April 2009 - skunkworks - Skunkworks Site

Balancing Act: Satcom 09: Africa’s satellite providers find themselves looking at a less rosy future
by Njoroge Tito 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

Borrowed from Kictanet (Apologies for those on Kictanet) Interesting Read on the trends... ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Satcom 09: Africa’s satellite providers find themselves looking at a less rosy future Satcom is the African satellite industry’s annual get-together and this year’s was held this week. On the second day of the conference the West African Cable System announced the signing of an over-subscribed fundraising. And this is only one of half a dozen international fibre projects that will be built. At the conference itself, new satellite entrants announced services that were both innovative and cheaper. Russell Southwood looks at how all this will change things for a regional satellite industry that has more or less been the main provider of bandwidth for the continent. Guns to the left of them, guns to the right of them, it was not a comfortable conference for the more traditional satellite operators and resellers. On the one side, there was the ever-present story of the imminent arrival of much, much cheaper international fibre capacity. So although there are a number of new satellite launches (including Intelsat’s New Dawn) that in any other year would have held people’s attention, the spotlight kept drifting back towards the impact of the new fibre. As if that was not distracting enough for those wanting to get their message across, a number of new entrants were offering some combination of innovation and price drops. O3B, which launches its constellation of satellites in 2010, was offering carrier grade satellite capacity with low latency at fibre or near fibre prices. On a much smaller scale, Asia Broadcast Satellite was pitching satellite capacity for just above 03B’s prices for delivery in 2011. Based broadly on the US Wild Blue model, Yahsat was promoting its satellite broadband service YahClick for US$350 per site (FOB) at US$30 a month upwards for the user. And as Tata’s Head of Africa – Global Data Solutions said with a broad smile on his face:”It’s all good.” Intelsat’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel Phil Spector might respond that neither 03B nor Yahsat had operational satellites but somehow the blow intended failed to make much impact. Indeed the traditional satellite operators seemed strangely passive. Improvements in modulation or compression? That’s up to the manufacturers. (To be fair, Intelsat’s Regional VP Flavien Babachi mentioned putting a router on a satellite and we await the results of that with interest.) Any plans to provide keener pricing? That will only happen if there’s a glut in the market and that’s unlikely. Why no new satellite broadband services? Our operator customers aren’t asking for them. They will not be able to stick to this script over the next five years: something has got to change. Cheaper fibre and satellite prices will mean that operators and resellers will take their business elsewhere. Part of this is the natural transition that occurs when fibre arrives and national backbones begin to connect demand to the new international fibres. 90% of demand in most countries is found in their urban centres and these will soon be connected to landing stations. The process of doing this will by itself create a series of inter-country fibre connections. Both those with satellite and fibre were at pains to point out that they were complementary (which they are) but the scale of transition about to occur made this seem simply like an act of good manners that did not quite ring true. So what’s the upside for the traditional satellite operators faced with this transition? * Despite the economic downturn, there will continued above-average overall growth in bandwidth demand at least up until 2013. So some of the effects of the transition to fibre will be blurred by everyone wanting more of everything. * Fibre is new to Africa and some countries neither have the capacity to run it effectively nor is it always safe and secure. Ethiopia’s link to Sudan is a case in point which means that ETC is still a large purchaser of satellite bandwidth. Nevertheless the opening of the new route through Djibouti should improve matters. One operator was reporting that new fibre customers were signing up for 25% of their capacity on satellite as redundancy to cover these kinds of issues. 