Dear Listeners,

4G technology looks and even sounds just great!  but I think we ask the question to early about preparedness locally to receive this technology. I agree with Harry D.'s point that pressing for high quality broadband that is favorably priced would be a better way to look at it. Currenly 3G services are not accessible to many countrywide. So technologically speaking we are not yet exploiting 3G let alone prepare for 4G! Once we get one thing right, that is, easy and reliable access to broadband and good pricing then 4G will be a reality.

Looking at pricing and licensing the challenges therein may need state intervention. Some players paid full fees for 3G licensing yet others feel the price is too high for them bear yet they want to offer the same service. If the later are let off the hook that would mean creating an uneven play field with different rules!

On pricing I think the providers are caught in a "catch 22" Their operational costs still remain high (Especially Utilities e.g. power and human resource) and they are forced to lower their prices. I'm sure the price cuts we have seen in recent months have involved serious balancing acts. To ensure people keep their jobs, and the companies still offer services.
Maybe what we shall see in the very near future is value added services such the Tripple or Quad play services. Instead of offering you just broadband services, they may just include cable TV, Land-line phone and a family plan Cell phone deal all for one price?


SammyG



On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 7:49 PM, Harry Delano <harry@comtelsys.co.ke> wrote:

Mr. Pius, et al,

I suppose we still have quite some "unfinished" business, on the current
Mobile broadband technologies
we have to date, the fastest being 3G.

Sometime back on this forum, an embroiling debate ensued on the licensing
structure for 3G, I do
not know if this has now been resolved. Some things in our setting seem to
have a knack of fading
off into oblivion as soon as they arise and remain open ended..

Before we talk of 4G, I think it would only be fair for pricing on Mobile
broadband data on the
current platform to be addressed ASAP, so that all and sundry can enjoy this
resource to the maximum.

Policy makers keep insisting that competition will drive down pricing.
Clearly, we've been at it over
time now and seems little is happening on ground - Why..? Because there is
literally no competition in
Mobile Broadband, where we have 2 - 3 main active players. Infact the
players track each other closely
and prices seem to be closely pegged.

When all the international Optic Fibre cables were being anxiously awaited
for, everyone hailed the
advent of "rock bottom" pricing for broadband, across board only for this to
become a mirage once
they landed. What changed..?

Now one additional cable is landing..? What does this herald. Downward
pricing..? Remains to be seen.

I'm not sure whether the it's time for the wielders of the "Big" stick now,
to deal with this once and
for all, including the main broadband sector.

I suppose, let's sustain the momentum to press for high quality broadband
experience at competitive
pricing by our standards - national..

Harry



_______________________________________________
kictanet mailing list
kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

This message was sent to: sam.gatere@gmail.com
Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/sam.gatere%40gmail.com