Global Networks and International Communications: AFRINET by Beryl L. Bellman, Ph.D. Communication Studies California State University at Los Angeles and Alex Tindimubona, Ph.D. African Academy of Sciences Nairobi, Kenya Prepared for Panel on Electronic Bulletin Boards and Computer Networks: Africa and African Studies in the Information Age 34th Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association St. Louis, Missouri November 23-26, 1991 I. Introduction: The relationship between information processing and communication on the one hand and modern economic and social development on the other is widely recognized among the African countries. The efficient and effective exchange of information among researchers, educators, administrators, industrialists and policy makers is crucial for the conversion of research results into useful products of economic and social value. At the research level, interaction and communication with peers and potential users of research results are necessary for the stimulation, self-confidence, relevance and effectiveness of a scientist. Modern scientific research relies heavily on the ability to communicate; gather reliable data; have access to widely dispersed data and information (including analysis); collaborate on projects; hold discussions, meetings, seminars, and conferences; and repackage and disseminate the results. The pace and complexity of modern research have greatly increased the communication needs of researchers, scientists, educators and their institutions. A scientist isolated is a scientist unable to articulate his purpose and needs; such a scientist soon becomes obsolescent. The provision of appropriate information systems and services for this group of information generators therefore becomes apparent. The dissemination of information to other user groups has to be designed and implemented carefully (IDRC,1989 [ww.p 16]). Sometimes the information has to be repackaged or consolidated before delivery to specific target audiences. For example, published results of scientific and technological research on agriculture, health, the environment, economics etc., must be repackaged to be understood by administrators, policy makers, extension workers and other intermediaries, as well as by the final users such as farmers and the community at large. This calls for innovative and appropriate methods, media and techniques, such as print and non-print forms, audio-visual, or even oral according to the prevailing conditions and/or traditions. The phenomenal improvements in information processing and communication capability brought about by rapid, convergent developments in computer and telecommunication technologies are also well recognized in Africa. This enhanced awareness of potential opportunities is indicated by visible efforts in many African countries to create and sustain the enabling institutional and human environment for utilizing these new capabilities. A recent study group (BOSTID,1990) was "impressed to find virtually all the modern information technologies already in use in some African institutions." These technologies encompass: desktop publishing; CD-ROM and other databases; electronic mail and computer conferencing; as well as telefax. The population of microcomputers was significant and growing rapidly (In Kenya we estimate that from about 200 computers in 1980, there are now at least 2,000, and probably closer to 10,000 units in 1990 in educational, business, NGO and governmental environments). And there are tens of world-class projects and systems, especially in international business (banks, airlines etc.), institutions based on the continent; as well as exciting instances of rural and grass-roots projects (e.g. Aga Khan Computers in Kenyan Schools project; UNESCO rural journalism project in Kenya; Prof. P.N. Nkwi's project in rural Cameroon etc). II. The Afrinet Project: This paper describes the development of a collaborative technology project combining computer conferencing, videotext (VTX), electronic mail, and computer phone to create a distributed educational, scientific, and social development research network that networks a number of African universities and scientific research organizations with each other and with international academic and scientific institutions. In addition to the academic conferences we will network a number of international scientists together into a series of conferences dealing with issues ranging from biotechnology, food systems, cooperative development, business and public administration management, biomedical research to the social sciences and humanities. Although these conferences will supplement many of the courses we offer online, they will be independent of them and promote collaborative and conjoint research efforts among the international participants. Using VTX videotext we will establish a number of scientific data bases of African research materials that will be distributed among several African nodes, as well as develop others on international nodes that pertain to African scientific research and academic interests. We will also network social and community development groups online, and organize both academic and commercial uses of the network. In this manner we will build a sustainable network combining academic, social development and commercial interests and support. We are designing a distributed international DECNET VAX Mail, VAXNotes computer conferencing and VTX videotext network which will interconnect host computers in several African universities and research institutions with a number of universities in the United States, Mexico, Argentina and Ireland that are currently part of the BESTNET VAX based academic computer communications network. The conferencing software will be used to establish on-line or virtual scientific research laboratories and to conduct seminars, distance education courses and social development projects. VTX Videotext will be used to establish scientific research and library data bases stored as seperate pages on each of the separate nodes. In addition, we will develop a front end containing gateways from the BESTNET network into the NSF supercomputer backbone to provide African scientists and researchers access to those facilities. We will encapsulate DEC-NET for transmission over the TCP/IP Internet, and establish a wide area network between the VAX computers so all can be accessed from any of the nodes. This project stems from a series of meetings sponsored by Digital Equipment Corporation for the global extension of BESTNET into Africa. These meetings involved representatives from the National Science Foundation (NSFNET division), National Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, the World Bank, Agricultural Cooperatives Development International, USAID, the African Development Foundation and the California State University system. These representatives met with representatives from several organizations internal to Digital who are in support of this effort. As a result of those meetings it was decided that the African Academy of Sciences was the appropriate African organization with which to work, and that the California State University and BESTNET should co-develop proposals with them to Digital, NSF and other sources of funding to establish an African computer communications network and integrate it with the already functioning and Digital supported BESTNET project. III. A Profile of the African Academy of Sciences The African Academy of Sciences is a continent-wide, non- governmental, non-political and non-profit organization of senior scientists, science policy experts and science managers with its secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya. Started in 1985, it is dedicated to the promotion of science and technology for development. It does this through a vigorous program of activities spanning mobilization and strenthening of the African