[kictanet] Safaricom battling pricing power with CA

Tue Feb 1 22:48:16 EAT 2022

On this issue both entities are to blame:-

1. It is a regulatory requirement. Unfortunately, what entails an active
line is a moving target!
2. The Telcos need to be sensitive and communicate. I too have lost a line,
not because it's not in use but because I had not bought airtime on it!

Regards

*Ali Hussein*

Fintech | Digital Transformation

Tel: +254 713 601113

Twitter: @AliHKassim

Skype: abu-jomo

LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
<http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>

Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely
mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
organizations that I work with.

On Tue, Feb 1, 2022 at 4:59 PM Barrack Otieno via KICTANet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Hi @Mutemi wa Kiama <eddiekiama at gmail.com> ,
>
> Its quiet unfortunate, i hope the Communications Authority can weigh in on
> the issue, i would also like to get the perspective of listers working for
> the Telcos.
>
> Best
>
> On Tue, Feb 1, 2022 at 1:44 PM Mutemi wa Kiama <eddiekiama at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> This issue is very painful to me Barrack. I lost my REGISTERED modem line
>> that I had used for over 7 years this way. Shame on you Safaricom. What's
>> the use of line registration if you can't bother calling me on any of my
>> two other Safaricom lines to inform me of the pending loss? #UshenziKE!
>>
>> Warm regards,
>>
>> Mutemi wa Kiama
>>
>> Team Captain, This Is Africa: https://thisisafrica.me
>>
>> Thoughts become things... choose the good ones!
>>
>>
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Public Intellectual, Social Justice & Social Accountability Entrepreneur,
>> Strategic Planning & Organizational Development Facilitator,
>> Strategic Communications, Movement Building Coach, Human Rights Defender,
>>
>> #DevolutionIsRevolution Champion.
>>
>> The Wanjiku Agenda Kenya Foundation (WAKenya)
>> Ordinary, fearless Kenyans.
>>
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwin-mutemi-wa-kiama-1aa51615/
>>
>> Sauti Ya Wanjiku Social Movement www.sautiyawanjiku.com
>>
>> https://www.facebook.com/wanjikurevolutionkenya
>>
>> https://twitter.com/WanjikuRevolt
>>
>> https://twitter.com/MutemiWaKiama
>>
>> http://www.scribd.com/wmkenya
>>
>> "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can
>> change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
>> has." ~Margaret Mead
>>
>> On Tue, Feb 1, 2022, 11:54 Barrack Otieno via KICTANet <
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> Many thanks James for saving my skin. @Ali Hussein
>>> <ahussein at kictanet.or.ke> i fully agree with you on the Simcard issue.
>>> Another small matter is the issue of lines being deleted after a few days
>>> because they have not been topped up. Can someone educate me on the
>>> rationale behind this issue, doesn't it contravene consumer rights?
>>>
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> On Tue, Feb 1, 2022 at 9:22 AM James Mbugua via KICTANet <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I doubt you will get any Kenyans arguing against cheaper calling rates.
>>>> That is where public interest lies...
>>>>
>>>> JG
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, 1 Feb 2022, 06:54 Ali Hussein via KICTANet, <
>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> @Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
>>>>>
>>>>> The fact that the CA is a government entity doesn't necessarily mean
>>>>> they have the public interest at heart. What empirical evidence can you
>>>>> share with us that can confirm this? For example this message below that I
>>>>> keep on getting from Safaricom every month, despite the fact that I know
>>>>> I'm in compliance with this regulation. If you ask as the Safaricom peeps
>>>>> they say it's a regulatory requirement to send us repeat messages despite
>>>>> the fact that they (Safaricom) already have the details of my compliance in
>>>>> their database.
>>>>>
>>>>> Dear Customer, urgently visit an M-PESA Agent, Dealer, or Safaricom
>>>>> Shop with original ID to update your SIM registration.
>>>>> Dial *106# for lines registered to you
>>>>>
>>>>> I get this message like clockwork every month. There are other
>>>>> examples but this is one of them.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>>>
>>>>> Fintech | Digital Transformation
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>>>>
>>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>>
>>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>>
>>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>>> <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are
>>>>> purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
>>>>> organizations that I work with.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Jan 31, 2022 at 1:18 PM Barrack Otieno via KICTANet <
>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> @Ali Hussein <ahussein at kictanet.or.ke>
>>>>>> on this matter, I will cast my lot with the Communications Authority.
>>>>>> My thoughts are CA has public interest at heart whereas Telcos have
>>>>>> commercial interest. I also think it is good the matter is being handled
>>>>>> out of court. We must explore alternative dispute resolution mechanisms as
>>>>>> a country that upholds multistakeholder principles. Spectrum as a resource
>>>>>> should be availed for all citizens affordably, the Citizen must come first
>>>>>> after which financial considerations can follow.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thank you
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Best Regards
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tue, Jan 25, 2022 at 9:22 AM Hezron Gikanga via KICTANet <
>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Ali & everyone else, thanks for the insights, and illuminating
