Lecture on "Relations between Mobile Operators and Internet Communities" to the Domain Name System Forum held on 6th of August at Strathmore University, Nairobi Kenya

1. Relations between Mobile
Operators and the Internet
Community
By Roy K. Njoka
Domain Name System (DNS) Forum
Strathmore University, 6th August

2. Topics for
Discussion
❏ Key Definitions: Mobile Operator;
and Internet Community
❏ The Economic Role of Mobile
Operators
❏ Impact through Corporate Social
Responsibility
❏ The Role of Government in
Spurring Investment
❏ How Regulators Create a Level
Playing Field
❏ How Can I Play a Part?

3. Key Definitions
INTERNET COMMUNITY:
An internet community, also called an online community or web community, is a
community whose members interact with each other primarily via the Internet.
Members of the community usually share common interests. For many, online
communities may feel like home, consisting of a "family of invisible friends"
.
MOBILE OPERATOR:
A mobile operator, wireless provider, or carrier is a mobile telecommunications
company that provides wireless Internet GSM services for mobile device users.
The operator gives a SIM card to the customer who inserts it into the mobile device to
gain access to the service.

4. The Economic Role of Mobile Operators
● As the Internet has grown to permeate all aspects of the economy, so too has
the role of Internet intermediaries (e.g. mobile operators) that give
access to, host, transmit and index content originated by the internet
community.
● These service providers enable a host of economic activities through both
wired and increasingly, mobile connectivity technologies.
● Mobile operators and hosting and data processing providers provide the
platform for new, faster, and cheaper communication technologies, for
innovation and productivity gains, and for the provision of new products and
services.

6. Impact through Corporate Social Responsibility
● In today’s competitive mobile industry, the correlation between corporate
social responsibility (CSR) and profitability cannot be overemphasised.
● Mobile operators gain economic and competitive advantage by active
involvement in social responsible programs and good ethical practices.
● A good example of this is Safaricom who track whether they are successfully
improving quality of life and contributing towards a sustainable livelihood
for people throughout Kenya.
● They do this through the a structured impact modelling tool – the KPMG
“True Value” methodology

7. Safaricom PLC: True Value of Impact on Society
The True Value Assessment that
Safaricom sustained over 192,747
direct jobs during the year ended
2020.
If the wider effects of the economy are
included, this number increases to over
1,013,728 indirect jobs.
The Total Value we created for
Kenyan Society in FY20 was KSh 654
billion, around nine times greater than
the financial profit we made during the
year,

8. Safaricom PLC: True Value of Impact on Society

9. The Role of Government in Spurring Investment
● Governments understand the commercial challenges for mobile operators
in expanding internet coverage to rural communities
● The Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act, 2009, provides for the
establishment of a Universal Service Fund (USF), administered and
managed by the Communications Authority of Kenya.
● The purpose of the Fund is to support widespread access to ICT services,
promote capacity building and innovation in ICT services in the country.

10. How Regulators Create a Level Playing Field
● Regulators can create a level-playing field for smaller players in the mobile
industry through legislation that mandates infrastructure sharing.
● A good example of the economic impact of this type of competition policy
enforcement, is the European Region which is the most advanced in terms
of mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) technology adoption and
infrastructure development.
● This has spurred a huge number of MVNOs, and the highest average net
revenue per user (ARPU).

11. How Can I Play a Part?
● Participate in Regulation - all proposed regulation currently goes through
public participation sessions where we can give our views and positively
influence the final laws
● Join the Industry - look out for various entry-level business and technical
roles within mobile operators to be part of the change from within
● Partner with Industry to innovate - take advantage of the various innovation
and partnership programs by mobile operators and industry bodies such as
the GSMA and ICANN

12. References/Resources
● GSMA Mobile for Development -
https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/country/tanzania/understa
nding-commercial-challenges-mobile-operators-expanding-internet-
coverage-rural-communities/
● GSMA The Mobile Economy 2021 -
https://www.gsma.com/mobileeconomy/
● The Communications Authority of Kenya -
https://ca.go.ke/industry/universal-access/purpose-of-the-fund/
● The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2020 -
https://www.gsma.com/r/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/GSMA-State-of-
Mobile-Internet-Connectivity-Report-2020.pdf
● Safaricom True Value Assessment 2020 (KPMG) -
https://www.safaricom.co.ke/sustainabilityreport_2020/our-
business/true-value-assessment/

13. Thank you!
Roy Njoka
njoka@marketforce360.com

14. Attribution
● This Mobile Operators and the Internet Community Tutorial is majorly based
on a “The economic and social role of internet intermediaries” (April, 2021)
Report by Ms. Karine Perset of the OECD‘s Directorate for Science
Technology and Industry
● Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under
http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc-nd/3.0/