scientific community; networking; publication and dissemination of scientific materials; policy research; and capacity building in science and technology. The Academy operates as a multi-level network of individuals and institutions. As an honorific society, its membership of Fellows who are elected annually on criteria of excellence and contribution to African science has reached 86 persons in 25 countries. Its Network of Scientific Organizations (NASO), within which the AFRINET project is to be situated, is another formal mechanism for the generation and exchange of ideas which will immediately benefit from computer-based networking. It has already attracted 118 members from 30 countries. Many of the Academy's projects are designed to serve and involve scientists, industrialist and policy makers and society in general beyond the formal membership of the Academy. Its Profiles and Databank of African Scientists and Scientific Institutions is open to all and already covers thousands of scientists in over 40 countries. Whydah, the Academy's quarterly newsletter is mailed to 4,000 people all over the world; and Discovery and Innovation, the Academy's multi-disciplinary, peer- reviewed quarterly journal has touched the lives of thousands of scientists in hundreds of institutions the world over as authors, reviewers, subscribers and readers. The Academy's think-tank called the Special Commission on Africa, which meets regularly to deliberate on Africa's problems and make recommendations, is already an authoritative developer of informed discourse on Africa' future as well as on the interaction between research, development and public policy. The Academy has recently entered the area of research funding through two projects on Capacity Building in Forestry Research (CBFR), and Capacity Building in Soil and Water Management (SWM). Through these projects, the Academy is developing a deep and extensive knowledge of Africa's scientific resources and how they may be enhanced in order to contribute more effectively to the continent's science-driven development. It also organizes conferences, meetings and symposia, publishes monographs, proceedings and reports as well as encouraging other regional organizations through specific assistance programs. It has therefore established itself as a major pan-African forum for scientific and intellectual discourse and communication, as well as the key place in efforts to bridge the gap between scientists, industrialists and policy makers in the drive towards Africa's social development. AAS collaborates with other African and international organizations in implementing specific programs, which in turn are generously supported by many donor institutions, both public and private. The Academy enjoys great geopolitical support from Africa's leaders, many of whom already actively participate in Academy programs (e.g. the Management of Science Project chaired by Gengovernments. Once this is accepted and subscribed to, the AAS's formal recognition as an international organization with diplomatic status will be complete. This diplomatic exercise is at an advanced stage, more so with the host country, Kenya. This already eases the operational transactions of the Academy involving the movement of its officers, staff and collaborators, funds and duty-free acquisition of equipment and supplies. The Academy has set up a high caliber secretariat of international professionals and support staff backed by modern managerial and information processing and communications systems of world standard. Most of the operations are computerized, including desktop publishing with acceptance of computer readable materials. It is therefore clear that the Academy itself would be a large user of computer networking. IV. A Profile of BESTNET The Bestnet project involves hundreds of students each year from over a dozen institutions in the United States and Mexico. Recently, we extended the network to include students and colleagues in Argentina and Canada, and now will soon be involving universities in Kenya and Zimbabwe. We accomplished this by establishing a distributed computer conferencing and videotext network over NSF-NET, which interconnects host computers at university campuses. We utilize VAXNotes conferencing software for on-line courses, seminars and faculty research discussions and VTX videotext for library data bases and other course materials that are stored on each of the separate nodes. The Digital Equipment Corporation is co-sponsoring this project with external research grants and is providing several MicroVax computers containing the Digital educational library of software, VAX Notes conferencing and VTX videotext to universities in the United States, Latin America and Africa. We encapsulate DEC-NET for transmission over the TCP/IP Internet, and establish a wide area network between the VAX computers so all can be accessed from any of the nodes. Faculty at each institution teach on-line university credit courses in biological, natural and social sciences at their local nodes. These course conferences are open for students enrolled at all institutions. In this manner students interact with each other and other participating faculty across the institutions as a regular part of each class. They do so by signing on to their local university VAX computers that are connected to NSF- NET/Internet. The lists of conferences that appear their computer screens are being distributed among the campus nodes. However, students enter any given conference from their local node and DECNET interconnects to the distant node where it is housed. Thus, from the users point of view the distributed network will appear seamless. In addition to the conferences faculty put scientific data bases on the VAXes and make them available to other participating faculty and their students. These data bases are accessed using distributed VTX videotext. When students and faculty log onto their local host they encounter a videotext front end that gives them a choice between using computer conferencing, videotext data bases, electronic mail or computer phone (for synchronous interaction). The front end is now being designed to make it tailorable to the social, cultural and language factors that characterize different types of user groups involved in the BESTNET project. In addition to the collaboration of VAXnotes conferencing and VTX videotext our distributed network also includes electronic mail and a computer phone or chat utility. Mail is used for private communications with faculty, teaching assistants and other students, and phone for on-line synchronous office hours and technical assistance. BESTNET represents the first use of a fully distributed computer communications network, which is encapsulated as a independent system over the NSF-NET/Internet. The ease of functionality in our distributed conferencing, videotext, mail and computer phone will greatly facilitate the use of NSF-NET for both on campus lab based and off campus distant education programs. VI. The Viability of Computer Communications for Distance Education and Scientific Collaboration: The following are some of what we have learned in the course of the project. These findings were based on research conducted by faculty using a combination of user interviews and content analyses of conferences for various types of courses and collaborative research projects. These findings are summarized as follows: 1. The technology greatly augments regular classroom instruction as well as is a viable technology for off campus or distant education. 2. Computer conferencing is a viable interactive component to video or instructional television courses by providing individualized attention to student needs and requirements that can not be obtained using traditional methods of audio and video feedback. 3. Computer conferencing supports a socratic method of instruction, whereby students are much more actively involved in the learning process rather than being passive recipients. 