Comments on: The fibre-optic link is nearly here – but some should be worried

By: jonah

jonah — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:19:43 +0000

Nice article sunny.I got one question though,you have any idea as to when we will be able to use these fibre optic cables in our homes? I was hoping by july everything will be set & ready.

By: Louis

Louis — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:13:06 +0000

great observations, i have my own observation on the same subject. – is see pitfalls and opportunities. the people in the forefront the connected people now will probably miss the opportuniteis because there focus is outwards.

By: Sunny Bindra

Sunny Bindra — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:45:48 +0000

Andrew:

Agreed – our educational system produces ‘parrots’ who have ‘read’, not ‘wizz-kids’ who can ‘think and do’.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:38:28 +0000

LOL, I hope it will not be said of Kenya and Kenyan business that “we fought the good fight, we ran the good race” e.t.c. e.t.c.
Its so sad that while the market will open up, the explosion of new services will nor be to the benefit of Kenyans. It does seem that the 8-4-4 system truly is equal to 0 because it has left us with nothing.
How will kenya’s “whizzes” and technology “leaders” compete if their preparation was Cramming for exams and buying degrees from a rigid education system?
who will have a spoon when the “porridge” rains?

By: Sunny Bindra

Sunny Bindra — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 07:52:30 +0000

Kamau:

A nicely made point about ‘cake’ and ‘icing’. Agreed!

I do utterly agree that we need to ensure a certain social base for all – education, health, food security, access – before economic growth can happen. That is the problem with Vision 2030 – it assumes a great business explosion that will haul everyone out of poverty. Well, history suggests that things don’t happen like that. All the Asian Tigers implemented great social reforms alongside infrastructural development.

By: Kamau Mweru

Kamau Mweru — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:24:02 +0000

Sunny,

I definitely agree with your point on the long term.

And since Kenya has no long term planning except continually constructing political coalitions, I would argue that e-biz will be just another area of the general failure.

Whiz-kids are rare and they would need to come out of the total population. The pool of rich kids is not big enough. And the masses are not enjoying an education which cultivates them to become innovative entrepeneurs.

The fibre-optic is like having the icing for the cake. The big question is: Where is the cake?

The Maslow pyramid will be applicable here too.

There is a Swedish proverb which says: “When it rains porridge from heaven, the poor has no spoon.”

As long as the masses are not fed and truly educated, not only singing ma-me-mi-mo-mu in chorus, nothing will help.

By: Sunny Bindra

Sunny Bindra — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:08:46 +0000

Kamau:

You are correct in your observation about the nature of Kenya’s economic structure – the immediate impact of fibre will not be meaningful.

But bear in mind that our future development and prosperity hinges not on the industries and occupations of the past, but in embracing high-technology and value-adding services. For that, proper broadband is vital. What we need is the business nous and entrepreneurial energy to propel us to that future.

By: Sunny Bindra

Sunny Bindra — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:05:34 +0000

Wamoronjia:

Proper leaders coming in through the new pipe…I like it!

By: Moses Kemibaro

Moses Kemibaro — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:52:42 +0000

Very insightful! Everyone keep saying the fibre is coming but no one talks about what could happen in the negative as well. I hope businesses are ready for a global onslaught of high quality and cost effective online service providers.

By: Kamau Mweru

Kamau Mweru — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:59:19 +0000

Somebody called Kenya a country of 32 billionaires and 32 million poor.

Right now 30% are starving.

Another 30% struggle to put one meal a day on the table.

Bandwidth will only be relevant to a tiny privileged group, out of which most are consumers and not producers.

I expect very little impact from the cable.