[gu-new] (04/24/06) UbuntuNet Alliance for broadband Internet in Africa and current condition in Indonesia and study in Japan

[Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D.]

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

Steve Song <ssong at idrc.ca>

Bengt Oberger <bengt.oberger at sida.se>

Philipp Schmidt <schmidt at merit.unu.edu>

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

Mr. Chomora Mikeka <mikeka_chomora at 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.p
> df
> 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 at kcn.unima.mw>
> Organization: Kamuzu College of Nursing
> Reply-To: mengwira <mengwira at kcn.unima.mw>
> Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 14:53:40 +0200
> To: <utsumi at 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 at columbia.edu>
> Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2006 18:17:10 -0500
> To: Steve Song <ssong at idrc.ca>
> Cc: Tak Utsumi <utsumi at columbia.edu>, Akilagpa Sawyerr <secgen at aau.org>, Bjorn
> Pehrson <bjorn at it.kth.se>, Margaret Ngwira <mengwira at kcn.unima.mw>
> Conversation: [Fwd: EASSY]
> Subject: Re: [Fwd: EASSY]
> 
> Steve Song <ssong at idrc.ca>
> 
> Akilagpa Sawyerr <secgen at 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;
>>> ·      Identification of research, development and implementation of optimal
>>> pedagogy as well as applications of technology in the delivery of education
>>> and training for students and professionals,
>>> ·      Opportunities to work on the development of advanced training and
>>> professional development programs that would enhance economic development,
>>> ·      Joint research and development on programs for cost effective
>>> applications of wireless technologies in meeting the development needs,
>>> ·      Joint programs and studies of the role of ICT in economic development
>>> and in particular the facilitation of entrepreneurial initiatives.
>>> 
>> (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 at idrc.ca>
>> > Organization: IDRC
>> > Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:46:49 -0500
>> > To: "Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D." <utsumi at columbia.edu>
>> > Subject: [Fwd: EASSY]
>> > 
>> > fyi..
>> > 
>> > -------- Original Message --------
>> > Subject: EASSY
>> > Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2005 13:47:14 -0400
>> > From: Steve Song <ssong at idrc.ca>
>> > Organization: IDRC
>> > To: Ichiro Tambo <Tambo.Ichiro at jica.go.jp>,  Heloise Emdon <hemdon at idrc.ca>
>> > CC: Mike Jensen <mikejensen at eircom.net>,  "Roberge, Stephane"
>> > <sroberge at 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 at idrc.ca
> 16137991152 at 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 at aau.org
> http://www.aau.org


> ANNEX III 

> From: Rudy Rusdiah <rusdiah at rad.net.id>
> Organization: apwkomitel - micronics dell - millenia
> Reply-To: <rusdiah at rad.net.id>
> Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2006 16:55:09 +0700
> To: <utsumi at columbia.edu>
> Cc: gu-new <gu-new at friends-partners.org>, <telecentres at 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 at yahoo.co.jp>
> Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 10:52:36 +0900 (JST)
> To: "Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D." <utsumi at columbia.edu>
> Subject: CONTACT ADDRESS AT YOKOHAMA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
> 

> Dear Professor TAKESH, I am glad for the updates through the "gu-new"
> gu-new at 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 at kcn.unima.mw
tnmngwira at globemw.net
mgtngwira at 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 at idrc.ca
16137991152 at 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 at sida.se
www.sida.se

Philipp Schmidt
schmidt at merit.unu.edu

Rudy Rusdiah Be <rusdiah at 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 at 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 at 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
*
****************************************************************************
***