Well put Victor, i suppose the government and related agencies seem to have followed the proposal you have outlined which is very elaborate, i suppose the challenge could be getting the ``people`` or Wanjiku for lack of a better word to appreciate this resources, i am curious since i havent seen this on the list you just posted, could it be an area worth exploring? On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 10:15 AM, Victor Gathara <v-gathara@dfid.gov.uk>wrote:
Barrack
When I did a study on the fibre optic cables a couple of years ago I proposed the following actions by donors to help Kenya reap the benefits of fibre coming to our shores:
- targeted funding for the ICT industry to help mitigate the effect of the global recession;
- direct investments in infrastructure to help spread points of presence to rural areas;
- supporting a Kenyan success story in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector through marketing support, technical and financial assistance (borrowing loosely from the MPESA model);
- lobbying the government for regulation aimed at preventing monopolies developing and speeding up the passing of the Freedom of Information (FOI) act
- encouraging debate on the benefits of the sub-marine fibre in the public domain through collaboration with the media and supporting the Ministry of Information and Communications communication strategy.
- factor support for the development of a vibrant Kenya ICT industry in the Enterprise Development Programme
- lobby for ICT issues among donors
- support for the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTAnet) - to transform it to a effective national association
The danger at the time was that many viewed the arrival of the cables as the 'silver bullet' that would slay the problems facing the ICT industry in East Africa and in so doing catalyse the ICT (followed by the economic) revolution. It shouldn't surprise us that this hasn't happened as connectivity is only but a part of the issues that need to be resolved. Its also early days yet. I believe change in this arena will happen bit by bit (pun intended) until we have critical mass where more massive changes (the expected revolution) will then take place. The pace of the change will be dependent on how quickly the transformative actions above are taken.
Victor
------------------------------ *From:* kictanet-bounces+v-gathara=dfid.gov.uk@lists.kictanet.or.ke[mailto: kictanet-bounces+v-gathara <kictanet-bounces%2Bv-gathara>=dfid.gov.uk@ lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Barrack Otieno *Sent:* 07 July 2010 10:31 *To:* Victor Gathara *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Kenya IGF 2010 Mailing List Discussions Day 2 of 8Theme : Infrastructure Issues - Impact of the Fibre OpticCable IGF Mailing List Discussions
Thank you Charles and Sam for your observation and positive outlook. I agree with Sam, having a highway without vehicles to ply on is a mirage nonetheless Charles is right in pointing out the very fact with the few vehicles on the highway the future looks bright. That nothwithstanding and considering the fact that 70 percent of our economy is composed of the informal sector we need a sustained campaign that will ensure this segment is brought onto the Super highway.
On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 6:26 AM, Sam Aguyo <saguyo@yahoo.com> wrote:
Dear Listeners,
I think we need to be more inward looking, the golden murmur should have been Seacom is down so our BPOs are suffering huge losses. Indeed we have the superhighway but apparently not vehicles to run on it. When the Anti Terrorist Police Unit first released its rapid communication channels i had worries since it was a yahoo.com address, am glad they quickly changed and now it is go.ke, a good development. We now have 3 cables if am not mistaken but if there are no Buses not even matatus to ply on them, then they are a mirage.
Considerable impact will be felt when we stop, think, ponder and seize the opportunity that comes with the infrastructure than wait to complain that the infrastructure itself is not in itself giving business opportunity.
Well Walu, am already doing research on something related.
Sam Aguyo
------------------------------ *From:* Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu@gmail.com> *To:* saguyo@yahoo.com
*Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> *Sent:* Tue, July 6, 2010 5:15:39 PM
*Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Kenya IGF 2010 Mailing List Discussions Day 2 of 8 Theme : Infrastructure Issues - Impact of the Fibre Optic Cable IGF Mailing List Discussions
One of the views in regards to the undersea cables, is realistically speaking, the current situation. As Walu pointed out, all users of .com have been affectedby the effects of Seacom's state of affairs.
This is perhaps one of the many reasons as to why the Undersea Cables were a 'mess' from the word go. It beats logic why the breakdown or whatever has not been restored to its full capacity, as we speak. Could there be sabotage?
Back to your query: The socio-economioc impact of the cables. 1. They are anticipated to open more job opportunities (BPO, E-stuff) 2. They would generally improve the economic and security of countries thus enhancing interdepence and social closeness. 3. The most notable impact, in my view, was the momentus speed that would usher quick businesses thus economic growth.
The youth would have benefitted greatly considering that they constitute to the majority of workforce. In such a view, growth in countries where the cables pass would be great, maybe +10% p.a. The value addition, as of now, remains to be seen!
On 06/07/2010, Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com> wrote:
Barrack,
internet traffic is truly messed up down here. Considering that our domestic networks+local content are relatively non-existent we are heavy consumers international traffic - even my email, yours and many others are .com and so they will try to head out of the country through constrained links given that Seacom has gone down with probably 50%? of our international capacity...
it only emphasis the sorry state of affairs that despite the pomp surrounding the advent of the undersea cable, there is yet to be that socio-economic revolution that was expected. Maybe there is but I have not yet heard about BPO jobs flooding our market, eLearning taking off, eCommerce and the rest of the goodies happening because we now have the superhighway down at the coast...indeed someone can do a good PhD thesis on why this is so and inform us exactly when the IT miracle will happen (the Indian style).
walu.
--- On Tue, 7/6/10, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya IGF 2010 Mailing List Discussions Day 2 of 8 Theme : Infrastructure Issues - Impact of the Fibre Optic Cable IGF Mailing List Discussions To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 2:42 PM
Listers , there is very loud silence with regard to Infrastructure issues i suppose we have adopted a wait and see approach, i can hear murmus across various lists within the country as well as regionally that seacom is down
http://www.seacomblog.com/team-seacom/2010/07/seacom-service-down-seacom-act... ,
probably we are getting used to this scenario, however is this right?
On Tue, Jul 6, 2010 at 9:56 AM, Barrack Otieno < otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Listers,
Apologies for starting the thread late and thanks to all those who responded actively on the first day, the thread is still open. Today we look at Infrastructure issues, a quick glance through last years report brings to mind the Pomp that greeted the TEAMS and SEACOM initiative, one year down the line, it would only be good to review the milestones we have made this far, going through an earlier discussion on this list, i noted an interesting article posted by listers that mentioned the fact that the undersea cable has led to a boom in Spam coming from the this region, the study was conducted by Symantec, i know this is just a tip of the ICEBERG and would like to look at the issue from a Social perspective as well as an economic perspective, are there real (tangible benefits) that the cables have brought or is it euphoria, do we have indicators that show how the country has benefited?, what do the various consituencies have to say? Consumer advocates, Youth Representatives, the Private Sector?..the discussion is open
-- Barrack O. Otieno +41767892272 Skype: barrack.otieno
-- Barrack O. Otieno +41767892272 Skype: barrack.otieno
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