[kictanet] Connectivity vs Sound investments : Loon Project is Shutting Down

Sat Jan 23 06:55:30 EAT 2021

The way I look at it...

Marrying the digital divide to business case (as defined in the corporate
world) would always have the same repercussions... Not making financial
sense to keep a project going.

When we look at the underserved areas, some re-definitions need to be made.
Sticking to defining business case / profitability in Nairobi and that in
off-the-grid place e.g. Bombi Village (in the vast interiors of Kilifi
county) would definitely knock-off Bombi from getting ANY SERVICE!

Having said that, wasn't USF meant to such issues? I think it is important
that we revisit the utilisation of funds by USF.

Whilst we are on this business case / profitability quagmire, let's look at
the cases unfolding kids studying under trees, teachers with underlying
conditions being forced to risk their lives as they have no alternative to
deliver their duty of teaching... Can we put a price tag on this?

Something to ponder on as the weekend starts!

Regards
Twahir

On Fri, Jan 22, 2021, 4:37 PM Barrack Otieno via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> @David Indeje <davidindeje at gmail.com>
>  Terribly news, Loon left before reaching Omabei, like @Mwendwa Kivuva
> <kivuva at kictanet.or.ke> says, we might not have had a good business case
> for it.
>
> Isorait as it is said in my village
>
>
> On Fri, Jan 22, 2021 at 12:20 PM David Indeje via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>
>> The reason I said it was a blow besides Astro Teller, CEO of X, chairman
>> of Loon’s board pledging a $10 million fund to support businesses focused
>> on connectivity, education, entrepreneurship and internet in Kenya, is
>> that, the time it took for Telkom to start using the infrastructure cannot
>> be washed away from 2018 to be effected 2020.
>>
>> True, the underserved will feel it. A question that triggers other
>> questions and concerns from Listers on this platform on community networks,
>> ICT Authority's and Communication Authority's time frame to ensure we close
>> this gap.
>>
>> *Kind Regards,*
>>
>> *David Indeje *
>>  +254 (0) 711 385 945 |  +254 (0) 734 024 856
>>
>>
>> On Fri, 22 Jan 2021 at 11:42, Mwendwa Kivuva <Kivuva at transworldafrica.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Not a blow to Telkom Kenya at all, but a blow for the underserved. Loon
>>> was a 4G/LTE coverage infrastructure provider using floating cell towers
>>> for hard to reach areas. Telkom would lease the infrastructure the same way
>>> you can lease masts from other infrastructure providers.
>>>
>>> Since it is a floating tower for underserved areas, the business case
>>> becomes difficult to justify because there is no critical mass in those
>>> areas to cover the value chain. And that is why subsidies are important in
>>> ensuring the marginalized still enjoy some semblance of internet access
>>> like the more privileged citizens in more urban areas.
>>> ______________________
>>> Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
>>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwendwa-kivuva
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, 22 Jan 2021 at 10:22, David Indeje via kictanet <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Alphabet’s Internet Loon Project is Shutting Down, Blow to Telkom Kenya.
>>>>
>>>> **Loon launched a pilot project in Kenya in 2020
>>>>
>>>> 1. https://medium.com/loon-for-all/loon-draft-c3fcebc11f3f
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *Kind Regards,*
>>>>
>>>> *David Indeje *
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>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
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>
>
> --
> Barrack O. Otieno
> +254721325277
> +254733206359
> Skype: barrack.otieno
> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>
>
>
>
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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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