>>>>>>> questions.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> My perspective below (+disclosures).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hez Gikang’a
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *From: *KICTANet <kictanet-bounces+hezron.gikanga=
>>>>>>> thearcrayon.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke> on behalf of Ali Hussein via
>>>>>>> KICTANet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>>>>> *Reply to: *Kenya's premier ICT Policy engagement platform <
>>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>>>>> *Date: *Tuesday, 25 January 2022 at 08:11
>>>>>>> *To: *Hezron Gikanga <Hezron.Gikanga at thearcrayon.com>
>>>>>>> *Cc: *Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke>
>>>>>>> *Subject: *Re: [kictanet] Safaricom battling pricing power with CA
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Kivuva and listers
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This is a very interesting case and could probably serve as a case
>>>>>>> study worldwide. At this point in time I have more questions than answers:-
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 1. The Telco sector is an interesting one. Where do we draw the line
>>>>>>> between Market Power, abuse of Market Power, Free Markets, centralized
>>>>>>> control of power by Regulators? I can go on and on. *(there are
>>>>>>> several studiesconducted  on the state of competitiveness in the industry
>>>>>>> over the last decade plus, across different market segments, and when I was
>>>>>>> at Airtel Africa a decade ago, this is one of the ‘internecine wars’ we
>>>>>>> fought – both against the Regulator CA (whom I firmly believe isn’t fair),
>>>>>>> and against the dominant player then. A groundbreaking Analysys Mason
>>>>>>>  report back then was edited to soften some of the findings, and so nothing
>>>>>>> was (effectively done) to rein some of the predatory and abusive practices
>>>>>>> (in the name of GoK-ownership and ‘free/fair competition). There are also
>>>>>>> comparative studies from other markets, tests, and models to go by..…I
>>>>>>> doubt that there was goodwill/political willpower to effect some of the
>>>>>>> changes..case in point is that several draft pieces of
>>>>>>> legislation/amendments have been brought by individual legislators for a
>>>>>>> ‘market-correction’..they haven’t gone far..will Ezra Chiloba et al succeed
>>>>>>> now? Time wll tell..*
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 2. I can't help but wonder whether the current regulatory
>>>>>>> environment is fit for purpose and whether the Telcos themselves are stuck
>>>>>>> in the '80s and the regulator with them? Good question. *Refer to
>>>>>>> above. And the question of independence of the Regulators (not just CA and
>>>>>>> CAK) from undue political influence & fatalistic nationalistic tendencies….*Isn't
>>>>>>> it time to take into consideration that the cheese is moving or has moved
>>>>>>> and that VOIP-type services have eaten into the traditional voice market
>>>>>>> and these guys continue to fight for what's remaining of the market? *Yes,
>>>>>>> re the market segments looked at, and the inevitable nature of the
>>>>>>> evolution/march of the tech revolution*…Has a study been done on
>>>>>>> what percentage of the voice market is going to VOIP? *Do the
>>>>>>> technocrats in the Regulatory space have requisite skillsets and motivation
>>>>>>> to grasp the business models, workings of the industry, and import of their
>>>>>>> determinations? For the sake of argument, revisit the debate on distributed
>>>>>>> ledgers/block-chain….*
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 3. Are we fighting the wrong war? *Maybe. Reframe this to focus on
>>>>>>> the benefits for the consumer, and industry, if we are to truly be the
>>>>>>> ‘silicon savanna’ that we aspire to*
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 4. Last but not least how do we as a country reason out without
>>>>>>> going to court? *Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) works, but
>>>>>>> where all parties have faith in both the dispute resolution
>>>>>>> process/mechanisms, the competency and ‘agnosticism’ of the adjudicators
>>>>>>> and in the enforcement of the decisions reached. Without that the courts
>>>>>>> remain the only viable option for aggrieved parties (at the risk of falling
>>>>>>> out of favor with the Regulators et al..)*
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> My two cowrie shells.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Regards
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Fintech | Digital Transformation
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are
>>>>>>> purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
>>>>>>> organizations that I work with.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Mon, Jan 24, 2022 at 9:20 PM Mwendwa Kivuva via KICTANet <
>>>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Safaricom has a huge pricing power in voice services, making it
>>>>>>> difficult for rivals Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya to compete with it, the
>>>>>>> Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has said.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The regulator made the disclosure in its response to a case filed by
>>>>>>> Safaricom at the Communications And Multimedia Appeals Tribunal seeking to
>>>>>>> stop CA from cutting the mobile termination rate (MTR) per minute to Sh0.12
>>>>>>> from Sh0.99.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> MTRs are the charges levied by a mobile service provider on other
>>>>>>> telecommunications service providers for terminating calls on its network.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Safaricom argues that the reduction of the charge, which was to take
>>>>>>> effect at the start of this year, ignores the cost of doing business in the
>>>>>>> telecommunications industry.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The regulator responded by stating that the leading telco has the
