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Technology SMEs
by Dorcas Muthoni 11 Dec '07

11 Dec '07

You may have heard of the action taken by the Copyright board on software piracy in cyber cafe businesses. This article on Business Daily: http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4522&Item… captures it. We all acknowledge the role of cyber cafe businesses in driving Internet penetration. When small and medium enterprises business owners take decisions to start the Internet shops, they are basically supporting what we all want to see; an e-Kenya. Picking from a recent post on the list regarding the challenges being faced by local computer assembly firms, there is truly an issue with regard to the sustainability of Technology SMEs. These local firms have enabled many Kenyans have affordable computers/clones and Internet access respectively. On average, a cyber cafe with 30 computers requires up to about KES. 1.8million to have genuine copies commodity software frequently used by their customers. Open Source is an approach that can make these commodity software affordable and available to such SME businesses in a way that satisfies customers effectively. We all need to support local technology SMEs because they are really a driver for the this industry. OPENWORLD (www.openworld.co.ke) will conduct an Open Source workshop at the Grand Regency Hotel on, Friday, 14th December 2007 starting 9.00am. The purpose of the workshop is to inform Cyber Café Owners and Operators on how they can benefit from Open Source Software in order to sustain their businesses. It will be interesting to hear from others how we can support technology SMEs since they are a key driver in the growth of the industry. -- 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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Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting
by robert yawe 11 Dec '07

11 Dec '07

Hi Brian, As you rightfully indicate in your post you are coming in late on this discussion, this is the problem with a mailing list unlike a blog or forum the history of a discussion is not maintained. Thus just to get us on the same page your arguments are actually in support of my position, which is that we need to develop local content and hosting capacity as well are reliable country wide connectivity before the arrival of the fiber optic marine cable. The road analogy was to explain my point that the cable is a highway which needs to arrive when we have already created linkages to the rest of the country and not what we seem to be doing which is waiting for the marine cable as the panaceas to all our slow internet issues. You do bring an interested issue in your point on the objective of the roads as a means to cart off our resources, could the fiber optic cable be a modern approach to the same? Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: brian <brian(a)caret.net> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; info(a)mediacorp.co.ke Sent: Tuesday, 11 December, 2007 1:44:53 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting I am coming late to this debate .... more follows: On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 06:03:46 +0000 (GMT), robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > Your analogy of a Road from Mwea to Kericho is an interesting one, if you > have noticed all roads have led to Nairobi for many years it is only after > those satellite locations have grown sufficient traffic through Nairobi > that we have developed direct linkages. A case in point is the road > connecting from Machakos to Thika, Kitengela to Rongai, and the now being > constructed Njambini Road. > > Why didn't we develop this roads at independence? I differ strongly on this. Most roads in Africa were built to support the largely extractive industrial practices of colonial masters and the post-independence regimes which turned a blind eye to the economic pillage of our countries. Most of these roads are what we continue to re-carpet, repair and depend on for our basic transport. Same applies to telecommunications and other major infrastructure. Any new infrastructure in an African country, be it a road, an airline route or an optic fibre cable needs to be thought out from a fresh standpoint and a mindset that leans towards building internal capacity or providing the platform/environment/atmosphere for local/internal capacity to be built. I have elaborated on this in an AfrISPA position paper - "One Voice - A VOIP Position Paper" while Mucheru has highlighted the market structure and regulatory regimes to support African country's emergent and blossoming ICT sectors in another AfrISPA position paper entitled "The Rules of Engagement" Copies of these papers can be availed freely upon request. Mblayo ___________________________________________________________ Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting
by robert yawe 11 Dec '07

11 Dec '07

Dear Mr. Mucheru, I hear you but we are missing out on a vital point, never go to the negotiating table from a position of weakness. What is the likelihood of getting a mortgage from the bank if you have no savings, no job and no business? As I have said before, the fiber is going to land whether I like it or not, but that does not stop me from airing my views. You raise the issue of India have you looked at how much local content they have and their utilisation of local connectivity? If you follow the issue of India closely you will note that they first developed local capacity. India used the so called slow satellite connections to reach the outside world and because of the capacity they had developed the locally Microsoft, Motorola and other large American companies saw the need to increase the speed of connectivity to India. Safaricom should be a case in point for us, how many minutes of International calls do you think is the contribution to their 17 Billion profit. Imagine if they had setup shop & concentrated their efforts on International calling where would they be today? Your analogy of a Road from Mwea to Kericho is an interesting one, if you have noticed all roads have led to Nairobi for many years it is only after those satellite locations have grown sufficient traffic through Nairobi that we have developed direct linkages. A case in point is the road connecting from Machakos to Thika, Kitengela to Rongai, and the now being constructed Njambini Road. Why didn't we develop this roads at independence? What most of you are suggesting is that we put up a Kes. 500,000/- toilet with jacuzzi for a one roomed iron sheet house in Kibera so that the occupant can enjoy themselves for 20 minutes every day. Instead of us continuing to discus the pros and cons of landing the fiber in 2009, lets concentrate our efforts, skills and resources in preparing for its arrival. I do not pretend to have all the answers but together I believe we can better prepare this country for the marine cable than the West African countries did. PS. KAY System designs and implements appropriate local and wide area networks and we are currently working on an online payment system that will make e-commerce a reality to the majority of Kenyans. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Joseph Mucheru <jmucheru(a)google.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke>; info(a)mediacorp.co.ke Sent: Friday, 30 November, 2007 5:15:20 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting Robert, I trust this email finds you well. Some important facts I, we are not alone, and neither is Kenya. We need to as a country remain competitive and further more we need to do so efficiently and quickly. Right now our competition in the digital is from all corners of the globe. As we speak bandwidth costs in Kenya are on average US$6,000 per MB while the same bandwidth costs US$ 400 in India, they are able to transact faster and further more hae the ability to have many other services on the same cable compared to our satellite only capacity. We need a highway to the rest of the world for two reason, one is a significant part of our economy is connected to the outside world, be it tourism, importation of medicines, education etc... We cannot ignore that part of the equation. This does not mean we ignore the local needs, the PS took time to outline the current projects gong on to provide national fiber connectivity and he further outlined the time lines for it's deployment. I simple way to look at this is even from a local perspective. We have the various towns in the country each with differing comparative advantages. For example, you get tea from Kericho, rice from mwea etc. It would be very unwise to say that Kericho does not need a road to Mwea because it has not completed building it's own local streets, or Mwea does not need a road or communication to other towns or regions. Kenya has it's own comparative advantages and so do other countries. We need to ensure we have as good if not better linkages the rest of the world not only for the world to access Kenya, but also for Kenya to access the world. I am very sure none of this new to you and it would be a big shame to pour cold water on a project that will be life changing for all of us. For instance, I will have better access to my sisters abroad, I will be able to do Video conferencing with them at an affordable rate. I will be able to watch the International stock markets and other financial markets in the same way. The fact I can do it today with Analogue (Marram road) does not mean Tarmac is bad and should be ignored. By the way Robert what is primary business of KAY System Technologies Ltd Joe Mucheru On Nov 30, 2007 5:33 AM, robert yawe < robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Kagai, Like all the rest we are misplacing the importance of the marine cable and it is unfortunate that Dr. Ndemo is also unable to provide us with the logical reason for why we need to land this fiber cable. Your issue of digital TV has nothing to do with whether we have the marine cable or not as our transmission is local and thus what we need is a fiber network within the country. I have been listening to that story of digital TV being echoed by many a so called IT gurus. All that the fiber will do is create so much competition for our local stations before they have enough time to adopt or recoup their investments which will result in massive layoffs. If we can negotiate for the delay in opening our markets to sugar maybe we need the same team to look at the pros and cons of the fiber cable landing. Note that the signal sent out by MNet and other satellite channels is digital yet I can watch it on my Greatwall TV which is as analogue as you can get, even come 2010 all that will happen is that set top boxes will be so cheap that there will be no need to replace our TV's. Alternatively look behind your DVD player and tell me how many analogue and digital inputs you have? Just for information purposes do you know that Telkom Kenya has fiber optic cable laid to most high rise building in the city but only 2 or so locations have actually had the fiber terminated onto equipment? I ask anyone to challenge me on this point this includes Eng. Waweru and Mr. Kirui all of who have been party to this wasteful actions. We are being totally wasteful with our resources what makes us think that the landing of the fiber optic cable will change our habits. Kagai, I ask again why do we need to land the fiber optic cable and how will it change your life, leave alone mine? Have an analogue weekend Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Bill Kagai <billkagai(a)gmail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: info(a)mediacorp.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, 29 November, 2007 10:19:51 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting On Nov 28, 2007 8:24 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > End user ---> Telkom ---> ISP ---> KDN --> ISP --> Telkom --> end user > > Do the math Yawe, you probably need to look at this cable beyond internet. The kind of technology we use today for broadcasting TV is being phased out in Europe by August 2008. TV is now being broadcast on cable or ADSL specifically for beyond quality purposes. You need to ensure that commercial components reach the right people. For instance, that is why CNBC opted to pull out its channel from DSTV bouquet to local stations like KBC with a wider reach. 'Measurement of reach' is capable through adsl/cable connected to the international fibre network. ADSL via optic fibre reinforces the copper that we are not about to do away with anyway in the near future. Copper is not obsolete yet. Optic fibre allows u freeview channels where internet becomes secondary to primary data and voice transmission...and most of all...things we have learned to leave with..such as attenuation distortion...become an old way of life for us in the Africa north of the limpopo but south of of the sahara. Another way of looking at it...when they tell you that computers are down in a bank..most of the times they mean the link to the server is unsteady since they need to ensure that you don't withdraw twice or thrice on the same transaction..satellite does not give you redundancy [read back-up] channels as cable would. With cable, you are able to re-wind live tv instead of having a local disk imersed in your decorder...thanks to the cable. In essence, if u look at the submarine cable minus the copper telephone system and electricity grid then u will not see much. If u look at it in terms of how it adds value to the existing infrastructure, then you will see...how significant albeit small....the hole the international link plus the terrestrial cable needs to fill to sort out our big problems. Bill... Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! for Good _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mucheru(a)google.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mucheru%40google.com -- Joe Mucheru Office Lead, East Africa Google Kenya 7th Floor, Purshottam Place Westlands Road P O Box 66217 - 00800 Westlands Nairobi, KENYA +254 20 360 1701 Office +254 20 360 1100 Fax +254 20 360 1000 Switch Board (Regus) +254 722522135 Mobile http://www.google.com This email may be confidential or privileged. If you received this communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went to the wrong person. Thanks. ___________________________________________________________ Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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Re: [kictanet] Projections
by robert yawe 11 Dec '07

11 Dec '07

Dr. Ndemo, It is interesting what you have said about how the Koreans used their high speed links initially for pornography, my take would then be why don't we concentrate on providing local pornographic content so that we can get more people online. This will allow us to exist this unproductive use of bandwidth so that we will have higher utilisation of the fiber when it lands. I know the concept here is that the reasons for the initial uptake of a technology is not necessarily what it was designed to do. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, 6 December, 2007 1:03:44 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Projections Dear Walubengo, Studies have shown that if you constantly think that you will fail, indeed you fail eventually. I gather that you have already decided to be too pessimistic about the future of ICTs in this country. When the Koreans built their broadband networks, virtually all men were into pornography. After overcoming the spiteful start, they have built wonderful local content and search engines that rival google. You can now project how we shall use the ICTs to remove poverty from our midst. Regards Ndemo. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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Computer parts and peripherals
by Nieri, Diana MainaX 10 Dec '07

10 Dec '07

Hi all, Please check out today's story from PS. Dr. Ndemo on taxes on computer components http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4777&I temid=5847 <http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4777& Itemid=5847> Computer parts and peripherals attract Import Duty and VAT whereas fully assembled systems imported from outside the country attract neither Duty nor VAT .This move has affected Locally assembled Systems adversely, as the very components used in integrating these systems now attracts VAT and Duty thus making them not competitive with International brands. We need to support our own local people to ensure faster access of affordable computers Regards Diana Maina --------------------------------------------------------------------- Branch office of Intel South Africa Corporation 2nd Floor, South Wing, Building 14, The Woodlands Western Service Road, Woodmead, 2148 Johannesburg, South Africa The above is a branch office of: Intel South Africa Corporation A Corporation registered in Delaware, USA Registered Office: 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, USA Registered No: 2501764 This e-mail and any attachments may contain confidential material for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). Any review or distribution by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete all copies.

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latest domain name brief attached DEC 07]
by alice 07 Dec '07

07 Dec '07

Dear all Domain name industry brief by Verisign attached. best alice _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic & Cyber Security, March 2009
by Pauline Muthigani 07 Dec '07

07 Dec '07

Walu, True, Kenya and the whole region have become the preferred destination for executing cyber crimes . Top on the agenda for the ICT fraternity, and the board should be to see to it that the e-legislation bill is passed and enacted much sooner than 2009. My experience with ICT investors especially in eCommerce and eBusiness, confirms that unless the Cyber Security issues are dealt with( investigations and prosecutions etc), Broadband or no Broadband , Kenya still is not a competitive destination as we would wish her to be.Even for the really great digital village initiatives, the risk is high there..I hope the owners are being made aware. What we need is a 'conducive environment and security assured infrastructure' the rest will fit in. The Dubai model is worth borrowing a leaf from. First things first. rgds, Pauline > Security is going to be a mega-issue once the submarine > fiber lands in Mombasa. At the moment Kenya is spared the > full-scale exposure from international cyber crooks simply > because our slow satellite links don't lend themselves to > modern tools of cyber-attacks. > > Here is my macro-projection of what will occur on the > internet-security landscape in March 2009 or thereabout > when the submarine cable is launched. > > 1. Continued delay of national and regional legislation > makes Kenya and E.Africa a safe-haven for cyber-crooks. > > {following the delayed debate and enactment of the > pre-requisite Cyber-legislations (e-Transaction Act, > Cyber-crime Act, Data-protection Act, etc) Kenya has become > the preferred destination for executing cyber crimes and > getting away with it. The crooks are taking advantage of > the lack of legislation as well as the incapacity for the > authorities to investigate, collect, preserve digital > evidence as well as prosecute cyber-crime. > > The newly launched submarine cables seem to have provided a > conducive superhighway for the crooks to deploy there tools > from the comfort of their Chinese, Eastern Europe and other > territories. The Kenya Government seems to have been > caught off-guard and the Internal Security Minister could > not be reached for comment because he was holed up in a > crisis-meeting....} > > 2. Local domains hosting critical national infrastructure > get hit (Banking, KRA, Immigration, Medical Data) > > {....In particular, the successful deployment of > eGovernment initiatives such as KRA, KPA, Banking, Medical > and other data have become a soft-target for the criminals. > They

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 5, Issue 22
by A.K. Mahan 07 Dec '07

07 Dec '07

Dear all, I am new to this list and have been lurking. In addition to the Latin American and Caribbean study noted by Alice, the World Dialogue on Regulation also conducted a similar survey of Africa in 2003 - for which the Kenyan regulatory website was observed to be a best practice website. http://www.regulateonline.org/content/view/213/65/ As mentioned by Alice, there is a Consumer Center on the CCK website - which is an extremely useful feature. In addition to what kind of information is made available, we also need to think about how it is organised and presented. At the CCK site, the information on the Consumer Center page seems overly formal. The tone and language of that section could be a bit more user friendly with examples of complaints and the kind of documentation that would be required. For example, I bought a prepaid card last month that was supposed to have 20 minutes of time on it. And after carefully monitoring my time so that I have enough for two months, more than 30 days after I bought the card I find out that I could only make 15 minutes of calls. What do I do? Your site tells me that I have to exhaust all possibilities with the provider. Is that the person I bought the card from? If I call the number on the card and they take the complaint but say they can't help me, can I complain to the regulator? Or, I have subscribed to a broadband (yeah!!) service. But from noon until about 6pm it is really slow. I've called my service provider, but they say everything is fine. Can I measure this? How do I show it is too slow for what I am paying? Some websites post the complaints that are being reviewed by the regulator; other websites post yearly consumer complaint indicators. Also, an online feature to submit questions could be useful. In a recent study of the Uruguayan regulator, we found that attention to consumer affairs was lacking on all levels (by the regulators, consumers and the private sector) simply because there is no historical tradition of a consumer movement in the country. One of the reports recommendations was for the regulator to work with the local consumer advocacy groups to strengthen them and make them a better resource for consumers. Developing a strong relationship with the consumer advocacy groups would also serve to lessen the burden on regulators in terms of improving communication and disseminating information to consumers via these groups. Thanks for the great discussion thus far. Very useful. - Amy Mahan _______________________________________________ Amy Mahan, LIRNE.NET Coordinator Montevideo, Uruguay www.lirne.net www.regulateonline.org ________________________________________________ > The CCK recently unveiled the CCK service chatter that sets public > expectations Re: dealing with the Commission and its staff > interchangeably called the "The Customer Service Charter " it outlines > rights and responsibilities and the procedure to follow if CCK service > standards are not met. available at www.cck.go.ke > > Then there is a consumer center on the website, which includes some > useful links e.g how to make a complaint, what you need to know about > telecoms services, but is this enough? > I think the following benchmarks > (http://www.regulateonline.org/content/view/354/69/ ) for Latin American > and Caribbean Regulatory Authority Websites are rather useful > > best > alice > > above comments are personal and do not reflect any position of the organizations I am affiliated with > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > >

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Kenyans executing Identy Theft in the US!
by John Walubengo 07 Dec '07

07 Dec '07

Looks like the internet security challenge is already being practiced by Kenyans in the diaspora... check this out... Two Convergys employees arrested on ID fraud charges DAILY HERALD Two Convergys employees were arrested and charged with ordering thousands of dollars worth of cell phones and accessories using the identities of AT&T customers. Kechi Ezem, 24, of Provo, was arrested Tuesday and charged with one count each of identity fraud and theft, and 24-year-old Philista Oniango, of Orem, was arrested Wednesday and charged with one count each of theft and identity theft. Oniango is also being held at the Utah County Jail on an immigration hold. Both women are employees of Convergys, which handles calls for AT&T. According to court documents, Orem police went to Convergys after AT&T learned that a cell phone billed to one of its customers had been ordered by Ezem. Ezem told police that Oniango had her computer password, and a search of company records showed that she had confirmed the order of more than $50,000 worth of phones and accessories using AT&T customer accounts, court documents said. Most of the phones were sent to Oniango's home in Orem. the story continues at http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/245669/ walu. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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nGOmobile competition
by alice 06 Dec '07

06 Dec '07

Hi All this may be interesting for some.... best alice -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Apc.africa] nGOmobile competition Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 11:25:24 +0000 From: Abi Jagun <abi(a)apc.org> Reply-To: APC Africa list <apc.africa(a)lists.apc.org> To: apc.africa(a)lists.apc.org Dear APC Africa members and Team (Please see http://www.ngomobile.org/ for more information.) I recently came across this website and announcement and thought it might be of interest to those organisations interested in using mobile phones in their work. "nGOmobile is a text message-based competition aimed exclusively and unashamedly at grassroots non-profit organisations working for positive social and environmental change throughout the developing world ... The competition wants to encourage NGOs to think more about how mobile technology could be applied in their work ... NGOs from developing countries are invited to submit a short proposal outlining how text messaging could make their job easier ... What we are looking for is impact - a clear indication that winning an amazing prize, and gaining access to mobile technology, would revolutionise your work and turn mission impossible into mission accomplished." The prize includes the following: A brand new HP Pavilion laptop computer - To help you run your messaging campaign from anywhere you choose A GSM modem - Send messages through the mobile network without the need for the Internet Office software - Word processing, spreadsheets, email - everything to help you run your project more efficiently A top-of-the-range Nokia mobile phone (or two) - A couple of cool Nokia phones to help you take photos and videos (and talk!) FrontlineSMS - Software to run your text-messaging campaign. A little cash - One thousand dollars to help get your new project off to the best possible start! There will be FOUR winners and the deadline for proposals is 14th December. Please see http://www.ngomobile.org/ for more information. _______________________________________________ Apc.africa mailing list Apc.africa(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/apc.africa

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An ITWeb article from [email protected]
by pauline＠nordic.co.ke 06 Dec '07

06 Dec '07

This article has been sent to you from pauline(a)nordic.co.ke as a courtesy of ITWeb. Comment: Too expensive!! Nigeria blacklists Siemens Nigeria has revoked its last contract with Siemens and suspended dealings with the industrial group pending a probe into allegations it gave 10 million euros ($14.6 million) in bribes, the government said yesterday.A German court fined Siemens 201 million euros on 4 October for bribes paid to Nigerian, Russian and Libyan officials by a former manager of one of the group's telecoms equipment units.Details were not made public at the time, but the Wall Street Journal reported details of the Munich court ruling last month. It said five Nigerian former ministers and senior officials were involved.President Umaru Yar'Adua, who took office on 29 May on pledges of zero tolerance for corruption, said he had ordered security agencies to investigate and take appropriate action.Information and communications minister John Odey said the government decided to cancel the 128.4 million naira ($1.08 million) contract for the supply of circuit breakers and other power generation accessories, as a first step towards blacklisting Siemens."Council today cancelled the contract bid won by Siemens Nigeria because of the current investigation against the company relating to corrupt practices," Odey told reporters after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Abuja."Government will not have any dealings with Siemens Nigeria in terms of contracts until the investigation is concluded and the company is exonerated or otherwise," Odey said.Several of the ex-ministers and top officials named in the German court ruling have denied they took bribes. The company has said it accepts the German court's judgment.The ruling, according to details reported by the Wall Street Journal, focuses on bribes paid between 2001 and 2004, ranging from 2 000 euros to 2.25 million euros, given to senior government officials in Nigeria, Libya and Russia. About 10 million euros went to the Nigerians, it said.The newspaper said Siemens sold telecoms equipment in Nigeria, but the ruling did not specify what contracts Siemens was seeking. It also did not say what, if anything, the recipients of Siemens' money did in exchange for it.Yar'Adua's anti-graft posture in one of the world's most corrupt countries has been undermined by a series of scandals.The speaker of the House of Representatives was forced to step down after being found to have improperly awarded contracts worth $5 million for the renovation of her official residence and that of her deputy.Anti-corruption police have charged five ex-state governors with embezzlement and have said they are investigating several others, though there has been no conviction. Posted: 12/6/2007 10:46:27 AM --------------------------------------------------- ITWeb - First with IT news. Every day. For more topical IT industry news, views and analysis, visit us at http://www.itweb.co.za ---------------------------------------------------

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The day your Phone-Number becomes a web address]
by alice 06 Dec '07

06 Dec '07

The day your Phone-Number becomes a web address (http://area.phone.num.com/) the reality will hit home. Neustar enum: http://www.enum.org/index.html?CFID=428983&CFTOKEN=13613274 Personal devices: ipods, psp, cell phone, pvp, pda whatever your plugged into, will innerconnect to the internet. You'll be your own little Utility Co. Yep that day is coming. Neustar: http://www.neustarultraservices.biz/ TWM Solicitors Selects NeuStars Managed Internal DNS Service: http://www.neustarultraservices.biz/news_events/articles/070810.html Demo: http://www.neustarultraservices.biz/technology/portal.html NeuStar National Pooling Website: http://www.nationalpooling.com/ NeuStar extends UltraDNS Network Infrastructure to Australia and China: http://www.domainnews.com/general/2007112805/neustar-extends-ultradns-netwo… nfrastructure-to-australia-and-china/ -- ____________________________________________________________ You received this message as a subscriber on the list: governance(a)lists.cpsr.org To be removed from the list, send any message to: governance-unsubscribe(a)lists.cpsr.org For all list information and functions, see: http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance _______________________________________________ secretariat mailing list secretariat(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/secretariat This message was sent to: alice(a)apc.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/secretariat/alice%40apc.org

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Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Nii Quaynor receives the prestigious Jon Postel Award
by Eric Osiakwan 06 Dec '07

06 Dec '07

Dr. Nii Narku Quaynor has laboured as a General in the ICT Army in Africa over two decades providing leadership, vision, foresight, strength and the best of field commandship - in his own words, "a strike against techno-colonialism. A lot of us have learnt from his fortitude, tenacity and sense of commitment to cause that sometimes is not as well recognised but yet the only hope for generations to come. Nii'a efforts has resulted in great strides not only in the technical community but in the other disciplines and stakeholder manifestations across board. It is important to underscore his great work as one of the pioneers also of the building of institutions for the knowledge economy in Africa of which AfriNIC is a classical example of great gain. Not to talk about his building of systems, people, spaces and opportunity. Please join me in congratulating a five star General, Nii which means in our local dialect, Chief..... Eric here Begin forwarded message: > From: "Dawit Bekele" <bekele(a)isoc.org> > Date: 6 December 2007 05:09:37 GMT+03:00 > To: <africann(a)afrinic.net> > Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Nii Quaynor receives the prestigious > Jon Postel Award > Reply-To: bekele(a)isoc.org, africann(a)afrinic.net > > Hi all, > > > > I am happy to announce to you that, today, this year’s prestigious > Jon Postel award has been awarded to Nii Quaynor. Lynn St.Amour, > CEO and President of ISOC handed the presentation crystal of the > award to Nii Quaynor at the IETF meeting in Vancouver, where more > than 1,000 participants were present. > > > > You all know how much Nii has contributed for the development of > Internet in Africa, which is why we are all happy that he has be > given this award that he fully deserves. > > > > To know more about the Jon Postel award please see http:// > www.isoc.org/awards/. > > > > Best regards, > > > > > > Dawit Bekele > > Manager, African Regional Bureau > > Internet Society (ISOC) > > bekele(a)isoc.org > > Tel: +251 911 22 13 33 > > > > > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.11/1084 - Release Date: > 10/21/2007 3:09 PM > > _______________________________________________ > AfrICANN mailing list > AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net > https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

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Tell me the future
by alice 05 Dec '07

05 Dec '07

Dear all Very interesting reads below re; the internet. And yes yes again fiber/infrastructure is critical to increase penetration, access etc best alice > > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/dec/03/mondaymediasection.internet > > > Tell me the future > > We asked the godfather of the net to tell us where the technology will > take us. He emailed his address book > > * The Guardian <http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian> > * Monday December 3 2007 > > When we asked Vint Cerf, chief evangelist at Google, to guest edit > MediaGuardian, we expected him to bring us some luminaries of the web > who we don't often get to hear from. His choices transform an > often-asked question ("what's the future?"), into an insight into the > thinking of innovators and pioneers. It's no coincidence that three of > them are founders of some of the biggest web names. > > Their specialist fields (from search, to advertising, video streaming > to social networking) represent what Cerf believes to be the most > exciting areas of development on the web and in the world; notably > Steven Huter and Adiel Akplogan, who have pioneered the internet > infrastructure in Africa. > > Finally, each one has had, and will continue to have, a profound > impact on the future of media. > > *Developing world* > *Steven Huter and Adiel Akplogan* > *Research associate, University of Oregon Network Startup Resource > Center; CEO, Regional Registry for Internet Number Resources for Africa* > The first full internet connection to the African continent was > established in Tunisia in October 1991. Over the next 15 years, the > transition from store-and-forward email networks to full internet > connectivity in capital cities all over Africa progressed steadily, > with Eritrea being the last to join the global internet in November 2000. > > While most of the continent's internet connections are via satellite > today, the transition to fibre over the next five years will take off > as one or more of the undersea cables currently competing to service > eastern and southern Africa become operational. However, penetration > to rural communities will continue to be limited due to the lack of > infrastructure, and the cost of a personal computer is typically more > than what the average person in a village can afford. > > Consumer broadband services via DSL are becoming available in an > increasing number of countries; however, service costs depend greatly > on the pervasiveness and reliability of local infrastructure. Wireless > solutions will continue to evolve as the dominant service for "last > kilometre" access due to the lack of local infrastructure. Given that > national scale fibre build-outs are not a major focus of the five-year > budget plans for most governments, most service providers will > continue to deploy a combination of wireless and leased line > infrastructure from telecommunications companies for providing > internet access. Overall progress will occur, but realistically, the > limited or unavailable national infrastructure (power and fibre) will > make it difficult to attain economies of scale, which will limit > pan-African internet development between now and 2012. > > The explosion in mobile telephony that has turned Africa into the > fastest-growing market in the world, at more than twice the > international average growth in subscriber numbers, will continue to > drive locally-fuelled innovations. A number of SMS and voice-enabled > applications are already in use in numerous African markets, providing > financial, agricultural, health, and other information services. > Network services via mobile devices will accelerate as mobile > operators upgrade infrastructure, and cheaper and more sophisticated > handsets lower the bar for innovation. > > The rise of a youthful, entrepreneurial and well-educated vanguard of > Africans will lead this overhaul of the continent's communications > services. Countries that are embracing information technology today > and harnessing the power of wireless networks, mobile telephony and > low-cost technology for the end-user, along with establishing > regulatory environments to foster entrepreneurship, will evolve > rapidly over the next five years. Countries that establish and promote > internet exchange points will help to cultivate the localisation of > African internet traffic, and stimulate the creation and distribution > of more local content. > > To take full advantage of the power of the internet, African leaders > must give rise to regulatory and political environments that remove > cumbersome barriers, encourage competition by opening up markets to > engage more access providers, and capitalise on these positive forces > that ultimately will be the dynamic impetus to propel Africa forward. > > *Social networking* > *Chris De Wolfe* > *CEO, co-founder MySpace* > In only a few years, social networks have become a staple in the > internet landscape as the social networking phenomenon allowed people > to "put their lives online". A person's profile became a > representation of who they really were in the offline world, and > allowed them to transfer their offline world online. > > More than ever, social networks are blurring online and offline > worlds, evolving into social destinations that are driving the > direction of the larger web and affecting industries like advertising, > music and politics. > > Predicting the future of social networks exclusively misses the larger > point - these evolving online social destinations are laying the > groundwork for the new social web which we believe is becoming > infinitely more personal, more portable, and more collaborative. > > First, as we expand these social destinations to all corners of the > world, we must always think in terms of the individual. With millions > of people using social websites, there's an increasing demand to make > everyone's web experience personal. In the same way a home or office > is your physical address, we expect your personal, online social > profile to become your internet address. When I give out > www.myspace.com/chrisdewolfe <http://www.myspace.com/chrisdewolfe> to > friends and colleagues, everyone knows where to find me online. > > We expect aspects of all socially-based sites to become increasingly > portable. In terms of mobile, we expect to have relationships with > every carrier and device-maker in the world and we expect that half of > our future traffic will come from non-PC users. > > Social activity is happening everywhere and we expect applications and > features to be more fluid, based on the online population that want > content where they want it, when they want it, and how they want it. > Social activity should be portable and we expect the industry will > continue to move in that direction. > > Lastly, online social destinations work best when creativity and > development are collaborative concepts. From personal profiles, to the > widget economy, to the OpenSocial standard - the future of the social > web will harness the savvy of the masses to produce more relevant and > meaningful social experiences, ultimately pushing the larger industry > to be more innovative and progressive. > > Lowering the barrier to entry for a new generation of developers will > lead to a more collaborative and dynamic web and directly affect the > tools and feature sets available on socially-based sites. Supporting a > more collaborative web creates a more global and participatory > internet experience for everyone. > > The evolution of social networks is kick-starting a broad global shift > for how people, content and culture collide on the web. Right now > we're looking at the tip of the iceberg for what the social web will > look like in the future. Fundamentally, all social destinations must > expand while staying personal, they must engage users while empowering > portability, and they must work with up and coming innovators and > major web leaders to both collaborate and contribute to the larger web > community. > > *Video* > *Chad Hurley* > *CEO, co-founder YouTube* > In five years, video broadcasting will be the most ubiquitous and > accessible form of communication. The tools for video recording will > continue to become smaller and more affordable. Personal media devices > will be universal and interconnected. People will have the opportunity > to record and share video with a small group of friends or everyone > around the world. > > Today, eight hours of new video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. > This will grow exponentially over the next five years. Our goal is to > allow every person on the planet to participate by making the upload > process as simple as placing a phone call. This new video content will > be available on any screen - in your living room or in your pocket - > and will bring together all the diverse media which matters to you, > from videos of family and friends to news, music, sports, cooking and > more. > > In the next five years, users will be at the centre of their video > experience, you will have more access to more information, and the > world will be a smaller place. > > *Advertising* > *Maurice Lévy* > *Chairman and CEO, Publicis Groupe* > Five years is an eternity in technology, but from our vantage point a > few things are clear about what the internet and internet advertising > will look like in 2012. One, virtually all media will be digital, and > digital will enable almost all kinds of advertising. Two, online > advertising will depend more than ever on the one element which has > always been at the heart of impactful advertising, both analogue and > digital: creativity. The explosion of media channels means this is a > glorious time to think and act creatively. In art history terms, we > are at the dawn of the Renaissance after the Dark Ages. > > Just as the Renaissance broke down the distinctions between sacred and > profane art forms and between individual and community, so we are > seeing a similar exciting blurring today - and this will only > intensify. Linear media is fast giving way to liquid media, where you > can move seamlessly in and out of different settings. Prescribed time > - the 7 o'clock news, the Friday night out at the cinema, etc - is now > becoming multitasking time. People are no longer willing to put up > with interruptions for a commercial break during their entertainment > experience, and so we have to find incredibly creative solutions to > interact with them and engage them in genuine and honest ways. This > implies a brave new world of engagement and involvement between > marketers and consumers and will also mean co-production between > marketers and media owners. Scale will be critical: in five years' > time, around 2 billion people will be constant internet users and > mobile internet computing will be ubiquitous. What a great time to be > in the business! > > *Mobile* > *Biz Stone* > *Co-founder, Twitter* > As we increasingly realise the web as a vital social utility and > important marketplace we cannot ignore an even bigger potential. The > power of the internet is not limited to the PC. Twitter has emerged to > create a seamless layer of social connectivity across SMS, IM, and the > web. Operating on the simple concept of status, Twitter asks one > question: "What are you doing?" Friends, family and colleagues stay > connected through short responses. > > The potential for this simple form of hybrid communication technology > is strong. For example, a person in India may text "Follow Biz" and > get online via Twitter over SMS in a matter of seconds. Biz might be > updating from the US on a PC. Nevertheless, the updates are exchanged > instantly. > > Our future holds in store the promise of increased connectivity to a > powerful social internet which truly extends to every little spot on > our Planet Earth. We're all affected by and defined by each other's > actions. What are you doing? > > *Search* > *Peter Norvig* > *Director of research, Google * > Yale librarian Rutherford Rogers said "We're drowning in information > and starving for knowledge." The internet is an ocean of information > and in the near future we'll speed through it effortlessly and > intuitively, like a tuna. No, I don't mean you'll have fins. > > If you haven't been searching for [tuna tail vortices] recently, you > may not know that a tuna's body creates small vortices in the water > that are then channelled by the tuna's tail to create additional power. > > This symbiosis of tuna and watery environment forms a more efficient > propulsion system than anything designed by human engineers. > > In the future, a similar symbiosis of searcher and computational > environment will allow us to move faster through the internet than we > would have thought possible. We will not just be typing in keywords > and getting back a list of 10 web pages. > > Instead, our interaction will be more fluid, our computers will accept > our requests in many forms, and will scan our environment proactively, > looking for ways to provide us with additional power. We will get back > web pages, yes, along with existing books and videos, but also custom > tables, charts, animations, databases, and summarisations created > on-the-fly in response to our specific needs. > > Today, nobody says "I need to connect to a megawatt power station" - > instead we assume that electricity will be available on demand in > almost every room of every building we visit. Edison could see that > this would be useful, but could not foresee the range of appliances, > from food processors to mp3 players, that this availability would > enable. So too will information flow freely to us in the future, and > be transformed by as-yet-unforeseen information appliances. > > *Archive* > *Bruce Cole* > *Chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities (US)* > At the National Endowment for the Humanities, we believe the internet > and other information-age tools, such as digital archiving, will help > us understand the world more deeply, broadly, and creatively. For > humanists just as much for scientists, the ability to mine, analyse, > and understand data, simulate complex environments, and combine > information from a wide variety of sources, is critical to > 21st-century discovery and innovation. > > The exciting new tools of the digital age also present unique > challenges. With digital technologies, we can comb through information > in seconds versus years, and assimilate knowledge from a much broader > array of sources for new insights. But the wellbeing of the > infrastructure itself demands new time-frames. Information in books > can be preserved for centuries before transfer to new "media" is > needed. Information on disks, thumb drives, and other digital media > has a lifespan measured in years or even months rather than centuries > before transfer to the next generation of media is required. > > Just as physical infrastructure is a foundation for modern life, > digital infrastructure (data storage, computers, networks, etc.) is > foundational infrastructure for the information age. Attention to the > health and support of this infrastructure is critical to ensuring that > born-digital knowledge is preserved and passed on for the benefit of > future generations. > > > _______________________________________________ > AfrICANN mailing list > AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net <mailto:[email protected]> > https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann Eric M.K Osiakwan ICT Integrator Internet Research www.internetresearch.com.gh emko(a)internetresearch.com.gh <mailto:[email protected]> 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Tel: +233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: +233.21.258811 Cell: +233.24.4386792 _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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Communication Methods: History Repeats Itself
by Alex Gakuru 05 Dec '07

