The new Broadband Strategy proposes a definition of 2Mbps per user by the way (which would mean for an SME or home of 5 persons/devices, 10 Mbps or for a school with 50 computers, 100 Mbps etc)

 

Adam

 

From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+adam.lane=huawei.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Walubengo J via kictanet
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2019 8:39 AM
To: Adam Lane <adam.lane@huawei.com>
Cc: Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Online discussion on State of Broadband in Kenya

 

@ Wambua, 

 

your referenced CA report does indeed say 47.9% of internet subscriptions are on broadband Pg17.

 

As to what exactly is broadband internet...the definition form ITU (256Kbps one OR both ways?) would definitely be outdated.  

 

Theoretically the concept of broadband internet is a moving target and hard to really box-into a number.

 

It gets worse with different technologies...Radio (3g/4g/5g) vs Cabled (fiber, copper).

 

OR with different applications (are you streaming video, doing voice/voip, completing a financial transaction or doing telemedicine / remote surgery?)  

 

All these applications require different quality of services - that the term 'broadband' tries to capture in one value (256Kbs/512Kbps/1Mbs/10Mbs/etc).

 

Then through in the access devices the user is using to access the service (mulika mwizi phone, smart phone, tablet, laptop, workstation, etc) and you get the challenge of what Quality of Service (QoS) means and what it means to try and measure it. 

 

At the end of the day, it is a question of fit for use. 

 

Focusing too much on a mathematical figure like in the old telephone days, may miss the point. Which is bringing communities to the internet to do what they want to do using devices they currently have.

 

That said, it is good for the regulator /broadband strategies to have targets...but probably not split too many hairs about it given the realities of different quality standards for different use cases, application area and circumstances.

 

NB: 5G is supposed to streamline this by splitting QoS according to application domain areas.  So maybe in future we may split the QoS hairs after all.

 

walu.

 

 

On Thursday, April 25, 2019, 10:50:25 PM GMT+3, Wambua, Christopher via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

 

 

Mwendwa,

 

Below are responses to your additional queries: 

 

If I am not mistaken, the last time land based internet coverage and population based internet coverage was mentioned on the list, Rachel indicated that CA would update the methodology. While at this, Ali has shared connectivity statistics from CA where 47.9% of internet subscribers are using broadband. Perhaps you can give us your definition of broadband, and also what 47.9% broadband internet subscribers mean. Does it mean people?

 

First and foremost, we are  not sure where the figure of 47.9% was obtained from since our statistics reports outlines the number of broadband subscriptions. For more details please refer to .https://ca.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Sector-Statistics-Report-Q2-2018-19.pdf

 

As regards the review of the methodology used to compute internet and mobile subscriptions,  may wish to note that this is work still in progress. We shall apprise the community on the revised methodology in due course. 

 

Mobile broadband subscriptions

 

Based on ITU standards, mobile broadband subscriptions refer to subscriptions to mobile cellular networks with access to data communications (e.g.the Internet) at broadband speeds (defined as greater than or equal to 256 kbit/s in one or both directions) such as WCDMA, HSDPA, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO and CDMA 2000 1xEV-DV, irrespective of the device used to access the Internet(handheld computer, laptop or mobile phone etc).

 

These services are typically referred to as 3G or 3.5G   and include:

 

- Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA), an IMT-2000 3G mobile network technology, based on CDMA that presently delivers packet-switched data transmission speeds up to 384 kbit/s and up to 2 Mbit/s when fully implemented. It is known

as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) in Europe.

- High-speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), an upgrade to W-CDMA to allow downlink data transmission at speeds of typically 8-10 Mbit/s. It is complemented by High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), which offers uplink speeds of around 5 Mbit/s.

- CDMA2000 1xEV-DO (Evolution, Data Optimised), an IMT-2000 3G mobile network technology, based on CDMA that delivers packet-switched data transmission speeds of up to 4.9 Mbit/s.

 

Mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants also referred to as Mobile broadband Penetration is derived by dividing the number of mobile broadband subscriptions by the total population and then multiplying by 100.

 

Fixed Internet subscribers refer to the total number of Internet subscribers with fixed access, which includes dial-up and total fixed broadband subscribers: cable modem, DSL Internet subscribers, other fixed broadband and leased line Internet subscribers.

