open access conference 14 – 16 november 2007 bagamoyo, tanzania research and education networks in...
TRANSCRIPT
Open Access Conference14 – 16 November 2007Bagamoyo, Tanzania
Research and Education Networks in Africa – Creating an open access environment for
universities and research institutions
F F Tusubira, Don Riley, Ed Fantegrossi
Contents• Part 1: Layers and Roles
• Part 2: UbuntuNet Alliance – Plans, Progress, and acknowledgements
• Part 3: UbuntuNet Alliance – New Initiatives working with IEEAF
• Conclusion
Part 1: Layers and Roles – Many dimensions, many players
IEEAF, etc
UbuntuNet, etc
NREN National Infrastructure
Teachers, Researchers, Libraries,Classrooms, Labs, Management
Regional Infrastructure
Campus Infrastructure
Content Networks (Researchers,Libraries, Universities
Management)
Global REN Infrastructure
TERNET, etc
Part 2: UbuntuNet – Context, Plans and Progress
• Ubuntu or Obuntu: - “I am because we are”• …Ubuntu is not just a philosophy – it is a way of
life that defines the relationship of the individual to the community and vice versa …
• … It recognises that individual good arises out of the community good and vice versa…
• …It is about the responsibility of caring for the general welfare, supporting others: development
• Obuntu means “the essence of humanity”; Omuntu means “a human being”
• Hence UbuntuNet Alliance
What is UbuntuNet Alliance?
• …A registered organisation of NRENs (Inc. 2006)• …Sees an African continent holding its own as a
member of the global research and education community…
• … Through enabling the connectivity of national and regional RENs …
• … With sufficient and affordable connection to each other and the GII..preferably via fibre ...
• Current members: TENET, KENET, MoRENet, MAREN, RwEdNet, SUIN
• In process: TERNET, ZAMREN, RENU, Eb@le …
Current Status (Eastern, Southern Africa)
Formal REN, advanced network and sufficient bandwidth: NONE
Formal REN and underlying infrastructure: Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, other?
Formal REN but no underlying infrastructure: Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, DRC, other?
REN in formation: Uganda, other?
Plans and Progress To-date (1)• Plans:
– Refine strategic plan and develop a master plan– Establish services and revenue-streams– Local registration and home base in Nairobi– Appoint full-time staff (CEO, Technical, Admin, etc)
• Completed tasks– Obtained IPv4 and IPv6 address space (AfriNIC)– Obtained a CISCO 7606 router donated by CISCO,
installed in DANTE’s cage in Telecity, London– REN transit connection to Géant
Plans and Progress To-date (2)• To be set up:
– 1 Gb/s connection to LINX (https://www.linx.net/)– Settlement-free peering with all comers; includes
bilateral agreements between RENs– Internet transit– Connections to other networks, like Internet2– Also now working with IEEAF
• Working with the Bandwidth Consortium– Plans to merge activities and set up NOC– Ongoing discussions with IDRC and PHEA– Basis for a major connectivity proposal
Plans and Progress To-date (3): Clusters
NA
South Cluster
Southern TZ
LS
BW
ZM
MW
MZSA
SW
East Cluster
UG
Northern TZ
KE
SD
ET
EG
RW
Ack: Duncan Martin, UbuntuNet
Plans and Progress (4): VSAT Virtual RENsUbuntuNet
router
UbuntuNet routers at VSAT
teleports in Europe
VSAT-dependent
campuses all over Africa
Backhauls to London
Ack: Duncan Martin, UbuntuNet
Plans and Progress (5): Connection to Géant
GéantGéantGeneral Internet
UbuntuNet router
Ack: Duncan Martin, UbuntuNet
Appreciation to our supporters to-date• Sida• Cisco• KTH (Sweden)• DANTE• Open Society Institute• Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)• TENET's FRENIA (Fostering Research and
Education Networking in Africa) Program, funded by The Andrew W Mellon Foundation.
• IDRC and Connectivity Africa• USAID• Partnership for Higher Education in Africa
Part 3: UbuntuNet – New Initiative Working with IEEAF
• The IEEAF comes to us with their own “Ubuntu” vision: The Global Quilt
• They come not to own or to operate, but to enable
• They come bearing scraps of cloth to help make patches, and even some thread to help us make the stitches to sew the patches together
• They come to work alongside, as needed to help us realize our own quilt, as part of the bigger Global Quilt of RENs
Global Quilt Initiative for Africa
"Non Nobis Solo” - Not by ourselves alone
IEEAF Global Quilt
Global Medical Research Exchanges (GMRE)•IEEAF - successful in getting donations for RENs because of partnership with the private sector.
•GMRE - The business driver that generates the donations to IEEAF Africa.
•GMRE brings investment for economic development that leverages the new infrastructure:
- to build open “technology exchange points”- to build data centers and technology R&D Parks- to generate “endowments” for the R&E community
GMRE brings to bear:Lifetime Business Experiences Internationally in
Telcom & Energy Deregulation
Multi-national Corporate Migration Requirements
International Investment Banking Marketplace Interests
GMRE brings both personal and financial commitment from business:
$1.7 Billion Science & Technology Parks
Multi-National Corporate Clients.
Global Telcos as customers for the telecom donators to the IEEAF “as a thank you.”
Global Investment Bankers via NYC.
GMRE Brings Economic Drivers
•Starts with International bandwidth coming to GMRE TEP
•Dark fiber for RENs
•Data Center
•Research Park
GMRE Technology Park Model
GQI Multi-Layer Phasing
Conclusion
• It is real, and it is happening, and UbuntuNet is committed to success of RENs in Africa.
• It is only possible through open multiple partnerships, both regional and global.
• “Be the Change you want to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi
• ASANTE SANA!