[kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row- at Kenya IGF

Sun Jul 24 22:11:19 EAT 2011

Meshack,
The saddest thing is that Media the other day were on a Swedish company
case.  They mounted unnecessary war on Smart TV that had employed 100
Kenyans.  Their sin was competition.  Even after the High Court found that
there was no irregularity, they kept fighting.

The Company is now exiting the Kenyan Market.  Imagine the message we send
out their with respect to FDI in the sector.  Three Multinationals that
have been considring setting up local content development are
reconsidering their decision.  These were the same groups that were to set
up animation studios at Sameer Park.

This ia all about resistance to change.  The people must resist this kind
of propaganda.  In my view we need a public debate on this.  I am ready to
say this in public not just in the New Media.

Regards

Ndemo.

> dear listers
>
> i have read most of the postings and it worries me if the media power
> houses can control the interpretation of important issues to the public
> like this, i may not be familiar with the whole licensing process in the
> government but all i know is that dispite the number of applicants there
> is only one firm that can be awarded in such a situation. if such an issue
> has been controlled by the media for there own benefit. then how much
> information has the media houses twisted and controlled for there own
> benefit in the past?
>
> thank you all
>
> --- On Sun, 7/24/11, bitange at jambo.co.ke <bitange at jambo.co.ke> wrote:
>
> From: bitange at jambo.co.ke <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row- at Kenya IGF
> To: memakunat at yahoo.com
> Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Date: Sunday, July 24, 2011, 9:49 AM
>
> Listers,
> Please step out of the box and understand this issue.  There are about 30
> companies with license to distribute Internet Protocol (IP) signinal.  Of
> these just a handful are controlled by Kenyans.  The licenses issued to
> Signet and PANG (Chinese)to distribute Broadcasting signal is actually the
> same given to other IP signal distributors.  In essence any telco would
> have easily distributed the signal.  This is because broadcast and
> telecommunications have converged.
>
> One would ask why we did not just give the existing IP signal distributors
> to roll out digital broadcast.  Indeed we considered this and we knew
> broadcasters would resist the power that telcos would wield (read Banks).
> We then decided to create a special Broadcast IP signal license knowing
> very well that the development of Web TV is advancing fast.  Indeed the
> technologies like DVBT, ISDBT etc would be eliminated once web tv takes
> over in another 5 years.  This would mean that even CCK will not issue
> such IP licenses but only content license.
>
> We are simply in a development stage and check my words.  There is no
> Broadcast Signal licensee (if their intention is to only distribute
> broadcast signal) who will recover the Ksh. 4 billion investment before
> the broadcast technology shifts to web broadcasting.  We are already into
> Youtube and the like. Sometines follow ITU discussions, it is just a
> matter of time before all of us become broadcasters from our websites.
> All research is now focused on moving from Standard Definition to High
> Defition to 3D on the web.  Just check TV manufacturers to understand the
> direction we are going.  Already there is Internet TV with 1,500 free to
> air channels from Samsung.  The smart TV which incorpotates today and
> tomorrow video requirements.
>
> We have been boxed into a small corner with lies.  Indeed I have called my
> counterparts in Rwanda and Uganda and there is nothing with cancellation
> of licenses as reported.  You can call and check.  Prior to advertizing
> the tender, the Migration Committee had offered shares in Signet or better
> the license to all broadcasters owing to their investments in the sector
> that will go to waste.  Instead they started fighting among themselves and
> agreed to a competitive bid but they did not report this.
>
> Under affirmative action, we shall proceed to issue the third license to
> the compainants on condition they incorporate others who already have
> infrastructure but only time will tell.  (Mtoto akililia wembe, mpatie).
> It is not a wise decision for them if their intent is to protect our
> sovreinity through local entrepreneurship.  The war in future will be in
> content and so Intellectual Property is where we must focus our energies.
> The last time I checked Ngurario in the net, it was a product of Intel and
> Microsoft.  I do not know what is more important, our heritage or channels
> to which we distribute our creations.
>
> We shall benefit from this interaction if we think mostly out of the box
> and understand what is important to our future.  The Government is
> devolving power to the citizens as evidenced with the launch of open
> government.  But if the citizens continue with the old politically correct
> statements that have no evidence then we have a problem.  These are some
> of the people who will be told of a revolution that happened during their
> time but were not able to see it because they were blinded with the past.
>
>
> Regards
>
>
> Ndemo.
>
>
>
>
>
>> Allow me to add some comments on this thread. :-)
>>
>> Why is the ownership of the core signal distribution facilities of
>> national
>> importance ? I agree with Hon Eng Rege's assesment of potential sabotage
>> and
>> this alone is serious enough. Today we can openly discuss issues of such
>> importance, who knows what will be the situation in another 20 years.
>> All
>> global governments have been known to back track or fast track. In 20
>> years
>> time, we will have changed govt, policies to match back-tracking or
>> fast-tracking at least 5 different times but two local companies will
>> still
>> be in existence i.e NMG/Royal Media and operating the national signal
>> distribution without any effects whatsoever. We are also players in the
>> global world and there is also the problem of global policies that
>> affects
>> us. If tomorrow China came under any sanctions internationally for
>> whatever
>> reason and that all developing nations have to follow the lead on
>> showing
>> how they support these sanctions, will the govt then shutdown the
>> licensed
>> facilities? Case of this is now Libya, which unfortunately developing
>> countries are also being sucked into and told to choose sides between
>> blocking assets and the rest . How would it work then? Anyone know what
>> is
>> happening to Laico Regency and Oil-Libya in Kenya, please share some
>> details.
>>
>> The signal distribution network and facilities are as important as the
>> signals of DOD. Will we also pass these signals and controls to external
>> parties? I hope not. Nothing against China, as an investor it will be
>> unfortunately get caught up with issues that arise from developing
>> countries
>> fast tracking shortcuts versus almost zero internal initiatives on core
>> ownership development. In this case, I'd have to support the local media
>> groups that can finance, operate and rollout ownership of facilities
>> versus
>> the argument that market competion will drive a diverse solutions. It
>> seems
>> that there aren't that many media stations which would be able to use
>> more
>> facilties even if they were available.
>>
>> My thoughts and corrections welcome.
>>
>> Thank you.
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------
>> This message has been scanned for viruses and
>> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is
>> believed to be clean.
>> ---------------------------------------------
>> "easy access to the world"
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke
>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>> development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>> bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy,
>> do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
> ---------------------------------------------
> "easy access to the world"
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/memakunat%40yahoo.com
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
> development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
> ---------------------------------------------
> "easy access to the world"
>
>

---------------------------------------------- 
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.
---------------------------------------------
"easy access to the world" 