03B’s Greg Wyler made much of fibre outages in the Suez Canal. But with fibre routes up both sides of the continent, even that risk is to some degree mitigated. * According to GSMA figures, 66% of Africa’s population now has GSM coverage. This disguises a range of progress from Uganda with 90% of its population covered to countries that still have only 30-40% population coverage. Satellite cellular backhaul will continue to fill this demand but as these will be low ARPU locations, operators will be under considerable cost pressures and will look hard at all pricing. * Finally, many users have long-standing contracts (10-15 years) and it will be some time before the natural consequences of the transition are fully felt. But whilst this will be of some comfort in the short to medium term, it is not a long-term defensive position. A number of global satellite operators have significant parts of both their turnover and profitability coming from the continent: half of Intelsat’s fleet serves Africa. This is bound to change and the only question is by how much? Some snapshots of the exchanges at the conference give some idea of the shifting of the tectonic plates: * It’s pricing, stupid: Brian Herlihy, CEO of Seacom spoke about offering prices of between US$50-300 an mbps per month and whilst IRUs might add as much as 20% in interest payments, this is still much sunnier that the US$4-6,000 per mbps currently being charged for satellite. Better still, Seacom is promising this price wherever the capacity lands, whether in a coastal country or one inland. Paul Edwards, Chair of Nigeria’s largest CDMA operator Starcomms said he had been offered US$100 per mbps on one of the west coast fibres. In addition, O3B’s pricing is pitched fairly close to these numbers. The traditional satellite operators are stuck: they either have to take what’s left over or come up with something innovative technically which will improve their price offer. If they do, then it runs the risk of cannibalising existing revenues. (According to a report in an international industry paper, 03B has been in discussions with both SES New Skies and Intelsat. Read that how you will. Who’s courting who?) * Price elasticity provides massive increases: Tata’s Steven Van Der Lind described the process of transitioning customers from satellite to fibre. Three years ago, their assumption was that it would be a 1:1 replacement. As the likely fibre prices became more established, customers started asking for the equivalent of a 2:1 replacement. Recently he has signed contracts where the increase has been 10-15 times the original capacity being utilised. The arrival of fibre is also having an impact for those dealing with short-term satellite needs. Tom Omariba, Managing Director of UUNet Kenya (who have bought fibre capacity) said that they were “technology-neutral” in meeting their customers needs but increasingly it was leasing them satellite equipment. * Pushing to the edge of market: Vodacom DRC’s Alain Malanda, Head of Transmission, Data Planning and Optimisation is probably one of the candidates for satellite cellular backhaul as DRC has few roads, let alone. However, he told the conference that 50% of his national traffic was carried by microwave and fibre and 50% by satellite. And whilst he was clear that they were still pushing out coverage, they had undergone an optimisation exercise on its satellite capacity to get more for less. The DRC Government’s announcement of a fibre route to the coast and the likely connection of Lumumbashi will also eat into the 100% of international traffic currently going by satellite. Timescale: 2-3 years? * The 2010 bonus: Mashilo Boloka, Director: Broadcasting Policy at South Africa’s Department of Communications gave an update on preparations for the 2010 World Cup. He said that the fibre network between the 10 host stadiums and the International Broadcast Centre would be ready for the Confederation Cup in June 2009 and that a second teleport was being provide for outgoing links. The satellite industry has done the continent a tremendous service when no-one was thinking of building the scale of fibre now being undertaken and whatever happens, it will still be the only technology to reach widely dispersed populations. It’s also hard to believe that the global operators will not come up with some innovations to strengthen their positions. However, it’s fair to say that the industry has had its five years of feast and may be entering a period where food is in somewhat shorter supply.

