<<April 24, 2006>>
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Margaret E Ngwira <mengwira@kcn.unima.mw>

Steve Song <ssong@idrc.ca>

Bengt Oberger <bengt.oberger@sida.se>

Philipp Schmidt <schmidt@merit.unu.edu>

Rudy Rusdiah Be <rusdiah@rad.net.id>

Mr. Chomora Mikeka <mikeka_chomora@yahoo.co.jp>


Dear Margaret:

(1) Many thanks for your msg (ANNEX I), in response to our following previous list distribution;

(04/14/06) UN University workshop on 4/13/06
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z1175210D

(2) I visited the web site of your newly formed Eubuntunet Alliance <www.ubuntunet.net> with great interest.

I also read through the following paper;
Edited by Björn Pehrson, KTH and Margaret Ngwira University of Malawi
SARUA fibre study: Optical Fibre for Education and Research Networks in Eastern and Southern Africa
http://www.ubuntunet.net/documents/Sarua-fibre-final-report-draft-2006-03-04.pdf
or
http://makeashorterlink.com/?D1004520D

I wholeheartedly congratulate the formation of the Eubuntunet Alliance and this excellent report, which I read through with great interest.

I simply amazed with vigorous and enthusiastic activities of deploying optical fiber networks in various countries of the vast African continent.

Dear E-Colleagues:

I strongly suggest to read the above report.

(3) Our contribution could be to get US$ 1 million out of the so-called “Non-tied Cultural Aid (grant)” out of the Japanese government’s Official Development Assistant (ODA) fund to the Association of African Universities in order for them to obtain an equity in the East African Submarine Cable System (EASSY) for their drastic discount rates — see ANNEX II.

I am now waiting Steve Song’s reply to my suggestion to proceed this process.

Dear Rudi:

(4) Many thanks for your msg (ANNEX III), in response to our following list distribution;

(04/21/06) John Eger's new essay "We Need a National Infrastructure Initiative."
http://makeashorterlink.com/?O11D2310D

African colleagues’ activities mentioned above may provide strong stimulus to the policy-makers of your Indonesia, though it would certainly be a big challenge to link all of 17,000 islands with optical fiber network for broadband Internet.

You may then consider the combined use of optical fiber network and gigabit satellite, e.g., WINDS (*), and then the Local Community Development Network (LCDN) (**) with the use of broadband wireless Internet unit (e.g., WiMax, spread spectrum, etc.).
(*) (03/06/06) Gigabit satellite over South Asia and the Pacific
http://makeashorterlink.com/?I22A524CC
(**) Figure 1 of the following paper;
Takeshi Utsumi, P. Tapio Varis, and W. R. Klemm
Creating Global University System
http://makeashorterlink.com/?I2F231019

If such a broadband Internet network was in place at the outbreak of devastating tsunami around the Indian Ocean, it could have been tremendous help to millions of people, not only mere the viewpoint of monitoring but also emergency medical care and education, etc.

Dear Chomora:

(5) Many thanks for your msg (ANNEX IV) -- your first msg from Japan!!

It must be very exciting trip from your Malawi to Japan, albeit very long trip.

I am very delighted to know that you have now settled well in your new residence in Yokohama.

Pls convey my best personal regards to Prof. Arai.

(6) When you have a chance in week-end, try to visit China-Town at the end of Toyoko-line.  It is very interesting place with good food at reasonable price.  I was there last time about a year and a half ago.

I will let you know when I decide my trip to Japan.

Dear E-Colleagues:

(7) He received the prestigious scholarship from the Japanese Ministry of Education and Science, and I arranged his school of choice.  Should you wish to study in Japan, you may follow Chomora’s step, as asking him how he got the scholarship.

Japan is now increasing the number of scholarship awards and its stipend.  It would be a good time to go there to study.

