Hallo Harry

Incidentally KIXP is not a PPP model. We are still trying to convince CCK why it should be. However, we have been in support of the EAC approach and currently we have traffic from Uganda terminating at KIXP with the respective operators and carriers are announcing that traffic.

We are also going to be discussing this when TESPOK in conjunction with the Internet Society shall be hosting the 1^st Africa Interconnection Forum under the theme Unlocking Africa’s Regional Interconnection from the 11^th to 12^th August 2010.

The agenda:

1.       The peering vs. Transit economics

2.       Peering and Interconnection strategies for Operators

3.       Interconnection the Cross-Border Policy and Regulatory Challenges

4.       A guide to Peering and Interconnection contracts and negotiations

5.       Africa peering and interconnection opportunities: The transition from national ISPs to regional Carriers

6.       Interconnection and the Content Equation

Who should attend?

The forum is targeted at the Executives, Chief Technology Officers, Peering Coordinators and Business development Managers from African region Internet providers and operators, telecommunications regulators, content providers, Internet Exchange Point (IXP) Operators, infrastructure providers, Data Center Managers, National Research and Education Networks, Carriers and Transit providers. The forum is planned as a non-profit event and international sponsorship and support are sought to convene the event.

We look forward to your participation. To confirm attendance kindly send an email to admin@kixp.or.ke

Regards

Fiona Asonga
Chief Executive Officer
Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya/
Kenya Internet Exchange Point
14^th Floor, Bruce House
Standard Street
 
Tel: +254 20 2245 036
Cell: +254 721 713 504
 

“Industry voice in Telecommunications, Providing Policy and Direction
within the Industry and Government”

Quite insightful, Muriuki..

We will need all the political goodwill from the member countries; to start with, culminating into the relevant policy

frameworks that allow for an integration such as one modelled around our Local KIXP, which has been a huge

success.  I suppose this means we need to open up our borders, work closely and collaboratively to set up the

relevant groundwork.

Any time we have had a Model Public Private Partnership (PPP) at work, results have been forthocoming for all

to see, such as KIXP. I believe a workable cross border PPP model can also be developed to work towards an

intergration objective. Without re-starting the efforts all over again that might be already underway, I suppose

the challenge is how to augument these efforts, synergise and put in a sense of urgency to get results. How

do we approach this..?

Regards,

Harry

From: muriuki mureithi [mailto:mureithi@summitstrategies.co.ke]
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 2:42 PM
To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke
Cc: 'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'
Subject: RE: [kictanet] The urgent case for a Regional Internet Exchange Point (RIXP)

As we look for  technical solutions , it is important to think about the policy and regulatory framework that will make the technical solution easier to implement . all the regional economic communities in Africa  established a formal organ to deal with ICT matters and have formulated elaborate measures to harmonise and integrate network and services   because of the importance of ICT in socio economic integration. That is not the case for EAC, instead  EACO is club of the regulators/ operators  for sharing experiences , it is not part of EAC. The EAC secretariat has limited capacity to drive ICT matters. That’s why  cross border ICT initiatives are private sector  driven which is okay but they are limited . for example Zain’s ONE network is not operating in Rwanda and Burundi  and Kama Kawaida is not operational in Burundi . other companies have to struggle to establish seamless cross border networks /operations. Perhaps this will be addressed by the commitments that EAC countries have made in the EAC Common Market treaty  to open up the market from July 1^st, 2010.  All countries have committed to open their  telecom market without reservations and offer equal treatment to entities from the other partners to invest . Only Rwanda has limited the number of cellular licences to max 3 citing its market size.

Cheers

MM

Thanks alot, let's see how much the discussion can be helpful ( which I believe it is quite),in driving

forward the efforts at intergration, sooner, rather than later..

Many thanks..

Harry

From: Brian Munyao Longwe [mailto:blongwe@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 12:53 PM
To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] The urgent case for a Regional Internet Exchange Point (RIXP)

Harry,

You are very welcome. I think a key point to keep in mind for this issue of regional interconnection is that based on experiences and lessons learnt from other parts of the world - namely, Europe and Southern Asia - it has been proven that regional carriers with cross-IXP connectivity are the most sustainable. This is as opposed to attempts to establish a "neutral" facility in the same way that national IXPs function.

In essence - the regulatory, policy and practical aspects are much easier to deal with and by creating a viable business opportunity, competition is encouraged which, in theory leads to better prices and hopefully better quality.

Regards,

Brian

--
Brian Munyao Longwe
e-mail: blongwe@gmail.com
cell:  + 254 722 518 744
blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com
meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com

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