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What are the fastest video file transfers methods?
by Gakuru Alex 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

from digital camera to the computer? -advantages/disadvantages? Writing something on it so video editing folks chip in.. thxs,

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Fibre; Two Way Street
by Phares Kariuki 11 Apr '09

11 Apr '09

http://www.sunwords.com/2009/04/05/the-fibre-optic-link-is-nearly-here-but-… Just read this article by Sunny Bindra, can the fibre lead to a situation where say safcom outsource call centre's to UG/TZ/ZIM? -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki

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Re: [Skunkworks] How to Manage Skype Usage in a Network
by wesley kiriinya 11 Apr '09

11 Apr '09

Are you sure skype is your problem? I would doubt it because much of the bandwidth on skype would be from a video conversation, and if bandwidth is low then the video frames would be too slow to have any meaningful video chat. I think that transfering a continous large file (which would cause the network to slow down) is not the same as transmitting video frames. Each frame is like a small file therefore it's like transfering many small files. What made you conclude it's skype? O_O --- On Tue, 4/7/09, MUTUA Andrew <mutua.andrew(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: MUTUA Andrew <mutua.andrew(a)gmail.com> Subject: [Skunkworks] How to Manage Skype Usage in a Network To: skunkworks(a)my.co.ke Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 12:01 PM How can one manage the Skype Traffic in a Network - considering its now a necessary evil ( a vital business tool and also a bandwidth gazzler). Any tools out there available for management. Thanks MUTUA -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke

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Orange Data Traffic
by Mark Mwangi 10 Apr '09

10 Apr '09

Hi Skunks,I have noticed that orange (mobile atleast ) tends to eat up more data than other providers for the same request/resource. . .. . A wap page that normally loads on a safaricom connection at 8kb loads on Orange at 15kb plus. . . . .the problem is more extreme on pc. . . . . Are they sending extra packets ?. . .is it a security measure?. . .Does it make the connection more stable?. . . just wondering. . . -- Regards, Mark Mwangi http://mwangy.wordpress.com

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[Fwd: [AfriNIC-announce] Open position at AfriNIC]
by Michuki Mwangi 10 Apr '09

10 Apr '09

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [AfriNIC-announce] Open position at AfriNIC Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:45:39 +0400 From: Kiran Cunniah <kiran(a)afrinic.net> Organization: The African Network Information Centre To: Kiran Cunniah <kiran(a)afrinic.net> [*** Apologies for duplicate e-mails ***] Dear Colleagues, We wish to inform you that we have a vacancy for the position of Database Manager and Software Developer. This position will be based at our headquarters in Mauritius. Do not hesitate to visit http://www.afrinic.net/job/ for more information or write to jobs(a)afrinic.net. Sincerely Kiran Cunniah Office Unit Manager AfriNIC www.afrinic.net _______________________________________________ announce mailing list announce(a)afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/announce

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Re: [Skunkworks] traffic congestion: solutions to hepa traffic
by wesley kiriinya 10 Apr '09

10 Apr '09

This reminds me of something I said back in Uni during lunch time with two of my friends (yes, it important for you to know the setting 8~)). Once one hears there is traffic on Uhuru Highway what else would you like to know? I believe Uhuru highway is the bottle neck of Nairobi. Take a case: South C: Vehicles in Mombasa Rd can't join Uhuru highway fast enough so a long jam till Zain results. Motorists detour through South C and thus there is jam between South C and West where all Mombasa Rd and South C ppl are trying to escape. They finally meet Langata Rd and guess where Langata Rd. goes ... By the way it is faster to walk from South C to CBD than to take a vehicle. Walking will take about 40 minutes max while driving will take about 1 hour, unless one leaves at about 6.30am. o_O? --- On Tue, 4/7/09, Josiah Mugambi <jmugambi(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Josiah Mugambi <jmugambi(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] traffic congestion: solutions to hepa traffic To: "Skunkworks forum" <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 12:04 PM i'm thinking more in the lines of doing a traffic density google maps mashup. Problem is that the best source of such data would be telcos - assuming that majority of guys stuck in jam have phones. But honestly I would pay to get a near realtime map of where traffic is in nairobi on my phone so that i can choose the best route to go. On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 11:58 AM, Phares Kariuki <pkariuki(a)gmail.com> wrote: I was involved in scoping for such a project, problem is budjet. You need a 1mbps link between cameras, and service providers charge 40,000 KES monthly per 1mb link, local loop. They have an advertising deal with the Radio Stations, hence they are not charged. Further to this, the CCN was not of too much use getting approval from, along with suspicious building managers. That's where I left the situation at, as of Nov 2008, don't know if progress has been made though.... On 4/7/09, wesley kiriinya <kiriinya2000(a)yahoo.com> wrote: I believe we can develop somthing like this. Problem is funding. If we had an organized transport/Nairobi development/... ministry or whoever is in charge then funding will not be an issue. After all such a project benefits everyone. With the city wired up with fibre optic, the live cameras would give good video feed. O_O --- On Tue, 4/7/09, Josiah Mugambi <jmugambi(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Josiah Mugambi <jmugambi(a)gmail.com> Subject: [Skunkworks] traffic congestion: solutions to hepa traffic To: "Skunkworks forum" <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 10:12 AM What would it take to come up with this? http://www.btis.in -- Josiah Mugambi +254 738 504418 http://blog.josiahmugambi.com SK Classifeds... Visit stockskenya.co.ke for more info. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke -- Josiah Mugambi +254 738 504418 http://blog.josiahmugambi.com SK Classifeds... Visit stockskenya.co.ke for more info. -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke

