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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tax cuts to boost Kenya broadband | Tax cuts to boost Kenya broadband |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Tax cuts and incentives have been announced in Kenya intended to boost broadband and mobile take-up as a new fibre optic cable is launched. | Tax cuts and incentives have been announced in Kenya intended to boost broadband and mobile take-up as a new fibre optic cable is launched. |
| Kenya's Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta cut the 16% VAT on new phone handsets. | Kenya's Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta cut the 16% VAT on new phone handsets. |
| He also allowed internet providers to offset the cost of purchasing new fibre optic bandwidth for 20 years. | He also allowed internet providers to offset the cost of purchasing new fibre optic bandwidth for 20 years. |
| The first of three submarine cables connecting Mombasa port to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates is being inaugurated by the president on Friday. | The first of three submarine cables connecting Mombasa port to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates is being inaugurated by the president on Friday. |
| Kenyans rely on slow and expensive satellite connections to the internet, but will not benefit from high-speed access until all three of The East African Marine Systems (Teams) cables are in place. | Kenyans rely on slow and expensive satellite connections to the internet, but will not benefit from high-speed access until all three of The East African Marine Systems (Teams) cables are in place. |
| It's hanging and it keeps wasting time Web user at a Nairobi internet cafe Will Africa join cyber revolution? class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8097386.stm">Kenyan car sale to help refugees | |
| The project is a joint venture between the Kenyan government, Emirates Telecommunication Technology and a consortium of local investors. | The project is a joint venture between the Kenyan government, Emirates Telecommunication Technology and a consortium of local investors. |
| It costs one Kenyan shilling (one cent) a minute to surf the net in internet cafes in the capital, Nairobi. | It costs one Kenyan shilling (one cent) a minute to surf the net in internet cafes in the capital, Nairobi. |
| "It's not good, it's hanging and it keeps wasting time," a man in an internet cafe in the city told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "It's not good, it's hanging and it keeps wasting time," a man in an internet cafe in the city told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
| "It's frustrating, I've spent more than 16 minutes instead of [my usual] 10 minutes," he said. | "It's frustrating, I've spent more than 16 minutes instead of [my usual] 10 minutes," he said. |
| Correspondents say Mr Kenyatta's concession to Internet Service Providers is intended to cut the cost of bandwidth for consumers drastically. | Correspondents say Mr Kenyatta's concession to Internet Service Providers is intended to cut the cost of bandwidth for consumers drastically. |
| The finance minister also wants to make it more affordable for people to buy mobile phones. | The finance minister also wants to make it more affordable for people to buy mobile phones. |
| "Mobile telephones have become essential aspects of our daily communication and transaction system and I do hope the dealers in these products will pass this benefit to ordinary wananchi (people) by lowering prices," he said, the Daily Nation reports. | "Mobile telephones have become essential aspects of our daily communication and transaction system and I do hope the dealers in these products will pass this benefit to ordinary wananchi (people) by lowering prices," he said, the Daily Nation reports. |
| According to the paper, some 17.5m people own a mobile handset, a sharp rise from 200,000 in 2000. | According to the paper, some 17.5m people own a mobile handset, a sharp rise from 200,000 in 2000. |
| But a 10% tax on airtime vouchers remains in place, so the calls themselves remain the same price. | But a 10% tax on airtime vouchers remains in place, so the calls themselves remain the same price. |