REDID is telematic network offering e-mail connectivity
to the Internet to the research community of the Dominican
Republic. The ultimate goals of the research networks,
beside the ease of the national and worldwide communication
among the researchers are:
-the increase and ease of the information access process,
-the organization of thematic communities and virtual
working groups,
-the articulation, communication and information wise, of
the different economical sectors (government, communities,
enterprises).
REDID has received various support for its launching and
operation:
REDALC Office of Union Latina (Foundation Networks and
Development-FUNREDES- since Sept. 1993): Global
coordination for launching and operation of the network.
The Codetel support needs to be rearranged to allow further growth in term of functions and is limited in the time. Unesco and UNDP supports are occasional. The main support (FUNREDES), which at present sustains the whole process, will end by beginning of 94. REDID have to seek complementary international and national support so that to insure its operation and its enhancement toward a real information oriented network.
The document presents a plan in 3 progressive steps for transforming REDID into a complete information oriented network.
REDID was born in 1992, with 25 institutions members and reached a total of 50 users and 40 Institutions after its first year of life. At the end of 1993, it was offering services to some 80 users from 45 institutions linked to research (Universities, NGOs, Public Centers, International Organizations). The actual growth figure is around 5 new users per month from 3 new institutions; however, it is expected a progressive increase of the figure so that to reach 200 users from 75 institutions by end 1994.
REDID is a UUCP (Unix to Unix Copy Program, a
communication protocol) based network implemented as a
logical partition of a commercial e-mail system
(CODEMAIL).
The users gain access from their PC connected by modems at
2400bps,, via a national X25 network with a single dial
number and no cost. The traffic flow to the Internet via a
9600 bps dedicated line connected to the Puerto Rico
research network, within the frame of an agreement signed
between REDID and the Puerto Rico network.
The network interface, within the PC, is made with a high level program specially designed (MULBRI, made by the REDALC team) to ease the access of the users to the network, making it a similar activity as other PC programs and hiding the network complexity.
Beside the e-mail connectivity, several electronic conferences have been organized for REDID within the frame of an agreement with Venezuelan CONICIT and are handled by the network of Venezuela. Among them, one is aiming at facilitate the communication between the researchers abroad and within the country ([email protected]); and several others have a Caribbean focus (TRAMIL, SALSA, ECOCARIB). The KISKEYA "listserv" have reach a point of consistent user base and information flow and a allow a real exchange of information within the Dominican researcher virtual community.
An important course has been organized to train the users to that new technology at the beginning of the project, with the main support of Unesco/Cresalc. Other courses are organized on a regular basis to keep training to the use of the networks and its resources.
The Caribbean integration (and in particular the integration with Haiti) has been, from the beginning, treated as priority input in the design of REDID strategies. FUNREDES is currently assisting to the development of the Haitian network (REHRED).
The member of REDID will start paying a yearly fixed fee of 250 US$ (plus a 100 US$ per new user) by beginning of 1994. The expected collected amount will not be sufficient to cover the basic operation cost.
REDID is the result of an effort conducted by the REDALC's Project Office of Union Latina and has been designed as a pilot project within the frame of the REDALC
| project. Other |
International Agencies has participated in |
| the process |
of launching or operating REDID |
| (UNESCO/CRESALC |
and UNDP). |
REDALC (Red de America Latina y el Caribe) is a project from Union Latina, funded by EEC and with the participation of UNESCO, which started in 1988, aiming at providing a comprehensive long range solution for research networks in Latin America and the Caribbean, putting the emphasis in user involvement of the users, the content of the network, the regional integration and the participation to the national and regional development. Among the various operations realized within the frame of REDALC (Peruvian network, electronic conferences, friendly user interface) around the REDALC project, REDID has been considered as a pilot project. The REDALC group has been responsible for the launch and the first 18 months of operation.
STEP 1: BASIC LEVEL: from 1/94 to 12/94
REDID have to take under its responsibility the functions which have been insured so far by Funredes and conclude the technology transfer process.
Functions:
-Administration of the Association.
-Installation of new users.
-Training of users.
-User support.
-Network animation.
-Network operation and maintenance.
The accomplishment of these functions require a minimal infrastructure composed of:
-a local for 3 people with telephone, fax, and a meeting
room for 10 people (for the Council of Directors).
-a computer with printer, and a typewriter.
-a person responsible for General coordination and
| BUDGET US$ MONTHLY |
FIXED |
|
| Local: |
400 |
|
| Utilities: |
200 |
|
| Personal: |
2400 |
|
| Hardware: |
|
5000 |
| Fixed costs: |
500 |
|
STEP 2: MIGRATION TOWARD INTERNET CAPABILITY STARTING 5/94
This step requires the installation of computer node for TCP-IP networking and the enhancement of the dedicated line to Puerto Rico into the speed of 64,000 bps. This will impact the user interface and provoke the need for additional training.
Beside the basic support it is required a computer with all software and the communication adapters necessary to support the TCP-IP protocol and the FTP and TELNET functions. The installation of a node specific to REDID will allow to provide a set of enhancements in term of functionality such as statistics of use, menus of information. This will open the requirement for a second person with a technical skill.
The increase of the speed of the international line will modify the agreement with the telecom operator and open the need for a participation of the cost of this line.
| ADDITIONAL BUDGET US$ |
MONTHLY |
|
FIXED |
| Local: Utilities: Personal: Hardware/Software: Telecommunications: Fixed costs: |
200 700 2000 100 |
25000 |
|
| TOTAL YEARLY: 46,000 |
|
US$ |
|
The goal of step 3 is to install and operate, within the REDID
network client node, a benchmark of several applications aiming
at:
-Ease the access to various information free of use within the
Internet.
-Organize a data base on Dominican Republic assets, and make it
accessible, from the Internet.
The specific required products are: WAIS, GOPHER, ARCHIE, WHOIS and MIME (all free-ware). However, it is forecasted to get an expert for a one week installation and training action (the maintenance training will be organized by e-mail).
-General coordination. Management of the project and the action
plan.
-Definition of a precise work plan. Includes the objectives and
job description for each project members.
-Preparation of the training seminar and of the applications
procuration.
-Application training and installation.
-Dominican Republic data base design.
-Application testing and user training. The user training will be
conducted by the same project team.
-Data Base installation and testing.
-Internal marketing for the applications.
-External marketing for the data base.
Step 3 is to be considered as project requiring the coordination of national and international manpower. It is not forecasted to increase the REDID team but to use complementary skills only for the duration of the projects. However the completion of this step may arise, for the 95, the need for hiring a responsible for information matters, who shall have as main objective to emulate the REDID member institutions to create and access information in the Internet.
US $
DEFINITION AND COORDINATION.............7500
TECHNICAL COORDINATION APPLICATIONS.....3000
TECHNICAL COORDINATION DATA BASE........2000
TECHNICAL MEMBERS (10 person/month).....5000
INTERNATIONAL EXPERT FEES AND TRAVEL....3500
TRAINING SEMINAR........................6000
MARKETING...............................3000
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS....................2000