the operative words are<br><br><b>“The PPP is going on well, and we expect to roll out the 4G network in some areas soon,” said Mr Bitange.<br><br> </b>I suppose the key to breaking the impasse is<br>(a) to actualise the critical parts of the PPP (what are the details? has a critical mass of buy-in by stakeholders been achieved?) such as reliable, affordably priced shared infrastructure (e.g. site sharing) and services (e.g. signal distribution),<br>
<br>(b) for CCK to decide on the standard for TV set-top boxes and allow analog TV service consumers a reasonable period to purchase STBs or digital TVs and<br><br>(c) for CCK to agree that irrespective of mode of allocation of frequency spectrum for LTE, it is beneficial for the entire economy to exploit the market potential at the earliest opportunity.<br>
<br>Let us suppose that the potential market in Nairobi is 70% of the national addressable market (revenue-wise); the actual figures can be inferred from MNO subscriber and service usage statistics for 2G and 3G services. Since Nairobi is in the simulcast period, it is possible to establish if the digital TV transmission tests have been successful this far. To me, it follows that it is not economic-wise justified to wait another 3 years for digital TV signal to be available countrywide before TV broadcasters surrender the frequency spectrum that is currently assigned to analog TV broadcasting.<br>
<br>Since the Digital TV Migration <b>&</b> LTE rollout are mutually dependent, I suggest it would be better for all stakeholders if CCK phased the two projects' implementation by issuing say, 3 regional/zone licences and the corresponding resources in a manner such as:<br>
<br>a) priority 1- greater Nairobi, greater Mombasa, and Lamu archipelago by say, October 2013<br>b) priority 2- urban areas of: Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Kakamega, Nyeri, Embu, Meru, Garissa by say, April 2014<br>
c) priority 3- rest of Kenya by say, January 2015.<br><br>Regards,<br><br>Eng. K. Gicohi<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 16 March 2012 14:29, Wambua, Christopher <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:Wambua@cck.go.ke" target="_blank">Wambua@cck.go.ke</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-US">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:rgb(31,73,125)">See the article that the Ag. CCK Director General was responding
to for those in the dark: <a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Surrender+frequencies+Safaricom+tells+TV+broadcasters+/-/1006/1366550/-/10mo765/-/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Surrender+frequencies+Safaricom+tells+TV+broadcasters+/-/1006/1366550/-/10mo765/-/index.html</a>
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border-width:1pt medium medium;border-style:solid none none;border-color:rgb(181,196,223) -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color;padding:3pt 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> Michael Ouma
[mailto:<a href="mailto:benomnta@yahoo.com" target="_blank">benomnta@yahoo.com</a>] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 16, 2012 1:44 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Kictanet<br>
<b>Cc:</b> Wambua, Christopher<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [kictanet] Fw: PRESS RELEASE ON SURRENDER OF FREQUENCIES<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span>Hi Chris
Wambua:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span>Which
operator made the demands and what exactly did the MNO want?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span>Please
provide some background on the whole issue for the benefit of those who may not
be abreast with the issue.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span>Thanks. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif"">Michael Ouma<br>
Journalist<br>
Kenya</span><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif""><br>
Tel: +254-725-537823 | +254-789-363-833</span><span style="font-size:10pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"">Twitter: @MichaelOuma | Blog: <a href="http://aptantech.com" target="_blank">aptantech.com</a> | Facebook:
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/omondi.ouma" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/omondi.ouma</a></span><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br>
<br>
"Here I am. This far the good Lord has brought me. Amen..."<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<blockquote style="border-width:medium medium medium 1.5pt;border-style:none none none solid;border-color:-moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color rgb(16,16,255);padding:0in 0in 0in 4pt;margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:3.75pt;margin-bottom:5pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white" align="center"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">
<hr width="100%" align="center" size="1">
</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">
Walubengo J <<a href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com" target="_blank">jwalu@yahoo.com</a>><br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:benomnta@yahoo.com" target="_blank">benomnta@yahoo.com</a> <br>
<b>Cc:</b> KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
<<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>> <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 16, 2012 11:20 AM<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [kictanet] Fw: PRESS RELEASE ON SURRENDER OF FREQUENCIES</span><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr>
<td style="padding:0in" valign="top">
<p class="MsoNormal">fyi from CCK. <br>
walu.<br>
nb: Sounds like the frequency wars are heating up again.<br>
<br>
--- On <b>Fri, 3/16/12, Wambua, Christopher <i><<a href="mailto:Wambua@cck.go.ke" target="_blank">Wambua@cck.go.ke</a>></i></b>
wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><br>
From: Wambua, Christopher <<a href="mailto:Wambua@cck.go.ke" target="_blank">Wambua@cck.go.ke</a>><br>
Subject: PRESS RELEASE ON SURRENDER OF FREQUENCIES<br>
To: "Walubengo J" <<a href="mailto:jwalu@yahoo.com" target="_blank">jwalu@yahoo.com</a>><br>
Date: Friday, March 16, 2012, 11:08 AM<u></u><u></u></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)">Walu,</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)">Please circulate this to
listers.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)">Wambua</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<div style="border-width:1pt medium medium;border-style:solid none none;border-color:rgb(181,196,223) -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color;padding:3pt 0in 0in">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10pt">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt"> Wambua, Christopher <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 16, 2012 11:05 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> '<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>'<br>
<b>Subject:</b> PRESS RELEASE ON SURRENDER OF FREQUENCIES<br>
<b>Importance:</b> High</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr style="min-height:40.5pt">
<td style="width:375pt;background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(204,204,255);padding:0in;min-height:40.5pt" valign="top" width="500">
<table style="width:100%" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr>
<td style="padding:0in">
