Connectivity Providers Database

From: ada@camfido.gn.apc.org To: sghuter@psg.com Date: Mon, 14 Aug 95 22:00:21 +0000 Dear Steven, Greetings. HISTORICAL NOTE ON CAMFIDO: CamFido is a network that was setup with the assistance of the CABECA Project, based at PADIS/UNECA Ethiopia. The idea of CamFido was motivated by the fact that only one network was operational in Cameroon (HealthNet Cameroon); and which was reserved for health workers only. The general public was in need of the services of electronic communication, which CamFido came to provide. The network was setup in late 1994, about five years after PADIS had made many unsuccessfull attempts to introduce PADISNet in Cameroon. This was possible through the designation of the Center for Health Technology (CHT) as the CABECA focal point for the country. The Director of the Center for Health Technology is Prof. Yunkap Kwankam. He is also President of HealthNet Cameroon, and a member of the Steering Committee of the Sustainable Development Network in Cameroon. FUTURE PLANS: CABECA and CHT have jointly combined efforts to sustain Camfido, though there is the lack of funding to carry out real networking. A number of attempts have been made by CamFido to get the six universities of Cameroon connected in what Camfido termed as CuNet (Cameroon University Network) but with no success. Another project to connect the Agricultural Research Institutions of Cameroon (IraNet) is stalled for lack of funds. Being linked to CABECA, and with the evolution of networking within the continent, Camfido sees the idea of a co-operative network just very timely in Cameroon. CamFido is ready to play a cardinal role in this process, given that any eventual full internet connectivity for Cameroon would be of general benefit to other countries such as Chad, Central African Republic, Congo, Zaire, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. Together these countries form the Central African Region; in which Cameroon has always played a leading role in many aspects. Plans are to upgrade CamFido to a UUCP Node and eventually to a full internet node with TCP/IP on leased lines. Given the fact that there is already a backbone for networking in Cameroon being provided by the Cameroon Packet Switching Network (CAMPAC), real networking is possible in Cameroon. CAMPAC has regional centers in four of the ten provinces of the country in the major cities of Yaounde, Douala, Baffousam and Garoua. The bandwidth being offered by CAMPAC now is 9.6kbps, but it is extended to 64kbps. Our major problem is the lack of funds. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: CamFido is a fido based host, running on a 386 PC. It uses the DOS based Intermail Software package as the mailer in conjuction with software as GoldEd, ccMgr, MsgTrack. The gateway for CamFido is at GnFido in London. A high speed GVC 14k4 fax/data modem is used, and mail is routed on regular telephone lines two times a day. Plans are to upgrade Camfido to a UUCP Node and eventually to a full internet node with TCP/IP on leased lines, if funding can be secured. USER BASE: CamFido has points installed for individuals and organisations. It's not possible to determine how many users use a point. There are ten sunscribed points, and prominet subscribers are from the following organizations: Rectorate, University of Yaounde II, Yaounde Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Yaounde Institute de Recherche et d'Etudes Economiques Yaounde Pan African Institute for Development (PAID) Douala and Buea Eglise Protestante de Ntounge (EPN), Nkongsamba Bobga's Law Chambers, Bamenda SERVICES: CamFido provides mainly email for now. Fax services, BBS, and Conferences are planned for the near future. There are more than a dozen networks in Cameroon but as of today, only three are operational. HealthNet and RIO are the other two. While HealthNet is fido-based like CamFido, RIO is UUCP-based. All three networks are located at the Ecole Polytechnique, and I provide support services to all of them. The feasibility study for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Network (SDN) has just been completed, and the network is expected to go operational within the next few months. The SDN is expected to be the focus and start point for the formation of a co-operative network in Cameroon, where all the other networks to converge. Starting with UUCP on X.25 lines as well, it is hoped that the SDN Node will move over to full internet connectivity through leased lines after an initial test period. If CamFido had TCP/IP, it is likely that the SDN would adopt CamFido as its gateway into the internet. CAMFIDO CONTACT INFORMATION: SH> Date : August 15, 1995 SH> Organisation : Center for Health Technology (CHT), SH> Address : Ecole Polytechnique , P.O Box 8390 Yaounde SH> University of Yaounde I SH> Country : Cameroon SH> Code : none SH> Contact Person : Derek Ajesam Asoh SH> Voice : 237-23-01-13 SH> Fax : 237-23-01-03 SH> Host/Node Name : CamFido SH> URLs : none SH> Notes : Ten subscribed points, including five organisations. SH> Actual number of users not none. HEALTHNET CONTACT INFORMATION: Same as above, BUT Host/Node Name: HnetCam RIO CONTACT INFORMATION: Organisation: Laboratoire d'Eletronique et Traitement des Signals (LETS) Address : Same as above Contact : Derek Ajesam Asoh Akono Alain Voice : 237-22-45-17 Fax : 237-23-18-04 We are currently looking for funding to enhance the network as indicated above. I would appreciate if you pass on to me any relevant information concerning possible funding. My regards, Derek Ajesam Asoh HealthNet/CamFido/RIO Electronic Communication Networks of Cameroon. CC: Yunkap Kwankam