[AfrICANN-discuss] East Africa: Financiers Give EASSy U.S.$70 Million Loan

LO MAMADOU alfamamadou at hotmail.com
Tue Dec 8 11:46:34 SAST 2009



 

East Africa: Financiers Give EASSy U.S.$70 Million Loan

 
Michael Ouma
7 December 2009


Nairobi — The East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) fibre optic cable project has received a $70 million loan from its international financiers.

The loan, announced during the West Indian Ocean Cable Company board meeting in Nairobi on November 30-December 1, was given by the International Finance Corporation, African Development Bank, KFW of Germany and AFD of France, is to be repaid over eight years.




The undersea fibre optic cable, expected to go live in June 2010, will connect 21 East, Southern, and Central African countries to Europe, America, Asia and the rest of the world as well as provide cheap Internet connectivity to most of the landlocked countries in the continent.

"We are currently expanding our shareholding structure to bring on board players and countries that were not part of the consortium initially like Seychelles and Zimbabwe," said Mr Wood

Mr Wood said there was a need for additional diverse routes to ensure redundancy and guard against downtime resulting from cable cuts.

EASSy, designed as a developmental initiative to provide cheap Internet connectivity to parts of Africa with no existing cable project, aims to deliver its services on an open access, non-discriminatory model, to ensure competition and low cost bandwidth pricing.

 

Billions of investment

 

According to West Indian Ocean Cable Company chairman John Sirha, EASSy has led to over $4 billion of investments in the region, including Teams and Seacom, "a situation that can drive competition through multiple cables."

Mr Sirha said the EASSy project aims to bring Internet exchanges to Africa to handle local Internet traffic instead of the current situation where the traffic is routed via Europe, the US or Asia.

The EASSY cable, according to Wood, will be the first eastern seaboard system to connect on a direct route to Europe, thereby making it the lowest latency system for traffic to key internet peering points in Europe and North America, unlike other cable systems which rely on a longer path to Europe via connections through either India or UAE.

Joseph Sloan, who represents the IFC and other international financiers on the West Indian Ocean Cable Company board, said that the $263 million project is on schedule and within the agreed budget, adding that multiple cables will lead to competition and further drive down prices of bandwidth.

 

Source : East african

 

> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 11:53:52 +0200
> From: africann-request at afrinic.net
> Subject: AfrICANN Digest, Vol 34, Issue 14
> To: africann at afrinic.net
> 
> Send AfrICANN mailing list submissions to
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> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
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> Today's Topics:
> 
> 1. Slight Change in Dates: AfGWG - LE Event 25-26 Jan 2010
> (Lillian O. Sharpley)
> 2. Kenya: Is New Internet Exchange Necessary? (LO MAMADOU)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 16:52:21 +0400
> From: "Lillian O. Sharpley" <lillian at afrinic.net>
> Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Slight Change in Dates: AfGWG - LE Event
> 25-26 Jan 2010
> To: announce at afrinic.net, africann at afrinic.net
> Message-ID: <20091206124035.M93560 at afrinic.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
> 
> Dear Colleagues,
> 
> Please be advised the the AfGWG - Law Enforcement Event has been changed from
> 26-27 Jan 2010 to 25-26 Jan 2010. This change was made to avoid a direct
> conflict with another industry related event taking place in our region the same
> week.
> 
> Also, as capacity is limited, only government agencies responsible for Law
> Enforcement and Cyber Crime/Security are invited to attend the AfGWG Law
> Enforcement event. 
> 
> To request your letter of invitation or for additional information, please
> contact meeting[at]afrinic.net.
> 
> Thank you for your understanding.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Lillian Sharpley
> Communications Area Manager
> AfriNIC
> (230) 466 6616
> www.afrinic.net
> 
> ---------- Forwarded Message -----------
> From: "Lillian O. Sharpley" <lillian at afrinic.net>
> To: africann at afrinic.net, announce at afrinic.net
> Sent: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:36:03 +0400
> Subject: AfGWG - Law Enforcement Event 26-27 Jan 2010
> 
> Dear Colleagues,
> 
> AfriNIC cordially invites you to attend the First AfriNIC - Government Working
> Group (AfGWG) Roundtable Meeting to be held in Cyber City, Mauritius, 26 – 27
> January 2010, at the Sheraton Hotel.
> 
> The purpose of the AfGWG to establish a collaborative platform for governments,
> regulators, and AfriNIC to address issues related to the governance and
> operations that may impact a safe and secure Internet.
> 
> The first AfGWG two-day meeting is targeted specifically at Law Enforcement
> Agencies to allow them an opportunity to:
> 
> • Hear about the latest Internet related crimes;
> • Hear how organisations, including the USDOJ (United States Department of
> Justice) is addressing those issues;
> • Discuss related challenges in your respective countries and efforts to combat
> such challenges; 
> • Exchange ideas about the formation of a Working Group for global cooperation
> and coordination;
> • Gain a better understanding about Internet Governance as it relates to Cyber
> Crime and Security issues;
> • Understand the role of AfriNIC and its activities to maintain security and
> stability of the Internet; and,
> • Learn how government agencies can participate in the policy development
> process to ensure their voices are heard regarding Internet protection issues.
> 
> If you have questions about this event, please direct them to meetings at afrinic.net
> 
> We look forward to your participation and collaboration.
> 
> Lillian Sharpley
> Communications Area Manager
> AfriNIC
> (230) 466 6616
> www.afrinic.net
> ------- End of Forwarded Message -------
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 09:44:49 +0000
> From: LO MAMADOU <alfamamadou at hotmail.com>
> Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Kenya: Is New Internet Exchange Necessary?
> To: <africann at afrinic.net>
> Message-ID: <SNT130-w61D733FB935CBA3B0F8A13BB900 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
> 
> 
> 
> Kenya: Is New Internet Exchange Necessary?
> Fiona Asonga
> 7 December 2009
> 
> 
> opinion
> 
> The recent announcement of the plan to set up a government run internet exchange point may look well intended on the face but also one that could either be ill-informed or driven by latent rationale if the arguments set forth in the media is anything to go by.
> 
> Contrary to the global best practice where governments support the existing IXPs run and managed by the industry, the new effort by the government is largely viewed by the industry as being unnecessary and inefficient use of its resources if not an escapist approach on prioritising and tackling the key industry concerns by the ministry.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Ranking top among the raison d'etres by the ministry to install Government Internet Exchange Point (GIXP) was the need to enhance network security among its peer agencies and mitigate against any threats of malicious hackers or data miners that most advocates would ignorantly want to attribute to third party routing connections.
> 
> Amazingly, it is only this year that KIXP was actually ranked as the third fastest growing IXP globally based on the amount of its handled traffic, this being largely as a result of the activities by its peering members to grow internet use within the country and address the concerns of customers for a more secure online environment.
