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From: hagan@bode.ee.ualberta.ca To: syoung@icp.net CC: rcollet@icm1.icp.net, tdunk@icm1.icp.net Date: Wed, 21 Oct 92 11:50:13 EST RE: REGARDING SERVICE INQUIRY FOR GHANA AND OTHER WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES ======================================================================== I would like to thank you for the detailed information regarding the services you provide and your willingness to look into the possibility of providing a HUB for networking in Ghana in particular, and West Africa in general. Summary on Ghana Area: 91, 000 square miles Population: 16 million Coast Line: 244 miles Universities: 1. University of Ghana, Legon, Accra 2. University of Science & Technology, Kumasi 3. University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast Reserach Institutions: 1. Council for Scientific & Industrial Research 2. Ghana Standards Board 3. Centre for Population Studies, Africa Regional Office Major Airline Carriers: 1. Ghana Airways 2. K. L. M. 3. British Ariways Resources: 1. Timber 2. Cocoa 3. Gold 4. Diamonds 5. Manganese Human Resources: 1. Too many to list. Dr. F. Allotey is a mathematical physicist who has a constant by his last name: Allotey's constant. Dr. Akabutu and I are in the process of setting up both commercial and Academic & Research Networks in Ghana. We would like the Academic & Research Network to be part of the global internet with ftp, email, rlogin and other services available both locally and internationally. There are no well planned LANs at any of the Research institutions, but we are now looking for the necessary equipment to set up LANS in the three Universities. There is a satellite station in Ghana And I am told that AT&T is the long distance carrier. I have to verify this. The main purpose of setting up the Academic & Research is to link up with the global internet system. Our preliminary investigation shows that commercial networks are also viable since there are a number of foreign companies operating in Ghana. This includes Kaiser Aluminiun Company of Washington State (Volta Aluminium Company). The Academic & Research Networks therefore meets all the criteria set forth by the NFS. I wwould be grateful if you would discuss the matter with Dr. Goldstein. I will also have some discussions with him. The commercial networks will cater for the who do not meet the NFS criteria but who at the same time need network access. Dr. Akabutu and I are interested in both types of networks. Whereas we can estimate the cost of setting up the LANs, we have no idea what it will cost us to get an international link. Your company should seriously consider setting up a HUB in Ghana in coperation with us since the West African market in networking (both commercial and Academic) is untapped. Dr. Akabutu will provide you with the phone and fax of the site in Ghana where we would like the HUB to be set up as soon as they are available. Meanwhile, his address in Edmonton, AB, Canada is: Dr. J. J. Akabutu 147 Laurier Dr. Edmonton, AB Canada, T5R 5P9 PHONE: 1-403-486-5345 FAX: 1-403-486-5184 We would be very grateful if you could provide us with an estimate of the cost setting up the link, and also maintaining it. An upper limit, average and lower limit would be acceptable. This would help us with our planning. The other West African countries are: Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroons, Chad, Niger, Buka Faso, Mali, Guinea. Hope to hear from you again. Yours sincerely, Daniel (hagan@bode.ee.ualberta.ca)
