[kictanet] Digital TV migration postponement

[George Nyabuga]

Listers,

A few months ago I questioned the government's ambitious plan, and promise that the digital switchover would be complete by July 2012. Then the Ministry of Information and Communications PS Dr Bitange Ndemo was adamant, and quoted Malcolm X saying that that would happen by 'any means necessary'.  That said, I find the reason, nay excuse, that the postponement is due to the cost of the set-top boxes laughable. I think the government and the CCK needs to tell us more, and give us the real reasons for the postponement.

George


Dr George Nyabuga                                                 Tel:   +230 403 51 00
Head, Communications and PR, AFRINIC           Fax:  +230 466 67 58
george at afrinic.net - www.afrinic.net
 
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Join us at AFRINIC-17 for our Public Policy Meeting in Khartoum, Sudan, on 24 – 29 November 2012
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On Oct 31, 2012, at 12:37 AM, Edwin Onchari wrote:

> Therefore then, was the DG’s quote of $ 76 (KES 6,500) accurate/justifiable? (assuming he picked the higher side of the price regime). If we had to manufacture these gadgets locally, how much would they have cost; how long will it have taken to have a ‘working’ prototype in the mart?..and assuming that there is need to promote local assembly, would have the net returns  justified the higher/lower price tag?...may be the DG needs to detail wholesome the drive behind his postponing the roll-out for all to internalize…just my view J
>  
> Kind Regards,
> Edwin
> From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Mark Mwangi
> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 7:06 PM
> To: Edwin
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Digital TV migration postponement
>  
> This is made worse by wondering what happened to the plan to locally assemble the damn things. This was taken up by the University of Nairobi Fab Lab and that story died just like that. 
>  
> We want local innovation but we don't bother with local companies doing simple things. Assembling set top boxes should be hard. 
> 
> On Tue, Oct 30, 2012 at 6:17 PM, Edwin Onchari <eonchari at lynxbits.com> wrote:
> Yawe,
>  
> I could have missed some detail on this but do help me understand better if you can:
>  
> 1.       How many, and who are the licensed distributors of the top boxes in Kenya
> 
> 2.       How do the prices charged by the current provider comparable to providers in other countries, e.g.  India (who switched to digital a few days ago with top boxes costing average $20)
> 
> 3.       Are the top boxes tax exempt?
> 
>  
> Regards,
>  
> Edwin
>  
> From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eonchari=lynxbits.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of robert yawe
> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 5:18 PM
> To: Edwin
> 
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> Subject: [kictanet] Digital TV migration postponement
>  
> Hi,
>  
> It was with shock and dismay that I watched the CCK director general lie to the public on a mass broadcast on the reasons for the postponement of the cutoff to digital.
>  
> He said the reason was that the cost of decoders was still too high for the common mwanainchi, he then proceed to lie by saying that the average price was currently Kes. 6,500/-, yet the price for the StarTimes decoder is 3,499/- and that of GoTV is Kes. 3,999/-.
>  
> When I was in school many years ago the formula for calculating average was the sum of the numbers divided by the number of numbers (3,499 + 3,999)/2 = 3,749/- so which formula was the DG using?
>  
> What has incensed me more is that none of the members of the press has taken up the issue instead they have "liked" and "shared" the comments as if they where gospel truth.
>  
> Regards
>  
> PS.  Have an analog Christmas
>  
>  
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya
> 
> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
> 
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> 
>  
> -- 
> Regards,
> 
> Mark Mwangi
> 
> markmwangi.me.ke
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 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.
> 
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