With "Mobile" contributing about 11% of South Korea's GDP (read Samsung), it is hard to resist the temptation to dream about "Mobile" contributing as much as 20% of Kenya's GDP by 2027. Such a dream appears achievable if Safaricom assumes the role of an anchor and sets itself up for more rapid co-innovation with local entrepreneurs and innovators. Best! On Feb 8, 2017 18:53, "Grace B" <nmutungu@gmail.com> wrote:
Maybe we should ask the question, what is Safaricom's innovation model? Does it see itself as providing a platform for others to play and (hopefully create solutions) or is Safaricom also a player in the game or a hybrid? I would hope that Safaricom envisions itself providing a space for limitless innovation especially for social good. To arts and culture, I admire the work that Safaricom has done- from the beautiful calendars and adverts to music festivals. I however cringe when there are disputes involving the company and artistes and I hope that the issue of revenue sharing has been resolved. Has it been resolved? I wonder if Safaricom has exploited use of tech and its platforms in this cause. I echo Mildred's plea.
2017-02-08 16:14 GMT+03:00 Walubengo J via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>:
@Kieti,
Am with you on this. Indeed many have said Bitcoin (crytpo-currency) will kill MPESA. Whereas that maybe true or not, I think Safcom has to think beyond Bitcoin and harness the underlying Blockchain technology.
So the question would be whether or not Safaricom has a Blockchain Strategy that innovators can then begin to play around with. I think that would be a game-changer as opposed to trying to block the inevitable reality of crypto-currencies.
walu.
------------------------------ *From:* John Kieti <jkieti@gmail.com> *To:* Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions < kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> *Cc:* "skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 8, 2017 2:58 PM
*Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 6 (Wednesday) :-Innovators, Innovations & Suppliers
Good afternoon,
My take on Safaricom and the innovation ecosystem / community is that although they have evolved slowly, Safaricom has contributed significantly and positively to our collective innovativeness as an economy. That we have moved beyond demanding an API for Mpesa and now we are talking about the API's openness is progress. That Safaricom's Spark Fund has invested in Sendy and other startups is laudable. That Safaricom entered useful partnerships with for likes of iCow, EnezaEducation, and Craft Silicon (Little Cabs), Mledger (acquisition) and many other startups must not be downplayed. That Safaricom gave free bandwidth to iHub for several years and sponsored activities at iLabAfrica is laudable.
That said, I would wish Safaricom embraced open innovation and co-entrepreneurship more. For instance it was quite short sighted the way Safaricom flexed its muscle on Kipochi / Kopokopo, and BitPesa / Lipisha Consortium with regard to the BitCoin gateway for M-Pesa top ups and withdrawals. If I were them, I would embrace these startups and others building on block chain technology to further disrupt the Financial Services sector. It does not make sense for Safaricom / Mpesa to embrace the plastic card technology side of FinTech as they are doing with the M-Pesa card while frustrating the block-chain side.
By and large let us give credit where its due. Safaricom has truly pushed the limits of innovation to increase value for its shareholders who include our Government. They just need to do more to figure out an ecosystem / collaborative approach to innovation. If they do that, we shall collectively and successfully attack the global marketplace for gains to our national economy.
Just my 20 cents.
On Wed, Feb 8, 2017 at 1:54 PM, Walubengo J via kictanet < kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
@Ahmed,
Do you mind clarifying a few things.
I take it that you agree that Safcoms APIs are not too open. Particularly the payment solution. I presume that would be the MPESA platform which seems limited or restricted to some chosen few developers.
Further you say that solutions built around the MPESA APIs are not scaleable to other domains and you seem to suggest a better option out of this.
What would this option be?
Are you suggesting that rather than trying to plug into MPESA through APIs, MPESA should be released and sold as a module that developers can plug into just about anything they need to - and pay royalties to Safcom on per use basis?
walu.
------------------------------ *From:* Ahmed Mohamed Maawy <ultimateprogramer@gmail.com> *To:* Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions < kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke > *Cc:* "skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 8, 2017 12:29 PM
*Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 6 (Wednesday) :-Innovators, Innovations & Suppliers
I will ask 2 questions as a Solutions Architect myself:
- As a solutions developer, Safaricom does not provide its platform openly to allow 3rd party integration as does other service providers. And even if some lucky 3rd party do it, the flexibility to implement the solution to meet a diverse set of needs is quite limiting. Somehow makes a lot of us feel as if the payment solution is a "premium access" product available to specific players. The Safaricom API is not a convenient way out of it. Bootsrapping a solution around the API itself requires dedicated develper(s). For instance, stripe payments makes payment gateway integration part of the process not a separate development process. - Where is the guarantee (legally binding) also that I can deploy freely a solution based on your payment platform without it being replicated?
On Wed, Feb 8, 2017 at 12:20 PM, Walubengo J via kictanet < kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote:
Good point @ Mildred,
What role can Safcom play in promoting our own version of 'Nollywood'?
During Ndemo days, there was talk of 'Riverwood' productions from River Road, Nairobi. Looks like they died a silent death?
walu.
------------------------------ *From:* Mildred Achoch <mildandred@gmail.com> *To:* Walubengo J <jwalu@yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions < kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke > *Cc:* "skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 8, 2017 9:32 AM *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 6 (Wednesday) :-Innovators, Innovations & Suppliers
Good morning everyone,
Thank you to the KICTANET moderators and Safaricom for this opportunity to engage.
First, I would like to echo Grace B's sentiments. Thank you Safaricom for being in almost every part of Kenya. It goes a long way in assuring me that you guys will be around for a long time. Secondly, kudos for being one of the first companies in Kenya to embrace the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals)
Regarding the fact that you are in almost every part of Kenya, my question is: is there a way you can partner with Kenyan filmmakers to promote Kenyan films and series/web series? Especially the work of independent and upcoming filmmakers who usually don't have the connections or resources to plug into the existing broadcasting/screening channels. I applaud innovative initiatives such as Skiza tunes and Blaze. These say to me that similar initiatives can be implemented to promote Kenyan filmmakers. Media convergence is already here with us; as a market leader, Safaricom should be at the forefront of innovative initiatives related to this.
Regards, Mildred Achoch.
Check out the Rock 'n' roll film festival, Kenya TV Channel! http:// kenyarockfilmfestivaljournal. blogspot.com <http://kenyarockfilmfestivaljournal.blogspot.com/>
On Wed, Feb 8, 2017 at 8:11 AM, Walubengo J via kictanet < kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote:
Morning Listers,
As usual, feel free to do belated questions for Safaricom on previous thematic areas. However, today we want to move onto Day 3 Theme - Innovators, Innovations & Suppliers. I have copied in the innovators on Skunkworks and hope to hear their views as well.
So straight into the theme:
Safaricom has been quite innovative and keeps coming up with new ways of doing things. As an innovator/developer/supplier, please tell us your experiences with regard to Safaricom Innovation as well as their procurement ecosystem.
a) Is their development platform and application programmable interface (API) sufficiently open? b) Are the issues to do with Intellectual property /Patents/Procurement clear and adequate? c) Whereas the gain-sharing agreements are private and confidential, how can they be made better? d) What is Safcom take on Bitcoin/Blockchain technologies?
Lets hear your views, experiences and proposals.
We have only one day on this.
walu. ----List of Themes--- 1. Consumer Issues Day, 2. Competition Issues Day, 3. Innovators, Innovations & Suppliers Day, 4. Infrastructure & Universal Access Day, 5. Technology & Elections Day
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
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