[kictanet] My 2cts: Kenya IGF 2010 Mailing List Discussions Day 2 of 8Theme : Infrastructure Issues - Impact of the Fibre OpticCable IGF Mailing List Discussions

Wed Jul 7 11:33:53 EAT 2010

Victor,

In your study, you made 2 observations that many (in private sector and government) have overlooked/ and am afraid intend to overlook for many moons to come, in getting the BPO sector up and running.

1.    Marketing – the government (and by extension the lenders) should fund marketing Kenya as a BPO destination. There are a handful government agencies that touch on this sector, but interestingly, none of them seem to even have a coherent strategic plan in getting this sector up and running.

2.    Funding for BPO entrepreneurs – It is interesting to note that our local banks, VCs, etc (read financial sector)  have not seen the potential in the BPO sector and come up with appropriate products. No wonder, some of us (in the BPO space) almost sell our souls to get funding from foreign entities that require an arm and a leg to have them convinced that Kenya is indeed a bankable investment.

My thoughts,

Edwin

From: kictanet-bounces+eonchari=kenyabposociety.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=kenyabposociety.or.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Victor Gathara
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 11:16 AM
To: eonchari at kenyabposociety.or.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: [kictanet] My 2cts: Kenya IGF 2010 Mailing List Discussions Day 2 of 8Theme : Infrastructure Issues - Impact of the Fibre OpticCable IGF Mailing List Discussions

Barrack

When I did a study on the fibre optic cables a couple of years ago I proposed the following actions by donors to help Kenya reap the benefits of fibre coming to our shores:

-          targeted funding for the ICT industry to help mitigate the effect of the global recession; 

-          direct investments in infrastructure to help spread points of presence to rural areas;

-          supporting a Kenyan success story in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector through marketing support, technical and financial assistance (borrowing loosely from the MPESA model); 

-          lobbying the government for regulation aimed at preventing monopolies developing and speeding up the passing of the Freedom of Information (FOI) act 

-          encouraging debate on the benefits of the sub-marine fibre in the public domain through collaboration with the media and supporting the Ministry of Information and Communications communication strategy.

-          factor support for the development of a vibrant Kenya ICT industry in the Enterprise Development Programme 

-          lobby for ICT issues among donors

-          support for the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTAnet) - to transform it to a effective national association

The danger at the time was that many viewed the arrival of the cables as the 'silver bullet' that would slay the problems facing the ICT industry in East Africa and in so doing catalyse the ICT (followed by the economic) revolution. It shouldn't surprise us that this hasn't happened as connectivity is only but a part of the issues that need to be resolved. Its also early days yet. I believe change in this arena will happen bit by bit (pun intended) until we have critical mass where more massive changes (the expected revolution) will then take place. The pace of the change will be dependent on how quickly the transformative actions above are taken.

Victor

  _____  

From: kictanet-bounces+v-gathara=dfid.gov.uk at lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+v-gathara=dfid.gov.uk at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Barrack Otieno
Sent: 07 July 2010 10:31
To: Victor Gathara
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya IGF 2010 Mailing List Discussions Day 2 of 8Theme : Infrastructure Issues - Impact of the Fibre OpticCable IGF Mailing List Discussions

Thank you Charles and Sam for your observation and positive outlook. I agree with Sam, having a highway without vehicles to ply on is a mirage nonetheless Charles is right in pointing out the very fact with the few vehicles on the highway the future looks bright. That nothwithstanding and considering the fact that 70 percent of our economy is composed of the informal sector we need a sustained campaign that will ensure this segment is brought onto the Super highway.

On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 6:26 AM, Sam Aguyo <saguyo at yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear Listeners,

I think we need to be more inward looking, the golden murmur should have  been Seacom is down so our BPOs are suffering huge losses.  Indeed we have the superhighway but apparently not vehicles to run on it.   When the Anti Terrorist Police Unit first released its rapid communication channels i had worries since it was a yahoo.com address, am glad they quickly changed and now it is go.ke, a good development.  We now have 3 cables if am not mistaken but if there are no Buses not even matatus to ply on them, then they are a mirage.

