- KICTANet - KICTANet

Our KQ 507
by alice 07 May '07

07 May '07

Apologies, members this is not an ICT related issue, but there is ICT in it. One of the things that make me so proud to be Kenyan is our Kenya Airways, so it is indeed very sad that another one of our planes, KQ 507 has "disappeared in Cameroon. Condolences to those who had friends/relatives, people they knew on that flight. alice

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ICANN extends nomination deadline
by Rebecca Wanjiku 07 May '07

07 May '07

in order to provide additional time for candidates to submit Statements of Interest, the 2007 ICANN Nominating Committee has extended the deadline for Statements of Interest until 18 May 2007 23:59 UTC. Candidates should submit completed Statements of Interest to nomcom2007(a)icann.org. The 2007 Nominating Committee began its work in December 2006 at the ICANN Annual Meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and is actively seeking qualified candidates for the following key positions within ICANN: 3 seats on the ICANN Board of Directors 2 members to Generic Names Supporting Organization Council (GNSO) 3 members of the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) (from Africa, Latin America and Caribbean and Asia/Australia/Pacific regions) 1 Country Code Names Support Organization Council (ccNSO) member The 2007 Nominating Committee has received 33 Statements of Interest, 29 of the candidates are male, while 4 are female. 14 candidates are from Europe, 6 are from Asia/Australia/Pacific, 5 are from Latin America/Caribbean, 5 are from North America, and 3 are from Africa. 25 candidates have declared a willingness to serve on the ICANN Board, 12 have declared a willingness to serve on the GNSO Council, 7 have declared a willingness to serve on the ccNSO Council, and 7 have declared a willingness to serve on the ALAC. Please note that some candidates have asked to be considered for more than one position. Those individuals selected by the Nominating Committee will have a unique opportunity to work with accomplished colleagues from around the globe, address intriguing technical coordination problems and related policy development challenges with diverse functional, cultural, and geographic dimensions, and gain valuable insights and experience from working across these boundaries of knowledge, responsibility and perspective. Information about the 2007 Nominating Committee is available at http://nomcom.icann.org. Information on the formal call for Statements of Interest is available at http://nomcom.icann.org/formal-call-2007.html. This file last modified 30-Apr-2007 © 2007 Internet Corporation For Assigned Names and Numbers ____________________________________________________________________________________ Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. http://games.yahoo.com/games/front

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Fwd: AccessKenya IPO Research Report
by Bill Kagai 07 May '07

07 May '07

An IPO worth supporting. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: info(a)mediacorp.co.ke <info(a)mediacorp.co.ke> Date: Apr 16, 2007 1:02 PM Subject: AccessKenya IPO Research Report To: info(a)mediacorp.co.ke Cc: info(a)mediacorp.co.ke Dear Sir/Madam, Please find attached the AccessKenya Report attached. Regards, MediaCorp Research Unit

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internet loyalty...
by Rebecca Wanjiku 07 May '07

07 May '07

where is your loyalty on the net???? Monday 30 April 2007, 12:23:00 All Countries Written by Net 4 Now British Internet users are six times more likely to choose a .uk rather than .com address when looking for information via an Internet search engine. In an online survey of 2,324 Internet users, which was carried out by YouGov, 62% believe a .uk address suggests a company is local or more relevant than a .com, and a third (32%) believe that it is important for international companies to have local domain names in order to attract local customers. When asked about searching for a particular company on the Internet, 72% said they would visit a .uk web address above any other and only 5% of respondents would try the .com option first. Nominet CEO, Lesley Cowley commented: “The findings show that British Internet users are loyal to local web sites and have higher levels of trust for .uk domain names. It’s clear that the trust issue is one of increasing importance to the Internet industry, as well as Internet users.” ____________________________________________________________________________________ Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396545367

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Day 6 of 10 - Statistics on Dispersion- CCK Internet Report
by John Walubengo 07 May '07

07 May '07

<<<a prayer for the missing KQ passengers, Mt Elgon & other Land-Clashes victims observed>>> and now I Wish to thank all for the surge of contributions that are continuing to come through. Plse keep them flowing as we move into today's theme -Statistics on Dispersion. snip >>The Report found that even though ISPs were present in all the 8 Provinces, they were hardly present at the districts level * covering only 30% of the districts in Kenya. In addition, of the three key stakeholders, Government, Educational and Commercial, the Commercial sector had the bulk of the existing Internet Connectivity (80%) while the Education Sector had the lowest (less than 2%). Finally, of the estimated 2.8 Million Internet users in the country, 80% are in the capital city Nairobi, 9% in Mombasa and the rest (11%) are spread across the country.<<snip Quite bleak statistics and my recent trip to my rural home (Bungoma) confirmed it. Even the supposedly ubiqitous GPRS access failed to deliver and yet it works wonders in the urban setting. The fixed line access was out of question - despite me having a laptop that could have hooked onto the (suprisingly?) available telephone line. Problem was that the phone was 'Hard-wired' to the headset -old models- that cannot allow flexibility to port onto a laptop. The other wireless option (Wifi, Wimax or Butterfly et al) are yet to hit he region...so the question is what initiatives can be done to improve on the above bleak statistics? 1-day discussion. walu.

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Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability -CCKInternetStudy Report
by Alex Gakuru 07 May '07

07 May '07

Affordability: This will never be realised so long as there exists dominant market private monopolies. Government does not need to subsidize, but only enable local participation at the last mile. The only "problem" right now is the used-to-corporate-customers-only business models looks to still miss to see the rural connectivity business case. Assertion 1 ; INFRASTRUCTURE MONOPOLY Grameen Telecom's original goal was to have a phone in every one of Bangladesh's 65,000 villages by 2000, but only 4,543 village phones were in service as of March, 2001. The primary constraint has been a distorted telecommunications market controlled by a monopolistic government provider, BTTB. Because BTTB has been unwilling to increase its interconnect capacity, despite GP's offer to pay for the upgrading, GP and other mobile companies have been unable to connect additional phones to the national switched network and instead have had to offer primarily mobile-to-mobile phone services (3). This infrastructure barrier has also limited expansion of the rural phone network. Assertion 2: BUSINESS CASE: Grameen Telecom (GT) has the explicit goal of helping Grameen Bank's members shift from relatively low-yield traditional ventures like animal husbandry into the technology sector, by creating micro-enterprises that can both generate individual income and provide whole villages with connectivity. GT uses GrameenPhone's advanced GSM technology in stationary village phones owned and operated by local entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs purchase the phones with money borrowed from Grameen Bank (2), and sell phone service to customers by the call. Rates are generally twice the wholesale rate charged by GP plus taxes and airtime fees. An average of 70 customers a month uses each phone; this shared-access business model concentrates demand and creates relatively high cash flow, even in poor villages, enabling operators to make regular loan payments and still turn a profit. Repayment rates to Grameen Bank are 90-95%. Rural telephones are also very profitable for GrameenPhone, bringing in revenues per phone of $93 a month in March 2001, twice as much as GP's urban mobile phones. However, rural phones represent less than 2% of the phones used on GP's network and bring in only 8 % of the company's total revenue, so that the company's profitability depends primarily on its urban business. [http://www.digitaldividend.org/case/case_grameen.htm] ---- United States ----- Let me just share with you a little story -- the reason that I'm excited about this thing being possible. I took a trip to Minnesota and there was a company called Optical Solutions. They market what is called a passive optical network in which they bring fiber right to the household. They were describing a farmer in Northwestern Minnesota who's at the end of this passive optical network. He has a couple hundred digital channels. They even sent in another fiber for a couple of analog channels. He has 10 to 100 megabytes per second symmetric up in northern Minnesota. He's doing this for $80 to $120 per month. So I'm saying here in the northern Virginia high tech corridor where I live I'm 100 feet from a central office of the RBOC and I can only get 56K dial up modem. I think something is wrong with this picture. [http://www.technology.gov/reports/TechPolicy/BB_Wkshop020325.pdf pp33-34] --------- Transparency (read Freedom of Information) It is impossible/very difficult to get annual inter-government departments expenditure on communications. While we are at it could the government be transparent with the fibre optic financing. Consumers hope of affordable communication is pegged on this cable to ally fear our fears to hear later some questionable financing arrangements we entered into behind our backs. Conclusion Efficient e-government services demand affordable fibre infrastructure that will not end up a very costly taxpayers burnen >> more poverty. Government offices can afford broadband through fibre free inter-gov offices MPs to/from their rural constituencies. ICAK is well into actualising community fibres initiatives throughout Kenya with other like minded partners. We shall use alternative infrastructure rollout, we are lobbying for rural electrification to include an overhead fibre cable by KPLC. Development finance and govt support can/will leverage this low cost to cover the cost of the necessary last mile infrastructure. --------- * jamesrege(a)africaonline.co.ke" <jamesrege(a)africaonline.co.ke>* wrote: Walu, Your concern on affordability of internet access by rural communities is justified. I don't think fibre optics (being a point-to-point) network can benefit a majority of rural communities economically unless there is a seriously subsidized provision of the last-mile network. Thousands of schools and Government offices which are situated far away from the fibre optics paths will never sniff the benefits of broadband communications supplied through fibre optics pipe. Fibre optics, microwave and satellite media always complement each other, especially for restoration purposes. Kenya is lucky to have them all. Can Walu's concern be addressed in all the cases? On 5/3/07 9:01 AM, "John Walubengo" wrote: > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust relationships b/w > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well as on today's > theme on affordability (multi-tasking > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting Bungoma in > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely development, but > at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the (internet) services be > affordable to the rural/average communities? > > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap by the > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on the > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for affordability, the > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other words, if the > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average monthly > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the average > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes way > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > > The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too > expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing just 8% > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in order to > make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > > 1 day deliberation on this one. > > walu. > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jamesrege%40africaonline.co.k e > -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com

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Kenya Wins Technology in Government in Africa Award
by John Kariuki 07 May '07

07 May '07

*Kenya has won a Technology in Government in Africa(TIGA) Award in the category * *"Improved educational services through the use of ICTs" *This award recognizes outstanding achievements by organisations or teams in developing and implementing innovative projects to improve online as well as Government eServices using other forms of education service delivery; Specific examples include using ICTs for innovation in learning and teaching for citizens and communities as well as the provision of e-administration in the delivery of education services. The project which won the award is the Automation of Secondary School Placement and Online Exam Result Delivery, Kenya http://www.education.go.ke; http://www.kenya.go.ke . The project ia a Government of Kenya initiative to improve access to educational information and services through use of ICTs. For more information on TIGA Awards visit http://www.uneca.org/aisi/

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List Subscription
by Alex Gakuru 06 May '07

06 May '07

Hi all, I have just re-subscribed with a second gmail email address (alexgakuru.lists(a)gmail.com) because I am told my subscription problem has to do with the Yahoo email, which I hope the list moderators retail as well. Now, I look forward to a smoother participation flow also happier Gmail will organise discussions by threads thus matter when a lister comments, that message will pop right at the top of my inbox. My yahoo address remains active therefore no messages will be lost through this address (alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com) Sincerely, Alex --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

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Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- CCKInternetStudyReport
by Judy Okite 06 May '07

06 May '07

Thnx Harry, to add on to Ur concern, as long as the ISP/IGO licenses are nt reviewed On 5/5/07, Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> wrote: > Dear Colleagues, > > I was hoping to remain a spectator in this debate but looks that is becoming > difficult to achieve. I think we need to look at ICT infrastructure and > especially connectivity differently. We need to elevate the status and > importance of ICT infrastructure to the same level as roads and power. > Meaning any new infrastructural development in the country, should have > connectivity considerations factored in. > > For instance when doing the feasibility study for the new roads soon to be > commissioned and to be supported by the Chinese Government, there should be > considerations of whether there is need to lay fiber alongside other > amenities such as power, lighting, walks ways and sewage. > > Regards > Harry > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org@kictanet.or.ke] On > Behalf Of Lucy Kimani > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 11:24 AM > To: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- > CCKInternetStudyReport > > Kai: > > I see your point, again I will use my previous domicile as a case in > point, the Federal Government is the biggest employer/buyer of supplies > and services in the Washington DC metro area (Virginia, Maryland, and of > course Washington DC) hence e-governance/e-learning is a must and I think > the Kenyan government recognizes this from the various initiatives > currently on going, I just think its just a matter of time. > > The only point where you and i part ways is your stand that the Government > should not be involved in infrastructure building because the Government > has an obligation to ensure that all Kenyans have access to the internet > while the private sector has to have a business case to justify coverage > of any particular area, so I say both efforts Government and Private > sector must compliment each other. > > With all the initiates on the drawing boards of both the government and > the private sector, I say let all move from the drawing boards into > implementation, Kai the computers at Kambaa Girls are gathering dust, and > Bw. Ndemo, I signed up for both the digital village and digital school > during the KICC expo and I have not heard a word on the way forward from > your end. > > LK > > > > My point is: > > > > Yu have limited room for infrastructure since the cost is constant and > > only > > increased usage can drop the price. The Government should NOT be a > > competitor but a price sensitive user! > > > > You will have enough people now competing for the business of the > > Government > > and the private users .. That forces prices down. Having a state owned > > cable > > or a state owned Telkom is in my opinion not the way forward. > > > > Rgds > > > > Kai > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of > > Wainaina Mungai > > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 10:35 > > To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability- > > CCKInternetStudyReport > > > > Kai said; > >> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank money > >> starts to compete before you can recover the cost.. > >> ...The private sector needs the Government as a user there as well as > >> the > >> private companies and consumers. [Only then will the prices drop!] > > > > Pricing > > I would like to assume that competition from government is as good as > > competition from other market players. The beauty of competition is in the > > way it forces the private sector to put a smile on the face of every > > consumer ;-) so as to guarantee revenue. I am convinced that a significant > > drop in prices results only from fierce competition and some degree of > > regulation. TESPOK and others fought for years to introduce competition > > which resulted in the current lower prices of internet and telephony > > services. > > > > > > The recent intervention of CCK on the pricing of mobile services is a case > > that proves that price controls may become necessary to protect consumers. > > For internet services, we need many 'small scale' providers whose products > > and pricing would be more market-driven and responsive to fluctuations in > > consumer needs. > > > > For instance, an internet user paying KShs. 6,000 per month for DSL per > > month is actually incurring 14 cents per minute for a 30-day month. This > > is > > a great deal for any 24 hour user who may even make money through such > > access to the internet. The same user would be said to incur 28 cents per > > minute if s/he were to use the link for an average 12 hours per day at the > > same monthly rate. There may be a catch here but there is a high > > probability > > that more businesses can survive on such low rates and pass such rates > > down > > to rural consumer. > > > > > > > > --- > > Wainaina Mungai > > http://www.madeinkenya.org > > > > SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present > > without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own > > needs. > > > > > >> > >> FROM: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] ON BEHALF > >> OF > >> Rebecca Wanjiku > >> SENT: Friday, May 04, 2007 10:23 > >> TO: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > >> SUBJECT: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > >> CCKInternetStudyReport > >> > >> > >> thanks Kai for the response, > >> we need many people responding to this issue, > >> > >> in my opinion, the government should find a way of using the WB money > >> through the private sector, so that the private sector does not see as > >> if > >> the government is competing and killing the profit margin, > >> > >> in this regard, the government could come up with some MOU with the > >> private sector so that some of the money invested is government's and > > some > >> PS. > >> that way, part of the profits will be ploughed back (it will be > >> mandatory) > >> > >> i remember during the OFC workshop, Kai shared how IFC funded a private > >> secotor consortium to carry out some survey at USD 300k and a similar > >> survey carried out by govts was valued at USD 3m > >> > >> maybe this can help reduce costs and provide a way for govt and PS to > >> work together and deliver quality market services, develop the content > > and > >> all.. > >> > >> its just an opinion, its not absolute, > >> > >> lets hear as many voices as possible, > >> it is at these forums/discussions that great ideas come up, > >> > >> regards > >> > >> _KAI WULFF <KAI.WULFF(a)KDN.CO.KE>_ wrote: > >> > >> Hello, > >> > >> we leave it to the ISPs to create the demand. We were hoping that with > >> our > >> rural initiatives, like connecting schools and showing them how to > >> educate > >> the parents (and make money with this) will increase the demand on a > >> natural > >> way. > >> > >> What we have seen wit some Rural BTS, it takes about 12 month until it > >> is > >> > >> break even ... > >> > >> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank > >> money > >> starts to compete before you can recover the cost. It is my strong > >> believe > >> that wherever a device can be operated, there WILL be a market. The > >> private > >> sector needs the Government as a user there as well as the private > >> companies > >> and consumers. Only then will the prices drop! We still focus too much > >> on > >> > >> the INTERNET, what most people need for a start is LOCAL information > >> and > >> communication .. so I would say: 90% local IP traffic and 10% > >> international > >> .. > >> > >> Kai > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Joan Walumbe" > >> To: > >> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 > >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > >> CCKInternetStudy Report > >> > >> > >> > Walu, > >> > > >> > I agree with you that affordablity is a factor especially for rural > >> > communities when it comes to access to the internet. But I think that > >> lack > >> > of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for the urban folk > >> (who > >> > already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) taking a short > >> break > >> > in > >> > shags to have the internet access when back home, but it there is no > >> > demand > >> > for the internet among the residents what is the point? > >> > > >> > So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create demand or is their > >> a > >> > market that demands the service or is it a little of both? > >> > > >> > I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the rural areas if > >> it > >> > >> > did > >> > not make any financial sense. Can anyone provide some info/statistics > >> on > >> > demand for internet access in rural areas? > >> > > >> > Joan Walumbe > >> > > >> > ----- Original Message ----- > >> > From: "John Walubengo" > >> > To: > >> > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM > >> > Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCK > >> > InternetStudy > >> > Report > >> > > >> > > >> > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > >> > > >> > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust > >> relationships > >> > >> > b/w > >> > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well as on > >> > today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking > >> > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > >> > > >> > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting > >> Bungoma > >> in > >> > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely > >> development, > >> > but at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the (internet) > >> > services be affordable to the rural/average communities? > >> > > >> > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap > >> by > >> > the > >> > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on > >> the > >> > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for affordability, > >> the > >> > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other words, if > >> the > >> > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average > >> > monthly > >> > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the > >> average > >> > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes > >> way > >> > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > >> > > >> > The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet > >> > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too > >> > expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing > >> just > >> > 8% > >> > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in > >> > order > >> > to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > >> > > >> > 1 day deliberation on this one. > >> > > >> > walu. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > kictanet mailing list > >> > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > > >> > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke > >> > > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com > >> > >> > >> Rebecca Wanjiku, > >> journalist, > >> p.o box 33515, > >> Nairobi.00600 > >> Kenya. > >> > >> Tel. 254 720 318 925 > >> > >> blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ > >> > >> > >> -------------------- > >> > >> > >> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? > >> Check out [LINK: > >> > > > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48245/*http:/autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html;_ylc=X > > 3oDMTE1YW1jcXJ2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3LWNhcnM-] > >> new cars at Yahoo! Autos. > >> -------------------- > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> [LINK: compose.php?to=kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke] kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> [LINK: http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet] > >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at [LINK: > >> > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org] > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lkimani%40comnews.co.ke > > > > ----------------------------------------- > This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. > " " > http://www.accesskenya.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40africanedevelopment.o > rg > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/judyokite%40gmail.com > -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there."

