| Subject: | [Africa-CS-WSIS]APC Africa-ICT-Policy Monitor] e updates No.9 |
|---|---|
| Date: | Thu, 16 Jun 2005 19:20:25 +1000 |
| From: | Emmanuel Njenga <njenga@apc.org> |
| Reply-To: | africa@wsis-cs.org |
| To: | africa@wsis-cs.org |
Here is the latest issue of the APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor e-updates No. 9, a selection of the latest content added to the Africa ICT Policy Monitor Website chosen by our editors. The content is categorised by theme and country to allow you to view items in the following main sections of the website; - News - Information & Resources - Upcoming Events Do send us your feedback, comments or news on ICT policy issues and we will be glad to add these onto the Africa ICT Policy Monitor Website. Kind Regards, Editor APC Africa Policy Monitor Website: http://africa.rights.apc.org/ Email: africa.rights@apc.org //\//\//\//\//\//\/ - NEWS - //\//\//\//\//\//\/
ITU
to
launch new global telecommunication development initiative
16/06/2005 (ITU)
-- On
Thursday 16 June ITU (today) will launch an innovative new development
initiative designed to harness the expertise and experience of players
from the
public and private sectors, government and civil society in a bid to
connect
the unconnected by 2015.
Nigeria: British company brings payphone services to
rural Africa
14/06/2005 (BusinessDay Online) --
A British company is about to bring cell phone use to isolated areas of
Africa and will be displaying the system at the forthcoming West Africa
Telecom 2005(Wafritel) show in Lagos next week. Pay phone that operates
like a cell phone on any cellular network A public telephone developed
by equatel accepts both pre-paid and "pay-as-you-go" (PAYG) SIM cards
that are both rechargeable and personal.
Ethiopia Telecoms reduces internet use payments effective
Monday
13/06/2005 (ENA)
--
Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) has announced a
drammatic reduction in the payment for internet service effective
Monday 13 June 2005. ETC has facilitated the way for subscribers to use
dial-up, leased line or shared diesel internet services for reasonable
payments, Corporation's Communication Affairs Manager Abdurahim Ahmed
told ENA on Sunday.
Ghana Telcom to introduce pre-paid system for homes
07/06/2005 (Ghanaweb)
--
Ghana Telecom (GT) will introduce a pre-paid telephone system in homes
by December this year as an alternative to cutting down billing
complaints. The new system would enable customers to recharge their
credits on their accounts with top-up cards whereas the units will run
according to the number and duration of calls, says GT's General
Manager in charge of Strategy Business Development, Mr Emanuel Dziko.
Kenya: Firm to launch Sh160m gateway
06/06/2005 (Daily Nation) --
A new internet gateway firm, UUNet Communications, is set to roll out
services at an initial cost of Sh160 million this month. The firm is a
subsidiary of UUNet Kenya, and the money is short term financing setup
and operations, with more investment planned for later, depending on
market growth and the needs of the firm's clientele.
News > Censorship
Zimbabwe: Mugabe to crack down on internet use
10/06/2005 (Zimbabwe
Online) --
Zimbabwe plans to outlaw the dissemination through the internet of
information and material it deems offensive, President Robert Mugabe
said during a ceremony to mark the opening of Parliament boycotted by
the opposition yesterday (9th June 2005).
Zimbabwe: Minister accused of interfering with editorial
content
06/06/2005 (MISA/IFEX)
--
Zimbabwe's deputy Minister of Information and Publicity Bright Matonga
has been accused of interfering with the editorial content of reports
by the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH). According to the
2 June 2005 edition of the weekly "Financial Gazette", Matonga has
taken to personally editing stories for the main 20h00 news bulletin.
South Africa: New licensing conditions for SABC
14/06/2005 (BusinessDay
) --
The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) will impose new
conditions on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) - which
will result in local languages getting more airtime - with effect from
April next year, the regulator said today.
