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

Fri Feb 10 18:46:19 EAT 2017

With "Mobile" contributing about 11% of South Korea's GDP (read Samsung),
it is hard to resist the temptation to dream about "Mobile" contributing as
much as 20% of Kenya's GDP by 2027. Such a dream appears achievable if
Safaricom assumes the role of an anchor and sets itself up for more rapid
co-innovation with local entrepreneurs and innovators.

Best!

On Feb 8, 2017 18:53, "Grace B" <nmutungu at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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>>
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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.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *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.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> 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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>
>
>
> --
> Grace L.N. Mutung'u
> Skype: gracebomu
> Twitter: @Bomu
>
> <http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu>
>
> PGP ID : 0x33A3450F
>
>
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