----- Original Message ----
From: Alex Gakuru <alexgakuru.lists@gmail.com>
To: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk>
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Friday, 30 November, 2007 6:25:46 PM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fibre Optic

Robert:

I cannot rationally argue against fibre connectivity, but on processes yes.

Of course, I will argue hypothetically since if I responded seemingly
with insider information then I would be misleading consumers. And you
know my issues...

On Nov 30, 2007 4:46 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Explain one issue to me, how will the marine cable increase the remittances
> from the diaspora, they are sending 3.9 billion over slow, expensive
> satellite links why should we reduce this by spending 7 billion to land the
> fiber?

1. AfDB data shows that in total Africa spends US$ 500 million (shs 30
billion) every year on transit satellite bandwidths.( i.e. 5 TEAMS
projects). That would be a saving!

2. Back to your question, since it would be (promised very) cheap to
call them, then we shall call them day and night "convincing" them how
they have neglected mother Africa, poetically narrating Wanjiku's
financial sufferings back home, her kiosk that needs only one-off
stocking and her anguish will ease. They are only human.  They  will
dig deeper into their pockets, miss a few lunches, tighten their
belts, or speak nicely to their bosses on their urgent need to
alleviate home poverty. If we collude and do this nationally for just
one year, then we could quadruple remmitances to 16 billion shillings
or at worst double it to 8 billion-enough to build a cable that will
benefit us for the next 25 years:) That was on a light note though I
am paraphrasing real comments attributable to *130* "Please call me"
to diasporans.

3. Imagine starting a movie company. Be it a comedy, folk tales, Flora
and Fauna, or like developing video games like Wesley Kiriinya's,
"Adventures of Nyangi" http://www.sinc-studios.com/. The fibre gives
one a potential 1.2 billion internet users customer base. Because THEY
can play quality demo videos clips fast many are bound to purchase and
if, say 10,000 buy a product at US$10 that would be Kshs 6 million.
Such opportunities are lost every day we are not connected by fibre.

4. We have 2.7 million internet users. For how long does each one take
tapping their fingers on the desk waiting for a slow web page to load?
Multiply each one's lost productivity by 365 days/year then by 2.7
million and compute the national productivity loss caused by slow, yet
very expensive internet. Based on these mathematics OECD countries
have put up a nifty graphic showing broadband rankings of member
countries, but which also include average price of broadband and
average throughput here
http://www.fiberevolution.com/2007/11/us-lags-in-grap.html, pointer
courtesy Bill St. Arnaud http://www.canarie.ca/. I would be
interesting to have Dr. Ndemo's expected consumer prices to compare.

5. Consumer/Busineses costs saving would be the most apparent benefit.
I need not dwell on that since we all feel them pretty well.

6. I also skip outsourcing.


> Alex, all I ask is can you give me a logical reason why we should spend 7
> billion to land this fiber?

Are above logical enough reasons sufficiently compelling justification
to support the international fibre? But like I said, remember SAT3
West Africa cable cost nearly the same as satellite because of
Bandwidth cartels. So should be assured they have no space in TEAMS to
clog broadband to consumers, but that is somebody's job. We are only
asking for assurance it will not turn out to be a white grey elephant
project:)

>
> I am aware this discussion is academic but it should not stop us from
> questioning the rational.
>
That's the spirit! We keep Ndemo on his toes, always....

Thanks,

Alex