[AfrICANN-discuss] East Africa : 2010 - ICT's year of great expectations

Thu Jan 21 14:30:20 SAST 2010

East Africa: 2010 - ICT's year of great expectations
Philip Ngunjiri
17 January 2010

Nairobi — The year 2010 promises plenty of excitement for the East Africa information and communication technologies arena. Enhanced competition among key players, new technologies and an ever growing demand for ICT services and products will make the future indeed look bright.

Top on the expectation list is the stiff competition among three undersea fibre optic cables - Seacom, Teams and Eassy. Seacom and Teams have already landed on the East African coast, while Eassy is expected this year.

Generally, it is perceived that the landing of the cables will drastically reduce the cost of communication, and rapidly increase Internet penetration from the current three million users and deliver the region to the true 21st century technologies.

In addition, it is expected that the three marine cables will enhance competition in business process outsourcing (BPO), considered the vital link to the rest of the world.

July 2009 was a watershed for the industry in the region when Seacom was switched on, setting an unprecedented wave of other cable projects. The 1.28 terabytes per second (Tb/s), 17,000-kilometre fibre optic cable system linking south and East Africa to global networks via India and Europe was completed and commissioned.

Now, it is expected that the landing of the submarine fibre optic cables will further excite the small- and medium-business segments, where connectivity costs have hindered full adoption of technologies. Nevertheless, the switching on of two undersea marine cable is yet to bring Internet prices down. The "drastic" drop is yet to be experienced.

Another animated sector that will keep East Africans happy will be the mobile telephony With a mobile user rate of 30 per cent today, the industry expected tremendous potential for growth. Price wars witnessed in the last quarter of last year intensified, much to the benefit of consumers.

Key players will most definitely introduce new products and better services. This is the year that mobile telephony players will take data services a notch higher all in the name of raising revenue.

The mobile phone market will also see the introduction of the latest high-end phones mainly to boost Internet and email access.

Last year, Zain and Safaricom brought BlackBerry solutions that enabled the customer to access e-mails using advanced accessories.

Orange, on the other hand, introduced the iPhone, but locked buyers to its network. In what appears to be growing interest from global firms in markets in Africa and other emerging regions, Nokia also launched its latest devices in the company's range of handsets focused on mapping and navigation, the Nokia 2710 Navigation Edition.

Mobile money transfer

It is also expected that the interest in the mobile money transfer services will increase.

Taking cue from the successful M-Pesa mobile money transfer service of Safaricom and Zain's Zap, Essar Telecom Kenya (Yu) launched its money transfer platform (yuCash). Not to be left behind, Nokia says it is building a wide network of Nokia Money agents where consumers can deposit or withdraw cash from their accounts. Unlike the current service providers, Nokia Money will enable transactions to be done by subscribers to any network in the world.

Nokia will roll out its service in partnership with Obopay, a service provider for payments via mobile phones in which Nokia bought a stake earlier this year.

In addition, managed services will gain significant ground as communication costs decrease with the availability of new submarine Internet cables and as IT needs grow more complex with rapid technology change. The region, especially Kenya will be among countries to experience booming BPO industry. Currently contact centres are constrained by high communications costs.

Mid last year, Kenya kicked off an ambitious Digital Villages project designed to connect the whole country, from rural to urban areas, and accelerate growth of ICT. The project is a government and private-sector initiative, mapped out using political districts. It is expected that every constituency represented in parliament will get a minimum of eight work stations, either PCs or monitors hooked to PCs, grouped within a 15-kilometre radius.

It is also expected that other countries in the region will follow Kenya's example to migrate from analogue to digital broadcast. Kenya becomes the second nation in Africa after South Africa to adopt digital broadcasting. This has been hailed as the biggest technology shifting of TV broadcast after the colour television. Currently, transmission covers Nairobi and its environs.

Key challenge however will be to properly capture, manage and deliver meaningful information to the right users which is putting a premium on data management and information access. Increased availability of broadband in Africa will exacerbate this explosion and companies will need to carefully control data management.