05 Dec '07

I wish to take a historical perspective re-looking the continuing fibre debate to prove why we cannot resist change and win. I learnt this morning that Mombasa had a submarine cable connection in 1895 to the rest of the world! After Marconi invented the radio in 1900,that became the "new" communication method and served the time well. HF still in use in ships and today CCK still licenses radio hobbyists <http://www.qsl.net/oh2mcn/5z4.htm> 1950s saw arrival of the satellite, better and cheaper than substituting long range radio. In the 1970s came fibre for communication used in conjunction with satellites, has been serving us thus far. The first documented article on local use was in 1983 on the Kenya Engineer magazine written by Eng. John Kariuki. This fibre connected Westlands, City Centre, Southands and Embakasi. Twenty years later, can we really afford to argue against fibre connectivity? Shall we stall it and wait for 10 years to be dumping sites for "old" fibre technology after the new type of connectivity PS mentioned is broadly deployed out there? Developed countries, such as Canada, are now delivering 1 Gigs to to home through FTTH projects. Let us also remember that PS Ndemo still has a order pending complete execution. <http://www.statehousekenya.go.ke/speeches/kibaki/ feb06/2006280201.htm> Regards, Alex For the record, I differ with a separate post calling for list information gatekeeping allowing only deemed "useful content" since if that principle were extended to radio, TV, this list would be flooded with claims of broad censorship:) I believe the current debates will seasonate settle fizzle out sooner or later. But should one be uncomfortable with another's postings, just press DELETE without ever opening the messages:) Personally I am happy to read every post because I always learn new things. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic
by robert yawe 05 Dec '07

05 Dec '07

Alex, You again still have not justified the landing of the marine cable. 1. Of the US 500 Million spent on satellite connectivity 80% is none productive traffic such as porn, spam and chat (you and me both in Nairobi but chatting on MSN). Reducing costs is not necessarily the only way to resolve an issue most of the times it is easier to increase your income so that the expense as a percentage is lowered. 2. Lets not replace the world bank loans with diaspora remittances, let us become productive and more ingenious, lets take advantage of our position as the most advanced economy in sub Saharan Africa. We need to lay fiber to the neighbouring countries so that we can pick out sourcing contracts from Europe and America but set up the call centers in the neighbouring countries. That way we utilise our higher value personnel to look for high value outsourcing. 3. Dream on . . . 4. Log onto a locally hosted site and experience true high speed Internet, stop browsing foreign sites and the fiber ceases to be essential. I know Dr. Ndemo says we cannot be an Island, is it being an Island when you are faithful to one partner. Certain things can be shared such as a hand shake or a conversation but certain activities are best kept within. Lets not over stretch ourselves bringing high speed garbage when we can use technology to improve our lives, locally. 5. Charity begins at home and so does B2B and B2C 6. Out sourcing what??? Have a good day. PS. Delay fiber or perish Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Friday, 30 November, 2007 6:25:46 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Robert: I cannot rationally argue against fibre connectivity, but on processes yes. Of course, I will argue hypothetically since if I responded seemingly with insider information then I would be misleading consumers. And you know my issues... On Nov 30, 2007 4:46 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > Explain one issue to me, how will the marine cable increase the remittances > from the diaspora, they are sending 3.9 billion over slow, expensive > satellite links why should we reduce this by spending 7 billion to land the > fiber? 1. AfDB data shows that in total Africa spends US$ 500 million (shs 30 billion) every year on transit satellite bandwidths.( i.e. 5 TEAMS projects). That would be a saving! 2. Back to your question, since it would be (promised very) cheap to call them, then we shall call them day and night "convincing" them how they have neglected mother Africa, poetically narrating Wanjiku's financial sufferings back home, her kiosk that needs only one-off stocking and her anguish will ease. They are only human. They will dig deeper into their pockets, miss a few lunches, tighten their belts, or speak nicely to their bosses on their urgent need to alleviate home poverty. If we collude and do this nationally for just one year, then we could quadruple remmitances to 16 billion shillings or at worst double it to 8 billion-enough to build a cable that will benefit us for the next 25 years:) That was on a light note though I am paraphrasing real comments attributable to *130* "Please call me" to diasporans. 3. Imagine starting a movie company. Be it a comedy, folk tales, Flora and Fauna, or like developing video games like Wesley Kiriinya's, "Adventures of Nyangi" http://www.sinc-studios.com/. The fibre gives one a potential 1.2 billion internet users customer base. Because THEY can play quality demo videos clips fast many are bound to purchase and if, say 10,000 buy a product at US$10 that would be Kshs 6 million. Such opportunities are lost every day we are not connected by fibre. 4. We have 2.7 million internet users. For how long does each one take tapping their fingers on the desk waiting for a slow web page to load? Multiply each one's lost productivity by 365 days/year then by 2.7 million and compute the national productivity loss caused by slow, yet very expensive internet. Based on these mathematics OECD countries have put up a nifty graphic showing broadband rankings of member countries, but which also include average price of broadband and average throughput here http://www.fiberevolution.com/2007/11/us-lags-in-grap.html, pointer courtesy Bill St. Arnaud http://www.canarie.ca/. I would be interesting to have Dr. Ndemo's expected consumer prices to compare. 5. Consumer/Busineses costs saving would be the most apparent benefit. I need not dwell on that since we all feel them pretty well. 6. I also skip outsourcing. > Alex, all I ask is can you give me a logical reason why we should spend 7 > billion to land this fiber? Are above logical enough reasons sufficiently compelling justification to support the international fibre? But like I said, remember SAT3 West Africa cable cost nearly the same as satellite because of Bandwidth cartels. So should be assured they have no space in TEAMS to clog broadband to consumers, but that is somebody's job. We are only asking for assurance it will not turn out to be a white grey elephant project:) > > I am aware this discussion is academic but it should not stop us from > questioning the rational. > That's the spirit! We keep Ndemo on his toes, always.... Thanks, Alex __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! - the World's favourite mail http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

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Free Internet Centre Established
by Alex Gakuru 05 Dec '07

05 Dec '07

[Telcos' "Corporate Social Responsibility" programs could borrow from this wonderful initiative--AlexG] Kenya and Korea to offer free Internet training Written by Okuttah Mark December 5, 2007 Groups within Nairobi and its environs will benefit from free Internet training and access courtesy of an initiative between the Kenyan and Korean governments. Schools with no Internet connectivity and computers, informal sector, children homes and slum dwellers will benefit from the venture. The centre is also open to other organised groups and individuals for Internet use at a fee. The initiative intends to bridge the digital divide facing the country. <http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content &task=view&id=4693&Itemid=5847> ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

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Re: [kictanet] Kenya's Peculiar Business Environment
by Claire RUTO 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

I am sorry guys; I have kept quiet as I have watched this debate go on. But now it is bordering on sub-judice and defamation, given the implications some are making. I would ask that we keep this site to comments on policy and information that would enrich us as practitioners in ICT. It takes away from our discussions when we start to makes comments that have no basis on fact and which we really know nothing about. Having said that I must say that when facts have been used well, I have benefited a lot from the information given here and even from some of the criticism and suggestions made. Clare Ruto -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+ruto.c=ke.celtel.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of badru Ntege Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 9:58 AM To: Claire RUTO Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya's Peculiar Business Environment Bill Kagai wrote: >> So the lawyer's reason must have been genuine, not a pretext. >> I've seen some calculations on the amounts the country loses as a >> result of the traffic jams. >> The figure, per year, was more than the 2bn taxman is chasing! >> > > Blimey....Man..r u serious??!!! For a 2 billion brief..I would stay at > Intercontinental 2 nights in advance if traffic were to mess me up!!! > This joke has to stop. Its killing me. > Man i have very little trust in lawyers though in my darkest moment i know they might be the only rescue. However one could have another look at the situation in that the gains for one party were obviuosly understandable 2 Billion and all the other party had to do was not turn up. Could there have been some agreement ?? What time did the lawyer set off for court ?? How long has he been doing that journey ?? was there something unusual that morning that the traffic was too much ??? In these days of ICT did the lawyer call ahead and inform court of his problem ?? If he so did why was the case still thrown out ?? I'm sorry i just think this is too obvious that if we just let it be we allow ourselves as Africans to be ridiculed for corruption and incompetence. No lawyer is that dump or are they ??? Or do they think we are all too dump and stupid that we let it go. Guys I'm sorry but i smell a FAT ROTTEN RAT. I don't buy the traffic storry pull the other one matey. My 2 cents _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: ruto.c(a)ke.celtel.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ruto.c%40ke.celtel. com This e-mail contains confidential information or information belonging to Celtel Kenya Limited and is intended solely for the addressee. The opinions therein, explicit or implied, are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Celtel Kenya Limited as a company. The unauthorized disclosure, use, dissemination or copying ( in whole or in part) of this e-mail, or any information it contains, is prohibited. E-mails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be guaranteed. Celtel KenyaLimited shall not be liable for this e-mail if modified or falsified. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, please delete it immediately from your system and notify the sender of the wrong delivery and the e-mail deletion.

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Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Dear Yawe, In my view you are failing to understand. I sent an e-mail to you stating the efforts we have put in place to have a local broadband network. I also stated that we need the international broadband network to enhance our common strategy on business processing outsourcing that now employs up to 3,000 Kenyans and has a potential of employing many more. Besides all this I have also stated that access to connectivity will spur innovation and create cheaper linkages to all Kenyans wherever they may be in the globe. We are simply creating an enabling environment. This where many opportunities will arise from. Digital TV is one of the many opportunities that we want our rural folks to utilize. Local content developers will need the networks to sell their content. Educational institutions will need these networks to provide e-learning services. E-commerce shall flourish. Tourissts accessing local services, flower farmers linking cheaply to their customers etc. This is all about economic growth. I sense you are not in agreement with us on why we need the Fibre Optic. You will do us a lot of good if you had an answer. In all your writing, you seem to be complaining and not offering any sugestions. Yet this forum is for sharing of ideas. Can you for once share what you are up to. You may greatly help this country if what we are doing is not justifiable. You are right about TKL Fibre that is not terminated and we are doing something about it. In fact the problem is local content which the Government is soon churning out and will need the FO. The greater problem though is that we have far too many activists than we have entrepreneurs. Innovative people cannot complain about idle capacity of such a factor of production. It is criminal that you who is aware of what ICT infrastructure can do to the country that you sit there to complain that it is idle instead of raising awareness to the public and utilizing that asset. Regards Bitange Ndemo. > Kagai, > > Like all the rest we are misplacing the importance of the marine cable and > it is unfortunate that Dr. Ndemo is also unable to provide us with the > logical reason for why we need to land this fiber cable. > > Your issue of digital TV has nothing to do with whether we have the marine > cable or not as our transmission is local and thus what we need is a fiber > network within the country. I have been listening to that story of > digital TV being echoed by many a so called IT gurus. All that the fiber > will do is create so much competition for our local stations before they > have enough time to adopt or recoup their investments which will result in > massive layoffs. If we can negotiate for the delay i

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Voter Registration
by Claire RUTO 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

"Are you registered to vote this Election? To know your status, simply send an SMS with your ID number to 5872. Celtel Making Life Better" This e-mail contains confidential information or information belonging to Celtel Kenya Limited and is intended solely for the addressee. The opinions therein, explicit or implied, are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Celtel Kenya Limited as a company. The unauthorized disclosure, use, dissemination or copying ( in whole or in part) of this e-mail, or any information it contains, is prohibited. E-mails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be guaranteed. Celtel KenyaLimited shall not be liable for this e-mail if modified or falsified. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, please delete it immediately from your system and notify the sender of the wrong delivery and the e-mail deletion.

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eDiscussion Report on Regulators' eCommunication Strategies-Final Copy
by Rebecca Wanjiku 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

hi, Here is the final report of the online discussion on eCommunication strategies for regulators. please forward comments. regards Becky ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/

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Kenya's Peculiar Business Environment
by Bill Kagai 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4642&Item… KRA moved to the appellate after High Court judge Onesmus Mutungi dismissed its Sh2 billion tax demand on KenCell Communications (now Celtel Kenya) on technical grounds after the taxman's lawyer failed to attend court, citing transport problems. I rest my case!!!! -- -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] - Authorised Information Vendor Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorpafrica.com --

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Institutional Assessment Workshop Report
by Rebecca Wanjiku 03 Dec '07

03 Dec '07

Hi, Please read the report and forward your comments. The exercise was calculated to strengthen KICTANet and to design strategies that guarantee its continued participation in all areas of ICT. Your quick response will be highly appreciated. Best regards, Becky Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/sports;_ylt=At9_qDKvtAbMuh1G1SQtBI7ntAcJ

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The Marine Cable
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 03 Dec '07

03 Dec '07

Dear Yawe, The problem with virtual discussion is that one does not know the audience. Let me assume that you have similar interests as many of those I have met do. Allow me then to take the discussion on Fibre Optic to another level. The East African region is the only place on earth that is not served by these links (see attached networks). The East African region lags behind those countries with multiple cables. When you read Tom Friedman, The World is Flat, you find that Accessibility to cheaper bandwidth spurred growth in India and that ICT is a great leveler. The far East which indeed had more shanties in 1965 that we (East Africans) had, have used ICTs to flatten their region so that the waters of foreign investment can flow there. Indeed the Far East has experienced the fastest growth in morden history. It is therefore prudent to develop an hypothesis along this line - Lack of cheaper connectivity and entrepreneurialism contributes to underdevelopment in our part of the world. There are other secondary hypotheses such as the role of academicians in underdeveloping Africa through endless debates when indeed we know what others did to liberate their people from poverty. In the past 10 years China moved 300 million out of poverty while we remained stagnant. Perhaps we need a forum to square up this matter. It is key that we are all on one page in terms of helping our region to develop. Asante sana. Bitange Ndemo.