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(0,112,192)"><b><span style="font-size:26pt;color:white"> PRESS RELEASE</span></b><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-transform:uppercase;font-size:10pt" lang="EN-GB"><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=605bb32a54&view=att&th=1361c5dfb5e1b6ae&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=5edde9d0b6a3a26d_0.0.1&zw&atsh=1" width="97" border="0" height="126"></span><u></u><u></u></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-transform:uppercase" lang="EN-GB"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-transform:uppercase" lang="EN-GB"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">16<sup>th</sup> March 2012<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Listers,<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div style="border-width:medium medium 4.5pt;border-style:none none double;border-color:-moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext;padding:0in 0in 1pt">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>CCK’s response to agitation for surrender of
broadcasting frequencies </b><u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<div style="margin-bottom:10pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%">The attention
of the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has been drawn to media
reports attributed to one of the mobile operators in the country calling for
the surrender of assigned broadcasting frequencies on the 700MHz band to
mobile operators and other service providers for use in the deployment of 4G
services (i.e. superfast mobile broadband/Internet services). <u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom:10pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%">The CCK wishes
to respond to the agitation as follows:<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>1.</b><span style="font-size:7pt"> </span><b>The spectrum
in question </b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">The spectrum/frequencies in
question here (i.e. 700MHz band) will only become available for re-assignment
for use in deployment of non-broadcasting services after the successful
migration from analogue to digital TV broadcasting. According to an
international agreement reached at the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) in 2006, member countries party to the agreement (including states in
Africa, Europe, Russia and the Middle East) set 17<sup>th</sup> June 2015 as
the global deadline for the switch-off of analogue TV broadcasting. The ITU
is a specialized UN agency in the field of ICTs to which Kenya is affiliated.
As a member of the ITU, Kenya is bound by the provisions of this
agreement. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>2.</b><span style="font-size:7pt"> </span><b>Transition
to digital TV broadcasting </b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">To prepare the country for
smooth and timely transition to digital TV broadcasting, the Government of
Kenya constituted the Digital Television Committee (DTC) to oversee the
migration process. The DTC recommended an early transition deadline of 2012
to enable the country to have the flexibility and time to address any
difficulties that may arise before the multi-laterally agreed deadline of
2015. The demand for broadcasters to surrender frequencies in the 700 MHz
band immediately to mobile operators, therefore, cannot be justified at this
point. In any case, even the 2012 national deadline for migration to
the digital TV broadcasting is not cast in stone. As has happened in other
countries, the deadline could be postponed if there are challenges in
achieving it. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>3.</b><span style="font-size:7pt"> </span><b>Impracticable
and ill-timed proposition</b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Surrender of frequencies in the
700MHz band currently in use for broadcasting services would be ill-timed and
impracticable. This is because the transition to digital broadcasting is
being implemented in the same frequency band that is used for analogue TV
broadcasting. The digital signal is at the moment only available in Nairobi,
which means that the rest of the country is still dependent on analogue TV
transmissions. Thus the existing analogue TV broadcasters cannot switch off
their services without disconnecting a sizeable proportion of consumers. This
explains why the country is on a simulcast period where both digital and analogue
TV signals are on air. The switch-off of the analogue TV signals will only be
done when the Government is satisfied that digital signal coverage is
available nationwide. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>4.</b><span style="font-size:7pt"> </span><b>Statutory
mandate over frequency spectrum management</b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">The responsibility of managing
frequency spectrum in Kenya is vested in CCK by law (that is by the <i>Kenya
Information and Communications Act, CAP 411A</i>). In addition, CCK is the
designated Government representative to the ITU, where international
treaties/agreements and international regulations on frequency spectrum
management and other ICT issues are made. Therefore only the CCK has the
statutory mandate to assign spectrum (to broadcasters, mobile operators and
other assignees) and to recall frequencies, where necessary, in line with the
provisions of international agreements and regulations as well as national
law. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>5.</b><span style="font-size:7pt"> </span><b>Orderly
planning of freed up spectrum</b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Owing to the vast investments
in the existing analogue infrastructure for TV broadcasting, the migration to
digital TV broadcasting shall be done in an orderly way and freed up spectrum
shall be surrendered to CCK for re-planning and re-assignment. The
re-planning exercise shall involve deciding on the modalities of
re-assignment, including use of market-based allocation methodologies such as
spectrum auction. Re-assignment shall take due consideration of the various
competing radio-communication services that require access to this vital
spectrum. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">In view of the foregoing, it is
premature to agitate for re-allocation of spectrum that is not even available
in the first place. In any case, the World Radiocommunications Conference
2012 held in Geneva, Switzerland, early this year resolved that the
implementation date for assignment of spectrum in the frequency band 694-790MHz
to mobile services would be 2015, subject to results of studies conducted
between now and then on the feasibility of implementing mobile services in
part or in the entire 694-790MHz frequency range. Spectrum on this band is
currently allocated to broadcasting services. Thus, it is the said studies
that will effectively determine the amount of digital dividends (or freed up
spectrum) that will emerge from the 694-790MHz frequency range for use in
deployment of non-broadcasting services (including superfast mobile
broadband/internet and other services). <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">As a public body, CCK remains
open to receive representations and comments on any regulatory issue touching
on the ICT sector. Such representations should, however, be done within the
framework of the law, without causing public confusion and exerting
unwarranted pressure on the duly licensed players in the broadcasting
industry. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Issued by<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>Francis W. Wangusi</b><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><u>Ag. Director-General </u></b><u></u><u></u></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt;background:none repeat scroll 0% 0% white"><span><br>
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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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
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