4. Computer conferencing and supportive technologies (EMAIL and computer phone) promotes participation and learning in traditionally communicative apprehensive learners. 5. The technology greatly augments student interaction and promotes attitudes that such learning is more legitimate as part of the pedagogical process. In traditional classroom situations students are often reluctant to interact with others except the instructors, whereas computer communications promotes student to student interaction. 6. The anonymity of the technology promotes discussion that otherwise would be inhibited out of concern for student negative face-to-face feedback. 7. The technology is particularly useful for facilitating group discussion and criticism in virtually all areas of the curriculum. 8. The technology facilitates writing across the curriculum, and greatly improves student writing, editorial and logical skills. 9. The technology is particularly viable for reaching linguistically and culturally diverse learners, and has been positively accessed in student evaluations. 10. When the technology is used along side video presentations of lectures that students move faster than the televised segments. Where at first we used computer communications to augment and supplement video instruction, we now use video to supplement computer communications delivered instruction. 11. Students are able to master the basics of VAXNotes in a single lab session if they are required to immediately begin doing online assignments. However, user-consultant assistance is required for troubleshooting during the first two weeks of instruction. The basics include: accessing server, entering username and password, opening notes, reading topics and replies, writing a topic and writing a reply, leaving notes and logging off the system. 12. Computer naive students learned with equal facility as those more sophisticated with the technology. 13. Social science and humanities students having some word processing skills learned and accepted the technology at an equivalent level with students taking computer science courses (e.g., our Pascal, C and data structures courses). 14. Topics and reply branches are particularly viable for online terminal mode interaction. 15. Some online terminal mode activity is important for developing attitudes of connectivity with their diversified electronic groups - both for computer phone online office hours and for asychronous terminal mode writing in conferences. 16. The computer phone utility facilitates the development of asychronous conferencing skills. 17. The computer phone utility is useful for online user consultant assistance. 18. Students particularly adapt to the technology when interacting with students from distant locations and campuses. 19. We learned how to use group reading of conference notes in a class to promote discussion with students on distant campuses and international locations. 20. Thinking textual is sufficient to improve literacy even when a liberal attitude is taken toward grammar, syntax and spelling. 21. Writing skills improve with active participation in computer conferences. 22. The anonymity of the medium is sufficient to promote critical discussion, and is as effective as anonymity of identity in conferences. 23. The connectivity of the medium promotes friendly attitudes towards those engaged in discussion. 24. The medium promotes more critical than hostile competitive discussion. 25. VAXnotes promotes stronger group attitudes and participation than Email distribution list organized conferences. 26. The Internet can be used to establish an international distributed VAXnotes network. 27. The distributed network is crucial for multiple campus participation, technology transfer and local capacity building. 28. The technology promotes collaborative research among faculty by expanding networks of scholars. 30. Because conferences are logged by time and date of entry there are intellectual property rights recognitions built into the mode of communication. VII. Networking the AAS and BESTNET At the present times there are no Internet nodes in sub- Saharan Africa. We are developing a cooperative National Science Foundation proposal between US universities with the African Academy of Sciences to that end. However, to immediately impliment the project we are initially developing the network by encapsulating DECNET for X.25 networks currently operating in Africa. These public data networks will permit the networking of computers in the selected African countries - Kenya and Zimbabwe, which will then transmit to the California State University systemwide computer communications network - CSUNET. This network is the largest internal academic regional network. It is based on the CCITT X.25, and encapsulates other major protocols, including TCP/IP, SNA/SDLS, DECNET, AppleTalk, Bisync and X.3 Pad. This will allow the CSUNET to de-encapsulate DECNET from X.25 once received and then re-encapsulate into TCP/IP for interconnection into the distributed BESTNET network with gateways into NSFNET and the Supercomputer Center Network. In this manner we will immediately be able to interconnect VAX computers at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare with those at the African Academy of Sciences in conjunction with the University of Kenya in Nairobi. We also propose to provide smaller MicroVAX computers to university and related scientific laboratories in other neighboring countries where local telephone capabilities and national policies allow. This will permit much needed computer communications interactions between African scientists in pest research, marine biology and fisheries research, biomedical sciences, natural products development, agronomy, community development and science/social science policy. Using the international X.25 connection into CSUNET these scientists also interact with colleagues in the United States, Latin America and Europe who are involved in the BESTNET network, and have a direct gateway into international scientific and library data bases, and be provided access and accounts at the San Diego Supercomputer Center. Concomitantly, international scholars will have access to African researchers and their respective databases stored as distributed pages of VTX videotext on the African based VAX computers. In this manner, we will promote computer communications supported collaborative work and research between African scientists, and with international scholars outside of the continent. In addition, students and faculty from the African universities in will interact with students and faculty in the United States and Latin America who are already taking part in an international computer communications network, BESTNET. In this manner there will be an ongoing virtual exchange of students and faculty. Courses will be offered to students in different countries as preliminary to onsite exchanges already being developed by the California State University system and campuses. In addition, other courses will be co-taught by faculty across international boundaries and students will be in continual contact with colleagues and research issues in otherwise impossible ways. Students will take courses in biological, natural, social and communications sciences at their local nodes. These course conferences will be open for students enrolled at all institutions. They will do so by signing on to their local university VAX computers that are connected to the Internet or, initially in Africa, by computers connected to it through the CSUNET gateways. The lists of conferences that appear their computer screens will be distributed among the international universities. However, students enter any given conference from their local node and DECNET will interconnect to the distant node where it is housed. Thus, from the users point