[kictanet] LTE/4G and the state of broadband and Universal Access in Kenya

Tue Dec 9 12:14:09 EAT 2014

Walu,

The best response to your article is in the comments:

"4G brings with it unique capabilities like VoLte with lean radio protocol
stack...3G voice is only possible with forced 2G fall back..so we need
4G...one will not need 2 radio access types to obtain service...one lean 4G
radio access is enough...the capex is also low given smaller equipment
footprint..."

4G/LTE deployments aren't really that much more expensive than 3G as I
understand it.  The big difference is the 'cost' of the spectrum - which is
whatever the market will bear.  If Safaricom can sell LTE to the 1% and
that makes enough money to pay well for the spectrum license and GoK then
uses that money for the USF to build 3G towers in rural areas - then that's
really great.

What would be better is a decoupling of the tower system from the providers
and then there can be a single LTE network run by a utility that rents
space in a well regulated way to the MNOs ... but even though Rwanda is
doing that, I don't see Kenya following in that path.

-Adam

--
Kili - Cloud for Africa: kili.io
Musings: twitter.com/varud <https://twitter.com/varud>
More Musings: varud.com
About Adam: www.linkedin.com/in/adamcnelson

On Tue, Dec 9, 2014 at 12:05 PM, Walubengo J via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Mwendwa,
>
> It could have been easier to break down these important issues and perhaps
> allocate each 1-2days for feedback from Listers on each of the issues.
>
> Otherwise my controversial LTE/4GE views are well captured here Despite
> low uptake of 3G internet, mobile companies want to roll out 4G
> <http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/-/2274560/2335364/-/11xds36z/-/index.html>
>
>
> [image: image]
> <http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/-/2274560/2335364/-/11xds36z/-/index.html>
>
>
>
>
>
> Despite low uptake of 3G internet, mobile companies want...
> <http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/-/2274560/2335364/-/11xds36z/-/index.html>
> Sometimes we must ask ourselves a few questions about this technological
> rat-race
> View on www.nation.co.ke
> <http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot9/walubengo/-/2274560/2335364/-/11xds36z/-/index.html>
> Preview by Yahoo
>
> As for the USF challenges, I had assumed all was well following the
> gazettement of the new board members in June this year to the Commission in
> charge but open to hear more.
>
> walu.
>
>  ------------------------------
>  *From:* Mwendwa Kivuva via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> *To:* jwalu at yahoo.com
> *Sent:* Tuesday, December 9, 2014 9:44 AM
> *Subject:* [kictanet] LTE/4G and the state of broadband and Universal
> Access in Kenya
>
> (Apologies for cross-posting)
>
> Nothing is as great as high internet speed. That is the mantra on
> Safaricom's 4G page (1). Safaricom's 4G/LTE service is the first of
> its kind in the region and promises a browsing experience like never
> before. Long Term Evolution  (LTE) is a standard for wireless
> communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data
> terminals.(2)
>
> To use LTE you need a 4G capable Device (phone/tablet/modem), Change
> to a 4G enabled SIM card  and be in an area covered by the 4G service
> i.e. Some parts of Nairobi and Mombasa.
>
> With the rollout of 4G in some parts of Nairobi and Mombasa, we are
> exploring the state of "real" broadband in Kenya, the cost to the
> common citizen, and coverage. As we continue to privilege those of us
> in urban areas, how are we catering for the interests and needs of the
> marginalized?
>
> TESPOK in August issued a statement (3) advising it's members not to
> pay Universal Service Fund (4) until they meet with the Communications
> Authority Director General and ICT cabinet Secretary to clearly define
> the procedures and processes of administering the 0.5% of operators'
> annual revenues. What is the current state of USF in Kenya? Is it
> operational? Is the 0.5% sufficient to have any impact in society?
>
> Are the USF Council members (5) representative of the Internet
> community in Kenya? Are all stakeholders interests taken into
> consideration in forming the council? Would these distinguished
> citizens know the troubles the user in Kitui goes through when he has
> to climb a flag-post to get network signal, or the parcel that arrives
> in Lokitang after a month?
>
> Internet Society Kenya Chapter and Kictanet seeks to engage in a
> series of online discussions covering various trending issues which
> will culminate in a public consultative forum with industry and
> policymakers to share the feedback from the community and see how best
> we can influence and shape the Internet landscape in Kenya.
>
> Your valuable contribution is always appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
> ______________________
> Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
> Secretary, Internet Society Kenya.
>
> NOTES
> (1). http://www.safaricom.co.ke/personal/internet/safaricom-4g-lte
> (2). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE_%28telecommunication%29
> (3). http://www.tespok.co.ke/?p=310
> (4). http://ca.go.ke/index.php/purpose-of-the-fund
> (5). http://ca.go.ke/index.php/universal-service-advisory-council
>
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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.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
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