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Knowledge Creation through Collaborative Processes : UbuntuNet Alliance and NRENs: is agriculture there?. Presented by Margaret E Ngwira Secretary, UbuntuNet Alliance and College Librarian, KCN, University of Malawi www.ubuntunet.net. Internet Centre or Computer Centre?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Knowledge Creation through Collaborative
Processes:UbuntuNet Alliance and NRENs:
is agriculture there?
Presented byMargaret E Ngwira
Secretary, UbuntuNet Allianceand College Librarian, KCN, University of Malawi
www.ubuntunet.net
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Internet Centre or Computer Centre?• The Conference Website has the story of the
Internet Centre that became a Computer Centre because the bandwidth cost was not sustainable when the donor funding phase was over!(www.worldaginfo.org)
• For the MALICO VSATs we pay over US$3000 per mbp/s per month – over US$15,00 per month for 5 mbp/s over 4 sites!
• Probably most here from the northern hemisphere have 5 mbp/s in their homes for US$30 per month – from our much more limited resources we are paying today 500 times more for connectivity!
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Components of the Presentation:1. This presentation describes the Context of
UbuntuNet Alliance, and MAREN, the Malawi NREN
2. We then look briefly at the Bunda Library Question and Answer Service and may consider where low cost bandwidth can assist
3. We consider one or two other Malawi ICT-based Initiatives
4. We finally look at the Chinyana Triangle Last Mile Project and the technologies being investigated there
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Part One• The Context of UbuntuNet Alliance
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
1. UbuntuNet Alliance Created in 2005 by established and emerging NRENs in
Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa Incorporated in 2006 as a nonprofit Association of NRENs
To serve all bona-fide NRENs in Africa To focus on optical fibre opportunities
Members: Representatives nominated by NRENs:National Research
and Education Networks Association of African Universities facilitates the
appointment of Chairperson Council of Members:
Meets annually – MAREN Malawi was represented at the 2007 meeting in Nairobi by Prof. Kamwanja, an Animal Scientist.
Interim Secretariat: hosted by UNIMA at KCN with Margaret Ngwira as Secretary and Tiwonge Msulira Banda as project Officer.
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
2. Vision & MissionVision: Ensure that African Research
and Education Institutions participate effectively in the global Research and Education networking community and Knowledge Society
Mission: To ensure that African NRENs have efficient and affordable internet bandwidth for their member institutions and to participate in global research and education networking worldwide
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
3.Global Perspective: Regional RENsElsewhere, NRENs inter-connect to form a
Regional REN. Examples:Europe: GÉANT2 (EU – funded)USA: Abilene (Internet2)The Mediterranean Region: EUMEDCONNECTAsia: TEIN2South America: ALICE, REDCLARA
The Regional RENs form the highway through which scientists and researchers collaborate and share resources.
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
4. Global Connectivity
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
5. The African Situation No regional REN (or backbone)
Functional NRENs exist in Kenya and South Africa Emerging NRENs in several countries (Malawi, Mozambique,
Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan) Lack of a regional REN in Sub-Sahara Africa isolates
African research and education institutions from their peers in the global community
Main reason: most of Africa is connected through VSATs whose bandwidth is expensive
Solution: NRENs require high bandwidth at lower cost to transfer large datasets thereby participate effectively in global research and share resources over networks.
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
6. Aspirations of UbuntuNetIn pursuit of its mission UbuntuNet
Alliance aspires to provide African Research and Educational institutions connectivity in gigabit per second rather than the current kilobit per second. How?
By taking advantage of undersea fibre cables, such as the proposed SEACOM cable and terrestrial fibre deployment initiatives in the region.
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
7. Strategic Objectives
The Strategic Plan of the Alliance was developed on Zomba Plateau in October 2006. The most critical Strategic Objective was:
Build the UbuntuNet backbone using a staged approach which connects clusters of NRENs using the opportunities provided by existing and planned fibre infrastructure projects
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
• Botswana• Burundi • DRC• Egypt (EUN) • Kenya (KENET)• Lesotho• Malawi (MAREN)• Mozambique
(MoRENet)• Rwanda (RwEdNet)• S Africa (TENET) • Sudan (SUIN)• Swaziland• Tanzania (TERNET)• Uganda (RENU)• Zambia (ZAMREN)• Zimbabwe• …others…
InterConnect these countries
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
8. Backbone development strategy
Opportunistic approach with two legs:– gain access to optical fibre cables as a
spin-off from other general infrastructure developments; and
– develop parts of the backbone in different sub-regions, called UbuntuNet backbone development clusters, as complementary projects (as graphically shown in next slides)
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
8(a) UbuntuNet East Backbone Cluster
UG
Northern TZ
KE
SD
ET
EG
RW
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
8(b) UbuntuNet South Backbone Cluster
LS
BWNA
ZM Southern
TZ
MW
MZSA
SW
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
8(c) UbuntuNet West Backbone Cluster
The UbuntuNet West Program has yet to be fleshed out together with NRENs from West and Central Africa
ULTIMATE GOAL: One BackboneIn due course the backbone clusters
will inter-connect into a seamless single redundant backbone
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
9. UbuntuNet Regional Backbone
THE END PRODUCT?
Some 23 countries in the region
Each country determines its own regulatory regime; issues its own licenses
Remove Cross-border tariff barriers
NRENs to transit each other’s traffic
UbuntuNet to contract and manage the backbone
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
10. Resources neededCross-border links operated by telcoms, mobile
operators, power companies, etc….