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This goes to all those really interested in projects...[note the word interested]
by ndungu stephen 10 Apr '09

10 Apr '09

Hallo skunk/skunkettes, Following a promise by the ICT board to fund or give a prize a collaborative skunk project - And seeing from the previous thread that had some interesting ideas from Josiah and backed up by Wesley, entitled "*Re: [Skunkworks] traffic congestion: solutions to hepa traffic*" I think the traffic case would be an ideal 'collaborative' skunk project as put forth by the ICT board. I think PS Ndemo would also back up on the bureaucracy to see the project through once the project is underway. To all college/university/tertiary institutions/ this would serve as a good experience point - furthermore, there is a prize attached to the collaboration. I know and have seen some 'sensor' and 'traffic' projects at the IEEE annual student competetion, I have also seen a lot of innovative 'mobile phone' projects - if you had such a project ideas could be pitched in in this thread for the incubation of the traffic case idea. Please feel free to vote for other 'collaborative' projects: READ ON.. Gakuru Alex to steve, Skunkworks show details 8:38 AM (4 hours ago) Reply Excuse for sending to all - newcomers/others may also need this info... off "skunkworks@innovation recap" October 6th, 2008 <http://blog.my.co.ke/?p=88> --snip-- Paul Kukubo, announced a raft of ICT Board's measures to further stimulate local content development, including software. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, to skunkworks he offered a cash incentive award of shillings 100,000/= to the best-voted collaboration application developed by skunkworks for their own use adding, “this collaboration will increase this group's visibility to the business community, investors, and potential foreign clients.” Reinforcing official support, Paul also pledged own capacity building contribution to the group, starting with bloging about the event at his new blogsite and sponsorship of a members specialities portal. < http://ict-innovation.fossfa.net/blog/%5Buser%5D/kenyan-skunkworksinnovatio… > --snip-- =================== What do you guys think ??

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A look at real-world exploits of Linux security vulnerabilities
by Bernard Owuor 10 Apr '09

10 Apr '09

http://searchenterpriselinux.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid39_gci1353076,0…

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Tuesday Meeting, Discussion on Talking To Government, 14th April 2009
by Phares Kariuki 09 Apr '09

09 Apr '09

Hi, The next Skunkworks meeting will be on Tuesday 14th April 2009, on talking to Government. The talk will be given by Alex Gakuru, the meeting will start at 6.00 pm. Among the topics that will be covered are: 1. Why we need to work well with government. 2. How to lobby for appropriate policy. 3. How to ensure policy is implemented. 4. Presenting government in appropriate light. Questions may be asked as the talk proceeds to ensure that all matters are adequately covered, anything else you may feel not covered can be included. The meeting will be at Multimedia University College (formerly KCCT), Town Campus, Teleposta Towers, 4th Floor. Andrew Wachira will be distributing free Google Earth CD's to all who make it for the meeting :). -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki

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