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Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- CCKInternetStudyReport
by judy okite 05 May '07

05 May '07

Sir, why is my point dissected,till it doesnt make sense? Kind Regards, Okite --- kictanet-bounces+judyokite=yahoo.com(a)kictanet.or.ke <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Then there mayb need to re-define 'cheap' ,because someone has to pay > the cost....Consumer? Kind Regards, > > On 5/5/07, Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > No cost reduction/tax waiver on modems,poles,switches etc the basics > > of internet connection > > > > On 5/5/07, Judy Okite <judyokite(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > Thnx Harry, to add on to Ur concern, as long as the ISP/IGO licenses > > > are nt reviewed > > > > > > On 5/5/07, Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> wrote: > > > > Dear Colleagues, > > > > > > > > I was hoping to remain a spectator in this debate but looks that is > > > becoming > > > > difficult to achieve. I think we need to look at ICT infrastructure and > > > > especially connectivity differently. We need to elevate the status and > > > > importance of ICT infrastructure to the same level as roads and power. > > > > Meaning any new infrastructural development in the country, should have > > > > connectivity considerations factored in. > > > > > > > > For instance when doing the feasibility study for the new roads soon to > > be > > > > commissioned and to be supported by the Chinese Government, there should > > > be > > > > considerations of whether there is need to lay fiber alongside other > > > > amenities such as power, lighting, walks ways and sewage. > > > > > > > > Regards > > > > Harry > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > From: kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)kictanet.or.ke > > > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org@kictanet.or.ke] > > On > > > > Behalf Of Lucy Kimani > > > > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 11:24 AM > > > > To: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org > > > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- > > > > CCKInternetStudyReport > > > > > > > > Kai: > > > > > > > > I see your point, again I will use my previous domicile as a case in > > > > point, the Federal Government is the biggest employer/buyer of supplies > > > > and services in the Washington DC metro area (Virginia, Maryland, and of > > > > course Washington DC) hence e-governance/e-learning is a must and I > > think > > > > the Kenyan government recognizes this from the various initiatives > > > > currently on going, I just think its just a matter of time. > > > > > > > > The only point where you and i part ways is your stand that the > > Government > > > > should not be involved in infrastructure building because the Government > > > > has an obligation to ensure that all Kenyans have access to the internet > > > > while the private sector has to have a business case to justify coverage > > > > of any particular area, so I say both efforts Government and Private > > > > sector must compliment each other. > > > > > > > > With all the initiates on the drawing boards of both the government and > > > > the private sector, I say let all move from the drawing boards into > > > > implementation, Kai the computers at Kambaa Girls are gathering dust, > > and > > > > Bw. Ndemo, I signed up for both the digital village and digital school > > > > during the KICC expo and I have not heard a word on the way forward from > > > > your end. > > > > > > > > LK > > > > > > > > > > > > > My point is: > > > > > > > > > > Yu have limited room for infrastructure since the cost is constant and > > > > > only > > > > > increased usage can drop the price. The Government should NOT be a > > > > > competitor but a price sensitive user! > > > > > > > > > > You will have enough people now competing for the business of the > > > > > Government === Message Truncated === ____________________________________________________________________________________ Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather

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Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability -CCKInternetStudy Report
by jamesrege＠africaonline.co.ke 05 May '07

05 May '07

Walu, Your concern on affordability of internet access by rural communities is justified. I don't think fibre optics (being a point-to-point) network can benefit a majority of rural communities economically unless there is a seriously subsidized provision of the last-mile network. Thousands of schools and Government offices which are situated far away from the fibre optics paths will never sniff the benefits of broadband communications supplied through fibre optics pipe. Fibre optics, microwave and satellite media always complement each other, especially for restoration purposes. Kenya is lucky to have them all. Can Walu's concern be addressed in all the cases? On 5/3/07 9:01 AM, "John Walubengo" <jwalubengo(a)kcct.ac.ke> wrote: > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust relationships b/w > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well as on today's > theme on affordability (multi-tasking > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting Bungoma in > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely development, but > at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the (internet) services be > affordable to the rural/average communities? > > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap by the > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on the > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for affordability, the > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other words, if the > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average monthly > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the average > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes way > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > > The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too > expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing just 8% > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in order to > make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > > 1 day deliberation on this one. > > walu. > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jamesrege%40africaonline.co.k e > -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web

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Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- CCKInternetStudyReport
by Judy Okite 05 May '07

05 May '07

Thnx Harry, to add on to Ur concern, as long as the ISP/IGO licenses are nt reviewed, no tax waiver On 5/5/07, Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> wrote: > Dear Colleagues, > > I was hoping to remain a spectator in this debate but looks that is becoming > difficult to achieve. I think we need to look at ICT infrastructure and > especially connectivity differently. We need to elevate the status and > importance of ICT infrastructure to the same level as roads and power. > Meaning any new infrastructural development in the country, should have > connectivity considerations factored in. > > For instance when doing the feasibility study for the new roads soon to be > commissioned and to be supported by the Chinese Government, there should be > considerations of whether there is need to lay fiber alongside other > amenities such as power, lighting, walks ways and sewage. > > Regards > Harry > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org@kictanet.or.ke] On > Behalf Of Lucy Kimani > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 11:24 AM > To: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- > CCKInternetStudyReport > > Kai: > > I see your point, again I will use my previous domicile as a case in > point, the Federal Government is the biggest employer/buyer of supplies > and services in the Washington DC metro area (Virginia, Maryland, and of > course Washington DC) hence e-governance/e-learning is a must and I think > the Kenyan government recognizes this from the various initiatives > currently on going, I just think its just a matter of time. > > The only point where you and i part ways is your stand that the Government > should not be involved in infrastructure building because the Government > has an obligation to ensure that all Kenyans have access to the internet > while the private sector has to have a business case to justify coverage > of any particular area, so I say both efforts Government and Private > sector must compliment each other. > > With all the initiates on the drawing boards of both the government and > the private sector, I say let all move from the drawing boards into > implementation, Kai the computers at Kambaa Girls are gathering dust, and > Bw. Ndemo, I signed up for both the digital village and digital school > during the KICC expo and I have not heard a word on the way forward from > your end. > > LK > > > > My point is: > > > > Yu have limited room for infrastructure since the cost is constant and > > only > > increased usage can drop the price. The Government should NOT be a > > competitor but a price sensitive user! > > > > You will have enough people now competing for the business of the > > Government > > and the private users .. That forces prices down. Having a state owned > > cable > > or a state owned Telkom is in my opinion not the way forward. > > > > Rgds > > > > Kai > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of > > Wainaina Mungai > > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 10:35 > > To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability- > > CCKInternetStudyReport > > > > Kai said; > >> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank money > >> starts to compete before you can recover the cost.. > >> ...The private sector needs the Government as a user there as well as > >> the > >> private companies and consumers. [Only then will the prices drop!] > > > > Pricing > > I would like to assume that competition from government is as good as > > competition from other market players. The beauty of competition is in the > > way it forces the private sector to put a smile on the face of every > > consumer ;-) so as to guarantee revenue. I am convinced that a significant > > drop in prices results only from fierce competition and some degree of > > regulation. TESPOK and others fought for years to introduce competition > > which resulted in the current lower prices of internet and telephony > > services. > > > > > > The recent intervention of CCK on the pricing of mobile services is a case > > that proves that price controls may become necessary to protect consumers. > > For internet services, we need many 'small scale' providers whose products > > and pricing would be more market-driven and responsive to fluctuations in > > consumer needs. > > > > For instance, an internet user paying KShs. 6,000 per month for DSL per > > month is actually incurring 14 cents per minute for a 30-day month. This > > is > > a great deal for any 24 hour user who may even make money through such > > access to the internet. The same user would be said to incur 28 cents per > > minute if s/he were to use the link for an average 12 hours per day at the > > same monthly rate. There may be a catch here but there is a high > > probability > > that more businesses can survive on such low rates and pass such rates > > down > > to rural consumer. > > > > > > > > --- > > Wainaina Mungai > > http://www.madeinkenya.org > > > > SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present > > without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own > > needs. > > > > > >> > >> FROM: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] ON BEHALF > >> OF > >> Rebecca Wanjiku > >> SENT: Friday, May 04, 2007 10:23 > >> TO: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > >> SUBJECT: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > >> CCKInternetStudyReport > >> > >> > >> thanks Kai for the response, > >> we need many people responding to this issue, > >> > >> in my opinion, the government should find a way of using the WB money > >> through the private sector, so that the private sector does not see as > >> if > >> the government is competing and killing the profit margin, > >> > >> in this regard, the government could come up with some MOU with the > >> private sector so that some of the money invested is government's and > > some > >> PS. > >> that way, part of the profits will be ploughed back (it will be > >> mandatory) > >> > >> i remember during the OFC workshop, Kai shared how IFC funded a private > >> secotor consortium to carry out some survey at USD 300k and a similar > >> survey carried out by govts was valued at USD 3m > >> > >> maybe this can help reduce costs and provide a way for govt and PS to > >> work together and deliver quality market services, develop the content > > and > >> all.. > >> > >> its just an opinion, its not absolute, > >> > >> lets hear as many voices as possible, > >> it is at these forums/discussions that great ideas come up, > >> > >> regards > >> > >> _KAI WULFF <KAI.WULFF(a)KDN.CO.KE>_ wrote: > >> > >> Hello, > >> > >> we leave it to the ISPs to create the demand. We were hoping that with > >> our > >> rural initiatives, like connecting schools and showing them how to > >> educate > >> the parents (and make money with this) will increase the demand on a > >> natural > >> way. > >> > >> What we have seen wit some Rural BTS, it takes about 12 month until it > >> is > >> > >> break even ... > >> > >> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank > >> money > >> starts to compete before you can recover the cost. It is my strong > >> believe > >> that wherever a device can be operated, there WILL be a market. The > >> private > >> sector needs the Government as a user there as well as the private > >> companies > >> and consumers. Only then will the prices drop! We still focus too much > >> on > >> > >> the INTERNET, what most people need for a start is LOCAL information > >> and > >> communication .. so I would say: 90% local IP traffic and 10% > >> international > >> .. > >> > >> Kai > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Joan Walumbe" > >> To: > >> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 > >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > >> CCKInternetStudy Report > >> > >> > >> > Walu, > >> > > >> > I agree with you that affordablity is a factor especially for rural > >> > communities when it comes to access to the internet. But I think that > >> lack > >> > of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for the urban folk > >> (who > >> > already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) taking a short > >> break > >> > in > >> > shags to have the internet access when back home, but it there is no > >> > demand > >> > for the internet among the residents what is the point? > >> > > >> > So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create demand or is their > >> a > >> > market that demands the service or is it a little of both? > >> > > >> > I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the rural areas if > >> it > >> > >> > did > >> > not make any financial sense. Can anyone provide some info/statistics > >> on > >> > demand for internet access in rural areas? > >> > > >> > Joan Walumbe > >> > > >> > ----- Original Message ----- > >> > From: "John Walubengo" > >> > To: > >> > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM > >> > Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCK > >> > InternetStudy > >> > Report > >> > > >> > > >> > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > >> > > >> > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust > >> relationships > >> > >> > b/w > >> > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well as on > >> > today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking > >> > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > >> > > >> > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting > >> Bungoma > >> in > >> > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely > >> development, > >> > but at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the (internet) > >> > services be affordable to the rural/average communities? > >> > > >> > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap > >> by > >> > the > >> > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on > >> the > >> > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for affordability, > >> the > >> > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other words, if > >> the > >> > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average > >> > monthly > >> > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the > >> average > >> > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes > >> way > >> > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > >> > > >> > The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet > >> > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too > >> > expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing > >> just > >> > 8% > >> > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in > >> > order > >> > to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > >> > > >> > 1 day deliberation on this one. > >> > > >> > walu. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > kictanet mailing list > >> > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > > >> > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke > >> > > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com > >> > >> > >> Rebecca Wanjiku, > >> journalist, > >> p.o box 33515, > >> Nairobi.00600 > >> Kenya. > >> > >> Tel. 254 720 318 925 > >> > >> blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ > >> > >> > >> -------------------- > >> > >> > >> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? > >> Check out [LINK: > >> > > > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48245/*http:/autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html;_ylc=X > > 3oDMTE1YW1jcXJ2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3LWNhcnM-] > >> new cars at Yahoo! Autos. > >> -------------------- > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> [LINK: compose.php?to=kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke] kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> [LINK: http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet] > >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at [LINK: > >> > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org] > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lkimani%40comnews.co.ke > > > > ----------------------------------------- > This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. > " " > http://www.accesskenya.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40africanedevelopment.o > rg > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/judyokite%40gmail.com > -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there."

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Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- CCKInternetStudyReport
by Judy Okite 05 May '07

05 May '07

Thnx Harry, to add on to Ur concern, as long as the ISP/IGO licenses are nt reviewed, no tax waiver On 5/5/07, Harry Hare <harry(a)africanedevelopment.org> wrote: > Dear Colleagues, > > I was hoping to remain a spectator in this debate but looks that is becoming > difficult to achieve. I think we need to look at ICT infrastructure and > especially connectivity differently. We need to elevate the status and > importance of ICT infrastructure to the same level as roads and power. > Meaning any new infrastructural development in the country, should have > connectivity considerations factored in. > > For instance when doing the feasibility study for the new roads soon to be > commissioned and to be supported by the Chinese Government, there should be > considerations of whether there is need to lay fiber alongside other > amenities such as power, lighting, walks ways and sewage. > > Regards > Harry > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org@kictanet.or.ke] On > Behalf Of Lucy Kimani > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 11:24 AM > To: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- > CCKInternetStudyReport > > Kai: > > I see your point, again I will use my previous domicile as a case in > point, the Federal Government is the biggest employer/buyer of supplies > and services in the Washington DC metro area (Virginia, Maryland, and of > course Washington DC) hence e-governance/e-learning is a must and I think > the Kenyan government recognizes this from the various initiatives > currently on going, I just think its just a matter of time. > > The only point where you and i part ways is your stand that the Government > should not be involved in infrastructure building because the Government > has an obligation to ensure that all Kenyans have access to the internet > while the private sector has to have a business case to justify coverage > of any particular area, so I say both efforts Government and Private > sector must compliment each other. > > With all the initiates on the drawing boards of both the government and > the private sector, I say let all move from the drawing boards into > implementation, Kai the computers at Kambaa Girls are gathering dust, and > Bw. Ndemo, I signed up for both the digital village and digital school > during the KICC expo and I have not heard a word on the way forward from > your end. > > LK > > > > My point is: > > > > Yu have limited room for infrastructure since the cost is constant and > > only > > increased usage can drop the price. The Government should NOT be a > > competitor but a price sensitive user! > > > > You will have enough people now competing for the business of the > > Government > > and the private users .. That forces prices down. Having a state owned > > cable > > or a state owned Telkom is in my opinion not the way forward. > > > > Rgds > > > > Kai > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke > > [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of > > Wainaina Mungai > > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 10:35 > > To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability- > > CCKInternetStudyReport > > > > Kai said; > >> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank money > >> starts to compete before you can recover the cost.. > >> ...The private sector needs the Government as a user there as well as > >> the > >> private companies and consumers. [Only then will the prices drop!] > > > > Pricing > > I would like to assume that competition from government is as good as > > competition from other market players. The beauty of competition is in the > > way it forces the private sector to put a smile on the face of every > > consumer ;-) so as to guarantee revenue. I am convinced that a significant > > drop in prices results only from fierce competition and some degree of > > regulation. TESPOK and others fought for years to introduce competition > > which resulted in the current lower prices of internet and telephony > > services. > > > > > > The recent intervention of CCK on the pricing of mobile services is a case > > that proves that price controls may become necessary to protect consumers. > > For internet services, we need many 'small scale' providers whose products > > and pricing would be more market-driven and responsive to fluctuations in > > consumer needs. > > > > For instance, an internet user paying KShs. 6,000 per month for DSL per > > month is actually incurring 14 cents per minute for a 30-day month. This > > is > > a great deal for any 24 hour user who may even make money through such > > access to the internet. The same user would be said to incur 28 cents per > > minute if s/he were to use the link for an average 12 hours per day at the > > same monthly rate. There may be a catch here but there is a high > > probability > > that more businesses can survive on such low rates and pass such rates > > down > > to rural consumer. > > > > > > > > --- > > Wainaina Mungai > > http://www.madeinkenya.org > > > > SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present > > without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own > > needs. > > > > > >> > >> FROM: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] ON BEHALF > >> OF > >> Rebecca Wanjiku > >> SENT: Friday, May 04, 2007 10:23 > >> TO: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke > >> SUBJECT: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > >> CCKInternetStudyReport > >> > >> > >> thanks Kai for the response, > >> we need many people responding to this issue, > >> > >> in my opinion, the government should find a way of using the WB money > >> through the private sector, so that the private sector does not see as > >> if > >> the government is competing and killing the profit margin, > >> > >> in this regard, the government could come up with some MOU with the > >> private sector so that some of the money invested is government's and > > some > >> PS. > >> that way, part of the profits will be ploughed back (it will be > >> mandatory) > >> > >> i remember during the OFC workshop, Kai shared how IFC funded a private > >> secotor consortium to carry out some survey at USD 300k and a similar > >> survey carried out by govts was valued at USD 3m > >> > >> maybe this can help reduce costs and provide a way for govt and PS to > >> work together and deliver quality market services, develop the content > > and > >> all.. > >> > >> its just an opinion, its not absolute, > >> > >> lets hear as many voices as possible, > >> it is at these forums/discussions that great ideas come up, > >> > >> regards > >> > >> _KAI WULFF <KAI.WULFF(a)KDN.CO.KE>_ wrote: > >> > >> Hello, > >> > >> we leave it to the ISPs to create the demand. We were hoping that with > >> our > >> rural initiatives, like connecting schools and showing them how to > >> educate > >> the parents (and make money with this) will increase the demand on a > >> natural > >> way. > >> > >> What we have seen wit some Rural BTS, it takes about 12 month until it > >> is > >> > >> break even ... > >> > >> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank > >> money > >> starts to compete before you can recover the cost. It is my strong > >> believe > >> that wherever a device can be operated, there WILL be a market. The > >> private > >> sector needs the Government as a user there as well as the private > >> companies > >> and consumers. Only then will the prices drop! We still focus too much > >> on > >> > >> the INTERNET, what most people need for a start is LOCAL information > >> and > >> communication .. so I would say: 90% local IP traffic and 10% > >> international > >> .. > >> > >> Kai > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Joan Walumbe" > >> To: > >> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 > >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > >> CCKInternetStudy Report > >> > >> > >> > Walu, > >> > > >> > I agree with you that affordablity is a factor especially for rural > >> > communities when it comes to access to the internet. But I think that > >> lack > >> > of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for the urban folk > >> (who > >> > already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) taking a short > >> break > >> > in > >> > shags to have the internet access when back home, but it there is no > >> > demand > >> > for the internet among the residents what is the point? > >> > > >> > So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create demand or is their > >> a > >> > market that demands the service or is it a little of both? > >> > > >> > I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the rural areas if > >> it > >> > >> > did > >> > not make any financial sense. Can anyone provide some info/statistics > >> on > >> > demand for internet access in rural areas? > >> > > >> > Joan Walumbe > >> > > >> > ----- Original Message ----- > >> > From: "John Walubengo" > >> > To: > >> > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM > >> > Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCK > >> > InternetStudy > >> > Report > >> > > >> > > >> > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > >> > > >> > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust > >> relationships > >> > >> > b/w > >> > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well as on > >> > today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking > >> > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > >> > > >> > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting > >> Bungoma > >> in > >> > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely > >> development, > >> > but at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the (internet) > >> > services be affordable to the rural/average communities? > >> > > >> > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap > >> by > >> > the > >> > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on > >> the > >> > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for affordability, > >> the > >> > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other words, if > >> the > >> > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average > >> > monthly > >> > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the > >> average > >> > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes > >> way > >> > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > >> > > >> > The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet > >> > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too > >> > expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing > >> just > >> > 8% > >> > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in > >> > order > >> > to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > >> > > >> > 1 day deliberation on this one. > >> > > >> > walu. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > kictanet mailing list > >> > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > > >> > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke > >> > > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com > >> > >> > >> Rebecca Wanjiku, > >> journalist, > >> p.o box 33515, > >> Nairobi.00600 > >> Kenya. > >> > >> Tel. 254 720 318 925 > >> > >> blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ > >> > >> > >> -------------------- > >> > >> > >> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? > >> Check out [LINK: > >> > > > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48245/*http:/autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html;_ylc=X > > 3oDMTE1YW1jcXJ2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3LWNhcnM-] > >> new cars at Yahoo! Autos. > >> -------------------- > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> [LINK: compose.php?to=kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke] kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > >> [LINK: http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet] > >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at [LINK: > >> > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org] > >> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lkimani%40comnews.co.ke > > > > ----------------------------------------- > This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. > " " > http://www.accesskenya.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40africanedevelopment.o > rg > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/judyokite%40gmail.com > -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there."