Gambia: Stakeholders Define the Gambia’s e-strategy
10/06/2005 (UNECA)
--
In collaboration with the Department of State for Communication,
Information and Technology (DOCIT) of the Government of The Gambia, the
Development Information Services Division (DISD) of the ECA held a
2-day stakeholders’ workshop on "Building an Inclusive Information
Society in the Gambia" from 6 to 7 June 2005 in Banjul.
South Africa: Gauteng launches public portal
08/06/2005 (ITWeb)
--
An e-government portal has been launched to improve efficiency and
allow the public access to provincial government information and
services. The portal, launched in Tembisa by Gauteng Premier Mbhazima
Shilowa will give members of the public access to e-government
information and services.
Nigeria loses over N100bn to copyright piracy
15/06/2005 (BusinessDay Online) --
Director General of the Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) Adebambo
Adewopo, has said Nigeria loses up to N100 billion to copyright piracy
annually. Adewopo disclosed this at a sensitization workshop on
Strategic Action Against Piracy (STRAP) for the commission's zonal
coordinators, where he lamented that the high rate of piracy had
impacted negatively on the growth of the creative industry and by
extension, the economy of Nigeria.
Botswana: Moroka to table Copyright Amendment Bill
15/06/2005 (BOPA ) --
Minister of Trade and Industry, Neo Moroka is expected to table the
Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Amendment Bill of 2005 in the July
session of Parliament to enhance the protection of owners of copyright.
Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Amendment Bill, 2005 was published in
the Government Gazette on June 10, 2005.
Agreement out of reach in WIPO patent harmonisation talks
04/06/2005 (IP
Watch) --
Governments’ failure to reach agreement on a way forward on patent
harmonisation talks at the World Intellectual Property Organisation
today (3rd June) has cast a pall on the future of the issue within the
U.N. body, sources said.
Brazil proposes sweeping Internet Governance reforms
15/06/2005 (ICANNWATCH)
--
As the UN Working Group on Internet Governance enters into its last
public consultation this week, an English translation of an official
proposal from the government of Brazil was released by Brazilian WGIG
member Carlos Afonso.
South Africa: No redraft for Convergence Bill
16/06/2005 (ITWeb)
--
Members of Parliament and the Department of Communications have
rejected suggestions that the Convergence Bill should be redrafted.
This emerged yesterday during the sixth day of hearings on the
Convergence Bill before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on
Communications.
Kenya: Society seeks law to regulate IT sector
12/06/2005 (East
African Standard) --
The Computer Society of Kenya (CSK) wants parliament to enact a law
recognising it as the regulator of the ICT sub-sector. The association
said supportive legislation needed to manage development of the
sub-sector and establish an ethical framework.
Nigeria: GSM operators lobby for extension of exclusivity
period
07/06/2005 (BusinessDay ) --
There is intense lobbying by GSM operators to force the Nigerian
Communications Commission to extend the five-year exclusivity period
granted them in 2001 which expires February 2006. Following this, the
NCC has indicated interest in a declaration of post exclusivity period
upon which more operators would be licensed to provide digital mobile
phone (GSM) services in the country under the commission's unification
of license exercise.
Guinea: Government finally agrees to open up airwaves
03/06/2005 (IRIN
News) --
The government of Guinea has finally agreed to open up the airwaves to
privately owned radio and television, but not to political parties or
religious groups, according to a government statement read out on
television.
Kenya: Industry roots for lower ICT costs
15/06/2005 (East
African Standard) --
Stakeholders in the Information and Communications (ICT) want the
sub-sector’s high operating costs lowered to allow greater access to
the service. Dr Shem Ochuodho, the chairman of African Regional Centre
for Commuting, said there was urgent need for Kenya to be linked to the
information superhighway for lower costs.
Bostwana: BEDIA chief criticizes IT companies
13/06/2005 (BOPA) --
Botswana Export Development Investment Authority (BEDIA) Chief
Executive Officer Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba has condemned local
information technology (IT) companies for their laid back attitude on
pertinent matters. In her opening remarks at ITEX 2005 she said such a
gesture sends a wrong signal to potential investors.
