[AFRINIC-rpd] Academic IPv4 Allocation Policy Second Draft (AFPUB-2013-GEN-001-DRAFT-02)

[Owen DeLong]

On Feb 3, 2013, at 23:46 , Maina Noah <mainanoa at gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> 
> 
> On 3 February 2013 16:58, Seun Ojedeji <seun.ojedeji at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello People
> 
> Hi Seun,
>  
> On Sun, Feb 3, 2013 at 1:28 PM, Dr Eberhard W Lisse <el at lisse.na> wrote:
> I don't have issues with my iPhone, iPad, iPad mini, Mac Book Air, iMac, eeePC, Ubunto server(s) or BlackBerry, 
> 
> 
> Right, this students either studies and works and has a good paycheck or his parents are doing very very well. 
>  

Sure... Today. However, electronics keep getting cheaper and incomes are going up.

> Here is a sample of one person's gears, just to emphasis that 1:5 is being modest ;)
> 
> 
> I have been quietly thinking through the communities 1:5 argument, but one little but very important factor is being left out. The fact that NOT EVERY STUDENT CAN AFFORD TO BUT ALL THOSE TOYS. I went to University of Dar es salaam last week to just study the environment and internet usage at the campus as my curiosity stemmed from this very 1:5 argument, and guess what, most students can;t even afford to own Laptops. Funny thing is the % of students who actually have the Steve Jobs toys are like 10% because they can even afford them. The Private students only get School Fees from their parents and those on Government loans can hardly afford a personal laptop. Most of them share laptops haaah. On the issue of phones, there are no campus wide wireless networks and thus most students with smartphones are using 3G services from the Telecom companies.

You're missing the word "yet" at the end of your shout.

Do we want to lock policy in to the lowest common denominator of the present-day situation, or, can we recognize the trend and plan accordingly with a policy that will not be overly constrained and rapidly obsolete?

> This is a case for one specific HEI in Tanzania and now how about the rest of the continents and in other countries. Let us be realistic and stop assuming and basing our arguments on some few specific institutions and rich students.

Yes... Let us, instead, base our assumptions on clear trends and obvious economic indicators. Let us look at the common situation in the developed world and recognize that such a developed state is the target point for the future of Africa as well. Let us plan accordingly and not produce policy which would prevent Africa from reaching such a state.

Owen

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