 

Explanatory notes

 

Subscribers should be distinguished from users. Subscribers are entities (e.g. businesses, individuals) that subscribe to an Internet access service. Users are entities that use those services. In the case of individuals, users are always more numerous than subscribers, because one subscription can service several users. The difference is likely to be even greater where public access to the Internet is common. Internet users are derived from household surveys. In the case of fixed internet services such as fibre, wireless, satellite, users are always more numerous than subscribers, because one subscription can service several users. The difference is likely to be even greater where public access to the Internet is common. However, it is the opposite for mobile internet services, subscriptions are always more than users since one subscriber can own multiple SIM cards.

 

Subscriber-Entity or an individual with an active contract between themselves and a service provider. Used in the case of fixed services.

Subscription-Refers to any SIM card that has generated revenue in the last 90 days.Used in the case of mobile services only.

User- Refers to any individual or entity that has consumed internet services in the last 12 months regardless of technology, location etc

 

Thanks Ali for going deeper on what Broadband means. "High speed Internet (on fibre, or radio, or coaxial), that is always on. Let me be a case sturdy. Over the last few years, I have used Zuku (5mbps, ksh3000/month), Safaricom fibre (5mbps, ksh3000/month), and Poa internet (2mbps, ksh1500/month) at home. Zuku on fibre but coaxial at home, Safaricom on fibre, and Poa Internet on radio and twisted pair. These three services, Safaricom fibre, Poa Internet, and Zuku, were they always on? No. Could I run a server on it? No. Could I support a life saving machine on it? No. 

 

Now, can these companies claim to be providing broadband at home if it is not always on?

 

From a Regulatory reporting perspective, an Active Subscription/Subscriber is described as any subscription/subscriber that has generated (through usage or receipt of services) any revenue through service provision in the last 90 days. If the broadband connectivity was not on within the last 90 days then it’s not counted.

 

This also leads me to DATA BUNDLES. Is data bundles broadband whether 3G, 4G, 5G? Yes. Refer to above definitions.

 

Christopher Wambua

Director/Communications & Public Affairs | Communications and Public Affairs

Description: Description: http://digital.scanad.com/casignature/img/logo.png

Tel: +254 20 4242000/284

Office Mobile: +254 730 042284/

                       +254 730172284

P.O. Box 14448 Nairobi 00800

Description: Description: http://digital.scanad.com/casignature/img/mail.pngwambua@ca.go.ke Description: Description: http://digital.scanad.com/casignature/img/facebook.pngCommunications Authority of Kenya Description: Description: http://digital.scanad.com/casignature/img/twitter.pngca_kenya Description: Description: http://digital.scanad.com/casignature/img/web.pngwww.ca.go.ke 

 

Description: Description: http://digital.scanad.com/signature/banner.jpg

 

From: Kivuva KictaNet <Kivuva@transworldafrica.com>
Date: Wednesday, 24 April 2019 at 20:22
To: Christopher Wambua <wambua@ca.go.ke>
Cc: KICTAnet Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Online discussion on State of Broadband in Kenya

 

Thank you Wambua for the prompt and detailed response. Let me also be the first on the list to congratulate you on your new signature footer. The thing we end users like about CA is that it is very responsive, and the communications team is willing to brief the community on what is going on. Countless times, Rachel Alwala has always been on standby to respond to listers.

 

If I am not mistaken, the last time land based internet coverage and population based internet coverage was mentioned on the list, Rachel indicated that CA would update the methodology. While at this, Ali has shared connectivity statistics from CA where 47.9% of internet subscribers are using broadband. Perhaps you can give us your definition of broadband, and also what 47.9% broadband internet subscribers mean. Does it mean people?

 

Thanks Ali for going deeper on what Broadband means. "High speed Internet (on fibre, or radio, or coaxial), that is always on. Let me be a case sturdy. Over the last few years, I have used Zuku (5mbps, ksh3000/month), Safaricom fibre (5mbps, ksh3000/month), and Poa internet (2mbps, ksh1500/month) at home. Zuku on fibre but coaxial at home, Safaricom on fibre, and Poa Internet on radio and twisted pair. These three services, Safaricom fibre, Poa Internet, and Zuku, were they always on? No. Could I run a server on it? No. Could I support a life saving machine on it? No. 