Best, Tak

ANNEX I


> From: mengwira <mengwira@kcn.unima.mw>
> Organization: Kamuzu College of Nursing
> Reply-To: mengwira <mengwira@kcn.unima.mw>
> Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 14:53:40 +0200
> To: <utsumi@columbia.edu>
> Subject: UbuntuNet Alliance
>
> Tak, greetings
> Are you following the developments on th eubuntunet alliance website -
> www.ubuntunet.net - things are moving quite fast and we update weekly
> normally.
> I understand that Mr Mikeka is now in Japan? .  I am suire he is settling in
> fast
> Cheers
> Margaret

ANNEX II


From: "Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D." <utsumi@columbia.edu>
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2006 18:17:10 -0500
To: Steve Song <ssong@idrc.ca>
Cc: Tak Utsumi <utsumi@columbia.edu>, Akilagpa Sawyerr <secgen@aau.org>, Bjorn Pehrson <bjorn@it.kth.se>, Margaret Ngwira <mengwira@kcn.unima.mw>
Conversation: [Fwd: EASSY]
Subject: Re: [Fwd: EASSY]

Steve Song <ssong@idrc.ca>

Akilagpa Sawyerr <secgen@aau.org>


Dear Steve:

(1) Many thanks for your msg (ATTACHMENT I).

I. Japanese ODA Fund for AAU’s participation in EASSY:

(2) I read the following materials with great interest;
(a) Bjorn Pehrson
SARUA-Fibre, towards a fibre-based academic research and education
network for Southern and East Africa
2005-09-21
File attached with your msg <SARUA-Fibre-2005-09-21.pdf>

(b) African Association of Universities (AAU)
Report of the Conference on African Research and Education Network Infrastructure
Held in Tunis, November 14 and 15, 2005
http://www.aau.org/tunis/presentation/proceedings.pdf

(3) From your msg, I understand that the AAU would like to have US$ 1 million from the Japanese government in addition of US$ 1 million each from your International Development Research Center (IDRC) and Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), which have already committed in principle so far.

The total US$ 3 million is to obtain an equity in the East African Submarine System (EASSY), in order to secure drastic discount to subscribe its use by the people in Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia.
Why aren’t Kenya and Ethiopia in this group? -- as you know, Ethiopia has already connected with Kenya with an optical fiber line at 3 Gbps, but its link to the outside world (i.e., to Europe and the US) is bottlenecked at the satellite earth-station in Kenya.

BTW, I read in somewhere that the EASSY consortium has so far successfully raised US$ 200 million to deploy its submarine cable, but they still need to raise another US$ 100 million to extend to landlocked countries, e.g., Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, etc.  Do you know when it will commence their service?  The Japanese government’s US$ 1 million could be a pledge (or “in principle” — as your IDRC and SIDA) until it will commence its service.

(4) I think that this request would be eligible for the so-called “non-tied cultural aid” (which is a grant) of the Japanese Official Development Assistant (ODA) Fund.

(5) I would then suggest the following steps;
(a) Dr. Akilagpa Sawyerr, Secretary General of the AAU writes a letter to the Secretary General of the African Union (AU) — I heard at the conference of the Item (2)-(b) above that the AAU is under the auspices of the AU, which is an international governmental organization and a part of the United Nations.

(b) The SG of the AU then requests the amount to the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) with a brief description of the project, which may go through the Japanese Embassy nearby the AU Headquarters or directly to their Tokyo office.

This is because the Japanese ODA money goes only through the government channels.

(6) Once the letter of SG of the AU was sent out to the Japanese MOFA, pls send its copy to me.

I would be very delighted to follow it up with my colleagues and acquaintances in Tokyo — without such a document, my effort of lobbying there would be futile.

