concrete remit of this PPP might initially consist of: * Knowledge sharing to deepen the understanding and mastering of European challenges for the security and resilience of CII; * Identification and dissemination of good baseline practices and commonly agreed guidelines and standards for the security and resilience of CII. The work of this PPP should be focused on specific issues and be action-oriented. The topics discussed should have a cross-border or global dimension. In terms of form, it is proposed that the setting-up of the *European Public Private Partnership for Resilience (EP3R)* CII would follow a step-by-step approach so that, on the one hand, stakeholders would discuss and design the necessary building blocks that would best match their requirements and, on the other hand, the work on the key challenges that require this kind of approach could immediately start. The first step of this process is the *workshop on the EU policy dimension of vulnerability management and disclosure process* of 31 March 2009. *What is the role of the European Network and Information Security Agency in this initiative?* The Commission has called on the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) to play a key role in supporting this initiative by encouraging dialogue and cooperation between Member States, the private sector and other relevant players across Europe, building on the findings and results it has already contributed in this area. *How does this initiative relate to the European Programme on Critical Infrastructure Protection and other EU activities in the area of justice and home affairs? * The activities planned in today's Communication are conducted under and in parallel to the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP <http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2006:0786:FIN:EN:…>). A key element of EPCIP is the Directive on the identification and designation of European Critical Infrastructures <http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/08/st10/st10934.en08.pdf>, which identifies the ICT sector as a future priority sector. One element of the CIIP action plan is to further develop the criteria for identifying European Critical Infrastructures for the ICT sector which will help implement the above mentioned Directive. The proposed actions are also complementary to existing *third pillar *initiatives – e.g. fight against cyber-crime – as envisaged by the Council Framework Decision on Attacks Against Information Systems adopted in 2005 (2005/222/JHA) <http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32005F0222:EN:N…>. As the CIIP initiative focuses on prevention, preparedness and awareness to enhance the intrinsic security and resilience of CII, it does not conflict with or duplicate the efforts carried out under the third pillar, i.e. by police and judicial cooperation addressing measures to prevent, fight and prosecute criminal and terrorist activities targeting CII. *How does the Commission's action plan relate to international efforts in this area? * This initiatives takes stock and builds upon recognised international principles such as the G8 principles on CIIP <http://www.cybersecuritycooperation.org/documents/G8_CIIP_Principles.pdf>, the UN General Assembly Resolution 58/199 'Creation of a global culture of cybersecurity and the protection of critical information infrastructures' <http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/cyb/cybersecurity/docs/UN_resolution_58_199.pdf.> and the recent OECD Recommendation on the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructures <http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/1/13/40825404.pdf>. The initiative complements work conducted by NATO on cyber-security – specifically the common policy on cyber defence and the activities of the Cyber Defence Management Authority (CDMA), announced by NATO on April 2008, as well as the outputs of the NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence <http://transnet.act.nato.int/WISE/TNCC/CentresofE/CCD> (CCD-COE). NATO initiatives are mostly focused on military defence whereas the Commission's proposal works to facilitate the coordination and cooperation of public and private resources and capabilities across Member States. *Does the action plan include regulatory measures for the Internet?* The action plan does not propose any measure aimed at regulating the Internet. It proposes three complementary activities to enhance the resilience and stability of the Internet. * The Commission will launch a Europe-wide debate to define EU priorities for the long-term resiliency and stability of the Internet. * The Commission will work with Member States to define appropriate principles and guidelines for Internet resilience and stability. * The Commission, together with Member States, will develop a roadmap to promote these principles and guidelines at the global level, building upon strategic cooperation with third countries. *What is the timing envisaged by the action plan? * The different actions have different targets and timelines, running from 2009 until the end of 2011. However continuous European efforts will still be needed beyond 2011. A stock-taking exercise will already be conducted at the end of 2010 and lessons learned will be used as an input into the debate on the future of Network and Information Security beyond 2012. *How will the Commission monitor the implementation of the action plan?* The Commission identified in the impact assessment of the Communication <http://ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/cia_2009_en.htm> a number of indicators for achieving the objectives of the action plan. These include, the number of meetings and conferences organised at EU level with relevance to security and resilience of CII; the agreements on common terminology and procedures for the collection and dissemination of information on economic impacts of security incidents; the number of National/Governmental CERTs participating in the European Governmental CERTs Group; the number of international agreements on mutual assistance, recovery, and remedial strategies for the resilience and stability of the Internet. http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/nis/strategy/activities/ciip… IP/09/494 <http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/494&format=HT…> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ^*[1] <http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/141&format=…>* A group of computers, often very large, that malicious hackers have brought under their control. While most owners are oblivious to the infection, the networks of tens of thousands of computers are used to launch spam e-mail campaigns, denial-of-service attacks or online fraud schemes. _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Fwd: - Call for Applicants - Online Course on Global Norms Against Terrorism
by Judy Okite 26 Mar '09

26 Mar '09

FYI, apologies for cross posting....... Kind Regards, ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Vladimir Radunovic <vladar(a)diplomacy.edu> Date: Mar 25, 2009 7:55 PM Subject: - Call for Applicants - Online Course on Global Norms Against Terrorism To: IGCBP(a)diplomacy.edu [image: UNODC-Diplo-Logos] [image: spacer] * 2009 ONLINE COURSES GLOBAL NORMS AGAINST TERRORISM AT WORK: SETTING INTERNATIONAL LAW IN MOTION* The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and DiploFoundation are pleased to present two new online courses on the universal legal regime against terrorism: one for English-speaking participants, and one for French-speaking participants. Both aim to strengthen national capacities by assisting criminal justice officials and other individuals involved in counter-terrorism issues to develop the skills and knowledge required to effectively utilize the channels for international legal cooperation envisaged in 16 treaties adopted within the UN system between 1963 and 2005, and a number of binding resolutions of the Security Council. *Methodology* The courses are conducted entirely online, over a period of 6 weeks. Reading materials and tools for online interaction are provided through an online classroom. Each week, participants read the provided lecture text, adding questions, comments, and references in the form of hypertext entries. Lecturers and other participants read and respond to the hypertext entries, creating interaction based on the text. During the week, participants also complete additional online activities. At the end of the week, participants and lecturers meet online in a chat room to discuss the week's topic. Courses are based on a collaborative approach to learning, with a high level of interaction. The courses are delivered by staff members of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the UNODC possessing experience in criminal justice issues and extensive work experience in the provision of legal advisory services and technical assistance worldwide. *Practical Information* *Fees:* Both courses are offered free of charge as part of a capacity-building initiative on the part of UNODC. *Timetable:* The course for English-speaking participants will begin during the week starting 4 May 2009. The course for French-speaking participants will begin during the week starting 18 May 2009. Selected applicants will receive full details of the timetable before the course begins. *Who should apply:* Criminal justice officers, practicing diplomats, civil servants, and others who work in the legal areas of international cooperation in criminal matters, or are involved in legislative drafting of criminal law texts. Priority will be given to applicants from developing countries. *Requirements:* Applicants must: § hold a university degree in Law, preferably with specialization in international/criminal law issues; § have at least three years work experience as legal practitioner or governmental official. Involvement in international cooperation matters, especially in criminal matters, is an asset; § possess sufficient ability in the course language to undertake postgraduate level studies; § have unrestricted access to the Internet using Firefox or Internet Explorer web browsers; § be ready to commit at least 6 hours per week to studies for the duration of the course. *How to Apply* The application deadline for the English-language course is *13 April 2009*. The application deadline for the French-language course is *20 April 2009*. Please visit the UNODC website for further information and to apply: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/terrorism/online-training-course.html ------------------------------ [image: Diplo logo] DiploFoundation <http://www.diplomacy.edu/> ------------------------------ I am using the Free version of SPAMfighter <http://www.spamfighter.com/len>. We are a community of 6 million users fighting spam. SPAMfighter has removed 26217 of my spam emails to date. The Professional version does not have this message. -- "Each of us is great insofar as we perceive and act on the infinite possibilities which lie undiscovered and unrecognized about us." James Harvey Robinson

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May be of interest: IT-outsourcing to Africa (seminar Amsterdam)
by Victor Gathara 25 Mar '09

25 Mar '09

DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the British Government's fight against world poverty. Find out more about the major global poverty challenges and get the facts on what DFID is doing to fight them: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/aboutdfid/howwefightpoverty.asp. Subscribe to our e-bulletin: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/feedback ______________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Peapod. The service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit: http://www.peapod.co.uk/cleanmail

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Re: [kictanet] POLE SIGANGA
by Preston Odera 24 Mar '09

24 Mar '09

Hi Siganga Pole for what has happened. Would like to reach you thru m-pesa. Confirm if your cellphone number is compliant. Preston Odera Executive Director K-Ninety East Africa Limited Kenya School for the Blind Complex Mai Mahiu Road off Langata Road P.O Box 3894-00100 Nairobi Kenya Tel +254 20 608316 Tel +254 20 3544352 Fax + 254 20 608318 Cell +254 722 771 478 Email; info(a)k-90ea.com --- On Mon, 3/23/09, waudo siganga <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com> wrote: From: waudo siganga <emailsignet(a)mailcan.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] POLE SIGANGA To: podera_2002(a)yahoo.com Cc: "Kenya ICT Policy - kictanet" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Monday, March 23, 2009, 10:18 AM Thank you Charles. Yes, My Mzee passed away peacefully in his sleep on 17th. He was 89. He went to UK in 1946 and stood for UK Parliament in Cardiff, Wales (as was allowed of any citizen of the Commonwealth). His opponent was Edward Heath, who later became UK Prime Minister. Heath defeated him by less than 2000 votes! The Mzee's colleagues on the ship (there were no airlines then) to UK were Charles Njonjo, Prof. David Wassawo (first African to get a first class honours degree from Oxford) and Benedicto Kiwanuka - later PM of Uganda. All four had topped at Alliance High School and secured British Government schorlaships. On 16th September 1946 they took a historic picture on the ship (attached - with Mzee and Njonjo in the middle). Njonjo and Wassawo are still alive and active. Kiwanuka was murdered by the Amin regime in Uganda. Mzee returned to Kenya in 1953 and declined a Government job to protest the imprisonment of Kenyatta and other colleagues. Later at independence he became Director of Social Services and Housing with the Nairobi City Council until his retiremenment some 20 years ago. After which he lived a quiet life in the village. We shall rest the Mzee on Saturday in Kakamega. Thank you for your thoughts. Waudo On Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:21 +0000, "charles nduati" <charlesnduati2002(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > hi Brother Waudo, > > I saw a funeral mesage in the nation lats week, and I believe it concerns > your family, so pole sana and may God sooth your souls. > > Kindly let us know of the arrangements > > Charles > > > CHARLES N. NDUATI > GENERAL MANAGER > JKUAT ENTERPRISES LTD > JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY > JUJA MAIN CAMPUS, THIKA > P. O. BOX 79324-00200 > NAIROBI, KENYA > TEL: 254-067-52420 OR 254-067-52711 FAX: 254-067-52438 > MOBILE:254-722728815 > EMIAL:[email protected],[email protected],[email protected] > www.jkuat.ac.ke > > > Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we have been been waiting for. - Kenyan-American Barack Obama -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: podera_2002(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/podera_2002%40yahoo.com

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Fwd: Fw: Reuters.com - Kenya sees $5-$10 bln ICT investments by 2010
by Margaret Gichuki 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

--- On *Mon, 3/23/09, Reuters_News(a)reuters.com <Reuters_News(a)reuters.com>*wrote: From: Reuters_News(a)reuters.com <Reuters_News(a)reuters.com> Subject: Reuters.com - Kenya sees $5-$10 bln ICT investments by 2010 [image: Reuters] <http://www.reuters.com/> Kenya sees $5-$10 bln ICT investments by 2010<http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idAFLN25512420090323> Mon Mar 23 13:19:15 UTC 2009 * Kenya sees foreign ICT investment booming * Says multinationals interested in back-office operations By Duncan Miriri NAIROBI, March 23 (Reuters) - Kenya expects $5-$10 billion of foreign investment from communication technology firms by next year, a senior government official said on Monday. East Africa's biggest economy is set to link up with the rest of the world via broadband from June through three undersea telecoms cables. "I would comfortably estimate that next year, even with a very poor economy, we will probably see between $5-$10 billion coming," Bitange Ndemo, permanent secretary at the ministry of information and communication, told Reuters in an interview. He said international firms that had expressed interest in investing included Google <GOOG.O>, Accenture <ACN.N> and General Electric <GE.N>. "We are seeing huge interest by multinational companies who want (to) take advantage of these connections and the availability of many youths who are educated to create back offices in this country," he said. Kenya's government is fronting one fibre-optic cable worth $110 million that will link it with the United Arab Emirates. The chief executive of SEACOM, a $700 million private equity venture, said on Monday that sales of bandwidth capacity were going well ahead of its cable's completion in June. [ID:nLN478381] Analysts say enhanced telecoms infrastructure has the same growth potential as mobile telephony, which has grown exponentially in the world's poorest continent in recent years. (Editing by Daniel Wallis; editing by Simon Jessop) This service is not intended to encourage spam. The details provided by your colleague have been used for the sole purpose of facilitating this email communication and have not been retained by Thomson Reuters. Your personal details have not been added to any database or mailing list. If you would like to receive news articles delivered to your email address, please subscribe at www.reuters.com/newsmails © Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world. Quotes and other data are provided for your personal information only, and are not intended for trading purposes. Thomson Reuters and its data providers shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the quotes or other data, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