> 
> With an estimate of Sh30 billion worth of business transactions handled via the KIXP on a daily basis, the security of the infrastructure and its content can never be overemphasised.
> 
> Through the facility the general public is able to access government services through various existing ISP who together with government peer at a central IXP.
> 
> Indeed as correctly posited here before, with no solid details on how the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) intends to institute security features that include deep packet inspection or demonstration of the government's capacity to develop its own data encryption, many in the know will still agree that security is easily a function of post infrastructure and human resource development.
> 
> This means that by having a peering point alone the agencies will not be fortified against any potential security problems if other aspects are not adequately addressed.
> 
> Others have actually pointed out that the majority of security problems highlighted by the government come from within an organisation, rather than from any external sources.
> 
> Contrary to any misconstrued belief of a Public Private Partnership arrangement or management of the venture, KIXP was essentially established in 2000 by the Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK) as a value add service to its members and is therefore solely owned by TESPOK.
> 
> It operates as a licensed service and is the only Regulator Licensed Internet Exchange Point in Africa.
> 
> Currently the Kenya Internet Exchange Point has back up locations at Chancery Building with Internet Solutions and Mombasa at the SEACOM landing station.
> 
> Prior to the massive investment that saw its establishment as Kenya's pioneer internet exchange point, all local traffic was exchanged in Europe and USA.
> 
> Today internet users are benefiting not only from a more than tenfold reduced latencies, but also from a reduced monthly cost for Inter ISP transit.
> 
> Additional benefits include ISPs Savings resulting from the delayed need to upgrade international capacity links as well as improved local connectivity through fibre optic and high speed wireless (FSO) connectivity.
> 
> As a result this has encouraged more local content as it became cheaper.
> 
> Currently, there are 28 peering members and others still working on their joining requirements.
> 
> It will be helpful to note that KIXP provides direct connections to members of the industry and organisations handling critical services of benefit to the general public.
> 
> All other entities not licensed by the communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) must go through the existing operators in line with current CCK regulations.
> 
> The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for instance through its online Customs Clearing System also known as "Simba System" makes use of the KIXP for efficient service delivery.
> 
> The Simba System alone which has been estimated to collect an average of half a billion Kenya Shillings daily is heavily dependent on the KIXP.
> 
> The new Integrated Tax Management System (ITMS) is also heavily supported by KIXP to reach the ordinary end user who has to file returns online through their respective ISP.
> 
> Currently measures have already been taken with regard to ensuring the security of the Kenya Internet Exchange Point as a key and strategic communication resource for the country.
> 
> 
> 
> Asonga is CEO, Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK).
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Source : Business Daily
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 09:20:08 +0200
> > From: africann-request at afrinic.net
> > Subject: AfrICANN Digest, Vol 34, Issue 13
> > To: africann at afrinic.net
> > 
> > Send AfrICANN mailing list submissions to
> > africann at afrinic.net
> > 
> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> > https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann
> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> > africann-request at afrinic.net
> > 
> > You can reach the person managing the list at
> > africann-owner at afrinic.net
> > 
> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > than "Re: Contents of AfrICANN digest..."
> > 
> > 
> > Today's Topics:
> > 
> > 1. Re: Re: [AfTLD-Discuss] Call for local hosts for 2010 IPv6
> > Training (McTim)
> > 2. ICANN Weekly Newsletter (Anne-Rachel Inn?)
> > 
> > 
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > 
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 07:30:47 +0300
> > From: McTim <dogwallah at gmail.com>
> > Subject: Re: [AfrICANN-discuss] Re: [AfTLD-Discuss] Call for local
> > hosts for 2010 IPv6 Training
> > To: africann at afrinic.net
> > Cc: Arnold <arnold at seychelles.net>, adel at afcomnetwork.net, Carmelo
> > Modu Ebuka <carmelo.modu at gmail.com>, manga.gilles at yahoo.fr, Ismael
> > Otban Ali <otban at intnet.dj>, benchoppy at ict.gov.sc, mabuzar at gov.sz,
> > Adamou Iro <a_iro at yahoo.fr>, AfTLD Discuss <aftld-discuss at aftld.org>,
> > ko_hilaire at yahoo.fr, charles Gaye <charlesg1075 at yahoo.com>, "Ebrima D.