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Faith in local web hosting
by robert yawe 03 Dec '07

03 Dec '07

Kagai, Like all the rest we are misplacing the importance of the marine cable and it is unfortunate that Dr. Ndemo is also unable to provide us with the logical reason for why we need to land this fiber cable. Your issue of digital TV has nothing to do with whether we have the marine cable or not as our transmission is local and thus what we need is a fiber network within the country. I have been listening to that story of digital TV being echoed by many a so called IT gurus. All that the fiber will do is create so much competition for our local stations before they have enough time to adopt or recoup their investments which will result in massive layoffs. If we can negotiate for the delay in opening our markets to sugar maybe we need the same team to look at the pros and cons of the fiber cable landing. Note that the signal sent out by MNet and other satellite channels is digital yet I can watch it on my Greatwall TV which is as analogue as you can get, even come 2010 all that will happen is that set top boxes will be so cheap that there will be no need to replace our TV's. Alternatively look behind your DVD player and tell me how many analogue and digital inputs you have? Just for information purposes do you know that Telkom Kenya has fiber optic cable laid to most high rise building in the city but only 2 or so locations have actually had the fiber terminated onto equipment? I ask anyone to challenge me on this point this includes Eng. Waweru and Mr. Kirui all of who have been party to this wasteful actions. We are being totally wasteful with our resources what makes us think that the landing of the fiber optic cable will change our habits. Kagai, I ask again why do we need to land the fiber optic cable and how will it change your life, leave alone mine? Have an analogue weekend Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Bill Kagai <billkagai(a)gmail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: info(a)mediacorp.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thursday, 29 November, 2007 10:19:51 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting On Nov 28, 2007 8:24 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > End user ---> Telkom ---> ISP ---> KDN --> ISP --> Telkom --> end user > > Do the math Yawe, you probably need to look at this cable beyond internet. The kind of technology we use today for broadcasting TV is being phased out in Europe by August 2008. TV is now being broadcast on cable or ADSL specifically for beyond quality purposes. You need to ensure that commercial components reach the right people. For instance, that is why CNBC opted to pull out its channel from DSTV bouquet to local stations like KBC with a wider reach. 'Measurement of reach' is capable through adsl/cable connected to the international fibre network. ADSL via optic fibre reinforces the copper that we are not about to do away with anyway in the near future. Copper is not obsolete yet. Optic fibre allows u freeview channels where internet becomes secondary to primary data and voice transmission...and most of all...things we have learned to leave with..such as attenuation distortion...become an old way of life for us in the Africa north of the limpopo but south of of the sahara. Another way of looking at it...when they tell you that computers are down in a bank..most of the times they mean the link to the server is unsteady since they need to ensure that you don't withdraw twice or thrice on the same transaction..satellite does not give you redundancy [read back-up] channels as cable would. With cable, you are able to re-wind live tv instead of having a local disk imersed in your decorder...thanks to the cable. In essence, if u look at the submarine cable minus the copper telephone system and electricity grid then u will not see much. If u look at it in terms of how it adds value to the existing infrastructure, then you will see...how significant albeit small....the hole the international link plus the terrestrial cable needs to fill to sort out our big problems. Bill... __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! - the World's favourite mail http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

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Of...ICTs, Appeals and Transport Probrems
by Bill Kagai 03 Dec '07

03 Dec '07

http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4642&Item… KRA moved to the appellate after High Court judge Onesmus Mutungi dismissed its Sh2 billion tax demand on KenCell Communications (now Celtel Kenya) on technical grounds after the taxman's lawyer failed to attend court, citing transport problems. I rest my case!!!! Bill

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3rd Global Knowledge Conference (GK3) Malaysia 11-13 December 2007
by alice 03 Dec '07

03 Dec '07

Dear all The 3^rd Global Knowledge Conference brings together "visionaries, innovators, practitioners and policy makers, all geared to sharing knowledge and building partnerships on a platform created by and for stakeholders from every sector - private companies, governments, international institutions and civil society groups" (http://www.gkpeventsonthefuture.org/gk3/) The GK3 sessions will address the convergence of emerging people, markets and technologies and will provide a space for debate, showcasing of innovative concrete solutions and knowledge sharing; discussion on latest lessons, effective methods and approaches. The theme «Emerging People, Emerging Markets, and Emerging Technologies» relates well to what Kenya is currently experiencing. We are considered a pioneer in many ways from our private sector activity, MSP ICT policy processes, liberalisation of the ICT sector, etc. Read article from Balancing act titled “Africa’s competition laboratory Kenya is the one to watch” . Some of us will attend and share some of these experiences... -Kimathi Centre presenting during the Young social entrepreneur’s sessions from Tuesday 11th -Hello regulator session on Thursday 13th 14.00-15.30 Other Kenyans attending and presenting? For the full GK3 programme see: *http://www.gkpeventsonthefuture.org/GK3/dsp_page.cfm?pageid=492* best alice -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Generate ideas to create a world of entrepreneurs! Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2007 14:25:06 +0800 (GMT+08:00) From: GK3 Registration <gk3(a)gkps.org.my> To: alice(a)apc.org Dear Alice, Global Knowledge Partnership and BrainStore are collaborating in running a live IdeaProduction process at the GKP Event on the Future, Third Global Knowledge Conference (GK3) from 11 to 13 December 2007 on the topic of «A world of entrepreneurs - 20 ideas to make it happen by 2020». As a GK3 conference participant, you have a range of opportunities to contribute actively to the process. The first part of the IdeaProduction process has already started where inputs are gathered to fill up our IdeaPot with a great number of inspirations on the topic. Your participation is key! Your insight on «Emerging People, Emerging Markets, and Emerging Technologies» is a valuable knowledge resource and your experience and reflections can serve as a great foundation for developing fresh initiatives and approaches in addressing the topic. We invite you to share your perspective today by participating in an online IdeaInterview. Please login at http://www.GKPEventsOnTheFuture.org/GK3registration and complete a short questionnaire by Tuesday, 4 December 2007. On 12 December at the GK3 IdeaFactory - Creative City Exhibition, your contribution will be presented anonymously together with results drawn from other sources. On 13 December at the GK3 Closing Plenary, you will have an opportunity to provide final input by helping to select THE 20 ideas that will create a world of entrepreneurs by 2020. Thank you in advance for your time. See you at GK3! Your IdeaFactory team Quick Links: Conference Navigator: http://www.GKPEventsOnTheFuture.org/navigator Full Programme: http://www.GKPEventsOnTheFuture.org/GK3programme Speakers: http://www.GKPEventsOnTheFuture.org/GK3speakers Register: http://www.GKPEventsOnTheFuture.org/GK3registration Announcements by RSS: http://www.gkpcms.com/GK3/rss/GK3Announcements.xml

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Africa’s competition laboratory Kenya is the one to watch
by alice 03 Dec '07

03 Dec '07

From Balancing Act Africa’s competition laboratory Kenya is the one to watch No regulation regime is perfect but the three East African countries – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda – are leading the way in terms of breaking down many of the old barriers to competition. Of these, Kenya is interesting because it was the pioneer and many of the things that are happening there will in time be seen elsewhere in some form. Russell Southwood explains what’s happening in Africa’s competition laboratory. Outside of the large Sub-Saharan markets like Nigeria and South Africa, Kenya stands out because it has both the population level and a density of private sector activity to be different. In other words, it’s big enough to be relevant for the ten or more countries of a similar scale. In addition, since Moi left the stage, the economy has been moving at a fast clip to catch up: last year economic growth was 7%. With the dead hand of inertia removed, Kenyans have felt more confidence in setting up new businesses. The pointers it provides are as follows: - Even with a liberalised regime, it is incredibly hard for small independent companies to challenge the incumbent in the fixed line sector. Kenya was slow to introduce an interconnection regime designed for competition between many players and its two independent fixed wireless operators have suffered as a result. Fixed wireless is, as the mobile companies are discovering, far from fixed. - Between them, Kenya’s fixed wireless operators Flashcom and Popote Wireless do not have much more than 10,000 subscribers and in the case of Popote, it’s making 80% of its revenues from data. Both use CDMA and are focused on the capital Nairobi, with Flashcom having a larger number of base stations . Subscribers can actually use their phones more or less anywhere in the city. Neither have yet started a wider geographic roll-out. Despite this lack of current success in the voice market, Popote’s Eric Muthi believes that there is still considerable growth potential. Meanwhile there are others waiting to offer more retail voice competition: in one case, simply as a voice service and in others as part of a wider offer. - Meanwhile incumbent Telkom Kenya has adopted the strategy of India’s Reliance and has used its CDMA fixed wireless product as a proxy mobile service. It is said to have 400,000 subscribers based on its cheap KS5.50 a minute national rate. Subscribers have had what for all intents and purposes has actually been a mobile service and Telkom Kenya has wriggled this way and that to suggest otherwise. - With the France Telecom take-over of Telkom Kenya, the country’s two operators, Safaricom and Celtel, will have some serious competition for the first time and may have to begin to address their quality of service shortfalls. Competition should also mean prices will begin to fall for as one person told us:”Competition in this market is really only on price.” Telkom Kenya’s strategy has been very savvy in that it starts operating with an existing base of subscribers before having to invest in paying for its mobile licence. Rumour has it that France Telecom will simply rip out the CDMA network and put in GSM. As a new entrant, it will have a clear CAPEX advantage. Econet is supposed to have cleared the hurdles it had and will be investing soon but on past evidence, don’t hold your breath. - Even without a fibre connection, the country’s bandwidth requirement has grown rapidly as the economy has expanded. It is now approaching the 1 gbps mark and this is all being paid for at satellite prices. The broader message in this is that an expanding economy will drive use both at a corporate and retail level. And rapid growth will come from economies that are coming out of war or unfavourable political circumstances where there’s a “one-off” bounce that might turn into above-average growth in the mid-term. As Bill Clinton’s electoral team used to say, it’s the economy, stupid. Messages on satellite bandwidth costs are mixed. Most operators buying in volume say that prices are coming down but a small number of those we spoke to said because of he shortage of C-Band prices were going up. (Interestingly Altech has been in talks to buy Sameer ICT, which includes KDN.) - The market is readying itself for the arrival of much cheaper bandwidth. Seacom and TEAMS are both seen as credible projects. EASSy is perceived as still being in the game but its credibility has been undermined in the eyes of operators by the confusions over the rival NEPAD project. TEAMS has almost all its financing in place and says it has a ship booked to start. Depending on their investment, operators have been offered 1 mps for between US$2-300 a month. This is only to Fujirah but an onward solution is said to be not too far away and will cost about the same amount to the United States. The price will be higher than the headline figures suggest but nevertheless will be low enough to be market changing. The recent public disagreement between UUNet and PS Bitango Ndemo illustrates that not all operators have understood this changing world. It will no longer be about making money from selling over-priced bandwidth. The game moves to retail services and applications. - A “triple play” combination of voice, Internet and TV will probably be offered by at least two operators next year. France Telecom is likely to roll out its LiveBox product as the Kenyan market has considerable potential. Jamii Telecom is rolling out a PONS network and wants to be offering “triple-play” over its new STM64 fibre metro network. Industry estimates of potential retail broadband subscribers vary between 300,000-500,000. Expect bundled offers at almost European levels and download speeds starting at 512 kbps. The existing Government if re-elected wants to provide subsidised bandwidth to universities and colleges. - In the meantime, the retail independent retail ISP as it used to exist has all but disappeared and those remain are not in the best of health. Where have all the retail subscribers gone? Well, some have stayed with ISPs like Africa Online under its new owners but many more have either defected to the fixed wireless operators, or are using Telkom Kenya’s phone-in number or at the top-end of the market are using the data services of the two mobile operators. Only the state of Telkom Kenya’s copper and its distracted management focus mean that it has failed to harvest what might have been an extensive market. Incumbents need to know that if the don’t have a “low –price, high-volume” strategy for DSL then the mobile operators will take this business away from them. - Apple may say that it has no plans to roll-out in emerging markets like China but the market has a life of its own. Apparently a shipment of iPhones has already reached East Africa and we saw one in the hands of someone we visited. He hadn’t yet got it working but he was working on it. Another early adopter told us that he was surprised to discover that it worked on his Celtel account immediately and just as well when he visited Someone in Uganda who used one to e-mail to confirm our meeting clearly had better luck. It will be interesting to see whether this grey market in the latest desirable phone will survive Apple’s attempts to exclude untied users through software fixes. European competition law is already being upheld in Germany where T-Mobile must sell the device independent of a network package and even a hefty price tag does not appear to be a sufficient disincentive to stop sales. It would be unfair to say that all was rosy in the garden that is Kenya but in terms of competitive markets, it has got a great deal right and others might learn from what is happening there. Report banner <http://lists.balancingact-africa.com/t/375/178471/2/0/>

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Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic
by robert yawe 02 Dec '07

02 Dec '07

Dr. Ndemo, Thank you for the information, but my feeling is that none of this initiatives seems to be getting publicized so that entrepreneurs like me can begin to plan for the opportunities. It would be good to know that we are looking at other areas other than BPO. Again, thank you for taking the time to respond more exhaustively to my question Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Wednesday, 28 November, 2007 9:28:52 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Dear Yawe, I am sorry for assuming that you were aware of the National Optic Fibre Broadband network that is being built by Sagem, Huaweii and ZTE. The project will be finished by August next year. The Digital Village project will benefit from this network that is to link all District HQs. The netwotk shall be run by the operators and hopefully take control of it if they see a business case in it. Otherwise this was basically the Government wide area network. We are now hoping that operators would come up with the last mile solutions. Phase two of our plans is to partner with the private sector to build data centers and disaster recovery centers. This will ensure cheaper local hosting capability. The biggest challenge is going to be local content. On the Government side, by June next year we should have tons of content online. We need to pass the Freedom of Information Bill for the public to benefit from most of GoK data. We shall still need the international Fibre optic for research to both ends, that is, the rest of the world and our own research. We cannot develop on a cocoon. I hope I have responded to your questions. If you are not satisfied, please let me know. Asante sana. Bitange Ndemo. > Dr Ndemo, > > You have not answered our concern yet on why we need the marine cable to > bring us high speed Internet yet as a country we do not have a cost > effective national high speed network? > > The diaspora makes up less than 5% of the population and many of them add > no value to us, yet you are more concerned about how we can communicate > with them instead of how to make it possible for my children to talk and > see their grandmother in Mbita point without requiring to make the trip. > > As a democracy I believe our interest should be to serve the greater > population than a few out there. > > I have been looking at the cost of AGM's for listed companies and it is a > major drain on this organisations, if you and your team could concentrate > on a fiber link to all provincial head quarters we can have the next > Kengen AGM held virtually with participants in centers closest to them, to > me this would be a greater utilisation of connectivity than being able to > talk cheaply to my sister in the US who none the less is too busy working > 3 jobs to have time to talk to me regularly irrespective of cost. > > So Dr. Ndemo gives us a more compelling reason for the fibre optic cable. > > Robert Yawe > KAY System Technologies Ltd > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > KEnya > Tel: +254722511225 > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: Monday, 26 November, 2007 9:13:57 AM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic > > Dear Yawe, Gakuru, > I promised to respond to the question as to whether we indeed need > Fibre > Optic Cables. Yes indeed we need them for the time being (Intel shall > be > commecializing [in 10 years time]a chip with the capability to send > data > at high speeds without any cables)(see NY Times summary article below). > > In as much as I do not like cables for connectivity I think they are a > necessary infrastructure at the moment. The benefits are immense as I > look forward to greater linkages with our increasingly important > relatives > in the diaspora. > > With efficient connectivity, there we create opportunities such as > localised news that is accessible to anyone everywhere; we shall enable > innovation and more importantly create jobs for our youth. The > difference > here is that some may see entrepreneurial opportunities that come with > this infrastructure and unfortunately some will simply watch as events > unfold. Fortunately, you only need a few (Steve jobs, Bill Gates etc) > to > innovate and exploit the opportunity once access to technology is > availed. > > Our role is to facilitate our people to reach their fullest potential. > This is what leadership is all about. > > > Bitange Ndemo. > > > > A Chip That Can Transfer Data Using Laser Light > New York Times: > > The advance will make it possible to use laser light rather than wires > to > send data between chips, removing the most significant bottleneck in > computer design. > > A Tiny Laser on a Silicon Chip As a result, chip makers may be able to > put > the high-speed data communications industry on the same curve of > increased > processing speed and diminishing costs â€” the phenomenon known as > Mooreâ€™s > law â€” that has driven the computer industry for the last four > decades. > > The development is a result of research at Intel, the worldâ€™s largest > chip > maker, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Commercializing > the new technology may not happen before the end of the decade, but the > prospect of being able to place hundreds or thousands of data-carrying > light beams on standard industry chips is certain to shake up both the > communications and computer industries. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… > > > > > > > > ___________________________________________________________ > Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try > it > now. > http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/ > ---------------------------------------------- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. > --------------------------------------------- > "easy access to the world" > > ___________________________________________________________ Support the World Aids Awareness campaign this month with Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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Validate your voter status- safaricom 5872
by robert yawe 02 Dec '07

02 Dec '07

You can validate your voter status by sending an SMS with your ID number to '5872'- safaricom pass on the message to others. __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! - the World's favourite mail http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

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Uruguay buys first $100 laptops
by Jose' 01 Dec '07

01 Dec '07

The news come from BBC [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7068084.stm] showing that Uruguay has ordered 100,000 units and is planning to acquire 300,000 more. The XO Laptop has been conceived as an affordable computer for children in developing countries. The company also has a programme caled G1G1 [Give one get one], in which costumers can buy a laptop for themselves and at the same time donate one to a child at a developing country. This might be an exciting opportunity for social business or social/environmental organizations linked to ICTs. --------------------------------- Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

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[Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] Global Policy Proposal for Remaining IPv4 Address Space – Background Report --- Global Policy Proposal for Autonomous System Numbers – Background Report]
by alice 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