>>>>>>> lowest cost of operations, allowing it to run promotions at prices below
>>>>>>> the MTR and which its rivals are not in a position to match.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Safaricom’s leading market share has seen it charge its rivals more
>>>>>>> than it pays out to them, leaving it in a net profitable position.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> More ...
>>>>>>> https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/corporate/companies/safaricom-pricing-power-revealed-in-tariff-battle-3691550
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder Think Tank for people and
>>>>>>> institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. KICTANet
>>>>>>> is a catalyst for reform in the Information and Communication Technology
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>>>>>>> engagement platform.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> [image: Image removed by sender.]
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> KICTANet mailing list
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>>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder Think Tank for people and
>>>>>>> institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. KICTANet
>>>>>>> is a catalyst for reform in the Information and Communication Technology
>>>>>>> sector. Its work is guided by four pillars of Policy Advocacy, Capacity
>>>>>>> Building, Research, and Stakeholder Engagement.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 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.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> KICTANet - The Power of Communities, is Kenya's premier ICT policy
>>>>>>> engagement platform.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Barrack O. Otieno
>>>>>> +254721325277
>>>>>> +254733206359
>>>>>> Skype: barrack.otieno
>>>>>> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> KICTANet mailing list
>>>>>> KICTANet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>>>>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet
>>>>>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>>>>>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder Think Tank for people and
>>>>>> institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. KICTANet
>>>>>> is a catalyst for reform in the Information and Communication Technology
>>>>>> sector. Its work is guided by four pillars of Policy Advocacy, Capacity
>>>>>> Building, Research, and Stakeholder Engagement.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 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.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> KICTANet - The Power of Communities, is Kenya's premier ICT policy
>>>>>> engagement platform.
>>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> KICTANet mailing list
>>>>> KICTANet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
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>>>>>
>>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder Think Tank for people and institutions
>>>>> interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. KICTANet is a
>>>>> catalyst for reform in the Information and Communication Technology sector.
>>>>> Its work is guided by four pillars of Policy Advocacy, Capacity Building,
>>>>> Research, and Stakeholder Engagement.
>>>>>
>>>>> 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.
>>>>>
>>>>> KICTANet - The Power of Communities, is Kenya's premier ICT policy
>>>>> engagement platform.
>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> KICTANet mailing list
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>>>>
>>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>> KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder Think Tank for people and institutions
>>>> interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. KICTANet is a
>>>> catalyst for reform in the Information and Communication Technology sector.
>>>> Its work is guided by four pillars of Policy Advocacy, Capacity Building,
>>>> Research, and Stakeholder Engagement.
>>>>
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>> KICTANet - The Power of Communities, is Kenya's premier ICT policy
>>>> engagement platform.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Barrack O. Otieno
>>> +254721325277
>>> +254733206359
>>> Skype: barrack.otieno
>>> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
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>>>
>>>
>>> KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder Think Tank for people and institutions
>>> interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. KICTANet is a
>>> catalyst for reform in the Information and Communication Technology sector.
>>> Its work is guided by four pillars of Policy Advocacy, Capacity Building,
>>> Research, and Stakeholder Engagement.
>>>
>>> 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.
>>>
>>> KICTANet - The Power of Communities, is Kenya's premier ICT policy
>>> engagement platform.
>>>
>>
>
> --
> Barrack O. Otieno
> +254721325277
> +254733206359
> Skype: barrack.otieno
> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> KICTANet mailing list
> KICTANet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
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>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com
>
>
> KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder Think Tank for people and institutions
> interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. KICTANet is a
> catalyst for reform in the Information and Communication Technology sector.
> Its work is guided by four pillars of Policy Advocacy, Capacity Building,
> Research, and Stakeholder Engagement.
>
> 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.
>
> KICTANet - The Power of Communities, is Kenya's premier ICT policy
> engagement platform.
>
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