> > Jobe" <ebouj2001 at yahoo.com>, adam at neoip.com, Marwan Maghur
> > <marwan at lttnet.com>
> > Message-ID:
> > <f65fb55e0912052030o3e59093ao28cfd4e5dcac20a9 at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> > 
> > Dear Khaled,
> > 
> > You can write to Mukom Akong TAMON <tamon at afrinic.net> the new Training
> > Coordinator at AfriNIC. He will sort it out with you.
> > 
> > -- 
> > Cheers,
> > 
> > McTim
> > "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route
> > indicates how we get there." Jon Postel
> > 
> > 
> > On Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 1:13 AM, Khaled Esheh <khaleds at lttnet.net> wrote:
> > 
> > > Dear Anne-Rachel
> > >
> > > We are intersted in hosting the training here in Libya ? so what is the
> > > next step?
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > >
> > > Khaled Esheh
> > > Technical Director
> > > Libya Telecom & Technology
> > > Tel: 00218-21-3400020 Ext: 7102
> > > Mobile: 00218-92-3039911
> > > Fax: 00218-21-3400039
> > > Email: khaleds at lttnet.net
> > > http://www.ltt.ly
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > *From:* Anne-Rachel Inné <annerachel at gmail.com>
> > > *To:* africann at afrinic.net ; AfTLD Discuss <aftld-discuss at aftld.org>
> > > *Cc:* Arnold <arnold at seychelles.net> ; adel at afcomnetwork.net ; Carmelo
> > > Modu Ebuka <carmelo.modu at gmail.com> ; manga.gilles at yahoo.fr ; Ismael Otban
> > > Ali <otban at intnet.dj> ; benchoppy at ict.gov.sc ; mabuzar at gov.sz ; Adamou Iro<a_iro at yahoo.fr>; Kuppusamy
> > > Vijayakumar <kk.vijay at rura.gov.rw> ; ko_hilaire at yahoo.fr ; charles Gaye<charlesg1075 at yahoo.com>; Ebrima
> > > D. Jobe <ebouj2001 at yahoo.com> ; adam at neoip.com ; Marwan Maghur<marwan at lttnet.com>
> > > *Sent:* Thursday, December 03, 2009 1:02 PM
> > > *Subject:* [AfTLD-Discuss] Call for local hosts for 2010 IPv6 Training
> > >
> > > [AfriNIC-announce] Call for Local Hosts for 2010 IPv6 Training
> > > From:
> > > Mukom Akong TAMON <tamon at afrinic.net
> > > Add to Contacts To: announce at afrinic.net; member-discuss at afrinic.net
> > > ------------------------------
> > > Dear all,
> > > With your assistance, we were able to organise eight (8) workshops in 2009
> > > (including the workshop held in Dakar during AfriNIC 11). We were however
> > > unable to conduct planned trainings in Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia
> > > and Mali and had to postpone a scheduled training in Gambia to 2010. We are
> > > therefore calling on your support once again for organizing training
> > > workshops in 2010. We intend to conduct training (LIR and IPv6) in the
> > > following countries:
> > >
> > > South Africa
> > > Zimbabwe
> > > Swaziland
> > > Gambia
> > > Mali
> > > Sierra Leone
> > > Liberia
> > > Rwanda
> > > Equatorial Guinea
> > > Central African Republic
> > > Niger
> > > Seychelles
> > > Djibouti
> > > Eritrea
> > > Libya
> > >
> > >
> > > We already have potential Local hosts for Gambia and Mali (more
> > > collaborators are still welcome).
> > >
> > > As a local host for your country, your responsibilities shall be to:
> > > 1. Secure a venue for the training (AfriNIC will pay for it)
> > > 2. Provide broadband Internet access plus wireless connectivity in the
> > > training room for the duration of the training.
> > > 3. Provide multimedia projectors, white-board and white-board markers.
> > > 4. Assist with facilitating visas for trainers and locating suitable hotels
> > > for them.
> > > 5. Provide general logistical support to ensure smooth operation of the
> > > workshop (seek and negotiate vendors for basic services, provide interns to
> > > help with during the workshop).
> > >
> > > Please indicate interest in hosting a training for your country by
> > > responding to this message.
> > >
> > > Thank your for your kind cooperation.
> > >
> > > -- ________________________________________________________
> > > Mukom Akong TAMON
> > > AfriNIC Ltd | Phone: +230 466 6616 | Fax: +230 466 6758
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > announce mailing list
> > > announce at afrinic.net
> > > https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/announce
> > >
> > > ------------------------------
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > aftld-discuss mailing list
> > > aftld-discuss at aftld.org
> > > http://lists.aftld.org/mailman/listinfo/aftld-discuss
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > AfrICANN mailing list
> > > AfrICANN at afrinic.net
> > > https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann
> > >
> > >
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> > 
> > ------------------------------
> > 
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 08:14:04 +0100
> > From: Anne-Rachel Inn? <annerachel at gmail.com>
> > Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN Weekly Newsletter
> > To: africann at afrinic.net
> > Message-ID:
> > <bd1bfd500912052314y44157c04g6033f1fac6f1f7e1 at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
> > 
> > Announcements This Week
> > 
> > *Global Policy Proposal for Autonomous System Numbers - Background
> > Report*<http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-04sep09-en.htm>