Global Policy Proposal for Remaining IPv4 Address Space – Background Report 29 November 2007 * Introduction * The development of Global Internet Number Resource Policies is the subject of an MoU between ASO/NRO and ICANN <http://aso.icann.org/docs/aso-mou2004.html>. There are also specific ICANN Board Procedures <http://www.icann.org/general/review-procedures-pgp.html> for handling global policy proposals in this context. The Board procedures also state that the Board can request ICANN staff to undertake an "early awareness" tracking of proposals for global policies under development in the addressing community. At its meeting on 20 November 2007, the Board resolved to request such tracking of the development of a global policy proposal for allocation of remaining IPv4 address space, currently being discussed in the Regional Internet Registries, or RIRs. The status overview presented below is compiled in response to this request and will be timely updated as developments proceed, for information to ICANN entities and the wider community. * Status Overview * The table below indicates the current status within each RIR for the foreseen Global Policy for remaining IPv4 address space. Hyperlinks are included for easy access. There are two concurrent versions of the Global Policy Proposal for Allocation of the Remaining IPv4 Address Space in the Regional Internet Registry System: * A version (1) "Global Policy for the Allocation of the Remaining IPv4 Address Space", first presented at LACNIC X in May 2007 * A version (2) "End Policy for IANA IPv4 allocations to RIRs", first presented at APNIC 24 in September 2007 Both versions feature the same approach and propose to distribute an equal number N of /8 IPv4 address blocks to each RIR when the IANA pool is approaching exhaustion, but differ in the proposed value of N, notably 2 or 1, respectively (although originally with N proposed as 5 in the first version). Due to their similarity, both versions are being discussed in parallel in the RIRs and are regarded essentially as one proposal, with a view to converging on a value for N. The proposal will subsequently be handled by the NRO EC and the ASO AC according to their procedures before being submitted to the ICANN Board. It should be noted that other proposals have been put forward and are being discussed regarding IPv4 address space exhaustion, although only the two mentioned above have been scoped as global policy proposals in the sense of the ASO MoU, i.e. focusing on address allocation from IANA to the RIRs. RIR AfriNIC APNIC ARIN LACNIC RIPE Topic Introduced 9 July 2007 afpol-asn200707 <https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/rpd/2007/000774.html> (1) 29 Aug 2007 proposal <https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/rpd/2007/000838.html> (2) 26 July 2007 prop-051-v001 <http://www.apnic.net/mailing-lists/sig-policy/archive/2007/07/msg00006.html> (1) 8 August 2007 prop-046-v002 <http://www.apnic.net/mailing-lists/sig-policy/archive/2007/08/msg00016.html> (2) 28 Aug 2007 prop 2007-18 <http://lists.arin.net/pipermail/ppml/2007-August/008834.html> (1) 28 Aug 2007 prop 2007-23 <http://lists.arin.net/pipermail/ppml/2007-August/008839.html> (2) 23 April 2007 LAC-2007-07 <http://mail.lacnic.net/pipermail/politicas/2007-April/012082.html> (1) 30 July 2007 prop 2007-06 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/maillists/archives/address-policy-wg/2007/msg00552…> (1) 15 Oct 2007 prop 2007-07 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/maillists/archives/address-policy-wg/2007/msg00647…> (2) Discussion list Resource Policy Discussion List <https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/rpd> SIG-Policy <http://mailman.apnic.net/mailing-lists/sig-policy/index.shtml> Public Policy Mailing List <http://www.arin.net/mailing_lists/ppml/index.html> Politicas – Policy Mailing List <http://www.lacnic.net/mailman/listinfo/politicas> Address Policy WG <http://www.ripe.net/mailman/listinfo/address-policy-wg> Public Forum AfriNIC 7 <http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/afrinic-7/index.htm> 23 - 28 Sept 2007 <http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/afrinic-7/index.htm> - Slides (1) <http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/afrinic-7/presentations/27/AFRINIC7_DidierGl…> - Slides (2) <http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/afrinic-7/presentations/27/AFRINIC7_Endpolic…> APNIC 24 29 Aug – 7 Sept 2007 <http://www.apnic.net/meetings/24/index.html> - Slides <http://www.apnic.net/meetings/24/program/sigs/policy/presentations/el-nakha…> (1) - Slides <http://www.apnic.net/meetings/24/program/sigs/policy/presentations/okutani-…>(2) ARIN XX <http://www.arin.net/meetings/minutes/ARIN_XX/index.html> 17-19 Oct 2007 <http://www.arin.net/meetings/minutes/ARIN_XX/index.html> - Slides <http://www.arin.net/meetings/minutes/ARIN_XX/PDF/wednesday/Gagliano-2007-18…> (1) - Slides <http://www.arin.net/policy/proposals/2007_23.html> (2) LACNIC X 22-25 May 2007 <http://lacnic.net/sp/eventos/lacnicx/> - Slides <http://lacnic.net/documentos/lacnicx/lac200707.pdf> (1) RIPE 55 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-55/index.html> 22 - 26 Oct 2007 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-55/index.html> - Podcast <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-55/podcast-files/address-policy2.mp3> (1+2) Final Call for Comments 13 June - 28 July 2007 <http://mail.lacnic.net/pipermail/politicas/2007-June/012232.html> Next Public Forum AfriNIC 8 <http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/index.htm> 24 May - 6 June 2008 <http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/index.htm> APNIC 25 <http://www.apnic.net/meetings/25/> 25 - 29 Feb 2008 <http://www.apnic.net/meetings/25/> ARIN XXI <http://www.arin.net/ARIN-XXI/index.html> 6 - 9 April 2008 <http://www.arin.net/ARIN-XXI/index.html> LACNIC XI <http://lacnic.net/sp/eventos/> to be announced <http://lacnic.net/sp/eventos/> RIPE 56 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-56/index.html> 5 - 9 May 2008 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-56/index.html> RIR Board Endorsement Awaiting Board ratification Link to document afpol-asn200707 <http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-v4gp200707.htm> (1) afpol-v4ep200708 <http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-v4ep200708.htm> (2) Proposal-051-v001 <http://www.apnic.net/policy/proposals/prop-051-v001.html> (1) Proposal-046-v002 <http://www.apnic.net/policy/proposals/prop-046-v002.html> (2) Policy proposal 2007-18 <http://www.arin.net/policy/proposals/2007_18.html> (1) 2007-23 <http://www.arin.net/policy/proposals/2007_23.html> (2) - English <http://lacnic.net/documentos/lacnicx/LAC-2007-07-en.pdf> (1) - Spanish <http://lacnic.net/documentos/lacnicx/LAC-2007-07-sp.pdf> (1) - Portuguese <http://lacnic.net/documentos/lacnicx/LAC-2007-07-pt.pdf> (1) Policy proposal 2007-06 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/policies/proposals/2007-06.html> (1) 2007-07 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/policies/proposals/2007-07.html> (2) Link to Policy Development Process Policy Development Process <http://www.afrinic.net/pdp.htm> Policy Development Process <http://www.apnic.net/docs/policy/dev/index.html> Internet Resource Policy Evaluation <http://www.arin.net/policy/irpep.html> Process <http://www.arin.net/policy/irpep.html> Policy Development Process <http://lacnic.net/en/politicas/desarrollo.html> Policy Development Process <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/pdp.html> Status In discussion In discussion In discussion Awaiting adoption In discussion *Global Policy Proposal for Autonomous System Numbers – Background Report* * 29 November 2007* * Introduction * The development of Global Internet Number Resource Policies is the subject of an MoU between ASO/NRO and ICANN <http://aso.icann.org/docs/aso-mou2004.html>. There are also specific ICANN Board Procedures <http://www.icann.org/general/review-procedures-pgp.html> for handling global policy proposals in this context. The Board procedures also state that the Board can request ICANN staff to undertake an "early awareness" tracking of proposals for global policies under development in the addressing community. At its meeting on 20 November 2007, the Board resolved to request such tracking of the development of a global policy proposal for allocation of Autonomous System Numbers, or ASNs, that is already well advanced towards adoption in the Regional Internet Registries, or RIRs. The status overview presented below is compiled in response to this request and will be timely updated as developments proceed, for information to ICANN entities and the wider community. * Status Overview * The table below indicates the current status within each RIR for the proposed Global Policy for ASNs. Hyperlinks are included for easy access. The proposal was originally presented at the RIPE-54 meeting in March 2007, inter alia to formalize the transition from 2-byte (16 bits) to 4-byte (32 bits) ASNs. The proposal has since been introduced in all RIRs, following their respective policy development processes. Once adopted by all RIRs, the proposal will subsequently be handled by the NRO EC and the ASO AC according to their procedures before being submitted to the ICANN Board for ratification. RIR AfriNIC APNIC ARIN LACNIC RIPE Topic Introduced 20 Aug 2007 afpol-asn200708 <https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/rpd/2007/000837.html> 23 July 2007 prop-049-v001 <http://mailman.apnic.net/mailing-lists/sig-policy/archive/2007/07/msg00002.…> 28 Aug 2007 prop 2007-19 <http://lists.arin.net/pipermail/ppml/2007-August/008835.html> 15 May 2007 LAC-2007-08 <http://lacnic.net/documentos/lacnicx/LAC-2007-08-en.pdf> 1 May 2007 prop 2007-4 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/policies/proposals/2007-04.html> Discussion list Resource Policy Discussion List <https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/rpd> SIG-Policy <http://mailman.apnic.net/mailing-lists/sig-policy/index.shtml> Public Policy Mailing List <http://www.arin.net/mailing_lists/ppml/index.html> Politicas – Policy Mailing List <http://www.lacnic.net/mailman/listinfo/politicas> Address Policy WG <http://www.ripe.net/mailman/listinfo/address-policy-wg> Public Forum AfriNIC 7 <http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/afrinic-7/index.htm> 23 - 28 Sept 2007 <http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/afrinic-7/index.htm> - Slides <http://www.afrinic.net/meeting/afrinic-7/presentations/28/AFRINIC7_GlobalPo…> APNIC 24 29 Aug – 7 Sept 2007 <http://www.apnic.net/meetings/24/index.html> - Slides <http://www.apnic.net/meetings/24/program/sigs/policy/presentations/pawlik-p…> ARIN XX <http://www.arin.net/ARIN-XX/> 17-19 Oct 2007 <http://www.arin.net/ARIN-XX/> - Slides <http://www.arin.net/meetings/minutes/ARIN_XX/PDF/wednesday/2007-19_Pawlik.p…> LACNIC X 22-25 May 2007 <http://lacnic.net/en/eventos/lacnicx/> - Slides <http://lacnic.net/documentos/lacnicx/lac200708.ppt> RIPE 54 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-54/> 7-11 May 2007 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-54/> - Slides <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-54/presentations/Global_Policy.pdf> Final Call for Comments 2 - 17 Oct 2007 <https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/rpd/2007/000890.html> 25 Sept – 23 Nov 2007 <http://mailman.apnic.net/mailing-lists/sig-policy/archive/2007/09/msg00041.…> 23 Oct - 6 Nov 2007 <http://lists.arin.net/pipermail/ppml/2007-October/009610.html> 13 June - 28 July 2007 <http://mail.lacnic.net/pipermail/politicas/2007-June/012232.html> 17 July – 14 August 2007 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/maillists/archives/address-policy-wg/2007/msg00541…> Next Public Forum (N/A - this stage is passed for all) RIR Board Endorsement Awaiting adoption by the Board Awaiting endorsement by Executive Committee Awaiting adoption by Board of Trustees Awaiting Board ratification Final adoption by consensus on 5 September 2007. <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/maillists/archives/policy-announce/2007/msg00032.h…> Link to document Proposal afpol-asn200708 <http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-asn200708.htm> Proposal-049-v001 <http://www.apnic.net/policy/proposals/prop-049-v001.html> Policy proposal 2007-19 <http://www.arin.net/policy/proposals/2007_19.html> - In English <http://lacnic.net/documentos/lacnicx/LAC-2007-08-en.pdf> - In Spanish <http://lacnic.net/documentos/lacnicx/LAC-2007-08-sp.pdf> - In Portuguese <http://lacnic.net/documentos/lacnicx/LAC-2007-08-pt.pdf> Policy document RIPE-416 <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/ripe-416.html> Link to Policy Development Process Policy Development Process <http://www.afrinic.net/pdp.htm> Policy Development Process <http://www.apnic.net/docs/policy/dev/index.html> Internet Resource Policy Evaluation <http://www.arin.net/policy/irpep.html> Process <http://www.arin.net/policy/irpep.html> Policy Development Process <http://lacnic.net/en/politicas/desarrollo.html> Policy Development Process <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/pdp.html> Status Awaiting adoption. Awaiting adoption. Awaiting adoption. Awaiting adoption. Adopted. _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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[Fwd: [AfrICANN-discuss] The EU Law on Electronic Signatures and its Recent Report]
by alice 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

INTERNET LAW - The EU Law on Electronic Signatures and its Recent Report Martha L. Arias, IBLS Director Wednesday, November 28, 2007 http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=latestnews&id=1920 Directive 1999/93/EC constitutes the legal framework for electronic signatures and certain certification services in the European Union (EU). Up to 2007, 25 EU countries have domestically adopted the general principles of this Directive and it has positively, although slowly, impacted the evolution of electronic commerce among them. This article presents a brief explanation of Directive 1999/93/EC and its complementary directives, and informs on the report by the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the impact of this Electronic Signature directive. The purpose of Directive 1999/93/EC (the Directive) is to facilitate the use of electronic signatures in the EU countries and contribute to its legal recognition. The Directive defines electronic signatures as 'data en electronic form which are attached to or logically associated with other electronic data and which serve (sic) as a method of authentication." An example of this could be the simple signature attached to an e-mail, Additionally, the Directive defines 'advance electronic signature' as an electronic signature that is uniquely linked to the signatory, is capable of identifying the signatory, is created using means under the sole control of the signatory, and is linked to the data to which it relates in a way that alterations may be easily detected. Examples of these e-signatures are those e-signatures that use a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). They use a private and public key and use encryption technology (For instance, online credit card signatures). Article 5 of the Directive expressly states the legal effects that an 'advance electronic signature" and an 'electronic signature' should have in the EU states. The Directive, article 5, rules that 'advanced electronic signatures' shall be admissible evidence in legal proceedings among the EU member states, provided that some requirements are met. First, the advance electronic signature should be based on a 'qualified certificate;' it should be created by a 'secure-signature creation device'; it should satisfy the same legal requirements as if it were related to a paper-base data. Yet, the legal effects of simple 'electronic signatures' (not advanced e-signatures) seem to be far reaching according to the norm. Article 5,(2) establishes that the EU member states must ensure that electronic signatures are effective and admissible evidence in legal proceedings even if they are in electronic form and do not meet the above listed requirements. Thus, your signed e-mail is certainly admissible evidence in the EU member states. After the adoption of this Directive on Electronic Signatures in 1999, the EU has implemented new legislation that complements this Directive and creates an appropriate legal environment for e-commerce and e-transactions. For instance, Directive 2001/115/EC on electronic invoices. Directive 2001/115/EC recognizes the validity of electronically sent invoices that use advance electronic signatures. Another example of EU Directives complementing the one on electronic signature is the public procurement Directives. These Directives do not explicitly state the type of e-signatures to be used on public procurement but notes that the use of electronic signatures must be according to Directive 1999/93/EC. These Directives though, call for uniformity on the domestic institution of e-signatures for public procurement so there are not barriers for e-procurement transactions among the EU states. But in the 'real world' (or practical world- whatever your philosophy is), how is this Directive really impacting the development of e-commerce in the EU states? According to the European Parliament and the Council August-2006 report, the use of advanced electronic signatures in the EU has been less than expected and it has reported some slow development. Thus, the Commission cannot provide a comprehensive assessment of the exchange of electronic signatures among EU states. The Commission deems that economic grounds are the reasons for this sluggish development of e-signature exchange among the EU states. The Commission says service providers do not have enough incentives to create interoperable solutions or 'multi-application electronic signature.' They rather want to develop solutions for their specific services, like the banking sector, etc. Besides lack of interoperable solutions, comprehensive solutions for electronic archives constitute another problem that precludes the development of e-signature interchange among the EU members. The Commission notes that e-procurement in the EU have reached an interesting level and promises to drive the market in the future. The role of e-government applications have is set on the i2010 initiative 19. The Commission concludes it report saying that they will closely monitor the use of electronic signatures in the EU and "particular emphasis will be on interoperability and cross-border use of electronic signatures. The Commission will encourage further standardization work in order to promote the interoperability and use of all kinds of technologies for qualified electronic signature in the internal market." _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann

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[Fwd: [governance] Google Policy Fellowships]
by alice 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

"We¹re [Google] looking for students who are passionate about technology, and want to spend the summer diving headfirst into Internet policy." <http://www.google.com/policyfellowship/> <http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2007/11/calling-aspiring-tech-policy…>

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Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic
by robert yawe 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

Hi Alex, Explain one issue to me, how will the marine cable increase the remittances from the diaspora, they are sending 3.9 billion over slow, expensive satellite links why should we reduce this by spending 7 billion to land the fiber? Alex, all I ask is can you give me a logical reason why we should spend 7 billion to land this fiber? I am aware this discussion is academic but it should not stop us from questioning the rational. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Friday, 30 November, 2007 7:37:39 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic But Yawe, [Sorry for this late response, this message only got to my inbox a short while ago] On Nov 28, 2007 8:06 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > The diaspora makes up less than 5% of the population and many of them add no > value to us, yet you are more concerned about how we can communicate with > them instead of how to make it possible for my children to talk and see > their grandmother in Mbita point without requiring to make the trip. > Not quite so. Diasporans send sizable chunks of home for Mbitarians consumption. "The most recent data available indicates that remittances by Kenyans reached a historic month-on-month high in June when Sh3.9 billion was sent into the country." <http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4622&Item…> Though you are right also about a national fibre network would enhance far flung families bonding and save our Mbitarian business lexicon travel expenses ( i.e. help in converting remittances into investments rather than consumption). "It is estimated that full compliance with the licensing requirements costs Kenyan businesses Sh5 billion annually." <http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4621&Item…> Agreed! Local fibre saves locally and international one boosts remittances hence my argument elsewhere, "we need both pentium and penicillin" and it the juglers' job ( Read Ndemo:) to give us the optimal mix. Notwithstanding, absent fibres remains no excuse for inefficient and opaque service delivery by those employed by the public and all government agencies. Sawa? ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