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Kenya going Open Source route...
by Gakuru Alex 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/Local/Kenya-going-Open-Source-route-185… Questions and comments are most welcome,, Alex

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Ten African countries sign alliance for e-commerce
by alice 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

Balancing Act Ten countries sign alliance for e-commerce Ten African countries have signed up to the "Pan African Alliance for E-Commerce," a new ICT based program launched by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The Alliance hopes to establish and encourage the use of “Single Window” across the continent, which is an electronic platform where traders undertake transactions online. The system is believed to reduce the need for paperwork. The main aim of the alliance is said will intensify cooperation and initiate common projects of interest to African countries and sub-regions. Senegal, Tunisia and Mauritius have such platforms, dramatically reducing the time it takes to clear customs in those countries. So far 10 African countries have signed with the alliance while a number of other countries are expected to join the alliance in the next few months Ibrahim Nour Eddine Diane, president of executive committee of the alliance, told journalists at the launching ceremony this week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Cameron, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Ghana, Morocco, Gabon, Libya, Togo and Kenya were listed as the 10 countries that have signed with the alliance. It is the first of its kind on the continent, and the signatories hope to encourage more countries to create their own single windows platforms that would become part of the wider network. The Pan-African Alliance on e-Commerce seeks to set up a framework for exchange of Single Window experiences in Africa and establish a mechanism to assist countries in the development of Single Windows. It also plans to ensure Africa’s representation in international forums and contribute to the development of the concept at a global level. Putting in place a platform of resources for facilitating the establishment of regional Single Windows and improving existing projects and facilitating cooperation with other regions of the world, notably through the establishment of pilot paperless projects with countries of Asia, Europe and America is also mentioned as main target of the alliance. In addition, the alliance also acts as focal point for development partners and international institutions active in the promotion of Single Windows in Africa. (Source: Africa News)

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POLE SIGANGA
by charles nduati 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

hi Brother Waudo, I saw a funeral mesage in the nation lats week, and I believe it concerns your family, so pole sana and may God sooth your souls. Kindly let us know of the arrangements Charles CHARLES N. NDUATI GENERAL MANAGER JKUAT ENTERPRISES LTD JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY JUJA MAIN CAMPUS, THIKA P. O. BOX 79324-00200 NAIROBI, KENYA TEL: 254-067-52420 OR 254-067-52711 FAX: 254-067-52438 MOBILE:254-722728815 EMIAL:[email protected],[email protected],[email protected] www.jkuat.ac.ke

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Food for thought : ICANN should be reformed before 'privatization']
by alice 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

Dear All, This has just been released and is worth reading. Now, where do we, in Africa, stand in this debate? And how best could we promote the voices (if any?) of African business & Industry sectors and the Governments ? Pierre Dandjinou ICANN Should be Reformed Before "Privatization", Says New Study <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090317_study_icann_reform_before_privatizat…> http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090317_study_icann_reform_before_privatizat… * Mar 17, 2009 4:33 PM PDT * Comments: 1 <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090317_study_icann_reform_before_privatizat…> * Views: 568 Print <http://www.circleid.com/posts/print/20090317_study_icann_reform_before_priv…> Comment <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090317_study_icann_reform_before_privatizat…> By *CircleID Reporter* <http://www.circleid.com/members/501/> The Technology Policy Institute (TPI), an IT and communications policy think tank, has just released a paper proposing that "ICANN's governance structure should be dramatically reformed to make it more accountable before the current tie with the U.S. Department of Commerce is allowed to expire." The paper titled /"ICANN At a Crossroads: a Proposal for Better Governance and Performance"/ is written by Thomas M. Lenard, President and Senior Fellow at TPI, along with Lawrence J. White, Professor of Economics at the NYU Stern School of Business. The 52-page study also asserts that ICANN must have a clear focus on encouraging competition with minimal role as a regulator with respect to the creation of new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs). * * * *Executive Summary* The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)—the non-profit company that is at the center of the Internet—has operated under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) since 1998. The MOU was replaced in September 2006 by the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) between ICANN and the DOC, which expires in August 2009. At that time, a decision needs to be made about ICANN's future. Should the JPA tie with the U.S. Government be retained? Or should the link be wholly severed, as ICANN advocates? And, in either case, what governance structure would best promote Internet efficiency and innovation? This paper evaluates the structure and governance of ICANN to help inform the upcoming decision. In particular, it reviews ICANN's structure and functions, and also the structures of a number of other organizations that perform a roughly comparable range of private-sector and quasi-governmental coordination and standard-setting functions, to explore what might be applicable to ICANN. We find that although ICANN has control over extremely important aspects of the Internet, it is largely accountable to no one. No organization with ICANN's level of responsibility operates with the independence that ICANN enjoys, even under the current arrangement of nominal oversight by the U.S. Department of Commerce. ICANN's proposal for complete privatization and termination of the DOC's oversight would make the accountability problem worse. Virtually all of the organizations that we reviewed are governed by their direct users, and we believe that this would be a good model for ICANN as well; it would also be consistent with the reduced regulatory role that we envision for ICANN. Governance by its direct users—the registries and the registrars—would provide the external accountability that could allow for eventually ending ICANN's ties with the U.S. Government. However, we recommend that the new structure be permitted to operate for a while, to allow time for evaluation, before severing those ties. We also address the issue of ICANN's status as a de facto regulator. ICANN's recent proposal to expand the number of generic top-level domains (gTLDs) highlights a distinct choice between alternative regulatory approaches: On the one hand, ICANN could proceed under the assumption that the market for gTLDs is not (and perhaps cannot be) at least workably competitive (as the U.S. Government apparently believes). ICANN would then assume greater public-utility type regulatory responsibilities. Alternatively, ICANN could allow relatively free entry into the domain space, in order to bring the benefits of a competitive gTLD market to consumers. We favor the latter approach, which is consistent with our proposal concerning governance reform. For free entry to work well, however, ICANN needs a less costly mechanism for protecting the intellectual property associated with domain names in order to address the problems of defensive registrations and cybersquatting. Our specific recommendations are as follows: * The JPA should be extended beyond its current expiration date. In the absence of changes in governance along the lines that we recommend, the JPA is particularly important. If our recommended changes are adopted, they should be permitted to become established before allowing the JPA to expire. * ICANN should remain as a nonprofit organization, but its governance should be restructured, so that it is governed by and directly accountable to its direct users: the registries and the registrars. Seats on ICANN's board of directors could be rotated among the major operators in a manner that would reflect the diversity of viewpoints among registries and registrars. * ICANN should have a clear mission of encouraging competition. This implies a minimal role as a regulator with respect to the creation of new gTLDs. Instead, ICANN should adopt a relatively automatic way of introducing gTLDs, whereby any entity that meets a set of minimum technical and financial qualifications for being a registry should be able to be certified to become a registry for any gTLD that is not already taken. * For this "open entry" policy to be workable and beneficial, ICANN must also strengthen the protections for incumbent domain name holders, so that they are not subject to "nuisance" or "ransom" demands from new registries; adopting an IP registry and strengthening ICANN's "uniform dispute resolution policy" (UDRP) could be part of these improved protections. These four recommendations are complementary, and combined they would significantly further the goals of Internet efficiency and innovation. * * * *Related Links:* Lenard-White Study [PDF]: ICANN at a Crossroads: A Proposal for Better Governance and Performance <http://www.techpolicyinstitute.org/files/icann%20at%20a%20crossroads1.pdf> Press Release: ICANN Should be Reformed Before "Privatization" - Lenard-White Study Proposes New Governance Structure <http://www.techpolicyinstitute.org/news/show/23120.html> ITU Website: The Technology Policy Institute <http://www.techpolicyinstitute.org/> *Other sources:* UPDATED Mar 19, 2009 12:50 PM PDT ICANN at a Crossroads: Please Choose Carefully <http://blog.pff.org/archives/2009/03/icann_at_a_crossroads_please_choose_ca…> Mike Plage, PFF, Mar.19.2009 *Related topics:* DNS <http://www.circleid.com/topics/dns>, Domain Names <http://www.circleid.com/topics/domain_names>, Internet Governance <http://www.circleid.com/topics/internet_governance>, Policy & Regulation <http://www.circleid.com/topics/policy_regulation>, Top-Level Domains <http://www.circleid.com/topics/top_level_domains>

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The latest on Cybersquatting from WIPO
by alice 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

Latest Cybersquatting Stats from WIPO <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wipo/> http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wipo/ * Mar 16, 2009 12:23 PM PDT * Comments: 2 <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wipo/#co…> * Views: 686 Print <http://www.circleid.com/posts/print/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wi…> Comment <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wipo/#ad…> By *CircleID Reporter* <http://www.circleid.com/members/501/> Latest Cybersquatting Stats from WIPO According to latest reports from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO <http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/>), allegations of cybersquatting by trademark holders continued to rise in 2008, with a record 2,329 complaints filed under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP <http://www.icann.org/en/udrp/udrp-policy-24oct99.htm>). This represented an 8% increase over 2007 in the number of generic and country code Top Level Domain (gTLDs and ccTLDs) disputes handled and brings the total number of WIPO cases filed under the UDRP since it was launched ten years ago to over 14,000. To improve efficiency and respond to growing demand, WIPO has proposed an "eUDRP Initiative <http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/amc/en/docs/icann301208.pdf>” [PDF] to render the UDRP paperless. *Countries Involved* Since the launch of the UDRP in December 1999 through December 2008, the WIPO Center has received 14,663 UDRP or UDRP-based cases—both gTLDs <http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/gtld/> and ccTLDs <http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/cctld/>—covering 26,262 separate domain names. US, France, UK, Germany, Switzerland and Spain were the most frequent bases for complainants, while the US, the UK, China, Spain, Canada, and France were the most represented countries by named respondent party. English was the most common language for WIPO case proceedings (86%) in 2008 as the majority of domain names involved were registered with US-based registrars. Cases were also processed in 12 other languages, including (in order of frequency) Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Italian, Romanian, Russian, Hebrew and Portuguese. The character set of the disputed domain names themselves remained overwhelmingly ASCII (English alphabet), with a small number of names in Chinese, French, Hebrew, Spanish, and Swedish. *Generic TLDs Involved* The .com gTLD remained the solid leader in terms of the number of domain names included by complainants in cases filed with WIPO (79%). *Sectors Involved* According to data from WIPO, in 2008 cases covered a wide variety of sectors, reflecting prevailing public interest, business activity and upcoming events (e.g., Singapore Flyer observation wheel, Madrid 2016 Olympic bid, Montreal Jazz Festival, Golden Globes); transportation (e.g., Air France, Austrian Airlines, BMW, Lufthansa, Southwest Airlines, Subaru); hotels (e.g., Taj Hotels, InterContinental Hotels, The Sheraton/Westin Hotels); media and publishing (e.g., the BBC, Edmonton Journal, National Geographic, Harvard University Press); educational institutions (e.g., The John Hopkins University, Sydney University, Yale University, TOEFL); computers and electronics (e.g., Research in Motion's BlackBerry, computer manufacturer Gateway, Samsung); sports teams, leagues and personalities (e.g., English Premier League, the Arsenal Football Club, as well as its player Cesc Fàbregas, yachting's Volvo Ocean Race, former basketball star Dennis Rodman, Adidas); actors and personalities past (e.g., Ian Fleming, Gene Kelly) and present (e.g., Scarlett Johansson); fashion (e.g., Christian Dior, Lancôme); popular culture (e.g., Barbapapa, Bob the Builder, Marvel Comics' Xmen); numerical identifiers (e.g., 4711); and other familiar enterprises and groups such as Breitling, Canada Post, Coca-Cola, Ebay, Ghirardelli Chocolate, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Google, Hard Rock Café, LEGO, Nestlé, Ticketmaster, and Western Union. A case was also filed by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation in relation to the Monticello estate. The top five sectors for complainant business activity were biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, banking and finance, Internet and IT, retail, and food, beverages and restaurants. WIPO's complete announcement can be found here <http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2009/article_0005.html#3>. *Other sources:* UPDATED Mar 18, 2009 11:16 AM PDT WIPO Cybersquatting Report Ignores Real UDRP Trends <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090318_wipo_cybersquatting_report_ignores_r…> Antony Van Couvering, Mar.18.2009 WIPO's Misleading Release <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090317_wipo_misleading_release_domain_dispu…> Michael Geist, Mar.17.2009 Record Cybersquatting Cases As WIPO Seeks New Trademark Protections <http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/03/16/record-cybersquatting-cases-as-wi…> IP Watch, Mar.16.2009 Record cases of 'cybersquatting' in 2008: UN <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090316_latest_cybersquatting_stats_wipo/Cyb…> Reuters, Mar.16.2009 UN warns on new web domains <http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/15710d0e-1172-11de-87b1-0000779fd2ac.html> FT, Mar.16.2009 *Related topics:* Cybersquatting <http://www.circleid.com/topics/cybersquatting>, Domain Names <http://www.circleid.com/topics/domain_names>, Domain Registries <http://www.circleid.com/topics/domain_registries>, Law <http://www.circleid.com/topics/law>, Top-Level Domains <http://www.circleid.com/topics/top_level_domains>

