Business News
Internet set for radical change
Use of internet is growing, especially after the landing of two fibre optic cables in East Africa. Photo/FILE
Posted Tuesday, March 9 2010 at 20:08
The board of the international body that assigns internet addresses will this Friday vote on key strategic policies that will drive the future of internet.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, ICANN board meeting in Nairobi is expected to make a decision on whether or not to adopt the new generic Top Level Domains (gTLD).
The gTLD are words at the end of the internet address such as .or, .org, .com that are not associated with any specific country. Under the proposed arrangement, the numbers of the gTLD’s would be increased to 21 to include every word in any language.
The current address system does not accept languages such as Arabic scripts and the expansion in languages will make internet more accessible.
It will be possible to use characters from, say, Chinese, Arabic and African languages for full internet address, instead of just part of the address.
East African countries needed to expand internet penetration to enhance economic growth, ICANN chief executive officer Rod Beckstrom told the organisation’s 37th session in Nairobi on Monday.
The region boasts two undersea fibre optic cables, Seacom and the East African Marine System (TEAMS) – and a third one, code-named EASSy, expected to land in June – but prices have not come down enough to stimulate a boom.
“I would like to throw down the gauntlet to invite Igad (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development) heads of State to join us here and use the internet to help all their people,” said Mr Beckstrom.
“It’s a small step for them and yet it would be a huge leap forward for the future of their countries.”
The Igad, now meeting in Nairobi, is made up of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.
It was created in 1986 to combat the devastating effects of severe East African drought.
“A new drought has emerged in much of the same region,” said Mr Beckstrom, “an internet-access drought, compared to other parts of the world.”
Africa’s young generation is embracing the internet, he said.
According to ICANN figures, 77 per cent of Kenyans want to spend more time online, while 63 per cent crave better access to the internet.
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Submitted by bawannajackPosted March 11, 2010 02:52 PM
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Submitted by ndiangu
i agree with the above post.. in uk you can have cable tv free calls to all uk landlines and unlimited internete for just 18 pounds a month.
Posted March 11, 2010 02:31 AM -
Submitted by mustbme
Kenya needs Price control of all the products and services because some of the investors are so greedy.
Posted March 10, 2010 10:45 PM -
Submitted by yesuwangu
with the problems now in Orange we are still miles away from reality.we have the backbone but luck the leadership and implementation
Posted March 10, 2010 10:17 PM -
Submitted by jnalyanya
Problem is greediness, and everybody wants to make their profit right now and quick!. Cheap internet arrived in Kenya long time ago, but where are we? To access the masses of people internet should only cost 350 and 700 ksh maximum for month(5, 10 dollars a month we are in africa not western world, and that is pretty what it costs too). Governent you need to sell your share to every kenyaand we sign up and pay minimal 200 shs but you will recover your money in 5-10yrs in billions. let the greedy keep waiting.
Posted March 10, 2010 12:11 AM
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Internet is trully changing the world for the better I believe. I would have never gave Africa a second thought if it weren't for an internet dating site where I met my now wonderful Kenyan wife. Now I am infatuated with Kenya and am in the process of bringing irrigation and aquafers to the kimbimbi farmers where my wife's family has a farm and the farmers there are in desperate need. Internet has changed my life, for the better.