Not sure about the NGO model...

But perhaps you meant to go the MVNO model? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_virtual_network_operator)

In addition to not needing spectrum and core infrastructure, it can be focused on specific niche client base. Regulatory concerns and requirements would also be significantly lower. 

All this comes from the premise that given the same resources as the incumbents currently in the market,  this group can produce significantly better results...right?

On Sun, Aug 14, 2011 at 7:20 PM, John Doe Smith Kamau KipNg'etich Jones <skunkworks.ku@gmail.com> wrote:
yes... forgive my short n00b foresight... but theeen, we could run
like a NGO :-D... no profit, no loss. And besides... i'm sure we'll
figure out a revenue model like the open-source guys (linux, centOS,
obuntu, gnome, etc) did....

and the 3G/4G thing.... we could go the Orange way, and claim we're
"testing it", and then like orange, we could black-mail GoK into
paying the $$$ fees.
... and may be... just may be, as an NGO, we could get the fees waived
as part of the tax exemption thingy NGOs get.
and investment-wise... well, with volunteer skunkies, costs would be
significantly reduced... and to reduce workloads, we'd just need to
design and build elaborate, 99% uptime systems... and i'm sure we have
more than enuf competent skunkies to achieve that :-)

if we put our minds to it... we can pull it off!!

On 8/14/11, Bernard Mwagiru <bmwagiru@gmail.com> wrote:
> Assuming 1/3rd of the 3 million plus data users buy this unbelievable offer,
> and considering the high capex required for the 3g/4g license and
> infrastructure (base stations, power, fiber backhaul, core equipment,etc),
> what would our ROI be and when would we breakeven with such cheap service?
> Just some of the queries we should expect from investors or VC...
>
> ./bernard
> sent from my android device.
>
> On Aug 14, 2011 5:51 PM, "John Doe Smith Kamau KipNg&apos;etich Jones" <
> skunkworks.ku@gmail.com> wrote:
>> true....
>> but to help give it a marketing boost (& a fashionable entrance),
>> skunk-telco could start off with nationwide 3G/4G coverage,
>> unthrottled unlimited data plans, cheap bundles..... may be
>> industrial-grade wifi transmitters on every cell tower... skunk-telco
>> could save cost with open source skunk-code, a few volunteer staff....
>> modest profit-making.
>> .... well, with the above, i'd buy a SIM and volunteer for customer
>> care on friday nights :-) ..... (... yeah, i may need to find a social
>> life)
>>
>> On 8/14/11, Bernard Mwagiru <bmwagiru@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> What about the business acumen required? The technical know-how
>>> notwithstanding, the telecom industry is extremely versatile, competition
> is
>>> stiff. For anyone venturing into this, irrespective of capital base,
>>> mastering the market dynamics will determine success or burnt fingers.
>>>
>>> Bernard
>>>
>>> On Sun, Aug 14, 2011 at 1:22 PM, John Doe Smith Kamau KipNg'etich Jones <
>>> skunkworks.ku@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> hmm... I guess you're ryt steve
>>>>
>>>> so much for skunky-telco, :-D
>>>>
>>>> On 8/14/11, Steve Obbayi <steve@sobbayi.com> wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> > computer engineers and electrical engineers who are the core of
>>>> > telecommunications
>>>> > are as competent in coding if not more than computer scientists.
>>>> Hardware
>>>> > is
>>>> > not about screw drivers nuts and bolts, its about the low level code
>>>> > that
>>>> > contols
>>>> > that make the hardware work. The Apis computers scientists program
>>>> against
>>>> > are designed by the electrical/computer engineers. in fact these
>>>> engineers
>>>> > can do
>>>> > everything comp scientists do but comp scientists cant qualify to do
>>>> > what
>>>> > elec/comp
>>>> > engineers do.
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > ----- "John Doe Smith Kamau KipNg'etich Jones" <
> skunkworks.ku@gmail.com>
>>>> > wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> correction:
>>>> >>
>>>> >> probably even better than the hardware company because their software
>>>> >> expertise can help make the operations of the *hardware* company more
>>>> >> efficient
>>>> >>
>>>> >> On 8/14/11, John Doe Smith Kamau KipNg'etich Jones
>>>> >> <skunkworks.ku@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> >> > .... or the software company could buy the "core competencies" by
>>>> >> > buying the hardware company, and do quite well in, hypothetically,
>>>> >> the
>>>> >> > telecom industry... probably even better than the hardware company
>>>> >> > because their software expertise can help make the operations of
>>>> >> the
>>>> >> > software company more efficient... after all, its binary data that
>>>> >> > runs these hardware, not bolts and gears
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> > hmm.... i wonder how a skunkworks telco would do :-). I'm sure we
>>>> >> have
>>>> >> > every professional needed, from hardware to software to PR and
>>>> >> > marketing...
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> > anyways...
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> > back to code-labour
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> > On 8/14/11, Mark Mwangi <mwangy@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> >> >> I think it comes to core competencies. hardware companies attract
>>>> >> >> people who like working on physical stuff while software companies
>>>> >> >> attract coders so for a software company to attempt venturing into
>>>> >> >> hardware sector like running a Telecom network would be disastrous
>>>> >> in
>>>> >> >> my books.
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >> >> On 8/14/11, Bernard Mwagiru <bmwagiru@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> >> >>> Kindly expound :
>>>> >> >>> - How would Google,apple and Microsoft do it if in Telecoms?
>>>> >> >>> - Any particular reason they haven't done so thus far?
>>>> >> >>> -Google voice, Microsoft Skype, etc....There should be a reason
>>>> >> they've
>>>> >> >>> gone
>>>> >> >>> voice. Lack of last mile or backhaul infrastructure perhaps?
>>>> >> >>>
>>>> >> >>> ./bernard
>>>> >> >>> sent from my android device.
>>>> >> >>>
>>>> >> >>> On Aug 14, 2011 5:01 AM, "gisho" <gichuhie@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> >> >>>> iam looking forward to a day when Google, Apple and Microsoft
>>>> >> will run
>>>> >> >>> their
>>>> >> >>>> own telecoms
>>>> >> >>>>
>>>> >> >>>> am tired of current carriers hanging to very old way of doing
>>>> >> things
>>>> >> >>>> especially when it comes to data plans
>>>> >> >>>>
>>>> >> >>>>
>>>> >> >>>> --
>>>> >> >>>> -erastus
>>>> >> >>>> +254733725373
>>>> >> >>>> tweet fast and free globally via USSD dial +44 203 355 8505 - by
>>>> >> >>>> ussdtweet|messaging365
>>>> >> >>>> Nairobi Kenya
>>>> >> >>>
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >> >> --
>>>> >> >> Regards,
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >> >> Mark Mwangi
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >> >> http://mwangy.posterous.com
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