[kictanet] The Death of Cybercafes?

Fri Mar 4 23:19:37 EAT 2011

FYI, a related story:

http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/en/issue-no-544/top-story/nice-pioneers-second/en?

<http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/en/issue-no-544/top-story/nice-pioneers-second/en?>
-- 
Cheers,

McTim
"A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route
indicates how we get there."  Jon Postel
On Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 5:27 PM, Francis Hook <francis.hook at gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks Daktari.
>
> I also see their role in extended government infrastructure and services if
> operators of such places can be vetted and licenced to avail various online
> services (log book application, birth certificates, land and MV searches,
> etc etc - you can include revenue collection if there is a revenue sharing
> model with government - I personally hate the long lines at KRA - if I can
> go to an accredited outlet in my vicinity to to all that, I will.
>
>
> On 4 March 2011 08:35, <bitange at jambo.co.ke> wrote:
>
>> Robert,
>> You are right.  Cyber Cafes may die in Nairobi CBD area but in low income
>> neighbourhoods and rural centers they are still relevant.  Go to Korogocho
>> and see what Altawon is doing.  At Mukuru Kwa Njenga the Cyber Cafe there
>> provides more than what we traditionally knew cyber cafes for.  If our
>> definition of Cyber Cafe is the same, then some digital villages in
>> Kangundo, Malindi, Kioge, Tsiekuru etc are basically Cyber Cafes.
>>
>> The value proposition for such centers is increasingly becoming viable
>> with such new concepts as impact outsourcing (those who may be interested
>> to see model impact outsourcing centers can check with me next month).  A
>> bit of field visit would enhance our discussion in this list.
>>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>>
>> Ndemo.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I disagree with your assertion that cybercafes are closing down if
>> > anything they
>> > are mushrooming and in more seats that before, in the building where our
>> > offices
>> > are we used to have a single cyber on the 2nd floor in the past 12
>> months
>> > 2 have
>> > opened on the ground floor replacing a bookshop and a pharmacy each with
>> > over 30
>> > stations.
>> >
>> > The availability of mobile on the phone is actually a plus for the cyber
>> > business as it creates a more aware market who end up spending more time
>> > and
>> > money as they need to download staff, print, cd burn etc.
>> >
>> > Unless you have an iPad the experience of browsing on your phone is
>> still
>> > not as
>> > good as on a large 17" screen.
>> >
>> > Finally, many of thus opening cybers today have a better understanding
>> of
>> > the
>> > business than the me too crowd that used to run them before.  Any cyber
>> > cafe
>> > that does not charge automatically for  printing is doomed to close
>> soon.
>> >
>> > As more knowledgeable investors come into the cyber cafe business expect
>> > to see
>> > more of them coming up and with the right tools for monitoring and
>> > generating
>> > revenue such as protocol based billing.  I visited a cyber in Rongai
>> where
>> > billing was bandwidth based as they where using a Safaricom 3G
>> connection.
>> >
>> > Regards
>> >  Robert Yawe
>> > KAY System Technologies Ltd
>> > Phoenix House, 6th Floor
>> > P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
>> > Kenya
>> >
>> >
>> > Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > ________________________________
>> > From: Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.or.ke>
>> > To: robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk
>> > Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>> > Sent: Wed, 2 March, 2011 19:12:16
>> > Subject: [kictanet] The Death of Cybercafes?
>> >
>> >
>> > Listers
>> >
>> > Just back from Ghana where I was impressed to see that cybercafes are
>> > still
>> > alive (e.g. BusyInternet)...as my experience in Kenya is that it's hard
>> to
>> > find
>> > a functional cybercafe within easy reach with cutting edge  services and
>> > programs (PDF etc)....most are closing down with Internet available on
>> the
>> > mobile (with aggressive competition). So outside the office set-up and
>> > with
>> > minimal home connections...one has almost no options for innovation.
>> >
>> > Is it a good thing that cybers are dying in Kenya and broadband is yet
>> to
>> > reach homes? what needs to be done differently to inform our efforts on
>> > digital
>> > villages etc?
>> >
>> > Edith
>> >
>> > ________________
>> > Edith  Ofwona Adera
>> > Senior Program Specialist
>> > ICT4D Program and Climate Change & Water Program
>> > International  Development Research Centre | Centre de recherches pour
>> le
>> > développement international
>> > Regional Office for Eastern  and Southern Africa
>> > Tel:  +254202713160 | Fax/Téléc: +254202711063 | Skype: edithadera
>> > eadera at idrc.or.ke | www.idrc.ca| www.crdi.ca
>> >
>> >
>> >
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>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Francis Hook
> +254 733 504561
>
>
>
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