[kictanet] Dy 2 of 10: How to Develop ICT Info-Structure

Fri Jun 24 12:39:06 EAT 2016

+1 @Mich,
R&D is the only way to move us from consumer to producer status within the knowledge economy.
Huawei, Samsung, Apple, etc have a tight and active link with research universities to produce the next innovation. I think this is lacking in the African context. Sometimes the industry seems keen to have the linkages more than the Universities.  This is something that must be cracked either through policy or other strategies/incentives.
walu.  

      From: Michuki Mwangi <michuki.mwangi at gmail.com>
 To: Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
 Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2016 8:32 PM
 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dy 2 of 10: How to Develop ICT Info-Structure

Hi Walu,

First, R&D is the bedrock of innovation. We need to invest more in R&D both from private sector and public sector. IMHO, ICT organizations need to have R&D budget or make it a part of their CSR.  Perhaps there should be fiscal incentives for private sector that invests in R&D. Govt needs to set aside budget for R&D in ICT. Huawei has over 70,000 staff members in R&D spread across 16 centers in 9 countries (none of which are in Africa). In your spare time read up on the WEF info on top countries for R&D or the Fortune report on top R&D companies. Am more than certain that, if we invested a little bit more on R&D in content, we shall probably change find something. 
Second we need to ensure that the content ecosystem exists and thrives. For the ecosystem to exist, all the barriers i.e policy, capacity building, infrastructure, etc should be tackled. Here is an example, Chamasoft is a well used local solution - question is why is it hosted abroad ?. Why can't local solutions compete ? or what do we need to do to make local solutions compete with similar international hosting platforms that host most of our local content ?.  If we brought M-PESA home, we can clearly bring everything else back. 
Lastly, we need to build trust and confidence that when the content is available, especially online, it will be accessed by all and at all times. For instance, decisions to block Internet access do not encourage e-commerce in any way.  
Thanks and regards,
Michuki.
On Thu, Jun 23, 2016 at 4:06 PM, Walubengo J via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

@Jane,
Sorry, that escaped from my keyboard before I finished...trying to multitask bt failing :-)
But my questions follow:1. We still do not have infrastructure to broadcast in some part of thiscountry like Northern Kenya  
I thought the whole fight about digital TV was to have a Signal Provider that reaches the whole country and one or two were identified by the regulator to do this.  Are we saying they have failed?
2.) The cost of broadcasting is too high  Again, the rationale of digital broadcast was meant to bring this down. No?
Plse shed some light on the above and better still suggest some way forward since you are in the mix of all this.
walu.
      From: Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com>
 To: Network of non- formal Educational institutions <nnfeischools at yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
 Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2016 4:01 PM
 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dy 2 of 10: How to Develop ICT Info-Structure

@Jane,
Excuse my ignorance since broadcast is not my speciality. But please clarify:1) We still do not have infrastructure to broadcast in some part of this country like Northern Kenya. 

Excuse my ignor
Excuse my ignor
Excuse my ignor
Excuse my ignor

From: Network of non- formal Educational institutions <nnfeischools at yahoo.com>
 To: Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
 Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2016 2:08 PM
 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dy 2 of 10: How to Develop ICT Info-Structure

As of broadcasting we have a big challenge in the cost issue I think more and more companies should be given licenses to put up infrastructure. As we stand we are still taking content with hard disk to upload to a server in Limuru or KBC. 
We still do not have infrastructure to broadcast in some part of this country like Northern Kenya. Some companies have been licensed by CA but are two or three months are still waiting to get a channel from PANG or SIGNET. The cost of broadcasting is too high and that is why most of the broadcasters are in one region only.To promote local content development, the Government will need to invest in studios and broadcasting space and equipment that can be hired at a small fee to upcoming broadcasters and content developers
Jane

    On Thursday, June 23, 2016 1:25 PM, Walubengo J via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

 @Mildred,
thnx for your views.  irrelevant is indeed relative...but what I had in mind is the fact that Kenya is currently a content consumer rather than content producer.  And most of the content consumed from abroad tends to earn revenue for big player in US/EU e.g. Facebook, Google, Youtube just to name a few (am avoiding to mention Porn content, but this also earns revenue abroad :-)
Good points on incentives.
I know there are more broadcasters in lurking in the background.  Plse say something.  Many debates around local content regulations that demand 60% local vs 40% foreign broadcast. Is this a good thing?
Similarly, Equity shares in broadcast enterprises. Plse share ur views. The days is almost ending and tomorrow is another topic...
walu.

      From: Mildred Achoch <mildandred at gmail.com>
 To: Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> 
 Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2016 9:06 AM
 Subject: Re: [kictanet] Dy 2 of 10: How to Develop ICT Info-Structure

Good morning,
1. "some bandwidth activity may be irrelevant and may not add value to the socio-economic agenda of the nation."
Question: who determines what is relevant and of value? What will the criteria be? Content may just have the purpose of entertaining and not touch on weighty matters about the nation. (Regulation of content)
2.Incentives for content creators:
- reduce the license fee required to make a film and maybe even waiver it for noncommercial and student films- embed content creation into the school curriculum

On Thursday, June 23, 2016, Walubengo J via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

I want to thank those who took time to send views on Day1 topic.  It is not too late to add more views on Day1 topic. Just ensure you post the contribution against the correct title.
Today we move to Day2 theme: How to Develop ICT Info-Structure. *Local Content, *Broadcast Content, Diversity, Cultural Identity*Access to Information/OpenData *Local Application Development
Background:Info-structure is what runs on the physical infrastructure.  Having empty cables with no activity is evidence of missing or under-developed infrastructure. Additionally, some bandwidth activity maybe irrelevant and may not add value to the socio-economic agenda of the nation.
So today we talk about what needs to be done to ensure a vibrant local content industry. Content includes broadcast (film), blogs, websites, etc.  We need to hear about the incentives we need to facilitate content creators & application developers work.  
How should Government Open-Data, River-wood and other Creative initiatives impact  local content economy?   What policy and strategy interventions can unlock the local content economy?
There is no right or wrong way of saying what you want to be captured.  We have a Secretariate that will extract and frame the issue in a suitable policy or strategy format.
We have 1 Day on this topic. Dont fear, just  fungua roho :-). 

walu.

-- 
Check out the Rock 'n' roll film festival, Kenya TV Channel! 
http://kenyarockfilmfestivaljournal.blogspot.com

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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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