Considerable impact will be felt when we stop, think, ponder and seize the opportunity that comes with the infrastructure than wait to complain that the infrastructure itself is not in itself giving business opportunity.

Well Walu, am already doing research on something related.

Sam Aguyo

  _____  

From: Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu at gmail.com>
To: saguyo at yahoo.com 

Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>

Sent: Tue, July 6, 2010 5:15:39 PM 

Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya IGF 2010 Mailing List Discussions Day 2 of 8 Theme : Infrastructure Issues - Impact of the Fibre Optic Cable IGF Mailing List Discussions

One of the views in regards to the undersea cables, is realistically
speaking, the current situation. As Walu pointed out, all users of
.com have been affectedby the effects of Seacom's state of affairs.

This is perhaps one of the many reasons as to why the Undersea Cables
were a 'mess' from the word go. It beats logic why the breakdown or
whatever has not been restored to its full capacity, as we speak.
Could there be sabotage?

Back to your query: The socio-economioc impact of the cables.
1. They are anticipated to open more job opportunities (BPO, E-stuff)
2. They would generally improve the economic and security of countries
thus enhancing interdepence and social closeness.
3. The most notable impact, in my view, was the momentus speed that
would usher quick businesses thus economic growth.

The youth would have benefitted greatly considering that they
constitute to the majority of workforce. In such a view, growth in
countries where the cables pass would be great, maybe +10% p.a.
The value addition, as of now, remains to be seen!

On 06/07/2010, Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Barrack,
>
> internet traffic is truly messed up down here. Considering that our domestic
> networks+local content are relatively non-existent we are heavy consumers
> international traffic - even my email, yours and many others are .com and so
> they will try to head out of the country through constrained links given
> that Seacom has gone down with probably 50%? of our international
> capacity...
>
> it only emphasis the sorry state of affairs that despite the pomp
> surrounding the advent of the undersea cable, there is yet to be that
> socio-economic revolution that was expected. Maybe there is but I have not
> yet heard about BPO jobs flooding our market, eLearning taking off,
> eCommerce and the rest of the goodies happening because we now have the
> superhighway down at the coast...indeed someone can do a good PhD thesis on
> why this is so and inform us exactly when the IT miracle will happen (the
> Indian style).
>
> walu.
>
>
>
> --- On Tue, 7/6/10, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Kenya IGF 2010 Mailing List Discussions Day 2 of 8
> Theme : Infrastructure Issues - Impact of the Fibre Optic Cable IGF Mailing
> List Discussions
> To: jwalu at yahoo.com
> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Date: Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 2:42 PM
>
> Listers , there is very loud silence with regard to Infrastructure issues i
> suppose we have adopted a wait and see approach, i can hear murmus across
> various lists within the country as well as regionally that seacom is down
> http://www.seacomblog.com/team-seacom/2010/07/seacom-service-down-seacom-actively-seeking-solutions,
> probably we are getting used to this scenario, however is this right?
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 6, 2010 at 9:56 AM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Dear Listers,
>
> Apologies for starting the thread late and thanks
> to all those who responded actively on the first day, the thread is
> still open. Today we look at Infrastructure issues, a quick glance
> through last years report brings to mind the Pomp that greeted the
> TEAMS and SEACOM initiative, one year down the line, it would only be
> good to review the milestones we have made this far, going through an
> earlier discussion on this list, i noted an interesting article posted
> by listers that mentioned the fact that the undersea cable has led to a
> boom in Spam coming from the this region, the study was conducted by
> Symantec, i know this is just a tip of the ICEBERG and would like to
> look at the issue from a Social perspective as well as an economic
> perspective, are there real (tangible benefits) that the cables have
> brought or is it euphoria, do we have indicators that show how the
> country has benefited?, what do the various consituencies have to say?
> Consumer advocates, Youth Representatives, the Private Sector?..the
> discussion is open
>
> --
> Barrack O. Otieno
> +41767892272
> Skype: barrack.otieno
>
>
>
>
> --
> Barrack O. Otieno
> +41767892272
> Skype: barrack.otieno
>
>
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-- 
Solomon Mburu Kamau

*****************************************************
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://smiley2.wordpress.com
http://mburu.sikika.co.ke

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-- 
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+41767892272
Skype: barrack.otieno

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