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Re: [kictanet] Disturbing Advert or appropriate local content?
by Marie-Anne Kinyanjui 23 Mar '09

23 Mar '09

It is quite a disturbing ad... Walu, I think it would be prudent to alert the Advertising Practitioners Association - they have the power to remove controversial ads. I don't have their exact contacts but annette(a)accessleoburnett.co.ke and rmukoma(a)ibea.co.ke should be able to help. -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+mkinyanjui=nation.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Pamela Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 12:56 PM To: Marie-Anne Kinyanjui Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions' Subject: Re: [kictanet] Disturbing Advert or appropriate local content? Dear Walu, You may also want to send your concern to the Chairman PSK (Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya) for some guidance, as there are regulations governing advertising of medicinal products. The email: pskkenya(a)yahoo.com, to the attention of Dr. Karanja, Chairman PSK pamela -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+pamela=cardiacimplants.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:[email protected] ] On Behalf Of alice Sent: 20 March 2009 11:38 To: pamela(a)cardiacimplants.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Disturbing Advert or appropriate local content? I guess within the scramble for customers this is one example. This is a complex issue and people are likely to respond differently to this kind of content( indeed content generally). And it also depends on whether it is on television or radio, in a cinema film, on the Internet, in the press etc. So while you may find it offensive, I may find it very informative and educative. So what harm is this advert likely to cause our youth against any benefits? difficult to know/measure and again quite complex. So important to balance "harm and offence". Re: complaints process etc both institutions are responsible at various levels. best alice (Views expressed are personal and not a reflection of any of the institutions I am affiliated with) John Walubengo wrote: > By the way Alice, your post reminds me...there's this little Advert running on FM Radio stations about "the emergency pill". I must confess that I personally find it disturbing - particular when put in the context of our listening youth. > > I have a whole thesis on why it should be pulled off air and just wondering where to submit the same. Is it to CCK or Media Council? Either way, could someone share the email contact for receiving customer complaints against Media? > > walu. > > --- On Thu, 3/19/09, alice <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: > > >> From: alice <alice(a)apc.org> >> Subject: [kictanet] African media fragmentation piles the pressure on radio and TV stations as they scramble for audiences >> To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> >> Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 10:12 PM >> (From Balancing Act) >> >> African media fragmentation piles the pressure on radio and >> TV stations as they scramble for audiences >> >> Once upon a time everyone knew what television and radio >> were and they played a key role in people's lives. >> Particularly for urban Africans they were the soundtrack to >> life, the sports match in the bar and the common >> conversations about television programmes. Nowadays in the >> more liberalised of African countries there are more >> television and radio stations than you can remember the >> names of and for the smaller group of the more well-off, >> there are pay TV channels, time-shifting and DVDs. And all >> that's before you take into account SMS information >> services and the Internet which are eating away at the edges >> of the audiences. Russell Southwood looks at the >> fault-lines. >> >> Dakar will shortly have 7 television stations, not >> including the three Pay-TV channels you can get if you can >> afford them or can pirate a service. Lagos has 13 television >> stations and perhaps three main Pay-TV channels. Kinshasa >> has over 40 television stations, many of which simply show >> pirated television content. In this circumstance, no channel >> will get more than 20-30% of audience share on a regular >> basis. >> >> Pay-TV may seem a very modest presence in most countries >> but because it is widely watched in public places, it >> audience reach is understated by its subscriber numbers. >> Furthermore, piracy means that a large number of additional >> subscribers (sometimes double the number) are watching >> without paying for content. >> >> Vernacular radio has exploded and the number of radio >> stations is exponentially larger than for television >> stations as many of them are much more local. Uganda has 150 >> stations and Kenya over 90. But whilst radio might have a >> wider and deeper audience reach than television, the >> fragmentation makes it difficult for advertisers to reach >> their audiences. >> >> The standard broadcasting formats that seemed to serve so >> well in less competitive times are now being taken apart and >> put back together by the viewers and listeners themselves. >> Legitimate and pirated DVDs provide a steady stream of >> relatively cheap entertainment, particularly of films. >> Recent releases may command a better price but three >> relatively old action action movies (Bruce Lee, Stephen >> Seagal, that kind of thing) can be bought for around US$2. >> PVRs, streaming and catch-up downloads will all become a >> reality as part of the dividend of cheaper bandwidth in >> 2009. >> >> Middle class Africans are using a growing array of devices. >> Laptop use is growing as sales of this kind of computer >> begin to equal those of desktop PCs. High-end smart phones >> like Blackberries and iPhones are increasingly visible. One >> African carrier has 800,000 high-end phones on its network. >> >> These devices are not just for doing work or making phone >> calls. They have become media in their own right. Recent >> surveys show that in North Africa 3-7% of the population >> cited SMS as one of their most used daily information >> sources. Likewise the Internet is set to have a much greater >> impact with the spread of broadband subscriptions. >> >> According to Alexa.com, Facebook and You Tube are already >> amongst the Top 10 sites in the African countries that it >> analyses. Again based on survey work, between 1-8% of the >> population used the Internet daily across a range of very >> different countries. With cheaper international bandwidth, >> these figures will increase slowly but surely. Mobile >> Internet will become cheaper and play an increasingly large >> role in people's lives. >> >> Current ad spend on the Internet and SMS is tiny but ad >> money will migrate as it gets larger. This is money that >> will most likely be lost to newspapers which seem the most >> vulnerable as the media landscape's tectonic plates begin >> to shift. >> >> So what can the African broadcaster do faced with all of >> this? There are two ways to stay in the game: by using new >> media to extend the appeal of interesting content across all >> platforms and by stealing new media's best ideas and using >> them to survive. Unfortunately too few TV stations have >> invested in convincingly local TV content that might well >> provide the adhesive that would keep viewers eyeballs glued >> to the their channel. >> >> This article is a summary of a more detailed analysis in >> the recently published African Film and TV Yearbook. A list >> of contents can be found by clicking on the following link: >> http://www.balancingact-africa.com/yearbook.html >> >> The second part of the Yearbook contains a full listing of >> African film and television companies broken down by country >> as well as a section with useful international addresses for >> anyone in the sector in Africa. There is also two specially >> focused listings: one looks at Film Location Agencies and >> Screen Commissions across the continent and the other lists >> companies and education institutions providing film and >> television training. >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com >> > > > > > _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: pamela(a)cardiacimplants.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/pamela%40cardiacimp lants.com _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mkinyanjui(a)nation.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mkinyanjui%40nation .co.ke DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is intended for the use of the stated recipient only. It may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient. Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Nation Media Group. �To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or visit http://mobile.nation.co.ke to read news on your mobile phone.�

2 1

Book your Exhibition stand now
by Joseph Ochola 22 Mar '09

22 Mar '09

1 0

Short-Term ICT Consultancies in Southern Sudan
by Shem Ochuodho 21 Mar '09

21 Mar '09

Opportunity has arisen for 2 short-term experts on Video-Conferencing and Government E-Mail System Development in Southern Sudan. Any communication should be addressed to the contacts given on the attachments. Shem J. Ochuodho, MSc (Eng), PhD, LLD (Hon) Senior Advisor Ministry of Telecom & Postal Services Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), Juba Cell: +249-955-021-040/+256-477-232025/+254-734-137371 Skype: shem.ochuodho

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FW: 13th Executive Course on Telecom Reform, 20 - 24 April 2009, Cape Town, South Africa
by Edith Adera 21 Mar '09

21 Mar '09

FYI - for those interested in this course supported by IDRC. Edith adera ________________________________ From: CPRsouth [info(a)cprsouth.org] Sent: March 20, 2009 7:22 AM To: Khaled Fourati Subject: 13th Executive Course on Telecom Reform, 20 - 24 April 2009, Cape Town, South Africa Please forward this call to those interested in Telecom Reform in your organisation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 13th Executive Course on Telecom Reform will be held from 20 - 24 April, 2009, in Cape Town, South Africa. It is being offered by the Edge Institute and the University of Cape Town Business School. Themed, ‘Connectivity and Convergence: Alternative Regulatory Strategies for Telecommunications’, the course is designed to enhance the strategic thinking of a select group of senior decision-makers in telecom and related sectors in Africa and elsewhere. After having been offered in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America, this executive programme is now being offered in Africa to meet the challenges it faces in this sector. Target delegate profiles include decision-makers in telecommunications and related sectors in Africa including government; regulatory agencies; operators; unions, ICT journalists, consumer groups and NGOs active in the sector Confirmed faculty members include Rohan Samarajiva, CEO of LIRNEasia, Alison Gillwald, Associate Director, the Edge Institute and Tracy Cohen, former Councillor on the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. Further details, including registration information, are available at http://www.gsb.uct.ac.za/gsbwebb/EMEBrochure.asp?intpagenr=583. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you and regards CPRsouth

1 0

Nathan and the Mobile Operators
by Alex Gakuru 20 Mar '09

20 Mar '09

Interesting article...http://manypossibilities.net/2009/03/nathan-and-the-mobile-operat…

1 0

African media fragmentation piles the pressure on radio and TV stations as they scramble for audiences
by alice 20 Mar '09

20 Mar '09

(From Balancing Act) African media fragmentation piles the pressure on radio and TV stations as they scramble for audiences Once upon a time everyone knew what television and radio were and they played a key role in people’s lives. Particularly for urban Africans they were the soundtrack to life, the sports match in the bar and the common conversations about television programmes. Nowadays in the more liberalised of African countries there are more television and radio stations than you can remember the names of and for the smaller group of the more well-off, there are pay TV channels, time-shifting and DVDs. And all that’s before you take into account SMS information services and the Internet which are eating away at the edges of the audiences. Russell Southwood looks at the fault-lines. Dakar will shortly have 7 television stations, not including the three Pay-TV channels you can get if you can afford them or can pirate a service. Lagos has 13 television stations and perhaps three main Pay-TV channels. Kinshasa has over 40 television stations, many of which simply show pirated television content. In this circumstance, no channel will get more than 20-30% of audience share on a regular basis. Pay-TV may seem a very modest presence in most countries but because it is widely watched in public places, it audience reach is understated by its subscriber numbers. Furthermore, piracy means that a large number of additional subscribers (sometimes double the number) are watching without paying for content. Vernacular radio has exploded and the number of radio stations is exponentially larger than for television stations as many of them are much more local. Uganda has 150 stations and Kenya over 90. But whilst radio might have a wider and deeper audience reach than television, the fragmentation makes it difficult for advertisers to reach their audiences. The standard broadcasting formats that seemed to serve so well in less competitive times are now being taken apart and put back together by the viewers and listeners themselves. Legitimate and pirated DVDs provide a steady stream of relatively cheap entertainment, particularly of films. Recent releases may command a better price but three relatively old action action movies (Bruce Lee, Stephen Seagal, that kind of thing) can be bought for around US$2. PVRs, streaming and catch-up downloads will all become a reality as part of the dividend of cheaper bandwidth in 2009. Middle class Africans are using a growing array of devices. Laptop use is growing as sales of this kind of computer begin to equal those of desktop PCs. High-end smart phones like Blackberries and iPhones are increasingly visible. One African carrier has 800,000 high-end phones on its network. These devices are not just for doing work or making phone calls. They have become media in their own right. Recent surveys show that in North Africa 3-7% of the population cited SMS as one of their most used daily information sources. Likewise the Internet is set to have a much greater impact with the spread of broadband subscriptions. According to Alexa.com, Facebook and You Tube are already amongst the Top 10 sites in the African countries that it analyses. Again based on survey work, between 1-8% of the population used the Internet daily across a range of very different countries. With cheaper international bandwidth, these figures will increase slowly but surely. Mobile Internet will become cheaper and play an increasingly large role in people’s lives. Current ad spend on the Internet and SMS is tiny but ad money will migrate as it gets larger. This is money that will most likely be lost to newspapers which seem the most vulnerable as the media landscape’s tectonic plates begin to shift. So what can the African broadcaster do faced with all of this? There are two ways to stay in the game: by using new media to extend the appeal of interesting content across all platforms and by stealing new media’s best ideas and using them to survive. Unfortunately too few TV stations have invested in convincingly local TV content that might well provide the adhesive that would keep viewers eyeballs glued to the their channel. This article is a summary of a more detailed analysis in the recently published African Film and TV Yearbook. A list of contents can be found by clicking on the following link: http://www.balancingact-africa.com/yearbook.html The second part of the Yearbook contains a full listing of African film and television companies broken down by country as well as a section with useful international addresses for anyone in the sector in Africa. There is also two specially focused listings: one looks at Film Location Agencies and Screen Commissions across the continent and the other lists companies and education institutions providing film and television training.

