The way I look at it...

Marrying the digital divide to business case (as defined in the corporate world) would always have the same repercussions... Not making financial sense to keep a project going.

When we look at the underserved areas, some re-definitions need to be made. Sticking to defining business case / profitability in Nairobi and that in off-the-grid place e.g. Bombi Village (in the vast interiors of Kilifi county) would definitely knock-off Bombi from getting ANY SERVICE!

Having said that, wasn't USF meant to such issues? I think it is important that we revisit the utilisation of funds by USF. 

Whilst we are on this business case / profitability quagmire, let's look at the cases unfolding kids studying under trees, teachers with underlying conditions being forced to risk their lives as they have no alternative to deliver their duty of teaching... Can we put a price tag on this?

Something to ponder on as the weekend starts!

Regards
Twahir

On Fri, Jan 22, 2021, 4:37 PM Barrack Otieno via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
@David Indeje
 Terribly news, Loon left before reaching Omabei, like @Mwendwa Kivuva says, we might not have had a good business case for it.

Isorait as it is said in my village


On Fri, Jan 22, 2021 at 12:20 PM David Indeje via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
The reason I said it was a blow besides Astro Teller, CEO of X, chairman of Loon’s board pledging a $10 million fund to support businesses focused on connectivity, education, entrepreneurship and internet in Kenya, is that, the time it took for Telkom to start using the infrastructure cannot be washed away from 2018 to be effected 2020.

True, the underserved will feel it. A question that triggers other questions and concerns from Listers on this platform on community networks, ICT Authority's and Communication Authority's time frame to ensure we close this gap. 

Kind Regards,

David Indeje 

 +254 (0) 711 385 945 |  +254 (0) 734 024 856     


On Fri, 22 Jan 2021 at 11:42, Mwendwa Kivuva <Kivuva@transworldafrica.com> wrote:
Not a blow to Telkom Kenya at all, but a blow for the underserved. Loon was a 4G/LTE coverage infrastructure provider using floating cell towers for hard to reach areas. Telkom would lease the infrastructure the same way you can lease masts from other infrastructure providers.

Since it is a floating tower for underserved areas, the business case becomes difficult to justify because there is no critical mass in those areas to cover the value chain. And that is why subsidies are important in ensuring the marginalized still enjoy some semblance of internet access like the more privileged citizens in more urban areas. 
______________________
Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva


On Fri, 22 Jan 2021 at 10:22, David Indeje via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
Alphabet’s Internet Loon Project is Shutting Down, Blow to Telkom Kenya.

**Loon launched a pilot project in Kenya in 2020  

1. https://medium.com/loon-for-all/loon-draft-c3fcebc11f3f
 

Kind Regards,

David Indeje 

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