Sub-marine cable connectivity
– SAT-3 West Africa cable (WASC)
– South Africa Far East cable (SAFE)
– SEACOM Cable (proposed)
In some cases satellite capacity is unavoidable as an interim solution – ALL TO CONNECT TO GÉANT2
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
11. Connecting to GÉANT2 The process underway: to be launched soon,
and will involve:Deploying UbuntuNet Routing Hub in
London and connect to GÉANT2Using GRE tunnels through NREN’s existing
Internet access circuits to the Hub End result?
make Africa part of the global REN community
present opportunities for collaborative research within Africa and beyond, as the resources become available.
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
UbuntuNet Alliance will connect African NRENs, through GÉANT2, to the global research and education networking community
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
12. Collaboration with MAREN MAREN, the Malawi Research and Education Network is a
founding NREN of UbuntuNet Alliance MAREN is currently being incubated by MALICO, the Malawi
Library and Information Consortium MALICO manages the wonderful electronic content made
available through AGORA, HINARI, INASP (at a small charge) and eIFL
The Department of Agricultural Research Services is a member of MAREN with Dr Kisyombe as the Representative
After much lobbying, MAREN has obtained an International Gateway Licence from the Communications and Regulatory Authority permitting it to transit academic and research fibre across borders
MAREN will form a link in the UbuntuNet Backbone Connecting with academic networks in Mozambique, Tanzania,
Zambia and eventually Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa and beyond.
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Can the UbuntuNet Alliance and MAREN reach the first kilometre to the farmer? Probably not – the Licence is
a strictly Academic and Research Licence
The Business of ISPs must not be jeopardised by UbuntuNet
But the Research Centres and perhaps the Training Centres may be beneficiaries
And Agricultural content can be delivered cost effectively and in a timely manner
And the lobbying of the Alliance members for Open Access models and removal of unnecessary regulatory barriers brings fairer more transparent pricing models for everyone!
Minister of Information, Hon P Kaliati, Acting Director general of MACRA and MAREN Task Force
member Margaret Ngwira at MAREN Launch, August 2007
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Part 2:Delivering Agricultural Information now
Bunda Library Question and Answer Service and where low cost bandwidth can assist
• This is a traditional University Agricultural Library information service beyond its walls supported by CTA:
• Over two years of questions are collated on the following pages:
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Purpose of information sought
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
2004 May-Oct
2004 Nov-Mar
2005 Apr -J un
2005 J ul -Sep
2005 Oct-Dec
2006 J an-Mar
2006 Apr -J un
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Users of Bunda Library Q&A Service
0
5
10
15
20
25
Resea
rche
rs
Lect
urer
s/Tea
cher
s
Consu
ltant
Libra
rians
/Arc
hivis
ts
Stude
nts
Extens
ion o
fficer
s
Policy
mak
ers
Planne
rs
Farm
ers
Other
2004 May-Oct
2004 Nov-Mar
2005 Apr-Jun
2005 Jul-Sep
2005 Oct-Dec
2006 Jan-Mar
2006 Apr-Jun
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Examples of source of current information being supplied by Bunda Library to a wider audience through its Q&A Service
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
MARC (BundaLibrary OPAC)
UNIMA OPAC(Library.Solution)
CTA databases onCD
eIFL e-journals INASP/PERI e-journals
FAO’s AGORA Internet in general TEEAL CDs
2004 May-Oct
2004 Nov-Mar
2005 Apr-Jun
2005 Jul-Sep
2005 Oct-Dec
2006 Jan-Mar
2006 Apr-Jun
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Gender of Q&A Service User
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2004 2005 2006
Gender of user
Male
Female
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Changes in information delivery pattern
• The Librarian says that more requests are coming by e-mail and SMS
• The requesters are complaining about the slow pace of postal services
• E-journals are regular sources of answers to the Questions
• Therefore cheaper bandwidth would enhance delivery of requested knowledge
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Part 3 Recent developments in information delivery to the farmer
in Malawi• Banking changes – Biometric recognition,
thumbprints, ATM and mobile bank and instant money transfer on crop sale
• Sales information also accessible through ATM system of another Bank
• With Cell phones, extension officers can set up meetings with many farmers through texting /SMS-ing, saving many motorbike kilometres
• Farmers text for information about input supplies etc
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Part 4 :USAID Chinyanja Triangle Last Mile Initiative
• The Chinyanja Triangle Last mile Initiative, jointly with USAID, University of Stellenbosch and NASFAM Malawi is examining many communication technologies with a view to sharing agricultural knowledge across the countries where Chinyanja /Chichewa is spoken : Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Potential Technologies for Last Mile Initiative
Possible ICT Services. Interactive Web and Voice Portal
• Interactive TV / Telematic Education via VSAT• Interactive Community Radio. Interactive Voice
Response for Telephony• Web Casting and Conferencing• Mobile Instant Messaging. eMail and Push eMail• GSM / GPRS Internet Services• VSAT Internet Services WiMAX Services• NREN Research Networkshttp://www.saasta.ac.za/ascc/pdfs/
Marike_Myburgh-PosterInfoCommTechnology.pdf
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Thank you for your attention
1st UbuntuNet Alliance Council of Members, Nairobi, Kenya. February 2007
Cornell Knowledge Systems Workshop Oct 2007 Session 4 www.ubuntunet.net
Resources and Acknowledgements
• Prof Zimani Kadzamira, Victor Kyalo and Dr. Duncan Martin for permission to build on previous Alliance presentations
• Geoffrey Salanje and CTA for access to Q&A data
• USAID staff for access to Last Mile Initiative Chinyanja Triangel documentation