Listers further to the discussion last week, please see below: 1. Link to the review report developed by Deloitte on the Pasha centers. This report is developed quarterly. http://www.scribd.com/doc/138670682/2013-04-30-Brief-Pasha-Project. 2. Our press release following the meeting with Pasha Centre owners yesterday and the subsequent announcement of our bandwidth subsidy program. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Government to offer bandwidth support to Digital Villages Nairobi, 29th April 2013: The Government through the Kenya ICT Board will from May this year offer a 90 per cent subsidy on internet purchase to all Digital villages (Pasha Centres). The bandwidth support will be provided under the Transparency Communication Infrastructure Project (TCIP), which is funded by World Bank. The objective of the Bandwidth Capacity Support is to enable the 63 Digital villages to purchase high quality and affordable connectivity for their centres to enable information sharing and offer affordable access in rural areas. Speaking during a workshop in Nairobi with Pasha Managers, The Kenya ICT Board CEO, Mr Paul Kukubo said, “We have recognized that the major challenges surrounding internet access for Pashas centres are connectivity and affordability. As a solution we have decided to subsidise the internet costs.” The government will pay 90 per cent of the internet access costs while Pasha Managers will pay the remaining 10 per cent. The Initial support will last 18 months and will cover internet connection costs but exclude the purchase of connectivity equipment. To qualify for the internet access subsidy both pasha managers will first identify the Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) that they will work with and submit prescribed documents in order to take advantage of the support. ISPs will have to be registered by CCK as a provider of the services. “Pasha centres are strategically placed to bring ICT services to their communities. To succeed they need to take advantage of devolution opportunities and respond to the government agenda of delivering digital education in remote areas,” challenged Mr Kukubo. The workshop brought together heads of digital villages and leading ISP companies to agree on the modalities that will be applicable on the subsidy. ENDS -- Phyllis Nyambura Communication Writer Kenya ICT Board Telposta Towers, 12th Floor, Kenyatta Ave P.O. Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya t: + 254-020-2211960/62 | m: + 254 (0) 789396433 | e: pnyambura@ict.go.ke -- Paul Kukubo Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board PO Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya 12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960 Fax: +254 20 2211962 website: www.ict.go.ke local content project: www.tandaa.co.ke, www.facebook.com/tandaakenya twitter:@tandaaKENYA BPO Project: www. doitinkenya.co.ke Digital Villages Project: www.pasha.co.ke personal contacts _______________ Cell: + 254 717 180001 skype: kukubopaul googletalk: pkukubo personal blog: www.paulkukubo.co.ke personal twitter: @pkukubo ____________________ Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure growth for socio economic enrichment