Connectivity Providers Database

From: Albania Networking Forum <albnet@info.irex.org> To: Steve Huter <sghuter@psg.com>, randy@psg.com (Randy Bush) CC: uri@ids.net (Uri Bar-Zemer) Date: Thu, 11 May 1995 11:06:23 -0500 Internet Interest Group SPECIAL Meeting Minutes, April 26, 1995 Prepared by Ahmet Shafiq Present: ======== Ahmet Shafiq: Computer Services Specialist, M A X Sh.p.k. 34083 Mark Luce: BDC Director, Fultz Technical School 22008 Cynthia Caples: American Cultural Center 33246 Forrest Walter: SARA 33794 Ilia Ninka: Computer Science Dept.- University of Tirana Mike Holman: AEP 34708 Bill Eldridge: Fulbright , Macedonia Manola Xhaja: BAC Economics and Business Faculty, Univ. of Tirana Clirim Xhunga: President, ASSC 052 23671 Rezart Andoni: Computer Science Student, University of Tirana Ilir Zenku: Computer Science Student, University of Tirana Minutes: ======== 1.There are currently three ways for setting up an Internet node in Albania: A. Using the UNDP satellite connection: ======================================= The plans were cancelled for Bill Eldridge's proposal, after months of negotiations. He visited their offices today and made a survey of their connection setup. Agim Cami, who was supposed to be working with the UNDP is not because he is too busy. The UNDP has a Novell router and are concerned for their security of their network. Bill Eldridge suggested setting up a separate network at their offices to solve that problem. The router for this can be connected to be extra port available at their satellite link. He also suggested the use of SMTP for e-mail instead of Higgins, so as to run it on Linux or Unix Machines. The DNS (Domain Name Server) for Internet addresses of other sites on the Internet that serves Albania is located in Pisa, Italy. Lookup tables can be obtained for these sites and incorporated into our server here to help in this matter. B. Using a commercial satellite connection (a commercial node in Albania) ================================================================ This would involve setting up a similar satellite link to that at the UNDP. There are currently two sources that we know of for this kind of service: 1. ANT Bosch 2. Unisource to provide such a link between Slovenia and the US. The estimate was for $30,000-$40,000 to setup the equipment, plus $4000/month charge. But this was for a university installation and thus no taxes were added to this figures. This connection would be an incentive for other similar ones to begin operating in Albania once people learn about the advantages of e-mail, and once they have an eLample to try and copy as in the case with many other activities that look profitable. C. Using a packet Radio Connection ================================== This would involve the use of a Ham Radio tranceiver with a modem link adaptor. Mike Holeman has had success with this system for connecting his different organizations with e-mail all over Albania. They are using cc:mail, and have got their own private radio frequecy approved. For e-mail outside Albania, they were calling via modem into their Compuserve account in Italy. The Fultz school now has two radio transceivers and modem link adaptors for them. 2. It has been decided that the Fultz Technical School will be the site for the Internet node connection via the UNDP. This decision was based on the following: a. The Special Status that the school has which enables it to get involved in profit making activities even thoughit is an NGO. b. Non subject to taxes, as long as all income has to go back into education. c. Will be setting up several Novell networks for its computer labs. d. Mark Luce is easy to get hold of at the school. The node will be at the school which will have a direct cable connection with the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Tirana. The connection with the UNDP will be made with wireless modems to a router to be connected to the empty port on their satellite link. The school is trying to get extra telephones lines. Mark Luce mentioned that the school has subscribed to a Businessman Association to facilitate that. This involves paying $100 to join, plus $1000 when the line is connected. These lines cost more for domestic use compared to normal lines. They cost 8 leks per impulse compared to 2 leks/impulse. The node will include a terminal server to allow PPT connections, a Gopher server to provide information, and free shareware software. 3. THe Fultz School will give Ilir Zenku a 286 computer to run the Waffle BBS software to serve as a collection site for e-mail. 4. Cynthia Caples suggested that the NGO's Forum should contact Washington D.C. and request a grant of $20,000 or so for setting up the Internet node. This figure was an estimete provide by Bill Eldridge. This small amount of money is small compared to that which was spend already on the existing equipment in Albania. NOTE: a few days after this meeting, this amount was approved by Washington. 5. Ahmet Shafiq conctacted Denice Herbol at USAID and got the information for the telephone line splitter system used at their offices. They are using a Multiplexer/Demultiplexer system which consists of two main units for the telephone line plus a local PABX for their office. The multiplexer unit was purchasedand delivered to the PPT (Tirana) after they allocated four telephone numbers for the USAID office. The demultiplexer unit was installed along with the PABX system at the USAID office which then gave them these four telephone numbers. All these numbers are using one physical telephone cable. This equipment was purchased from IBS in Tirana, and the contact person there is Dhimiter Kekezi at 23854. The equipment is made by Alcated with the following model numbers: The unit at the PPT: 1564 PG CO PCM 4A 37606034 The unit at the USAID: 1564 PG RU PCM 4A 37606026 THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 17 4PM BUSINESS ASSISTANCE CENTER FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS, 3RD FLOOR