Hi Ali, This is all factual. I am sure you appreciate evidence-based decisions. Just as it is in the commercial world, so is it in the regulatory space too. We cannot do away with statistics. We must measure development in the sector and use that information to draw strategies for the future. Investors too share this opinion. Let us join hands to build our country and not trash the far we have come. By the way the amount of money required to fill all the communication gaps is way much more than there is in the kitty. But certainly as the regulator we respect the opinions of all stakeholders. Regards, Rachel From: Ali Hussein <ali@hussein.me.ke<mailto:ali@hussein.me.ke>> Date: Monday, February 26, 2018 at 9:05 PM To: KICTAnet Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> Cc: Rachel <alwala@ca.go.ke<mailto:alwala@ca.go.ke>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] CA¹s Sh85m plan to link remote areas with mobile voice Rachel Thank you for your spirited defence of the USF. We can agree to disagree on this. I specifically mentioned areas that are inhabited by humans not elephants within a 10 km radius of County HQs. What is the USF for if not to ensure such areas are covered. Could it be because some of these areas are considered Opposition zones? Let us be circumspect and say it as it is. Statistics are for academicians. They won't get us connectivity to areas where they are needed. As a way forward I would like to see statistics going forward that say ALL County HQs are covered by High Speed Broadband for at least a 10km radius. Now that would be a statistic to celebrate. Can your report tell us that? Regards Ali Hussein Principal AHK & Associates Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim<http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> 13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing, Chiromo Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with. On Mon, Feb 26, 2018 at 7:59 PM, Alwala, Rachel via kictanet <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> wrote: Hi Hussein/Kivuva, These are not strange terms in industry. We subscribe to global statistics principles which are considered best practice. The World Telecommunications/ICT indicators Guidelines issued by the ITU clearly define what we would refer to as the percentage of population covered by a particular service and on the other the land mass covered by the same service. Generally in network expansion, even in commercial considerations, population coverage takes precedence. This is the same consideration in use in the USF. Additionally, beyond this , there are always initiatives to ensure extended coverage especially in what is referred to as shadow areas. For instance Kilifi and Lamu counties are covered with a 2G and 3G signals . But due to vast geographical area, the 3G network which utilises the 2.1 Ghz band is limited in coverage. This situation can be improved through rollout the 3G network using re-farmed 900 Mhz (U900) band instead of using the 2100 Mhz which was originally allocated for that purpose. It helps reduce the network shadow areas using minimum investments on the side of the operators. These are ongoing initiatives that bear fruit not in a day Ali but over time. I hope you appreciate the efforts of CA and industry players at large. Lets us celebrate milestones and the positive gains made. Rome was not built in a day. Regards, Rachel From: kictanet <kictanet-bounces+alwala=ca.go.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet-bounces+alwala=ca.go.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> on behalf of KICTAnet Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> Reply-To: KICTAnet Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>> Date: Monday, February 26, 2018 at 7:14 PM To: Rachel <alwala@ca.go.ke<mailto:alwala@ca.go.ke>> Cc: Mwendwa Kivuva <Kivuva@transworldafrica.com<mailto:Kivuva@transworldafrica.com>> Subject: Re: [kictanet] CA¹s Sh85m plan to link remote areas with mobile voice Honestly, as Kenyans we are super tired of being strung along with non-existent statistics. We simply need to get our act together. I'm also keen to understand the difference between land based and population based statistics/connectivity.. Let's dispense with semantics please.. Can this forum have a clap feature like in Medium? :-) You have got that correct Ali. CA is being Machiavellianon its reporting. So that it can meet it's target, it reports that it has 94.4% coverage on 2G and 78% coverage on 3G. There, it has reached it's Performace Contracting targets. When now the user who know nothing about numbers asks about connectivity, they spring up new jargons like land mass vs population. As an end user, I would actually say I want connectivity on my phone, or computer. Land mass, water mass, population, wharathos? _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke<mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ Domain Registration sponsored by www.eacdirectory.co.ke<http://www.eacdirectory.co.ke> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com 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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