<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt">this interview was during the monthly forum, hope you will not miss the next one on April 26 at Jacaranda at 3pm.....<br><br><table class="contentpaneopen"><tbody><tr><td class="contentheading" width="100%">Door opens for new non-profit telecom firms</td><td class="buttonheading" align="right" width="100%"><br></td><td class="buttonheading" align="right" width="100%"><a href="http://bdafrica.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=emailform&id=363&itemid=2546" target="_blank" onclick="window.open('http://bdafrica.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=emailform&id=363&itemid=2546','win2','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,width=400,height=250,directories=no,location=no'); return false;" title="E-mail"><br></a></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:
top;"><br></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><table class="contentpaneopen"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="70%"><span class="small">Written by Okuttah Mark </span> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" valign="top"><span><a target="_blank" href="http://bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=363&Itemid=2546">http://bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=363&Itemid=2546</a> </span><br><br><p><br></p><p>Licence-free
band spectrum, courtesy of the airwaves� regulator, could allow
non-profit organisations to own and operate telecom companies.</p><p>The
Communication Commission of Kenya�s offer of the ISM Band 2.4 and 5.8
spectrum to registered community groups is on a first-come-first-served
basis, and already organisations from Mukurweini, Khwisero, Limuru and
Rangwe have expressed interest. Countries like Tanzania, Namibia,
Bangladesh and India have used the concept of free frequencies in
efforts to bridge the �digital divide� with the West.</p><p> Alex
Gakuru, of the ICT Consumers Association of Kenya (ICAK) , hailed the
move by the CCK. He said it will enable those in far flung areas to
manage their information systems without waiting for operators who
might not see a good business case for moving into those areas.</p><p>�Telecommunication
companies have failed consumers on liberalisation promises of cheaper,
better and widespread services,� said Mr Gakuru. In 1999, placing a
one minute call through Telkom Kenya network was just Sh1, while now
after sector liberalisation it stands at seven shillings, he said.</p><p>Through
his association, Mr Gakuru is advocating for the cause of community
owned telecoms. He said now most customers have little input into the
products and services being offered by the telecommunication companies.</p><p>As
demand for ICT services rise so does price. Consumers are bombarded
with products and services that don�t fit their communication needs.
For example, the wireless data transfer service known as General Packet
Radio Service (GPRS), which failed to take off despite promising speeds
of up to 115Kbits per second.<br>�In the current situation ICTs cause
more poverty than prosperity. It is cheaper to board a matatu, take a
10megabits file than attempt to upload via email at 32 kilobits per
second,� he said.</p><p>To Mr Gakuru, the best way to protect consumers is to allow them to own their own telecom companies.</p><p>In
Khwisero, the constituents have placed communications at the top of
their needs and through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), they
have put a proposal to spare between Sh3 million-Sh5 million for
connecting the area with fibre and deploying wireless networks.</p><p>The community intends to use Wifi enabled mobile phones to access both voice and data communication.</p><p>In Rangwe, there are plans by the constituents to connect the area with fibre over electric cables.</p><p>Although ICTs future is still bright, only companies who have user centric models will survive, points Gakuru.</p><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="article_seperator"> </span><br><div> </div>Rebecca Wanjiku,<br>journalist,<br>p.o box 33515, <br>Nairobi.00600<br>Kenya.<br><br>Tel. 254 720 318 925<br><br><span>blog:<a target="_blank" href="http://beckyit.blogspot.com/">http://beckyit.blogspot.com/</a></span><div><br></div></div><br>
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