Namibia Unveils ICT Policy
08/06/2005 (NewEra)
--
In an effort to address insurmountable educational challenges and in
order to give Namibia the edge on the global information technology
arena, the Ministry of Education has unveiled its Information and
Communication Technology Policy.
Namibia: Youth Project Gets N$2m
15/06/2005 (NewEra)
--
The Social Security Commission of Namibia (SSC) through its development
fund has transferred N$2 million to the Ministry of Education for the
National Information and Communication Technology Scheme. The donation
demonstrates the importance attached by the SSC to Information
Communication Technology (ICT) needs and the expansion of this vital
field within the country.
Sangonet to host forum on WSIS
13/06/2005 (ITWeb)
--
Sangonet is to host a forum this month to brief South African civil
society organisations on the World Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS) on June 29th.
//\//\//\//\//\//\/ -INFORMATION & RESOURCES - //\//\//\//\//\//\/
Digital
Futures: A Need-to-Know Policy Guide for Independent Filmmakers
A guide to help independent filmmakers understand the impacts of
digital technology and the policy issues effecting their art.
The
One to Watch: Radio, New ICTs and Interactivity
The cases presented in this book are among the first examples of the
convergence of radio and new ICTs for development, and the book
underscores the significant potential of the combination. In this
convergence, radio promises to take on even greater significance and
value. For this reason, we believe that radio is the one to watch.
//\//\//\//\//\//\/ - UPCOMING EVENTS - //\//\//\//\//\//\/
Incommunicado
05: information technology for everybody else
Incommunicado 05 is a two-day working conference working towards a
critical survey of the current state of 'info-development', also known
as the catchy acronym 'ICT4D' (ICT for development). Before the recent
“flattening of the world” (Thomas Friedman, 2005), most computer
networks and ICT expertise were located in the North, and
info-development mostly involved rather technical matters of knowledge
and technology transfer from North to South. While still widely (and
even wildly) talked about, the assumption of a 'digital divide' that
follows this familiar geography of development has turned out to be too
simple. Instead, a more complex map of actors, networked in a global
info-politics, is emerging.
20/06/2005, International
WDR Online
Dialogue: Diversifying Participation in Network Development
The next WDR Online Dialogue is dedicated to the current WDR research
theme, Diversifying Participation in Network Development, and will be
held in the Dialogue section of this site, beginning 20 June 2005.
23/06/2005, Rwanda
The
2nd Rwanda ICT Convention: Theme: “e-Government: the Driving Force for
Socio-Economical Development”
Organized by AITEC in association with the Rwanda Information
Technology Authority (RITA). This premier conference and exhibition
focuses on meeting the challenges of putting electronic government into
practice.
28/06/2005, Kenya
ICTe
AFRICA 1st Continental Exhibition, Conference and Media Event
All Global roads lead to Nairobi, Kenya where ICTe AFRICA hosts the
inaugural continental ICT fair in partnership with the African
Telecommunication Union (ATU) and the Union of Radio and Television
Organisation of Africa (URTNA).
29/06/2005, South
Africa
Thetha
- World Summit on the Information Society, 29 June 2005
SANGONeT will host a Thetha forum on 29 June 2005 to provide South
African civil society organisations (CSOs) with an opportunity to
reflect on the focus and objectives of WSIS and related processes. It
will also provide a platform to discuss the position of the South
African government and civil society in this regard. A similar meeting
will be held in Cape Town during July 2005.
05/07/2005, Nigeria
Africa
Regional preparatory meeting for the World Telecommunication
development Conference (WTDC-06), Abuja (Nigeria), 5-7 July 2005
Africa Regional preparatory meeting for the World Telecommunication
development Conference (WTDC-06), will be held in Abuja (Nigeria), 5-7
July 2005. The objective of these meetings is to adopt appropriate
development strategies at regional and subregional level.
-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Emmanuel Njenga Njuguna Africa Policy Monitor Project Association for Progressive Communications (APC) Email: africa.rights@apc.org or njenga@apc.org Web: http://africa.rights.apc.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~