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

Wed Jul 7 16:13:22 EAT 2010

On 07/07/2010, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear Judy,
>
> There are risks and costs to every program of action, something had to be
> done, and as someone once said patience pays, the feasibility study
> mentality has costed us more than the initiatives that have been conducted
> so far.
>
> Kind Regards

So when were the feasibility studies done? And did they have any
quantitative and qualitative measurements on the impact of the cables
to the consumer?
>
> On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 1:26 PM, Judy Okite <judyokite at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> we all seem to be on the same page....yes, we(consumers) are not pleased
>> or
>> have not yet felt the impact of the fibre cables....
>>
>> so yes, despite the risen demand of the internet, the costs are still very
>> high...we have been saying that for awhile to empty promises of they  will
>> come down 'soon'
>>
>> can we say that what is going on is, teething problems? and we need to be
>> patient? ..
>> in the mean time, who is paying for the 'patience' ?
>>
@Judy, you and I are dearly paying for the patience. Just yesterday
Seacom was down (I'm unsure whether it's up) and the businesses which
depend on it were literary offline.
Big companies don't feel the impact directly unless one cuts the main
cable in their offices.

Out of curiosity, suppose voice was fully dependant on the fibre
cables what would have been the ramification?
>>
>> Kind Regards,
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 10:57 AM, Barrack Otieno
>> <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Well put Solomon, if i got Sams post correctly, some research in
>>> underway,
>>> i hope he doesnt mind sharing some snipets on this list, there seems to
>>> be
>>> silent consensus that we are on the right track any differing views :-)
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 9:51 AM, Solomon Mburu Kamau <solo.mburu at gmail.com
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> And there is the element of  demand vs supply. While in essence, there
>>>> was no task force et al that was pre-commissioned to look into the
>>>> need of essentiality of the fibre cables, (I stand to be corrected on
>>>> this), the govt of Kenya thought it wise to have the cables landed,
>>>> anyway.
>>>> The consumers, on their part, had a number of views on the effects
>>>> (both -ve and +ve) of the cables, realistically, changing their
>>>> thoughts at the end of having them landing.
>>>>
>>>> Nevertheless, we can't throw the fibre cables out of the window
>>>> because of this 'blunder'. A lot of opportunities now exist based on
>>>> the factual results being felt.
>>>> It is imperative to ask ourselves, just as it has been pointed out,
>>>> why had Zain, to be known as Airtel, to have the African headquarters
>>>> in Nairobi, yet there are other 14 nations in Africa where Zain
>>>> International operates? This remember, despite the political hue and
>>>> cue!
>>>>
>>>> Maybe we shouldn't be impatient, and after some years, we can point
>>>> fingers out.
>>>> I'm still believing that there was/is a need to have a time-line for
>>>> assessing the impact of these infrastructure.
>>>>
>>>> On 07/07/2010, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> > 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
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> > -----Inline Attachment Follows-----
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> > _______________________________________________
>>>> >> > kictanet mailing list
>>>> >> > kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> >> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> > This message was sent to: jwalu at yahoo.com
>>>> >> > Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>> >> >
>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> --
>>>> >> Solomon Mbũrũ 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
>>>> >>
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>>> >> kictanet mailing list
>>>> >> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>> >>
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>>>> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>> >>
>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/saguyo%40yahoo.com
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>>> >> kictanet mailing list
>>>> >> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>> >>
>>>> >> This message was sent to: otieno.barrack at gmail.com
>>>> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>> >>
>>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail.com
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > --
>>>> > Barrack O. Otieno
>>>> > +41767892272
>>>> > Skype: barrack.otieno
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Solomon Mbũrũ 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
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Barrack O. Otieno
>>> +41767892272
>>> Skype: barrack.otieno
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> kictanet mailing list
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>
>>> This message was sent to: judyokite at gmail.com
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/judyokite%40gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> “To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and
>> what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.”
>> Kofi Annan
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Barrack O. Otieno
> +41767892272
> Skype: barrack.otieno
>

-- 
Solomon Mbũrũ 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