LTE/4G and the state of broadband and Universal Access in Kenya
(Apologies for cross-posting) Nothing is as great as high internet speed. That is the mantra on Safaricom's 4G page (1). Safaricom's 4G/LTE service is the first of its kind in the region and promises a browsing experience like never before. Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals.(2) To use LTE you need a 4G capable Device (phone/tablet/modem), Change to a 4G enabled SIM card and be in an area covered by the 4G service i.e. Some parts of Nairobi and Mombasa. With the rollout of 4G in some parts of Nairobi and Mombasa, we are exploring the state of "real" broadband in Kenya, the cost to the common citizen, and coverage. As we continue to privilege those of us in urban areas, how are we catering for the interests and needs of the marginalized? TESPOK in August issued a statement (3) advising it's members not to pay Universal Service Fund (4) until they meet with the Communications Authority Director General and ICT cabinet Secretary to clearly define the procedures and processes of administering the 0.5% of operators' annual revenues. What is the current state of USF in Kenya? Is it operational? Is the 0.5% sufficient to have any impact in society? Are the USF Council members (5) representative of the Internet community in Kenya? Are all stakeholders interests taken into consideration in forming the council? Would these distinguished citizens know the troubles the user in Kitui goes through when he has to climb a flag-post to get network signal, or the parcel that arrives in Lokitang after a month? Internet Society Kenya Chapter and Kictanet seeks to engage in a series of online discussions covering various trending issues which will culminate in a public consultative forum with industry and policymakers to share the feedback from the community and see how best we can influence and shape the Internet landscape in Kenya. Your valuable contribution is always appreciated. Sincerely, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya Secretary, Internet Society Kenya. NOTES (1). http://www.safaricom.co.ke/personal/internet/safaricom-4g-lte (2). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE_%28telecommunication%29 (3). http://www.tespok.co.ke/?p=310 (4). http://ca.go.ke/index.php/purpose-of-the-fund (5). http://ca.go.ke/index.php/universal-service-advisory-council
Mwendwa Thanks for reviving this issue of Universal Access. This is an issue that has been raised time and again on this forum. We have it on good authority that the Policy Makers read this list avidly. So the fact that they remain silent on this issue is a serious indictment on them on whether they take us seriously. As Walu put it aptly the other day:- 'if you are not addressing this forum of stakeholders then who are they addressing?' Ali Hussein +254 770 906375 / 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim Blog: www.alyhussein.com "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein Sent from my iPad
On Dec 9, 2014, at 9:44 AM, Mwendwa Kivuva via isoc <isoc@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
(Apologies for cross-posting)
Nothing is as great as high internet speed. That is the mantra on Safaricom's 4G page (1). Safaricom's 4G/LTE service is the first of its kind in the region and promises a browsing experience like never before. Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals.(2)
To use LTE you need a 4G capable Device (phone/tablet/modem), Change to a 4G enabled SIM card and be in an area covered by the 4G service i.e. Some parts of Nairobi and Mombasa.
With the rollout of 4G in some parts of Nairobi and Mombasa, we are exploring the state of "real" broadband in Kenya, the cost to the common citizen, and coverage. As we continue to privilege those of us in urban areas, how are we catering for the interests and needs of the marginalized?
TESPOK in August issued a statement (3) advising it's members not to pay Universal Service Fund (4) until they meet with the Communications Authority Director General and ICT cabinet Secretary to clearly define the procedures and processes of administering the 0.5% of operators' annual revenues. What is the current state of USF in Kenya? Is it operational? Is the 0.5% sufficient to have any impact in society?
Are the USF Council members (5) representative of the Internet community in Kenya? Are all stakeholders interests taken into consideration in forming the council? Would these distinguished citizens know the troubles the user in Kitui goes through when he has to climb a flag-post to get network signal, or the parcel that arrives in Lokitang after a month?
