<p dir="ltr">The regulator has the option to create choice by either licensing a 4th operator or licensing a mobile virtual network operator. </p>
<p dir="ltr">For most of the part, YU wasn't really creating much of a choice. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The market is plagued by poor product differentiation coupled with poor marketing to some extent. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Perhaps, what we need is new blood. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Also, MVNO applicants are mostly local players who may have a better understanding of our market. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The only argument here is that the buying up of Yu's infrastructure may pose a challenge to anyone looking to start an MVNO. </p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On 4 Mar 2014 09:34, "Mark Mwangi" <<a href="mailto:mwangy@gmail.com">mwangy@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">@Edith the reason it doesn't work here is because of arrogance or incompetence by the competition. There is no reason as to why the small players have not ganged up and built joint infrastructure like 3G networks to rival Safaricom. I have always said hey should push for twin sim phones to make space on peoples phones but the tend to think selling galaxy phones will translate to profits. <div>
<br></div><div>Look at Orange. They should have a monopoly on the iPhone game but now Safaricom sell iPhone too. </div><div><br></div><div>Airtel treat clients like they are doing hem a favour right from the Kencell days. I don't know what Yu's strategy was. </div>
<div><br></div><div>@Dennis and @Ali I think this is a bad deal and the regulator shouldn't allow it. It will further constrict choice and thus make a mockery of the license grant in the first place. </div></div><div class="gmail_extra">
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Mar 4, 2014 at 9:08 AM, Edith Adera <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:eadera@idrc.ca" target="_blank">eadera@idrc.ca</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
BIG QUESTION<br>
Why can't Kenya sustain a "multi player" environment? Ive argued for years that it has to do with peculiar "consumer behaviour" of Kenyans. Open competition has not worked, number portability has not worked.....what will sustain a vibrant multi player environment?<br>
<br>
I've just returned from Ghana where the 4+ players have all sorts of offerings whooing consumers left, right and centre...you have all sorts of incentives that seems to keep all players afloat....number portability works etc etc.<br>
<br>
Why not Kenya?<br>
<br>
What's your take?<br>
<br>
Edith<br>
________________________________________<br>
From: kictanet [kictanet-bounces+eadera=<a href="mailto:idrc.ca@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">idrc.ca@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>] on behalf of Ali Hussein [<a href="mailto:ali@hussein.me.ke" target="_blank">ali@hussein.me.ke</a>]<br>
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2014 11:47 PM<br>
To: Edith Adera<br>
<div>Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
</div>Subject: Re: [kictanet] Yu acquisition proposal to regulator<br>
<div><br>
Dennis<br>
<br>
Couldn't agree with you more.<br>
<br>
In this particular case the regulator will do best to stand down and let market forces play out.<br>
<br>
Ali Hussein<br>
<br>
<a href="tel:%2B254%200770%20906375" value="+254770906375" target="_blank">+254 0770 906375</a> / <a href="tel:0713%20601113" value="+254713601113" target="_blank">0713 601113</a><br>
<br>
"I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein<br>
<br>
Sent from my iPad<br>
<br>
</div><div>On Mar 4, 2014, at 7:18 AM, Dennis Kioko <<a href="mailto:dmbuvi@gmail.com" target="_blank">dmbuvi@gmail.com</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:dmbuvi@gmail.com" target="_blank">dmbuvi@gmail.com</a>>> wrote:<br>
<br>
<br>
I thought Kenya was a liberal country, what's with everyone wanting to place regulatory hurdles on Yu's exit.<br>
<br>
Biggest issue is Safaricom's acquisition of spectrum belonging to YU and thus putting more spectrum under them - which they badly need to improve network quality in urban areas which suffer from congestion.<br>
<br>