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Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic
by robert yawe 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

Dr Ndemo, You have not answered our concern yet on why we need the marine cable to bring us high speed Internet yet as a country we do not have a cost effective national high speed network? The diaspora makes up less than 5% of the population and many of them add no value to us, yet you are more concerned about how we can communicate with them instead of how to make it possible for my children to talk and see their grandmother in Mbita point without requiring to make the trip. As a democracy I believe our interest should be to serve the greater population than a few out there. I have been looking at the cost of AGM's for listed companies and it is a major drain on this organisations, if you and your team could concentrate on a fiber link to all provincial head quarters we can have the next Kengen AGM held virtually with participants in centers closest to them, to me this would be a greater utilisation of connectivity than being able to talk cheaply to my sister in the US who none the less is too busy working 3 jobs to have time to talk to me regularly irrespective of cost. So Dr. Ndemo gives us a more compelling reason for the fibre optic cable. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 26 November, 2007 9:13:57 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic Dear Yawe, Gakuru, I promised to respond to the question as to whether we indeed need Fibre Optic Cables. Yes indeed we need them for the time being (Intel shall be commecializing [in 10 years time]a chip with the capability to send data at high speeds without any cables)(see NY Times summary article below). In as much as I do not like cables for connectivity I think they are a necessary infrastructure at the moment. The benefits are immense as I look forward to greater linkages with our increasingly important relatives in the diaspora. With efficient connectivity, there we create opportunities such as localised news that is accessible to anyone everywhere; we shall enable innovation and more importantly create jobs for our youth. The difference here is that some may see entrepreneurial opportunities that come with this infrastructure and unfortunately some will simply watch as events unfold. Fortunately, you only need a few (Steve jobs, Bill Gates etc) to innovate and exploit the opportunity once access to technology is availed. Our role is to facilitate our people to reach their fullest potential. This is what leadership is all about. Bitange Ndemo. A Chip That Can Transfer Data Using Laser Light New York Times: The advance will make it possible to use laser light rather than wires to send data between chips, removing the most significant bottleneck in computer design. A Tiny Laser on a Silicon Chip As a result, chip makers may be able to put the high-speed data communications industry on the same curve of increased processing speed and diminishing costs — the phenomenon known as Moore’s law — that has driven the computer industry for the last four decades. The development is a result of research at Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Commercializing the new technology may not happen before the end of the decade, but the prospect of being able to place hundreds or thousands of data-carrying light beams on standard industry chips is certain to shake up both the communications and computer industries. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

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Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting
by Joseph Mucheru 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

Hi Eric and Washington, There is another way to look at this. Why is it cheaper overseas? the obvious answer is that bandwidth there is local. In which case the hosting companies are not charged high fees for bandwidth. The infact primarily pay for peering with other networks. In our case we are yet to give hosting companies access to the IXP. One way to solve this is for ISPs to provide an "unbundled" hosting service; a) Local part $x per MB b) International part $x per MB c) Rack Space $x With such a setup it is much easier for webhosting companies to emerge and be very creative and at the same time compete with international players. This would make the business case better for most hosting business and they would not have to pay the high costs. Right now the high bandwidth cost is still paid for by the consumer since they still have to access the internationally hosted sites via the ISP. Joe Mucheru > On Nov 26, 2007 7:48 AM, Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> wrote: > > > Dear Mr. Washington, > > > > You have stated the obvious which is the challenge but let me try to > > share some light on how to solve the problem. > > > > It is really a chicken an egg situation, the localhosting business would > > develop based on demand but like you said demand is relative to cost. > > > > However in the interest of developing our countries and continent if we > > all commit to having country code top level domain (in this case .ke) and > > host them locally, the demand would trigger supply. > > > > On the other hand if the local entrepreneurs can invest in > > infrastructure and based on market study provide competitive rates (with the > > generic TLDs) then again the supply could trigger the demand. > > > > Having said that, i have noticed something under the sun, which is that > > for some reason African just dont like using what other Africans produce so > > in some ways the former strategy would work better if we deal with the > > attitudinal change. > > > > Eric here > > > > > > On 26 Nov 2007, at 08:35, Odhiambo Washington wrote: > > > > On Nov 26, 2007 8:03 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > > > > > > Hi all, > > > > I have raised this issue before when I did a search and found out that > > the > > CCK web site was hosted overseas and thus how can we expect them to > > monitor > > the service quality levels of the ISP's. > > > > On Sunday I visited the Kibaki web site, I experienced unstable audio > > streaming so I decided to find out where the site was hosted, yes you > > guest > > it overseas. The other 2 presidential candidates web sites are no > > better > > they are not locally hosted. Is this a reflection of who the targets of > > this web sites are? > > > > The Kibaki site is developed by one 3Mice, if I remember right, which > > has > > some association with newly appointed ICT Board Managing Director > > Kokubo. > > > > Regards > > Robert Yawe > > KAY System Technologies Ltd > > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > > KEnya > > > > > > It's not the faith the people have in local hosting, but rather the > > cost factor. Last time I looked at this web hosting biz, one company > > was charging KES 1,000+VAT per month, which was what was though to be > > competitive. Another one entered into the fray with hype about reduced > > costing charges, but I am not sure how much business they managed to > > pick. All the same, their charges did not compare with what is charged > > internationally (I mean in Europe and the US). > > Websites is not something that has caught up with many Kenyans, > > otherwise the volumes would help sustain such businesses locally. > > I believe the lack of volumes is one of the factors that makes > > entities like 3Mice to host overseas. Top-notch Kenyan techies have > > been hosting their Blog with blogspot (overseas). Bandwidth costs is > > another. In Europe and the US, individuals can afford to connect > > 10MBps in their kitchens while in Kenya, that kind of bandwidth can > > only be purchased by ISPs. > > One last question though: Do you know any reliable webhosting company > > that hosts it's websites locally, and has reliable and efficient > > access to those websites? If there is one, they are not marketing > > themselves enough. > > > > > > > > -- > > Best regards, > > Odhiambo WASHINGTON, > > Nairobi,KE > > +254733744121/+254722743223 > > _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > > > > "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" > > --from a /. post > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org > > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org > > > > > > > > Eric M.K Osiakwan > > Executive Secretary > > AfrISPA ( www.afrispa.org) > > Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 > > Fax: + 233.21.258811 > > Cell: + 233.244.386792 > > Handle: eosiakwan > > Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North > > Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North > > Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ > > Slang: "Tomorrow Now" > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: mucheru(a)google.com > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mucheru%40google.com > > > > > > > -- > Joe Mucheru > Office Lead, East Africa > Google Kenya > 7th Floor, Purshottam Place > Westlands Road > P O Box 66217 - 00800 Westlands > Nairobi, > KENYA > > +254 20 360 1701 Office > +254 20 360 1100 Fax > +254 20 360 1000 Switch Board (Regus) > > +254 722522135 Mobile > > > http://www.google.com > > This email may be confidential or privileged. If you received this > communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please > erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went to the > wrong person. Thanks. -- Joe Mucheru Office Lead, East Africa Google Kenya 7th Floor, Purshottam Place Westlands Road P O Box 66217 - 00800 Westlands Nairobi, KENYA +254 20 360 1701 Office +254 20 360 1100 Fax +254 20 360 1000 Switch Board (Regus) +254 722522135 Mobile http://www.google.com This email may be confidential or privileged. If you received this communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went to the wrong person. Thanks.

7 7

Are Mobicoms Impoverishing "Emerging Markets"?
by Alex Gakuru 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

Taking a bird's view, floating a conspiracy theory, and inviting your comments... The Financial Post 9 -15 April 2007 issue, contains an article titled "Billion Dollar Baby" Carlos Slim Helú's fortune is up almost $20 billion a year, built amid poverty and resentment in Mexico. Now he is gaining on Warren Buffett. (attached) This is old news now for Carlos is now the world's richest man. Slim has a substantial influence over the telecommunications industry [and media] in Mexico and much of Latin America as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Slim_Hel%C3%BA There are/can be two camps here, one paying homage to new richest men in our worlds or those feeling the havoc caused by mobicoms dominance by worsening poverty levels in developing nations. This is why I say, andstand to be corrected, "In the current situation ICTs cause more poverty than prosperity." http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=363&Itemi…. With this wealth and power at their disposal, I fear that it could be just a matter of time before they start deciding on DNs governments. A hypothetical Fabian bored with too much wealth, succeeded at his ultimate game to an entire society: - "After a man has far more money than he can possibly spend for pleasure, what is left to excite him? For those with a ruling class mentality, the answer is power - raw power over other human beings. The idealists were used in the media and in Government, but the real controllers that Fabian sought were those of the ruling class mentality." http://www.relfe.com/plus_5_.html Another example, I have been following on how spying devices were found inside key components of the Vodafone network in Greece, which was being used to monitor conversations of 103 people, including the Greek Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis and his wife. Today I read this article http://www.cellular-news.com/story/27648.php An earlier story "Death muddies Greek spy probe" can be found here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4838552.stm 3 cents... [mind mentioning where you got this compilation if you must to use it somewhere else? ("creative commons":) Thanks]

5 7

Re: [kictanet] Safaricom IPO Certified Urgent
by Bill Kagai 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

On Nov 30, 2007 11:30 AM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo(a)gmail.com> wrote: > A very detailed article regarding the safaricom IPO was posted on this > list sometimes back. > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/private/kictanet/2007-August/003030.html > Has anything changed so far? > I believe these are valid reasons, which have been raised, and which > have been kinds whitewashed by the people concerned. > Shouldn't these be addressed before the IPO, or should Kenyans be made > to buy what belongs to them just because we don't want "neophytes to > compromise our industry and the future ICT IPOs to come"? Wash, My beef is that am investing in shops to sell these shares and then on Tuesday I read that some lawyers got late to attend court. I mean, the treatment of this case is so pedestrian yet we are relying on someone deciding whether its priority to attend court or not. This has to change and Kictanet ought to have the balls to fight for us who are gnashing in the confines of a depressing miasma not knowing whether to invest or not to invest. We need Kictanet to show these politicians that its not only their interests at stake here and tell them on their faces. 'Don't be late for Court'. Am not taking sides and neither interfering with the court process...but I mean..can someone (kictanet) show them they cannot go to court when they decide or when they have some time to spare. They need to treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves for many Kenyans are banking on this IPO. The next process is to get a hearing date from the Registrar but again..these guys might get 'late' or not have time to go and book the date. It has become crazy doing business in this town. Bill

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Safaricom IPO Certified Urgent
by Bill Kagai 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

Ladies/Gentlemen, Investors appetite has been whetted for a long time now over Safaricom IPO with local hustlers putting in investment to benefit from this gigantic IPO. But when all signs read 'full steam ahead', an obstacle crops up. We do not need to decide the merits/demerits of the appeal but the setting up of the Privatisation Act should not compromise ICT initiatives in Kenya. I think the politicians have their space in this but a neutral force should also come out to clearly spell that 'ICT Iko na Wenyewe'. I have read somewhere in the dailies where one party argues that should the court stop the IPO then people will be refunded their investment whilst the opposite argues that it will not be possible. Why are we letting these neophytes compromise our industry and the future ICT IPOs to come?? Kictanet ought to transform into an ICT watchdog in Kenya following the same vein as the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. In fact we ought to be contemplating how we can get this lobby group entrenched into a commission. I think I would love to see a paid advertisement from Kictanet....not taking sides...but clearly defining why such ICT ventures should not be politicized and why politicians need to GO SLOW when they venture into our territory. They need to consult with 'us' [read ICT stakeholders] before jeopardizing our efforts and know that we should not be hurt by their selfish interests. My entire savings!! -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] - Authorised Information Vendor Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorpafrica.com --

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Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Fwd: EASSy reaches financial close
by Eric Osiakwan 29 Nov '07

29 Nov '07

fyi - sorry for corss posting. Begin forwarded message: > From: Wairagala Wakabi <w_wakabi(a)yahoo.com> > Date: 28 November 2007 17:35:28 GMT+03:00 > To: Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > Subject: [Fibre-for-africa] Fwd: EASSy reaches financial close > Reply-To: APC - Private list for use by EASSY Workshop Participants > <fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org> > > > Press <press(a)afdb.org> wrote: > East African Submarine Cable System reaches financial close > The African Development Bank Signs Loans for the EASSy Cable Project > > Tunis, 23 November 2007 – The African Development Bank (AfDB), > along with other participating development financial institutions > (DFIs) have signed loan agreements for the East African Submarine > Cable System (EASSy), the landmark fibre-optic cable project that > will connect 22 coastal and land-locked African countries to each > other and the rest of the world with high-quality Internet and > international communications services. > > EASSy is an initiative sponsored by 25 telecommunications > operators, most of which are African. The project will construct > and operate a submarine fibre-optic cable along the east coast of > Africa that will run for 10,000 kilometers from the continent’s > southern tip to the African horn, connecting South Africa, > Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, and > Sudan. Another 13 adjoining countries will also be linked to the > system as terrestrial backbone networks including Botswana, > Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of > Congo, Chad, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, Swaziland, Uganda, > Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The EASSy project will also provide the > last link to completely encircle Africa with high-capacity fiber- > optic telecommunications networks. > > The AfDB’s financing will be channeled through the EASSy Special > Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that is also known as the West Indian Ocean > Cable Company, or WIOCC, and consists of a $14.5 million senior > loan. The cable will transform the telecommunications landscape in > the region as it improves access for 250 million Africans and > substantially reduces costs for consumers and businesses. > Construction will begin in December 2007 and the EASSy cable is > expected to be fully operational in time for the 2010 FIFA Football > World Cup to be hosted by South Africa. > > The AfDB, the French development Agency (AFD), the European > Investment Bank (EIB), Germany’s Development Bank (KfW) and the > International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank group > will provide the project’s entire long-term loan financing of $70.7 > million, with $14.5 million to come from the AfDB. The total > project cost is $235 million and the balance will be provided by > the 25 private telecommunications operators wgho will operate the > cable as a consortium. These Telecom operators, including 21 > African operators, will be the main users of capacity on the cable. > > Contrary to previous cables in the African continent that were > built on the “closed-club” structure, EASSy is built on a Hybrid > SPV Development model. This model will allow smaller operators to > participate in the cable consortium at reduced individual entry > investments. EASSy also adheres to the main development objectives > of “Open Access", Non-discriminatory and Affordable pricing. The > cable will act as a crucial medium of internet connectivity to > carry telecom traffic for all African operators from the Eastern > and Southern African markets to onward connecting Cable networks in > Europe, Asia and the Americas. > > After years of collaboration between the African Development Bank, > World Bank Group and other global and regional development > institutions, governments, and the region’s private sector, the > project brings together the public and private sectors to expand > Telecommunications Infrastructure. EASSy provides a model for > future generations of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) that will > be necessary to create the enabling environment for private sector > participation in Africa. > > The EASSy project will also foster regional integration in line > with NEPAD and the AfDB’s strategic objectives. The EASSy project > will contribute to the socio-economic development of the region > through the expansion of inter-Africa trade, facilitated by lower > costs and better communication. The expected increase in employment > and income for the regions will help to reduce poverty and lead to > sustainable development. Additionally, the EASSy project will help > in breaking the barriers of social and geographical isolation and > assist the population in its quest to access information and > continued education. > CONTACTS: E-mail: e.chinje(a)afdb.org > 4Private Sector Department– Tel.: +216 71 10 28 43 – Fax: +216 71 > 83 41 78 – E-mail: private-sector(a)afdb.org 3 > 4 Internal and External Communications Division– Tel.: +216 71 10 > 29 16 – Fax: +216 71 10 37 52 – E-mail: comuadb(a)afdb.org 3 > Press releases are also posted on ADB Website at: www.afdb.org > > > > > > > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. > _______________________________________________ > Fibre-for-africa mailing list > Fibre-for-africa(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fibre-for-africa Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now"

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Re: [kictanet] Govt Websites
by robert yawe 28 Nov '07

28 Nov '07

Harry thanks for the information, but can we find a way to publicise the site and not treat it like a state secret. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Tuesday, 27 November, 2007 11:01:12 AM Subject: [kictanet] Govt Websites  Dear Colleagues, The Kenya.go.ke appears to be a portal that can lead you to most of the government websites, Bobby, next time you could give it try when looking for a certain ministry…url http://www.kenya.go.ke/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=1 Harry -----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: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

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Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting
by robert yawe 28 Nov '07