 

Now, can these companies claim to be providing broadband at home if it is not always on?

 

This also leads me to DATA BUNDLES. Is data bundles broadband whether 3G, 4G, 5G?

 

On Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 4:12 PM Wambua, Christopher <Wambua@ca.go.ke> wrote:

Mwendwa,

 

Apologies for the belated response.  Yes, indeed CA uses population and land based statistics to measure coverage of the population on 2G, 3G, and 4G services.  In line with the recommendations of the Access Gaps study carried out in 2016, the Authority is currently implementing two priority universal access projects using the USF levy.  These projects are:

  1. Education broadband connectivity projects in 896 public secondary schools. This project involves providing broadband connectivity to public secondary schools spread across the 47 counties.  So far a total of 600 secondary schools have been connected. 
  2. The USF voice infrastructure project – which has facilitated mobile voice infrastructure coverage in 62 sub-locations in marginalized areas that previously did not have any coverage. The 62 sub-locations spread across the country, now enjoy access to 3G (voice and data) services. 

 In appreciation of the importance of ensuring universal access to ICT services, the Authority is currently in the process of tendering for an additional 129 sub-locations that have no coverage, with a view to ensuring that the prevailing voice and data gaps are reduced.  It is important to note that the Access Gaps Study identified a total of 512 sub-locations that had zero or less than 30% mobile (voice and data) coverage. The funds required to close these gaps are estimated at Kshs 120 billion.  Noting the enormity of the funds required to close the gaps,  the Authority is also using other regulatory mechanisms, including licence obligations to the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to fast-track facilitation of connectivity to unserved and underserved population. 

 

We are planning to formally launch these projects to apprise the industry and other stakeholders on the progress made so far in respect to the utilization of the USF. I hope this provides clarity to your concerns. 

 

Regards,

Christopher Wambua

Director/Communications & Public Affairs | Communications and Public Affairs

Tel: +254 20 4242000/284

Office Mobile: +254 730 042284/

                       +254 730172284

P.O. Box 14448 Nairobi 00800

wambua@ca.go.ke Communications Authority of Kenya ca_kenya www.ca.go.ke 

 

 

 

This is such a healthy debate. Thanks for all the contributions. As I try to probe the individual contributors, one thing that is very clear is "digital inclusion is not that incusive in terms of cost and coverage". Perhaps, the regulator, and service providers can pick that concern. It is not just in this forum where cost and coverage it is coming out. 2017 elections anyone? :-)

 

Let me start with Dr Robert Muthuri. On the metrics of coverage, the last time Communications Authority (CA) commented on the same question on this list, they said they use "land based and population based statistics for connectivity". Probably this needs to come out clearly in a language that a government technocrat can understand. That way, when e-government services like Huduma services are made mandatory, the government can realize the challenges the citizenry go through to access government services yet they don't have Internet access. I will just put Ali's quote here "Considering that most government services are now online how do we propose someone in Pokot, Wajir or Marsabit to use these services if someone in Nairobi is finding it a major challenge to access the ecitizen portal? "

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grace Githaiga

Twitter: @ggithaiga

Skype: gracegithaiga

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracegithaiga

 

...the most important office in a democracy is the citizen. So, you see, that’s what our democracy demands. It needs you!----Barrack Obama.

 

 

 

 

Dear Listers,

As notified last week, we are conducting an assessment on the state of play and impact of broadband in Kenya, broadly looking at the socio-economic impact on consumers, businesses and various sectors like agriculture, education, healthcare, finance and government. 

We are looking at real life examples of impact of broadband, challenges we face in increasing impact of broadband and recommendations on interventions needed to address the challenges identified. 

For this discussion, we define broadband as any fast internet. Fast enough to serve your intended purpose. We can have an extended definition through the discussion.

Some of the questions we should answer are:

1.      What is the current state of broadband in Kenya? What is the current coverage of broadband in Kenya? Do you have broadband internet in your area? How affordable is the available broadband? 

2.      What barriers are there in increasing impact of broadband in Kenya?

3.      What recommendations can counter the barriers identified in increasing impact of broadband?

Looking forward to a grrat debate.

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