On Nov 30, 2007 4:33 PM, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Kagai,
Like all the rest we are misplacing the importance of the marine cable and it is unfortunate that Dr. Ndemo is also unable to provide us with the logical reason for why we need to land this fiber cable.
Your issue of digital TV has nothing to do with whether we have the marine cable or not as our transmission is local and thus what we need is a fiber network within the country. I have been listening to that story of digital TV being echoed by many a so called IT gurus. All that the fiber will do is create so much competition for our local stations before they have enough time to adopt or recoup their investments which will result in massive layoffs. If we can negotiate for the delay in opening our markets to sugar maybe we need the same team to look at the pros and cons of the fiber cable landing.
Note that the signal sent out by MNet and other satellite channels is digital yet I can watch it on my Greatwall TV which is as analogue as you can get, even come 2010 all that will happen is that set top boxes will be so cheap that there will be no need to replace our TV's. Alternatively look behind your DVD player and tell me how many analogue and digital inputs you have?
Just for information purposes do you know that Telkom Kenya has fiber optic cable laid to most high rise building in the city but only 2 or so locations have actually had the fiber terminated onto equipment? I ask anyone to challenge me on this point this includes Eng. Waweru and Mr. Kirui all of who have been party to this wasteful actions.
We are being totally wasteful with our resources what makes us think that the landing of the fiber optic cable will change our habits.
Kagai, I ask again why do we need to land the fiber optic cable and how will it change your life, leave alone mine?
Hi Bobby, et all, I do agree with Bobby that it is not easy to quantify how the optic cable will change our lives. Looking at it from a layman's point of view, the common citizen out there doesn't even know how the Internet comes around (or goes around) and so doesn't give a hoot as long as they are able to "access" it, and cheaply, fibre or no fibre. I cannot access the Internet cheaply from my house. The "cheaper" option after evaluation the monthly and installation costs (for my needs) is ADSL. Unfortunately, TKL has been telling me that the cables running to where I live were vandalized (since July) and as such I cannot get ADSL. Now, I am pretty sure the landing of the fibre in Mombasa will not change that. If it will, I'd like to be told how. Maybe we should worry so much about the preparedness of the national infrastructure to "extend" whatever benefits will come with the fiber before we even think about benefiting from the fibre optic cable in Mombasa. My reasoning could be flimsy, but there is where I am - Bobby has a point! So far, the fiber thing is so much at the elite end of the society. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" --from a /. post