Connectivity Providers Database

Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 06:17:47 +0300 From: Charles Musisi <cmusisi@uol.co.ug> To: Bob Kambic <bkambic@jhsph.edu>, Rick Hughes <rhughes@jhpiego.org>, Ron Magarick <rmagarick@jhpiego.org>, Henry Mosley <hmosley@jhsph.edu>, STEPHEN R. RUTH <ruth@osf1.gmu.edu> Cc: Rick Sullivan <rsullivan@jhpiego.org>, fwabwire@usa.net, Barbara Zirkin <bgzirkin@jhsph.edu>, Laurie Zabin <lzabin@jhsph.edu>, Steven G. Huter <sghuter@nsrc.org> At 12:39 PM 9/17/99 -0400, Bob Kambic wrote: > Current status of computers, wireless, bandwidth available in Uganda Computers: PC are widely available though prices tend to be twice US costs. PII 400 MMX 64 MB RAM 4.3 GB hArd disk is the entry level specification. This would cost ~ US$ 1600. This is adequate for most user application i.e word processing, simple database applications and spreedsheet work. Lower spec. PCs range from US$500 - 1000. This would be second hand 486 8MB RAM 800 GB Hdisk type. Most common brands include IBM, Dell and Compaq but are usually about 25% above the cost of clones computers. Accessories like printers and consumables are locally available. Printers range US$ 400 - 2000 for brands such as HP, Canon and IBM Lexmark. in Laserjet and DeskJet/InkJet type. Modems, network cards etc.. are available too. Local Area Networks(LANs) seem to be an optimal way to avail computer resources to many users. Key components for LANs include: network cards( 10 MBit/sec speed ~$ 65), 10BaseT hubs - 10 MBit/sec(~ $ 200) -- higher speed hubs and Network cards are not readily available. UTP CAT 5 cable(this is perhaps single most expensive component). A LAN would provide an inexpensively built mail & web server(Linux). Other applications like a Web browsable database could be developed on the server too. Wireless and bandwidth: All major ISPs now provide wireless access using different vendor equipment. The most common vendor equipment being Lucent Technologies WaveLAN/Point Products, BreezeCom's range of wireless products and WiLan products. Equipment costs range from US$ 1500 - 4000. Bandwidth costs range from US$ 250 - US$ 1000 for 2 MBits/sec links. The IPH has been setup on a 2 MBit/sec link using a BreezeCom unidirectional antenna and bridge to one of the ISPs(Wilken-Afsat). Wilken-Afsat is itself on 128 KBit/sec uplink / 1 MBit/sec downlink from its upstream provider to the East Coast of the US(Boston area) ISPs: Infocom: Has a total of 378 KBit/sec uplink/dowlink on 2 separate Vsat channels to the US and Norway. Offers wireless using Lucent products. Bushnet: Has a sizeable wireless clientele on a 64 KBit full circuit to S.Africa. Uses Lucent products too. SwiftGlobal: Uses WiLan products. Has a small wireless clientele. Doesn't have widespread Point of Presence around Kampala and other towns i.e Entebbe Wilken-Afsat: Recent entry in the market. Has built market dominance for wireless. Uses BreezeCom products. Can now inter operate with Lucent products. Provides Vsat installation for up to 10 other clients on 128 KB uplink and 1 Mb downlink. Uganda OnLine/East Africa Help Desk is a carrier independent provider. i.e builds networks over other providers' infrastructure. Has dominance in the university/research institutions/school sector where it serves over different 20 institutions and the majority of departments at Makerere University, and other smaller several platforms i.e Unix/Linux, Windows and MAC OS. provides ongoing support and training, all manners of PC support and PC refurbishment, an e-mail/Internet Help Desk over phone, e-mail across the E. Africa region. NSRC provides UoL technical assistance, training, networking books, donated equipment, etc. to help build the academic/research networking capabilities in Uganda and the rest of E. Africa region. ________________________________________________ Charles Musisi, East Africa Help Desk/Uganda OnLine, Park Royal Building, Plot 83/85 Kampala Road, P.O. Box 12510 Kampala, Telfax:+256(41)254473 Cell:+256(75)707096, URL: http://www.nic.ug