Whao! quite a burst of energy here. Looks like the technical holdup or hiccup brought the best out of some of us ;-) Very important specifics/To-DO-Lists outlined here. Including ofcourse the self-appointed CEO role... walu. --- Alex Gakuru <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi all,
So many issues discussed while I was way, rather long even after trying so hard to be brief feel free to ask for details if need be. I have touched on
1. Local content. 2. Demand 3. Education 4. Infrastructure 5. Financing and Sustainability 6. WB (Development Sector) 7. Roles 8. Way Forward, ------------------------------------ 1. Local content. Multi-pronged approach
a) Every government department to have a website in six months update at least once/month b) Companies without website to be given a "website dev. tax rebate" (they go on line first?) c) Every school to have a domain. d) KENIC slashes domain name costs >> envisaged en-masse new registrations justifies this e) Pornography: Have any e-preparedness? Fatma shared a horrifying perception encounter
2. Demand a) Involve non traditional and enlist new communities of users(e.g. religious faithful for verses) b) CCK ensures users have "full" internet ( i.e. VoIP no crippled by any provider). c) MVoIP means cheap communication >> already in high demand d) 45% of Europeans watch TV online
<http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/03/45-of-europeans-watch-tv-online/>
3. Education a) Everybody avoids this, even their own staff skills>>poach from competitors>> so introduce training levy collected from to all providers. b) Levy funds common good education diverse outlets (e-media, print, posters, big street adverts ...) c) Consumer education>> trust foundation for continued use of services (not a petulant expense) d) Funds communication research
4. Infrastructure (PS captured my sentiments) and I believe government works for common good of everyone. I add, - MVoIP cheap communication >> sustainable smallNETs(my 22 March presentation) - Have we entered a new age of communication industry (google P2P, joost) - Embracing Open Access is good because infrastructure dominance will not withstand consumer choice freedom pressure.
5. Financing and Sustainability a) I acknowledge sustainability challenges already exist "FACING ECONOMIC REALITIES OF MUNI WI-FI"
<http://news.com.com/Facing+economic+realities+of+muni+Wi-Fi/2100-7351_3-6181058.html?tag=nefd.lede>
b) This does not take away UA obligations >> info access and communication is a basic human right c) Business now to think not out of the box, but above it. Think about making just one (1) bob profit from every Kenyan every day>> that company is shillings 30 million richer every day
6. WB (Development Sector) - WB subsidy welcome. Was fast packaged delivered in 4months when they usually take 18 months. - Usually, development sector support in ICT comes too little too late, nonetheless appreciated.
7. Roles
We all have contributory but different roles to play although market dominance wrangles cloud vision. Consumers are yearning to participate!
8. Way Forward,
Government immediately forms a muti-stakeholder iCt strategy working committee a lean, mean-working group (and lets say I am the CEO:-) Parliament is already considering a separate ICT-specific committee>> legislators value sector.
This is what we will achieve:-
- to develop local sensitive e-comm. framework (selfishly I'd like to shop at "Uchumi online") - get those satellite mounted tracks across Kenya educating - set-up sustainable small rural community networks and underserved urban areas>>residential - Give free/help public institutions and schools with website templates - Venture where no-one is looking (e.g. train senior citizens on ICTs use, Create SME portal and lobby government for "Universal Access" to business for small and disadvantaged businesses, say only 10% or shs 50 billion annual budget>> change public procuments act?) - User-centric, demand triggering active engagement with industry, government, well-wishers....
Walu, do I have this hypothetical job?
thanks
Alex
Fatma Bashir <[email protected]> wrote: Joan,
I dont have statistics but working in the education sector, I see what KDN sees in the schools, schools will be the incubation ground for the demand for ICT in the rural areas (60% of schools are in rural areas). In about a year and a half years time the picture will start changing as high school graduates will be computer savvy and naturally opt to continue pursuing interests ranging from search of opportunities for enterpreneurship to formal job hunting using the internet or just keeping intouch!.
Further more when we look at schools and their facilities, they can easily become the information centres for the communities around them and also offer affordable capacity building to the parents of the students nearby. Then they will start to look for ways to make some money and the international/local content picture will start to swing in our favor.
Imagine one day you will go online and order your chopped sukuma wiki and packet of carrots from the local mama mbogo outside your estate, she will deliver to your house you will pay her on your way back home or GOd knows even online?. its the form form leaver who will have designed the website for her and its the nearby school that will have taught her computer 101.
whats missing is the segment that should be dealing with Capacity Building in an informal way or even sensitizing and awareness ( ie we dont have to attend college proper we can just go to the neighbourhood place and learn some basics) I think that this is where the Lag might be felt by the likes of KDN...and others.
Fatma
----- Original Message ----- From: "Joan Walumbe" To: Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:26 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] Day 5 - Statistics on Affordability - CCKInternetStudy Report
Walu,
I agree with you that affordablity is a factor especially for rural communities when it comes to access to the internet. But === message truncated ===>
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