[kictanet] Pasha (Digital Villages) Update

[Paul Kukubo]

Listers

further to the discussion last week, please see below:

1. Link to the review report developed by Deloitte on the Pasha
centers. This report is developed quarterly.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/138670682/2013-04-30-Brief-Pasha-Project.

2. Our press release following the meeting with Pasha Centre owners
yesterday and the subsequent announcement of our bandwidth subsidy
program.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Government to offer bandwidth support to Digital Villages

Nairobi, 29th April 2013: The Government through the Kenya ICT Board
will from May this year offer a 90 per cent subsidy on internet
purchase to all Digital villages (Pasha Centres). The bandwidth
support will be provided under the Transparency Communication
Infrastructure Project (TCIP), which is funded by World Bank.

 The objective of the Bandwidth Capacity Support is to enable the 63
Digital villages to purchase high quality and affordable connectivity
for their centres to enable information sharing and offer affordable
access in rural areas.

 Speaking during a workshop in Nairobi with Pasha Managers, The Kenya
ICT Board CEO, Mr Paul Kukubo said, “We have recognized that the major
challenges surrounding internet access for Pashas centres are
connectivity and affordability. As a solution we have decided to
subsidise the internet costs.”

 The government will pay 90 per cent of the internet access costs
while Pasha Managers will pay the remaining 10 per cent. The Initial
support will last 18 months and will cover internet connection costs
but exclude the purchase of connectivity equipment.

 To qualify for the internet access subsidy both pasha managers will
first identify the Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) that they will
work with and submit prescribed documents in order to take advantage
of the support. ISPs will have to be registered by CCK as a provider
of the services.

 “Pasha centres are strategically placed to bring ICT services to
their communities. To succeed they need to take advantage of
devolution opportunities and respond to the government agenda of
delivering digital education in remote areas,” challenged Mr Kukubo.

 The workshop brought together heads of digital villages and leading
ISP companies to agree on the modalities that will be applicable on
the subsidy.

 ENDS






-- 
Phyllis Nyambura
Communication Writer
Kenya ICT Board

Telposta Towers, 12th Floor, Kenyatta Ave
P.O. Box 27150 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
t: + 254-020-2211960/62 | m: + 254 (0) 789396433 | e: pnyambura at ict.go.ke


-- 
Paul Kukubo
Chief Executive Officer, Kenya ICT Board
PO Box 27150 - 00100
Nairobi, Kenya

12th Floor, Teleposta Towers Koinange Street

Tel +254 20 2089061, +254 20 2211960
Fax: +254 20 2211962
website: www.ict.go.ke
local content project: www.tandaa.co.ke, www.facebook.com/tandaakenya
twitter:@tandaaKENYA
BPO Project: www. doitinkenya.co.ke
Digital Villages Project: www.pasha.co.ke


personal contacts
_______________

Cell: + 254 717 180001


skype: kukubopaul
googletalk: pkukubo
personal blog: www.paulkukubo.co.ke
personal twitter: @pkukubo


____________________
Vision: Kenya becomes a top ten global ICT hub

Mission: To champion and actively enable Kenya to adopt and exploit
ICT, through promotion of partnerships, investments and infrastructure
growth for socio economic enrichment