Dr. Amos Anyimadu, Principal Investigator of the Technology Assessment of the University of Ghana has argued time again that the biggest value that Africa brings to the technology world is "content interspersed applications". Dr. Anyimadu advances the position that academia/research needs to work very closely and fast with government to institute very good IP regimes in the various countries. This begs the question that we can have innovators and inventors but if they cannot protect their work then we may be going round in circles. Eric here
Good point Mike, we need more innovators - and must also find suitable mechanisms to protect their IP.
However, we cannot ignore the impact that m-pesa has on millions of lives everyday. I used it as an example of how the mobile platform has a immense potential as a delivery medium for all kinds of content and applications that can make a difference in peoples lives.
Brian
On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 7:22 AM, Mike Theuri <mike.theuri@gmail.com> wrote:
As much as m-pesa bears a Kenyan name and as much as it benefited Kenyans, the IP is apparently not owned by Kenyans but has been said in various quarters to be owned by Vodafone, a less than 50% shareholder in a Kenyan enterprise. While it is not clear how this came to be, IP issues in the context of development should not be taken lightly as true Kenyan innovation cannot be said to be Kenyan if the associated IP is not within the ownership of Kenyans.
On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 11:27 AM, Janet Feldman <kaippg@earthlink.net>wrote:
Its conclusion is this: "Key stakeholder lesson: relevant content drives demand - Safaricom's m-pesa met a basic and everyday need, this has driven the increased use of their mobile platform by touching the lives & livelihoods of both urban & rural citizens."
----- Original Message ----- *From:* John Maina <j.maina@ymail.com> *To:* kaippg@earthlink.net *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 03, 2008 9:27 AM *Subject:* [kictanet] Satement by Brian Longwe from Panel on Access in MainSession of Internet Governance Forum, Hyderabad, India 3rd Dec 2008
Ndugu Murigi
being in Kenyan primary school uniform doesnt make you Kenyan. Brian in Malawian with a brother called Anthony Maundu longwe in malawi and his cousins and brothers. Brian is not Kenyan and as we move on we will prove this. Kenyan Public companies cant have foreigners masquerrading as locals. And the foreigners are the ones who are used as attack dogs in these fora. Lets see and know that we want to know if by giving Brian who has very cheap CV on ICT to sit on CCK board is the way PS Ndemo is benefiting the foreigners.
Ukweli uutajulikana
JM
------------------------------ *From:* S.Murigi Muraya <murigi.muraya@gmail.com> *To:* John Maina <j.maina@ymail.com> *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 3, 2008 6:10:39 PM *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Satement by Brian Longwe from Panel on Access in Main Session of Internet Governance Forum, Hyderabad, India 3rd Dec 2008
Brian is Kenyan. Some of us used to be in our primary school uniforms playing video games at Sarit Center in the 80's ...and he was one of us!
John Maina wrote:
Ndugu Mungai
Check http://lists.itmalawi.org/pipermail/ictassociation/2008-August/000695.html
Which schools in Kenya did Brian go to. I was in Lilongwe and met one of his former close associate.. Brian is not Kenyan and I am just finishing my investigations. I dont know why PS Ndemo appoints foreigners in Kenyan ICT companies boards. Another one also who is a prominent member of this forum is not Kenyan
I am not talking out of rumours. Wait for proof
JM
------------------------------ *From:* Wainaina Mungai <wainaina@madeinkenya.org><wainaina@madeinkenya.org> *To:* John Maina <j.maina@ymail.com> <j.maina@ymail.com>; picta-kenya@yahoogroups.com; ke-internetusers@bdix.net; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke><kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 3, 2008 5:34:03 PM *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Satement by Brian Longwe from Panel on Access in Main Session of Internet Governance Forum, Hyderabad, India 3rd Dec 2008
FYI John et al.
Brian may as well be called "Mblayo"...He's a Mkamba if that helps qualify him as a real Kenyan...Munyao to be exact. As for mixed heritage, you may give him the same positive recognition as OBAMA...except that he's worked tirelessly for years now building our ICT standing on the planet.
