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

Tue Jul 26 12:28:51 EAT 2011

Am certain we have media represented on this list, pse respond and set the
record straight. Especially, "Were you 
invited to take up ownership in Signet, then you declined?" I suppose we run
the risk of upcoming news items being 
treated with a pinch of salt unless fully substantiated, to avoid whipping
up emotions unnecessarily.

Maybe as suggested, a townhall "forum" would be a welcome idea.

Robert, pse send the recipe for roasting grasshoppers..

Harry
  _____  

From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On
Behalf Of robert yawe
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 10:12 AM
To: harry at comtelsys.co.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row- at Kenya IGF

Daktari,

I rarely agree with the governments stand on certain issues but on this one
I say move forward with all guns blazing, I need an opportunity to broadcast
my ideas but this will never happen with a few profit centred organisations
owning the airwaves.

After we have created out youtube http://www.youtube.com/robertyawe (this is
a chance for many of you to put a face to the text) type content the next
step will be how to broadcast the same to a larger audience. 

As with youtube, where I did not need to invest in the distribution network,
the independence of the digital signal distributor will allow me to only
invest in the content part of the business thus reducing my capital
expenditure.

However much we bury our heads in the sand, kill switches are a must have if
you are to prevent mass murder as happened in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Serbia,
Germany and many others.  Yesterday I realised that my searches on Google
are being localised which means all traffic to and from a particular country
will soon be easily identifiable which will therefore allow for remote
disconnection.

So before you start throwing stones at the Chinese, because of our inability
to think even within the box, watch the global space and realise that big
brother is increasing the reigns of control to the level of each individual
world citizen.  

I ask again, if the phone of a Prime Minister can be hacked what about yours
and mine, lets get the digital signal and broadcast cultural shows to those
who want to watch.  It is my expectation that by the end of 2012 I will have
100 channels to choose from ranging in content from recipes for roasting
grasshoppers to brain surgery for dummies all from a single antennae
irrespective of where I am in the country.

Twende Kazi

Robert Yawe
KAY System Technologies Ltd
Phoenix House, 6th Floor
P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
Kenya

Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696 

  _____  

From: "bitange at jambo.co.ke" <bitange at jambo.co.ke>
To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Sun, 24 July, 2011 19:49:29
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital TV signal Distribution row- at Kenya IGF

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.
>
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regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
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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
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