of view the distributed network will appear seamless. We are now engaged in initiating for Winter term a collaboratively taught course between faculty at the United States institutions and the Department of Journalism and Communications at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. The course involves 14 hours of video recorded documentary information about various new communication technologies (from ISDN, fiber optics to supercomputers), and computer conferencing led discussions. The course has already been offered in the United States and Mexico by faculty from the California State University, and will be offered again in conjunction with African student participation. In the United States version of the course students do not meet face-to-face with the professor, but only interact using computer conferencing and electronic mail. We have made PAL versions of the tapes and are supplying them to the University of Nairobi and the University of Zimbabwe. Faculty at the latter institution will observe, and possibly have some students take part. However, as discussed below, the technical capability of Kenya via their new data packet network - KENPAK, is making possible more comprehensive interaction in this trial course. In addition to the conferences faculty will put scientific data bases on the VAXes and make them available to other participating faculty and their students. These data bases will be accessed using distributed VTX videotext. When students and faculty log onto their local host they encounter a videotext front end that gives them a choice between using computer conferencing, videotext data bases, electronic mail or computer phone (for synchronous interaction). If they wish to access a particular data base they select that menu option, which brings up another menu listing the data bases available in the project. The next page of videotext will call up the distributed VTX network, and interconnect users with data bases on distant nodes. The distributed data bases will also be organized by VTX, such that there will be a standardization of features to use for search, retrieval and editing. In addition to the collaboration of VAXnotes conferencing and VTX videotext our distributed network also includes electronic mail and a computer phone or chat utility. Because our network is connected using the Internet, all accounts on the network will automatically allow Internet interactivity. Our project is the first use of a fully distributed computer communications network, which will be encapsulated as a independent system over the NSF-NET/Internet with gateways to KENPAK, ZIMPAK (in Zimbabwe) and other X.25 netowrks. The ease of functionality in our distributed conferencing, videotext, mail and computer phone will greatly facilitate the use of computer communications both scientific research and international distant education programs between African and international institutions. The following is a diagram of the distributed collaborative work environment we are developing in Africa. Diagram 1: Distributed Collaborative Environment __________ : node 1 : : African : :Academy of: : Sciences : : Kenya : :__________: PESTNET conferences PESTNET database Natural Products Research Conf. & DB Agricultural Coop conferences Community Development conferences Univer. of Nairobi Courses ___________ _______________ : node 2 : :node 3 : :Univ of : :Kenya Marine & : :Zimbabwe : :Fisheries Inst.: :___________: :Mombasa : :_______________: PESTNET Data base African Fishnet Agricultural Coop College Conf. conferences & Local Products Develop conferences Database Community Development data base Marine science Biomedical research database seminar conference University courses _____________________ _________________ : Node 4 : :Node 5 : : Makerere University : : University of : : Kampala, Uganda : : Dar es Salaam : : planned 2nd phase : : Tanzania : :_____________________: :planned 2nd phase: :_________________: Community Development conference Community Develop. Agricultural Coop conferences Agric. Coop DB Biomedical research database Biomed DB Pestnet database Pestnet DB Local products development database Local prod. DB University courses Univ. courses __________ : CSUNET : : : :gateway to: :BESTNET & : :NSFNET - : :Supercomp.: :__________: The project is organized according to priorities specifically outlined in the IDRC manual SHARING KNOWLEDGE FOR DEVELOPMENT:IDRC'S INFORMATION STRATEGY FOR AFRICA, which contains objectives identified by them as critical for successful communications programs in the African context. These include: 1. To improve the effective utilization and sharing of existing knowledge and resources in Africa at the local, national and regional levels. 2. To design and implement information systems and services that are relevant to the local environment and that address specific needs and problems. 3. To improve sharing and data transfer at the national and regional levels by promoting standards, campatibility and use of methodologies, technologies, and tools adapted to the African environment. 4. To improve the indigenous capacity to plan, develop, and implement national and regional information policy. 5. To secure long-term commitment for sustainable information programs. 6. To stimulate greater use of local technical expertise in information handling by promoting South-South cooperation within Africa. 7. To build human resources in information sciences through needs-based training at all levels and, particularly, training of managers and trainers to strengthen the multiplier effect. 8. To improve the capacity of people involved in the provision of information to act as agents of change. 9. To promote a two-way flow of communication so that rural (and urban) poor people participate in an interative dialogue on issues affecting them. 10. To improve the capacity of local scientists and technologists to obtain relevant information and bring about a more effective transfer of technology at the grass-roots level. IX. Users of Afrinet being Coordinated by the AAS 1. AFRICAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: Particularly through the Network of African Scientific Organizations (NASO); Profiles and Databank of African Scientists and Scientific Institutions; Special Commission on Africa (SCA) think-tank; and research networks being developed as part of the Capacity Building projects; Covers all countries of Africa. 2. PESTNET: Pest Management Research Network, coordinated from the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Nairobi and linking about 10 countries. ICIPE operates a user dial-up node of CGNET. PESTNET was established in 1986 and involves sharing methods and running pilot trials of pest control methods. It set up workshops in various African countries, including Zimbabwe, which is hub for the Southern African region and Nigeria with IATA- International Institute for Tropical Agriculture. 3. The PMDISS - Pest Management Documentation Information System and Services project is now being formed as part of PESTNET. Involves developing trans-African database using data from all research sites - even the most remote, and making generally available to researchers on contenent. Uses national coordinators who will be responsible for collecting data at each location. 4. ARPPIS - African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science, which is a collaborative training program between the ICIPE and 18 African universities - Sierra Leone, Ghana, Ibabdan in Nigeria, Rivers University of Science and Tech in Nigeria, Dschang Univ Center in Cameroon, University of Khartoum in Sudan, Addis Ababa Univeristy in Ethopic, Makerere University in Uganda, Moi Univ in Kenya, Kenyatta Univ in Kenya,University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, University of Malawi, University of Zambia and University of Zimbabwe. It is a graduate Phd program where students study for three and a half years at ICIPE and also work under direction of one scholar at home univer. Established in 1983, approx 15 students a year join program, which now has 101 students attending. 