6 7

Re: [kictanet] Disturbing Advert or appropriate local content?
by Kanja Waruru 20 Mar '09

20 Mar '09

Walu, i have been told many times a good adv is the one that provokes and gets the audience attention. this one is a good adv because it grabbed Walu's attention and we are now debating it. but to answer you the media council is very much alive and kicking and you can contact Ms Esther Kamweru on email info(a)mediacouncil.or.ke website:www.mediacouncil.or.ke regards. Kanja --- On Fri, 3/20/09, John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Disturbing Advert or appropriate local content? > To: kanjawaruru(a)yahoo.com > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Date: Friday, March 20, 2009, 2:18 AM > > Complex is indeed the term. And depending on your > scientific convictions on when life actually begins i.e. is > at conception or after birth? Then this emergency pill > could be "abortion over the counter" and last time I checked > abortion was still illegal in Kenya. What media is > therefore doing is promoting the culture of death and > impunity that is already rampant in our society. > > But that's my thinking and If I can get the correct email > for Media Council I can submit more details/points. Makali, > Kanja is this Media Council thing still active or was it > overtaken by the new Kenya Communication Amendment Act > (2008)? > > walu. > --- On Fri, 3/20/09, alice <alice(a)apc.org> > wrote: > > > From: alice <alice(a)apc.org> > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Disturbing Advert or > appropriate local content? > > To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Date: Friday, March 20, 2009, 12:38 PM > > I guess within the scramble for customers this is one > > example. > > > > This is a complex issue and people are likely to > respond > > differently to > > this kind of content( indeed content generally). And > it > > also depends on > > whether it is on television or radio, in a cinema > film, on > > the Internet, > > in the press etc. So while you may find it offensive, > I may > > find it very > > informative and educative. > > > > So what harm is this advert likely to cause our youth > > against any > > benefits? difficult to know/measure and again quite > > complex. So > > important to balance "harm and offence". > > > > Re: complaints process etc both institutions are > > responsible at various > > levels. > > > > best > > alice > > > > (Views expressed are personal and not a reflection of > any > > of the > > institutions I am affiliated with) > > > > > > > > > > John Walubengo wrote: > > > By the way Alice, your post reminds me...there's > > this little Advert running on FM Radio stations about > > "the emergency pill". I must confess that I > > personally find it disturbing - particular when put in > the > > context of our listening youth. > > > > > > I have a whole thesis on why it should be pulled > off > > air and just wondering where to submit the same. > Is it to > > CCK or Media Council? Either way, could someone share > the > > email contact for receiving customer complaints > against > > Media? > > > > > > walu. > > > > > > --- On Thu, 3/19/09, alice <alice(a)apc.org> > > wrote: > > > > > > > > >> From: alice <alice(a)apc.org> > > >> Subject: [kictanet] African media > fragmentation > > piles the pressure on radio and TV stations as they > scramble > > for audiences > > >> To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > >> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > >> Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 10:12 PM > > >> (From Balancing Act) > > >> > > >> African media fragmentation piles the > pressure on > > radio and > > >> TV stations as they scramble for audiences > > >> > > >> Once upon a time everyone knew what > television and > > radio > > >> were and they played a key role in > people’s > > lives. > > >> Particularly for urban Africans they were > the > > soundtrack to > > >> life, the sports match in the bar and the > common > > >> conversations about television programmes. > > Nowadays in the > > >> more liberalised of African countries there > are > > more > > >> television and radio stations than you can > > remember the > > >> names of and for the smaller group of the > more > > well-off, > > >> there are pay TV channels, time-shifting and > DVDs. > > And all > > >> that’s before you take into account SMS > > information > > >> services and the Internet which are eating > away at > > the edges > > >> of the audiences. Russell Southwood looks at > the > > >> fault-lines. > > >> > > >> Dakar will shortly have 7 television > stations, not > > >> including the three Pay-TV channels you can > get if > > you can > > >> afford them or can pirate a service. Lagos > has 13 > > television > > >> stations and perhaps three main Pay-TV > channels. > > Kinshasa > > >> has over 40 television stations, many of > which > > simply show > > >> pirated television content. In this > circumstance, > > no channel > > >> will get more than 20-30% of audience share > on a > > regular > > >> basis. > > >> > > >> Pay-TV may seem a very modest presence in > most > > countries > > >> but because it is widely watched in public > places, > > it > > >> audience reach is understated by its > subscriber > > numbers. > > >> Furthermore, piracy means that a large number > of > > additional > > >> subscribers (sometimes double the number) > are > > watching > > >> without paying for content. > > >> > > >> Vernacular radio has exploded and the number > of > > radio > > >> stations is exponentially larger than for > > television > > >> stations as many of them are much more > local. > > Uganda has 150 > > >> stations and Kenya over 90. But whilst radio > might > > have a > > >> wider and deeper audience reach than > television, > > the > > >> fragmentation makes it difficult for > advertisers > > to reach > > >> their audiences. > > >> > > >> The standard broadcasting formats that seemed > to > > serve so > > >> well in less competitive times are now being > taken > > apart and > > >> put back together by the viewers and > listeners > > themselves. > > >> Legitimate and pirated DVDs provide a steady > > stream of > > >> relatively cheap entertainment, particularly > of > > films. > > >> Recent releases may command a better price > but > > three > > >> relatively old action action movies (Bruce > Lee, > > Stephen > > >> Seagal, that kind of thing) can be bought > for > > around US$2. > > >> PVRs, streaming and catch-up downloads will > all > > become a > > >> reality as part of the dividend of cheaper > > bandwidth in > > >> 2009. > > >> > > >> Middle class Africans are using a growing > array of > > devices. > > >> Laptop use is growing as sales of this kind > of > > computer > > >> begin to equal those of desktop PCs. > High-end > > smart phones > > >> like Blackberries and iPhones are > increasingly > > visible. One > > >> African carrier has 800,000 high-end phones > on its > > network. > > >> > > >> These devices are not just for doing work or > > making phone > > >> calls. They have become media in their own > right. > > Recent > > >> surveys show that in North Africa 3-7% of > the > > population > > >> cited SMS as one of their most used daily > > information > > >> sources. Likewise the Internet is set to have > a > > much greater > > >> impact with the spread of broadband > subscriptions. > > >> > > >> According to Alexa.com, Facebook and You Tube > are > > already > > >> amongst the Top 10 sites in the African > countries > > that it > > >> analyses. Again based on survey work, between > 1-8% > > of the > > >> population used the Internet daily across a > range > > of very > > >> different countries. With cheaper > international > > bandwidth, > > >> these figures will increase slowly but > surely. > > Mobile > > >> Internet will become cheaper and play an > > increasingly large > > >> role in people’s lives. > > >> > > >> Current ad spend on the Internet and SMS is > tiny > > but ad > > >> money will migrate as it gets larger. This > is > > money that > > >> will most likely be lost to newspapers which > seem > > the most > > >> vulnerable as the media landscape’s > tectonic > > plates begin > > >> to shift. > > >> > > >> So what can the African broadcaster do faced > with > > all of > > >> this? There are two ways to stay in the game: > by > > using new > > >> media to extend the appeal of interesting > content > > across all > > >> platforms and by stealing new media’s best > ideas > > and using > > >> them to survive. Unfortunately too few TV > stations > > have > > >> invested in convincingly local TV content > that > > might well > > >> provide the adhesive that would keep viewers > > eyeballs glued > > >> to the their channel. > > >> > > >> This article is a summary of a more detailed > > analysis in > > >> the recently published African Film and TV > > Yearbook. A list > > >> of contents can be found by clicking on the > > following link: > > >> http://www.balancingact-africa.com/yearbook.html > > >> > > >> The second part of the Yearbook contains a > full > > listing of > > >> African film and television companies broken > down > > by country > > >> as well as a section with useful > international > > addresses for > > >> anyone in the sector in Africa. There is also > two > > specially > > >> focused listings: one looks at Film Location > > Agencies and > > >> Screen Commissions across the continent and > the > > other lists > > >> companies and education institutions > providing > > film and > > >> television training. > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > > >> kictanet mailing list > > >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > >> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > >> > > >> This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at > > >> > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: kanjawaruru(a)yahoo.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kanjawaruru%40yahoo.com >

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Discounted Rates to attend the 1st East African WiMAX Conference & Expo 24-26 March 2009, Safari Park Hotel Nairobi
by John Mwangi 19 Mar '09

19 Mar '09

Dear AITEC Supporter, Due to the great interest that the upcoming conference has received from the market we have been requested by a few of privately sponsored delegates to lower the registration fee in order to accommodate every one for the conference. In this regard we have revised our rate for the 3 day conference to 17,400 inclusive of 16% VAT. Please take this early opportunity and register before Friday the 20th March 2009 deadline. I have attached the final conference programme and the booking form for your consideration, kindly email back the registration form duly filled to confirm your participation. Very limited spaces are available so please hurry. I look forward for your feedback and to assist you with your booking. Kind regards, John Mwangi Managing Director AITEC East Africa Showbe Plaza Muranga Road PO Box 13891-00800, Nairobi, Kenya * (Office) +254 20 2121028 * (Cell) +254 721 860 228 * <mailto:[email protected]> johnm(a)aitecafrica.com <http://www.aitecafrica.com/> www.aitecafrica.com

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Kenya National BPO Week - 7th to 9th April 2009
by Peres Were 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

'Under the auspices of the Ministry of Information and Communications' Proud Sponsors Include: cid:3320036433_125206 For Bookings Contact Joe or Grace Studio House, along Argwings Kodhek road, 2nd floor E-mail: <mailto:[email protected]> secretariat(a)kenyabposociety.or.ke Website: <http://www.kenyabposociety.or.ke> www.kenyabposociety.or.ke Tel. No. /020-2391301/ 0722-663176/ 0733-917518

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WIPO-Proposed New gTLD Trademark-Based Post-Delegation Procedure
by alice 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center has released a detailed proposal for a trademark-based post-delegation dispute resolution procedure involving new gTLD registries. http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/resources/icann/index.html. WIPO's proposed post-delegation procedure addresses registry behavior that causes or materially contributes to trademark abuse, whether through the TLD itself or through domain name registrations in the TLD, as further described in item 2 of the letter. Sincerely, WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center PS You may also wish to refer to our new Press Release at http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2009/article_0005.html. ------ World Intellectual Property Organization Disclaimer: This electronic message may contain privileged, confidential and copyright protected information. If you have received this e-mail by mistake, please immediately notify the sender and delete this e-mail and all its attachments. Please ensure all e-mail attachments are scanned for viruses prior to opening or using. _______________________________________________

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join the liveblog on management of African ccTLDs
by Rebecca Wanjiku 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

join liveblog on beckyit.blogspot.com Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/

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Kenya National BPO Week 7th to 9th April 2009
by Peres Were 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_Kenya.png> px Proud Sponsors Include Under the Auspices of the Ministry of Information and Communications For bookings contact: Joseph or Grace Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society. Studio House, along Argwings Kodhek road, 2nd floor E-mail: secretariat(a)kenyabposociety.or.ke Tel. No. /020-2391301/ 0722-663176/ 0733-917518

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Secure ICT 2009 Conference Nairobi, Kenya
by Evans Kahuthu 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

FYI, You are invited to attend the 1st annual Information Communication Technology & Network Security (Secure ICT) Conference, September 8 and 9, 2009 at the Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi Kenya. Secure ICT 2009 is a "must attend" event for those tasked with protecting personal or confidential information in a rapidly changing technological environment. The security of ICT infrastructure is of critical importance as Enhanced high-speed Internet is coming to East and Southern Africa as early as June 2009 by way of a new undersea fiber optic cable linking the continent to India and Europe (Seacom;Eassy;Teams). This conference will bring security experts to provide information technology and communication professionals and managers with the latest information on cyber security threats, trends, tools and strategies for protection of critical information technology and communications assets. The conference will offer two concurrent tracks, Information Security Management and Incident Response and Information Security Technology and Operations. The sessions on these two track have been carefully selected to address the specific needs of ICT managers and technical staff. For more information, please visit our website http://secureict.co.ke Sincerely, Evans Kahuthu