II. AAU’s NREN Activities:

(7) At the conference of the Item (2)-(b) above, I was very pleased to hear of very vigorous activities of the AAU to establish National Research and Education Network (NREN) in various African countries, because its direction is very similar to our Global University System (GUS) project — see;
Takeshi Utsumi, P. Tapio Varis, and W. R. Klemm
"Creating Global University System"
http://makeashorterlink.com/?I2F231019

BTW, this is in the following book;
Global Peace Through The Global University System
Tapio Varis - Takeshi Utsumi - William Klemm (Eds.)
University of Tampere, Finland 2003
ISBN 951-44-5695-5
The entire contents of this book can be retrieved at;
http://makeashorterlink.com/?M2D252E09
In the bottom line of this page, you can find the following;
“Interview with Takeshi Utsumi” by Parker Rossman

(8) Our GUS approach has two aspects, i.e., e-learning and e-healthcare/telemedicine.  The reasons why we have the latter are;
(a) most of universities have schools of medicine and nursing which often desire to enhance their teaching capabilities, including Continuing Medical Education (CME) for practitioners in remote/rural areas,
(b) telemedicine always be forerunner to e-learning with the use of broadband media, because of its absolute necessity,
(c) since transmission of high resolution images for telemedicine is mostly burst form so that the rest of vacant time slot can be used for e-learning,
(d) e-healthcare/telemedicine has immediate need, especially in remote/rural areas of developing countries,
(e) thus, broadband media would be more readily sustainable with willing donors, etc.

(9) We are forming consortiums of higher educational and healthcare institutions in various African and Asian countries, which is similar to the AAU’s NREN approach.

They are to be interconnected with broadband Internet and each of those institutions are to be a major hub of their Local Community Development Network (LCDN) with broadband wireless Internet — see Figure 1 of the above paper.

For the realization of this approach, we take the following steps;
(a) My fact-finding and assessment trip in order to formulate a specific agenda for joint activities to explore the following opportunities;
 (b) Planning workshop which would form task force teams.  In the period of six months after this workshop is over, the teams with participatory discussions and consultations will produce a well-developed proposal for GUS in each country and LCDN projects with the precise action plan and budget for the next design phase of the project, as conducting market survey, feasibility study, system design of infrastructure, design of support system and administration structure, and also constructing business model for maximum effectiveness and sustainability and replication in other locations with the use of wireless broadband Internet.

(c) Design phase project which would produce next deployment phase project proposal for which the government of each country may ask the Japanese government’s Official Development Assistant (ODA) fund — average about US$ 25 to 50 million/year/country.

(10) As for the research direction, our GUS aims to attain globally collaborative learning and innovation with the use of Beowulf cluster mini-supercomputers and GRID technologies — see;
(a)
Utsumi, T. (2005); "Global E-Learning for Global Peace with Global University System," Paper for the forthcoming publication "Communication and Learning in the Multicultural World," University of Tampere, Finland, (Edited by Pekka Ruohotie), to celebrate the 60th birthday of the GUS Acting President Tapio Varis in June 2006; December 29, 2005
http://makeashorterlink.com/?W29E26D9C

and/or

(b)
"Global University System with Globally Collaborative Innovation Network"; Paper to be presented at the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis, Tunizia, November 14-18, 2005
http://makeashorterlink.com/?W155410BB

(11) We would then be very delighted if we can work together.