5. RECOSCIX: Regional Committee on Scientific Information Exchange System of the UNESCO International Oceanographic Council. Deals with marine science and fisheries in the Western Indian Ocean, with about 12 collaborating institutions in Eastern Africa and islands from Somalia to Mozambique. Operates a user dial-up node into Belgium from the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Institute (KEMFRI) in Mombasa, Kenya and then distributes information on paper. Mostly covering research and training. 6. NAPRECA: Natural Products Research Network of Eastern and Central Africa, covering researchers in Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Madagascar, and coordinated form Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. Research in phytochemistry, ethnobotany and pharmacology etc.; exchange of students; instrumentation sharing; developing a database called NAPRIS (Natural Products Research Information System, by Dr. Alex Tindimubona and other members). 7. AFSTINET: African Science and Technology Network, proposed by UNESCO Regional Office for Science and Technology. The numer UN, aid, and multinational business institutions. This is easily derived from current requests to the AAS for information regarding potential consultants, experts, committee and conference participants, candidates for awards and donations etc. 8. ESANET: Network of universities in Eastern and Southern Africa, promoted from University of Nairobi (Prof. A.J. Rodrigues) and the International Development Research Center, Nairobi. The EASANET project involves nodes in Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka and Harare. It is only an experiment to practice and experience issues involved in networking. There is little traffic on the network as process is primary to content, and involves resolving problems and to demonstrate the efficacy of computer communications using a demonstration project. The packet radio side of EASANET is supported by Healthnet, which is installed downtown at the medical school - run by Charley Clemens of Satalife - who uses a 386 system with commercial packet radio reception. BIBLIOGRAPHY Adrianson, Lillemor (1985). "Goteborg, Sweden, Vol. 15, No. 4. Adrianson, Lillemor and Hjelmquist, Erland (1985). "Small Group Communication in Two Media: Face-to-Face Communication and Computer-Mediated-Communication" University of Goteborg, Sweden. Vol. 15. No. 1. Arias, Armando and Bellman, Beryl 1985 Comparative Pedagogical Issues: Public and Private Institutions: The Case of Baja California." 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From m2xenix.psg.com!tech-fido-owner Thu Oct 7 22:04:42 1993 From: arni@web.apc.org Date: 07 Oct 93 15:02 PDT Subject: Southern African Networking Rpt 93.6.29-7.2 To: Recipients of conference "tech.fido" Status: RO Report of the Southern African Regional Networking Workshop June 29 - July 2, 1993 Johannesburg, South Africa Compiled by: Arni Mikelsons and Mike Jensen, with invaluable assistance of the workshop participants. 1. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2. SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3. REGIONAL NETWORKING INITIATIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4. ORGANISATIONAL NETWORKING INITIATIVES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5. SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 6. COUNTRY REPORTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 a. South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 i. SANGONet/WorkNet:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 ii. UNINET. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 b. ZAMBIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 i. UNZA / Zangonet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 c. Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 i. MANGO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 ii. ZIMBIX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 d. Malawi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 e. Swaziland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 f. Lesotho. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 g. Tanzania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 h. Botswana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 i. Mozambique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 j. Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 k. Namibia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 7. INTERNET ACCESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 8. ACCESSING REGIONAL RESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 9. PARTICIPANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 1. INTRODUCTION Twenty seven people, representing the 10 SADC countries (Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Tanzania) and South Africa met in Johannesburg to establish ways of enhancingelectronic networking in the region. The project was sponsored by NirvCentre (Web) and Centre D'Information et de Documentation Sur L'Afrique Australe(CIDMAA) through the support of Partnership Africa Canada. 2. SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS * host systems are in the process of being established in Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique and Angola. * the development of a funding proposal was initiated which would connect at least one system in each country onto the Internet via leased lines over the next two years. * the working relationship between representatives from SADC countries and Uninet, South Africa's research Internet provider was enhanced and Uninet's role in sharing the cost of setting up leased line connections to the Internet was a major focus. * the successful co-operation between NGO's and the academic community was recognised in establishing active bases of local users, sharing the costs host operation and of high cost dialup connections to the Internet. * the need to find ways of developing regional networking among NGOs, universities and parastals around issue areas, particularly health and agriculture was recognised. * the importance of developing strategies to access information, particularly databases and files, on the Internet, both interactively and by remote queries using listservers by email was noted. * strategies were developed on ways of approaching public administrations such as the PTTs and universities to support electronic networking, including showing how existing services, such as X.25 and long distance phone calls, are not threatened by electronic mail, how electronic networks are self-sustaining after a short period of time and how the more a system is used, the less it costs per Kilobyte sent and received. * electronic mail projects in Africa were reviewed including UNDP's Sustainable Development Networks, RINAF, IDRC, USAID and CIDA initiatives. * electronic networking activites in all SADC countries and South Africa were reviewed. * newly developed FIDO and UUCP software for end users was distributed. * relative advantanges and disadvantages of different types of networking, and how they communicate between each other were explained. 