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For ICT, Liberalisation is not Enough |
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A survey conducted in 2006, indicated that many Kenyans believe that ICTs have improved their lives in one way or another. They however wanted chnages to the industry and a reduction in communication cost. Liberalisation and privatisation of ICT sector had brought benefits to many. From the survey, it was also clear that NGOs and other social justice organisation need to intervene to ensure that those not reached via market forces get access to ICTs. This is because liberalisation does not guarantee access to the marginalised. Below are some of the overall reponses from those interviewed.
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Has your communication cost reduced or increased due to liberalization?
Interestingly, 38.5% of respondents said their costs had increased; the same as those who said their communication costs had reduced. The rest, 23%, believe that the costs remained unchanged.
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Which telecommunications services have benefited Kenyan entrepreneurs?
Most respondents said they had benefitted most from mobile phones and from internet and email. |
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Has telecommunication improved your income or profit?
58.4% stated that ICTs have increased their profit/income while only 8.3 percent said it had reduced their income. |
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Do you feel that the communication services have become more reliable with liberalization?
An overwhelming 91.7% of respondents believe that liberalisation has resulted in more reliable ICT services. |
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Do you consider the mobile phone as an ‘Office in the Pocket’?
The mobile phone is considered an "Office in the Pocket" by 83.3% of respondents. |
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What changes would you most like to see in the ICT industry?
Early in 2006, 41% wanted a competitor to Telkom Kenya licenced while 33.3% wanted the shares sold to the public. This means that at the time, majority believed that Telkom Kenya remained a barrier to progress. |
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