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Fw: Grants for African college students
by John Walubengo 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

for the interested universities... walu. --- On Thu, 3/12/09, Juma, Calestous <calestous_juma(a)harvard.edu> wrote: > From: Juma, Calestous <calestous_juma(a)harvard.edu> > Subject: Grants for African college students > To: "'david.dickson(a)scidev.net'" <david.dickson(a)scidev.net> > Date: Thursday, March 12, 2009, 6:17 AM > BOSTON, MA-- One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is beginning a > summer grant program in which up to 100 teams of university > students from around the world will distribute thousands of > XO laptops to children in Africa this summer. > > Partnering with schools and non-governmental organizations > in Africa, undergraduate and graduate students from around > the world will provide educational opportunities that > facilitate self-expression and exploration for children. > > OLPC is providing each team with 100 XO laptops, related > hardware, and up to $10,000 for operating costs. Student > teams will have the opportunity to attend an orientation > workshop in Kigali, Rwanda from June 8-17. > > Afterwards, they will spend nine weeks in an African > nation, working directly with local community partners to > integrate the XO into primary education. > OLPC founder and Chairman Nicholas Negroponte said that the > new program "represents a determined effort by OLPC to > engage university students worldwide in bringing an > education revolution to children living in some of the most > remote places on Earth. > > By empowering students from a multitude of countries and > cultures to act as agents of change, the belief that all > children have a right to quality education -- regardless of > where they happen to live -- will spread across the > globe." > > To date, OLPC has put over 500,000 XO laptops into the > hands of children all across the world. The One Laptop per > Child association developed a low-cost laptop -- the > "XO Laptop" -- to revolutionize how we educate the > world's children. > > OLPC's mission is to provide educational opportunities > for the world's poorest children by providing each child > with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with > content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, > self-empowered learning. > > The OLPCorps program features a high level of local > community involvement, as local schools and NGOs will > sustain the project for years to come. > *** > One Laptop per Child - Africa Grant Program Students have > played a pivotal role in every revolution, except > learning. That will change in 2009. Through One Laptop > per Child, student teams from around the world will each > deploy 100 XO-laptops throughout Africa this summer. If you > are an undergraduate or graduate student with an interest in > education, technology or capacity building, our summer grant > program will provide you with unprecedented hands-on > experience. > > Student Teams will: • travel to one of the 53 African > countries of their choosing for 9-10 weeks • participate > in a 10-day orientation in Kigali, Rwanda at OLPC's > office• receive up to $10,000 per team for operating > costs• deploy 100 XO laptops, including hardware and > support• collaborate with up to 100 other teams as part of > a life-long global network empowering a generation • send > a representative to MIT/OLPC's all-expense paid summit > from October 10-12, 2009. > > OLPCorps Africa Members will be active members of our > innovative 1 to 1 laptop-learning project and hold key roles > as leaders in our grassroots movement. The OLPC summer > grant program, which is a full-time commitments, begins June > 8. Teams will work closely with the One Laptop per Child > team to design and implement XO deployments, join a uniquely > African OLPC network, and lead a growing social movement. > How to apply: For more information on OLPCorps Africa and > specific application requirements, please visit our website: > http://laptop.org/en/participate/get-involved/OLPCorps.shtml. > Proposals must be received by March 27th. Contact OLPCorps > (OLPCorps(a)laptop.org) with any questions or concerns.

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[Fwd: [i-network] Introducing the Uganda ICT Consumer Protection Association]
by alice 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

*Introducing the **Uganda ICT Consumer Protection Association (UICPA)* Following a series of discussions on various mailing lists and especially on the I-Network ICT Mailing list for the past 2 to 3 years in regard to ICT services and products in Uganda, a few individuals decided to explore the idea of bringing together grieving ICT consumers. These individuals have now set up the Uganda ICT Consumer Protection Association. The association recognises the existing institutions and channels of dealing with consumer concerns and will work collaboratively with these institutions with the aim of improving ICT services and goods for the consumers. >From Internet services to voice services and all the way to hardware products, the situation is running out of control, and the few bodies mandated to protect consumers like the Uganda Communications Commission and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards seem to be overwhelmed by their wide mandates, limited budgets and inadequate human resources. The association is membership based and membership is open to all ICT consumers and stakeholders. The association aims at achieving the following: 1. Providing a collective platform / voice through which ICT consumers concerns can be addressed, for example billing complaints 2. Addressing poor quality of voice and data services 3. Addressing ICT goods and services pricing irregularities that result in loss of money by consumers 4. Evaluating performance of the universal service fund under the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC). 5. Addressing the high failure rate of hardware, for example promotional mobile phones As a start, the association has been duly registered and letters of introduction were sent out in February 2009 to various stakeholders informing them of the set up of the new association including Uganda Communications Commission, Ministry of ICT, Uganda National Bureau of Standards and Uganda Consumer Protection Association. *How will these aims be achieved?* The association will provide complementary activities and services to the already existing channels and institutions for addressing the above 5 issues. This will be done through 3 main approaches: 1. *Awareness creation:* The association shall carry out awareness creation and sensitisation activities within ICT consumers. This shall be aimed at making them more aware of their rights as ICT consumers, provide them with information on the channels and institutions that provide solutions and redress for complaints raised and above all work with service and goods providers to ensure that information regarding customer care, access, availability and reach are easily available and known by ICT consumers. 1. *Advocacy:* The association shall carry out advocacy for better, revised and new consumer laws as well as the upholding and consideration of ICT consumers in Uganda. The advocacy shall be based on the consumers’ experience and emergent issues that shall arise as the association carries out its aims. The advocacy activities shall also seek to get better terms from goods and service providers in the country to allow ICT consumers and providers enjoy mutual benefits. 1. *Collective Voice:* The association shall register and take note of issues, complaints and compliments from ICT consumers regarding ICT goods and services in the country. The association shall seek redress for ICT consumers on a collective basis where issues with service and goods providers have been reported to providers, relevant government authorities and yet no action has been taken. The association shall use its strength in numbers to seek for a solution for these issues. The association shall provide a forum to ICT consumers to discuss and share information on issues affecting ICT consumers in the country. The association shall use this forum and the knowledge generated at the forum to carry out advocacy and awareness activities as part of the development of the ICT sector in Uganda. For more information on the association and how it can help you please contact the association Plot 53 Kira Road Kamwokya Bukoto Email: report(a)ictconsumer.or.ug Web: _www.ictconsumer.or.ug <http://www.ictconsumer.or.ug/>_ -- Wire Lunghabo James Linux Solutions Blog: http://www.computerworld.co.ug/blogs/wire-james => Share One Computer among 10 users working simultaneously <= => Reduce computer electricity bills by 60% <= => Lower your expenses on computer servicing by 50% <= => Significantly Reduce IT support costs <= **** Contact Linux Solutions today for the ideal solution **** "For Exceptional Services, Innovative and High quality Products" Office: +256-312-278767 Cell: +256-712-726609 Visit web site <http://d2.dgroups.org/iicd/i-network> Click here <mailto:[email protected]> to unsubscribe The email is intended only for the recipients. The owners of the Dgroups cannot be held responsible for the contents of the email message.

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IGF liveblog session
by Rebecca Wanjiku 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

If you would like to follow the live sessions from Mauritius, please visit beckyit.blogspot.com Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/

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Two major blunders on KTN's "the presenter"
by Maina Samson 16 Mar '09

16 Mar '09

Just observed some two blunders with KTN's concluded "the Presenter" show. Who else did? 1. Calling a commercial break while on stage already holding the envelop containing the name of the winner. That, to me, is supposed to be the most transparent stage and even if its good to create some suspense, create it with Cameras on the envelop. Otherwise it will become very hard to convince the genera viwers other than those in the Lyco regency that nothing happened to the envelop during that break. Nevertheless, Fahreed Khimani is a great MC, so are Melly and the Yu CEO. 2. Taking a commercial break as indicated in (1) above to advertise "Orange- together we can do more" just when the Yu CEO is busy on stage trying to capture the crowds with his good MC talent. If I were doing the programming, zain, Safcom or Ornage would not have featured anywhere. For all goodness sake, Yu were the sponsors!!!!!! Regards, Samson Major

2 1

media bias consequences,,, a good example
by Gakuru Alex 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

[Throughout KCA discussions most, including our learned friends, were erroneously made to believe the media that this was just but terrible, no-good, plain "anti-media law." Now (save for into the third month) it's good continue emerging. The author's embarrassment and belated admission of the positives leaves one wondering what the ordinary (wo)man on the street thinks of the law? Does it make a classic "media misinformation" research case? I had hoped that un-biased content obligations by this law were highlighted. This gives information consumers the opportunity to make their most informed and independent view of all media features --AlexG] ---- March 15, 2009 Nairobi-Kenya In Kenya’s recent legislative history, fewer pieces of legislation have enjoyed as much bad press as the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill (now Act) 2008 (The KCAA). Admittedly, when a colleague in the industry recently asked me to articulate the positive aspects of the Act, I was embarrassingly surprised that I did not already have something I could e-mail him right away. A lot of the material that was out there seemed to harp on one perceived shortcoming in the Act or the other. In order to atone for my somewhat unbalanced analysis of the Act (but without recanting my previous opinions about its shortcomings), I took the time to prepare this feature-length commercial about its positive virtues.... <http://michaelmurungi.blogspot.com/2009/03/ten-reasons-to-spare-positive-th…>

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Conficker/Downadup Evolves To Defend Itself]
by alice 14 Mar '09

14 Mar '09

Conficker/Downadup Evolves To Defend Itself Worm develops ability to disable antimalware tools, switch domains more frequently By Tim Wilson, DarkReading <http://www.darkreading.com/> March 12, 2009 URL:http://www.darkreading.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=215900041 The enigmatic Conficker worm has evolved, adopting new capabilities that make it more difficult than ever to find and eradicate, security researchers say. In a blog published late last week <https://forums2.symantec.com/t5/Malicious-Code/W32-Downadup-C-Digs-in-Deepe…>, researchers at Symantec said they found "a completely new variant" of Conficker, sometimes called Downadup, that is being pushed out to machines previously infected with earlier versions of the worm. The new variant, which Symantec calls W32.Downadup.C, appears to have defensive capabilities that weren't present in earlier versions. While it spreads in the same manner, "Conficker.C" can disable some of the tools used to detect and eradicate it, including antivirus and other antimalware detection tools. W32.Downadup C also can switch domains at a much greater rate, Symantec said. "The Downadup authors have now moved from a 250-a-day domain-generation algorithm to a new 50,000-a-day domain generation algorithm," the researchers reported. "The new domain generation algorithm also uses one of a possible 116 domain suffixes." A report from CA about Conficker.C <http://www.ca.com/us/securityadvisor/virusinfo/virus.aspx?id=77976> confirms Symantec's findings, although the CA researchers said the jump from 500 to 50,000 domains will not occur until April 1. The ability to quickly switch domains will make it difficult for Internet security organizations, such as ICANN and OpenDNS, to block the domains used by the worm, industry experts note. The new variant emerges just as some vendors have come out with tools they say will eradicate the worm. Enigma Software today issued a new, free tool <http://www.enigmasoftware.com/> that it says will remove Conficker.A and Conficker.B from infected machines. A spokesman says the company has begun work on the new variant. And BitDefender also is offering a free tool <http://www.bdtools.net/> it says will remove all variants of the worm. Perhaps the most disconcerting aspect of the worm is that although it has reportedly infected hundreds of thousands of machines, it does not, as yet, seem to have a purpose. Although it has been contacting domains and spreading itself through various means, security experts say it has yet to be given a task -- such as distributing spam or launching a DDoS attack -- and researchers are still uncertain as to what it might be used for. And some experts say there may be other exploits that behave like Conficker/Downadup. "BitDefender Labs has been seeing an increase in worms, like Downadup, that have a built-in mathematical algorithm, generating strings based on the current date," says Vlad Valceanu, BitDefender's senior malware analyst. "The worms then produce a fixed number of domain names on a daily basis and check them for updates. This makes it easy for malware writers and cybercriminals to upgrade a worm or give it a new payload, as they only have to register one of the domains and then upload the files." /Have a comment on this story? Please click "Discuss" below. If you'd like to contact/ Dark Reading's /editors directly, send us a message <mailto:[email protected]>/ Copyright © 2007 CMP Media LLC <http://www.cmpnet.com/> _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Grants for African college students
by John Walubengo 13 Mar '09

