Connectivity Providers Database

Date: Friday, 27 Apr 2001 09:18:16 GMT From: Biniam Gebremichael <biniam@cs.uoa.edu.er> To: Steven G. Huter <sghuter@nsrc.org> Subject: Academic/Research networking in Eritrea Message-ID: <20010427.9181600@keren.csd.uoa.edu.er> Hi Steve, As you might already knew the internet in Eritrea is quite new (Nov. 2000). Network infrastructure and computerized systems are just getting attention recently. The University of Asmara (UoA) through its Network Center(NC) and Computer Science Department (CSD) is working hard to take the leading responsibilities for the introduction of network systems in various government sectors and other private ones. Though not much has been done until now, UoA is producing a skilled man power needed for this activity and is cooperating with other IT-related sectors through its staff members. After the introduction of the Internet, Four ISPs are working parallel to provide internet connection to public. Tfanus(www.tfanus.com.er), EWAN(www.ewan.eol.com.er), CTS(www.cts.com.er) and TSE are the current ISPs in duty. If anyone has a modem, PC and phone line it is possible to connect to any of the ISPs and have internet connection, e-mail, web hosting and design, and other services. There are also several Internet cafe for walk in users and guests. The University does not have direct internet connection yet. But it working to have a direct connection to the main gateway, and the work is expected to complete in few months. For now its e-mail is routed via EWAN and individuals in the University make a dialin connection to the ISPs, or visit the Internet cafe in town. Since 1995 UoA together with dutch university start to connect the university bodies using 10BaseT. http://www.rug.nl/rugcis/.bureau/doop/bb/info1/h1par54.htm Most of the buildings of the University are connected now, but few are still not connected. E-mail in the University has been operational since then and every department has its own UUCP mail server for the staff members. Our department CSD has two networked Laboratory rooms, mainly for student training. At the same time they are used for external examinations, research activities, workshop and soon to come internet browsing. The labs are equipped with latest PCs as workstations and two DELL poweredge4400 servers (one Linux and one Windows2000 AS). The first lab is Linux and the second one is Windows. The Network Center(NC) of the University has also NT and Novel servers mainly for the University administration. Like database server for registrar and network based software for researchers. In these servers we have statistical software, database software and others where the university community can log in and use. The unfortunate thing is, there is little or no access points to students. The only time a student uses the computer is when (s)he attends computer course. Several attempts has been made to provide students with these kind of access but no significant achievements has been gained on this part. The main problem, as far as I can tell, is: the size of the students(5000), financial problem and luck of space. Any member of the university be it a guest researcher or permanent staff can have full access to the facilities of the University. Can install his software in the servers, can invite people for a workshop or training, can have e-mail address in the university domain, and can get assistance on these things. Since the labs are parallely used for courses schedules has to be made in advance. I will be happy to give further information for anyone interested to visit Eritrea for a researcher activity or whatever. I can be reached in the e-mail address biniam@cs.uoa.edu.er Biniam Gebremichael Computer Science Department University of Asmara P.O.Box 1220. Asmara, Eritrea Tel: 291-1-161926 ext 297 Fax: 291-1-126457 Email: biniam@cs.uoa.edu.er