It is also expected that there will be an even greater focus on data centre efficiency, IT consolidation and automation with the new environment reflecting concern around costs and improved utilisation rates of current assets. Most companies expanding into the region will look at acquiring companies with a majority stake (at least 51 per cent) this leads to headaches in terms of consolidating applications, systems and, of course, data centres.

The sector will continue to be bombarded with malicious threats to IT infrastructure: viruses, spam, spyware, leakage, phishing, identify theft. Centralisation and the consolidation of data centre infrastructure will help improve physical security.

Source : East African

> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:39:36 +0200
> From: africann-request at afrinic.net
> Subject: AfrICANN Digest, Vol 35, Issue 12
> To: africann at afrinic.net
> 
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> Today's Topics:
> 
> 1. ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security hoops, double standards
> (Rebecca Wanjiku)
> 2. Re: ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security hoops, double
> standards (SM)
> 3. Re: ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security hoops, double
> standards (McTim)
> 4. Re: ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security hoops, double
> standards (Dr Yassin Mshana)
> 5. Re: ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security hoops, double
> standards (Calvin Browne)
> 6. Re: ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security hoops, double
> standards (alice at apc.org)
> 7. Press Release, AfGWG-Law Enforcement Event (Lillian Sharpley)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:24:48 +0300
> From: Rebecca Wanjiku <rebecca.wanjiku at gmail.com>
> Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security
> hoops, double standards
> To: africann at afrinic.net
> Message-ID:
> <607408db1001200124m98e70d7k679cf4664052b288 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> www.wanjiku.co.ke
> 
> have your say....
> 
> -- 
> Best regards,
> 
> Becky
> 
> 254 720318925
> 
> www.wanjiku.co.ke
> 
> twitter; wanjiku
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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:09:56 -0800
> From: SM <sm at resistor.net>
> Subject: Re: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security
> hoops, double standards
> To: africann at afrinic.net
> Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20100120014403.085ae1d0 at resistor.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
> 
> At 01:24 20-01-10, Rebecca Wanjiku wrote:
> >www.wanjiku.co.ke
> >
> >have your say....
> 
> About what? :-)
> 
> It is too easy to bash ICANN about this. If the people coming to the 
> ICANN meeting do not feel safe in a country, they will complain to 
> ICANN. Should ICANN ignore them and go ahead with the meeting?
> 
> "The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to
> Kenya. American citizens in Kenya and those considering travel to Kenya
> should evaluate their personal security situation in light of continuing
> threats from terrorism and the high rate of violent crime."
> 
> "There is a high threat from terrorism in Kenya. Attacks could be
> indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and
> foreign travelers." (U.K.)
> 
> The participants will be reading the above. As you are the one on 
> the ground, you would know whether it reflects the facts.
> 
> Regards,
> -sm 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:24:08 +0300
> From: McTim <dogwallah at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security
> hoops, double standards
> To: africann at afrinic.net
> Message-ID:
> <f65fb55e1001200224h5e3ec7e0o70504829dde0eadb at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> 
> SM,
> 
> On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 1:09 PM, SM <sm at resistor.net> wrote:
> > At 01:24 20-01-10, Rebecca Wanjiku wrote:
> >>
> >> www.wanjiku.co.ke
> >>
> >> have your say....
> >
> > About what? :-)
> >
> > It is too easy to bash ICANN about this.
> 
> Agreed, I think it is a fairly cynical post.
> 
> However, if what RW is reporting, that ICANN is insisting on the GoK
> paying for the Gala Dinner when in the past ICANN has paid for this is
> not reasonable (unless the BoD has decided that in future, hosts will
> pay for this event or something like that.)
> 
> Having the meeting at UNEP instead of in the center of the city seems
> reasonable, but I have heard nothing to this effect.
> 
> 
> > The participants will be reading the above.  As you are the one on the
