<p class="MsoPlainText" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">I agree, there is definitely a link between economics and interconnection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For example, mobile operators have networks spanning across East and Southern Africa enabling users to communicate without incurring roaming charges thus encouraging commercial activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Interconnection of telecommunication networks is supported by ongoing efforts to harmonize regulatory requirements in the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is a great accomplishment considering that Europe has over a long time battled with the introduction of roaming regulation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Though there are distinct differences between mobile and the internet interconnection, what is the limitation in providing connectivity been IXPs existing in the COMESA, EAC and SADC trading blocks? </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">References:</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin"><span style="mso-list: Ignore">1.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">The roaming regulation Available at: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/roaming/regulation/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/roaming/regulation/index_en.htm</a> [Accessed August 2008]</span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"> </span></p>
<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Disclaimer: These comments are the author's own</span><br>
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<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 8/19/08, <b class="gmail_sendername">Michuki Mwangi</b> <<a href="mailto:michuki@swiftkenya.com">michuki@swiftkenya.com</a>> wrote:</span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">Hi all,<br><br>Well just to add on to this debate. We have various trading blocks - EAC, COMESA etc. I dont have the data on how much we trade against each of this blocks - but i would imagine that the level of trade carried out between the regions is almost equal to the amount of communications that is conducted amongst the trading parties. If thats the case, what role should Governments, regulators etc play in ensuring that communications between the various trading blocks is efficient and cost effective i.e almost as the cost of local services. IMHO this would go a long way in reducing the amount of dependence on international connectivity for regional traffic. - This may as well be a point to review on the interconnection issue - but i sort of see the relationship between the economics and interconnection.<br>
<br>Regards,<br><br>Michuki.<br><br>mwende njiraini wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<div><span class="e" id="q_11bd9dcfc9206cbb_1">Morning!!<br><br>Thank you all for your contribution to various aspects of internet<br>governance. Today we start our discussions on economic issues. The<br>internet is increasingly playing a critical role in economic development<br>
specifically in facilitating international trade.<br><br><br><br>The economic issues therefore basically relate to the framework that makes<br>e-commerce possible. The participation of developing countries in e-commerce<br>
is limited by the lack the appropriate legislation, authentication<br>technologies and electronic payment methods. The main limitation however is<br>the lack of appropriate legislation that is essential in the protection of<br>
consumers in relation to confidentiality, misleading advertising and<br>delivery of faulty products.<br><br><br>In your view, who should be responsible for protection of the consumer in<br>light of the fact that the national legislation may be faced with the<br>
limitation of jurisdiction? Given that mobile services are available to the<br>majority, should developing countries concentrate their efforts in enabling<br>m-commerce to overcome the challenges of e-commerce? What private sector<br>
initiatives are there in e-commerce particularly in e-Payments?<br><br>Looking forward to hearing from you.<br><br>Kind regards<br>Mwende<br><br><br><br>Disclaimer: These comments are the author's own<br><br><br><br></span></div>
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