[kictanet] [Skunkworks] Day 3 of 6 (Wednesday) :-Innovators, Innovations & Suppliers

Wed Feb 8 18:53:10 EAT 2017

Maybe we should ask the question, what is Safaricom's innovation model?
Does it see itself as providing a platform for others to play and
(hopefully create solutions) or is Safaricom also a player in the game or a
hybrid?
I would hope that Safaricom envisions itself providing a space for
limitless innovation especially for social good.
To arts and culture, I admire the work that Safaricom has done- from the
beautiful calendars and adverts to music festivals. I however cringe when
there are disputes involving the company and artistes and I hope that the
issue of revenue sharing has been resolved. Has it been resolved?
I wonder if Safaricom has exploited use of tech and its platforms in this
cause.
I echo Mildred's plea.

2017-02-08 16:14 GMT+03:00 Walubengo J via skunkworks <
skunkworks at lists.my.co.ke>:

> @Kieti,
>
> Am with you on this.  Indeed many have said Bitcoin (crytpo-currency) will
> kill MPESA.  Whereas that maybe true or not, I think Safcom has to think
> beyond Bitcoin and harness the underlying Blockchain technology.
>
> So the question would be whether or not Safaricom has a Blockchain
> Strategy that innovators can then begin to play around with.  I think that
> would be a game-changer as opposed to trying to block the inevitable
> reality of crypto-currencies.
>
> walu.
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* John Kieti <jkieti at gmail.com>
> *To:* Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> *Cc:* "skunkworks at lists.my.co.ke" <skunkworks at lists.my.co.ke>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 8, 2017 2:58 PM
>
> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 6 (Wednesday) :-Innovators,
> Innovations & Suppliers
>
> Good afternoon,
>
> My take on Safaricom and the innovation ecosystem / community is that
> although they have evolved slowly, Safaricom has contributed significantly
> and positively to our collective innovativeness as an economy. That we have
> moved beyond demanding an API for Mpesa and now we are talking about the
> API's openness is progress. That Safaricom's Spark Fund has invested in
> Sendy and other startups is laudable. That Safaricom entered useful
> partnerships with for likes of iCow, EnezaEducation, and Craft Silicon
> (Little Cabs), Mledger (acquisition) and many other startups must not be
> downplayed. That Safaricom gave free bandwidth to iHub for several years
>  and sponsored activities at iLabAfrica is laudable.
>
> That said, I would wish Safaricom embraced open innovation and
> co-entrepreneurship more. For instance it was quite short sighted the way
> Safaricom flexed its muscle on Kipochi / Kopokopo, and BitPesa / Lipisha
> Consortium with regard to the BitCoin gateway for M-Pesa top ups and
> withdrawals. If I were them, I would embrace these startups and others
> building on block chain technology to further disrupt the Financial
> Services sector. It does not make sense for Safaricom / Mpesa to embrace
> the plastic card technology side of FinTech as they are doing with the
> M-Pesa card while frustrating the block-chain side.
>
> By and large let us give credit where its due. Safaricom has truly pushed
> the limits of innovation to increase value for its shareholders who include
> our Government. They just need to do more to figure out an ecosystem /
> collaborative approach to innovation. If they do that, we shall
> collectively and successfully attack the global marketplace for gains to
> our national economy.
>
> Just my 20 cents.
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 8, 2017 at 1:54 PM, Walubengo J via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
> @Ahmed,
>
> Do you mind clarifying a few things.
>
> I take it that you agree that Safcoms APIs are not too open.  Particularly
> the payment solution.  I presume that would be the MPESA platform which
> seems limited or restricted to some chosen few developers.
>
> Further you say that solutions built around the MPESA  APIs are not
> scaleable to other domains and you seem to suggest a better option out of
> this.
>
> What would this option be?
>
> Are you suggesting that rather than trying to plug into MPESA through
> APIs, MPESA should be released and sold as a module that developers can
> plug into just about anything they need to  - and pay royalties to Safcom
> on per use basis?
>
> walu.
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Ahmed Mohamed Maawy <ultimateprogramer at gmail.com>
> *To:* Walubengo J <jwalu at yahoo.com>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke >
> *Cc:* "skunkworks at lists.my.co.ke" <skunkworks at lists.my.co.ke>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 8, 2017 12:29 PM
>
> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 6 (Wednesday) :-Innovators,
> Innovations & Suppliers
>
> I will ask 2 questions as a Solutions Architect myself:
>
>    - As a solutions developer, Safaricom does not provide its platform
>    openly to allow 3rd party integration as does other service providers. And
>    even if some lucky 3rd party do it, the flexibility to implement the
