[kictanet] Fwd: 10 Things We're Looking Forward To In 2017

Tue Jan 10 17:24:24 EAT 2017

Thanks Barrack.
On 9 Jan 2017 7:03 p.m., "Barrack Otieno" <otieno.barrack at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Grace,
>
> http://www.domainmondo.com/2016/12/new-gtld-africa-redux-
> dotconnectafrica.html.
> You can also check http://africainonespace.org/.
>
> Regards
>
> On 1/10/17, Grace Mutung'u (Bomu) <nmutungu at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Should we also look forward to dot Africa in 2017?
> > Anyone with a status update?
> > On 9 Jan 2017 5:14 p.m., "Barrack Otieno via kictanet" <
> > kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> >
> >> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> >> From: "Eric Mugendi - iAfrikan.com" <newsletter at iafrikan.com>
> >> Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2017 19:56:53 +0000
> >> Subject: 10 Things We're Looking Forward To In 2017
> >> To: otieno.barrack at gmail.com
> >>
> >> View the iAfrikan Weekly Digest in your browser
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/iafrikan-weekly-digest-
> >> edition-142-9-january-2017-ten-things-were-looking-forward-to-in-2017/)
> >> http://www.iafrikan.com/2014/05/14/convergence-partners-brandon-doyle/
> >>
> >> Edition 142
> >> Monday, 09 January 2017
> >>
> >> From the Editor-at-Large
> >>
> >> Ngithemba ukuthi ningene kahle kunyaka omusha Afrika!
> >> (https://whitezulu.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/uncibijane/)
> >>
> >> 2016 was a pretty big year for tech in Afrika, and we covered a lot of
> >> the goings on on the continent- the ups and downs, openings and
> >> closings, starts and ends. We had a look back at some of our biggest
> >> stories (http://www.iafrikan.com/iafrikan-weekly-digest-
> >> edition-141-most-popular-articles-in-2016/)
> >>  as read by you, as well as our writers' picks
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/iafrikan-weekly-digest-
> >> edition-140-19-december-2016-2016-in-afrikan-tech/)
> >> . As we start the new year, there are a number of things we are
> >> looking forward to.
> >>
> >> First of all, 2017 will see elections in a number of countries. Tech
> >> powerhouses Kenya and Rwanda will have elections in August, and we are
> >> keen to see how tech will be applied in those polls, especially given
> >> developments elsewhere on the continent in the past year.
> >>
> >> We are also likely to see the growing adoption of the blockchain, as
> >> the technology gets increasingly divorced from bitcoin and finds
> >> applications in smart contracts, digital identity management and
> >> distributed cloud storage.
> >>
> >> 2017 will also likely see the growing adoption of drones and other
> >> means to overcome the continent's logistical challenges, the continued
> >> emergence of African fintech startups,
> >>
> >> We're also going to have the Annual African Roundup later in January,
> >> where we look back at the year that was, and chart our way forward
> >> into the future of tech on the continent.
> >>
> >> What do you think the (near) future holds for African tech? What are
> >> you looking forward to? What would you like to see more of in 2017?
> >> Talk to us at newsletter at iafrikan.com
> >> (mailto:newsletter at iafrikan.com?subject=What%20I%27m%
> >> 20looking%20forward%20to%20in%202017)
> >>
> >> Eric Mugendi // Editor-at-Large
> >>
> >>
> >> ** Ten Things We're Looking Forward To In 2017
> >> ------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> Here's a brief list of the things we are looking forward to in 2017:
> >>
> >> Our Annual Tech Round-Up
> >> Yup. What better way to start things off than by looking back at how
> >> far we've come over the past year? We will be having the iAfrikan
> >> Annual Roundup on January 26 at Metta's flagship new space in Nairobi
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/12/05/metta-nairobis-flagship-
> >> space-for-entrepreneurs-and-innovators-is-now-open/)
> >> . On the agenda is a series of panel discussions covering topics such
> >> as tech education, journalism, policy and governance, and startups.
> >> (More details to follow this week)
> >>
> >> Bitcoin and Blockchain
> >>
> >> With bitcoin closing 2016 at US$1000, the cryptocurrency has found
> >> adopters in the midst of cash crises in India and Venezuela.
> >> Blockchain, which is the ledger system that powers bitcoin, shows
> >> promise, especially for smart contracts and record-keeping. We are
> >> likely to see innovative uses of these technologies in the coming
> >> year. South Africa's Reserve Bank shared a smart contract
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/11/02/south-african-reserve-
> >> bank-circulates-first-ever-smart-contract-using-private-
> >> ethereum-blockchain/)
> >>  on the Ethereum blockchain, and Senegal launched a bitcoin-based
> >> digital currency
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/11/24/senegal-to-introduce-a-
> >> new-blockchain-based-national-digital-currency-making-it-
> >> only-the-second-country-to-have-a-national-digital-currency/)
> >> , and we are likely to see similar moves in 2017 as the technology
> >> becomes more mainstream.