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Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- CCKInternetStudyReport
by Eric Osiakwan 05 May '07

05 May '07

Harry, thanks for adding your voice to this important rendition, this is one of our key recommendation in the Open Access study to the WorldBank but our leaders must ensure it happens because it is in our interest to make it happen. By the way, this is exactly how fiber grew in Sweden back in the Seventies and Eighties. Eric here On 5 May 2007, at 15:01, Harry Hare wrote: > Dear Colleagues, > > I was hoping to remain a spectator in this debate but looks that is > becoming > difficult to achieve. I think we need to look at ICT infrastructure > and > especially connectivity differently. We need to elevate the status and > importance of ICT infrastructure to the same level as roads and power. > Meaning any new infrastructural development in the country, should > have > connectivity considerations factored in. > > For instance when doing the feasibility study for the new roads > soon to be > commissioned and to be supported by the Chinese Government, there > should be > considerations of whether there is need to lay fiber alongside other > amenities such as power, lighting, walks ways and sewage. > > Regards > Harry > > -----Original Message----- > From: kictanet-bounces+harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)kictanet.or.ke > [mailto:kictanet-bounces > +harry=africanedevelopment.org(a)kictanet.or.ke] On > Behalf Of Lucy Kimani > Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 11:24 AM > To: harry(a)africanedevelopment.org > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics onAffordability- > CCKInternetStudyReport > > Kai: > > I see your point, again I will use my previous domicile as a case in > point, the Federal Government is the biggest employer/buyer of > supplies > and services in the Washington DC metro area (Virginia, Maryland, > and of > course Washington DC) hence e-governance/e-learning is a must and I > think > the Kenyan government recognizes this from the various initiatives > currently on going, I just think its just a matter of time. > > The only point where you and i part ways is your stand that the > Government > should not be involved in infrastructure building because the > Government > has an obligation to ensure that all Kenyans have access to the > internet > while the private sector has to have a business case to justify > coverage > of any particular area, so I say both efforts Government and Private > sector must compliment each other. > > With all the initiates on the drawing boards of both the government > and > the private sector, I say let all move from the drawing boards into > implementation, Kai the computers at Kambaa Girls are gathering > dust, and > Bw. Ndemo, I signed up for both the digital village and digital school > during the KICC expo and I have not heard a word on the way forward > from > your end. > > LK > > >> My point is: >> >> Yu have limited room for infrastructure since the cost is constant >> and >> only >> increased usage can drop the price. The Government should NOT be a >> competitor but a price sensitive user! >> >> You will have enough people now competing for the business of the >> Government >> and the private users .. That forces prices down. Having a state >> owned >> cable >> or a state owned Telkom is in my opinion not the way forward. >> >> Rgds >> >> Kai >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke >> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] On >> Behalf Of >> Wainaina Mungai >> Sent: Saturday, May 05, 2007 10:35 >> To: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke >> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability- >> CCKInternetStudyReport >> >> Kai said; >>> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World >>> Bank money >>> starts to compete before you can recover the cost.. >>> ...The private sector needs the Government as a user there as >>> well as >>> the >>> private companies and consumers. [Only then will the prices drop!] >> >> Pricing >> I would like to assume that competition from government is as good as >> competition from other market players. The beauty of competition >> is in the >> way it forces the private sector to put a smile on the face of every >> consumer ;-) so as to guarantee revenue. I am convinced that a >> significant >> drop in prices results only from fierce competition and some >> degree of >> regulation. TESPOK and others fought for years to introduce >> competition >> which resulted in the current lower prices of internet and telephony >> services. >> >> >> The recent intervention of CCK on the pricing of mobile services >> is a case >> that proves that price controls may become necessary to protect >> consumers. >> For internet services, we need many 'small scale' providers whose >> products >> and pricing would be more market-driven and responsive to >> fluctuations in >> consumer needs. >> >> For instance, an internet user paying KShs. 6,000 per month for >> DSL per >> month is actually incurring 14 cents per minute for a 30-day >> month. This >> is >> a great deal for any 24 hour user who may even make money through >> such >> access to the internet. The same user would be said to incur 28 >> cents per >> minute if s/he were to use the link for an average 12 hours per >> day at the >> same monthly rate. There may be a catch here but there is a high >> probability >> that more businesses can survive on such low rates and pass such >> rates >> down >> to rural consumer. >> >> >> >> --- >> Wainaina Mungai >> http://www.madeinkenya.org >> >> SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the >> present >> without compromising the ability of future generations to meet >> their own >> needs. >> >> >>> >>> FROM: kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke(a)kictanet.or.ke >>> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+kai.wulff=kdn.co.ke@kictanet.or.ke] ON >>> BEHALF >>> OF >>> Rebecca Wanjiku >>> SENT: Friday, May 04, 2007 10:23 >>> TO: kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke >>> SUBJECT: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - >>> CCKInternetStudyReport >>> >>> >>> thanks Kai for the response, >>> we need many people responding to this issue, >>> >>> in my opinion, the government should find a way of using the WB >>> money >>> through the private sector, so that the private sector does not >>> see as >>> if >>> the government is competing and killing the profit margin, >>> >>> in this regard, the government could come up with some MOU with the >>> private sector so that some of the money invested is >>> government's and >> some >>> PS. >>> that way, part of the profits will be ploughed back (it will be >>> mandatory) >>> >>> i remember during the OFC workshop, Kai shared how IFC funded a >>> private >>> secotor consortium to carry out some survey at USD 300k and a >>> similar >>> survey carried out by govts was valued at USD 3m >>> >>> maybe this can help reduce costs and provide a way for govt and >>> PS to >>> work together and deliver quality market services, develop the >>> content >> and >>> all.. >>> >>> its just an opinion, its not absolute, >>> >>> lets hear as many voices as possible, >>> it is at these forums/discussions that great ideas come up, >>> >>> regards >>> >>> _KAI WULFF <KAI.WULFF(a)KDN.CO.KE>_ wrote: >>> >>> Hello, >>> >>> we leave it to the ISPs to create the demand. We were hoping >>> that with >>> our >>> rural initiatives, like connecting schools and showing them how to >>> educate >>> the parents (and make money with this) will increase the demand >>> on a >>> natural >>> way. >>> >>> What we have seen wit some Rural BTS, it takes about 12 month >>> until it >>> is >>> >>> break even ... >>> >>> The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank >>> money >>> starts to compete before you can recover the cost. It is my strong >>> believe >>> that wherever a device can be operated, there WILL be a market. The >>> private >>> sector needs the Government as a user there as well as the private >>> companies >>> and consumers. Only then will the prices drop! We still focus >>> too much >>> on >>> >>> the INTERNET, what most people need for a start is LOCAL >>> information >>> and >>> communication .. so I would say: 90% local IP traffic and 10% >>> international >>> .. >>> >>> Kai >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Joan Walumbe" >>> To: >>> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 >>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - >>> CCKInternetStudy Report >>> >>> >>>> Walu, >>>> >>>> I agree with you that affordablity is a factor especially for rural >>>> communities when it comes to access to the internet. But I think >>>> that >>> lack >>>> of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for the urban folk >>> (who >>>> already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) taking a short >>> break >>>> in >>>> shags to have the internet access when back home, but it there >>>> is no >>>> demand >>>> for the internet among the residents what is the point? >>>> >>>> So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create demand or is >>>> their >>> a >>>> market that demands the service or is it a little of both? >>>> >>>> I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the rural >>>> areas if >>> it >>> >>>> did >>>> not make any financial sense. Can anyone provide some info/ >>>> statistics >>> on >>>> demand for internet access in rural areas? >>>> >>>> Joan Walumbe >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "John Walubengo" >>>> To: >>>> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM >>>> Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCK >>>> InternetStudy >>>> Report >>>> >>>> >>>> Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. >>>> >>>> I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust >>> relationships >>> >>>> b/w >>>> IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well >>>> as on >>>> today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking >>>> encouraged by internet technologies ...) >>>> >>>> and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting >>> Bungoma >>> in >>>> early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely >>> development, >>>> but at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the >>>> (internet) >>>> services be affordable to the rural/average communities? >>>> >>>> Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered >>>> cheap >>> by >>>> the >>>> Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average >>>> Kenyan on >>> the >>>> street. In trying to get an objective measurement for >>>> affordability, >>> the >>>> Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other >>>> words, if >>> the >>>> monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average >>>> monthly >>>> cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the >>> average >>>> Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just >>>> becomes >>> way >>>> beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. >>>> >>>> The report indicated that access through the more convenient >>>> Internet >>>> Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too >>>> expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing >>> just >>>> 8% >>>> of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in >>>> order >>>> to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? >>>> >>>> 1 day deliberation on this one. >>>> >>>> walu. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> kictanet mailing list >>>> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >>>> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>>> >>>> Please unsubscribe or change your options at >>>> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff% >>>> 40kdn.co.ke >>>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >>> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Please unsubscribe or change your options at >>> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/rebeccawanjiku% > 40yahoo.com >>> >>> >>> Rebecca Wanjiku, >>> journalist, >>> p.o box 33515, >>> Nairobi.00600 >>> Kenya. >>> >>> Tel. 254 720 318 925 >>> >>> blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ >>> >>> >>> -------------------- >>> >>> >>> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? >>> Check out [LINK: >>> >> > http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48245/*http:/autos.yahoo.com/ > new_cars.html;_ylc=X >> 3oDMTE1YW1jcXJ2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3LWNhcnM-] >>> new cars at Yahoo! Autos. >>> -------------------- >>> _______________________________________________ >>> kictanet mailing list >>> [LINK: compose.php?to=kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke] >>> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >>> [LINK: http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet] >>> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >>> >>> Please unsubscribe or change your options at [LINK: >>> >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina% >> 40madeinkenya.org] >>> > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina% > 40madeinkenya.org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Please unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/lkimani% >> 40comnews.co.ke > > > > ----------------------------------------- > This email was sent using Communicatons Solutions LTD WebMail. > " " > http://www.accesskenya.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry% > 40africanedevelopment.o > rg > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://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"

1 0

Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability -CCKInternetStudy Report
by Wainaina Mungai 05 May '07

05 May '07

Kai said; > The problem is when you create the demand and then some World Bank money > starts to compete before you can recover the cost > .The private sector needs the Government as a user there as well as the > private companies and consumers. [Only then will the prices drop!] Pricing I would like to assume that fair competition from government is as good as competition from other market players. The beauty of competition is in the way it forces the private sector to put a smile on the face of every consumer ;-) so as to guarantee revenue. I am convinced that a significant drop in prices results only from fierce competition and some degree of regulation. TESPOK and others fought for years to introduce competition which resulted in the current lower prices of internet and telephony services. The recent intervention of CCK on the pricing of mobile services is a case that proves that price controls may become necessary to protect consumers. For internet services, we need many small scale providers whose products and pricing would be more market-driven and responsive to fluctuations in consumer needs. For instance, an internet user paying KShs. 6,000 per month for DSL per month is actually incurring 14 cents per minute for a 30-day month. This is a great deal for any 24 hour user who may even make money through such access to the internet. The same user would be said to incur 28 cents per minute if s/he were to use the link for an average 12 hours per day at the same monthly rate. There may be a catch here but there is a high probability that more businesses can survive on such low rates and pass such rates down to rural consumer. --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. > -------Original Message------- > From: Joan Walumbe <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability -CCKInternetStudy Report > Sent: 04 May '07 17:46 > > Thanks Fatma, > > Much appreciated. > > Joan > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Fatma Bashir" <fbashir(a)cyberschooltech.com> > To: "Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet" <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> > Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 1:31 PM > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on > Affordability -CCKInternetStudy Report > > > > Joan, > > > > I dont have statistics but working in the education sector, I see what KDN > > sees in the schools, schools will be the incubation ground for the demand > > for ICT in the rural areas (60% of schools are in rural areas). In about a > > year and a half years time the picture will start changing as high school > > graduates will be computer savvy and naturally opt to continue pursuing > > interests ranging from search of opportunities for enterpreneurship to > > formal job hunting using the internet or just keeping intouch!. > > > > Further more when we look at schools and their facilities, they can easily > > become the information centres for the communities around them and also > > offer affordable capacity building to the parents of the students nearby. > > Then they will start to look for ways to make some money and the > > international/local content picture will start to swing in our favor. > > > > Imagine one day you will go online and order your chopped sukuma wiki and > > packet of carrots from the local mama mbogo outside your estate, she will > > deliver to your house you will pay her on your way back home or GOd knows > > even online?. its the form form leaver who will have designed the website > > for her and its the nearby school that will have taught her computer 101. > > > > whats missing is the segment that should be dealing with Capacity Building > > in an informal way or even sensitizing and awareness ( ie we dont have to > > attend college proper we can just go to the neighbourhood place and learn > > some basics) I think that this is where the Lag might be felt by the likes > > of KDN...and others. > > > > Fatma > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Joan Walumbe" <jwalumbe(a)globalnetcorps.org> > > To: <fbashir(a)cyberschooltech.com> > > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 AM > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - > > CCKInternetStudy Report > > > > > > > Walu, > > > > > > I agree with you that affordablity is a factor especially for rural > > > communities when it comes to access to the internet. But I think that > lack > > > of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for the urban folk (who > > > already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) taking a short > break > > > in > > > shags to have the internet access when back home, but it there is no > > > demand > > > for the internet among the residents what is the point? > > > > > > So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create demand or is their a > > > market that demands the service or is it a little of both? > > > > > > I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the rural areas if it > > > did > > > not make any financial sense. Can anyone provide some info/statistics > on > > > demand for internet access in rural areas? > > > > > > Joan Walumbe > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "John Walubengo" <jwalubengo(a)kcct.ac.ke> > > > To: <kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> > > > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM > > > Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCK > > > InternetStudy > > > Report > > > > > > > > > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > > > > > > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on Trust relationships > > > b/w > > > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that as well as on > > > today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking > > > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > > > > > > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber hitting Bungoma > in > > > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and timely > development, > > > but at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will the (internet) > > > services be affordable to the rural/average communities? > > > > > > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is considered cheap by > > > the > > > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the average Kenyan on > the > > > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for affordability, > the > > > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In other words, if > the > > > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if the average > > > monthly > > > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then obviously the > average > > > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it just becomes way > > > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > > > > > > The report indicated that access through the more convenient Internet > > > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average incomes (too > > > expensive), while the same access through mobile phones was costing > just > > > 8% > > > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs to be done in > > > order > > > to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > > > > > > 1 day deliberation on this one. > > > > > > walu. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > kictanet mailing list > > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > > > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/fbashir%40cyberschooltech.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)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org >

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Re: [kictanet] kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCKInternetStudyReport
by Wainaina Mungai 05 May '07

