@Ombati, I hear you...and I regret if I did sound pro-Telco or pro-Regulator because I speak for neither. Secondly, plse take my comments as "Part-of" rather than the "End-of" discussion. MJ, CCK, ICT Board and others are indeed most welcome to speak for themselves...even after I have made my position know. Meanwhile, you will fear not 4G, after you visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G walu. --- On Thu, 4/1/10, Kepta Ombati <kombati@akibauhaki.org> wrote: From: Kepta Ombati <kombati@akibauhaki.org> Subject: Re: [ke-internetusers] Re: [kictanet] Kenya's Safaricom says to test 4G later in 2010 To: "Walubengo J" <jwalu@yahoo.com> Cc: "Solomon Mburu Kamau" <solo.mburu@gmail.com>, ke-internetusers@bdix.net, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Thursday, April 1, 2010, 1:20 PM Walu: While we agree that unnecessary barriers shouldn't be erected on new services and products that could benefit consumers, we must firmly disagree with you that only CCK and other such govt agencies should comment on new products coming into the market. We also disagree that consumers should be a dumping ground. As things stand, many of us feel very exposed due to failures of mandated govt agencies to protect us from poor/substandard products that get dumped on us every day. We also spend a lot of money in expensive experimental products. In any case, don't you think that MJ can speak for himself... or that Safcom - and other telcos - has/have enough Customer service people and techies who can speak for the co/cos.? MJ is in fact doing very well from his recent mails to this forum. ICT Board's Kukubo and PS BN have done pretty well in engaging in this forum in the past. What exactly is wrong with empowering the consumer with info.? Don't you know that not everyone has the privilege of your industry info. and therefore not everyone is cushioned against opportunism and market distortion. Info asymmetry is a major distorting factor. We need preventive not curative approaches as much as practicable. Put differently, the Kenyan consumer should be protected in all ways possible from being perpetual guinea pig. Your voting with the feet sound good from far but is indeed far from good! I therefore urge that we permit those who can provide useful information to help us make informed decisions to do so without self appointed police or pro-telcos agencies constraining them. And though it might not cure the ills of market imperfection, apriori info on possible risks certainly mitigates our individual and collective exposure. So Solomon, Alex and all those who have steadfastly played the role of public watchdog, hongera! Keep it up. And barbs to anyone trying to stifle consumer education and protection!! And more barbs to the public agencies that are sleeping on the job or in bed with the telcos at the expense of the consumers! -- Kepta Ombati Akiba Uhaki Foundation - The Human Rights & Social Justice Fund K-Rep Center, Wood Avenue, Kilimani Box 27611-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254) 20 2441204/2441196 Fax: (254) 20 3861576 Mobile; (254) 0 722 659 364/738 550 550 Email:kombati@akibauhaki.org Website: www.akibauhaki.org …………………………………….......... “For a Just and Egalitarian East Africa where all persons enjoy their Rights and live in Dignity” On Thu, 2010-04-01 at 01:20 -0700, Walubengo J wrote: I dont think Safcom or any other Telco needs permission from Users(customers) to test new technologies (unless ofcourse these are medically harmful - of which the regulator would have cleared beforehand). Futhermore, I dont think CCK licenses peg the introduction of new technologies(4G) on the success or otherwise of the older technologies (2go r3g)... So lets not mix the two issues.  If consumers have issues with the old technologies, they should raise those issues (like Aki did)  INDEPENDENT of subsequent technologies... Plse dont introduce barriers to new developments(@Jevans), after all if eventually 4g s*cks, the customers will simply vote with their feet... walu. --- On Thu, 4/1/10, Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu@gmail.com> wrote: From: Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya's Safaricom says to test 4G later in 2010 To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: ke-internetusers@bdix.net, "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Thursday, April 1, 2010, 11:21 AM On 01/04/2010, Dorcas Muthoni <dmuthoni@gmail.com> wrote: > Very welcome...LTE or call it 4G will be very good for the last mile, we > need it here! We are speaking about insanely fast speeds … potential as high > as 150Mbps download and upload speeds as high as 50Mbps … about 100x more > bandwidth (much faster) than most 3G networks. Safaricom should go ahead and > test! > IMHO, while this is a great idea it should not just be pegged on the speeds but also on the consumer benefit. Just to ask, how many consumers outside Nairobi really understand the essence behind 3G? Can Safaricom, say, for instance, the viability of 3G, at the moment from the consumers end? What about areas which are not fully covered by 3G? Sometimes, the consumer ends up getting confused with this 'new' products leaving him with no choice but to subscribe without public education, which is an essential tool for helping the end user make informed choices at the end of the day. > On Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 4:35 PM, Michael Joseph > <MJoseph@safaricom.co.ke>wrote: > >>  At extreme risk of responding via this list, I ask why should we not be >> testing new technology which might benefit both the Kenyan public and the >> industry? It did not say we are launching it commercially but merely >> hoping >> to do a technical trial. >> >> >> >> Certainly 3G is more than producing the results – that is why all of a >> sudden the other operators want to climb on board when 2 years ago they >> said >> it was not commercially viable. >> >> >> >> Michael >> >> >> >> *CEO* >> >> *Safaricom Limited* >> >> >>  ------------------------------ >> >> *From:* >> kictanet-bounces+mjoseph=safaricom.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke[mailto: >> kictanet-bounces+mjoseph <kictanet-bounces%2Bmjoseph>=safaricom.co.ke@ >> lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Jevans Nyabiage >> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 31, 2010 4:20 PM >> *To:* Michael Joseph >> *Cc:* ke-internetusers@bdix.net; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions >> *Subject:* [kictanet] Kenya's Safaricom says to test 4G later in 2010 >> >> >> >> Has Safaricom fully achieved the benefits of 3G to start testing 4G? >> >> >> >> >> http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Kenyas%20Safaricom%20says%20to%20test%... >> >> >> >> Jevans >> >> DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is >> intended for the use of the stated recipient only.  It may contain >> confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information.  No >> confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission.  If >> you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all >> copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify >> the >> sender.  You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, >> print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended >> recipient. >> >> Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author and >> do not necessarily represent those of the *Nation Media >> Group*<http://www.nation.co.ke> >> *.* >> >> To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or visit >> http://mobile.nation.co.ke  to read news on your mobile phone. >>  *Note:* >> All emails sent from Safaricom Limited are subject to Safaricom’s Email >> Terms & Conditions. Please click >> here<http://www.safaricom.co.ke/Emailtermsandconditions>to read the >> policy. >> ------------------------------ >>  * * >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> This message was sent to: dmuthoni@gmail.com >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/dmuthoni%40gmail.com >> >> > > > -- > Muthoni > > My Blog: http://rugongo.blogspot.com/ > -------------------------------------------- > Mahatma Gandhi once said:- > > First they ignore you, > Then they laugh at you, > Then they fight you, > AND THEN YOU WIN!!! > -- Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041 Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way to the side of a hill! AND It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity! http://dawn-in-kenya.blogspot.com http://smiley2.wordpress.com http://mburu.sikika.co.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jwalu@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com _______________________________________________ ke-internetusers mailing list ke-internetusers@bdix.net http://www.bdix.net/mailman/listinfo/ke-internetusers