[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 16:32:10 EAT 2010

On 07/07/2010, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com> wrote:
> @ Solomon, what i meant is that we had gotten into a habit of conducting
> Feasibility studies and nothing was really happening, in actual sense i was
> commending the current leadership at Ministry of Infocom and the private
> sector for taking bold moves that have spurred the growth of the sector, i
> could be wrong though, it could be good to get other perspectives.
>

@Barrack,
On an earlier thread Victor said he had done some (pre?)fibre studies
which had shown some important relationships between the cables and
the various sectors such as BPOs.
(Maybe he can provide a PDF or a link to the study for our input)
With the government, their research papers are busy collecting dust
somewhere, yet they are to benefit the larger community.

I know we have a very hardworking PS in the Ministry of InfoCom and
I'm sure the various documents there can be availed for our
consumption, unless they are classified material!
> On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 3:13 PM, Solomon Mburu Kamau
> <solo.mburu at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> 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
>> >>>> >>
>> >>>> >> This message was sent to: saguyo at yahoo.com
>> >>>> >> 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
>>
>
>
>
> --
> 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