05 May '07

>"but if there is no demand for the internet among the residents what is the point?" Maybe we need to look back at what models worked or failed at the turn of the millennium: WHAT WORKED In 1999, very few people believed there was enough demand to support 7 million enthusiastic mobile phone users in a country with less than 35 million people. The thirst for convenient communication services has proved overwhelming and is yet to be quenched. For the internet, the challenge is in creating an accessible network and making users connect at lowest possible set-up cost (just like GSM firms offer KShs. 2500 for mobile phone plus SIM). The internet services should also be modelled to meet varied user profiles (such as is the case with mobile service tariffs). WHAT DIDNT WORK Low levels of internet usage may be blamed on lack of an accessible network (landline or otherwise). Telkom Kenya failed to connect hundreds of thousands of landline phone subscribers who would have become a pool of voice and data service users continually bringing in revenue. They are now aggressively selling CDMA solutions to increase users and make money from usage rather than connection fees. This is the same problem that KPLC created by failing to see the future demand for electricity and relying heavily ion connection fees instead of usage fees. They are only now racing with time for subscribers under the Umeme Pamoja and even reaching out to slum dwellers with special tariffs. NETWORK OF USERS Some ISPs realised rather early that the real value of their network is in the increased connections of paying users. To many of us, the demand for internet access in rural areas may not be directly evident for now. It may however be seen in the thirst' for convenience, speedy communication and related value-added services. It may also be seen in the overwhelming demand for mobile telephony in the most remote and poor regions of Kenya. As has been stated earlier, we should not sell 'the internet' per se but should shift emphasis to the benefits of access for rural consumers especially the improvement of their quality of life. 2 cents worth... --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

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Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCKInternetStudy Report
by Wainaina Mungai 05 May '07

05 May '07

>> In my opinion, the government should find a way of using the WB money through the >> private sector, so that the private sector does not see as if the government is competing >> and killing the profit margin I think private sector should appreciate the role of govt in addressing needs of the disadvantaged via social programmes (e.g. education, health, fibre connectivity) and view the competition from government on the connectivity front as a challenge to model their businesses in the way that is responsive to rural market. I would prefer if; 1. Government uses the funds to provide business-friendly loans via a model similar to the youth enterprise fund. 2. A money-making outfit demonstrates a convincing "business for development" case or partners with a not-for-profit (e.g. CBO or other community-focussed group) if it is to access the WB-like grants. 3. Funds go to not-for-profit organisation to operate rural ICT centres on low-overheads (the focus here being on the consumer in rural areas). The WorldBank kind-of-money should go towards nurturing rural ICT SMEs that bring internet access rates to under a shilling per minute at the cybercafé end and even lower for a home or business user. I would expect a private sector outfit cushioned by government/WorldBank support should extend its break-even period to ensure the lowest prices at highest penetration levels. ...2 cents... --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. > -------Original Message------- > From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCKInternetStudy Report > Sent: 04 May '07 13:16 > > Agreed with Becky, > > I expected more views on this touchy subject of > affordability. I do know we had technical hiccups but I > trust they are now over...so lets hear more from the > stakeholders - Consumers, Operators, Government, > Regulators, etc. > > walu. > > --- Rebecca Wanjiku <rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > thanks Kai for the response, > > we need many people responding to this issue, > > > > in my opinion, the government should find a way of using > > the WB money through the private sector, so that the > > private sector does not see as if the government is > > competing and killing the profit margin, > > > > in this regard, the government could come up with some > > MOU with the private sector so that some of the money > > invested is government's and some PS. > > that way, part of the profits will be ploughed back (it > > will be mandatory) > > > > i remember during the OFC workshop, Kai shared how IFC > > funded a private secotor consortium to carry out some > > survey at USD 300k and a similar survey carried out by > > govts was valued at USD 3m > > > > maybe this can help reduce costs and provide a way for > > govt and PS to work together and deliver quality market > > services, develop the content and all.. > > > > its just an opinion, its not absolute, > > > > lets hear as many voices as possible, > > it is at these forums/discussions that great ideas come > > up, > > > > regards > > > > Kai Wulff <kai.wulff(a)kdn.co.ke> wrote: Hello, > > > > we leave it to the ISPs to create the demand. We were > > hoping that with our > > rural initiatives, like connecting schools and showing > > them how to educate > > the parents (and make money with this) will increase the > > demand on a natural > > way. > > > > What we have seen wit some Rural BTS, it takes about 12 > > month until it is > > break even ... > > > > The problem is when you create the demand and then some > > World Bank money > > starts to compete before you can recover the cost. It is > > my strong believe > > that wherever a device can be operated, there WILL be a > > market. The private > > sector needs the Government as a user there as well as > > the private companies > > and consumers. Only then will the prices drop! We still > > focus too much on > > the INTERNET, what most people need for a start is LOCAL > > information and > > communication .. so I would say: 90% local IP traffic and > > 10% international > > .. > > > > Kai > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Joan Walumbe" > > To: > > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 > > Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on > > Affordability - > > CCKInternetStudy Report > > > > > > > Walu, > > > > > > I agree with you that affordablity is a factor > > especially for rural > > > communities when it comes to access to the internet. > > But I think that lack > > > of awareness is an even bigger factor. It's fine for > > the urban folk (who > > > already recognise the benefits to the internet etc.) > > taking a short break > > > in > > > shags to have the internet access when back home, but > > it there is no > > > demand > > > for the internet among the residents what is the point? > > > > > > So does KDN enter a market and then hope to create > > demand or is their a > > > market that demands the service or is it a little of > > both? > > > > > > I understand that Kai would not be venturing into the > > rural areas if it > > > did > > > not make any financial sense. Can anyone provide some > > info/statistics on > > > demand for internet access in rural areas? > > > > > > Joan Walumbe > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "John Walubengo" > > > To: > > > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 9:01 AM > > > Subject: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability > > - CCK > > > InternetStudy > > > Report > > > > > > > > > Day 5- Statistics on Affordability. > > > > > > I acknowledge an interesting thread filtering in on > > Trust relationships > > > b/w > > > IGOs/ISPs...feel free to continue contributing on that > > as well as on > > > today's theme on affordability (multi-tasking > > > encouraged by internet technologies ...) > > > > > > and just to pick up from Kai's projection of KDN fiber > > hitting Bungoma in > > > early August 2007. This would be quite a welcome and > > timely development, > > > but at what cost to the consumer? To what extend will > > the (internet) > > > services be affordable to the rural/average > > communities? > > > > > > Affordability is a subjective term gven that what is > > considered cheap by > > > the > > > Bill Gates of this world is probably not so for the > > average Kenyan on the > > > street. In trying to get an objective measurement for > > affordability, the > > > Report pegged it on the national average incomes. In > > other words, if the > > > monthly average income in Kenya is around 100USD and if > > the average > > > monthly > > > cost for internet access is also around 100USD then > > obviously the average > > > Kenyan will not bother with accessing the Internet - it > > just becomes way > > > beyond their means or too expensive or not affordable. > > > > > > The report indicated that access through the more > > convenient Internet > > > Dial-up/Desktop services costed over 200% the average > > incomes (too > > > expensive), while the same access through mobile > > phones was costing just > > > 8% > > > of the average incomes (quite affordable). What needs > > to be done in > > > order > > > to make Internet Services more afforable to Kenyans? > > > > > > 1 day deliberation on this one. > > > > > > walu. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > kictanet mailing list > > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > > > > > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kai.wulff%40kdn.co.ke > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > > Rebecca Wanjiku, > > journalist, > > p.o box 33515, > > Nairobi.00600 > > Kenya. > > > > Tel. 254 720 318 925 > > > > blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ > > > > > === message truncated ===> > _______________________________________________ > > kictanet mailing list > > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke > http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/wainaina%40madeinkenya.org >

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kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCKInternetStudyReport
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 04 May '07

04 May '07

Dear All, I think you are getting it wrong on the World Bank Loan. The purpose of the loan is to stimulate demand a head of cheap bandwidth from the fibre cable. Areas that we thought needed stimulation include Rural ICT Centres, the Government, Universities and Colleges and BPOs. The procurement of subsidized bandwidth is to be done openely where all operators would have a chance. This does not in anyway compromise any private sector because they would be paid the market rate of bandwidth. The participation of Government in construction of Terrestrial fibre networks and the undersea cable was to fast track availability of cheap bandwidth that would in turn help the economy to grow faster. Secondly, we needed an open access model that would help SMEs in this country to compete with the big boys. With this network we shall see SMEs competing with the likes of Jamii, KDN on an equal footing. Thirdly, the private sector had failed to provide necessary infrastructure for economic development and finaly no operator was interested in rural Kenya until the Government made the business case for rural ICTs. In any case the Government has no interest in competing with the private sector. Our role is to facilitate development. Infrastructure in the ICT sector had lagged behind and what we have done is simply to facilitate its development and leave the private sector to compete in an open access platform. We have the obligation to enable every Kenyan citizen to play a role in economic development especially our SMEs that consititute 95% of businesses in this country. Therefore, there is absolutely nothing wrong with borrowing from the WB to stimulate demand for the investment we are making in the ICT sector. Some of the funds will be used to develop capacity to utilize ICTs and development of local content. In essense we are stimulating demand that would become consumers of private sector products. Regards Bitange Ndemo. ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Statistics on Affordability - CCK InternetStudy Report
by Mr President 03 May '07

03 May '07

Hi AllMy take on the affordability of the internet is basically simpleHow many rural home have electricityHow many have telephone linesHow many rural towns have cybers that earn an incom solely form internet services ?That is the basics, go to secondary issues like priorities for income usage??To buy food, kerosene etc or surf ?Taking I.T to the rural areas should be unde r the universal coverage policy and not for profit unless for value added services ama??Njenga M.P those who fear to fail.will never try to succeded,for to fail to plan is to plan to FAIL _______________________________________________ No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

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Re: [kictanet] Listserver problem
by John Walubengo 03 May '07

03 May '07

Dear Listers, I must admit and apologise that we are experiencing some technical hitches on the listserver but the engineers are working around the clock to resolve the issue. Plse continue with your contributions since they are getting logged onto the central servers and will be re-played once the technical hitches are resolved. I would also add that in light of this development, the remaining two themes will taken early next week but this also gives us more time to dwell on the affordability issues... walu. >>> "Bill Kagai" <mediacorp.research(a)mediacorp.co.ke> 05/03/07 12:16PM >>> On 5/3/07, Eric Osiakwan <eric(a)afrispa.org> wrote: > > > The danger in allowing everybody to do everything is; > 1. enumorse duplication of investment in the highend of the market > ????? Nini hii??

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Technical Glitches
by Alex Gakuru 03 May '07

03 May '07

I have not received any of the messages attached and I had to dig the kictanet archives to view them. This is about my fourth time to complain about my messages being affected by this glitch. One feels it would be good practice for the technicians responsible to ensure online freedom of information while we collectively front advocacy for the same from government. Should the continued glitches affect only some subscribers, then there would be good grounds to seek alternative kictanet list hosting server, just like we had kiplist in Canada then for fear of government censorship. A thorough reply would be appreciated Regards Alex --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

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test 20070502 12.35p.m EAT - ignore
by John Walubengo 03 May '07

03 May '07

testing. walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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ICT BILL & PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
by Wainaina Mungai 03 May '07

03 May '07

ICT BILL WILL IMPROVE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN TECHNOLOGY Source: http://www.madeinkenya.org/forum_files/forum0507.php A few weeks ago, many Kenyans were amazed to hear that Police had tracked down Matheri, the most wanted criminal in Kenya, by monitoring his mobile phone. This news led many to ask if they were also being watched and if someone was reading their SMS messages and keeping track of their movements. --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

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in case of interest.. IP , rootservers, et al
by Rebecca Wanjiku 03 May '07