> >>
> >> Drones
> >> One of the biggest challenges in getting things safely and quickly
> >> from one point to another on the continent is the lack of supporting
> >> infrastructure - transport links in the form of roads and railways. In
> >> 2016, we saw the application of drones and other unmanned aerial
> >> vehicles (UAVs) to deliver medical supplies and other small packages
> >> in Rwanda (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/10/16/rwandas-pioneering-
> >> drone-delivery-service-for-medical-supplies-finally-takes-off/)
> >>  and Madagascar
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/10/31/with-7-out-of-10-
> >> residents-living-in-remote-rural-areas-madagascar-is-
> >> counting-on-drones-to-deliver-much-needed-medical-care/)
> >> , and the establishment of a humanitarian air corridor dedicated to
> >> drones (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/12/16/the-worlds-first-
> >> dedicated-humanitarian-air-corridor-for-drones-is-being-
> set-up-in-malawi/)
> >>  in Malawi.
> >> We are likely to see further trials with this technology in 2017,
> >> accompanied by increased investment in supporting infrastructure as
> >> one way of overcoming these challenges.
> >>
> >> Elections
> >> There will be a number of polls in the coming year, among them
> >> Angola's legislative election, Kenya's general election and Rwanda's
> >> presidential election, all in August. The past year saw
> >> election-related internet shutdowns in Uganda and The Gambia
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/12/01/gambia-becomes-the-
> >> latest-afrikan-country-to-shut-down-the-internet-on-election-day/)
> >> , and already there has been much discussion
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2017/01/03/making-sense-of-kenyas-
> >> digital-election-conundrum/)
> >>  over plans to introduce a manual backup for the technology that will
> >> be used to run Kenya's poll.
> >> Ghana's 2016 general election
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/12/14/ghanas-peaceful-and-
> digital-elections/
> >> )
> >>  was significant because it saw the successful use of technology to
> >> transmit results. The Electoral Commission even developed an app for
> >> this, making the results instantly available as soon as they were
> >> published.
> >> The coming year is likely to see a repeat of these paradoxes - the
> >> blocking of internet access, and the use of technology to transmit
> >> results after polls are done.
> >>
> >> Fintech
> >> The African financial technology space saw much promise in 2016, with
> >> a number of high-profile fundraising rounds by startups such as
> >> Paystack (https://techpoint.ng/2016/12/19/paystack-raises-1-3m-seed-
> >> investment/)
> >>  and BitPesa (http://disrupt-africa.com/2016/03/kenyas-bitcoin-
> >> startup-bitpesa-raises-funding-from-bitfury/)
> >> . Going into 2017, we are likely to see more funding going into the
> >> sector, as investors put money into startups fixing up the payments
> >> ecosystem.
> >>
> >> Governance and Technology
> >> As e-government initiatives take hold in Africa, an increasing number
> >> of essential services are being delivered online. We're keeping an eye
> >> on these, and the difference they are making in our everyday lives.
> >> One place where they can make a difference is in easing the
> >> interaction between citizens and their governments
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/10/03/lessons-from-tanzanias-
> >> digitization-of-person-to-government-payments/)
> >> , making it easier to access services such as registration of
> >> businesses, acquiring essential documents, and keeping the authorities
> >> accountable.
> >>
> >> Hubs
> >> A report published in 2016 stated that the number of tech hubs in
> >> Africa had doubled
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/08/19/did-afrikas-tech-hubs-
> >> really-double-in-number-within-a-year-or-are-we-just-
> >> counting-them-differently/)
> >> , and we asked if this was really the case. There have been a number
> >> of closures as some hubs found it hard to keep up with the 'everything
> >> is free' model, and the lack of proper growth models has brought this
> >> statistic into question.
> >> Going forward, we are seeing spaces like Nairobi's iHub adopt a more
> >> commercial approach in order to stay open and provide a much-needed
> >> service to the tech ecosystem. 2017 will likely see more spaces adopt
> >> this commercial approach, as funding patterns change and startups have
> >> to work harder to earn their keep.
> >>
> >> Information Security
> >> One of our biggest stories last year was about a breach
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/10/19/a-burundian-hacker-was-
> >> able-to-get-the-details-of-over-500-000-kcb-kenya-customers-through-a-
> >> vulnerability-in-the-banks-app/)
> >> in (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/10/19/a-burundian-hacker-was-
> >> able-to-get-the-details-of-over-500-000-kcb-kenya-customers-through-a-
> >> vulnerability-in-the-banks-app/)
> >>  a bank's security
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/10/19/a-burundian-hacker-was-
> >> able-to-get-the-details-of-over-500-000-kcb-kenya-customers-through-a-
> >> vulnerability-in-the-banks-app/)
> >>  that exposed customer data. As more and more of our information finds
> >> its way online, we are seeing instances of data loss and other similar
> >> breaches. It is clear that we need to take information security much
> >> more seriously in 2017.
