[kictanet] Digital Villages

Fri Apr 4 11:51:32 EAT 2008

>From a Google search, it seems that the digital villages are
the ICT board/world bank initiative, while ICT villages are those being   promoted by ictvillage.com the on
line/business portal that belongs to a member of the ICT board? 
ICT village.com
has what they refer to as DIGITAL VILLAGE NETWORK etc. Both initiatives refer to their projects as
digital villages…..
Kind regards and very confused
Wambui
From: wambui at live.co.uk
To: kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
Subject: [kictanet] Digital Villages
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 08:44:03 +0000

Edith and all

I join Edith in congratulating the ICT board. However, Dr. Ndemo says
"...  I know there are other private initiatives outside of operators
intending to support the DV project but we are still grabbling with how
this can be distinctively done without causing confusion..."

I am and believe others on this list are confused, what is the
difference between the ICT board Digital villages and the ICT villages
that are being promoted by ictvillage.com the on line/business portal
that belongs to a member of the ICT board?

Is this not conflict of interest and does it not go against the
principles of good/accountable corporate governance? Pray I ask, how are KICTANet stakeholders
expected to play a role/commit to an initiative that is already
corrupt/ed/conflicted as it is and how does the ICT board intend to
deal with this discrepancy?

Could we hear from the ICT board and from Dr. Ndemo on this?

regards

On 03/04/2008, Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.or.ke> wrote:
 Dr Ndemo,

 It's good to learn of this new development and to know that things are
 moving towards implementation. Kudos to the ICT Board!

 May I ask whether there is any plan to share with stakeholders (and the
 public) the DV Program implementation model that is envisaged for discussion
 and feedback? Has there been some in-country background research to
 determine the needs and potential areas for locating the DVs?

 Having been funders of similar telecentres and community-owned networks for
 the last decade across Africa, there are some hard lessons worth sharing
 (some of which have already been  shared directly with the Board), but I
 believe others have invaluable lessons and experiences to share.

 An opportunity to publicly discuss the model will be useful.

 Edith

 -----Original Message-----
 From: kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
 [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf
 Of bitange at jambo.co.ke
 Sent: 02 April 2008 21:07
 To: eadera at idrc.or.ke
 Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
 Subject: [kictanet] Digital Villages

 Dear All,
 In today's Daily Nation, the ICT Board advertised (p 18) for Digital
 Village Entrepreneurs.  This is very significant in the sense that we are
 now very close to involving our rural folks in creating wealth through ICT
 enterprise.  In the past few months since the idea of DVs was mooted, we
 have learnt a great deal and new rural technologies have emerged.
 Private sector is beginning to see opportunities in our rural areas.
 Similar programs elsewhere have often been taken up by the private sector
 and escalated Broadband penetration.

 In Slovakia for example Government direct subsidies to rural areas has
 helped the country achieve the greatest broadband density in Europe.  The
 subsidy drove demand for broadband beyond any estimates.  In Chile direct
 subsidy, intense government local content coupled with tax incentives for
 rural infrastructure helped the country take broadband to the even
 sparsely populated Tundra regions of the Andes.  Farmers in the region
 have as much as 11 MB broadband to homes.  Operators are happy and
 productively utilizing rural Base Stations without additional subsidies.

 Although in our case we have managed some sort of subsidy, we need more
 especially tax incentives on rural infrastructure.  With incentives, it
 will be attractive for operators to take up rural connectivity on
 commercial basis.  We shall be through with the supply side of ICTs when
 the undersea, the terrestrial fibre, data centers, disaster recovery
 centers and network operation centers are ready in the next few months.
 Some of these projects are being undertaken by the private sector and
 where necessary the Government may intervene marginally.

 The challenge now lies on the Demand side.  The risk is that operators may
 concentrate to provide for the bent up demand in urban areas forgetting
 rural areas.  Yet Mpesa shows us that the money is in rural areas.  The
 purpose of this e-mail therefore, is to seek for your support in
 identifying youth from your rural areas (that is if you come from a
 village like me) and recommend them to Victor at the ICT Board.  I know
 there are other private initiatives outside of operators intending to
 support the DV project but we are still grabbling with how this can be
 distinctively done without causing confusion.  Knowing that we have a
 great resource in you (Kictanet) I am confident that your contribution
 would enhance the efforts to scale up ICTs in our country.

 Asante.

 Bitange Ndemo.

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