03 May '07

just in case you have been wondering about the whole jargon of IP, TLD, ccTLD and stuff, here is a simplified version.. its long but makes good reading.... bex The Internet Protocol Journal - Volume 10, No. 1 Geographic Implications of DNS Infrastructure Distribution by Steve Gibbard, Packet Clearing House The past several years have seen significant efforts to keep local Internet communications local in places far from the well-connected core of the Internet. Although considerable work remains to be done, Internet traffic now stays local in many places where it once would have traveled to other continents, lowering costs while improving performance and reliability. Data sent directly between users in those areas no longer leaves the region. Applications and services have become more localized as well, not only lowering costs but keeping those services available at times when the region's connectivity to the outside world has been disrupted. I discussed the need for localization in a previous paper, "Internet Mini-Cores: Local connectivity in the Internet's spur regions." [1] What follows here is a more specific look at a particular application, the Domain Name System (DNS). Most Internet applications depend on the DNS, which maps human-readable domain names to the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses computers understand. Two Internet hosts may have connectivity to each other but be unable to communicate because no DNS server can be reached. This article examines the placement of DNS servers for root and top-level domains and the implications of that placement on the reliability of the services these servers provide in different parts of the world. It is not a "how-to" guide to the construction of DNS infrastructure and does not contain recommendations on DNS policy; it is rather a look at the placement of DNS infrastructure as currently constructed. Although it is possible to access Internet resources without the DNS by entering numeric IP addresses directly, this type of access is not generally done. IP addresses, such as 209.131.36.158, are difficult to remember, are generally unpublished outside the DNS, and often change without notice. Local caching of DNS information can mask temporary problems with DNS data for commonly accessed domain names, but caches are emptied when caching resolvers are restarted, data in caches expires, and nothing is cached until the first time it is accessed by a local user. It should be noted that information about DNS deployment is changing rapidly. Several organizations are working on new DNS deployment. Information in this article can be considered current, to the best of my knowledge, as of May 2006. DNS Hierarchy The DNS is a hierarchy of domains within domains. The levels of the hierarchy are separated by dots. At the top of the hierarchy is the root, usually invisible but sometimes represented as a trailing dot. Using www.yahoo.com as an example, the com domain is contained within the root. Com contains yahoo, and yahoo contains www. Domains in the position com takes in this example are known as Top-Level Domains, or TLDs; they are the first level in the root domain. Domains in the position of yahoo are known as Second-Level Domains. In this example, www occupies the third level, and so forth. The information that makes up the Domain Name System is stored on DNS servers. That information is divided into zones, which for our purposes are synonymous with domains. Each zone is stored on a set of authoritative servers, which are queried when users or applications attempt to access a service on the Internet. In the simplest case, a domain name query works like the following: A caching resolver (so named because it caches information it receives) that has not yet cached any DNS zone data receives a query for www.yahoo.com. Because its cache is empty, it uses the hints distributed with the DNS software to contact one of the root servers and asks, "Where is www.yahoo.com?" The root server replies with a list of servers for .com. The caching server then asks one of the .com servers, "Where is www.yahoo.com?" and gets a response that directs it to servers for yahoo.com. It asks the same question of those servers and finally gets an answer to the question it was asking. Generally several servers can answer questions about any domain, but if all the servers for any single level are broken or unreachable, the query fails and the service the user is looking for is unreachable. It is therefore important that the DNS be reliable, and that the servers for each zone throughout the hierarchy be reachable from anywhere the servers they point at are being used. Root Servers Without root servers, none of the DNS works. As of this writing, 117 root servers exist worldwide, operated by 12 different organ-izations. [2] Root servers are added frequently, so the number may be significantly greater by the time this article is in circulation. Because of protocol limitations, the root servers can use only 13 IP addresses. Each root-server operator is responsible for one or two of those addresses. Using a technique called anycast, which allows servers in separate locations to share a single IP address, six of those operators operate multiple servers using the same IP address [3], meaning that only 13 of them are visible at the same time from any single location, but those 13 should in most cases include the topologically closest one. [4] The distribution of root servers is rather uneven. North America and Europe have similar numbers: 38 in North America and 35 in Europe. The 35 in Europe are distributed fairly evenly, with the largest concentrations (four each) in London and Amsterdam, Europe's two largest Internet hubs. North America has 8 in Washington, D.C., 8 in the San Francisco Bay Area, and 5 in Los Angeles. In the United States, all cities that host root servers are on the coasts except Atlanta and Chicago. All seven of the remaining IP addresses represented by only a single server, known as unicast roots, are in the Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles areas. Australia has two root servers in Brisbane, one in Perth, and one in Sydney. New Zealand has two, one in Wellington and one in Auckland. Singapore and the wealthier parts of East Asia are well-covered, and there are two root servers in Jakarta and one each in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. A year ago, there were none in the vast expanse between Bangkok and Dubai, but three have recently been added in India, along with others in Dhaka and Karachi. Mainland China and the former USSR each have two. There are three in Africa: two in Johannesburg and one in Nairobi. Another will be installed in Nairobi shortly, but most of the rest of Africa lacks direct connectivity to Johannesburg or Nairobi and must cross satellite or intercontinental fiber links to reach the nearest root servers. All four of the root servers in South America are in Brazil and Chile, with two in Sao Paulo and one each in Brasilia and Santiago de Chile. With some exceptions, root-server density tends to correlate strongly with per-capita income. This fact is not surprising—it is true for other forms of infrastructure as well—but it means that those with the greatest dependence on external infrastructure are those least able to pay for external connectivity. Root-Server Placement In areas that have local root servers, finding the name servers for a top-level domain should be fairly reliable. In areas without local root servers, the ability to query the root servers is dependent on other long-distance infrastructure. In some places this infrastructure is well-developed, so this problem is not a significant one. Elsewhere long-distance infrastructure is slow, expensive, and unreliable, consisting of satellite links or a single fiber connection that may take several days to fix if it breaks. Sri Lanka, for example, is connected to the rest of the world by a single fiber connection, which was cut in 2004 by a ship that dragged anchor in the Colombo harbor. [5] Although Sri Lanka has an exchange point that should have allowed connectivity to local Internet services, news reports said that Sri Lanka's "Internet and long-distance phone service" had been cut off. I have not received a good account of what Internet connectivity looked like from anyone in Sri Lanka at the time, but it is likely that even local Internet connections would not have worked without a local root server. Sri Lanka is not an isolated case. The dots in Figure 1 show the locations of all root servers. The light grey areas are regions in which multiple fiber paths are available to root servers. The remainder of the world can reach root servers only by a single fiber path or by satellite. Large areas of the world are poorly covered. Figure 1: Root Server Locations and Areas of Redundant Connectivity Root-Server Expansion Four of the 12 root-server operators are presently working to install root servers in areas that lack them. Although the 117 root servers currently in operation are a big improvement over the 13 that were in operation three years ago, many regions still do not have any. Those root-server operators are installing servers wherever they can get the funding to do so. Funding is generally provided either by grants, especially from the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) in the Asia-Pacific region, by local governments or Internet Service Provider (ISP) associations. Because the addition of new anycast copies of root servers is relatively easy given sufficient funding, the main limitation preventing the installation of root servers in new locations is lack of funding. One question probably best addressed in a more central manner is whether it makes sense to have many copies of one or two root-server IP addresses in some regions or whether it would be better to have more of a mix of root-server IP addresses. Currently, only 6 of the 13 root-server addresses are anycasted, only 4 are anycasted in large numbers, and 2 of those focus on specific regions, meaning that in many of the more remote parts of the world the only nearby root servers are Internet Systems Consortium (ISC)'s "F" and Autonomica's "I" roots, and some places have several of one of those closer than the next one of the other. Because some DNS resolvers have their own mechanisms for finding the closest server and for handling failures of types that do not include route withdrawals, having multiple IP addresses nearby seems like a good thing. A more complex question is whether it would be worthwhile to anycast all 13 of them widely, or if there is some smaller number that would be sufficient to have nearby. Previous research on this topic has assumed a limit of 13 root servers, producing conclusions that are not applicable to the modern Internet. [6] This article should not be seen as a criticism of the places with large numbers of root servers. Although the U.S. distribution looks strange, with the San Francisco Bay and D.C. area clusters perhaps excessive, it comes close to following the Internet topology in the United States. Indeed, the U.S. concentration may be appropriate to handle server load. Western Europe's dense but relatively even distribution of root servers through the region appears to be an optimal distribution, because most populated areas have multiple root servers nearby. Likewise, Jakarta is one of the very few cities in the developing world to have more than one, and that provides local redundancy that much of the developing world lacks. If root-server deployment were funded from a single global budget, the distribution across the world's regions would look very unfair. But because Internet infrastructure is mostly funded locally, Jakarta and Western Europe are examples other regions could emulate. TLD Distribution Use of the DNS also requires access to TLD servers. To access something in the .com domain, a user's local DNS resolver must be able to reach the .com servers. This statement is true for any TLD, whether it is a generic TLD (gTLD), such as .com, .net, and .org, or a country code TLD (ccTLD). Unlike the root, it is not necessary that all TLDs be reliable from all locations; if a TLD is not used to name local resources in a region, having local access to that TLD will not help if that the region gets cut off from the rest of the world. gTLD Distribution Of the gTLDs, .com is by far the largest. It is well-connected to the Internet core, the area with well-meshed internal connectivity mainly comprising North America, Western Europe, East Asia, and Singapore. (See Figure 2.) The .com servers are located in Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. states of California, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and Washington. The .com servers are well-connected to areas well-connected to those regions but poorly connected to Africa, South Asia, and parts of South America. Figure 2: Server Locations for .com and .net and Areas of Redundant Connectivity UltraDNS, the operator of .org, .info, .mobi, and .coop among others, is also somewhat well-connected to the Internet core, although not to the extent the .com servers are. It has publicly accessible servers in four metropolitan areas in the United States as well as in London and Hong Kong. It has a couple of noncore locations, in Delhi and Johannesburg. UltraDNS also has servers in other locations, accessible only to the resolvers of certain large ISPs. Because those servers are not available to the general public in their regions, they are omitted from discussion here. (See Figure 3.) Figure 3: Server Locations for .org, .info, and .mobi and Areas of Redundant Connectivity Other gTLDs do not do considerably better. Table 1 shows the locations of all the gTLDs. Table 1: Locations of TLD Servers gTLD Locations by Country or U.S. State .aero Switzerland, Germany, India, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Illinois, and Virginia .biz Australia, Hong Kong, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, New York, Virginia, and Washington .com Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and Washington .coop United Kingdom and the following states in the United States: California, Illinois, and Massachusetts .edu Netherlands, Singapore, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia .gov Canada, Germany, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas .info India, Hong Kong, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Illinois, and Virginia .int Netherlands, United Kingdom, and California in the United States .jobs Netherlands, Singapore, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia .mil The following states in the United States: California, Maryland, Virginia, and other unknown locations .mobi India, Hong Kong, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Illinois, and Virginia .museum Sweden and California in the United States .name Singapore, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and Washington .net Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and Washington .org India, Hong Kong, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Illinois, and Virginia .pro Canada and the following states in the United States: Illinois and Texas .travel Australia, Hong Kong, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the following states in the United States: California, Florida, Georgia, New York, Virginia, and Washington Although gTLDs are typically marketed for their applicability to specific types of organization, or in the case of .com because it is the only domain many people have heard of, geography should also be considered in selecting domains. Most of the gTLDs have reasonable coverage throughout the Internet core region, but there are exceptions. The .int and .museum domains are hosted only in North America and Europe, and .pro is hosted only in North America. Outside the Internet core there is little gTLD presence. Only .biz, .travel, .com, and .net are present in Australia and New Zealand. South Africa and India have .aero, .info, .mobi, and .org, making them the only gTLDs hosted in either Africa or the South Asian region. South America hosts only .com and .net, with servers in two cities in Brazil. Taken together, these are the only Southern Hemisphere gTLD locations as of this writing, and no gTLD has any presence in parts of the world without external fiber-optic connectivity, although that may be changing. Where gTLDs should be hosted, and with what scope, are somewhat open questions. Should these domains address resources anywhere, or should their scope be local? This question is really one for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), or for the gTLD sponsors or registries, and beyond the scope of this article. Verisign, the company that administers .com, and .net, points out that database replication with the amount of changes in the .com zone is a significant problem over slow network links. ccTLD Distribution Questions about where ccTLDs, the top-level domains assigned to individual countries, ought to work seem more straightforward. Working effectively in their own countries seems like the top priority, with connectivity to the Internet core and to other regions with which people in the country communicate regularly being somewhat lower priorities. Just over two-thirds of ccTLDs are hosted in their own countries; refer to Figure 4 for the bigger countries, and the online appendices for the full list. Although the third of ccTLDs not hosted in their own countries include some marketed more for international use than global use—Cocos Island's .cc, Tonga's .to, Turkmenistan's .tm, and Tuvalu's .tv, among others—those are very much the exception. Indonesia has local access to the root and to its ccTLD (.id). Pakistan has a root server, but no local access to its ccTLD (.pk). Let's compare what happens when someone in Indonesia does a lookup on an .id domain name with what happens when someone in Pakistan does a lookup of a name in the .pk domain. In Indonesia, the query goes to a root DNS server at the Indonesian Internet Exchange in Jakarta, where it is answered with the locations of the .id servers, several of which are also in Indonesia. The query then goes to the local .id server and is answered locally, whereupon the user can start sending traffic to the host he or she was trying to connect to, which is presumably also local. The traffic need not leave Indonesia, and if all the parties involved are in Jakarta it need not leave town. The Pakistani case is quite different. Until early 2006, there were no root servers in Pakistan, nor were there local servers for the .pk domain. There is now a root server in Karachi, but lacking servers for any TLDs it is of limited utility. DNS resolvers start out querying the local root server, but the response directs them to servers for the .p domain, all located in the United States, at least 10 time zones away. They then send their lookup packets across the single fiber connection all the way to the United States and wait for the response. At best, this process is slow. If that fiber connection goes down, or if there is any other problem between Pakistan and these U.S. servers, local communications in Pakistan are crippled. The situation with traditional gTLDs (.com, .net, and .org) in Indonesia and Pakistan is somewhat different. In Indonesia, local root servers provide addresses for the .com, .net, and .org servers. The .com and .net, lookups can be handled in Singapore, 18 milliseconds away. Theoretically, .org lookups can be handled in Hong Kong, but traceroutes indicate .org queries being answered in California instead. Thus, in Indonesia, .id is hosted mostly locally, .com and .net are nearby, and .org is considerably farther away. In Pakistan, in contrast, .pk queries and .org queries are answered from the United States, more than 200 milliseconds away, while .com and .net are answered from Singapore, 80 milliseconds away. For Pakistani users of all TLDs, there are single points of failure, but .com and .net do appear to be somewhat better connected than .pk. In Nairobi, Kenya, there are local copies of a root server and the local ccTLD (.ke). All external connectivity is by satellite, and most ISPs have only a single satellite link. Two Internet users in Nairobi wanting to communicate can do a lookup on the local root server to find the servers for .ke and can do a lookup on a local .ke server to find the servers for a subdomain of .ke. Assuming the subdomain being used is served locally, they can do a local lookup for a host within that subdomain and then send data across the local exchange point. Thus the two users in the same town can send data back and forth without having to send any data elsewhere. According to Verisign, Nairobi will soon have servers for .com and .net as well. In contrast, to use the .org domain they can again obtain addresses of the .org server from their local root server, but the lookup of the .org domain must go over a satellite link to Europe in order to be answered by a server in London. If the satellite link is up, this process adds half a second of latency to the query. If the satellite link is down, whatever local resource they are trying to connect to is out of reach. Figure 4: Countries that Host Their Own ccTLDs in Grey; Those that Do Not in Black There is also a concern about ccTLDs not served from the global core; if their region or upstream provider is cut off from the Internet outside their region, the rest of the world is unable to see that ccTLD. (See Table 2.) This situation may or may not be of concern; if all Internet resources within that ccTLD become unreachable in the same outage, the DNS portion of the outage may have no additional effect. However, if there is anything in that ccTLD that is not in the ccTLD's region, or if people or systems outside prefer to get a DNS response for an unreachable IP address rather than no DNS response at all, it may be of concern. Indeed, having servers that are well-connected to "the Internet as a whole" is a recommendation of RFC 2182, though the RFC does not consider the case of large portions of the Internet not being well-connected to each other. Table 2: TLDs Not Served in the "Internet Core" Region TLD Country Location of DNS Servers BB Barbados Barbados BD Bangladesh Bangladesh BH Bahrain Bahrain CN China China EC Ecuador Ecuador GF French Guiana French Guiana and Guadeloupe JM Jamaica Jamaica KG Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan KW Kuwait Kuwait MP Northern Mariana Islands Guam MQ Martinique Guadeloupe and Martinique PA Panama Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, and Panama PF French Polynesia French Polynesia QA Qatar Qatar SR Suriname Suriname TJ Tajikistan Tajikistan ZM Zambia South Africa and Zambia Lack of Exchange Points and Local Peering In the "Internet Mini-Cores" article [1], I noted that local hosting of critical infrastructure is moot if there is not either a local exchange point or a monopoly transit provider in the region. If data needed in a poorly connected region must leave the area and return to reach the user requesting it, the communication has double the latency, and possibly double the reliability problems, that it would have if it were hosted somewhere in the core. For the specific examples used in this article, I have mostly chosen areas that do have exchange points. I have not analyzed the underlying local infrastructure in all countries. Methodology The addresses of DNS servers for a TLD are available through several means: by looking at the root zone, by doing digs for the name servers, and by looking in the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) whois data, among others. I did lookups against an anycast root server on my own network, because that seemed easiest to automate. My script then did a lookup for the address of each name server, stripped off the last octet, and produced a list of TLDs hosted in each /24 subnet. There are 635 /24s containing name servers for TLDs; 142 of them host multiple TLDs; the rest host just one. I assumed that all DNS servers in a given /24 were likely to be in the same or nearby locations. This situation appears not to be the case for the UUNet name servers, and there are probably a few other exceptions that will show up as errors in my data. I looked at a few automated geolocation systems to attempt to attach locations to the DNS servers, but none of them appeared to be producing accurate information. Instead, I guessed at the locations of the 600 subnets, using traceroutes from a variety of locations, paying attention to DNS, latency, and the results of whois queries for address space along the way. I also asked lots of questions of DNS operators and others and am particularly grateful to several anycast DNS operators, whose locations would not have all been found by my traceroutes. Some of my guesses are likely incorrect, and corrections are appreciated. I may be missing some information about the UltraDNS TLD servers, because UltraDNS has locations it regards as confidential. This information about UltraDNS servers is from Afilias's .net application, traceroutes from a variety of locations, and UltraDNS. [7] Locations of root servers are easier to find; they are listed at http://www.root-servers.org. Some supplemental information about j.root-servers.net was supplied by Verisign. If there are operational root servers not included on www.root-servers.org other than the J-roots, I did not count them. The full lists of locations of all TLDs and TLD servers are in the appendices to this article, at: http://www.pch.net/resources/papers/infrastructure-distribution/dns-distrib…. References [1] Steve Gibbard, "Internet Mini-Cores: Local connectivity in the Internet's spur regions" (2005). [2] Root Server Technical Operations Association. [3] Joe Abley, "Hierarchical anycast for global service distribution," ISC Tech Notes (2003). [4] Bradley Huffaker, "Two days in the life of three DNS root servers" (2006). [5] Tim Richardson, "Ship's anchor cuts cable to Sri Lanka," The Register, August 24, 2004. [6] Tony Lee, Bradley Huffaker, Marina Fomenkov, and kc claffy, "On the problem of optimization of DNS root servers' placement" (2003). [7] Afilias, ".NET Application Form". STEVE GIBBARD is a Network Architect for the nonprofit organization, Packet Clearing House, based in Berkeley, California. He runs an anycast DNS network that hosts the top-level domains for several countries and several of the "I" root anycast DNS servers, maintains PCH's network of route collectors and route servers at exchange points around the world, and researches the interconnection of Internet networks. In addition, Steve carries out network architecture and peering work as a consultant for several ISPs in the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere. Steve is a former Senior Network Engineer at Cable & Wireless, and has held network engineering positions at Digital Island and World Wide Net. E-mail: scg(a)pch.net Contacts & Feedback | Help | Site Map © 1992-2007 Cisco Systems Inc. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Statement | Cookie Policy | Trademarks of Cisco Systems Inc. Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

2 1

Week 1 Online Discussion Summaries- CCK Internet Report(Resending)
by John Walubengo 02 May '07

02 May '07

Hi all, I went off-air for a while - actually I travelled upcountry to my parents home in Bungoma -its a remote town from NRB(450Km away) but the 2nd largest town in Western Province and yes, Internet access in those parts of the world is quite a challenge. But that's a story for another day... Today, I thought it would be nice to reflect on last weeks contributions before we move into the this final week's discussion. Tomorrow we start on the theme 'The Statistics on Affordability', but below I have put together what I think was last weeks summary contribution and hope you can go through it and raise final (if any) comments on last weeks themes. These were International Bandwidth, Heirarchy of Providers(ISP/IGO) and the Statistics on Infrastructure. ---Last weeks summary begin----- Week 1 Summary. Day 1:Background Concepts/Overview Mr. J. Walubengo gave an overview of the Internet Study report saying that it aimed to establish the status of Internet Infrastructure, Internet Affordability and Internet Use & Dispersion in Kenya. He reported that the study had various recommendations aimed at improving on the above internet indicators. This included amongst others; getting the government intervention in extending the domestic internet infrastructure, introducing further competition both within the Fixed Line and Mobile subsectors, utilizing the Universal access fund to extend Internet reach, promoting creation and use of local content as well as supporting Consumer Awareness initiatives. Mr. A. Gakuru lauded the study as well as its recommendations but noted that a similar study would be required that focused on the demand-side rather than the Supply-side of the internet market. He was glad that the Regulator was finally making deliberate efforts to support consumer awareness initiatives. He wondered if naming and shaming those ISPs that failed to route traffic through the local internet exchange point (KIXP) would help in enhancing the use of KIXP. Day 2: International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage In his opening remarks, Mr. Walubengo said that the report indicated that the International Internet Traffic was skewed (90%) towards external sources (content). Kenya was a net importer of Internet content and was therefore a consumer rather than a creator of Internet content. Value (economic or otherwise) goes to the creators of Internet Content and Kenya should aim to be a generator rather than just consumers of Internet Content. Mr. M. Michuki observed that most Kenyans visited external sources due to lack of local content. He suggested that ISPs should come up with pricing smodels that encouraged the creation of and access to local content. For example, geo-specific tariffs could be designed that would deliberately make it cheaper to access local (.KE) conent i.e. users could be charged less if and when they accessed or used local services(local websites, emails, etc) as opposed to foreign services. In addition, ISPs could come up with time-based tariffs that took advantage of the traffic models registered on the KIXP i.e. provide even lower rates for local content during evenings and weekends.He however conceded that Online Government Services, eHealth, eBanking, eLearning, etc would have to be in place in order to make such pricing models successful. Mr. J. Ngunjiri added that training or capacity building initiatives must also be supported to further gaurantee the success of the initiative. Day 3: Hierarchy of Internet Service Providers (IGO,ISP) The Internet Study Report recommended that the seperation between Internet Gateway Operators (IGO) and Internet Service Providers be dissolved with expected results being cheaper and higher quality services. In his opening remarks, Mr. Walubengo asked members to react to this recommendation. Lucy Kimani wondered if IGO would be able to cope with the technical and administrative overheads experienced by ISPs such as a larger number of customer accounts, increased need for support services, etc. She added that the cost of services may not come necessarily come down as expected due to the need to cover such overheads. Mr. Walubengo cited the case of TKL (Telkom Kenya) who are currently operating at both the Gateway and the ISP level without significant cost reductions in their Internet Service. Mr. S. Buruchara felt that historically, ISPs have had a rough time in trying to set up their own Internet Gateway Operations - having been forced by regulation to route their traffic through expensive and monopolistic Internet Gateways. He argued that if the upstream providers (IGO) were expensive, it was only natural that these costs would be passed downstream to the consumers. In addition, he noted that even todate the Licensing requirements were still prohibitive (expensive) for ISPs to move into the IGO level and if they did, they may need to recoup their (Licensing & other) investments at the expense of offering cheaper Internet Access rates. Mr. Kai Wulff commented that giving ISPs the IGO facilities may not necessarily reduce prices, citing case of Uganda where internet costs are still high despite many ISPs having IGO facilities. Day 4: Statistics on Infrastructure The report indicated that ISPs (internet services) were only operating in 30% of the districts in Kenya. The leased line services were mainly concentrated in urban centers (NRB & MSA) meaning that Internet Infrastructure was clearly challenged and the Report urges Government to intervene by leading the build-up of Internet/Network infrastructure accross the country. In her reaction, Alice Munyua, said that a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach must be made to avoid having infrastructure that would eventually serve no purpose. Aggressive infrastructure build up without content would be an exercise in futility since the internet pipes would be idle and underutilised most of the time. She added that additional initiatives such as Construction and Supply of Electrical Power, Literacy Initiatives, Local Content and 'Demand-side' Internet Requirements must move side by side with the infrastructure roll-out. Day 5- Statistics on Affordability will be on tomorrow (thrs 3rd May) morning. Today is open for final comments on the Day 1, 2, 3 & 4 Themes. walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

2 1

Week 1 Online Discussion Summaries- CCK Internet Report
by John Walubengo 02 May '07