3. REGIONAL NETWORKING INITIATIVES The following initiatives are either having or will have an impact on some or all networks in southern Africa. There is also an overlap between some of the projects, as some of the initiatives support the same networks. The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) has supported networking in the region through the GreenNet node which is one of the principle hubs for African internodal communications. WorkNet is Johannesburg is in the process of applying for APC membership. Sustainable Development Networks of the UNDP (SDN) is a recent initiative aimed to support computer networking around the world. Angola, Namibia and Zambia have been identified as possible SDN sites. To date little has been accomplished on the ground. Research and Information Network for Africa (RINAF) is a UNESCO/Italian Government funded project to improve the access to electronic information by African researchers. Zambia has been selected as the 'regional node' in the southern African region and Tanzania and Swaziland have been selected as 'national nodes'. Although the project is almost two years old, little has so far been accomplished aside from bringing representatives from Zambia and Swaziland to a strategy workshop in Pisa, Italy last November. The Pan African Documentation and Information System (PADIS) is a project of the IDRC to assist documentation centres in Africa. This is not a purely electronic networking project. Some contacts have been made in Botswana. Eastern and Southern African University Network (ESANET) is another IDRC funded project to study various electronic information exchange techniques for universities in the region. University of Zambia and Zimbabwe have been recipients of funds for hardware, training and consulting. Non-Governmental Organisations Network for Africa (NGONET-Africa) is an IDRC funded project to assist NGO networking in Africa. One node in each of the four regions of Africa was established as part of the project. The node in Southern Africa is Mango in Zimbabwe. Although the node was already in existence before the project it was selected for additional support as the most effective use of the funds. Non Governmental Organisations Network for the South - NGONET (Uruguay) has supported technical training sessions for nodes and users in Africa, by providing further support and improvement of small host software. The HealthNet project is a satellite based project initiated by Boston based Satellife, a project arising out of initiatives of the Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. It aims to use low earth orbit satellites (with their consequent low requirements for high powered transmitters) to operate a store and forward email system independant of the phone line. Groundstations are now operational in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, with Zimbabwe still waiting for government approval. Consultative Group on Agriculture Network (CGNET) supports agricultural researchers to connect to a Dialcom based host in the US. 4. ORGANISATIONAL NETWORKING INITIATIVES African Publishers Network (APNET) is currently investigating electronic mail between offices throughout Africa. The secretariat in Zimbabwe is spearheading this initiative. Regional Early Warning Unit (REWU) is a SADC-wide project which was set up to deal with the recent drought. It is based at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). There are users of electronic mail in most SADC countries. Anglican Church is linking up its parishes in the region using the ECUNET node in the US where available and local nodes where unavailable. The Famine Early Warning System (FEWS/SAFIRE) sponsored by USAID has supported the installation of Fido software at their offices in all SADC countries, however they are making use of the node in Washington, rather than local nodes. Baptist International Mission Services is using the existing node infrastructure in the region to link its offices. 5. SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT NirvCentre is currently co-ordinating a project that is upgrading the communications software used in Africa. The software being improved includes user and host software, as well as gateway software. Billing software is being written, which is based on software run at Web, IGC and Greennet. 6. COUNTRY REPORTS a. South Africa i. SANGONet/WorkNet: WorkNet was formed by the Labour Economic Research Centre (LERC) in 1987. As a supportive host organisation, LERC provided the office and administrative infrastructure, dedicating a phone line and small PC computer to the operation. Another NGO seconded their technical support person to maintain the system. Within a short time the system was providing services to a small community composed of about 35 users representing non- governmental organizations, universities, organized labour, political parties, and the media. Soon the volume of traffic on the single phone line and limited capabilities of the MIRROR terminal software scripts that acted as the BBS software necessitated a move to a more sophisticated system capable of handling simultaneous users and automatic networking between other networks. In 1989 Unix skills were scarce and expensive in South Africa and so it was decided to use the multi-user DOS based BBS software called MajorBBS, developed by Galacticom in the US. This was installed and proved very successful in handling multiple users coming in on 3 separate phone lines linked to one number in a hunt group. A separate Fido node was then set up to transmit/receive messages to/from the GreenNet Fido gateway which then networked all traffic to/from other nodes connected to the APC network -i.e. most other commercial, ngo and academic hosts. To upgrade WorkNet's system to address various limitations of the MajorBBS software, a $200 000 funding proposal to purchase and install a UNIX based system was submitted to CIDA (Canada) and approved in February 1992. The project entailed purchase of a SUN Sparc 2 workstation, connecting it to the X.25 network to support local call access from most major cities, Waffle BBS software (with a standard character based menuing interface) was installed as an interim measure until Graphical User Interface software becomes available. Dialup UUCP connections to the Council for Science and Technology (nuustak.csir.co.za) provided the initial connection to the Internet while an application was made for a leased 9.6K digital line over which to run a tcp/ip connection. A full usenet and email feed is provided through the link. ii. UNINET UNINET is South Africa's Internet provider to the university community. It has a 64KB leased line to the United States through a connection provided by Sprint, which in turn is running ICMnet. ICM performs the gateway function between the South African network and the internet in the US. This gives all universities on the system access to full Internet mail, ftp and telnet. The bulk of the traffic is from people using ftp to request files on systems on the Internet. The amount of information being transferred is over 400 MB per day, at a cost of less than R0.01 per KB. The cost of the leased line is about R40,000 per month. By comparison, the last month that they were connecting to the Internet by dialup, the cost was just under R100,000. This can be attributed primarily to users of university systems discovering services such as FTP-by-mail, where through a mail message a user can get a very large file (even several MB), that can take a very long time to transmit. The second impact is users discovering mailing lists, which again can be subscribed to by a simple mail message and can result in receiving up to 1 MB per day of messages. UNINET is currently spending R2300 per month on calls to systems in Africa to develop connectivity to emerging systems in AFrica. b. ZAMBIA i. UNZA / Zangonet Currently the University of Zambia and the NGO network Zangonet are operating on one system, as the number of users does not support two systems, although this may be necessary in the near future. one phoen line There are 138 users listed, but only 106 are regular users. Of these, 21 are NGOs (16 International NGOs), 55 are heath oriented organisations and 35 are associated with the University. The system is currently considered underutilized, due to a lack of awareness of the poteentiall uses and a lack of the manpower required to market the system, but there are fears that an effecive marketting strategy would swamp the system. The system currently relies