Internet Society Kenya Chapter and Kictanet seeks to engage in a series of online discussions covering various trending issues which will culminate in a public consultative forum with industry and policymakers to share the feedback from the community and see how best we can influence and shape the Internet landscape in Kenya.
Your valuable contribution is always appreciated.
Sincerely, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya Secretary, Internet Society Kenya.
NOTES (1). http://www.safaricom.co.ke/personal/internet/safaricom-4g-lte (2). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE_%28telecommunication%29 (3). http://www.tespok.co.ke/?p=310 (4). http://ca.go.ke/index.php/purpose-of-the-fund (5). http://ca.go.ke/index.php/universal-service-advisory-council
_______________________________________________ isoc mailing list isoc@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc
Happy Tuesday! Kivuva I do hope you are well. Anyone with experience on being able to access the internet without the use of Airtime/TalkTime/Scratch Cards and the Bundles et al. Beyond the infrastructural aspects and their reach, this is a hidden costly factor limiting universal access. Most of all, is their limiting the volume of access which is what determines how valuable and useful the said access is to you - think research, general knowledge, communication chats. There has to be another way to access for every Tom,Dick,Harry and Wanjiku. Have a blessed day. Regards/Wangari --- Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa - "Being of the Light, We are Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of God on Earth". On Tuesday, 9 December 2014, 11:55, Ali Hussein via isoc <isoc@lists.my.co.ke> wrote: Mwendwa Thanks for reviving this issue of Universal Access. This is an issue that has been raised time and again on this forum. We have it on good authority that the Policy Makers read this list avidly. So the fact that they remain silent on this issue is a serious indictment on them on whether they take us seriously. As Walu put it aptly the other day:- 'if you are not addressing this forum of stakeholders then who are they addressing?' Ali Hussein +254 770 906375 / 0713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassimSkype: abu-jomoLinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassimBlog: www.alyhussein.com "I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein Sent from my iPad On Dec 9, 2014, at 9:44 AM, Mwendwa Kivuva via isoc <isoc@lists.my.co.ke> wrote: (Apologies for cross-posting) Nothing is as great as high internet speed. That is the mantra on Safaricom's 4G page (1). Safaricom's 4G/LTE service is the first of its kind in the region and promises a browsing experience like never before. Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals.(2) To use LTE you need a 4G capable Device (phone/tablet/modem), Change to a 4G enabled SIM card and be in an area covered by the 4G service i.e. Some parts of Nairobi and Mombasa. With the rollout of 4G in some parts of Nairobi and Mombasa, we are exploring the state of "real" broadband in Kenya, the cost to the common citizen, and coverage. As we continue to privilege those of us in urban areas, how are we catering for the interests and needs of the marginalized? TESPOK in August issued a statement (3) advising it's members not to pay Universal Service Fund (4) until they meet with the Communications Authority Director General and ICT cabinet Secretary to clearly define the procedures and processes of administering the 0.5% of operators' annual revenues. What is the current state of USF in Kenya? Is it operational? Is the 0.5% sufficient to have any impact in society? Are the USF Council members (5) representative of the Internet community in Kenya? Are all stakeholders interests taken into consideration in forming the council? Would these distinguished citizens know the troubles the user in Kitui goes through when he has to climb a flag-post to get network signal, or the parcel that arrives in Lokitang after a month? Internet Society Kenya Chapter and Kictanet seeks to engage in a series of online discussions covering various trending issues which will culminate in a public consultative forum with industry and policymakers to share the feedback from the community and see how best we can influence and shape the Internet landscape in Kenya. Your valuable contribution is always appreciated. Sincerely, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya Secretary, Internet Society Kenya. NOTES (1). http://www.safaricom.co.ke/personal/internet/safaricom-4g-lte (2). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE_%28telecommunication%29 (3). http://www.tespok.co.ke/?p=310 (4). http://ca.go.ke/index.php/purpose-of-the-fund (5). http://ca.go.ke/index.php/universal-service-advisory-council _______________________________________________ isoc mailing list isoc@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc _______________________________________________ isoc mailing list isoc@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc
I digress, why aren't telcos developing public wifi hotspots, to complement their poor 3G/4G coverage? I think they can be useful in promoting access, since we only have G or 2G coverage in most places ax the country. Victor Victor Kapiyo ==================================================== *"Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude" Zig Ziglar* On 9 December 2014 at 13:43, WANGARI KABIRU via isoc <isoc@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Happy Tuesday!
