The development of this network presents a set of originalities worth mentioning:

1. As in the case of the Peruvian network [RCP], REDID had followed the stepping process proposed by the "REDALC methodology" of UNION LATINA: -REDID gathers researchers from every type of Research Institutions. -REDID is the result of an open, transparent and democratic process with high level of participation and decision of the end-users. -REDID is supported by several International Organizations [Union Latina, Unesco, UNDP]. Special agreements has been made between UNESCO's CRESALC Office in Caracas and Union Latina's REDALC Office in Santo Domingo, to join competencies and efforts. -REDID use a UUCP protocol with gateway to the Internet. User access will be made via PC terminals connected to the national X25 network.

2. REDID users interface the central node with the MULBRI PC program [built on the top of UUPC], in its first large scale experiment. MULBRI is an ongoing development conducted by UNION LATINA to offer a multi-lingual, state of the art, PC based, interface, transparent to the types of networks [already exists a BITNET version for VM/SIMPC users, and there are plans to enhance coverage].

3. REDID users will received an outstanding training, in July, co -organized by UNESCO and UNION LATINA. This comprehensive workshop, designed for telematics users from the research community, will gather a bunch of specialists with different skills and perspectives.

4. The node is linked to the Puerto Rico's Research Network [CRACIN] which will give it the Internet appearance. A message to [email protected]/EDU.DO will reach the UPR2 node in the Internet, then the REDID sub-system in the Codemail node will get it using UUCP protocol. CRACIN accepted to channel the Dominican traffic, free of charge, under a special agreement.

5. Last but not least, for the first time, a National Research Network receives a full range support from a National Telecommunication Company. CODETEL [a GTE subsidiary managing a predominant part of the telecom market in the Dominican Republic], is offering a logical partition inside its commercial e.mail system: the UUCP based CODEMAIL. Research Institutions members of REDID will, at no cost:
   • gain telephone access to the X25 network [CODEPACK] from anywhere in the country,
   • gain access via the X25 network to the CODEMAIL system where a limited [but large enough to cover the needs] number of mailboxes will be reserved to them.
   • have their traffic linked to the Puerto Rico Research Network [a well provisioned volume limit is set].

CODETEL's support stems from its commitment to the national development, but is also the right business answer to the chicken and egg dilemma which prevents the telematic market growth. The agreement will last 18 months. After that period it is expected to see REDID getting its own UUCP node accessible, via Codepack, and to maintain the other parts of the current agreement.

Others companies from the industrial world will offer complimentary supports to REDID. In particular, another company from the telecom environment AACR [All American Cable and Radio] is preparing the free access to some National Scientific and Technic Data Bases, and another agreement is under study with french Questel for a limited free access to some DB.

The number of REDID users is expected to start at 25 and progressively grows toward few hundreds [the estimated figure for the Dominican Republic researcher population].

Part of the methodology and the results should be usable in other developing countries. Similar agreements with the telecom companies should be obtainable in various other places. The findings will be documented within a 3 months time frame.

For more information on REDID and/or national matters : Lucero Arboleda, [email protected]

For more information on REDALC and/or international matters: Daniel Pimienta, [email protected]

PS: A disappointing note to conclude. The initial objective, stated during the REDALC workshop in July 1991 [when the idea of REDID was crystallized], was to associate the Haitian researchers to the proposed solution and method. Unfortunately, present conditions in Haiti have made this impossible.