Connectivity Providers Database

From: Lishan Adam <lishan_adam@PADIS.GN.APC.ORG> To: Multiple recipients of list AFRIK-IT <AFRIK-IT@IRLEARN.UCD.IE> Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 08:04:21 +0000 Hi All, I was in Djibouti (last week). Here is an update in networking situation in that country for your information. Except for VITASat ground station and UNHCR radio link, there is little connectivity in the country. PADIS under the CABECA project connected three users in 1995 to its host in Addis Ababa. Last week I did two Fido installations linking them to the PADIS host. The connections were very reliable. Network development activities are underway in the small warm country (temperature was over 34 centigrade last week and will be mounting to above 40s in May). Two different projects are planning IP connectivity to Djibouti. a. Regional Telematics Network Services b. The STID/IBM IP link Plan The telematics project wants to setup a national commercial service providers in 10 countries that would help business to access to Internet and other trade information. As I understand, It was initially planned to set up high speed trade network in the Greater Horn of Africa subregion based on a clumsy model. The original model was altered (several times) to match with developments in WWW (the original document do not mention IP link:- ). According to Deputy Chair of Djibouti Chamber of Commerce Said Oumar Moussa ( P.O.Box 84, Djibouti, Tel. 253 35 10 70 Fax: 253 35 00 96 ) they are working on a tender document for equipment purchase and for recruiting specialists. The initial test site in Djibouti will be operational within next three months! then will duplicate same infrastructure to Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya. The project is funded by European Union of equivalent of $1.5 million ECU. It did not sound to me that the project knows what happens in other countries and globally. The Soc des communications Internationales de Djibout (STID) is planning to set up a commercial IP link. Abdourahman Hassan (Head of Technical Division, P.O.Box 2031, Tel. +253 35 59 38, Fax: +253 35 0109) informed me that they have already got the top level domain (please check) sent their engineers for training in IP administration and will have the IP link before Independence day (27 June 1996). He told me that users can get access to all Internet services for 3500FDJ (20$) (sounds cheap). They will be providing CALVACOM services (try http://www.calvacom.fr). STID is lucky enough to be a member of the SEA-ME-WE1 and SEA-ME- WE2 group. There are 5000 incoming and 5400 outgoing Submarine cable circuits of which 138 being used by STID. Ethiopia is subscribing to 83 circuit via terrestrial digital microwave link. SEA-ME-WE3 is expected to operate at a capacity of 20 Gigabit. Djibouti may act as a connection center for the neighboring Horn of Africa countries. regards. LishanlTti