28 Nov '07

End user ---> Telkom ---> ISP ---> KDN --> ISP --> Telkom --> end user Do the math Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Kai Wulff <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 26 November, 2007 1:19:30 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting Strange! I thought this is what we do since 4 years! A Rack Space, good enough for TBs of hosted Webspace is USD 250,- per month. The KIXP link is on fiber and international bandwidth can be bought separately! Rgds Kai ----- Original Message ----- From: Joseph Mucheru To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 12:29 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting Hi Eric and Washington, There is another way to look at this. Why is it cheaper overseas? the obvious answer is that bandwidth there is local. In which case the hosting companies are not charged high fees for bandwidth. The infact primarily pay for peering with other networks. In our case we are yet to give hosting companies access to the IXP. One way to solve this is for ISPs to provide an "unbundled" hosting service; a) Local part $x per MB b) International part $x per MB c) Rack Space $x With such a setup it is much easier for webhosting companies to emerge and be very creative and at the same time compete with international players. This would make the business case better for most hosting business and they would not have to pay the high costs. Right now the high bandwidth cost is still paid for by the consumer since they still have to access the internationally hosted sites via the ISP. Joe Mucheru On Nov 26, 2007 7:48 AM, Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> wrote: Dear Mr. Washington, You have stated the obvious which is the challenge but let me try to share some light on how to solve the problem. It is really a chicken an egg situation, the localhosting business would develop based on demand but like you said demand is relative to cost. However in the interest of developing our countries and continent if we all commit to having country code top level domain (in this case .ke) and host them locally, the demand would trigger supply. On the other hand if the local entrepreneurs can invest in infrastructure and based on market study provide competitive rates (with the generic TLDs) then again the supply could trigger the demand. Having said that, i have noticed something under the sun, which is that for some reason African just dont like using what other Africans produce so in some ways the former strategy would work better if we deal with the attitudinal change. Eric here On 26 Nov 2007, at 08:35, Odhiambo Washington wrote: On Nov 26, 2007 8:03 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Hi all, I have raised this issue before when I did a search and found out that the CCK web site was hosted overseas and thus how can we expect them to monitor the service quality levels of the ISP's. On Sunday I visited the Kibaki web site, I experienced unstable audio streaming so I decided to find out where the site was hosted, yes you guest it overseas. The other 2 presidential candidates web sites are no better they are not locally hosted. Is this a reflection of who the targets of this web sites are? The Kibaki site is developed by one 3Mice, if I remember right, which has some association with newly appointed ICT Board Managing Director Kokubo. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya It's not the faith the people have in local hosting, but rather the cost factor. Last time I looked at this web hosting biz, one company was charging KES 1,000+VAT per month, which was what was though to be competitive. Another one entered into the fray with hype about reduced costing charges, but I am not sure how much business they managed to pick. All the same, their charges did not compare with what is charged internationally (I mean in Europe and the US). Websites is not something that has caught up with many Kenyans, otherwise the volumes would help sustain such businesses locally. I believe the lack of volumes is one of the factors that makes entities like 3Mice to host overseas. Top-notch Kenyan techies have been hosting their Blog with blogspot (overseas). Bandwidth costs is another. In Europe and the US, individuals can afford to connect 10MBps in their kitchens while in Kenya, that kind of bandwidth can only be purchased by ISPs. One last question though: Do you know any reliable webhosting company that hosts it's websites locally, and has reliable and efficient access to those websites? If there is one, they are not marketing themselves enough. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" --from a /. post _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA ( www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mucheru(a)google.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mucheru%40google.com -- Joe Mucheru Office Lead, East Africa Google Kenya 7th Floor, Purshottam Place Westlands Road P O Box 66217 - 00800 Westlands Nairobi, KENYA +254 20 360 1701 Office +254 20 360 1100 Fax +254 20 360 1000 Switch Board (Regus) +254 722522135 Mobile http://www.google.com This email may be confidential or privileged. If you received this communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went to the wrong person. Thanks. -- Joe Mucheru Office Lead, East Africa Google Kenya 7th Floor, Purshottam Place Westlands Road P O Box 66217 - 00800 Westlands Nairobi, KENYA +254 20 360 1701 Office +254 20 360 1100 Fax +254 20 360 1000 Switch Board (Regus) +254 722522135 Mobile http://www.google.com This email may be confidential or privileged. If you received this communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went to the wrong person. Thanks. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -----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: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting
by robert yawe 28 Nov '07

28 Nov '07

It is interesting how we tend to have such short memories, the IXP issue should have been resolved 4 years ago when the ISPs where instead busy fighting Telkom, of which if my memory serves me right you were right in the middle of your response thus does not resonate genuineness. The exchange point needs to seat at the most central location and since 90% of the links used to access the various hosting locations pass through Telkom that becomes the most cost effective and LOGICAL location. Alternatively host is at CCK and provide all hosting companies with free high speed links. We unfortunately as Kenyans have not overcome the blame game approach to forgetting an issue, the ISPs and CCK are wholly and individually responsible for this country not moving forward technologically. The ministry is equally to blame for not playing its part. The answers from the parties concerned on the issue of local content and hosting is beginning to sound like a broken CD. Please lets move the exchange point, make is available to all and stop this private club mentality give genuinely and you shall prosper. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Joseph Mucheru <mucheru(a)google.com> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 26 November, 2007 12:29:43 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting Hi Eric and Washington, There is another way to look at this. Why is it cheaper overseas? the obvious answer is that bandwidth there is local. In which case the hosting companies are not charged high fees for bandwidth. The infact primarily pay for peering with other networks. In our case we are yet to give hosting companies access to the IXP. One way to solve this is for ISPs to provide an "unbundled" hosting service; a) Local part $x per MB b) International part $x per MB c) Rack Space $x With such a setup it is much easier for webhosting companies to emerge and be very creative and at the same time compete with international players. This would make the business case better for most hosting business and they would not have to pay the high costs. Right now the high bandwidth cost is still paid for by the consumer since they still have to access the internationally hosted sites via the ISP. Joe Mucheru On Nov 26, 2007 7:48 AM, Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> wrote: Dear Mr. Washington, You have stated the obvious which is the challenge but let me try to share some light on how to solve the problem. It is really a chicken an egg situation, the localhosting business would develop based on demand but like you said demand is relative to cost. However in the interest of developing our countries and continent if we all commit to having country code top level domain (in this case .ke) and host them locally, the demand would trigger supply. On the other hand if the local entrepreneurs can invest in infrastructure and based on market study provide competitive rates (with the generic TLDs) then again the supply could trigger the demand. Having said that, i have noticed something under the sun, which is that for some reason African just dont like using what other Africans produce so in some ways the former strategy would work better if we deal with the attitudinal change. Eric here On 26 Nov 2007, at 08:35, Odhiambo Washington wrote: On Nov 26, 2007 8:03 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Hi all, I have raised this issue before when I did a search and found out that the CCK web site was hosted overseas and thus how can we expect them to monitor the service quality levels of the ISP's. On Sunday I visited the Kibaki web site, I experienced unstable audio streaming so I decided to find out where the site was hosted, yes you guest it overseas. The other 2 presidential candidates web sites are no better they are not locally hosted. Is this a reflection of who the targets of this web sites are? The Kibaki site is developed by one 3Mice, if I remember right, which has some association with newly appointed ICT Board Managing Director Kokubo. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya It's not the faith the people have in local hosting, but rather the cost factor. Last time I looked at this web hosting biz, one company was charging KES 1,000+VAT per month, which was what was though to be competitive. Another one entered into the fray with hype about reduced costing charges, but I am not sure how much business they managed to pick. All the same, their charges did not compare with what is charged internationally (I mean in Europe and the US). Websites is not something that has caught up with many Kenyans, otherwise the volumes would help sustain such businesses locally. I believe the lack of volumes is one of the factors that makes entities like 3Mice to host overseas. Top-notch Kenyan techies have been hosting their Blog with blogspot (overseas). Bandwidth costs is another. In Europe and the US, individuals can afford to connect 10MBps in their kitchens while in Kenya, that kind of bandwidth can only be purchased by ISPs. One last question though: Do you know any reliable webhosting company that hosts it's websites locally, and has reliable and efficient access to those websites? If there is one, they are not marketing themselves enough. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" --from a /. post _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA ( www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mucheru(a)google.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mucheru%40google.com -- Joe Mucheru Office Lead, East Africa Google Kenya 7th Floor, Purshottam Place Westlands Road P O Box 66217 - 00800 Westlands Nairobi, KENYA +254 20 360 1701 Office +254 20 360 1100 Fax +254 20 360 1000 Switch Board (Regus) +254 722522135 Mobile http://www.google.com This email may be confidential or privileged. If you received this communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went to the wrong person. Thanks. -- Joe Mucheru Office Lead, East Africa Google Kenya 7th Floor, Purshottam Place Westlands Road P O Box 66217 - 00800 Westlands Nairobi, KENYA +254 20 360 1701 Office +254 20 360 1100 Fax +254 20 360 1000 Switch Board (Regus) +254 722522135 Mobile http://www.google.com This email may be confidential or privileged. If you received this communication by mistake, please don't forward it to anyone else, please erase all copies and attachments, and please let me know that it went to the wrong person. Thanks. -----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: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Want ideas for reducing your carbon footprint? Visit Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/environment.html

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Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The NewFrontierinTransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007
by robert yawe 28 Nov '07

28 Nov '07

Dear Mr. Joseph, At the rate this agreement is going you will have disenfranchised enough Kenyan's then what will it be worth. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Michael Joseph <MJoseph(a)Safaricom.co.ke> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 26 November, 2007 12:22:51 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The NewFrontierinTransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007 Actually the agreement has been reached by both parties. We are just waiting for some outstanding items to be concluded. Michael CEO Safaricom Limited -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Walubengo Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 12:14 PM To: Michael Joseph Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The NewFrontierinTransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007 my quick two cents. 1. On high-costs: 'High-cost' is actually NOT relative- having been defined by UN/ITU as the cost of service as a % of the Gross National Income per Capita. (ITU Digital Access Indices ( ITU News, 2003). In simpler times, are the citizens continuously faced with the 'difficult' choice between communicating and buying their next meal? i.e if the cost of communication results in their missing their next meal then the service is quite expensive. 2. On Commercial Agreements between Operators: I believe the operators have the 1st privilege to reach an agreement. However, the Regulator reserves the right to interven in the event that the agreement is not being reached soon enought. walu. --- Alex Gakuru <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> wrote: > all networks interconnection are subject to CCK thus it > has everything > to do with them in fulfilling their legal mandate to > protect consumers > especially where outcry are so loud it break many high > glass offices > blocks. Further, TKL has been on the press stating > otherwise. "In its > letter to Mr John Waweru, the Communications Commission > of Kenya > director general, Telkom Kenya is accusing Safaricom of > practising > anti-competitive behaviour in the market -especially in > the Short > Messages Services (SMS) segment of the business." > http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3703&I temid=5810 > > High costs are relative so allow me to pass that > questions > > > On Nov 26, 2007 8:23 AM, Michael Joseph > <MJoseph(a)safaricom.co.ke> wrote: > > It has got nothing to do with the CCK but is a > commercial issue with TKL Kenya. Both parties are well > aware of what has to be done and it is a matter of > getting this concluded. Both mobile operators have the > same issue. > > > > I do not know what high costs you are referring to. > > > > Michael > > > > CEO > > Safaricom Limited > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: > kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:[email protected]] > On Behalf Of Alex Gakuru > > Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 8:16 AM > > To: Michael Joseph > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New > FrontierinTransformingPublic Services - 29th November > 2007 > > > > Hope is not a bad thing to have but just its just a > wish. Until you > > finally "finalise" the agreement completely then let > high costs bite > > deeper and deeper into our pockets. > > > > If we had a CCK that protected consumers this would > have happened 2 months ago. > > > > Alex > > > > On Nov 26, 2007 8:06 AM, Michael Joseph > <MJoseph(a)safaricom.co.ke> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > There is no blocking as such. Simply stated the > agreements to open up the > > > SMS interconnectivity have not been completed. We > hope that this will be > > > done soon. > > > > > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Michael > > > > > > > > > > > > CEO > > > > > > Safaricom Limited > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > > > > > > > From: > kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > > [mailto:[email protected]] > On > > > Behalf Of robert yawe > > > Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 7:50 AM > > > To: Michael Joseph > > > > > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New > Frontier > > > inTransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > I am unable to send an SMS from my safaricom line to > CDMA numbers. Who is > > > responsible for making sure that we are not blocked > from sending messages > > > across networks. > > > > > > Regards > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Robert Yawe > > > KAY System Technologies Ltd > > > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > > > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > > > KEnya > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Tel: +254722511225 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > > From: "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > > > To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> > > > Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy > Discussions > > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > Sent: Friday, 23 November, 2007 11:20:03 PM > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New > Frontier in > > > TransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007 > > > > > > Dear Yawe, > > > Welcome to KICTAnet. Just wanted to know how you > got to know that > > > Ministry of Information, CCK and ICT Board did not > act on the > > > Safaricom/TKL sms issue? Do you know the mandate of > these "bodies"? My > > > friend, in the past one year did you not come across > the mention of the > > > ICT Bill? I really want to be of help to you but > first I want to > > > understand where you are coming from. > > > > > > > > > > > > Regards > > > > > > Bitange Ndemo. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi All, > > > > > > > > I am new to this mailing list and would like to > start by saying > > > something > > > > about myself. > > > > > > > > I am an Information Technology specialist with > over 15 years experience > > > > which means I know how to use DOS, UNIX and other > OS's that exist only on > > > > 5.25" floppy disks. My area of specialisation is > in design & > > > > implementation of local and wide area networks. > > > > > > > > On the issue of mGovernment I do agree that this > is the next frontier but > > > > it is shocking, as usual, that we are not > embracing the technology or > > > even > > > > working to develop the necessary legislation to > make it flourish. AS > > > many > > > > web site designers about WAP and they are lost, we > are designing heavy > > > > sites that have no intelligence to identify the > type of device accessing > === message truncated === ________________________________________________________________________ ____________ Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/sports;_ylt=At9_qDKvtAbMuh1G1SQtBI7ntAcJ _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mjoseph(a)safaricom.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mjoseph%40safaricom .co.ke The information in this email and any attachments is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the named addressee. Emails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be guaranteed. Safaricom Limited does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this email if the same is found to have been altered or manipulated. The contents and opinions expressed in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Safaricom Limited. Safaricom Limited disclaims any liability to the fullest extent permissible by law for any consequences that may arise from the contents of this email including but not limited to personal opinions, malicious and/or defamatory information and data/codes that may compromise or damage the integrity of the recipient's information technology systems. If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and immediately delete this email from your system. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Want ideas for reducing your carbon footprint? Visit Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/environment.html

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Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New FrontierinTransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007
by robert yawe 28 Nov '07

28 Nov '07

Thanks for the legal angle, and it was actually 2 shillings worth as you might have notice the Kenya Shilling is getting stronger. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 26 November, 2007 12:14:11 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New FrontierinTransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007 my quick two cents. 1. On high-costs: 'High-cost' is actually NOT relative- having been defined by UN/ITU as the cost of service as a % of the Gross National Income per Capita. (ITU Digital Access Indices ( ITU News, 2003). In simpler times, are the citizens continuously faced with the 'difficult' choice between communicating and buying their next meal? i.e if the cost of communication results in their missing their next meal then the service is quite expensive. 2. On Commercial Agreements between Operators: I believe the operators have the 1st privilege to reach an agreement. However, the Regulator reserves the right to interven in the event that the agreement is not being reached soon enought. walu. --- Alex Gakuru <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> wrote: > all networks interconnection are subject to CCK thus it > has everything > to do with them in fulfilling their legal mandate to > protect consumers > especially where outcry are so loud it break many high > glass offices > blocks. Further, TKL has been on the press stating > otherwise. "In its > letter to Mr John Waweru, the Communications Commission > of Kenya > director general, Telkom Kenya is accusing Safaricom of > practising > anti-competitive behaviour in the market —especially in > the Short > Messages Services (SMS) segment of the business." > http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3703&Item… > > High costs are relative so allow me to pass that > questions > > > On Nov 26, 2007 8:23 AM, Michael Joseph > <MJoseph(a)safaricom.co.ke> wrote: > > It has got nothing to do with the CCK but is a > commercial issue with TKL Kenya. Both parties are well > aware of what has to be done and it is a matter of > getting this concluded. Both mobile operators have the > same issue. > > > > I do not know what high costs you are referring to. > > > > Michael > > > > CEO > > Safaricom Limited > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: > kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:[email protected]] > On Behalf Of Alex Gakuru > > Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 8:16 AM > > To: Michael Joseph > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New > FrontierinTransformingPublic Services - 29th November > 2007 > > > > Hope is not a bad thing to have but just its just a > wish. Until you > > finally "finalise" the agreement completely then let > high costs bite > > deeper and deeper into our pockets. > > > > If we had a CCK that protected consumers this would > have happened 2 months ago. > > > > Alex > > > > On Nov 26, 2007 8:06 AM, Michael Joseph > <MJoseph(a)safaricom.co.ke> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > There is no blocking as such. Simply stated the > agreements to open up the > > > SMS interconnectivity have not been completed. We > hope that this will be > > > done soon. > > > > > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Michael > > > > > > > > > > > > CEO > > > > > > Safaricom Limited > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > > > > > > > From: > kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > > [mailto:[email protected]] > On > > > Behalf Of robert yawe > > > Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 7:50 AM > > > To: Michael Joseph > > > > > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New > Frontier > > > inTransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > I am unable to send an SMS from my safaricom line to > CDMA numbers. Who is > > > responsible for making sure that we are not blocked > from sending messages > > > across networks. > > > > > > Regards > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Robert Yawe > > > KAY System Technologies Ltd > > > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > > > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > > > KEnya > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Tel: +254722511225 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > > From: "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > > > To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> > > > Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy > Discussions > > > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > > Sent: Friday, 23 November, 2007 11:20:03 PM > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New > Frontier in > > > TransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007 > > > > > > Dear Yawe, > > > Welcome to KICTAnet. Just wanted to know how you > got to know that > > > Ministry of Information, CCK and ICT Board did not > act on the > > > Safaricom/TKL sms issue? Do you know the mandate of > these "bodies"? My > > > friend, in the past one year did you not come across > the mention of the > > > ICT Bill? I really want to be of help to you but > first I want to > > > understand where you are coming from. > > > > > > > > > > > > Regards > > > > > > Bitange Ndemo. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi All, > > > > > > > > I am new to this mailing list and would like to > start by saying > > > something > > > > about myself. > > > > > > > > I am an Information Technology specialist with > over 15 years experience > > > > which means I know how to use DOS, UNIX and other > OS's that exist only on > > > > 5.25" floppy disks. My area of specialisation is > in design & > > > > implementation of local and wide area networks. > > > > > > > > On the issue of mGovernment I do agree that this > is the next frontier but > > > > it is shocking, as usual, that we are not > embracing the technology or > > > even > > > > working to develop the necessary legislation to > make it flourish. AS > > > many > > > > web site designers about WAP and they are lost, we > are designing heavy > > > > sites that have no intelligence to identify the > type of device accessing > === message truncated === ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/sports;_ylt=At9_qDKvtAbMuh1G1SQtBI7ntAcJ _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