> > ground, you would know whether it reflects the facts.
> 
> She knows first hand:
> http://wanjiku.co.ke/eng/articles/main/oxm1261039656/
> 
> 
> -- 
> Cheers,
> 
> McTim
> "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A
> route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:29:08 +0000
> From: Dr Yassin Mshana <ymshana2003 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security
> hoops, double standards
> To: africann at afrinic.net
> Message-ID:
> <627b2fd1001200329t4d0f920ep7d143e1da8903d71 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> 
> Hi there,
> 
> Let me say this: There is no measure for security or insecurity in any
> city/town. Streetwise and confidence matters a great deal everywhere one
> goes!
> 
> The Media is very powerful when it comes to instil confidence or otherwise.
> There is general belief (I do) that independent journalists like RW inform
> us the "Truth".
> 
> There were very few cities which were relatively secure than other - the
> morality or rather moral values in the societies make the difference when it
> comes to security.
> 
> Hodi! hodi! Nairobi .....!!!
> 
> Yassin
> 
> 2010/1/20 McTim <dogwallah at gmail.com>
> 
> > SM,
> >
> > On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 1:09 PM, SM <sm at resistor.net> wrote:
> > > At 01:24 20-01-10, Rebecca Wanjiku wrote:
> > >>
> > >> www.wanjiku.co.ke
> > >>
> > >> have your say....
> > >
> > > About what? :-)
> > >
> > > It is too easy to bash ICANN about this.
> >
> > Agreed, I think it is a fairly cynical post.
> >
> > However, if what RW is reporting, that ICANN is insisting on the GoK
> > paying for the Gala Dinner when in the past ICANN has paid for this is
> > not reasonable (unless the BoD has decided that in future, hosts will
> > pay for this event or something like that.)
> >
> > Having the meeting at UNEP instead of in the center of the city seems
> > reasonable, but I have heard nothing to this effect.
> >
> >
> > > The participants will be reading the above. As you are the one on the
> > > ground, you would know whether it reflects the facts.
> >
> > She knows first hand:
> > http://wanjiku.co.ke/eng/articles/main/oxm1261039656/
> >
> >
> > --
> > Cheers,
> >
> > McTim
> > "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A
> > route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel
> > _______________________________________________
> > AfrICANN mailing list
> > AfrICANN at afrinic.net
> > https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann
> >
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> c/o DFID-Sierra Leone
> 5 Off Spur Road
> Wilberforce
> Freetown
> SIERRA LEONE
> 
> Skype: yassinmshana1
> 
> Mobile:+23278508042
> Fax: (+232) 22235769
> Do You really NEED TO PRINT THIS?
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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:22:52 +0200
> From: Calvin Browne <calvin at orange-tree.alt.za>
> Subject: Re: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security
> hoops, double standards
> To: africann at afrinic.net
> Message-ID: <1263982972.1878.16.camel at calvin-office>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> 
> On Wed, 2010-01-20 at 12:24 +0300, Rebecca Wanjiku wrote:
> > www.wanjiku.co.ke
> > 
> > 
> > have your say....
> > 
> 
> Just for the record - the South African DoC picked up the tab for the
> Cape Town gala function.
> 
> And all the other functions were either picked up by the co.za registry
> and/or sponsored.
> 
> All the other local host organisation i've ever spoken to have indicated
> they've picked tabs for functions.. but i must say things may have
> changed.
> 
> regards
> 
> --Calvin
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 6
> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:08:44 +0000
> From: alice at apc.org
> Subject: Re: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security
> hoops, double standards
> To: africann at afrinic.net
> Message-ID:
> <958986286-1263989323-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-386477141- at bda108.bisx.produk.on.blackberry>
> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
> 
> Oh yes she does know first hand...
> Best
> Alice
> ------Original Message------
> From: McTim
> Sender: africann-bounces at afrinic.net
> To: africann at afrinic.net
> ReplyTo: africann at afrinic.net
> Subject: Re: [AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN Nairobi meeting faces security hoops, double standards
> Sent: 20 Jan 2010 13:24
> 
> SM,
> 
> On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 1:09 PM, SM <sm at resistor.net> wrote:
> > At 01:24 20-01-10, Rebecca Wanjiku wrote:
