[kictanet] Kenya IGF on line Discussions Day 1: International Telecommunications Regulations (ITR's)

Thu Jun 14 09:10:40 EAT 2012

Ali,

You raise pertinent issues, i had an opportunity to participate in the ATU
meeting held in Ougadougou from 5th - 7th March 2012 whose theme was
Internet Infrastructure for an African Digital Economy, i recall Mr. Abosse
Akue Kpakpo a member of the ITU Study group three making a passionate
appeal to African countries to unite and forge a common front in the
forthcoming WCIT meeting in Dubai a proposal similar to the one put forth
by Dr. Ndemo. His major concern were Interconnection tarrifs which were
heavily skewed in favour of european telcos, that said back home we have
seen cases in which network operators play around with tarrifs like bait,
we have seen endless fights between the operators on Interneconnection, the
question is who should take lead and how can the common mwanainchi like you
and i participate in the process?

On Thu, Jun 14, 2012 at 6:30 AM, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:

> Listers
>
> I believe we should start advocating for an updated global regulatory
> environment. As one lister mentioned are ITRs even necessary in this brave
> new world? The fact that it takes so long within the ITU member states to
> make even a slight change in language for anything involving treaties that
> affect member states is caution enough - 22 years since the last update!!
>
> Let's look at the environment now and then.
>
> 1. National Telecomms companies are either defunct or moribund replaced (
> or in some cases swallowed) by all intents and purposes by large dominant
> Multi-nationals or regional giants. Safaricom (Vodafone), Orange (France
> Telecom), Airtel (Bharti) and yu (Essar) in Kenya are all controlled by
> these. So my humble view is that the only point of discussion for us is
> from a user and regulatory perspective. In this I believe we need to ensure
> a level playing field for all players and as much as possible retain some
> sort of Net Neutrality.
>
> 2. Is this achievable through the ATU? The fact that the only time this
> was mentioned was yesterday by Daktari Ndemo and that the CCK is still nil
> by mouth on this is an answer in itself. How do we participate at the ATU.
> Does this forum have any mandate on this? What is the role of TESPOK?
> KITOS? Even if we do go the ATU way we must have a plan B to move our
> Agenda forward. Do we know if  other African countries are even discussing
> this? If so what forums are there to have a meeting of minds?
>
> A casual look at the ATU site makes zero reference to this issue of ITRs,
> internet governance and freedom. Further it looks like their calendar is
> full for the remainder of the year and into the next year. Being realistic
> what chances do we have of a joint position across Africa before December's
> Dubai meeting? Any lurkers out there from the rest of Africa to join in and
> give us your perspective?
>
>  Let's start with home. What is the position of the various organizations?
> TESPOK? KeNIC? Computer Society? CCK?
>
> Regards
>
> Ali Hussein
>
> +254 773/713 601113
>
> Sent from my iPhone®
>
> On Jun 13, 2012, at 11:16 PM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Listers,
>
> International Telecommunication regulations are general principles related
> to international telecommunication services and its transport means.
>
> The purpose and Scope includes among other things:
>
>
>
>    -  Interconnection and interoperability of telecommunication
>    facilities.
>    - Giving precedence for the *Radio Regulations* in case of
>    contradiction.
>    - Allowing, within its framework, mutual agreements between countries.
>    - To set primary rules for accounting and settlements between members.
>
>
>  The ITR treaty was adopted in the *World Administrative Telegraph and
> Telephone* *Conference* (WATTC) held in Melbourne, 1988. It however came
> into force on July 1
>
> 1990, since then no updates have been made to the ITR provisions which
> leads to the following question:
>
>
>
>    1. As countries prepare for the World Congress on International
>    Telecommunications to be held in Dubai in December 2012 (
>    http://www.itu.int/en/wcit-12/Pages/overview.aspx) What should
>    Kenya's priorities be?
>    2. Should Kenya make its stand as a country or should we bargain
>    through the Africa Telecommunications Union as per Dr. Ndemos proposal
>    during a discussion on the list what are the implications of taking a stand
>    as a country or as a regional block ?
>
> The floor is open
>
> --
> Barrack O. Otieno
> +254721325277
> +254-20-2498789
> Skype: barrack.otieno
> http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/
>
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-- 
Barrack O. Otieno
+254721325277
+254-20-2498789
Skype: barrack.otieno
http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/
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