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

Thu Jun 14 09:29:39 EAT 2012

Ali, Listers

Attached please find a report on what was resolved in Ougadougou.

Best Regards

On Thu, Jun 14, 2012 at 9:13 AM, Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:

> Thank you Barrack. I wonder what happened to Mr.  Kpakpo's proposal? Was
> it taken up by ATU? If so how can we link in on that?
>
> Ali Hussein
>
> +254 773/713 601113
>
> Sent from my iPhone®
>
> On Jun 14, 2012, at 9:10 AM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> 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/
>
>

-- 
Barrack O. Otieno
+254721325277
+254-20-2498789
Skype: barrack.otieno
http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/
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