[kictanet] House team halts Equity Bank's thin-SIM rollout

Fri Sep 26 12:20:20 EAT 2014

Listers,

I wondered, are there vested interests in Safaricom?

I've not had any questioning of the security of the current Mpesa system. Why would we question security of a system being rolled by a bank?....."throwing a spanner in the works"..."delaying tactics"....someone seems to be scared....very scared. why?

Wondering Edith

________________________________
From: kictanet [kictanet-bounces+eadera=idrc.ca at lists.kictanet.or.ke] on behalf of Eng. Wainaina Mungai via kictanet [kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke]
Sent: Friday, September 26, 2014 4:51 AM
To: Edith Adera
Subject: Re: [kictanet] House team halts Equity Bank's thin-SIM rollout

>From what Dennis and Brian have highlighted in light of the law as expounded by Walubengo; the CA, Equitel and the general public should disregard the MPs (and also realise CS Matiangi's defence of the Regulator's specific position is also not helpful to the independence of CA).

CA must disregard both and take an independent position.

Wainaina

In that case, shouldn't our elections be phrased to read as vacancies for rent seekers?

On Thursday, 25 September 2014, Andrea Bohnstedt <andrea.bohnstedt at ratio-magazine.com<mailto:andrea.bohnstedt at ratio-magazine.com>> wrote:
Roughly, yes

On 25 September 2014 14:22, Dennis Kioko via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
How does this work?

You fly MPs to a fancy hotel for a fact finding mission, provide them with allowances and they will discuss and come up with a conclusion?

On Thursday, 25 September 2014, waudo siganga via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
The parliamentary committee should have left issues that solely deal with the safety of the technology to the independent entity mandated to deal with such issues - the CAK. I do not see what value add will accrue from multiple teams of experts being set up to carry out tests.

On Thu, Sep 25, 2014, at 11:58 AM, Bernard Kioko via kictanet wrote:

Or when Kenya Posts & Telecommunications prohibited the import and use of computer fax modems….

Then also ….at some point to own a mobile phone you needed to spend about KES250k.

These things shall pass….besides, aren’t we peculiar!?

From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+bkioko=bernsoft.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Brian Munyao Longwe via kictanet
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2014 10:09 AM
To: bkioko at bernsoft.com
Subject: Re: [kictanet] House team halts Equity Bank's thin-SIM rollout

"Assured of the security of the technology"

.....throwback to 2001 when KIXP was shutdown based a "national security" red flag that was thrown by Telkom Kenya who felt that their then Jambonet monopoly would be threatened by the exchange point (despite the fact that KIXP at the had nothing to with international traffic and only seeked to keep local traffic local).

Get ready for a comedy of errors

*sits back with popcorn and 2 liter Fanta*

Mblayo

On Wednesday, September 24, 2014, Grace Githaiga via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

@ Victor,

The heading  of this article says the 'house team halts..." while  the body of the story has "has asked CA to halt..." It might be semantics but my interpretation of this is that this is a request to CA, and not a directive. Yes?

Tell me, does the house team have oversight over regulatory matters? I am looking at KICA 2013 Article 5 on CA's independence:

5A. (1) The Authority shall be independent

and free of control by government, political or

commercial interests in the exercise of its

powers and in the performance of its functions.

(2) In fulfilling its mandate, the Authority

shall be guided by the national values and

principles of governance in Article 10 and the

values and principles of public service in Article

232 (1) of the Constitution.

What would happen say if CA disregards the House team's demand?

Rgds

GG

________________________________

Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 11:54:17 +0100
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Equity Given Go Ahead by CAK
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The tables have turned again:

House team halts Equity Bank's thin-SIM rollout

The National Assembly’s Energy and ICT Committee has asked the Communications Authority (CA) to halt Equity Bank thin-SIM card rollout until it is satisfied of the security of the technology.

http://www.nation.co.ke/news/politics/House-team-halts-Equity-Bank-thin-SIM-rollout/-/1064/2463762/-/2srp37/-/index.html

Victor Kapiyo, LL.B

====================================================
“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” Zig Ziglar

On 22 September 2014 18:49, Martin Gicheru via kictanet <FastMail WARNING: URL text contains a possible JavaScript attack on your machine. URL disabled. Original URL='javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke');'. For more information on phishing click here<http://docs/phishing.html>.> wrote:

Safaricom does not necessarily agree to the move but will cooperate while it still needs to.

”We are particularly encouraged that CA has commenced the process of hiring an independent and reputable international firm to conduct a security audit on all SIM cards, and in particular the use of the SIM overlay technology in mobile money transfer services. We therefore implore the CA to fast track the security review and to publish the guidelines in the interests of protecting consumers and financial institutions who will remain vulnerable to the potential risks created by the ‘man-in-the-middle attack’. ”

http://techmoran.com/safaricom-remains-adamant-thin-sim-vulnerabilities/

On Mon, Sep 22, 2014 at 6:36 PM, Bernard Kioko via kictanet <FastMail WARNING: URL text contains a possible JavaScript attack on your machine. URL disabled. Original URL='javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke');'. For more information on phishing click here<http://docs/phishing.html>.> wrote:

Change is the only permanent thing!