Industry analysts have long predicted consolidation of MNOs in African countries to 3 or 4 per country (see an interview I did with Coleago in December <a href="http://www.cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/coleago's-chris-gives-insights-on-lte-network-sharing,-spectrum,-future-and-regulation-of-africa-telecoms#" target="_blank">http://www.cio.co.ke/news/main-stories/coleago's-chris-gives-insights-on-lte-network-sharing,-spectrum,-future-and-regulation-of-africa-telecoms#</a> )<br>
<br>
The buy out paves the way for licensing of MVNOs, which have an advantage of sharing existing capacity and unutilised resources rather than building out whole networks again.<br>
<br>
</div><div>On 4 Mar 2014 05:32, "Ali Hussein" <<a href="mailto:ali@hussein.me.ke" target="_blank">ali@hussein.me.ke</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:ali@hussein.me.ke" target="_blank">ali@hussein.me.ke</a>>> wrote:<br>
Listers<br>
<br>
Yu has been bleeding red ink since it launched. It was inevitable. No public review will change that. The Network Effect is clearly at play here with Safaricom. None of the other players are profitable. Orange is being kept afloat by GoK and the mother company in France. Airtel considers Kenya a loss leader because of its 'strategic' nature in Africa and hence cannot abandon it. Not sure how long that will continue.<br>
<br>
The interesting bit here is that Orange may eventually buy Safaricom because of some actions in far off cities that we have no control over...that for me is the real risk..<br>
<br>
Ali Hussein<br>
<br>
</div><a href="tel:%2B254%200770%20906375" value="+254770906375" target="_blank">+254 0770 906375</a><tel:%2B254%200770%20906375> / <a href="tel:0713%20601113" value="+254713601113" target="_blank">0713 601113</a><tel:0713%20601113><br>
<div><br>
"I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein<br>
<br>
Sent from my iPad<br>
<br>
</div><div>On Mar 3, 2014, at 11:20 PM, ICT Researcher <<a href="mailto:ict.researcher@yahoo.com" target="_blank">ict.researcher@yahoo.com</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:ict.researcher@yahoo.com" target="_blank">ict.researcher@yahoo.com</a>>> wrote:<br>
<br>
For starters, the company's assets true worth need to be independently established and its outstanding liabilities audited. Mere reported "spend a combined $100 million" inflated with 'sweatheart deal' exit premium does not in any way reflect the much lower true worth of the exiting business persons which no doubt a consortium of Kenyans investors can raise and potentially enable consumers to migrate enmasse to 100 p.c. "MKenya Network":-)<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</div><div>On Monday, March 3, 2014 9:44 PM, "Wambua, Christopher" <<a href="mailto:Wambua@cck.go.ke" target="_blank">Wambua@cck.go.ke</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:Wambua@cck.go.ke" target="_blank">Wambua@cck.go.ke</a>>> wrote:<br>
The regulator has just received the application. We are in the process of reviewing the application with a view to deciding the way forward. It is therefore too early to subject the application to public consultation.<br>
<br>
Wambua<br>
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.<br>
From: ICT Researcher<br>
Sent: Monday, 3 March 2014 21:11 PM<br>
To: Wambua, Christopher<br>
Reply To: ICT Researcher<br>
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<br>
Subject: [kictanet] Yu acquisition proposal to regulator<br>
<br>
<br>
Airtel, Safaricom seek to buy Essar’s Yu in Kenya - Safaricom will get Yu’s infrastructure, while Airtel is expected to acquire Yu’s subscriber base <<a href="http://www.livemint.com/Industry/BZZuR21BJsoJf6jksBhnVN/Airtel-Safaricom-seek-to-buy-Kenyan-rival-Essars-Yu.html" target="_blank">http://www.livemint.com/Industry/BZZuR21BJsoJf6jksBhnVN/Airtel-Safaricom-seek-to-buy-Kenyan-rival-Essars-Yu.html</a>><br>
<br>
Considering the profoundly adverse Triopoly consumer choice consequences,<br>
Should the regulator not initiate a public consultation before decision making?<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<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>
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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>
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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>
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