13 Mar '09

Apologies for cross-posting...but here's an opportunity for University/college students... walu. > From: Juma, Calestous <calestous_juma(a)harvard.edu> > Subject: Grants for African college students > To: "'david.dickson(a)scidev.net'" <david.dickson(a)scidev.net> > Date: Thursday, March 12, 2009, 6:17 AM > BOSTON, MA-- One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is beginning a > summer grant program in which up to 100 teams of university > students from around the world will distribute thousands of > XO laptops to children in Africa this summer. > > Partnering with schools and non-governmental organizations > in Africa, undergraduate and graduate students from around > the world will provide educational opportunities that > facilitate self-expression and exploration for children. > > OLPC is providing each team with 100 XO laptops, related > hardware, and up to $10,000 for operating costs. Student > teams will have the opportunity to attend an orientation > workshop in Kigali, Rwanda from June 8-17. > > Afterwards, they will spend nine weeks in an African > nation, working directly with local community partners to > integrate the XO into primary education. > OLPC founder and Chairman Nicholas Negroponte said that the > new program "represents a determined effort by OLPC to > engage university students worldwide in bringing an > education revolution to children living in some of the most > remote places on Earth. > > By empowering students from a multitude of countries and > cultures to act as agents of change, the belief that all > children have a right to quality education -- regardless of > where they happen to live -- will spread across the > globe." > > To date, OLPC has put over 500,000 XO laptops into the > hands of children all across the world. The One Laptop per > Child association developed a low-cost laptop -- the > "XO Laptop" -- to revolutionize how we educate the > world's children. > > OLPC's mission is to provide educational opportunities > for the world's poorest children by providing each child > with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with > content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, > self-empowered learning. > > The OLPCorps program features a high level of local > community involvement, as local schools and NGOs will > sustain the project for years to come. > *** > One Laptop per Child - Africa Grant Program Students have > played a pivotal role in every revolution, except > learning. That will change in 2009. Through One Laptop > per Child, student teams from around the world will each > deploy 100 XO-laptops throughout Africa this summer. If you > are an undergraduate or graduate student with an interest in > education, technology or capacity building, our summer grant > program will provide you with unprecedented hands-on > experience. > > Student Teams will: • travel to one of the 53 African > countries of their choosing for 9-10 weeks • participate > in a 10-day orientation in Kigali, Rwanda at OLPC's > office• receive up to $10,000 per team for operating > costs• deploy 100 XO laptops, including hardware and > support• collaborate with up to 100 other teams as part of > a life-long global network empowering a generation • send > a representative to MIT/OLPC's all-expense paid summit > from October 10-12, 2009. > > OLPCorps Africa Members will be active members of our > innovative 1 to 1 laptop-learning project and hold key roles > as leaders in our grassroots movement. The OLPC summer > grant program, which is a full-time commitments, begins June > 8. Teams will work closely with the One Laptop per Child > team to design and implement XO deployments, join a uniquely > African OLPC network, and lead a growing social movement. > How to apply: For more information on OLPCorps Africa and > specific application requirements, please visit our website: > http://laptop.org/en/participate/get-involved/OLPCorps.shtml. > Proposals must be received by March 27th. Contact OLPCorps > (OLPCorps(a)laptop.org) with any questions or concerns.

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WhereCamp Africa
by alice 13 Mar '09

13 Mar '09

Dear all This is an interesting event for organizations looking to better use mapping tools for their work. (http://www.wherecampafrica.org/) Great for technical staff to attend - it could be a great networking/inspiration event for them. ------------------------------------ All the best, Janet -- Program Manager Information Program Open Society Institute Oktober 6. ut. 12 H-1051 Budapest Hungary +36 1 327 3182 http://www.soros.org/ip/ jhaven(a)osieurope.org

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ICANN To IP Experts: Come Back With A Solution For Internet Trademark Protection]
by alice 13 Mar '09

13 Mar '09

12 March 2009 ICANN To IP Experts: Come Back With A Solution For Internet Trademark Protection By Monika Ermert <http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/author/monika/> for /Intellectual Property Watch/ @ 1:00 pm http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/03/12/icann-to-ip-experts-come-back-wit… Trademark issues are emerging with the upcoming introduction of new generic top-level domains on the internet, and the board members of the body introducing the names has passed the ball back to intellectual property experts to find answers. The Intellectual Property Constituency of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN, the internet technical coordinating body) has been asked to work out a viable solution “no later than 24 May 2009.” Trademark issues have been defined as one of four overarching issues still to be solved before ICANN can finalise the application procedure for the next hundreds or thousands of top-level domains from .eco to .music. In its resolution on Friday in Mexico City, the ICANN board decided to request that the ICANN Generic Name Supporting Organization (GNSO) Intellectual Property Constituency - in consultation with ICANN staff - convene an “implementation recommendation team” comprised of an “internationally diverse group of persons with knowledge, expertise, and experience in the fields of trademark, consumer protection, or competition law, and the interplay of trademarks and the domain name system.” The team is to “develop and propose solutions to the overarching issue of trademark protection in connection with the introduction of new gTLDs.” “We have reached out to the IP community saying, ‘You come back to us with some proposal how this should be solved,’” said ICANN Board Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush. An IP lawyer by profession, Dengate Thrush said he was confident that a proposal would be brought back to ICANN because of the “track record” of the IP experts. “We have gone through this already once in 1998/99,” he said. The debates 10 years ago resulted in the formation of the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy <http://www.icann.org/en/udrp/udrp.htm> (UDRP), built into the system to fight domain grabbing. Many domain-name disputes under the UDRP are brought to the World Intellectual Property Organization, which is expected to release its annual report on internet disputes next week. The danger of name-grabbing at the first stage and the concern that trademark owners will be pressured to protect their brands in hundreds of new TLDs led to a flurry of critical comments during the comment period last year for the first version of the Applicant’s Guidebook to the new domains. Even the US government called into question the need for new gTLDs asking for studies on the issue of market demand and market impact. ICANN recently published “preliminary” versions of studies prepared by Dennis Carlton, economics professor at the University of Chicago and highest-ranking economist in the Antitrust Division of the US Justice Department between 2006 and 2008. The draft texts came under heavy critique from participants at the ICANN meeting in Mexico. After ICANN’s decision on the implementation recommendation team there are some concerns with regard to the composition of group by outside observers. Board member Dennis Jennings of Ireland said he was glad that the resolution taken included internationality as a principle for the group. The discussion about IP issues seemed to have been “driven by big business and West, or North American intellectual property interests,” he said, adding that “other dimensions that need to be taken into account.” Wendy Seltzer, non-voting liaison of the At-Large Advisory Committee on the board said she hoped that members of other communities would be “consulted early in the process and would have full opportunities to analyse proposals that come out of this working group.” ”All interested constituencies will have the opportunity to provide input to the group,” wrote Kristina Rosette, an IP lawyer at Covington & Burling who represents the IP Constituency in the GNSO. This means the opportunity to provide input before drafting starts and during the early stages as well as the opportunity to comment on the draft, she said in a written statement to /Intellectual Property Watch/. ”It may also mean membership on the team,” Rosette added. “To my knowledge, that aspect has not been decided nor has the size of the team.” But she would expect that the group could be established in the next 10 days. Rosette also said she was confident that the IP Constituency could ultimately present a solution acceptable to other constituencies. Members of other constituencies in first reactions were worried that the IP Constituency would start over and neglect the policy development process that has taken place over years on the new gTLD introduction. They complain that the constituency has taken part in it and now is given a privileged chance to push their interests. “We need a solution,” Dengate Thrush said of the trademark issue. If the report is not acceptable to other constituencies in ICANN, “we will start our own work for a solution,” he said. Government Involvement The chairman of the ICANN Government Advisory Committee (GAC), Janis Karklins, welcomed the steps taken to ensure IP protection but criticised a proposal that geographic names be given the same level of protection rather than higher protection. So far GAC advice on the protection of country and place names has not been “fully taken into account,” Karklins said, as ICANN provided protection for the top level but not the second level of the upcoming new gTLDs. The second level would be in the form of @name.othername. Dengate Thrush reacted to this by saying that there might be a need for the GAC to reconsider parts of its advice, “partly because they’re difficult to implement and partly because they’re in conflict with other policy decisions.” Dengate Thrush also confirmed that as details of the different processes of introducing new gTLDs and new internationalised country-code top-level domains (IDN ccTLDs) becoming much clearer, the possibility for different start times for each set of names would become more real. Dengate Thrush asked, “Now that the possibility of divergence is becoming more real, what is the policy behind that?” and called for discussion on the question at the next ICANN meeting to be held in Sydney on 21-26 June. /Monika Ermert may be reached at info(a)ip-watch.ch <mailto:[email protected]>./ _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Re: [kictanet] ict@innovation workshop
by Gakuru Alex 13 Mar '09

13 Mar '09

"FOSS is an idea whose time has come", stated Hon. (Eng.) James Rege. News article <http://www.strathmore.edu/News.php?NewsID=50> Enjoy! Alex On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 5:48 AM, Gakuru Alex <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> wrote: > folks, > > Been at http://www.strathmore.edu/Events.php?EventID=6 all along. > Great workshop it has been!! Will post a news update in due course. >

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ict@innovation workshop
by Gakuru Alex 12 Mar '09

12 Mar '09

folks, Been at http://www.strathmore.edu/Events.php?EventID=6 all along. Great workshop it has been!! Will post a news update in due course. rgds, Alex

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Confirmed Speakers for National BPO Week 7th to 9th April 2009
by Peres Were 10 Mar '09

10 Mar '09

The Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society will hold the inaugural Annual National BPO Week on 7th to 9th April 2009. This Conference and Exhibition comes at a very important time as the sub-marine cable lands in Kenya, creating great opportunities within the BPO sector in the country. It is expected that there will be exponential growth of Kenya's BPO sector once the fibre optic cable becomes operational in June 2009. The conference and expo will run concurrently at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, in Nairobi. Internationally recognised speakers from the global and local contact centre and BPO industry will provide thought leadership during the conference sessions. The main expo will mostly include companies that are involved in Business Process Outsourcing, Call Centre, Software, Hardware, and Telecommunication among others. They will seek to showcase their products and offerings to the general public and seek to educate them on the emerging opportunities available to the youth and others alike. Confirmed international speakers include: Ken Bone President - Rising Data Solutions Ken has over 20 years of experience establishing, developing and operating world-class BPO centres in emerging markets. He is one of the pioneers responsible for the establishment and success of the BPO industry in the Philippines. Prior to joining Rising Data, Ken was the CEO of Electraserv Inc., a contact centre based in the Philippines. This call centre was founded in February, 2005. Electraserv is a Hong Kong Company, with operations in the Philippines and marketing offices in the U.S.A. Russ Sandlin Head of Contact Center - Gulf Bank of Kuwait Russ joined the bank in 2008. Prior to this, Russ managed large contact centres for Barclays PLC, HSBC, Chase Manhattan, Bank of America, AT&T and Dell. Russ is also the founder of Benprise LLC, an Outsourcing Service Provider. Russ has helped US based investors move their work offshore setting up contact centres in Korea, Mexico, Dubai, Qatar, Pakistan, India, the Philippines, China, Ghana and Kuwait. Russ is an industry expert in Offshore Outsourcing, BPO, KPO and Contact Centers. Dr. Pradeep Mukherjee President and Managing Partner of Avasant - Asia Avasant is a leading Management Consultancy and Global Sourcing firm headquartered in USA. Dr. Mukherjee has over 20 years of experience and expertise in Consultancy and Management of Technology Business. He has advised leading enterprises in US, Europe and ASPAC on strategic aspects of Services Globalization and Transformational Outsourcing. His expertise includes IT Consulting & Strategy, BPO Strategy, Global Risk Assessment and Management, Relationship Management, Contracting and Program Management and M&A .He has in the past advised Private Equity organizations on deal sourcing, deal structuring and post deal transformation. Captain Percy Jokhi Global Head of Security & Vigilance - Firstsource Solutions formerly Vice President of Security Services HSBC Bank. First Source Solutions has approximately 22,250 employees spread over various contact centers in India and abroad spanning USA, UK, Ireland, Argentina & Philippines. First Source clients include major blue chip international companies. As Global Head of Security and Vigilance, Percy's role includes creation & standardization of security policies & procedures within the organizations contact centres and throughout the entire organization. While Vice President -Security Services, at HSBC Bank, Percy set up the security department for the Bank in India and went on to set up the same for all companies and properties of HSBC Group in India. Percy has wide experience in all aspects of Security and in particular securing contact centre and BPO operations to meet international standards necessary for procuring outsourced contracts from the financial services industry. BOOK YOUR SPACE TODAY! Peres Were Vice-Chair Kenya BPO & Contact Society For bookings contact Kenya BPO & Contact Centre Society. Studio House, along Argwings Kodhek road, 2nd floor E-mail: <mailto:[email protected]> secretariat(a)kenyabposociety.or.ke Tel. No. /020-2391301/ 0722-663176/ 0733-917518 www.kenyabposociety.or.ke <http://www.kenyabposociety.or.ke/> www.bpoweek.co.ke <http://www.bpoweek.co.ke/> www.outsource2kenya.co.ke <http://www.outsource2kenya.co.ke/>

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ICANN Mexico Meeting Briefing note
by alice 10 Mar '09

10 Mar '09

Mexico City Briefing Note Published 9 March 2009 A briefing note on the Mexico City meeting <http://mex.icann.org/briefing-note> of 1-6 March 2009 has been published. ICANN's 34th international public meeting was hosted by ICANN, the Mexican Internet Association (AMIPCI), the Network Information Center (NIC) Mexico, and the Internet Society (ISOC) Mexico. The briefing note summarizes key developments at the meeting and outlines next steps and sources of further information for each. The topics included are: * New generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) * Internationalized Domain Names and the IDN Fast Track * Amendments to the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) * The Improving Institutional Confidence (IIC) consultation * GNSO Improvements * Independent Reviews * A summary of Board resolutions The briefing note is an informal summary. The authoritative records of official meetings will be available in their minutes. Further information about the meeting, including presentations and transcripts, is available at http://mex.icann.org/. Information about the next meeting which will be from 21-26 June 2008 in Sydney, Australia can be found at its dedicated website at http://syd.icann.org <http://syd.icann.org/>. *Related links: * Mexico City briefing note: http://mex.icann.org/briefing-note Mexico City meeting website: http://mex.icann.org/ Sydney meeting website: http://syd.icann.org <http://syd.icann.org/> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Sign up for ICANN's Monthly Magazine <http://www.icann.org/magazine/>* _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] KICC LAN PROJECT SUCCESFULLY COMPLETED
by James Rege 09 Mar '09