> >>
> >> Mobile
> >> More Africans are using mobile phones now than ever before, and
> >> innovators are finding new and innovative ways to use the technology,
> >> from virtual post office boxes
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/07/18/you-can-now-use-your-
> >> mobile-phone-number-as-a-virtual-post-office-box-in-kenya-2/)
> >> in Kenya to hyperlocal weather forecasts
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/07/25/this-hyperlocal-weather-
> >> forecast-service-is-helping-afrikan-farmers-improve-their-yields/)
> >>  for farmers in West Africa and more. 2017 will likely see more
> >> innovations along this line, with the technology expected to further
> >> change how we consume news, information and entertainment content.
> >> Mobile tech continues to make an impact on the lives of Africans
> >> everywhere, and 2017 will likely see the trend continue.
> >>
> >> Startups
> >> On a panel discussion at the Kenya round of the Seedstars World
> >> startup competition, I hosted a panel discussion on the future of
> >> African startups
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/10/17/seedstars-nairobi-panel/) . One of
> >> the talking points was where startups could most likely thrive, and
> >> the main areas where this could happen are in agriculture, energy,
> >> technology and logistics, where significant gaps exist that tech could
> >> potentially solve.
> >> Going forward, a number of startups are trying to solve these
> >> problems, which we have featured at some length. As we meet and talk
> >> to these startups, one thing is clear, despite the challenges that
> >> keep getting in their way, they are determined to solve some of the
> >> continent's most pervasive problems, be it a need for creativity and
> >> innovation (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/11/14/meet-jean-claude-bastos-
> >> de-morais-whose-african-innovation-foundation-
> >> empowers-innovations-made-by-africans-for-africa/)
> >> , collaborative brilliance
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/10/31/meet-takunda-chingonzoh-
> >> whose-belief-in-collaborative-brilliance-is-the-force-
> >> behind-zimbabwes-techvillage/)
> >> , or opportunities to showcase their work
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2016/07/03/innovations-made-by-
> >> africans-for-africans-my-experience-in-botswana-
> >> gaborone-at-the-innovation-prize-for-africa-5th-edition/)
> >> .
> >> We're looking forward to finding and talking about more innovations
> >> and startups in 2017.
> >>
> >>
> >> ** News
> >> ------------------------------------------------------------
> >> http://www.iafrikan.com/2017/01/09/no-more-fake-news-to-
> >> sway-your-views-as-the-pants-on-fire-detector-comes-to-the-rescue/
> >> * Nokia Is Back In The Smartphone Business, With A 5.5 Inch Device
> >> Running Android 7 Nougat
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2017/01/08/nokia-is-back-
> >> officially-unveil-the-nokia-6-running-android-7-nougat/)
> >> * Some Of The Most Exciting Announcements From CES 2017 So Far
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2017/01/05/some-of-the-most-
> >> exciting-announcements-from-ces-2017-so-far-2/)
> >> * After A Successful Launch In Rwanda, Zipline's Drones Will Now Trial
> >> Medical Deliveries In Tanzania
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2017/01/06/after-a-successful-
> >> launch-in-rwanda-ziplines-drones-will-now-trial-medical-
> >> deliveries-in-tanzania/)
> >> * Kenya's Internet Is Largely Free From Censorship, A Five-Month Study
> >> On Access And Online Activity Has Shown
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2017/01/04/kenyas-internet-is-
> >> largely-free-from-censorship-a-five-month-study-on-access-
> >> and-online-activity-has-shown/)
> >> * SEACOM's Internet Insights Reveal That Video Dominates Data Traffic
> >> In South Africa
> >> (http://www.iafrikan.com/2017/01/05/video-dominates-data-
> >> traffic-volumes-in-south-africa-and-other-internet-
> >> insights/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)
> >>
> >> Tweet - This Week's iAfrikan Weekly Digest Edition 142 by Eric Mugendi
> >> - "🔟 Things We're Looking Forward To In 2017
> >> (https://twitter.com/home?status=This%20week%27s%
> >> 20iAfrikan%20Weekly%20Digest%20by%20%40mougendi%20-%20%22%
> >> F0%9F%94%9F%20Things%20We%20Are%20Looking%20Forward%
> >> 20To%20In%202017%22%20http%3A//iafrikan.com/iafrikan-weekly-
> >> digest-edition-142-9-january-2017-ten-things-were-looking-
> >> forward-to-in-2017)
> >> http://www.twitter.com/iafrikan
> >> http://www.iafrikan.com
> >> https://www.facebook.com/iafrikan
> >> http://instagram.com/iafrikan
> >>
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> >> --
> >> Barrack O. Otieno
> >> +254721325277
> >> +254733206359
> >> Skype: barrack.otieno
> >> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
> >>
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> +254733206359
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