Wrap-Up: Our pick of main stories, Friday February 6, 2015

Deputy President, William Ruto giving his remarks during the official launch of the Ministry of Mining Online Transactional Cadaster Investment handbook, strategic plan and service Charter.

One major predictions made regarding Kenya’s Tech space this year was that the Government would be more involved in technology to enhance transparency and obtain value from key sectors on how public services are offered. Well, this already becoming real as the Ministry of Mining has launched its official Cadastre Portal to enable government to regulate and obtain value from mining operations. However, on matters Digital Migration, it’s both good and bad news, depending on where you sit (or stand for that matter). This is because two TV broadcasters – K24 and KBC – have decided to revert back to their analogue signals while the Communications Authority of Kenya has lifted the suspension of ADN’s self-provisioning license. This and more on today’s Wrap-Up.

Regulator lifts suspension of ADN’s self-provisioning license

Almost three weeks after it was withdrawn, the Communications Authority of Kenya’s (CA) board of directors has lifted the suspension of the self-provisioning license which was issued to the African Digital Network (ADN).

The license was issued to ADN – which consists of Nation Media Group, Standard Group and Royal Media Services – to enable the members of the consortium begin the rollout of their self-provisioning digital signal distribution.

Online portal to enhance transparency in Kenya’s mining industry

The Kenya Ministry of Mining today launched their official Cadaster Portal to enable government to regulate and obtain value from mining operations.

Some of the things the newly launched cadaster will help the government in doing include:

Formally recording all applications for various types of licences and issues tittles for these licenses, registering all changes to the title, checking against overlapping with existing claims or other impediments, advising the Ministry whether the application is technically sound and if the license payments have been done.

Blow to Kenya’s Digital Migration as KBC, K24 revert to analogue broadcasting

Barely two months after the start of Kenya’s move to digital broadcasting, have two free to air stations switched back to analogue.

It is alleged that the two broadcasters, K24 and national broadcaster, KBC moved back to their analogue signals yesterday due to low uptake of set top boxes by viewers.

This also comes three days after the second phase of Digital Migration, meant to cover Mombasa Malindi, Nyeri, Meru, Kisumu, Webuye, Kakamega, Kisii, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyahururu, Nyadundi, Machakos, Narok, Londiani and Rongai, on February 2, 2015 failed to take place. This only means that as a country we are back to the drawing board with the Digital Migration process leaving the consumer at a state of confusion.

Airtel Kenya connects with the albinism society of Kenya to offer free internet

Airtel Kenya has connected the albinism society of Kenya to offer internet for free. This is expected to provide seamless and effective internet connection to the organization, giving its members the freedom to freely interact with the internet.

Airtel Kenya CEO Adil El Youssefi explained that, “Through our seamless internet connectivity, we are enabling the albinism society of Kenya to drive its organizational research, public education and awareness, connect and interact with its members, stakeholders and the world. By doing so, we believe that we will be enabling the organization’s campaign that is being supported by Hon. Mwaura, Simon and many other supporters to make a difference in the society.”

Safaricom, Equity among top global users of social media

Kenya Power, Safaricom and Equity Bank have been ranked among top firms which use social media platforms to engage in customer relations management, a global study shows.

The three firms have been feted for using social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to respond to consumers’ comments and questions in the year to December 2014, according to a report by Socialbakers, a Czech-based firm.

Socialbakers, a social marketing and analytics firm, tracks social media accounts of companies across the world to grade corporations based on the volume of queries handled, length of time it takes to answer, alacrity, tone of responses, and fraction of questions ignored.