-----Original Message-----
From: kictanet
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Of Walubengo J via kictanet
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2014 6:30 PM
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Subject: Re: [kictanet] Equity Given Go Ahead by CAK

@Charles,

Interesting views.  I dont speak for Equity - and am not even a MEMBER
(their customer).  However, they have the following going for them.

1) they do have their OWN SIM card targetting their 8m banking customers.
They can actually make money out their core group of customers using their
mobile virtual network (riding on Airtel telco infrastructure i believe).
2) the thin-SIM technology is just a nice option for their 8m customers AND
the 20+million Safaricom customers.
3) indeed Safcom can play dirty but I am sure they wont because (a) they can
take on Equity challenge and (b) the regulator seems more ready than ever to
pounce on them (recall regulator has been "looking" for them over quality
issues  :-).

Remember, this looks like a mobile money battle, but the real deal is the
collateral damage it is likely to cause in the voice market because once a
Safaricom customer mounts the thin SIM Card and discovers that they can make
cheaper calls/sms with it without losing their MPESA functionality...they
will actually be having their cake (MPESA) while eating it (making Cheaper
calls on the Equity Mobile virtual network).

Essentially, Equity is breaking a small gap into the Safaricom defensive
wall(MPESA) and once in, even the data-market may eventually be free for all
i.e. #checkmate.

walu.

--------------------------------------------
On Mon, 9/22/14, Charles Kimani via kictanet <FastMail WARNING: URL text contains a possible JavaScript attack on your machine. URL disabled. Original URL='javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke');'. For more information on phishing click here<http://docs/phishing.html>.>
wrote:

 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Equity Given Go Ahead by CAK
 To: FastMail WARNING: URL text contains a possible JavaScript attack on your machine. URL disabled. Original URL='javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jwalu at yahoo.com');'. For more information on phishing click here<http://docs/phishing.html>.
 Date: Monday, September 22, 2014, 4:44 PM

 I
 think the thin sim strategy is brilliant...in  theory.
 However, I am also
 wondering just how wise it is to place the success of your  business model
at the mercy of a hostile, powerful and  uncooperative business rival.  What
if - 6 months after launch, for  example - Safaricom decide to upgrade all
their sim cards  (genuinely or otherwise) just when Equity is in the middle
of a critical (probably expensive) product  rollout?  What if  Safaricom
customer service and dealer/retail channels start  advising subscribers who
are having issues with their lines  that the thin sim is the cause of their
problems and show  them how to remove it?
 How will Equity map their processes
 and logistics with the Safaricom SIM replacement processes?
 Will Equity subscribers need to remember to make an extra  stop at an
Equity outlet to have their thin sim re-attached  once they do a sim swap?
How easy is it to attach these thin  sims?
 We have
 previously seen smart sabotage tactics bring down SAB Miller  ambitions in
the Kenyan market. Equity - in my opinion - is  giving too much firepower to
a determined competitor. It  might be cheaper in the long run to just invest
in own SIM  and take Safaricom head-on.
 Regards,Charles
 On Mon, Sep 22, 2014 at
 4:18 PM, Dennis Kioko via kictanet <FastMail WARNING: URL text contains a possible JavaScript attack on your machine. URL disabled. Original URL='javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke');'. For more information on phishing click here<http://docs/phishing.html>.>
 wrote:
 Meanwhile, I did get the Equitel SIM Card  (haven't seen the infamous Thin
SIM). So far, here's  my experience with the
same. http://www.infotake.co.ke/2014/09/how-does-equity-banks-equitel-work.h
tml<http://www.infotake.co.ke/2014/09/how-does-equity-banks-equitel-work.html>
 On 22 September 2014 16:11, Barrack
 Otieno via kictanet <FastMail WARNING: URL text contains a possible JavaScript attack on your machine. URL disabled. Original URL='javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke');'. For more information on phishing click here<http://docs/phishing.html>.>
 wrote:
 Sometimes
 diversification leads to loss of focus. Interesting  discussions but let us
see if this scenario will change some  of this Principles that have evolved
over time.

 Best Regards

 On Mon, Sep 22,
 2014 at 3:56 PM, Bernard Kioko via kictanet <FastMail WARNING: URL text contains a possible JavaScript attack on your machine. URL disabled. Original URL='javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke');'. For more information on phishing click here<http://docs/phishing.html>.>
 wrote:
 I have noted media reports
 indicating Equity has been granted go-ahead by CAK to  operate with
Thin-Sim cards. Game changing I  suppose.

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