> >>
> >> www.wanjiku.co.ke
> >>
> >> have your say....
> >
> > About what? :-)
> >
> > It is too easy to bash ICANN about this.
> 
> Agreed, I think it is a fairly cynical post.
> 
> However, if what RW is reporting, that ICANN is insisting on the GoK
> paying for the Gala Dinner when in the past ICANN has paid for this is
> not reasonable (unless the BoD has decided that in future, hosts will
> pay for this event or something like that.)
> 
> Having the meeting at UNEP instead of in the center of the city seems
> reasonable, but I have heard nothing to this effect.
> 
> 
> > The participants will be reading the above.  As you are the one on the
> > ground, you would know whether it reflects the facts.
> 
> She knows first hand:
> http://wanjiku.co.ke/eng/articles/main/oxm1261039656/
> 
> 
> -- 
> Cheers,
> 
> McTim
> "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A
> route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel
> _______________________________________________
> AfrICANN mailing list
> AfrICANN at afrinic.net
> https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann
> 
> 
> Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Zain Kenya
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 7
> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:27:55 +0400
> From: Lillian Sharpley <lillian at afrinic.net>
> Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] Press Release, AfGWG-Law Enforcement Event
> To: AfricanCyberInfoNetwork at afrispa.org, announce at afrinic.net,
> africann at afrinic.net
> Message-ID: <4B56F6CB.9050909 at afrinic.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> For Immediate Release
> 20 January 2010
> 
> http://www.afrinic.net/press_release_le_200110.htm
> 
> *"African Inter-Governmental Coordination and Cooperation for a Safer 
> Internet"*
> 
> Challenges related to cyber crime and Internet security pose a serious 
> threat to the confidence and progress of Internet service worldwide 
> including in Africa. Therefore, AfriNIC is advocating increased 
> communications and coordination with the National Regulatory 
> Authorities, governments, policy makers and the technical community to 
> improve confidence and trust in the cyberspace.
> 
> "African Inter-Governmental Coordination and Cooperation for a Safer 
> Internet" is the theme at the AfriNIC Government Working Group -- Law 
> Enforcement Event that is scheduled to take place 25 -- 26 January 2010, 
> at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Cyber City, Mauritius.
> 
> During this two-day event that is closed to government officials who are 
> responsible for law enforcement and cyber security, participants will 
> discuss: current challenges with Internet-related crimes; steps being 
> taken by law enforcement agencies; ways in which these challenges 
> manifest in their respective countries and potential efforts to combat 
> such challenges; ideas to promote security by facilitating global 
> cooperation and coordination; insight into the Internet Ecosystem and 
> its governance; National CERT (Computer Emergency Readiness Team) 
> Programs implemented in the African region; and, how government agencies 
> can participate in the policy development process to ensure their voices 
> are heard regarding Internet protection issues.
> 
> "We are looking forward to this very important opportunity to exchange 
> with government law enforcement agencies in our region. Creating strong 
> alliances and sharing information between governments is a step in the 
> right direction to achieving a more secure and safer Internet and 
> AfriNIC is committed to continuing its efforts to facilitate such 
> initiatives" stated Mr. Adiel Akplogan, CEO, AfriNIC.
> 
> Government officials representing various countries in the African 
> region will attend this event, as well as the US Department of Justice, 
> Council of Europe, ICANN/IANA, and other RIR organisations.
> 
> The African Network Information Center (AfriNIC) is the Regional 
> Internet Registry (RIR) for Africa, responsible for the distribution and 
> management of Internet number resources throughout the African region.
> 
> www.afrinic.net <http://www.afrinic.net>
> 
> * *
> Contact: Lillian Sharpley
> Communications Area Manager
> press at afrinic.net
> 
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> _______________________________________________
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> AfrICANN at afrinic.net
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> 
> End of AfrICANN Digest, Vol 35, Issue 12
> ****************************************

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