[kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 102, Issue 18

Wed Nov 18 10:29:21 EAT 2015

Have been trying to get the CA to point me to the right persons to engage on Zero-Rating and Net Neutrality considerations to no success. Therefore, I suggest putting together a brief on the subject matter, and the problem with "free Internet" as posited, for theirs and the public's information. 

Regards, 
Nanjira.

Sent from my iPhone.

> On 18 Nov 2015, at 09:42, kictanet-request at lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. Re: Coming Soon: Free Internet to Rural Areas (There is    never
>      a free ride) (Ali Hussein)
>   2. Re: Coming Soon: Free Internet to Rural Areas (There is    never
>      a free ride) (Ali Hussein)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2015 09:29:16 +0300
> From: Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke>
> To: James Kagwe <kagwejg at gmail.com>
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Coming Soon: Free Internet to Rural Areas
>    (There is    never a free ride)
> Message-ID: <022298EF-15BD-4D91-8800-B4795ECF1F6B at hussein.me.ke>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> 
> James
> 
> The bigger issue is why aren't the rural areas connected? This is where most economic activity happens. We keep on deluding ourselves that most economic activities happen in the cities.
> 
> The other issue is that there really is nothing free in this world. Facebook needs eyeballs to drive their business model. And that model is primarily advertising. How do we encourage local content of all that is available on the 'free internet' is Facebook driven content? 
> 
> More importantly what happens to the Ma3Racers of the world if the market is skewed against them because they don't have the war chest of Facebook to enter into deals with telcos to offer zero-rated services?
> 
> This Net Neutrality issue needs to be addressed by all stakeholders exhaustively otherwise the perception that the Regulator and Policy Makers either:-
> 
> 1. Don't care about this issue
> 2. Or have no clue about what it is
> 
> will continue to persist. And I will continue to be the Mad Man in the village. :-)  
> 
> Ali Hussein
> Principal
> Hussein & Associates
> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375
> 
> Twitter: @AliHKassim
> Skype: abu-jomo
> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
> Blog: www.alyhussein.com
> 
> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Gy?rgyi
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On 18 Nov 2015, at 8:52 AM, James Kagwe <kagwejg at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Looking at it from the other side of the fence, the truth is that Internet service providers in Kenya including the Telcos have maintained the price of internet quite high even for the middle class living in urban areas. Most of us can only enjoy reliable internet in the office only. This is even after Kenya connected to at least 4 undersea cables.
>> 
>> Given the prevailing circumstances there's no hope for reliable and affordable Internet to the rurals in the near future. This is with the benefits of Internet as demonstrated by research not withstanding. I don't see anything wrong with what they're doing. In any case we in Nairobi and other urban areas will continue paying the unreasonable costs as we have been doing in the past.
>> 
>> James
>> 
>>> On Nov 18, 2015 8:16 AM, "Ali Hussein via kictanet" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>> Listers
>>> 
>>> I'm really concerned about the continued silence of the Regulator regarding Zero-Rating of certain services bundled by telcos in this country in partnership with the big boys and girls of the Internet. Are we not clear how this continued silence and tacit approval of this practice that had basically been outlawed in their home countries is going to impact our nascent Internet economy?  
>>> 
>>> http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Free-Internet-to-rural-areas/-/996/2960730/-/10o59uez/-/index.html
>>> 
>>> We deserve some action from the Communication Authority. 
>>> 
>>> Ali Hussein
>>> Principal
>>> Hussein & Associates
>>> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375
>>> 
>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>> Blog: www.alyhussein.com
>>> 
>>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Gy?rgyi
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> kictanet mailing list
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>> 
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kagwejg%40gmail.com
>>> 
>>> 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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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2015 09:38:52 +0300
> From: Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke>
> To: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Coming Soon: Free Internet to Rural Areas
>    (There is    never a free ride)
> Message-ID: <314CF8A8-0705-47EF-BE4E-C4560654FCB7 at hussein.me.ke>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> 
> Mildred
> 
> Zero-Rating means it's only free when accessing say Facebook. :-) Sorry, not as free as you think. And the business model is one based on advertising. It's instructive that Facebook for example uses ARPU as a key metric to track performance. 
> 
> Ali Hussein
> Principal
> Hussein & Associates
> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375
> 
> Twitter: @AliHKassim
> Skype: abu-jomo
> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
> Blog: www.alyhussein.com
> 
> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Gy?rgyi
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On 18 Nov 2015, at 9:10 AM, Mildred Achoch via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>> 
>> I agree with Mr. Ali Hussein that there is never a free ride. Those big boys and girls of the Internet have seen an opportunity to profit from the lack of reliable and affordable Internet in rural areas. I don't know how they will profit but I am sure they have done their research. These people don't think short-term. They stand to gain in the long run.
>> 
>> On the other hand, FREE Internet in rural areas?! Wow! Speaking as someone whose work involves a lot of heavy Internet use, and who has no office to access it through, this is very good news! I can even consider moving to these rural areas once the deal is up and running. I am sure there are many more people like me. Maybe this will promote urban-rural migration, thereby contributing to the development of rural areas?
>> 
>> Regards,
>> Mildred Achoch.
>> 
>> Check out the Rock 'n' roll film festival, Kenya TV Channel! 
>> http://kenyarockfilmfestivaljournal.blogspot.com
>> 
>> My tree-saving e-business card is here: http://twtbizcard.com/roffeke
>> 
>> 
>>> On Wed, Nov 18, 2015 at 8:52 AM, James Kagwe via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>> Looking at it from the other side of the fence, the truth is that Internet service providers in Kenya including the Telcos have maintained the price of internet quite high even for the middle class living in urban areas. Most of us can only enjoy reliable internet in the office only. This is even after Kenya connected to at least 4 undersea cables.
>>> 
>>> Given the prevailing circumstances there's no hope for reliable and affordable Internet to the rurals in the near future. This is with the benefits of Internet as demonstrated by research not withstanding. I don't see anything wrong with what they're doing. In any case we in Nairobi and other urban areas will continue paying the unreasonable costs as we have been doing in the past.
>>> 
>>> James
>>> 
>>>> On Nov 18, 2015 8:16 AM, "Ali Hussein via kictanet" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>> Listers
>>>> 
>>>> I'm really concerned about the continued silence of the Regulator regarding Zero-Rating of certain services bundled by telcos in this country in partnership with the big boys and girls of the Internet. Are we not clear how this continued silence and tacit approval of this practice that had basically been outlawed in their home countries is going to impact our nascent Internet economy?  
>>>> 
>>>> http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Free-Internet-to-rural-areas/-/996/2960730/-/10o59uez/-/index.html
>>>> 
>>>> We deserve some action from the Communication Authority. 
>>>> 
>>>> Ali Hussein
>>>> Principal
>>>> Hussein & Associates
>>>> +254 0713 601113 / 0770906375
>>>> 
>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>> Blog: www.alyhussein.com
>>>> 
>>>> "Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought".  ~ Albert Szent-Gy?rgyi
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> kictanet mailing list
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>> 
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kagwejg%40gmail.com
>>>> 
>>>> 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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>>> 
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mildandred%40gmail.com
>>> 
>>> 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.
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>> 
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com
>> 
>> 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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> End of kictanet Digest, Vol 102, Issue 18
> *****************************************