[kictanet] Kenya IGF Mailing List discussions Day 1 of 10: Impact of Mobile Internet in Kenya

[Walubengo J]

@Barrack,

Its quite a short notice but since u have an interesting menu of topics, am tempted to shoot first and off-the-head.

Qtn1: Role of mobile networks in provision of internet? promotion?+local content? spectrum?
Answer1: enormous impact observed and documented by the regulator @ www.cck.go.ke, over 5million? Kenyan using mobile modems to connect...

Answer2: we need promotion and encouragement  to bring internet to rural areas. Kenya is NOT Nairobi and Nairobi is not Kenya (ref: my recent and frustrating experience of trying to connect from Embu County, the HQ of Eastern province). The policy and indeed the legislation provides for Universal Service Fund (USF) to deal with this - but all the "big" shots went mute when i asked this question - what is (not) happening with the USF? (Dr. Ndemo, Eng Okundi et. al.- r u still on this list?)
.
Answer3: local content? I think we have done well with mobile content (e.g. downloads of music tracks, ringtones, etc). but we are doing badly on websites (was 17,000 dot.ke domains announced by Sammy B, Chair of KENIC).  Looks good until u realize Egypt, SA deal with millions of domains...with a higher % ratio of domain names of population sizes.

Answer4: on spectrum, I have to put a disclaimer that am not an expert here. Other than overhearing that the Military has for a long time refused to release some frequency spectrum that is internationally considered for public use (by ITU)...but probably with the new constitution, they have probably released it otherwise we shall ask our friend Steve Mutoro to deal with them in court ;-)

i think ave ventilated enough for the week...and i leave the floor for others.

walu.
--- On Fri, 7/1/11, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
Subject: [kictanet] Kenya IGF Mailing List discussions Day 1 of 10: Impact of Mobile Internet in Kenya
To: jwalu at yahoo.com
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Friday, July 1, 2011, 1:07 PM

Listers,





·        
What role has mobile networks played in providing Internet access
to Kenyan citizens and what needs to be put in place to promote mobile Internet
and enhance local content development?                   

·        
What initiatives are needed to ensure that sufficient spectrum is
available for mobile networks to provide effective Internet access for various
services?


The floor is open, on Monday, which is officially day 2, we will discuss the role and impact of Mobile Payment platforms.

-- 
Barrack O. Otieno+254-20-2498789
Skype: barrack.otieno



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