02 May '07

Hi all, I went off-air for a while - actually I travelled upcountry to my parents home in Bungoma -its a remote town from NRB(450Km away) but the 2nd largest town in Western Province and yes, Internet access in those parts of the world is quite a challenge. But that's a story for another day... Today, I thought it would be nice to reflect on last weeks contributions before we move into the this final week's discussion. Tomorrow we start on the theme 'The Statistics on Affordability', but below I have put together what I think was last weeks summary contribution and hope you can go through it and raise final (if any) comments on last weeks themes. These were International Bandwidth, Heirarchy of Providers(ISP/IGO) and the Statistics on Infrastructure. ---Last weeks summary begin----- Week 1 Summary. Day 1:Background Concepts/Overview Mr. J. Walubengo gave an overview of the Internet Study report saying that it aimed to establish the status of Internet Infrastructure, Internet Affordability and Internet Use & Dispersion in Kenya. He reported that the study had various recommendations aimed at improving on the above internet indicators. This included amongst others; getting the government intervention in extending the domestic internet infrastructure, introducing further competition both within the Fixed Line and Mobile subsectors, utilizing the Universal access fund to extend Internet reach, promoting creation and use of local content as well as supporting Consumer Awareness initiatives. Mr. A. Gakuru lauded the study as well as its recommendations but noted that a similar study would be required that focused on the demand-side rather than the Supply-side of the internet market. He was glad that the Regulator was finally making deliberate efforts to support consumer awareness initiatives. He wondered if naming and shaming those ISPs that failed to route traffic through the local internet exchange point (KIXP) would help in enhancing the use of KIXP. Day 2: International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage In his opening remarks, Mr. Walubengo said that the report indicated that the International Internet Traffic was skewed (90%) towards external sources (content). Kenya was a net importer of Internet content and was therefore a consumer rather than a creator of Internet content. Value (economic or otherwise) goes to the creators of Internet Content and Kenya should aim to be a generator rather than just consumers of Internet Content. Mr. M. Michuki observed that most Kenyans visited external sources due to lack of local content. He suggested that ISPs should come up with pricing smodels that encouraged the creation of and access to local content. For example, geo-specific tariffs could be designed that would deliberately make it cheaper to access local (.KE) conent i.e. users could be charged less if and when they accessed or used local services(local websites, emails, etc) as opposed to foreign services. In addition, ISPs could come up with time-based tariffs that took advantage of the traffic models registered on the KIXP i.e. provide even lower rates for local content during evenings and weekends.He however conceded that Online Government Services, eHealth, eBanking, eLearning, etc would have to be in place in order to make such pricing models successful. Mr. J. Ngunjiri added that training or capacity building initiatives must also be supported to further gaurantee the success of the initiative. Day 3: Hierarchy of Internet Service Providers (IGO,ISP) The Internet Study Report recommended that the seperation between Internet Gateway Operators (IGO) and Internet Service Providers be dissolved with expected results being cheaper and higher quality services. In his opening remarks, Mr. Walubengo asked members to react to this recommendation. Lucy Kimani wondered if IGO would be able to cope with the technical and administrative overheads experienced by ISPs such as a larger number of customer accounts, increased need for support services, etc. She added that the cost of services may not come necessarily come down as expected due to the need to cover such overheads. Mr. Walubengo cited the case of TKL (Telkom Kenya) who are currently operating at both the Gateway and the ISP level without significant cost reductions in their Internet Service. Mr. S. Buruchara felt that historically, ISPs have had a rough time in trying to set up their own Internet Gateway Operations - having been forced by regulation to route their traffic through expensive and monopolistic Internet Gateways. He argued that if the upstream providers (IGO) were expensive, it was only natural that these costs would be passed downstream to the consumers. In addition, he noted that even todate the Licensing requirements were still prohibitive (expensive) for ISPs to move into the IGO level and if they did, they may need to recoup their (Licensing & other) investments at the expense of offering cheaper Internet Access rates. Mr. Kai Wulff commented that giving ISPs the IGO facilities may not necessarily reduce prices, citing case of Uganda where internet costs are still high despite many ISPs having IGO facilities. Day 4: Statistics on Infrastructure The report indicated that ISPs (internet services) were only operating in 30% of the districts in Kenya. The leased line services were mainly concentrated in urban centers (NRB & MSA) meaning that Internet Infrastructure was clearly challenged and the Report urges Government to intervene by leading the build-up of Internet/Network infrastructure accross the country. In her reaction, Alice Munyua, said that a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach must be made to avoid having infrastructure that would eventually serve no purpose. Aggressive infrastructure build up without content would be an exercise in futility since the internet pipes would be idle and underutilised most of the time. She added that additional initiatives such as Construction and Supply of Electrical Power, Literacy Initiatives, Local Content and 'Demand-side' Internet Requirements must move side by side with the infrastructure roll-out. Day 5- Statistics on Affordability will be on tomorrow (thrs 3rd May) morning. Today is open for final comments on the Day 1, 2, 3 & 4 Themes. walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

1 0

Fwd: [Idlelo2] FW: dgCommunities Invited to Attend World Bank Global Dialogue Events & Live Webcasts
by Judy Okite 01 May '07

01 May '07

FYI Kind Regards, ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Fouad Riaz Bajwa <fouadbajwa(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 02:33:20 +0500 Subject: [Idlelo2] FW: dgCommunities Invited to Attend World Bank Global Dialogue Events & Live Webcasts To: idlelo2(a)fossfa.net, openstds(a)ipjustice.org, ugabytes(a)ugabytes.org From: e-government(a)developmentgateway.org [mailto:e-government@developmentgateway.org] Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 11:47 PM Subject: dgCommunities Invited to Attend World Bank Global Dialogue Events & Live Webcasts Dear Members, For your interest I am writing to alert you to a series of World Bank Global Dialogues on e-government and ICT. The World Bank's e-Development Thematic Group invites all interested dgCommunities members to participate in its upcoming e-government/ICT related Global Dialogues by means of live webcast/online discussion, via videoconference (in several countries which will be connected) or in person (if in Washington DC). The following are details of these sessions: Open Systems for e-Government (May 02, 9:00 - 11.30 am EST) While open source software has achieved growing acceptance in the marketplace, open standards are also increasingly seen as key enablers of the transfer and use of information across organizations, systems, and devices. This seminar focuses on the embrace of open information and communications technology systems by governments and businesses alike in the face of growing demands for the effective, customer-centric delivery of services. What does "open" mean in the context of software, standards, and document formats, and is it relevant to the experience and challenges faced by developing and transition countries? Can open source, open standards, and ODF be leveraged to maximize the impact of ICT investments in public-sector reform and modernization efforts? A panel including experts from the World Bank, IBM, Microsoft, Open Source Institute, and the ODF Alliance will gather to discuss this interesting topic. Please click here for more information: http://go.worldbank.org/OPRW4CL1N0 Prioritizing e-Services - The case of Pakistan (May 09, 9:00 - 11:30 am EST) Many e-Government program initiatives are faced with a myriad of choices for e-Services; hence there is an obvious need to prioritize due to various constraints. There are different methodologies available for identifying and prioritizing these e-services, and all governments implementing such programs have gone through this phase with varying outcomes. The e-Services prioritization process is therefore an essential component of e-Government programs, and selecting and applying the appropriate methodology is fundamental for e-Government program success. The session experts and practitioners will present a general overview of the various methodologies available for prioritization of e-Services and will discuss the experience of Pakistan, one of the latest case studies from the field. More information about this event will be available online shorlty at http://www.worldbank.org/edevelopment. Additional Upcoming Events: e-Government Portals (May 30, 9:00 - 11:30 am EST) Designing e-Government Strategies (June 19, 9:00-11:30 am EST) About the World Bank e-Development Thematic Group The e-Development Thematic Group's mission is to promote the efficient use of ICT in development and World Bank operations by facilitating knowledge sharing on good practices in e-development, and more frequent dialogue among interested parties thus catalyzing specific program and project proposals. The e-Development Thematic Group was created in 2003 in response to the increasing demand from various countries and sectors that are involved in the design and implementation of a variety of e-development and e-government projects, on the basis of the e-Government Thematic Group. The e-Development Thematic Group is open for participation by both World Bank staff and external clients and partners. For more information about the Group and its events, knowledge-base, toolkits and other resources, please visit the website at http://www.worldbank.org/edevelopment. To find out how to participate in these events, join the mailing list or partner with e-TG, please write to edevelopment(a)worldbank.org or contact Oleg Petrov at +1202-473-8861. Best regards, Mike Pereira ___________________________________ Mike Pereira Director, Global Online Communities Development Gateway Foundation 1889 F Street NW Washington DC 20006 202-572-9259 202-572-9290 (fax) http://home.developmentgateway.org/?intcmp=906 http://topics.developmentgateway.org/?intcmp=906 _______________________________________________ Idlelo2 mailing list Idlelo2(a)fossfa.net http://mailman.dst.gov.za/mailman/listinfo/idlelo2 -- Judy Ann Okite, +254-721237507,+254-734252336 P.O. BOX 2228 00100, NAIROBI,KENYA. "Even if you are on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there."

1 0

ICT Africa 2007 October 1-5 Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya: NEPAD Council
by alice 30 Apr '07

30 Apr '07

nclogo *ICT Africa 2007* <http://ictafrica.nepadcouncil.org>* * *Sponsorship Opportunities * <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273771&u=htt…>*** * *Conference Registration * <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273770&u=htt…>*** * *Abstract/Paper Submission * <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273774&u=htt…>*** * *Conference Committees * <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273769&u=htt…>*** * <javascript:var win = window.open("http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273775&u=htt…", "openWin", "width=400, height=250, scrollbars=yes")> Supporters nepadkenya kenyagov Preliminary list of sponsors jcb <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273773&u=htt…> connectworld <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=1&d=88273772&u=htt…> kdn pic1 ICT Africa 2007 October 1-5 The Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya ICT Africa is an annual continental information and communications technology conference addressing all aspects of ICT development in Africa. The conference is convened by NEPAD council in collaboration with the NEPAD Kenya secretariat. The 2007 event will be organized by Global Conferences, Cape Town, South Africa. ICT Africa 2007 is scheduled for October 1 to 5. The conference will feature hundreds of new ideas on ICT development, lessons leant from other regions of the world, many industry’s top minds, discussions on policy, investment, regional projects and research and development. The conference is a venue for agencies working on different projects in different parts of the continent to meet, exchange ideas and form synergies. With technical tutorials, demonstrations, news in the making and the opportunity to talk to experts, this event will be an experience for all attendees. Whether attendees are entrepreneurs, university professors, scientists or engineers, exhibitors or members of the press, the conference program will be tailored to their information needs and interest. *Programming* ICT Africa will consist of a plenary session, conference tracks, technical tutorials and an exhibition. _Plenary session_ ICT Africa 2007 will consist of a plenary session to be addressed by ministers (or their representatives) from all regions of Africa. The plenary session is expected to address infrastructure projects throughout Africa including The East Africa Marine System (TEAMS) and the East Africa Submarine System (EASSy). The Kenyan ministry of information and communications will host the plenary session. _Conference tracks_ The rest of the conference will be divided into two main tracks, a technical/academic track and a policy/business track. The technical/academic track will feature presentations from peer reviewed papers by scientists, engineers, professors and students from Africa and abroad. The policy/business track addresses policy and business challenges of ICT development in Africa. Topics will include, but not limited to; deregulation, monopoly, and ICT investment. _Technical tutorials_ One day will be dedicated to technical tutorials. NEPAD Council experts and other experts from different parts of the world will deliver short courses in next generation networks, fibre optics, and voice over Internet protocol and other topics of interest to attendees. _Exhibition_ The 2007 event will consist of an Industry exhibition running parallel to the conference. The exhibition is organized by Togo consultants. *Venue:* As with ICT Africa 2006, ICT Africa 2007 will be held at the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi, Kenya. The central position of Kenya in Africa, the easy of flight connections from different parts of the world to Kenya, the commitment of the Kenyan ministry of information and communication to ICT development and to ICT Africa and the commitment of NEPAD Kenya to ICT Africa are some of the considerations for the choice of Kenya as a venue. *Other events* Organized pre and post conference tours Reception Accompanying persons program *General conference contact:* *Riedwaan Jacobs* Global Conferences Gardener Place, 1st Floor Howard Dr. Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa Phone: +27 21532 6333 Fax +27 21 532 6331 rjacobs(a)globalconf.co.za <mailto:rjacobs@globalconf.co.za> You are subscribed as alice(a)apc.org. To unsubscribe please click here <http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=949995&r=949245&t=934038436&l=6&ea=alice@apc.org…>. Web Bug from http://cmpgnr.com/app/campaigner/trk/opn.jsp?cid=949995&rid=949245&ctd=9340…

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Re: [kictanet] MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA
by Jose' 30 Apr '07

30 Apr '07

This is so amaizing! During the weekend we were just talking over this issue in the forum.Now the government has gotten an 8 billion grant!! for the commissioning? :-O. Kudus to Dr.Ndemo and his ministry on digital villages initiative. Time to roll it out is now!! Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 8:06:38 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA [Daily Nation] ‘Digital villages’ to be set up all over Kenya to speed up access to data Story by NATION correspondent Publication Date: 2007/04/30 The Government plans to set up ‘digital villages’ throughout the country, to ease access to information for its citizens. Information assistant minister Mr Koigi Wamwere said during the weekend that the villages to be set up in all the 210 constituencies, will facilitate easy access to information that would trigger economic development in those areas. Commissioning The minister was speaking in Kisumu during the commissioning of the Od Mikayi satellite information centre, where the project by the Government also received a major boost with the approval of a Sh8 billion grant by the World Bank. This will see local communities exposed to new technologies such as the internet and SMS banking. “We intend to roll out the first of these projects in August,” said Mr Wamwere. He added, “The laying of fibre optic cables throughout the country is on course and when completed, Kenyans are going to enjoy the benefits of high speed internet connectivity.” This initiative is intended to double the number of people having access to such services from 2.7 to 6 million, he said. Also targeted will be telephone subscribers, whose numbers are expected to rise significantly from the current 8.5 million to 15 million before the year ends. Learning centres “We also intend to set up E- learning centres in all schools in addition to computerising all Government departments in the country. "This will enhance transparency in the running of Government affairs,” said the minister. http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?premiumid=0&cate…> ------ Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Alice, Thanks for this wonderful news. Please send me the link. Alex alice <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Balancing Act MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA Kenya's legislators have surprisingly added their voice in support of the transformation to electronic governance in their operations, both within parliament and in at the constituency level. During a two-day meeting held in Nairobi recently, the members of parliament (MPs) discussed various issues related to Kenya Information Society including e-government and ICT strategies in the country and what should be the role of parliamentarians in the process of implementation and monitoring. The meeting with theme: "Empowering Kenya's MPs and National Assembly staff on Building the country's Knowledge Economy," was organised by the UN's Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Canadian e-Policy Resource Network (ePolNet). e-PolNet aims at supporting the implementation of the African Information Society through the provision of various kinds of expertise. The participants, who included 15 MPs, discussed how ICTs can accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and various applications like e-health, e-learning, e-commerce and open platform. This is in response to the eighth goal of MDGs, declared during the UN's Millennium Declaration in 2000, which aims to develop a global partnership for development (including a target to make available the benefits of ICTs to all the world's inhabitants). The participants resolved that there is need to take advantage of the on-going restructuring of all parliamentary committees in order to have ICT either accommodated in one of the committees or set up an independent committee on the subject. In his opening address, Mathioya MP, Joseph Kamotho, said that through the use of ICT, governments become less bureaucratic, and more efficient. "With deployment of ICTs, several opportunities that corrupt public officials normally use for their private gain are eliminated or greatly reduced therefore increasing transparency and accountability in the management of public resources," said Kamotho. Kamotho said that governments in Africa must, therefore, invest in ICT so that the public is able to monitor the performance of their representatives through the establishment of websites where citizens can get information about their institution, leaders and the laws made. On electoral processes, participants gave the example of Zambia where the voters register bears the holder's photo to stem vote rigging. (SOURCE: East African Business Week) _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL
by Mr President 30 Apr '07

30 Apr '07

Hello Bwana PSThakns for the information and i together with others shall be honoured to attend the talks on the freedom of Information bill , that shall go a long way to making Kenya an open democratic government and an example for the rest of Africa .Look foward to meeting you then.Njenga M.Pthose who fear to fail.will never try to succeded,for to fail to plan is to plan to FAIL _______________________________________________ No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

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Re: [kictanet] MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA
by Alex Gakuru 30 Apr '07

30 Apr '07

[Daily Nation] Digital villages to be set up all over Kenya to speed up access to data Story by NATION correspondent Publication Date: 2007/04/30 The Government plans to set up digital villages throughout the country, to ease access to information for its citizens. Information assistant minister Mr Koigi Wamwere said during the weekend that the villages to be set up in all the 210 constituencies, will facilitate easy access to information that would trigger economic development in those areas. Commissioning The minister was speaking in Kisumu during the commissioning of the Od Mikayi satellite information centre, where the project by the Government also received a major boost with the approval of a Sh8 billion grant by the World Bank. This will see local communities exposed to new technologies such as the internet and SMS banking. We intend to roll out the first of these projects in August, said Mr Wamwere. He added, The laying of fibre optic cables throughout the country is on course and when completed, Kenyans are going to enjoy the benefits of high speed internet connectivity. This initiative is intended to double the number of people having access to such services from 2.7 to 6 million, he said. Also targeted will be telephone subscribers, whose numbers are expected to rise significantly from the current 8.5 million to 15 million before the year ends. Learning centres We also intend to set up E- learning centres in all schools in addition to computerising all Government departments in the country. "This will enhance transparency in the running of Government affairs, said the minister. http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?premiumid=0&cate…> ------ Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Alice, Thanks for this wonderful news. Please send me the link. Alex alice <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Balancing Act MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA Kenya's legislators have surprisingly added their voice in support of the transformation to electronic governance in their operations, both within parliament and in at the constituency level. During a two-day meeting held in Nairobi recently, the members of parliament (MPs) discussed various issues related to Kenya Information Society including e-government and ICT strategies in the country and what should be the role of parliamentarians in the process of implementation and monitoring. The meeting with theme: "Empowering Kenya's MPs and National Assembly staff on Building the country's Knowledge Economy," was organised by the UN's Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Canadian e-Policy Resource Network (ePolNet). e-PolNet aims at supporting the implementation of the African Information Society through the provision of various kinds of expertise. The participants, who included 15 MPs, discussed how ICTs can accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and various applications like e-health, e-learning, e-commerce and open platform. This is in response to the eighth goal of MDGs, declared during the UN's Millennium Declaration in 2000, which aims to develop a global partnership for development (including a target to make available the benefits of ICTs to all the world's inhabitants). The participants resolved that there is need to take advantage of the on-going restructuring of all parliamentary committees in order to have ICT either accommodated in one of the committees or set up an independent committee on the subject. In his opening address, Mathioya MP, Joseph Kamotho, said that through the use of ICT, governments become less bureaucratic, and more efficient. "With deployment of ICTs, several opportunities that corrupt public officials normally use for their private gain are eliminated or greatly reduced therefore increasing transparency and accountability in the management of public resources," said Kamotho. Kamotho said that governments in Africa must, therefore, invest in ICT so that the public is able to monitor the performance of their representatives through the establishment of websites where citizens can get information about their institution, leaders and the laws made. On electoral processes, participants gave the example of Zambia where the voters register bears the holder's photo to stem vote rigging. (SOURCE: East African Business Week) _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/alex.gakuru%40yahoo.com --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

