[kictanet] Fwd: SV: [AfrISPA.Discuss] Undersea cable plan tangled in acrimony in South Africa

[Steve Song]

Hi Joseph,

If economic growth were dependent on ownership of telecommunication 
infrastructure, you might make a case for Minister Matsepe-Casaburi's 
decision.  But economic growth is increasingly driven by knowledge and 
ideas. Telecoms infrastructure is only the road on which those ideas and 
services travel.

It may not seem that way now but ultimately the cost of access will move 
toward zero.  Bill St. Arnaud recently pointed out Chris Anderson's 
article on "Freeconomics" 
http://www.longtail.com/the_long_tail/2006/11/the_rise_of_fre.html. It 
is worth reading.

So, if you want to defend Kenya's future (or South Africa's), the surest 
way of doing that is to invest in the minds that can drive innovation 
and ultimately economic growth.  Education is the key not shutting the 
doors and charging an entry fee.  If you do, people will stop knocking 
soon enough.

Minister Matsepe-Casaburi's decision is the telecommunications 
equivalent of the French Maginot line.  It is simply not where the 
battle will be fought.

Regards from Steve Song  who thinks that big fat pipes for KENET would 
be a very good thing to develop in anticipation of the arrival of 
cheaper fibre.  :-)



Joseph Manthi wrote:
> Brian,
> There is one thing that seems to be missing in this scenario, that is
> that the next frontier (or is it current) where economic,
> technological and cultural  wars will be fought and won is on the
> internet. The question of these cables is a question of self
> determination. SA is excersing their right to self determination. Who
> are we as foreigners to attempt to sway what the government of SA
> wants to do for its people? Remember SA wants to be seen as a beacon
> of hope in the NEPAD region. They, of all people, know exactly what it
> means to be foreign owned. Foreign corporations (read foreigners to SA
> who include other African nations) are keen to get a hold of this
> cable and hence SA market.
> 
> I will stand alone in saying Bravo Ms Minister.
> 
> It is in my opinion that every African government needs to articulate
> its self determination stance. Only after that vision has been fully
> communicated to and all sundry will it be able to move forward. Now
> that the good minister has articulated SA's position, let everyone
> know that the grub train called EASSY will not be stopping in SA.
> 
> Like I said before, unless you have walked in their shoes do not
> question their intent.
> 
> Joe
> 
> On 9/14/07, Brian Longwe <brian at isisweb.nl> wrote:
>> The bottom line - and the truth is that SA controls about 70% of
>> SAT-3 - a cable that has had almost zero impact on the West African
>> seaboard.
>>
>> Why is internet bandwidth in Nigeria more expensive than satellite
>> bandwidth? Because of Telkom SA
>> Why do many of the sea-facing countries on the West African coast not
>> have broadband that is similar levels of cost to other parts of the
>> world where there is submarine fibre? Because of Telkom SA.
>>
>> Why is the situation like that? Why does Telkom SA have that kind of
>> stranglehold? Because of a very corrupt American Telco called SSB -
>> that "owned" Telkom SA at the time when these contracts/arrangements
>> were being put in place.....
>>
>> There is a lot of history behind that scenario....
>>
>> What SA's foreign minister just did is create a trade barrier - let's
>> see how long she survives - she has dug a hole that I think she won't
>> be able to get out of this time...
>>
>> Mblayo
>>
>> On Sep 14, 2007, at 8:28 AM, Joseph Manthi wrote:
>>
>>
> 
> 
-- 
Steve Song <ssong at idrc.ca>
Manager ICT4D Africa Programs
http://www.connectivityafrica.org
http://www.idrc.ca/acacia
International Development Research Centre
Tel. +1 613 236 6163 x2268  Mobile: +1 613 302 8233
Skype: steve_l_song