Looking forward to receiving your next response soon,

Best, Tak

ATTACHMENT I


> From: Steve Song <ssong@idrc.ca>
> Organization: IDRC
> Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:46:49 -0500
> To: "Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D." <utsumi@columbia.edu>
> Subject: [Fwd: EASSY]
>
> fyi..
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: EASSY
> Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2005 13:47:14 -0400
> From: Steve Song <ssong@idrc.ca>
> Organization: IDRC
> To: Ichiro Tambo <Tambo.Ichiro@jica.go.jp>,  Heloise Emdon <hemdon@idrc.ca>
> CC: Mike Jensen <mikejensen@eircom.net>,  "Roberge, Stephane"
> <sroberge@idrc.ca>
>
> Hi Ichiro,
>
> It was good to see you in Addis.  I hope you found the PICTA meeting
> useful.  You may be aware that we have been working on the issue of
> connectivity for African universities over the last couple of years.  I
> think I may have mentioned that we are working with the AAU on an
> African Research & Education Networking conference to be held at the
> WSIS Summit on November 14/15 (http://www.aau.org/tunis).
>
> In the course of our work/explorations an opportunity has come up and I
> am writing to see whether there might be any interest from JICA.  We
> have funded the Southern African Regional University Association (SARUA)
> to explore the possibility (both technical and regulatory) of gaining
> access to existing alternative dark fibre in the region for the purpose
> of intra-African university connectivity.  They have nearly completed
> their work and, in the course of it, come up with a bold idea/question,
> namely:
>
> Could a small consortium of African universities buy into the EASSY
> submarine cable project?
>
> Initial research indicates that this may well be a practical
> possibility.  Four countries have been targeted that have sufficiently
> sympathetic regulatory regimes to allow this to happen (Rwanda, Malawi,
> Mozambique, and Zambia).  Each country would have to allow the national
> universities to apply for and get an international gateway license.  The
> national university bodies would then become stakeholders in a regional
> foundation set up by SARUA to manage the purchasing of bandwidth on
> their behalf.  It is estimated that a stake of about 3 million USD would
> be sufficient enable a university consortium to purchase a stake in EASSY.
>
> If successful, this would have the double benefit of lowering access
> costs for African universities but also acting as an Open Access lever
> on the emerging EASSY cartel.
>
> I am attaching an 8-page document that Bjorn Pehrsson (one of the team
> members) has written as a briefing for SIDA.
>
> If you have any interest or questions, I would be only too happy to
> discuss this idea with you in more detail.  Do you think JICA might be
> interested in providing financial support to this academic consortium?
> Currently IDRC and SIDA have committed in principle a million USD each
> but one other funder is needed for us to proceed.  Is there someone at
> JICA who might have a passion for this either from the perspective of
> seeing African universities band together or from the perspective of
> wanting to stop the EASSY project from becoming another closed cartel
> like SAT3?
>
> Thanks for your help... Steve
>

List of Distribution


Steve Song
Manager of IDRC's Information and Communications Technology for Development (ICT4D) programs in Africa
International Development Research Center (IDRC)
250 Albert Street/rue Albert
PO Box 8500
Ottawa, ON, Canada K1G 3H9
Phone: (613) 236-6163 ext. 2268
Mobile: +1 613 799 1152
Cel: idrc.ca/crdi.ca
Fax: 613-567-7749
ssong@idrc.ca
16137991152@pcs.rogers.com
http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2005/september/bandwidth.htm
http://www.connectivityafrica.org
http://www.idrc.ca/acacia

Akilagpa Sawyerr
Secretary General
Association of African Universities (AAU)
Aviation Road Extension
Airport Residential Area
P.O. Box AN 5744
Accra-North, Ghana
Tel: +233-21-774495/761588
Mobile: +233-24-432-1957
Fax: +233-21-774821
secgen@aau.org
http://www.aau.org

ANNEX III


From: Rudy Rusdiah <rusdiah@rad.net.id>
Organization: apwkomitel - micronics dell - millenia
Reply-To: <rusdiah@rad.net.id>
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2006 16:55:09 +0700
To: <utsumi@columbia.edu>
Cc: gu-new <gu-new@friends-partners.org>, <telecentres@wsis-cs.org>
Subject: [gu-new] (04/21/06) John Eger's new essay "We Need a National Infrastructure Initiative."

dear e-colleagues:

I guess... you are all still very lucky...

In Indonesia we are still strugelling with many dial up connections (charge by minutes of connections) or probably  ADSL 386kbps(or 512kbps) downstream and upstreams probably below 128kbps... (sharing who knows how much people sharing this pipe ) is USD 400/months
thus the quality is unpredictable... sometimes fast sometimes slow or even no response...

this is the conditions we are at in Indonesia capital city of Jakarta and in other cities  across the countries are probably worse.

Internet user probably around 16 millions...internet subscriber around 2 millions... many sharing internet thru public internet center, office, or cybercafe
But the whole territory is cover by the footprint of many satellite so internet connections actually can be made in any of the 17,000 islands in the archipelago.

just for your informations....

