Re: [kictanet] [isoc_ke] #KeIGF Online Discussions Day 6: Openess
Joly Thanks for the link. Definitely worth a look. Grace for every ‘free’ moment of Internet consumed using WhatsApp, Facebook or Gmail is a moment NOT spent consuming local content. One might argue that since FB and WhatsApp are User Generated Content then we are consuming local content. We will be missing the point. This is serious money in terms of advertising that we are freely giving away. Even with Google Ad Products where we are now able to monetise as local publishers the process isn’t really that transparent and while we are giving away ‘eyeballs’ we are building other platforms instead of our own. This is the very essence of Net Neutrality INHO. We need to get ourselves organised to understand the impact of continuing to ignore this. As Obama said in his speech:- 'We have not inherited this nation from our forebearers but borrowed it from our children.’ Every decision we make MUST take that into consideration. Thanks & Regards Ali Hussein ali@hussein.me.ke +254 770 906375 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: Abu-Jomo LinkedIn: http//ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim Blog: www.alyhussein.com
On Jul 27, 2015, at 11:46 AM, Joly MacFie <joly@punkcast.com> wrote:
Hi,
The Indian government has just released a report on NN. Here is some BBC commentary - http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-33605253 <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-33605253>
On Mon, Jul 27, 2015 at 3:07 AM, Ali Hussein via isoc <isoc@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:isoc@lists.my.co.ke>> wrote: Grace, Liz and all
This is a pet issue of mine. Let me be blunt.
Net Neutrality is not something that we understand. We think that it doesn’t affect us, its too foreign and is the preserve of busy bodies who have nothing else to do.
We must address this issue and elevate it to the level of importance it deserves. The average African (Kenyan) doesn't really care about this issue because after all if he/she receives 'free internet’ through internet.org <http://internet.org/> and other initiatives by the internet super powers who are we to say no? We just don’t seem to grasp the devastating effects of continuously being the net consumer of foreign content through social media and other avenues. If we allow this to continue then what happens to all our local content that will be ‘shut out’ of the net through people consuming ‘free internet’?
Here’s a favourite Whatsapp message circulating for the last two weeks or so:-
‘HEY, I AM INVITING YOU TO ACTIVATE WHATSAPP WITHOUT INTERNET.THIS IS AN AMAZING SERVICE.NOW YOU CAN RUN WHATSAPP WITHOUT INTERNET.CLICK HERE TO ACTIVATE — WHATSAPPNODATA,COM
Seriously?
I’m reminded of a discussion I had with some friends a few weeks ago. And it goes something like this:-
In a Market Place there are three key players:-
1. The Buyer 2. The Seller 3. The Product.
So if you are not a buyer or a seller who are you? (HINT: YOU ARE THE PRODUCT) :-)
So go ahead and continue to consume ‘free’ internet provided by the Internet Superpowers and think that Net Neutrality doesn't matter and post nonsensical stuff like your latest Facebook update:-
RELATIONSHIP: ITS COMPLICATED
And wonder why one of Facebook’s key metrics is ARPU (Yes, you got that right - Average Revenue Per User).
Still think Net Neutrality is for foreigners?
Thanks & Regards
Ali Hussein ali@hussein.me.ke <mailto:ali@hussein.me.ke>
+254 770 906375 <tel:%2B254%20770%20906375> Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: Abu-Jomo LinkedIn: http//ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> Blog: www.alyhussein.com <http://www.alyhussein.com/>
On Jul 27, 2015, at 9:40 AM, Liz Orembo via isoc <isoc@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:isoc@lists.my.co.ke>> wrote:
Morning Grace, all,
I would say Internet in Kenya is still 'unregulated' when it comes to content filtering. I havent come across blocked sites, however, with the recent revelation of the Hacking team-Govt emails. We dont know what else the government has been upto.
Last year vodacom released a transparency report, but no data was revealed because of unclear legal position.
The legal position is unclear regarding whether or not it would be lawful for Safaricom (Vodafone’s local associate operator) or Vodafone to disclose statistics related to agency and authority communications data demands.
http://www.vodafone.com/content/sustainabilityreport/2014/index/operating_re... <http://www.vodafone.com/content/sustainabilityreport/2014/index/operating_responsibly/privacy_and_security/law_enforcement/country_by_country.html#top>
Is it the same case with other service providers? and is it possible for us to seek clarification?
On Mon, Jul 27, 2015 at 8:47 AM, Grace Mutung'u (Bomu) via isoc <isoc@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:isoc@lists.my.co.ke>> wrote: Listers, We hope you are all well post POTUS visit.