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MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA
by alice 30 Apr '07

30 Apr '07

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Balancing Act MPS SUPPORT E-GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION IN KENYA Kenya's legislators have surprisingly added their voice in support of the transformation to electronic governance in their operations, both within parliament and in at the constituency level. During a two-day meeting held in Nairobi recently, the members of parliament (MPs) discussed various issues related to Kenya Information Society including e-government and ICT strategies in the country and what should be the role of parliamentarians in the process of implementation and monitoring. The meeting with theme: "Empowering Kenya's MPs and National Assembly staff on Building the country's Knowledge Economy," was organised by the UN's Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Canadian e-Policy Resource Network (ePolNet). e-PolNet aims at supporting the implementation of the African Information Society through the provision of various kinds of expertise. The participants, who included 15 MPs, discussed how ICTs can accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and various applications like e-health, e-learning, e-commerce and open platform. This is in response to the eighth goal of MDGs, declared during the UN's Millennium Declaration in 2000, which aims to develop a global partnership for development (including a target to make available the benefits of ICTs to all the world's inhabitants). The participants resolved that there is need to take advantage of the on-going restructuring of all parliamentary committees in order to have ICT either accommodated in one of the committees or set up an independent committee on the subject. In his opening address, Mathioya MP, Joseph Kamotho, said that through the use of ICT, governments become less bureaucratic, and more efficient. "With deployment of ICTs, several opportunities that corrupt public officials normally use for their private gain are eliminated or greatly reduced therefore increasing transparency and accountability in the management of public resources," said Kamotho. Kamotho said that governments in Africa must, therefore, invest in ICT so that the public is able to monitor the performance of their representatives through the establishment of websites where citizens can get information about their institution, leaders and the laws made. On electoral processes, participants gave the example of Zambia where the voters register bears the holder's photo to stem vote rigging. (SOURCE: East African Business Week)

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FW: Day 3 of 10: Day 3 - Hierarchy of IGO & ISPs
by Fiona Asonga 29 Apr '07

29 Apr '07

Begin forwarded message: From: Sammy Buruchara <HYPERLINK "mailto:buruchara@mac.com"buruchara(a)mac.com> Date: April 27, 2007 5:18:27 PM GMT+03:00 To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <HYPERLINK "mailto:kictanet@kictanet.or.ke"kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 10: Day 3 - Hierarchy of IGO & ISPs Dear all, I find the conclusion of this report about the IGO and ISP quite ignorant of historical facts: - The government from the onset of the Internet Industry was reluctant to license ISPs because of TKL. At the time only TKL had International Gateway License. Even 5 years after giving them ISP license, ISPs were still not allowed to setup IG operations. CCK used to visit ISPs premises routinely to check if they have illegal VSAT. State security was usually the excuse. International bandwidth from TKL was then US$8000 per 64kbs half circuit. Naturally this was somehow passed on to the client. - ISPs got the license 5 years later (2000) JamboNet was set up but still ISPs (even GSM operators) had to go through TKL for all International bandwidth whether through JamboNet or dedicated circuit. Dedicated circuit was made prohibitively higher to force ISPs to use Jambonet. - It took Tespok campaigning and even harassment by CCK of Tespok leadership before CCK could concede to actually open up the Telecoms Market in 2004. Tespok went to the Tribunal and won a case with CCK forcing them to allow operators setup International gateways. ISPs paid for this court case which cost millions. Unfortunately the authorities had other ways of permanently preventing ISPs from ever getting an International Gateway facility: Licensing fees. To setup an International gateway license the license fees was and still is Ksh 16 million. Naturally most ISPs could not afford this. In Uganda, it is a paltry US$1000. The beneficiaries of the liberalization victories were therefore not ISP but other investors who previously were not anywhere near the industry play. So came up KDN, Jamii, and all other BOGs. In fact only UUNET recently joined the group after much lobbying. The market may judge what they may about the ISP, but it is good to know that from the beginning, the govt used unusually great energy to make sure they do not succeed because they happened to threaten their favorate baby, TKL. Now if the ISPs do not add value and only increase cost, the reason? Your guess is as good as mine. The rest is history. regards Sammy Buruchara CEO - NairobiNet Online On Apr 25, 2007, at 8:36 AM, John Walubengo wrote: Thanx Alex for your comments on Day 1, for a moment I was bracing myself for a 10 day Online monologue :-(! as opposed to the planned Online dialogue. Incidentally, belated Comments on previous days themes shall remain welcome - just click on the correct subject line and make your appropriate contributions... Anyway back to today's theme- The Question of Internet Gateway Operators (IGO, the Wholesalers of Internet Bandwidth) vs Internet Service Providers (ISPs, the Retailers of Internet Bandwidth). The report recommends that seperation b/w IGO and ISPs be dissolved. This is because the current structure Internet-> IGO -> ISP -> Consumers is considered unnecessarily too long. Apparently the ISP as we know them today are not adding significant value - instead they are adding cost to the service and probably degraging the quality of the Internet eventually delivered to the Customers. Cutting down the middle-man (ISPs) may offset the costs and while increasing the quality of the internet eventually delivered to the Consumer. Is this assumption true? Does allowing IGO to directly deal with Consumer result in cheaper Internet Services while improving on the quality of the internet? 1 day on this theme, at the least, I do hope to get some reactions at from any IGOs and ISPs. walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around HYPERLINK "http://mail.yahoo.com"http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list HYPERLINK "mailto:kictanet@kictanet.or.ke"kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke HYPERLINK "http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet"http://kictanet.or.ke/mailm an/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at HYPERLINK "http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sammy%40opensystems.co.ke"ht tp://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sammy%40opensystems.co.ke No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/777 - Release Date: 4/26/2007 3:23 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/777 - Release Date: 4/26/2007 3:23 PM

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Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Digital villages the way to go
by bitange＠jambo.co.ke 28 Apr '07

28 Apr '07

The SME debate here has brought out significant findings in the sense that inspite of the many information documents that we give, we have not either read all of them or chosen to ignore the facts and present opinions. If you read for example, the Summary National ICT Master Plan (Issued in February)under ICT Software, the Government has commited to encourage at least 50% of government software procurement is sourced from local software developers. Most local developers are SMEs. The Government from July will support cost of bandwidth for BPOs, Digital Villages and Universities in an effort to stimulate ICT growth. In July the Government will train thousands of ICT entrepreneurs to take advantages of emerging ICT opportunities. In essense, the Government has done its part. My message is to encourage you to emphasize available opportunities. Enable our people to understand these opportunities. The message I am getting from you is that most of us would rather complain permanently. Let us convert the energies for discussions into action. We need yourhelp in executing the digital village initiatives. Asante Bitange Ndemo. ---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"

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Internet costs set to drop as government rolls out fibre optics plan
by alice 28 Apr '07

28 Apr '07

Written by Kui Kinyanjui The cost of telephony and Internet connections is expected to drop by 80 per cent in 24 months thanks to an ambitious information technology project that aims to position Kenya as one of the most wired countries on the continent. Yesterday, the Government announced that it had set in motion a project that will see the country's 124 districts linked by a fibre optic raising the stakes in what has become the fastest growing sector in the economy. More than 5,000km of fibre optic cable will be laid to all corners of the country to serve as a national backbone that will provide consumers with access to broadband internet. "This infrastructure will serve as the pillar on which services will ride to support the demands of a modern economy," said Bitange Ndemo, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information. The government has committed to financing the project to the tune of $50 million (Sh3.5bn) hoping to provide high speed connectivity to areas that have thus far been ignored. Upon completion, the National Optic Fibre project is expected to herald the transformation of Kenya into top notch ICT country where consumers will have access to high-end market services such as cable and internet protocol television. Africa Analysis, a South African research firm estimates that Kenya's broadband data services market will grow by nearly 600 per cent between 2006 and 2011. Much of that growth will come from rural and home users as well as increased use of enhanced services such as tele-medicine and e- education as the cost of Internet connectivity drops. It is also expected that the terrestrial fibre network will create new business opportunities for entrepreneur, who can piggy-back on the Government's investment to extend ICT services to the rural folk. "With this infrastructure, we expect to attract service providers to remote and marginal areas at lower costs," said John Waweru, director- general of the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) that is overseeing the project. Mr Waweru said the fibre optics project is part of a bigger plan to make the country an Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) hub. It will be hinged on the 600km terrestrial fibre optic cable that Telkom Kenya has laid between the coastal city of Mombasa and Malaba town on the Kenya-Uganda border via Nairobi. "Our aim is to move the country to an infrastructure sharing system to reduce costs," Dr Ndemo said. Kenya Data Networks, a private firm that has invested millions of shillings in a cable connecting Mombasa to Busia via Nairobi yesterday shrugged off fears that it may be a victim of the initiative. "The more infrastructure that is in place, the better for the consumer," said David Owino, the general manger at KDN. Fibre optic cables can carry more data than satellite technology, which to date is the key infrastructure of internet services in Kenya. The government, who will seek to raise the $50 million for the national backbone project through grants, concessions and loans, has already short-listed nine international firms who have been invited to tender for the project. The range of international companies short-listed vying for the project includes Chinese Huawei and ZTE corporations, Sagem, Alcatel- Lucent and Siemens. "Africa is the new hot spot for telecommunications projects," said Sun Jun of ZTE. "The telecommunications market has a lot of potential in this country." NOFBI indicates the executive is giving the nod to the ICT industry to take up its position as an economic driver. As a service sector, the communications industry is contributing increasingly large amounts to the national kitty. Services now contribute to 65 per cent of the country's economy. In 2005, the ICT sector's contribution was pegged at over 10 per cent, up from 9 per cent in 2004. http://bdafrica.com/index2.php? <http://bdafrica.com/index2.php?> option=com_content&task=view&id=690&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=3094 _

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Digital villages the way to go
by Jose' 28 Apr '07

28 Apr '07

SMEs from the communial level need to be exposed to ICT possibilities to save them too much paper work and equiping them to be professional. My take on how to reduce the 16 million people living in abject poverty is for us IT stake holders to invest on DIGITAL VILLAGES thus impacting the communities that are around us with IT skills. I am so challanged with Microsoft south africa.Out of the 15 running digital villages,Microsoft is pertnering with south african communities and the SA Ministry of Communication and they are setting up upto 50 more digital villages this year.To be run by the comminities themselves.The initive of Microsoft to set up these Digital villages in south africa started five years ago. Our vision as we try to partner with the Ministry of commuication is to intergrate university students living near the Digital villages to come and practice by implimenting what they've learnt in the Digital centres. We need to train the Police,Electral commision,City council workers on how to make IT more productive in there perticular departments. I am still puzzled by police Stations when you go report a crime.They remove this big book and you have to explain one sentence at a time as they write on the book.This digital villages can train the police on how to use simple programs like Ms-word and train them on typing skills. Also for the electral commision.For you to see if your name has been registared,a big book will be opened and you have to wait for like 15 minuites before they get your name.This digital villages will train them on how to use Ms-Excell.they just click the search engine and find your name in a flash. The city council lets not even go there.Too much paper work!!You have to leave your requst and come after a week before its found. Lets copy the south Africans on how they are outlaying this Digital centres.Its not in vain.Imagine everybody in your community being computer literate and government workers.its going to be fantastic!! I herby attatch this URL from the btimes in south Africa. http://www.btimes.co.za/99/0926/survey/survey06.htm Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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My take on this: 27th April
by Mr President 27 Apr '07

27 Apr '07

Hi AliceThe thoughts you express are mutual to many i have spoken to about the "preparedness" for the anticipated Optical Fiber roll outMy view-together with others- is to compile a ckeck lis of what needs to be done vis what has to be done,Namely personnel to operate.Technical satff to install and later repairWorkshops/ repair shops and tools for the aboveMethods of quality control and licencing for playersCapacity building of the sameThen the secondary issues of;Content wether local or not.The incubation centers for trainingThe facilities currently avilable for the same.Ownership of the same for finance/loan/grasnts to the sameCapacity for student intake�Teachers or trainers database for distribution nationwide.Other issues would be;�Is equipment available locally or notIf to be imported would tax exemption benefit the consumer ?What would be the cost of service per minute Or per hour ? 100/= per day ?For teleworking, E-learning, E-medicine etc online cost is an important factor to be considered as with the recent release, stating income-rural- levels and priorities for spending incomeFor the majority who earn less than a dollar a day a nominal fee would make sense, the list is just but an idea tho not comprehensive, a detailed list can- in FACT -should be made.Have a blessed week endRegards Njenga M.Pthose who fear to fail.will never try to succeded,for to fail to plan is to plan to FAIL _______________________________________________ No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

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NSE Stock Calculator
by Bill Kagai 27 Apr '07

27 Apr '07

Dear All, The MediaCorp Research Unit is excited to introduce the MediaCorp Stock Calculator. The calculator intelligently analyses 6 key factors over a seven year historical period through market fundamentals to help you beat the odds when investing in the Nairobi Stock Exchange. Please find attached the analysis of the calculator and make your own intelligent choice. Are you investing in the right companies? What do you know about the companies you have put your money in to?? With kind Regards, Bildad Kagai MediaCorp Limited www.mediacorp.co.ke

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Day 4 of 10: CCK Internet Study-The Statistics on (Domestic) Infrastructure � 1day
by John Walubengo 27 Apr '07

27 Apr '07

Morning all, I think today we could take a look at the domestic (internet) infrastructure. The report indicates that even though ISPs were present in all the 8 Provinces, they were hardly present at the districts level covering only 30% of the districts in Kenya. They operate a total of about 3,000 leased lines (mostly concentrated in NRB & MBSA). In addition, there is a total of 400,000 dial-up lines in the country thought the report is silent on whether all these dial-up lines are hooked up on the Internet. Finally, the local internet exchange point (Kenya Internet eXchange Point) continues to register low figures indicating low domestic internet use. In its recommendation, the report urgest the Government to drive the build up exercise of extending the domestic internet infrastructure. Woud this sufficiently address the poor penetration of the domestic internet nfrastructure or could there be other interventions. 1 day + the Weekend on this one, the floor is open. walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Re: [kictanet] Day 2 Internet Study- International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage
by Jose' 27 Apr '07

27 Apr '07

Hi Walu, You ask what can be done to make us be exporters? Answer:-Human resource development is a very fundamnetal way of making us export bandwith.We need to provide individuals(web developers) with skills and access to information,knowledge and traing that will catalyze them to think and explore on grounds of export thus enabling them to perform effectively. Simply,let us all invest our resources to capacity building strategies. Whats your input Alex? Best Regards, Jose' Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri || +254 722 336754 || ----- Original Message ---- From: John Walubengo <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> To: ngunjirijnr(a)yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 9:13:04 AM Subject: [kictanet] Day 2 Internet Study- International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage Hi all, Yesterday was the most silent deliberation I have ever had - am told it may have been caused by the excitement of the 'Free PC & Cheap Internet' from LK and KDN... Any I do hope today we shall have some response on the above topic which incidentally have a bearing on the long-term success or otherwise of similar 'Free PC & Cheap Internet' initiatives...the question of International vs Domestic Internet Bandwidth. The Internet Study says that of the about 1G International International Bandwidth only 10% is outbound while 90% is inbound. What this mean is that kenya is a net IMPORTER of internet content. In internet economic terms we are therefore consumers rather than generators of internet content - which is a bad thing. Value is always retained by those who generate rather than just consume internet content i.e. the exporters of internet content. Put in another way, all the International bandwidth (KDN, Jamii & others) buys (imports) on our behalf implies that someone in the Northern hemisphere is getting paid for it - wouldn't it be better that KDN, Jamii & others get to sell (export) the same amount of bandwidth to consumers in the North? What can be done to get that to happen? Are the recommendations in the report sufficient to address this imbalance? 1 day discussion on this theme, the floor is open... walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ngunjirijnr%40yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Fw: INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT TO ADDRESS FUTURE OF BROADBAND
by Florence Etta 27 Apr '07

27 Apr '07

FYI sorry for cross poting. FE -----Original Message----- From: cu-wireless-announce-bounces(a)lists.cuwireless.net [mailto:cu-wireless-announce-bounces@lists.cuwireless.net] On Behalf Of Sascha Meinrath Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 3:24 PM To: cu-wireless-announce(a)cuwin.net Subject: [CUWiN Press Release] Community Wireless Summit May 18-20,2007 -- Washington, DC. Contact: Sascha Meinrath Executive Director CUWiN Foundation summit(a)cuwin.net 217-278-3933 x31 INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT TO ADDRESS FUTURE OF BROADBAND -- Community Technology Leaders from Six Continents to Participate -- Champaign-Urbana, I.L., April 18 -- The CUWiN Foundation and the Center for Community Informatics (CCI) will host the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks (http://WirelessSummit.org) from May 18-20, 2007 at Loyola College in Columbia, Maryland. The summit is the largest gathering of wireless network developers, technology and policy experts, and community organizers working to build universal, low-cost broadband networks around the world. "We are proud to host an event that brings together technologists and activists committed to universal access to informatics," said Marco Figueiredo, CCI Director. "The International Summit for Community Wireless Networks explores the opportunities and challenges facing the growing movement to build community and municipal broadband networks," said Sascha Meinrath, co-founder and Executive Director of CUWiN. "This event showcases cutting-edge technologies and develops political strategies to increase digital inclusion." Since the first National Summit for Community Wireless Networks in 2004, over 300 Community Internet and municipal broadband projects have sprung up in the United States alone. The Summit will focus on how these networks can better serve their target populations, the policies needed to support broader deployment of community wireless systems, and the latest technological and software innovations. Presenters at previous summits have included FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, Jim Baller of the Baller Herbst Law Group, Annie Collins of Fiber for Our Future, Mark Cooper of the Consumer Federation of America, Harold Feld of Media Access Project, Robert W. McChesney of Free Press, Matt Rantanen of Tribal Digital Village, Greg Richardson of Civitium LLC, Paul Smith of the Center for Neighborhood Technologies, Jim Snider of the New America Foundation, Dana Spiegel of NYCwireless, Esme Vos of Muniwireless.com and many other luminaries. "High-speed broadband access is the electricity of the 21st century, yet many rural and poorer urban communities are being left off the grid," said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, the DC-based policy think-tank. "The innovators and organizers at the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks are blazing the trail to make broadband affordable and available to everyone." About CUWiN (http://www.cuwin.net) The CUWiN Foundation is a world-renowned coalition of wireless developers and community volunteers committed to providing low-cost, do-it-yourself, community-controlled alternatives to contemporary broadband models. CUWiN is fiscally sponsored by Grassroots.org, a non-profit 501c3. CUWiN's mission is to develop decentralized, community-owned networks that foster democratic cultures and local content. Through advocacy and through our commitment to open source technology, CUWiN supports organic networks that grow to meet the needs of their communities. About CCI (http://cci.cs.loyola.edu) The Center for Community Informatics engages Loyola College's students, faculty and staff in supporting the creation and deployment of informatics tools for community empowerment. CCI develops the Community Telecenter Free Software Toolset; promotes awareness events for the Loyola College community; offer courses in Community Informatics; promotes Digital Inclusion Conferences; researches and develops human-friendly technologies to facilitate inclusion in the New Society of Knowledge; and, evaluates, documents and develops sustainable models for Universal Access to Informatics. # # # _______________________________________________ CU-Wireless-Announce mailing list CU-Wireless-Announce(a)lists.cuwireless.net http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/cu-wireless-announce ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less, sign up for your free account today http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/evt=44106/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/mail/winter07.ht…