Regards, Rudi Rusdiah - Association of Community Internet Center  ( APWKomitel - http://www.apwkomitel.org )

ANNEX IV


From: <mikeka_chomora@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 10:52:36 +0900 (JST)
To: "Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D." <utsumi@columbia.edu>
Subject: CONTACT ADDRESS AT YOKOHAMA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Dear Professor TAKESH, I am glad for the updates through the "gu-new" gu-new@friends-partners.org on the GUS Projects.

I am now almost settled here at YOKOHAMA UNIVERSITY. I have been enrolled for the Japanese Language Training for six month, till September 2006.

Meanwhile I do not have a mobile phone access, waiting for my Alien ID to be ready by 9th May. It is a non-replaceable requirement for obtaining a contract with Mobile Operators like AU, KDDI, DOCOMO, VODACOM/FON.

However my Contact Address is as below:

MIKEKA Chomora, YOKOHAMA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, Graduate School of Engineering, Division of Phyisics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Prof Arai Laboratory, 79-5, Tokiwadai Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501 Japan.

Fax: +81-45-338-1157

URL: http://www.arailab.dnj.ynu.ac.jp/English/index.html

Laboratory DESK: E301

Residence: GUMYOJI International Students, B309

Best regards,

Chomora

List of Distribution


Margaret E Ngwira
College Librarian and Secretary, MALICO
Kamuzu College of Nursing
University of Malawi
Private Bag 1, LILONGWE
Malawi
Tel: +265 (0)1 757 456
Cel: 09-955-856
Fax   +265 (0)1 756 090
mengwira@kcn.unima.mw
tnmngwira@globemw.net
mgtngwira@hotmail.com
http://www.kcn.unima.mw
and
Interim Secretariat
UbuntuNet Alliance
http://www.ubuntunet.net/

Steve Song
Manager of IDRC's Information and Communications Technology for Development (ICT4D) programs in Africa
International Development Research Center (IDRC)
250 Albert Street/rue Albert
PO Box 8500
Ottawa, ON, Canada K1G 3H9
Phone: (613) 236-6163 ext. 2268
Mobile: +1 613 799 1152
Cel: idrc.ca/crdi.ca
Fax: 613-567-7749
ssong@idrc.ca
16137991152@pcs.rogers.com
http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2005/september/bandwidth.htm
http://www.connectivityafrica.org
http://www.idrc.ca/acacia

Bengt Oberger
Senior ICT Adviser
ICT for Development Secretariat
Swedish International Development (Sida)
Cooperation Agency
SE-105 25 Stockholm, Sweden
Visiting address: Sveavagen 20
Tel: +46 (0) 8 698 50 17
Fax: +46 (0) 8 698 53 30
bengt.oberger@sida.se
www.sida.se

Philipp Schmidt
schmidt@merit.unu.edu

Rudy Rusdiah Be <rusdiah@rad.net.id>,
Association of Community Internet Center
Indonesia
(APWKomitel - http://www.apwkomitel.org)

Mr. Chomora Mikeka
Laboratory DESK: E301
Prof Arai Laboratory
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Division of Phyisics
Graduate School of Engineering
YOKOHAMA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
79-5, Tokiwadai Hodogaya-ku
Yokohama 240-8501 Japan.
Fax: +81-45-338-1157
mikeka_chomora@yahoo.co.jp
http://www.arailab.dnj.ynu.ac.jp/English/index.html

*******************************************************************************
* Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman, GLOSAS/USA                           *
* (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.)          *
* Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education           *
* Founder and V.P. for Technology and Coordination of                         *
*   Global University System (GUS)                                            *
* 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-5913, U.S.A.                        *
* Tel: 718-939-0928; Email: utsumi@columbia.edu                               *
* http://www.itu.int/wsis/goldenbook/search/display.asp?Quest=8032562&lang=en *
* http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/                                     *
* Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676                                                   *
*******************************************************************************