> > At its meeting on 27 August 2009, the Board resolved to request tracking of
> > the development of a Global Policy Proposal for "IANA Policy for Allocation
> > of ASN Blocks to Regional Internet Registries", under discussion in the
> > addressing community. The status overview presented is compiled in response
> > to this request and will be further updated as developments proceed, for
> > information to ICANN entities and the wider community. This is the second
> > issue of the tracking of this policy.
> > 4 December 2009
> > 
> > *Global Policy Proposal for the Allocation of IPv4 Blocks to Regional
> > Internet Registries - Background
> > Report*<http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-12may09-en.htm>
> > At its meeting on 23 April 2009, the Board resolved to request tracking of
> > the development of a Global Policy Proposal for the Allocation of IPv4
> > Blocks to Regional Internet Registries, under discussion in the addressing
> > community. The status overview presented is compiled in response to this
> > request and will be further updated as developments proceed, for information
> > to ICANN entities and the wider community. This is the fourth issue of the
> > tracking of this policy.
> > 4 December 2009
> > 
> > *Nominating Committee Convenes in
> > Seoul*<http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-04dec09-en.htm>
> > The 2010 ICANN Nominating Committee has been convened and met for the first
> > time on 30-31 October 2009, immediately following the 36th International
> > ICANN Public Meeting in Seoul, South Korea.
> > 4 December 2009
> > 
> > *IDNs: Final Report on Three-Character Requirement and Variant Management
> > Now Available for Public
> > Comment*<http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-03dec09-en.htm>
> > The IDN-Implementation Working Team has published the Final Report on
> > three-character requirement and variant management for public comment. The
> > public comment period ends on 8 January 2010.
> > 3 December 2009
> > 
> > *Temporary Expert Advisory Groups Formed on New gTLD Malicious Conduct
> > Initiatives*<http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-03dec09-en.htm>
> > As part of ICANN’s effort to advance work on the implementation plan and
> > Applicant Guidebook for new gTLDs and in response to the Board’s direction
> > to resolve the potential for malicious conduct over-arching issue, ICANN
> > Staff is soliciting knowledgeable volunteers to serve on two temporary,
> > expert advisory groups to study and develop proposed solutions for enhancing
> > access to zone file information; and establishing a high security TLD
> > verification program.
> > 3 December 2009
> > 
> > *Public Comment Requested on Draft 2010-2013 Strategic
> > Plan*<http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-01dec09-en.htm>
> > As the next element of consultation on the Strategic Plan, ICANN invites
> > comments from the community on a first draft of the plan based on material
> > presented to the community at the Seoul meeting.
> > 1 December 2009
> > 
> > *Three Registrars Lose ICANN
> > Accreditation*<http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-30nov09-en.htm>
> > On Wednesday, 25 November 2009, ICANN terminated its accreditation agreement
> > with three registrars — Hosting365 Inc., OOO “Russian Registrar” and R.B.
> > Data Net LTD for failure to comply with the requirements of the Registrar
> > Accreditation Agreement.
> > 30 November 2009
> > 
> > *Expressions of Interest Sought for Bulk Transfer of
> > Registrations*<http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-30nov09-en.htm>
> > As the result of the Notices of Termination issued on November 25, 2009 to
> > registrars OOO Russia (IANA ID 1238) and Hosting365 Inc. (IANA ID 956),
> > ICANN is seeking expressions of interest from ICANN-accredited registrars
> > that might wish to assume sponsorship of the gTLD names that were previously
> > managed by these registrars.
> > 30 November 2009
> > 
> > 
> > ------------------------------
> > Upcoming Events
> > 
> > *[image: 7 - 12 March 2010: 37th International Public ICANN Meeting -
> > Nairobi, Kenya] <http://nbo.icann.org/>7 - 12 March 2010: 37th International
> > Public ICANN Meeting - Nairobi, Kenya <http://nbo.icann.org/>*
> > 
> > *20 - 25 June 2010: 38th International Public ICANN Meeting - Brussels,
> > Belgium*
> > About ICANN
> > 
> > *ICANN Bylaws <http://www.icann.org/en/general/bylaws.htm>*
> > 
> > Our bylaws are very important to us. They capture our mission of security,
> > stability and accessibility, and compel the organization to be open and
> > transparent. Learn more at *www.ICANN.org* <http://www.icann.org/>.
> > 
> > *Draft Strategic Plan, 2010 - 2013 <http://www.icann.org/en/planning/>*
> > 
> > *Adopted FY10 Operating Plan and
> > Budget<http://www.icann.org/en/financials/budget-opplan.htm>
> > *
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> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > AfrICANN mailing list
> > AfrICANN at afrinic.net
> > https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann
> > 
> > 
> > End of AfrICANN Digest, Vol 34, Issue 13
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