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Fwd: WiMax bypasses the Bells
by Alex Gakuru 27 Apr '07

27 Apr '07

Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:29:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Alex Gakuru <alex.gakuru(a)yahoo.com> Subject: WiMax bypasses the Bells To: ke-internetusers(a)bdix.net [Excellent technology eliminating many bandwidth middlemen resulting in reduced consumer costs. ("Bells" broadly refers cable monopoly telcos] [INFOWORLD] WiMax bypasses the Bells Posted by Jill Terry on April 26, 2007 03:00 AM Are Towerstream's metro meshes harbingers of freedom from Internet tiering? Internet tiering, the practice of assigning smaller subscribers reduced qualities of service, bugs the hell out of me. It's a move to reapportion bandwidth in oversold markets without lowering the price of service for those whose quality is reduced. Why, some wonder, can't we work around this? Entrepreneurs could buy enough telco bandwidth to qualify for top tier status, then chop up that bandwidth and resell it with the governors removed. The catch is that bandwidth resellers are stuck using the copper and fiber networks owned by the telcos against which they compete. They have to place their equipment in telcos' central offices in order to distribute their services. When tiering kicks in, telcos can stick bandwidth resellers, and therefore their subscribers, into whatever tier they like based on criteria fabricated by telcos. There is a way around this scam, or rather, above it. Towerstream is succeeding where a lot of would-be wireless Internet players have failed. It supplies scalable Internet connectivity to businesses in metropolitan areas through a web of WiMax transceivers. My interest is less in WiMax technology than in what Towerstream does with it. Its business model is almost impossibly simple and practically impervious to telco interference. It works like this: Towerstream leases small plots of space on the rooftops of office buildings. You'd never know it, but that's hot real estate up there, and most of Towerstream's early development hinged on snagging enough rooftop space to blanket the cities it serves. When Towerstream wins a spot on a roof, many of the buildings have telephony facilities and hosting providers on or near the top floors. Towerstream grabs a gigabit link from each of them, and through the magic of the WiMax mesh, adds to its total available bandwidth and eliminates the risk that subscribers face when they buy their bandwidth from a single carrier. This isn�t a tale of a telecommunications Robin Hood. At $500/month, its lowest-tier T-1 service (1.5 Mbps upstream and downstream) hovers around or slightly above average pricing for markets it serves. However, Towerstream gives its customers three extras that can make its service priceless. First, that T-1 includes DSL-like 3 Mbps "best effort" service; you get up to twice as much bandwidth when the network's not crowded. Towerstream offers a service level agreement (SLA) that's incomparably sweet for smaller subscribers: 99.99 percent guaranteed availability, a maximum of 75 ms round trip to the backbone and a max of 1 percent packet loss. And lastly, Towerstream's network assigns high QOS (quality of service) priority to VoIP traffic, so it's practical for a business to use its WiMax Internet service to offset its wired telephony costs. Did I say three extras? I missed the one that's the point of the whole story. You might recall that Towerstream buys its bandwidth in multiples of a gigabit, which puts it in the top tier in even the craftiest telco's book. Towerstream chops up that bandwidth and resells it, but there's no copper, no fiber, and no telco-owned infrastructure in the picture. Unless Towerstream loosens the 75 ms round trip delay and 1 percent packet loss provisions, it's promising that even its bottom end, T-1 customers won't be tiered. Neither wired nor wireless bandwidth can be free because the infrastructure costs too much to build and maintain, but Towerstream shows telcos for the carpetbaggers they are and presents a model for escaping their clutches. It's not perfect: Only residents of metro areas including New York, Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco are reached by Towerstream, and Towerstream has no plans to reach out to or beyond the 'burbs. But Towerstream counsels would-be WiMax players aiming for smaller markets. Telcos, the future of the Internet is way over your head. <http://weblog.infoworld.com/yager/archives/2007/04/wimax_bypasses.html?sour…> --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

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[Fwd: [APC Forum] Job vacancy at GreenNet]
by alice 26 Apr '07

26 Apr '07

-------- Original Message -------- Hi All, As GreenNet looks to put more energy into engaging and supporting our user community, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and technically skilled person to join our user-support team. Please circulate to anyone you think might be interested. Unfortunately we can't pay relocation costs for applicants from outside the UK, but we can offer support and advice on any necessary immigration requirements and accommodation arrangements. Anna ------------------------------------------------------ *GreenNet Logo Part-Time User Support Position at GreenNet* * Location: Central London / Old Street * Start Date: June 2007 * Salary: £25,680 per annum pro rata * Leave: 28 days per annum pro rata * Part-time (2-3 days a week): 9.30am-5.30pm * Deadline for Applications: 14th May 2007 *General Background:* GreenNet is a workers' collective, with a horizontal management structure. All staff are involved in decision making and strategic planning, and contribute to a friendly and supportive working environment. We provide networking support to social justice organisations and activists, and take an active role in campaigns for the promotion of communication rights. For more on GreenNet, see http://www.gn.apc.org *Duties:* * Answering user support queries by email, phone, and occasionally in person * Giving advice on configuration of a variety of email programs, web browsers, FTP clients and dial-up connections on most versions of Windows and Mac OS * Troubleshooting user website, email and connection problems * Basic mail, web and DNS server systems administration on Linux * Providing a link between users' online needs and service development at GreenNet * Promoting and offering advice on GreenNet services * Developing improved systems and processes for support and administration * Maintaining the support section of the GreenNet web site and developing support materials * Keeping abreast of ICT products and services & monitoring markets and competitors * Liaison with suppliers to provide best connectivity and services for users * Liaising with the technical team to contribute to software and technical developments * Outreach to the user community, overseeing printed materials, content and advertising exchanges * Overseeing volunteers where necessary * General contributions to the work of the collective (e.g. minute taking, planning, representing GreenNet in public, maintaining ethical policies, training) *Essential Skills:* * Good knowledge of the internet, email and related technologies * Good troubleshooting skills * Knowledge of most commonly-used email client programs (Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Eudora) and web browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox) * Good knowledge of PC operating systems (Windows 95 – Vista, including NT) and Macs (Mac OS 8.5 to X) * Knowledge of at least one programming language * Interest and capacity for rapidly acquiring new technical skills * A willingness to participate and contribute to the collective management of GreenNet * A good service-orientated attitude and good telephone manner – patience essential! * Ability to explain complex technical information in a jargon-free way to people of wide-ranging abilities * Understanding of the voluntary sector working environment *Desirable skills:* * Interest in communication rights, Open Source software, social justice and environmental issues * Creativity and imagination in support, service development and skill sharing * Linux systems administration skills * Knowledge of networking (LAN, WAN, ADSL) and network troubleshooting * Interest or experience in website development and programming * Campaigning or project management experience *Application Requirements* Please send your CV and covering letter by E-mail to jobs(a)gn.apc.org, with *User Support Vacancy* in the subject line ____________________________________________ Anna Feldman GreenNet Web Projects Developer APC Wireless Connectivity Project Coordinator anna(a)gn.apc.org | http://www.gn.apc.org | http://www.apc.org/ T: +44 (0)20 7065 0940 +44 (0)20 8986 2893 F: +44 (0)20 7065 0936 ____________________________________________ ======================================= APC Forum is a meeting place for the APC community - people and institutions who are or have been involved in collaboration with APC, and share the APC vision - a world in which all people have easy, equal and affordable access to the creative potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve their lives and create more democratic and egalitarian societies. _______________________________________________ apc.forum mailing list apc.forum(a)lists.apc.org http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/apc.forum

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Day 3 of 10: Day 3 - Hierarchy of IGO & ISPs
by John Walubengo 26 Apr '07

26 Apr '07

Thanx Alex for your comments on Day 1, for a moment I was bracing myself for a 10 day Online monologue :-(! as opposed to the planned Online dialogue. Incidentally, belated Comments on previous days themes shall remain welcome - just click on the correct subject line and make your appropriate contributions... Anyway back to today's theme- The Question of Internet Gateway Operators (IGO, the Wholesalers of Internet Bandwidth) vs Internet Service Providers (ISPs, the Retailers of Internet Bandwidth). The report recommends that seperation b/w IGO and ISPs be dissolved. This is because the current structure Internet-> IGO -> ISP -> Consumers is considered unnecessarily too long. Apparently the ISP as we know them today are not adding significant value - instead they are adding cost to the service and probably degraging the quality of the Internet eventually delivered to the Customers. Cutting down the middle-man (ISPs) may offset the costs and while increasing the quality of the internet eventually delivered to the Consumer. Is this assumption true? Does allowing IGO to directly deal with Consumer result in cheaper Internet Services while improving on the quality of the internet? 1 day on this theme, at the least, I do hope to get some reactions at from any IGOs and ISPs. walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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successful journalists workshop
by Rebecca Wanjiku 26 Apr '07

26 Apr '07

hi, KICTANet together with ICT media network held a successful workshop this morning brought together more than 30 journalists was addressed by PS Ndemo and DG Waweru we are having the monthly forum this afternoon at 3pm..... dont miss the forum at Jacaranda... becky Rebecca Wanjiku, journalist, p.o box 33515, Nairobi.00600 Kenya. Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

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Fw: [COMO Alliance] Public Interest Media Activism and Advocacy as a Social Movement: A Review of the Literature
by Florence Etta 26 Apr '07

26 Apr '07

FYI Public Interest Media Activism and Advocacy as a Social Movement: A Review of the Literature Abstract This report examines the academic literature focused on public interest media and communications activism and advocacy within the U.S. and abroad (labeled, in the name of brevity, the “media reform” movement throughout this report). This report first seeks to outline the parameters of the movement under consideration, in terms of the primary conceptual frames employed, outcomes pursued, and strategic approaches. As this section illustrates, the media reform movement is characterized by a diverse array of conceptual frames (ranging from “media reform” to “media justice” to “communication rights” to “media democracy”), and a hesitancy at this point to coalesce around a single unifying frame. The movement is similarly diverse in terms of its outcome priorities and in terms of the strategic approaches employed by its various member organizations. The second section of the report charts the origins and evolution of the research in this field. As this section illustrates, over time the analytical approach that scholars have brought to the topic increasingly has adopted a social movement theory perspective. The third section considers the media reform movement as a social movement, identifying key recurring themes in the literature related to the interaction between media reform and other social movements, to the relationship between social movements and the media, and to the organization and performance of the organizations driving the media reform movement. As this section illustrates, media reform is unique in the extent to which its goals can facilitate the success of other social movements, but also is uniquely hampered by the extent to which traditional mainstream media are motivated to deny press coverage to media reform. This section also highlights some of the most common critiques leveled at the media reform movement, ranging from a lack of coordination and collaboration between groups, to a lack of a strong nation-wide constituency, to a primarily reactive orientation toward policy issues. The concluding section summarizes the key findings of the report and offers a series of recommendations related to strategic approaches for the movement and to avenues for future research. Key Findings n The academic literature on the media reform movement is much more extensive than has previously been suggested, due in large part to tremendous growth in the literature in recent years, as well as due to the diverse terminology used to describe the movement (which can confound efforts to assemble an appropriately inclusive body of literature). n A significant proportion of the literature is internally generated (i.e., produced by individuals involved in the movement). n The tendency among scholars to conceptualize media reform as a social movement has become more common in recent years. n The media reform movement frequently has been characterized as unique due to the extent to which the ends of the movement support key means by which other social movements achieve their goals. n The media reform movement frequently has been characterized as subservient to broader social movements, given its tight linkages throughout its history to social movements such as civil rights, yet evidence of strong and systematic linkages between media reform and other social movements has been lacking. n The media reform movement frequently has been characterized as highly fragmented, lacking substantial inter-group coordination, and lacking a sufficiently large constituency. n The media reform movement frequently has been characterized as reaching its peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but also becoming highly rejuvenated within the past decade, in terms of public interest organization activity, citizen interest, and funding support. _______________________________________________ COMO_Alliance mailing list COMO_Alliance(a)lists.asc.upenn.edu http://lists.asc.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/como_alliance ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

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Day 4 of 10:- Standby
by John Walubengo 26 Apr '07

26 Apr '07

Hi all, Its encouraging to see comments finally beginning to emerge. I feel it necessary to postpone Day 4 (The Statistics on Infrastructure) to tomorrow so that we can have more time to dwell particularly on the Day 2 'International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage' & Day 3 'Hierarchy of Providers (IBP,ISP)' themes. Kudos in particular to Alex, Michuki & LK for your insights so far. I can't believe we have not heard from Kai - hope he is not on a (butter?)-flight somewhere (;-) walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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members meeting today
by Rebecca Wanjiku 26 Apr '07

26 Apr '07

just to remind you of the meeting today at 3pm the theme will be e-learning, please plan to attend... Kictanet counts on you, you are Kictanet.... regards becky __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Day 2 Internet Study- International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage
by John Walubengo 25 Apr '07

25 Apr '07

Hi all, Yesterday was the most silent deliberation I have ever had - am told it may have been caused by the excitement of the 'Free PC & Cheap Internet' from LK and KDN... Any I do hope today we shall have some response on the above topic which incidentally have a bearing on the long-term success or otherwise of similar 'Free PC & Cheap Internet' initiatives...the question of International vs Domestic Internet Bandwidth. The Internet Study says that of the about 1G International International Bandwidth only 10% is outbound while 90% is inbound. What this mean is that kenya is a net IMPORTER of internet content. In internet economic terms we are therefore consumers rather than generators of internet content - which is a bad thing. Value is always retained by those who generate rather than just consume internet content i.e. the exporters of internet content. Put in another way, all the International bandwidth (KDN, Jamii & others) buys (imports) on our behalf implies that someone in the Northern hemisphere is getting paid for it - wouldn't it be better that KDN, Jamii & others get to sell (export) the same amount of bandwidth to consumers in the North? What can be done to get that to happen? Are the recommendations in the report sufficient to address this imbalance? 1 day discussion on this theme, the floor is open... walu. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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close debate on free PC's
by Rebecca Wanjiku 25 Apr '07

25 Apr '07

just to let you know that we have closed the debate on free PC's et al please focus the debate on the ongoing discussion on interconnectivity, local content.. et al here is the latest comment by Michuki have your say.... ----- Original Message ---- From: Michuki Mwangi <michuki(a)kenic.or.ke> To: rebeccawanjiku(a)yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 1:44:39 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 2 Internet Study- International & Domestic Bandwidth Usage Hi Walu, John Walubengo wrote: > The Internet Study says that of the about 1G International > International Bandwidth only 10% is outbound while 90% is > inbound. What this mean is that kenya is a net IMPORTER of > internet content. In internet economic terms we are > therefore consumers rather than generators of internet > content - which is a bad thing. Value is always retained > by those who generate rather than just consume internet > content i.e. the exporters of internet content. > Less than 50% of the International content is relevant to us yet it makes up 90% of our inbound traffic. That means that there is a potential of more than 50% percent of local content yet to be realised and monetized. >What can be done to get that to happen? IMHO, i see the following as key catalysts to the growth of local content in order to change the status quo. Before we think of exporting content, we need to have sufficient & relevant local content to the users. 1) ISPs & Service providers need to introduce creative products that focus more on local content. For instance an unlimited Internet connection for kshs 1,000 giving one unlimited local access per month. By local access means - can access any locally hosted website and send emails off a local web-based mail system. With affordability but lack of sufficient local content will spur; o creation of local user generated content o Better information on local corporate websites o Introduction of local online Gaming & entertainment o Introduction of online Services i.e banking, shopping, e-gov 2) Looking at the graphs availed (KIXP stats). The stats (picks and drops) are replayed across the International circuits at night and weekends for all operators. Thus the service providers need to monetize their services in Megabit per Second. This will mean that they can offer lower traffic rates i.e kshs 1,000 per month for unlimited Internet from 7pm to 7am and full weekends and national holidays. Looking at points 1 & 2 above it would be feasible (please note the values are just hypothetical) to have unlimited local and international night access for Kshs 2,000 per month for x Kbps of capacity. As the enterprising citizens of Kenya have found ways of monetizing SMS's - the same would apply to web content, email etc. Of course this would spawn off issues of net-neutrality but then we would be more conversant with the issues. 3) As a first step towards e-learning, if the academic sector would (initially the colleges and universities) have all student assignments, essays, reports etc submited online with the internally graded results being posted & accessed online. In essence it will trigger a demand for both computing and Internet resources. Being local content the above products 1 & 2 can serve the day-scholars and the boarders probably paying a flat rate of Kshs 500 per month for unlimited access to the university online resources and local Internet. As a result this will spur; o Academic/Scientific research content & traffic o enhance e-learning products and services o User generated content o Local social online networks. In summary, the infrastructure providers will keep investing as long as there's a business case. So far, there is immense Internet infrastructure capacity on the ground and more being laid out. But quite honestly its highly underutilized. The situation may not change significantly if special focus and emphasis is given to availability of local and RELEVANT content. Kenya is amongst the only two countries in Africa that have the core elements of the Internet locally namely the DNS Root Servers (F and J), the main TLD Root Servers (.KE, .COM and .NET) and a Gigabit capacity Exchange point. We need to take advantage of these resources and infrastructure sooner rather than later. > 1 day discussion on this theme, the floor is open... > Pole this comes more later than the set time. my 2 cents, -- Michuki Mwangi KENIC _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/rebeccawanjiku%40yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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