Kivuva
I do hope you are well.
Anyone with experience on being able to access the internet without the use of Airtime/TalkTime/Scratch Cards and the Bundles et al.
Beyond the infrastructural aspects and their reach, this is a hidden costly factor limiting universal access.
Most of all, is their limiting the volume of access which is what determines how valuable and useful the said access is to you - think research, general knowledge, communication chats.
There has to be another way to access for every Tom,Dick,Harry and Wanjiku.
Have a blessed day.
Regards/Wangari
--- Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa - "Being of the Light, We are Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of God on Earth".
On Tuesday, 9 December 2014, 11:55, Ali Hussein via isoc < isoc@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Mwendwa
Thanks for reviving this issue of Universal Access. This is an issue that has been raised time and again on this forum. We have it on good authority that the Policy Makers read this list avidly. So the fact that they remain silent on this issue is a serious indictment on them on whether they take us seriously.
As Walu put it aptly the other day:-
'if you are not addressing this forum of stakeholders then who are they addressing?'
*Ali Hussein*
+254 770 906375 / 0713 601113
Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim> Blog: www.alyhussein.com
"I fear the day technology will surpass human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots". ~ Albert Einstein
Sent from my iPad
On Dec 9, 2014, at 9:44 AM, Mwendwa Kivuva via isoc <isoc@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
(Apologies for cross-posting)
Nothing is as great as high internet speed. That is the mantra on Safaricom's 4G page (1). Safaricom's 4G/LTE service is the first of its kind in the region and promises a browsing experience like never before. Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals.(2)
To use LTE you need a 4G capable Device (phone/tablet/modem), Change to a 4G enabled SIM card and be in an area covered by the 4G service i.e. Some parts of Nairobi and Mombasa.
With the rollout of 4G in some parts of Nairobi and Mombasa, we are exploring the state of "real" broadband in Kenya, the cost to the common citizen, and coverage. As we continue to privilege those of us in urban areas, how are we catering for the interests and needs of the marginalized?
TESPOK in August issued a statement (3) advising it's members not to pay Universal Service Fund (4) until they meet with the Communications Authority Director General and ICT cabinet Secretary to clearly define the procedures and processes of administering the 0.5% of operators' annual revenues. What is the current state of USF in Kenya? Is it operational? Is the 0.5% sufficient to have any impact in society?
Are the USF Council members (5) representative of the Internet community in Kenya? Are all stakeholders interests taken into consideration in forming the council? Would these distinguished citizens know the troubles the user in Kitui goes through when he has to climb a flag-post to get network signal, or the parcel that arrives in Lokitang after a month?
Internet Society Kenya Chapter and Kictanet seeks to engage in a series of online discussions covering various trending issues which will culminate in a public consultative forum with industry and policymakers to share the feedback from the community and see how best we can influence and shape the Internet landscape in Kenya.
Your valuable contribution is always appreciated.
Sincerely, ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya Secretary, Internet Society Kenya.
NOTES (1). http://www.safaricom.co.ke/personal/internet/safaricom-4g-lte (2). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE_%28telecommunication%29 (3). http://www.tespok.co.ke/?p=310 (4). http://ca.go.ke/index.php/purpose-of-the-fund (5). http://ca.go.ke/index.php/universal-service-advisory-council
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participants (4)
-
Ali Hussein -
Mwendwa Kivuva -
Victor Kapiyo -
WANGARI KABIRU