Have an informed day ;-)
KICTANET
Why is a Malawian representing Kenya at the IGF? Do we lack enough Kenyans to sit on Kenyan boards and also represent Kenya abroad? This is disgusting and the earlier the masqueraders like Brian Longwe and the bunch of foreign attack dogs are told off the better.
JM
________________________________ From: Brian Longwe <blongwe@gmail.com> To: j.maina@ymail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet..or..ke<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Wednesday, December 3, 2008 3:15:20 PM Subject: [kictanet] Satement by Brian Longwe from Panel on Access in Main Session of Internet Governance Forum, Hyderabad, India 3rd Dec 2008
Brian Munyao Longwe Ā Main Session on Access (Development Perspective)
Traditionally teledensity has been used as a measure of access or the extent to which communication technologies have pervaded a community.
In the past Africa as a region has recorded extremely low fixed-line teledensity of below 1% that is less than 1 line per 100 people. Believe it or not this is still the case!
However, when one incorporates mobile lines in a teledensity analysis
results are not only incredible, they are amazing. as of 2007, Africa's mobile teledensity stood at an impressive 23% or 23 lines per 100
There was a recorded growth in mobile users from 128 million in 2006 to over 215 million subscribers by 2007. This represents an annual growth of over 46%. We have just heard that India's mobile network is growing at an incredible rate of over 10 million new connections per month!
Given the fact that most operators around Africa have rolled out GPRS/EDGE coverage across most of their networks as well as deployment of 3G access across their larger markets it is entirely feasible that mobile, not broadband may present the opportunity for increased access for developing countries. MOBILE and not BROADBAND is the silver bullet.
Another key element crucial to the growth of access in developing countries is a suitable environment for the dispersion of relevant content and applications that meet the day to day needs of the populace. Internet Exchange Points are the primary critical ingredient needed to create
conditions. By keeping all locally originated and requested traffic local, Internet exchange points serve a crucial role in enhancing the user experience, lowering operational costs and providing a suitable
for the growth and development of the Internet in general.
While many developing countries have adopted policies and regulations
encourage and promote competition in the mobile sectors, which has resulted in continued growth in the numbers of users, the establishment of IXPs has received a relatively low priority - despite the significant impact
such simple infrastructure presents to the community.
Access enhances the interface between government and the citizen at a transactional level.. The Kenya Revenue Authority last year suggested
the Kenya Internet Exchange Point receive "critical infrastructure" status with 24-hour armed guard due to the fact that 100% of all import/export declarations and documentation transit the IXP via the revenue authority's web-based platform.
Going back to mobile, Safaricom, a Kenyan mobile operator introduced a money transfer service called M-Pesa less than two years ago. M-Pesa now has over 4 million subscribers (within 1 year - the service signed up more users
Kenya's entire banking industry signed up within a century!) Safaricom reported that over half a Billion US dollar had been transacted over
platform within less than 18 months.
Key policy lesson? The financial services and communications regulator in Kenya decided not to subject m-pesa to punitive obligations through treatment as a bank but rather chose to perceive m-pesa a non-bank
service. That decision has today affected and continues to affect millions of lives.. Regulators can either promote innovation, access & development or hinder it.
In East Africa communications regulators have completely opened up
communications sector; fully liberalizing every area, but providing structure through unified licensing regime that separates facilities, services and content In Kenya this has spurred investments of over half a Billion USD over the past 2 years.
Key stakeholder lesson: relevant content drives demand - Safaricom's m-pesa met a basic and everyday need, this has driven the increased use of
On 12/3/08, John Maina <j.maina@ymail.com> wrote: - the people. these framework that that that than the payment the their
mobile platform by touching the lives & livelihoods of both urban & rural citizens.
-- Brian Munyao Longwe e-mail: blongwe@gmail.com cell: + 254 722 518 744 blog : http://zinjlog.blogspot.com meta-blog: http://mashilingi.blogspot.com<http://mashilingi..blogspot.com/>
-- Sent from my mobile device
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