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Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New Frontier inTransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007
by robert yawe 28 Nov '07

28 Nov '07

Hi As a sign of good will and intention Mr. Joseph should open up the connection, and if this will result in an illegality have it be provided by a 3rd party temporarily until the legal hurdle is resolved. When you make someone from Mandara have to travel from Mandera to Nairobi just to confirm their electoral details is inhuman and negates your so called SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY programs. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 26 November, 2007 8:15:41 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New Frontier inTransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007 Hope is not a bad thing to have but just its just a wish. Until you finally "finalise" the agreement completely then let high costs bite deeper and deeper into our pockets. If we had a CCK that protected consumers this would have happened 2 months ago. Alex On Nov 26, 2007 8:06 AM, Michael Joseph <MJoseph(a)safaricom.co.ke> wrote: > > > > > There is no blocking as such. Simply stated the agreements to open up the > SMS interconnectivity have not been completed. We hope that this will be > done soon. > > > > Regards, > > > > > Michael > > > > CEO > > Safaricom Limited > > > > ________________________________ > > > From: kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of robert yawe > Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 7:50 AM > To: Michael Joseph > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New Frontier > inTransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007 > > > > > > Hi, > > I am unable to send an SMS from my safaricom line to CDMA numbers. Who is > responsible for making sure that we are not blocked from sending messages > across networks. > > Regards > > > > > Robert Yawe > KAY System Technologies Ltd > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > KEnya > > > > > > Tel: +254722511225 > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: "bitange(a)jambo.co.ke" <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> > To: robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> > Cc: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions > <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: Friday, 23 November, 2007 11:20:03 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New Frontier in > TransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007 > > Dear Yawe, > Welcome to KICTAnet. Just wanted to know how you got to know that > Ministry of Information, CCK and ICT Board did not act on the > Safaricom/TKL sms issue? Do you know the mandate of these "bodies"? My > friend, in the past one year did you not come across the mention of the > ICT Bill? I really want to be of help to you but first I want to > understand where you are coming from. > > > > Regards > > Bitange Ndemo. > > > > > > Hi All, > > > > I am new to this mailing list and would like to start by saying > something > > about myself. > > > > I am an Information Technology specialist with over 15 years experience > > which means I know how to use DOS, UNIX and other OS's that exist only on > > 5.25" floppy disks. My area of specialisation is in design & > > implementation of local and wide area networks. > > > > On the issue of mGovernment I do agree that this is the next frontier but > > it is shocking, as usual, that we are not embracing the technology or > even > > working to develop the necessary legislation to make it flourish. AS > many > > web site designers about WAP and they are lost, we are designing heavy > > sites that have no intelligence to identify the type of device accessing > > the site and thus adjust the page to display better on the particular > > device. > > > > It is interesting that CCK and the Ministry of Information plus the ICT > > Board can sit back when the fight between Telkom and Safaricom on the > > delivery of SMS messages across the network continues to deny the tax > > payer (excise duty on airtime). Or the fact that none of the mentioned > > felt it necessary to educate Mr. Kivuitu on the need to make live > > electoral database available over SMS. > > > > Now if we cannot take advantage of this opportunity to create local > > content and utilise mGovernment how can we entrust this "bodies" (which > > interestingly refers to expired humans) with making the marine cable a > > viable project. Maybe we should cancel the project and use the money to > > put up a technology park in Mandera and Garsen. > > > > We do not need to recreate the wheel, just visit yahoomobile, > > googleearthmobile, or if you have a GPRS enabled phone try > > wap.mystocks.co.ke. Or next time you are going up towards NIC on Bunyala > > Road look at the Nokia advert. > > > > The mobile phone is the future let embrace it or perish. > > > > Robert Yawe > > KAY System Technologies Ltd > > Phoenix House, 6th Floor > > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 > > KEnya > > Tel: +254722511225 > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > From: Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> > > To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> > > Sent: Monday, 19 November, 2007 6:16:53 PM > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Mobile Government: The New Frontier in > > TransformingPublic Services - 29th November 2007 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >  > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Kwach, > > > > > > > > > > > > I agree with you and it is equally > > interesting to note that some mobile applications are already being > > implementedÃ¢â‚¬Â¦I > > > > dare say that this part of the world will see more mGovernment in the G2C > > (Government > > to Citizens) arena than the traditional eGovernment where the PC is the > > main service > > delivery channel. Most welcome to attend the session. > > > > > > > > > > > > Kindest regards > > > > > > Harry > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > From: Kwach > > [mailto:[email protected]] > > > > Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 > > 5:51 PM > > > > To: 'Harry Hare' > > > > Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy > > Discussions' > > > > Subject: RE: [kictanet] Mobile > > Government: The New Frontier in TransformingPublic Services - 29th > > November > > 2007 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Harry, > > > > > > > > > > > > These are interesting statistics and > > scenario. For developing countries, there is urgent need to move from > > quantity > > to quality. In my view, content is the quality because more 65% of > mobiles > > are > > only meeting social needs and costs involved have got no direct linkage > to > > revenue for the owners, which should be a great concern. > > > > > > > > > > > > With Mobile Government, time and resources > > used in the rural to the say Government offices miles away would be > > deployed in > > other economic activities. > > > > > > > > > > > > I am keen to attend. > > > > > > > > > > > > Kwach Akich > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > From: kictanet-bounces+kwach=archway-productions.com(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kwach=archway-productions.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] > > On Behalf Of Harry Hare > > > > Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 > > 8:49 AM > > > > To: kwach(a)archway-productions.com > > > > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy > > Discussions > > > > Subject: [kictanet] Mobile > > Government: The New Frontier in TransformingPublic Services - 29th > > November > > 2007 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Colleagues, > > > > > > > > > > > > Mobile services are > > quickly emerging as the new frontier in transforming government and > making > > it > > even more accessible and citizen-centric by extending the benefits of > > remote > > delivery of government services and information to those who are unable > or > > unwilling to access public services through the Internet or simply prefer > > to > > use mobile devices. In theory, many government services can be now made > > available on a 24x7x365 basis at any place in the country covered by > > mobile > > networks, which today means almost everywhere! Michael, correct me if Im > > wrong. > > > > > > > > > > > > It is from this > > background that the World Bank in partnership with eGovWorld 2007 > > (www.egovworld.com) and African > > eDevelopment Resource Centre presents a dialogue on Mobile Government > > (mGovernment) on 29th November 2007, 4.30pm -7.00pm at the World > > Bank offices, Nairobi. The dialogue is live Video Conference and an > > integral > > part of the eGovWorld 2007 conference taking place in > > India 29-30 November 2007. > > > > > > > > > > > > According to the ITU, > > the total number of mobile users worldwide as of late 2006 was about 2.7 > > billion and the number of internet users was just above 1.1 billion. This > > means > > that there is 33.6% of world population (and 22.2% of developing > > countries population) who already have mobile phones but are not yet > using > > the > > Internet. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Does > > this provide a strong case for leveraging the mobile channel to > > dramatically improve access to public services, including electronic > > government services to those who can afford to use a personal or > > shared > > mobile phone? > > Does > > this create an opportunity to connect in the near future the next > two > > billion people to some of the benefits of e-government, e-health, > > e-education, e-banking and e-commerce? > > How > > exactly can Mobile Government change the lives of common people in > > developing countries? What are best examples of such impact? > > What > > are the key constraints to making this vision a reality? > > How > > should governments change the way they do business to take advantage > > of > > mobile technologies? > > What > > is the role of the private sector? Are there successful business > > models > > (e.g. PPP) for private sector companies to deliver value-added > > m-government services? > > > > > > > > > > > > These are some of the > > questions that will be addressed. > > > > > > > > > > > > Participation to the > > event is free; however, one needs to register to get access to the venue. > > If > > you are interested in participating send an email directly to > > susan(a)africanedevelopment.org > > for a registration form. Space is limited at the venue, only 20 places > are > > available and will be given out on a first-come-first-served basis. > > Deadline > > for registration is Wednesday 22nd November. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Program: > > > > > > +++++ > > > > > > > > > > > > Welcome > > & Introduction > > > > > > > > > > > > Samia > > Melhem, Senior Operations Officer, Global ICT, World Bank; and > > Chair, e-Development Thematic Group > > > > > > Vikas > > Kanungo, Chairman, The Society for Promotion of > > e-Governance, India & Convener, eGovWorld 2007 > > > > > > > > > > > > Opening > > Remarks/Keynote address > > > > > > > > > > > > R. > > Chandrashekhar, Additional Secretary (e-Governance), > > DIT, Government of India > > > > > > > > > > > > Speakers > > > > > > > > > > > > Ibrahim > > Kushchu, Associate Professor and Director, > > Mobile Government Consortium International & Author, "m-Government: An > > Emerging Direction in e-Government", > > UK > > > > > > Hannes > > Astok, Member of Parliament & former Deputy Mayor, > > City of Tartu , > > Estonia > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Kindest Regards > > > > > > Harry Hare > > > > > > Executive Director > > > > > > African eDevelopment > > Resource Centre > > > > > > 3rd Floor, > > Nelleon Place , > > Raphta Road , > > Westlands > > > > > > PO Box 49475 > > 00100, Nairobi > > > > > > Tel +254 20 4453445 > > > > > > Cel +254 725 650044 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----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: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ___________________________________________________________ > > Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try > > it > > now. > > http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/ > > ---------------------------------------------- > > This message has been scanned for viruses and > > dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is > > believed to be clean. > > --------------------------------------------- > > "easy access to the world" > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > For ideas on reducing your carbon footprint visit Yahoo! For Good this > month. > > ________________________________ > The information in this email and any attachments is confidential and may > be legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the named > addressee. > > Emails are susceptible to alteration and their integrity cannot be > guaranteed. Safaricom Limited does not accept legal responsibility for the > contents of this email if the same is found to have been altered or > manipulated. > > The contents and opinions expressed in this email are solely those of the > author and do not necessarily represent those of Safaricom Limited. > Safaricom Limited disclaims any liability to the fullest extent permissible > by law for any consequences that may arise from the contents of this email > including but not limited to personal opinions, malicious and/or defamatory > information and data/codes that may compromise or damage the integrity of > the recipient's information technology systems. > > > If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender and > immediately delete this email from your system. > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com > Unsubscribe or change your options at > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alexgakuru.lists%40gma… > > _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… _______________________________________________________ Try Yahoo! 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Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting
by robert yawe 28 Nov '07

28 Nov '07

Hi all, As is normally said by the lake shore "a fish goes bad from the head down", when the authority responsible for encouraging and developing local capacity blatantly shows a preference for external hosting how do we expect the common "mwanainchi" to have faith in local capacity. I also had an interesting experience with Telkom when I tried to have them host a .com, they invoiced me Ksh. 22,000/- where as they register and host .ke at 5,000/-. This was not a new registration, this is a domain that was registered over 5 years ago when Telkom had no idea about domain hosting. So O wonder why they feel it necessary to punish those who are front runners. What I am saying is if those we entrust with the responsibility and authority to carry out a task fail all of us suffer and they should have the courage to reform or resign. Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya Tel: +254722511225 ----- Original Message ---- From: Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> To: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Monday, 26 November, 2007 7:48:15 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Faith in local web hosting Dear Mr. Washington, You have stated the obvious which is the challenge but let me try to share some light on how to solve the problem. It is really a chicken an egg situation, the localhosting business would develop based on demand but like you said demand is relative to cost. However in the interest of developing our countries and continent if we all commit to having country code top level domain (in this case .ke) and host them locally, the demand would trigger supply. On the other hand if the local entrepreneurs can invest in infrastructure and based on market study provide competitive rates (with the generic TLDs) then again the supply could trigger the demand. Having said that, i have noticed something under the sun, which is that for some reason African just dont like using what other Africans produce so in some ways the former strategy would work better if we deal with the attitudinal change. Eric here On 26 Nov 2007, at 08:35, Odhiambo Washington wrote: On Nov 26, 2007 8:03 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Hi all, I have raised this issue before when I did a search and found out that the CCK web site was hosted overseas and thus how can we expect them to monitor the service quality levels of the ISP's. On Sunday I visited the Kibaki web site, I experienced unstable audio streaming so I decided to find out where the site was hosted, yes you guest it overseas. The other 2 presidential candidates web sites are no better they are not locally hosted. Is this a reflection of who the targets of this web sites are? The Kibaki site is developed by one 3Mice, if I remember right, which has some association with newly appointed ICT Board Managing Director Kokubo. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 KEnya It's not the faith the people have in local hosting, but rather the cost factor. Last time I looked at this web hosting biz, one company was charging KES 1,000+VAT per month, which was what was though to be competitive. Another one entered into the fray with hype about reduced costing charges, but I am not sure how much business they managed to pick. All the same, their charges did not compare with what is charged internationally (I mean in Europe and the US). Websites is not something that has caught up with many Kenyans, otherwise the volumes would help sustain such businesses locally. I believe the lack of volumes is one of the factors that makes entities like 3Mice to host overseas. Top-notch Kenyan techies have been hosting their Blog with blogspot (overseas). Bandwidth costs is another. In Europe and the US, individuals can afford to connect 10MBps in their kitchens while in Kenya, that kind of bandwidth can only be purchased by ISPs. One last question though: Do you know any reliable webhosting company that hosts it's websites locally, and has reliable and efficient access to those websites? If there is one, they are not marketing themselves enough. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" --from a /. post _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: eric(a)afrispa.org Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/eric%40afrispa.org Eric M.K Osiakwan Executive Secretary AfrISPA (www.afrispa.org) Tel: + 233.21.258800 ext 2031 Fax: + 233.21.258811 Cell: + 233.244.386792 Handle: eosiakwan Snail Mail: Pmb 208, Accra-North Office: BusyInternet - 42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North Blog: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/eric/ Slang: "Tomorrow Now" -----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: robertyawe(a)yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.… ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! 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MJ for President
by Alex Gakuru 28 Nov '07

28 Nov '07

wow! has anyone seen today's Editorial cartoon on the Daily Nation? Alas! When did ECK receive his nomination papers? eeehhh! Walu, how did we miss the occasion:) How it would complete the illustration if MJ reacted! All for a laugh. Have a laughly day! Alex ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/

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[BusinessWeek] Would a Gold Standard Save the Dollar?
by Alex Gakuru 28 Nov '07

28 Nov '07

Would a Gold Standard Save the Dollar? With the greenback hitting 40-year lows, some argue for a return to a system where the U.S. dollar is linked to the yellow metal. November 21, 2007 David Bogoslaw These are uncertain times for the U.S. dollar as every day seems to bring fresh all-time lows for the buck against other major currencies. And an uncertain present tends to make people pine for a rose-colored past. The most extreme expression of this longing is the call by some for a return to the gold standard. The longing for the stable currency values seen under the fixed exchange rate system of earlier years is understandable as people fret over the effects of the greenback's fall: everything from a loss of purchasing power at home to higher prices for goods and services on overseas trips. The value of the dollar has been declining since 2002. The U.S. dollar index, a futures contract offered by the New York Board of Trade, which reflects the dollar's standing vs. other major currencies, has been hovering at 40-year lows since the subprime-fueled liquidity crisis this past summer. On Nov. 20, the euro climbed to a new all-time record high of $1.4815, partly in response to the Federal Reserve's more dire forecast for U.S. economic growth. Trade Partners Diversify Currencies Lately, there have been plenty of headlines about the loss of confidence in the dollar by key U.S. trade partners, which could accelerate the dollar's devaluation if any of them decide it's time for a policy change. Take some of the leading oil-producing countries in the Middle East. With the price of oil poised to break through the $100-per-barrel threshold, countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are said to be considering moving away from pricing crude in terms of dollars in favor of a basket of currencies. Kuwait exchanged its strict dollar peg for a currency basket earlier this year and there's concern that if other countries follow suit, it could reduce demand for the buck and spur other central banks to diversify their holdings, The Wall Street Journal reported on Nov. 20. The buck's weakness makes this a perfect time for a return to the gold standard, according to Nathan Lewis, author of Gold: The Once and Future Money. Lewis is advising the UAE to consider adopting a gold peg instead of a basket of currencies if it moves away from a dollar peg for its oil. <http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/nov2007/pi20071121_848642.htm> ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/

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