on the support of UNINET to provide a connection the rest of the world. An effect of more people using the international gateway would be that the call would get cut due to limited funds at UNINET to support these kinds of initiatives. UNINET had to stop the poll to Zimbabwe for this reason. Costs of getting UNZA onto the Internet is put at US$75,000 per year. It is felt if the setup costs and the first year of operation could be paid for, the system could be self-sustaining after that. Telecommunications are good in Zambia and there are few beaurocratic problems with the PTT. Zambia can connect to Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe although only the last of these is reliable and of good quality. UNZA / Zangonet are currently expecting 2 more lines in addition to one internal university line, and one external line. There is also a Healthnet node operating in Zambia, which transfers health- related electronic mail via a satelite operated by Satelife, a project of the Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War initiated Satellife organisation. Experiments are also being conducted with Radio extenders to connect a cluster of phones via a radio link to the nearest exchange. Users of the system have expressed interest in accessing online databases both within the region and internationally. Zambia has been identified as a RINAF site. RINAF is supplying hardware which would enable the University Computer Centre's UNIX system to link to the Internet using UUCP, and through which they could operate the Internet link through a leased line. This is their prime goal and most pressing need. Zambia has also been identified as a possible SDN site, although no funding has been committed. c. Zimbabwe Aside from the national packet-switched data network, there are two established electronic networks in Zimbabwe: MANGO, a system servicing chiefly the NGO community, and ZIMBIX, a UUCP system servicing the University of Zimbabwe academic community. i. MANGO Location MANGO (Micro Access for Non-Governmental Organisations) operates out of the offices of the Southern African Research and Development Centre, SARDC, in Harare. Hardware MANGO uses a 33MHz 80386SX computer and a Telebit T2500 high-speed modem. Software MANGO uses FrontDoor and GEcho to process mail, and RemoteAccess to process BBS calls. Points use GoldED, Squish and BinkleyTerm. Routing MANGO routes all international mail via WorkNet in Johannesburg, South Africa, in two polls per day. Services MANGO offers netmail approximately 30 usenet and APC conferences and a limited-hours BBS service Users MANGO has a total of approximately 130 points, mostly in Harare, but including points in Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru, and also in Malawi and Mozambique. Approximately 40 points are NGOs, 12 are University academics, 26 are health workers, 3 are schools and the remainder are individuals. Traffic In July 1993, a typical month, MANGO received a total of 2085 calls, sent a total of 1043 files of total size 12813KB, and received a total of 1093 files of total size 5535KB. ii. ZIMBIX Location ZIMBIX is located at the Computer Centre of the University of Zimbabwe. Hardware ZIMBIX uses a 33MHz 80386SX computer and a 2400 baud modem. Software ZIMBIX uses UUCP to transport mail and MAIL as the mail agent. Routing ZIMBIX routes all international mail via Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. Services ZIMBIX offers netmail only. Users ZIMBIX has a total of approximately 200 points located on the University campus. Traffic No figures are available. d. Malawi Malawi currently has users that currently go through MANGO and UNZA for their communication. The University is very close to operating a UUCP dialup link to Rhodes University. One of the greatest needs is to facilitate communications with Tanzania, as that is where most of the exports for the country go. There are also initiatives to link up libraries and organistations involved in agriculture. Currently the networks exchange information via paper of CD-ROMs by post, but it is hoped that a computer network could replace this exchange. X.25 is currently available for government and commercial organisations. The quality of the phone lines are good. e. Swaziland Currently there are no known users of electronic mail in Swaziland. Representatives from the University of Swaziland are attempting to make connections to Rhodes University via UUCP dialup. This link should be possible through the use of a private computer, until the Department of Computer Science can obtain a telephone line that can dial outside Swaziland. It is expected that this will be accomplished by the end of August. In order to get the system running at the University, a computer and a modem that could be dedicated to the task would be necessary. Also, administrative approval for a line that can dial out of Swaziland would be necessary. Internet access via leased lines to South Africa is quite feasible as it would be quite inexpensive and the quality of lines is excellent. Swaziland has been identified as a RINAF node, but there has been very little communication between the University and RINAF. f. Lesotho A number of users of electronic mail exist in Lesotho. Some, such as the Transformation Resource Centre, use Sangonet / Worknet, while users at the University of Lesotho have a UUCP link to Rhodes University. Currently there is an effort underway to upgrade the UUCP link to a leased line. The Computer Science Department has allocated a line item for Uninet subscription for the next year, but does not have the line rental costs both in Lesotho and South Africa. Relationships with the PTT and the electricity company are good and it is hopeful that both will be willing to help with the project. Lesotho has X.25 access but it is currently being underutilized. g. Tanzania A user group of people interested in using electronic mail has been formed. There is a system set up at the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH). COSTECH has a fido link to Worknet in South Africa. Much of the problems in running the system are caused by the poor quality of power and phone lines in the country. Generally, the relationship with the PTT is good. There is a possibility of getting a leased line to the Internet via South Africa after current negotiations between the respective PTT's is completed. Tanzania has been selected as a possible RINAF site. h. Botswana Botswana currently has a fidonet node and a UUCP link from the University of Botswana to Rhodes University. There is also TCP/IP on the University's network, which should make it possible to operate a leased line to the Uninet. Also, the costs of a leased line are quite affordable. There are one or two Worknet users who access the system through direct dialling Johannesburg, but there is no local system they can use. Morabane Modise, of the Botswana Film Makers Association, has undertaken to organise a meeting of NGOs and users at the University to discuss the formation of a network, provisionally called TswanaNet. i. Mozambique The Center Informatica at Edwardo Mondlane University is currently installing SCO UNIX on a 486 computer through which they hope to have a dialup UUCP link to Rhodes University. The rector at the University is email aware and is supportive of this project. There are also plans to link universities in Nampula, Beira and Maputo. A daily fido connection also takes place between Johannesburg and Maputo public fido bbs systems. NGOs are interested in joining the University system. COCAMO, a Canadian NGO, is operating a UUCP point to CSIR, a computer in South Africa. j. Angola Development Workshop, a Canadian NGO, is currently operating a UUCP point to a computer in Canada. They are currently exploring the possibility of creating a network so that more organisations could use email. A coalition of 8-12 NGOs has been formed. NirvCentre has been contracted to perform a feasability study for the system, and if possible set it up as well. Use of the system could also be extended to parastals, particularly in the fields of Agriculture and Planning. Funders have been approached to support this initiative and it is likely that a system will be operational by Oct, 1993. Angola has been identified as an SDN site. Offices have been set up at the University but there is no hardware installed yet. k. Namibia There are some WorkNet users in Namibia as well as a few UUCP links to Rhodes University. X.25 access is inexpensive. Frank Bevacqua of the Namibia Information Society has undertaken to bring together the NGO and University users of electronic mail in Namibia with a view of starting a local system. 