09 Mar '09

Walu, you can say "funny" again, it has been completed on time and without any of those "fleecings". May I also join hands with others in saying congratulation to everybody who had a hand in the project? As we are all trying very hard to prove a point that ict is the way and will assist all sectors in reducing graft, it would have been sad if the project had failed for one reason or the other. I only wish the late Dr Juma Okech was around to have a champaign in celebration. Lucy did you have a chance to add wifi for the geeks - those who rome the corridors with lap tops on their left/right hands and typing with the other? Congrats James Rege On Mar 6, 2009, at 3:09 PM, John Walubengo wrote: > > hey Lucy, > > I have been wanting to comment on this ICT Board project but hadnt > just gotten the minute...until now. > > I think the completion of your Infrastructure Project at KICC is > commendable in several ways. > > Firstly, it is rare for Govt projects to be completed on time, > within budget and hopefully expected quality standards. Particularly > in .KE where we have poor track record for ICT projects (ref: Anglo- > fleecing, et al) > > Secondly, it is rare for Govt Depts to be open about the same > (projects) - even if for it is for purposes of benchmarking and/or > lessons learnt. (Secrecy Act applies?) > > Funny, I just realized that as Kenyans we have been so numbed by > scandals that when a Project is "above board"/"open"- we fail to > notice that flicker of hope that all is not lost. That maybe there > are some "civil-servants" who want to make a change in their own > little ways. And that they should be encouraged and their lessons > shared precisely because they are a minority. Their little successes > should be celebrated because only then, can we built that critical > mass of civil servants that will begin to change the way Govt > thinks, behaves and responds to its 21st century Netizens. > > walu. > > > > --- On Fri, 2/20/09, Lucy Odhiambo <lodhiambo(a)ict.go.ke> wrote: > >> From: Lucy Odhiambo <lodhiambo(a)ict.go.ke> >> Subject: [ke-internetusers] KICC LAN PROJECT SUCCESFULLY COMPLETED >> To: kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> Cc: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net >> Date: Friday, February 20, 2009, 6:21 PM >> Dear All, >> >> >> >> We are pleased to inform you that Kenya ICT Board and the >> E- Government >> directorate initiative has successfully completed >> installation of the much >> anticipated connectivity project at the Kenyatta >> International Conference >> Center. Sponsored and implemented by the two key >> stakeholders, the project >> has seen the set up of a secure Local Area Network; with >> infrastructure laid >> across the entire KICC premises. >> >> >> >> The network will be centrally managed and maintained on an >> inclusive IT >> system with connectivity to both the internet and the >> Government Common Core >> Network (GCCN). It is supported on a fiber optic backbone >> that was rolled >> out as part of the project and completed under the guidance >> of a team >> comprising experts from the Board among other stakeholder >> organizations. >> KICC has for a long time stood out as a key government >> owned building that >> does not have its own local area network and access to the >> Government WAN >> (wide area network.) >> >> >> >> This project is a milestone achievement as it realizes >> connectivity of all >> government offices to an overall network (comprising all >> other ministries >> and selected departments) allowing seamless and secure >> communication and >> file sharing. >> >> The project will be commissioned next week and we will keep >> you informed on >> the details. >> >> >> >> We congratulate the team that made this project a success - >> lead by Victor >> Kyalo and George Otieno from the board and the late Dr. >> Juma Oketch , >> Elijah Liech and the E-Government Directorate team. >> >> I have attached the project charter to give you some >> background on the >> project. >> >> >> >> >> >> Lucy Gachui Odhiambo >> >> Communications Manager >> >> Kenya ICT Board >> >> 12th Floor Telposta Towers >> >> Koinange Lane >> >> PO Box 27150 - 00100 >> Nairobi, Kenya >> >> Cell 0737- 839047 >> >> Tel: 254-020-2093040 >> >> <http://www.ict.go.ke> www.ict.go.ke >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> ke-internetusers mailing list >> ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net >> http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers > > > > _______________________________________________ > ke-internetusers mailing list > ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net > http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers

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Community Comment Invited on Petition To Form A New GNSO CyberSafety Constituency
by alice＠apc.org 06 Mar '09

06 Mar '09

Community Comment Invited on Petition To Form A New GNSO CyberSafety Constituency 5 March 2009 The ongoing GNSO Improvements process has created significant community interest in the formation of new GNSO constituencies and several groups have stepped forward to begin the process of forming a new GNSO constituency. The ICANN Board has now received its first formal petition - from the prospective CyberSafety Constituency. All members of the ICANN community and the public are now invited to review the petition and charter of the CyberSafety Constituency and share comments with the Board through 5 April 2009. Background and Explanation: In June 2008, the Board of Directors endorsed a series of recommendations on how to improve the GNSOs structures and operations. One of the significant drivers of those recommendations was an interest in maximizing participation in the GNSO and its policy development processes. Among the various recommendations endorsed by the Board was that ICANN take steps to clarify and promote the option to self-form new constituencies. The current ICANN Bylaws provide that any group of individuals or entities may petition the Board for recognition as a new or separate constituency, in accordance with Section 5(4) of Article X. Such a petition must explain (1) why the addition of such a Constituency will improve the ability of the GNSO to carry out its policy-development responsibilities and (2) why the proposed new Constituency would adequately represent, on a global basis, the stakeholders it seeks to represent. Despite those Bylaw provisions, it has been many years since the organization has had a formal request for a new constituency. Since the Board action last June, however, the ICANN Staff has received inquiries from several interested parties about how to form a new GNSO constituency. The ICANN bylaws do not provide specific procedural guidance for how interested parties should submit the petitions contemplated in Article X. Mindful that explicit steps, formats, and/or processes for expansion would take some time for the community to develop in the implementation of the improvements recommendations, the Board directed ICANN Staff to provide the community with some initial guidance, a structure and a specific procedural path for potential new constituencies to follow. At its 1 October meeting, the Board acknowledged Staff's development of a "Notice of Intent" document for potential new constituencies and directed Staff to develop a formal petition and charter template to assist new constituency applicants in satisfying the formative criteria (consistent with the ICANN Bylaws) to facilitate the Board's evaluation of petitions to form new constituencies. The process subsequently developed by the Staff required interested groups to first submit a Notice of Intent to Form New Constituency (NOIF) [DOC, 148K]. The proponent of the CyberSafety Constituency completed that first step on 20 October 2008. The second step of the process is development of a New Constituency Petition and Charter. The proponent of the CyberSafety Constituency completed that effort on 23 February 2009. Relevant Board Resolution, Bylaws and Constituency Submissions: Minutes of 1 October 2008 ICANN Board Meeting: http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/minutes-01oct08.htm ICANN Bylaws Article X, Section 5, Subsection 4: http://www.icann.org/en/general/bylaws.htm - X-5.1 Copies of the CyberSafety Constituency Petition Documents: o CyberSafety Introduction Letter to Petition and Charter Document [PDF, 10K] o CyberSafety Constituency Petition and Charter (23 Feb 2009-Redacted) [PDF, 94K] The Process From Here: At the end of this Public Comment Forum period, the ICANN Staff will provide a summary/analysis of the comments submitted regarding the CyberSafety Constituency petition and charter. That summary/analysis will be shared with the community and the Board. The Board will ultimately make the decision on whether to authorize the new constituency. It should be noted that the GNSO Improvements Report approved by the Board in June 2008 has additional guidelines and recommendations for the ongoing practices and processes of GNSO constituencies. It is expected that this work will be ongoing as part of the GNSO Improvements implementation efforts. Deadline and How to Submit Comments: The Staff is opening a 30-day public consultation forum, from 5 March 2009 through 5 April 2009, and invites community comments on this matter. This particular comment period is slightly longer than 30-days because the period is tolled while International ICANN meetings are in session. The formal Public Comment Forum Box is located here: http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-200904.html#cybersafe… To submit comments: cyber-safety-petition(a)icann.org To view comments (including the various constituency submissions): http://forum.icann.org/lists/cyber-safety-petition/ Staff Responsible: Robert Hoggarth _______________________________________________

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ICANN Meeting Sydney
by alice＠apc.org 06 Mar '09

06 Mar '09

http://syd.icann.org/ The page is up and registration opened. As you may remember the fellowship programme application round is ongoing and deadline for applications is 9 March 2009. best alice

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New gTLDs Preliminary Reports on Competition and Pricing
by alice＠apc.org 06 Mar '09

06 Mar '09

New gTLDs Preliminary Reports on Competition and Pricing 4 March 2009 Mexico City, Mexico An important element of ICANNs consideration of the introduction of new gTLDs is consumer benefit as well as pricing issues. ICANN commissioned an independent third-party report and retained Dennis Carlton, who is a Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago and who, from 2006 to 2008, was the highest-ranking economist in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Professor Carlton also is a Senior Managing Director of Compass Lexecon, a prestigious economic consulting firm that specializes in competition matters. Professor Carlton has prepared two preliminary reports relating to the introduction of new gTLDs. In one report Preliminary Report of Dennis Carlton Regarding Impact of New gTLDs on Consumer Welfare, [PDF, 160K] Professor Carlton states: I conclude that ICANNs proposed framework for introducing new TLDs is likely to improve consumer welfare by facilitating entry and creating new competition to the major gTLDs such as .com, .net, and .org. Like other actions that remove artificial restrictions on entry, the likely effect of ICANNs proposal is to increase output, lower price and increase innovation. This conclusion is based on the fundamental principles that competition promotes consumer welfare and restrictions on entry impede competition. The other report, Preliminary Analysis of Dennis Carlton Regarding Price Caps for New gTLD Internet Registries, [PDF, 60K] addresses pricing issues associated with new TLDs. He concludes as follows: I conclude that price caps or ceilings on prices charged by operators of new gTLD registries are unnecessary to insure competitive benefits of the proposed process for introducing new gTLDs. I further conclude that imposing price caps on the registries for new gTLDs could inhibit the development and marketplace acceptance of new gTLDs by limiting the pricing flexibility of entrants to the provision of new registry services without generating significant benefits to registrants of the new gTLDs. ICANN encourages the community to read both reports. A public comment forum has been opened on these preliminary reports prepared by Professor Carlton for 45 days, until 17 April 2009. The complete Preliminary Reports and Public Comment Forum can be found at: http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-200904.html#compri New GTLDs and the Internet Openness Change Innovation After years of discussion and thought, new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) are being expanded. They will allow for more innovation, choice and change to a global Internet presently served by only 21 generic top-level domain names. As a not-for profit corporation dedicated to coordinating the Internet's addressing system, ICANN is not doing this to add to its revenue. An implementation plan is being developed with opportunities for public comment. There will be processes for objections. There has also been detailed technical scrutiny to ensure the Internet's stability and security. There will be an evaluation fee but it will recover costs only (expenses so far, application processing and anticipated legal costs). Promoting competition and choice is one of the principles upon which ICANN was founded. In a world with 1.5 billion Internet users (and growing), diversity, choice and innovation are key. The Internet has supported huge increases in choice, innovation and the competition of ideas, and expanding new gTLDs is an opportunity for more. Media Contacts: Brad White Director of Media Affairs Corporate Affairs ICANN Ph: +1.202.429.2710 E: brad.white(a)icann.org International: Andrew Robertson Edelman (London) Ph: +44 7921 588 770 E: andrew.robertson(a)edelman.com Related Links and Resources: New gTLD Program Summary and Analysis of First Draft Applicant Guidebook Public Comments _______________________________________________

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TEAMS Map
by Dorcas Muthoni 05 Mar '09

05 Mar '09

Where can i get the TEAMS (The East African Marine System) map showing all the landing points. Would appreciate to know the current progress status as well. I have information that Alcatel-Lucent have announced that laying of the cable should be complete in the second quarter of 2009. More information suggests that date of first use is due April 2009. Any further updates are most welcome. -- Muthoni My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------------------- Mahatma Gandhi once said:- First they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, AND THEN YOU WIN!!!