>    solution to meet a diverse set of needs is quite limiting. Somehow makes a
>    lot of us feel as if the payment solution is a "premium access" product
>    available to specific players. The Safaricom API is not a convenient way
>    out of it. Bootsrapping a solution around the API itself requires dedicated
>    develper(s). For instance, stripe payments makes payment gateway
>    integration part of the process not a separate development process.
>    - Where is the guarantee (legally binding) also that I can deploy
>    freely a solution based on your payment platform without it being
>    replicated?
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 8, 2017 at 12:20 PM, Walubengo J via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote:
>
> Good point @ Mildred,
>
> What role can Safcom play in promoting our own version of 'Nollywood'?
>
> During Ndemo days, there was talk of 'Riverwood' productions from River
> Road, Nairobi. Looks like they died a silent death?
>
> 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 >
> *Cc:* "skunkworks at lists.my.co.ke" <skunkworks at lists.my.co.ke>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 8, 2017 9:32 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Day 3 of 6 (Wednesday) :-Innovators,
> Innovations & Suppliers
>
> Good morning everyone,
>
> Thank you to the KICTANET moderators and Safaricom for this opportunity to
> engage.
>
> First, I would like to echo Grace B's sentiments. Thank you Safaricom for
> being in almost every part of Kenya. It goes a long way in assuring me that
> you guys will be around for a long time. Secondly, kudos for being one of
> the first companies in Kenya to embrace the Sustainable Development Goals,
> specifically SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) and SDG 17
> (Partnerships for the goals)
>
> Regarding the fact that you are in almost every part of Kenya, my question
> is: is there a way you can partner with Kenyan filmmakers to promote Kenyan
> films and series/web series? Especially the work of independent and
> upcoming filmmakers who usually don't have the connections or resources to
> plug into the existing broadcasting/screening channels. I applaud
> innovative initiatives such as Skiza tunes and Blaze. These say to me that
> similar initiatives can be implemented to promote Kenyan filmmakers. Media
> convergence is already here with us; as a market leader, Safaricom should
> be at the forefront of innovative initiatives related to this.
>
> Regards,
> Mildred Achoch.
>
> Check out the Rock 'n' roll film festival, Kenya TV Channel!
> http:// kenyarockfilmfestivaljournal. blogspot.com
> <http://kenyarockfilmfestivaljournal.blogspot.com/>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 8, 2017 at 8:11 AM, Walubengo J via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke > wrote:
>
> Morning Listers,
>
> As usual, feel free to do belated questions for Safaricom on previous
> thematic areas.  However, today we want to move onto Day 3 Theme -
> Innovators, Innovations & Suppliers.    I have copied in the innovators on
> Skunkworks and hope to hear their views as well.
>
> So straight into the theme:
>
> Safaricom has been quite innovative and keeps coming up with new ways of
> doing things. As an innovator/developer/supplier, please tell us your
> experiences with regard to Safaricom Innovation as well as their
> procurement ecosystem.
>
> a) Is their development platform and application programmable interface
> (API) sufficiently open?
> b) Are the issues to do with Intellectual property /Patents/Procurement
> clear and adequate?
> c) Whereas the gain-sharing agreements are private and confidential, how
> can they be made better?
> d) What is Safcom take on Bitcoin/Blockchain technologies?
>
> Lets hear your views, experiences and proposals.
>
> We have only one day on this.
>
> walu.
> ----List of Themes---
> 1. Consumer Issues Day,
> 2. Competition Issues Day,
> 3. Innovators, Innovations & Suppliers Day,
> 4. Infrastructure & Universal Access Day,
> 5. Technology & Elections Day
>
>
>
>
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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.
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> --
> *Ahmed Maawy*
> Principal Product Management Specialist - Al Jazeera Media Network
> Skype: ultimateprogramer
>
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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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>
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>
> --
>
> John Kieti
> Phone: +254-735-764242 <+254%20735%20764242> // +254-722-764242
> <+254%20722%20764242>
> Twitter: @johnKieti // Skype:  jkieti
> Blog: gmeltdown.com <http://www.gmeltdown.com/> // LinkedIn:
> https://ke.linkedin.com/in/*kieti* <https://ke.linkedin.com/in/kieti>
>
> The ordinary just won't do
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>
>
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-- 
Grace L.N. Mutung'u
Skype: gracebomu
Twitter: @Bomu

<http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu>

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