7. INTERNET ACCESS. One of the main focii of representatives from all countries was ways of getting onto the Internet directly. Most systems that are operating have a store-and-forward link to the Internet, but generally it is through irregular and expensive dial up phone connections. Most countries represented could see the possibility of being on the Internet in the near future. A rough budget for costs to make this happen was drawn up as follows: All figures in South African Rand. (US$1 equiv. about R3) Setup at each node CISCO Router . . . . . . . . . . R25,000 Router SA end. . . . . . . . . . .20,000 Pair of Modems . . . . . . . . . . 6,500 Backup modem . . . . . . . . . . . 3,500 Installation charges . . . . . . . 4,000 Leased Line installation . . . . . 4,000 Miscellaneous equipment. . . . . 3,000 Total Setup per node. . . . .66,000 Setup costs for 10 nodes . . . . . . . . . 660,000 Costs of Datalines (per month) Maputo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,000 Swaziland. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 Lesotho. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000 Namibia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,000 Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,000 Zambia . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15,000 Botswana . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,000 Tanzania . . . . . . . . . . . . .15,000 Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15,000 Malawi . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15,000 Total Datalines (per mo). . .87,000 Total Datalines for 1 year . . . . . . . . 104,400 Subscription to Uninet (2,000/mo/node) . 1,000,000 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,764,400 * these figures are all approximate. A questionaire has been distributed to find the exact amounts. The people who were responsible for bringing this project forward in their countries are as follows: Andrew Dachi - COSTECH, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Paulos Kunene and Eelco Vriezekolk, University of Swaziland Lebeko Sello - National University of Lesotho, Maseru Neil Robinson - University of Zambia and Zangonet, Lusaka Peter Mtema, University of Malawi, Zomba. Silvio Almada - RIDS (Sustainable Development Network), Luanda, Angola Venancio Massingue - Center Informatica, Edwardo Mondlane University. Vic Shaw, Foundation for Research Development, South Africa Mike Lawrie - Rhodes University, Grahamstown Arni Mikelsons - NirvCentre, Canada. Mike Jensen - WorkNet/IDRC, South Africa. Frank Bevacqua - Namibia Information Society, Windhoek, Namibia. Morabane Modise - Botswana Film Makers Association, Gaberone Rob Borland - University of Zimbabwe, Harare 8. ACCESSING REGIONAL RESOURCES There are two types of resources that can potentially be accessed by electronic mail. First, are people who are already on networks, but have not been in touch with each other yet. Secondly, there are organisations that have databases on computer, but are not as yet online. Thirdly, there are archives which are not on computer. It was decided that it is very important to exchange user lists particularly between networks in southern Africa, so that people can find others working in the same field. These lists exist, but are generally in a user-unfriendly format. What is needed is a conversion tool that could take these lists and put them in a form that would be more useful for users. It was found that in the areas of Health and Agriculture there were organisations online or wanting to come online in most countries. Further, it is important for representatives of these different interest groups to meet each other in a venue that electronic networking can be discussed. Some of these organisations which are online already, have computer databases, which could be made accessible to others if they were on the Internet. Many organisations have databases in ISIS format, whether on IBM- PCs, Minicomputers of UNIX machines. These include FAO Agris, the Institute for Southern African Studies database in Lesotho, Natural Herbarium and Fresh Water Fish databases in Malawi among others. It should be noted that the ISIS format was developed by UNESCO for use in developing countries, and has become a standard. Other databases that were of interest to participants were: * the Infoterra database, which is based in Kenya. To extract information from this system it is possible to send an email message to Infoterra and they can either send a diskette by regular mail, or send references of where information can be obtained. * The Association of African Universities (AAU) operates a similar service. * The Healthnet project based at the University of Zambia has access to MEDLINE a full-text database which is sent by CD-ROM every six months to them. The library staff have requests sent by email, the search is performed by library staff and the results are sent out by email. Zimbabwe also has a copy of this database. It is envisaged that this information could be sent electronically if these countries are on the Internet. * the South African Bibliographic and Information Network (SABINET) which is a joint catalogue of all south african libraries, and is currently available to anyone on Uninet or the Internet. * SANGONET/WORKNET databases on development. 9. PARTICIPANTS Southern African NGO Electronic Networking Technical Workshop Andrew Dachi - COSTECH, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Arni Mikelsons - NIRV/WEB, Toronto, Canada. Cassi Goodman - UNINET/Earthlife, Pretoria, SA Eelco Vriezekolk, University of Swaziland Frank Bevacqua - Namibia Information Society, Windhoek, Namibia. Gay Wood-Albrecht, Management Information Systems, Univ. of Arizona John Case - TEK/Big Mathata, Gabirone. Keith Regehr - Transformation Resource Centre, Lesotho, Maseru - Kondwani Banda, University of Malawi, Zomba. Lebeko Sello - National University of Lesotho, Maseru - Limakatso Ranko - ISAS Documentation Centre, Maseru, Lesotho Lisa Cotter, Management Information Systems, Univ. of Arizona Mawinnie, Transformation Resource Centre, Maseru, Lesotho. Mike Jensen - IDRC/WorkNet, Johannesburg Mike Lawrie - Rhodes University, Grahamstown Morabane Modise - Film Resource Unit, Johannesburg Neil Robinson - University of Zambia, Lusaka Paulos Kunene, University of Swaziland. Peter Mtema, University of Malawi, Zomba. Rob Borland - University of Zimbabwe, Harare Silvio Almada - RIDS (Sustainable Development Network), Luanda, Angola. Simone Shall - WorkNet, Johannesburg Stefan Corriveau - CIDMAA Centre D'Information et de Documentation Sur L'Afrique Australe Titus William Chalusa - Transport & Logistics Unit, Emergency Mgmt Unit, Office of the President and Cabinet. (SAFIRE PROJECT) Tracey Dickman, International Business Programs, Univ. of Arizona Venancio Massingue - Center Informatica, Edwardo Mondlane University. Maputo, Mozambique. Vic Shaw, Foundation for Research Development, Pretoria. Part Time Attendance: Bill Bowles - ANC Department of Information and Publicity, JHB, SA Paul Nash, CSIR/FRCS, Pretoria. Steve Song - IAI, Johannesburg, Tim Jenkin - ANC Dept of Information and Publicity .