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Day 2 of 10:-KCA 2008-Broadcasting-The Bad
by John Walubengo 04 Mar '09

04 Mar '09

Looks like Day 1 on the good aspect of the Broadcasting Section was too quiet. I am not sure if that is because there is nothing good about it or maybe fatigue has just kicked in. Either way, today we want to review the so called bad aspects. They have been in the press/public domain for the last 4weeks but here is my take of the top three. 1. that the retained 'draconian' clause 88 gives unrestricted powers to the two ministers (Internal Security and Information Ministers) and their regulatory (CCK) appointees. These Powers enable them to declare an emergency and raid media houses. The beef is that these powers are likely to be abused particularly because of the heavy Govt composition of the Regulatory Authorities who would likely serve their appointing authority (Executive) rather than the common good (Public) 2. that the Content Regulation (Programming Code) aspects is also flawed in that it is ONLY the Information Minister and his appointees who can decide what is prohibited and what is not, what should go on air and at what time. 3. that a Signal Distribution Monopoly would be enforced given that current broadcasters would need to channel their transmission through a licensed signal distributor i.e. dismantle their current distribution infrastructure in the likely event that they are not the designated signal distributor. Any more? Feel free to clarify as well where I may have errored in the interpretation. Tomorrow we shall look at the proposed interventions once we are agreed on the problems/issues. walu.

20 38

(no subject)
by Geoffrey Shimanyula 03 Mar '09

03 Mar '09

Regards, Geoffrey Shimanyula Chief Executive Officer One Communications Limited Onecom House Waiyaki Way (Church Road Junction) P.O. Box 13651 - 00800, Westlands, Nairobi KENYA Tel: +254 20 2306678 Fax: +254 20 4440123 Mobile:+254 722 530188 Email: gshimanyula(a)onecom.co.ke

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ICANN's President and CEO Announces Departure
by alice＠apc.org 02 Mar '09

02 Mar '09

ICANN's President and CEO Announces Departure 2 March 2009 Mexico City, Mexico 2 March 2009 Founders and leaders of the Internet today praised the achievements of Dr Paul Twomey, the President and Chief Executive Officer of ICANN, after learning that Twomey had advised ICANN's Board of Directors that he will not seek renewal of his contract and will move on from ICANN at the end of 2009. Twomey announced his decision at the opening session of ICANN's 34th International Public Meeting in Mexico City, which has drawn more than 1,200 attendees from every corner of the globe. "Last year, I told the Board that I did not want to renew my contract as President and CEO for another 3 year term," said Twomey. "While I am deeply and personally committed to ICANN and its success, I think this is the right time for me to move on to another leadership position in the private or international sectors." Twomey was named CEO and President in 2003, after serving, for 4 years, as the Chairman of ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC). He oversaw the phenomenal growth of an organization that has become the primary coordinator of the Internet's global address system. "I'm delighted to have taken part in building ICANN's role in assuring a stable and secure Internet," said Twomey. "The Board has asked me to stay on after it appoints a successor to have a period of handover with the new appointee. During this transition period I shall be appointed to the new position of Senior President." "Paul Twomey has made an extraordinary contribution to ICANN" said Peter Dengate Thrush, Chairman of the Board. "He was involved in its set up, helped establish the role of governments in his term as founding chair of the GAC, and then was its longest serving CEO. He guided the organization through the World Summit on the Information Society in 2005 and has been one of the strongest and most persuasive advocates for the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance" Upon learning of Twomey's decision to step down, some of the most significant leaders in the Internet community praised his work. Vint Cerf, known as the Father of the Internet and 8 year Chairman of the ICANN Board said "I can think of no other person who has had more influence on the course of ICANN's evolution than Paul. We owe him a great debt for long and faithful service and I owe him personal thanks for his counsel during my time on the Board. The Board will be challenged to find a worthy and capable successor." Lynn St Amour, the CEO of the Internet Society (ISOC) commented "During his tenure, ICANN has become a stronger organization and, as a key element of the Internet ecosystem, has ensured the security and stability of the Domain Name System. The Internet Society extends its appreciation to Dr. Twomey for his service and dedication to ICANN and its communities. We look forward to working with him on major issues over the remainder of this year" she said. Egypt's Minister of Information and Communications, Tarek Kamel also thanked Twomey for his many contributions. "We were happy in Egypt and the developing world to work together with an outstanding person like Paul Twomey in Internet Governance issues. He was always trying to bring some balance to the global Internet policy dialogue," said Kamel. "Egypt was also delighted to host successful ICANN meetings during his term. We thank him for his contributions and wish him further luck in his career." Dengate Thrush said the board was delighted to be able to retain Twomey's unique skills until the end of the year. "This is a momentous year for ICANN, and it is good that we will be able to continue with business as usual. " Twomey agreed his announcement will not be a distraction from ICANN's ongoing work and its international meeting being held this week in Mexico. "I'm looking forward to this week's discussions on a range of issues that will affect current Internet users and the billions still to come" he said. ## Paul Twomey's biographical information can be found at: http://www.icann.org/en/biog/twomey.htm The complete schedule for ICANN's 34th International Public Meeting in Mexico City, as well as links to webcast sessions and our public participation website, can be found at: http://mex.icann.org. About ICANN: To reach another person on the Internet you have to type an address into your computer - a name or a number. That address has to be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN coordinates these unique identifiers across the world. Without that coordination we wouldn't have one global Internet. ICANN was formed in 1998. It is a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with participants from all over the world dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and develops policy on the Internet's unique identifiers. ICANN doesn't control content on the Internet. It cannot stop spam and it doesn't deal with access to the Internet. But through its coordination role of the Internet's naming system, it does have an important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet. For more information please visit: www.icann.org. Contacts: Brad White Director of Media Affairs Ph. +52 55 181 68619 E: brad.white(a)icann.org Andrew Robertson, Edelman PR Ph: +44 7921 588 770 E: andrew.robertson(a)edelman.com _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Kenya: Good Mobile Access Fails To Boost Weak Connectivity Rating 2009
by alice 28 Feb '09

28 Feb '09

Its a new way of measuring connectivity do you agree with the verdict on Kenya? <http://www.connectivityscorecard.org/countries/kenya> Good Mobile Access Fails To Boost Weak Connectivity Rating Kenya’s performance on the 2009 Connectivity Scorecard places it nearly at the bottom of the nations sampled. In almost every consumer and business measure of connectivity, Kenya failed to achieve a passing score. Exceptions include an above average proportion of the population provided with mobile access, and a relatively high literacy rate. Kenya displays one of the worst secondary school enrolment rates out of all the countries surveyed, along with weak broadband and internet penetration. Bandwidth availability is also quite low. Kenya’s E-Government ranking falls below the median. Despite a history of innovation, notably in the mobile segment, Kenya’s economic progress is held back by a lack of investment in human development in order to provide workers with the skills necessary to drive an ICT-based economy. Regulation of the telecommunications sector has also slowed development of the broadband services required to create a more sophisticated business infrastructure. Kenya Connectivity Performance by Scorecard Component

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Fw: Multimedia University College (formerly KCCT) looking for Lecturers...
by John Walubengo 27 Feb '09

27 Feb '09

Incase you missed to catch the above in the Dailies - plse sambaza (spread) far and wide. walu. NB: Two thousand years ago, He said 'The Harvest was big, but the Laborers were few'. Plse help in getting us the laborers by spreading the message.

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Fellowships to attend AfriNIC-10 Cairo, Egypt]
by alice 26 Feb '09

26 Feb '09

-----Original Message----- From: announce-bounces(a)afrinic.net [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Lillian O. Sharpley Sent: 26 February 2009 15:53 To: announce(a)afrinic.net; africann(a)afrinic.net Subject: [AfriNIC-announce] Fellowships to attend AfriNIC-10 Cairo, Egypt Dear Colleagues, Please be advised that AfriNIC is offering several fellowships to attend AfriNIC-10 which will take place 10-22 May, 2009, Cairo, Egypt (back-to-back with AfNOG-10). The fellowship is reserved for individuals representing small organizations, universities, and journalists who are activity involved in Internet development in the African Region or ICT Policy in their countries and respective communities, who can positively and actively contribute to IP address management awareness in the AfriNIC region of service. Upon selection of the fellows, AfriNIC will notify the selected fellows directly and allow the fellow 7 days to reply with an acceptance of the fellowship. Public announcement of the fellowship winners will be made after the acceptance by the winners. The fellowship includes: assistance with round-trip airfare to the meeting venue, hotel accommodates for the AfriNIC event, from the night before the beginning of the event to the last day of the event. If you think you meet the criteria above, please complete the online application form at http://meeting.afrinic.net/afrinic-10/fellowship-form1.htm Or, reply to the questions below in a separate email along with your personal detail information to fellowship(a)afrinic.net before (15 March 2009). Personal details: * Name of Participant: * Name of Organisation: * Is your organization an LIR?: * Your position in the Organisation: * Physical Address: * E-mail: * Passport Number: * Country and City of residence: * Cost of ticket from your residence city to Egypt: * How much are you willing to contribute towards the fellowship? General Questions: ** Your answers to the questions bellow will determine you eligibility to the fellowship 1. Which Internet related meetings (inc. AfriNIC meetings) have you attended in the past? Please give details of events and dates. 2. What has been or is your contribution in your Country/Africa in relation to the ICT field? Please give details of events and dates. 3. How are you planning to share with your community what you will learn from the AfriNIC-10 meeting? 4. What has been your contribution to discussions within the AfriNIC community? Other requirements from the fellows: * To attend and participate in events as outlined in the agenda and complete a survey of the meeting events; * To provide a meeting/attendance report within 15 days after the last day of the meeting; * To provide a follow-up report to AfriNIC within four (3) months after the meeting on how he/she is contributing to the community as a result of the AfriNIC participation and how the meeting has benefited the fellow; and, * Ensuring requirements for entry into Egypt are met at least three weeks prior to the first date of the event, such as, obtaining passport and visa. Please direct questions to fellowship(a)afrinic.net. Sincerely, Lillian Sharpley Communications Area Manager AfriNIC www.afrinic.net

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[Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Research and Markets: Web Domain Registration Markets 2009-2011]
by alice 23 Feb '09

23 Feb '09

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/research-markets-web-domain-registrat… Research and Markets: Web Domain Registration Markets 2009-2011 Last update: 7:03 a.m. EST Feb. 23, 2009 DUBLIN, Ireland, Feb 23, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Research and Markets ( http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/a0525d/map_research_forec) has announced the addition of the "MAP Research Forecasts: Domain Registration Markets 2009-2011" report to their offering. The world's first report on the size, state and future of the global domain registration industry. Research results show that by the end of 2008, the overall industry will have a market value of $3.6 billion (all figures in $US), forecast to increase to $5.3 billion by 2011. According to the report, whilst the overall market size of the global domain industry is expected to increase over the next three years, growth will be at a slower rate than previous years and a drop in average revenue per domain is forecast. And although growth in global top-level domains (ie .com and .net) will slow, growth in country code top-level domains (ie .au and .uk) is expected to increase in developing countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China ("BRIC nations"). The research also predicts trends in the domain industry such as consolidation to gain market share; a growing emphasis on bundling services; growth in demand for 'domain parking'; growth of mobile internet and .mobi; and a new internet provider platform, IPv6, dramatically increasing the number of available domain names. Domain registrars are now becoming 'one-stop-shop' service providers, offering their customers variety of services such as domain registration, domain management, web hosting and domain resale. With the contractions of the top-level market, many of the global domain registrars are diversifying their revenue base by providing a number of related value added services to the provision of domain registration. These additional services are increasingly being bundled with domain registration and include web hosting, domain parking, pay-per-click advertising and selling domain portfolios. As part of the research, a number of the top 20 global domain registrars were interviewed. Key points from the Global Domain Industry Report: Registered domains total 185 million, a growth of 20.8% over 2008, expected to reach nearly 297 million by 2011. Overall size of the industry is $3.6 billion (all figures in $US), expected to reach $5.3 billion by 2011. The generic top level domain (gTLD) market has grown 15.1% over 2008 to a value of $1.83 billion. Domain registrars are diversifying into value added services such as web hosting and domain management. Country code top level domains (ccTLDs) will grow by 21% to a value of $1.81 billion in 2008, driven largely by stronger demand in the BRIC nations and Eastern Europe. MAP Research forecasts stronger demand in BRIC nations following increasing internet penetration rate, growing economies and also increasing online advertising market. GoDaddy is ranked number one in the world, with a market share of 27.9% in the gTLD market. Companies Mentioned: GoDaddy eNom Tucows Network Solutions Melbourne IT 1&1 Interent Moniker Online Register.com Directl Key-Systems For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/a0525d/map_research_fore SOURCE: Research and Markets Laura Wood Senior Manager press(a)researchandmarkets.com Fax from USA: 646-607-1907 Fax from rest of the world: +353-1-481-1716 _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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ICT & Media
by Wainaina Mungai 23 Feb '09

23 Feb '09

Dear All, Made in Kenya Network is in a position to offer consultancy and training on the use of ICT in Media/Journalism. Kindly contact me for details. Regards Wainaina

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E-waste in Africa- findings
by Rebecca Wanjiku 23 Feb '09

23 Feb '09

just in case you are wondering what happened to the e-waste research findings, the report was released in Barcelona last week http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2009/02/20/hp-and-partners-tackle-afric… Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/

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