Hi Andrea. You may be right, their interests may not be drastically different from those a bit more flush with cash or unbothered by the lack of it. It may be Chivas for one but Chang'aa for another. At the end of the day it's alcohol for both of them. However, to be meaningful to the lower income individual, the alcohol would have to be delivered differently. Content that seeks to empower me will mostly be delivered in the format that works for the devices I am accustomed to. For my friend who is bootstrapping to start a car repair shop, his cellphone is everything to him. To empower him, content on the subject needs to be delivered in a format that works for HIS device. If FM radio has the kind of content that results in high levels of audience engagement, how can it be ported onto the Internet? If sales of FM radio phones have gone up because of the conversations happening on that space, won't sales of data enabled phones go up because meaningful conversations are happening online? More people taking up bandwidth may result in better economies of scale for network operators and lower costs for consumers (in my own little utopia at least) due to better headroom for competition. Better pricing would keep the government from entertaining populist ideas like price controls for bandwidth because supply and demand would have been modified to the customer's benefit. Little content, few subscribers, high prices. Let's make the Internet a place where [many] people want to go. Kind regards, *Muchiri* Nyaggah Director @muchiri +254 722 506400 Semacraft.com On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 12:56 AM, Andrea Bohnstedt < andrea.bohnstedt@ratio-magazine.com> wrote:
Hey all,
I really dislike the term 'bottom of the pyramid' or 'bottom billion' - I find those expression quite patronising. How about low-income clients or something along those lines?
But that's by the by. I actually doubt that the so-called 'bottom billion' has so drastically different interests than the more middle class subscribers. I suspect that email/staying in touch, online dating, music and adult content are just as popular. Being poor doesn't automatically make you a more virtuous person. Look at people who buy changaa: barely any disposable income. And yet they'd still spend it on alcohol.
This is the big irony: with internet connectivity, we have a load of information at our fingertips. But few people actually bother looking it up. I see the wildest speculation and conspiracy theories on Facebook that would take to a couple of seconds to clear up with a google search - but people don't do it. I suspect you must have learned how to ask questions, ask the right questions, search for information, figure out how to evaluate information etc. (and yes, I'm generalising here).
Another thought: People already create content for the low-income segment - it's just delivered through FM stations rather than the internet.
Have a good week, Andrea
On 26 September 2010 01:22, Muchiri Nyaggah <muchiri@semacraft.com> wrote:
The Internet is a highway (a super one even) that takes us where we want to go. I believe there's a lot of local content online, its just not very meaningful for the vast majority living at the bottom of the pyramid. People who are busy trying to put food on the table won't get on the highway to go to a place called 'Hot or Not.' It's just not meaningful. I agree with Brian, for-profit enterprises have no reason to drop prices unless it becomes necessary for their survival. It will become necessary when the current realities of doing business are modified by say, a drop in demand for the high-cost Internet they are supplying.
As long we continue focusing on content such as blog posts, YouTube videos and entertainment applications, only those with disposable income or time will be consuming it. The real fortune for ISPs (like CK Prahalad said) lies at the bottom of the pyramid but until we generate content and applications that make meaning for the masses, we may have to live with a slow drop in prices much longer than we prefer to.
Don't expect ISPs to create the content either. They are in the 'transport' business. They are lousy at creating content.
Kind regards,
*Muchiri* Nyaggah
Director
@muchiri
+254 722 506400
Semacraft.com
On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 2:36 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk>wrote:
Hi,
Your current ISP charges you $500 for a 1MB link from your location to his edge router, after that it is called best effort especially since most ISPs do not have bandwidth managers.
I will take this seriously and do not back down when I come to you to signup.
Regards
Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya
Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
------------------------------ *From:* Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> *To:* robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> *Sent:* Fri, 24 September, 2010 10:01:06
*Subject:* Re: [kictanet] ISPs slap Ndemo
no Robert
1MB for 50USD ... to anywhere ... I dont get limitations from my current providers
your thoughts ?
Hi, Fine, so long as it is local loop from your office to your collocation centre where you will be providing SaaS solutions. Regards
Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya
Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
________________________________ From: Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> To: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Fri, 24 September, 2010 9:50:23 Subject: Re: [kictanet] ISPs slap Ndemo
Robert
Si you start an ISP ? ... with 1:1 @ USD50 per MB ... I will be a customer
Just thinking
On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 9:44 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Hi, When we talk about 1 MB for $500/- I believe we are referring to a dedicated connection with a contention ratio of 1:1 not shared provided by the ISPs of 1:∞. So the ISP buys the 1 MB at $500/- dollars and sells it to 20 subscribers at $50/- a culture they developed during the good old days of satellite. In addition the 1 MB is not from your equipment to the ISP but should be the entire route into the Internet. Exploited we still are and as has been said by many the prices have still not come down sufficiently.
Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya
Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
________________________________ From: Brian Munyao Longwe <blongwe@gmail.com> To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Sent: Thu, 23 September, 2010 17:21:40 Subject: Re: [kictanet] ISPs slap Ndemo
I'm sorry to sound like a broken record but I don't know any ISP in Kenya selling 1Mb for >$500 - and anybody who is being extorted like this should go to a reputable ISP and get their service for tens of dollars, not hundreds....
Brian
On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 3:48 PM, Edwin Onchari <eonchari@lynxbits.com
wrote:
“naomba serikali” or not…government policies ultimately affect demand
and
supply laws in any market. While the call here is not to go the Finish way of making it a right for all citizens to have access to 1Mb of broadband by 2015, or UK’s 2Mb, GOK can move to create an environment that will encourage our good ISPs lower the current rates, currently >$500- remember,
potential bulk users in Kenya earn <$1/day!
Edwin
Sales without Customer Service........is like stuffing money into a pocket full of holes. DAVID TOOMA
From: Brian Munyao Longwe [mailto:blongwe@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 4:20 PM To: Edwin Onchari
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] ISPs slap Ndemo
Hi all,
Is this another case of "naomba serikali inisaidie" - which is to typical of us Kenyans....
It is my firm belief that we have a free and open market for internet services in Kenya - with little or no barriers to entry for any
Could it just be that the rules of supply and demand are applying and thereby preventing the "drastic" drops in pricing that it seems many of use are dreaming about?
I think Walu is asking the right kinds of questions - how do we adjust the supply/demand equation to bring about the desired results?
In my honest opinion government has been doing a good job of staying out of business - let's keep it that way.
Regards,
Brian
On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 2:16 PM, Edwin Onchari < eonchari@lynxbits.com> wrote:
Better yet, GOK should slice up its 40% stake and sell to smaller businesses that are willing to play ball, so that Kenyans are not at
mercy of a handful ISPs that cannot get their act together
Edwin
Sales without Customer Service........is like stuffing money into a pocket full of holes. DAVID TOOMA
From: kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari <kictanet-bounces%2Beonchari>= lynxbits.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Harry Hare Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 2:35 PM To: Edwin
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] ISPs slap Ndemo
Hello All,
Who in this forum thought it possible to enjoy the new calling rates which are 50% of what we used to pay? My point, we need a disruptive force
will force the ISPs to lower their rates. The Government still hold 40% of TEAMS, and I remember the PS once saying that he will use this if the operators fail to drop their costs. Probably this is the time...this, together with NOFBI, the ministry has capacity to roll out a project
- “free internet for all”, another first from Kenya.
Think about it.
Harry
On 9/23/10 2:14 PM, "Walubengo J" <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
Yes WHOLESALE prices are down by 80% but RETAIL prices remain relatively high. Are the ISP/Telco eating up the difference by way of SUPER-PROFITS?
Not sure. There are multiple and intermediary variables that play between the Wholesale Level and the Retail Level that includes, but not
On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 10:00 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote: the player. the that like limited
to Cost of Local loops, Usage/Volume Levels, Local Content, Regulatory& Competition Environments, Charging Models, etc.
The challenge is to get a way in which to measure and establish which of the above variables will have the biggest, positive and sustainable impact on Retail Internet pricing. Worse still, a "wrong" distortion of any of the above maybe counterproductive to the others in the long run. It requires a delicate balance of the whole ecosystem.
But perhaps I could be wrong..
walu.
--- On Thu, 9/23/10, McTim <dogwallah@gmail.com> wrote:
From: McTim <dogwallah@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] ISPs slap Ndemo To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke
Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010, 2:28 PM
Hi,
On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 11:19 AM, Edwin Onchari < eonchari@lynxbits.com </mc/compose?to=eonchari@lynxbits.com> > wrote: > Yes Dennis, > > > > Take the case of the US for instance. 1 Mb (dedicated) is going for > less > than $50…
Wholesale cost there is ~$2.50 for 1 Mb/sec
>in Kenya, it’s anything between $500-$800.
Wholesale price in Kenya? Around 50 USD per Mb/sec (in Mombasa) is what I heard recently from an industry player. That is probably for a volume purchase of course.
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