Due to the the national activities last week, we were not able to post the last issue for discussion. Many of you had requested for a discussion on openness of the Internet and so we shall tackle that today. You are also welcome to contribute to all the other discussion threads from last week as we gear up for the face to face KeIGF .
The idea of an open Internet is the idea that the full resources of the Internet and means to operate on it are easily accessible to all individuals and companies. This often includes ideas such as net neutrality, open standards, transparency, lack of Internet censorship, and low barriers to entry. We seek to answer questions like: how open is the Internet in Kenya? Is Freedom of Speech Online encouraged or it is suppressed? Are there examples of blocked websites in Kenya? How easy is it to start an Internet business in Kenya?
Should Internet service provider (ISP) be allowed to speed up, slow down or block lawful Web traffic from getting to where you, the customer, want it to go?
Should ISPs like Orange or Safaricom demand payment from content providers like Facebook or Google because these content providers reap huge profit from the infrastructure provided by ISPs?
What is the position of the regulator on net neutrality? What is the position of service providers in Kenya on net neutrality?
Over to you. Regards, -- Grace L.N. Mutung'u Nairobi Kenya Skype: gracebomu Twitter: @Bomu
<http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu <http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu>>
_______________________________________________ isoc mailing list isoc@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:isoc@lists.my.co.ke> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc <http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc>
-- Best regards.
_______________________________________________ isoc mailing list isoc@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:isoc@lists.my.co.ke> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc <http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc>
_______________________________________________ isoc mailing list isoc@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:isoc@lists.my.co.ke> http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc <http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc>
-- --------------------------------------------------------------- Joly MacFie 218 565 9365 Skype:punkcast WWWhatsup NYC - http://wwwhatsup.com <http://wwwhatsup.com/> http://pinstand.com <http://pinstand.com/> - http://punkcast.com <http://punkcast.com/> VP (Admin) - ISOC-NY - http://isoc-ny.org <http://isoc-ny.org/> -------------------------------------------------------------- -
Ali, Its true, free services could harm competition and distort markets. Are there zero rated services in Kenya? If I'm not wrong, Wikipedia is free on Safaricom and Orange and Facebook is free on Airtel. Cdohnio, actually, ISPs are paid by three parties in the information exchange handshake. The receiver, the sender, and the host/content-provider of the information. So I don't see why the content provider should pay twice, first to have pipes connected at their servers, and for users to access the said content. Still on openness, how open is our business environment for existing players to get licenses and for new players to enter the market? I've heard some ISPs complain that they are denied licenses by the regulator, or the licences are too expensive. A case in point being the 4G lisence.
Mwendwa I think add Gmail from Safaricom. Ali Hussein Hussein & Associates +254 770 906375 / 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim Blog: www.alyhussein.com "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought". ~ Albert Szent-Györgyi Sent from my iPad
On Jul 27, 2015, at 8:38 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva <Kivuva@transworldafrica.com> wrote:
Ali,
Its true, free services could harm competition and distort markets. Are there zero rated services in Kenya? If I'm not wrong, Wikipedia is free on Safaricom and Orange and Facebook is free on Airtel.
Cdohnio, actually, ISPs are paid by three parties in the information exchange handshake. The receiver, the sender, and the host/content-provider of the information. So I don't see why the content provider should pay twice, first to have pipes connected at their servers, and for users to access the said content.
Still on openness, how open is our business environment for existing players to get licenses and for new players to enter the market? I've heard some ISPs complain that they are denied licenses by the regulator, or the licences are too expensive. A case in point being the 4G lisence.
Mwendwa and all The case of zero rating is interesting. It is beneficial to users that access to certain content is provided at no cost however what will be the impact on local content development? Read: http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profiles/blogs/zero-rated-internet-bo... Kind regards Mwende On Mon, Jul 27, 2015 at 8:38 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet < kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
Ali,
Its true, free services could harm competition and distort markets. Are there zero rated services in Kenya? If I'm not wrong, Wikipedia is free on Safaricom and Orange and Facebook is free on Airtel.
Cdohnio, actually, ISPs are paid by three parties in the information exchange handshake. The receiver, the sender, and the host/content-provider of the information. So I don't see why the content provider should pay twice, first to have pipes connected at their servers, and for users to access the said content.
Still on openness, how open is our business environment for existing players to get licenses and for new players to enter the market? I've heard some ISPs complain that they are denied licenses by the regulator, or the licences are too expensive. A case in point being the 4G lisence.
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mwende.njiraini%40gmai...
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.
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
participants (3)
-
Ali Hussein -
Mwende Njiraini -
Mwendwa Kivuva