torman eumedgrid 060907

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Research and Education e-Infrastructures: The Development Enabler Damascus 5-6 September 2007 Efforts Towards Establishing a PAN Arab Network for Research and Education Yousef Torman Executive Director Jordanian Universities Network

Why Regional Network?: 

Why Regional Network? To provide collaboration space and tools for the research and education communities To enhance the quality and the deliverables of research and education in the region Join efforts and encourage team work Utilize and make use of resources in the different networks and countries

Example from Jordan: 

Example from Jordan INTERNET Consolidation Project Before consolidation: each University had its own connection the internet (total speed was 60 Mbps with cost of 1.8 MJD) After Consolidation: One common Internet gateway for all Universities and distributed to the Universities through the JUNet network (155 Mbps for 1.4 MJD) Benefits: More redundancy and backup lines Speed burstability 65% savings for the Internet cost Better utilization of the internet link

Example from Jordan: 

Example from Jordan Integrated Library Management System One application providing services to all the Libraries in the Public Universities through one Center of Excellence providing the support and training for all Universities Benefits One common application and interface for all students and staff in all Universities Cost reduction in terms of hardware, software, licenses, upgrades and support

PAN Arab Research Network: 

PAN Arab Research Network In 2005 and based on Jordan’s Experience with JUNet, The Ministry of ICT of Jordan initiated a project to study the feasibility of using the optical fiber of the power distribution grid in the Arab Countries for the purpose of building the PAN Arab Research and Education Network The project was funded by the Government of Jordan and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Cisco Systems The first phase of the feasibility study covered Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine Authority, Lebanon and Syria

PAN Arab Research Network: 

PAN Arab Research Network Except Libya, The Team visited these countries and interviewed: Ministries of ICT & HE Universities and research institutes NRENs Telecom Regulatory Authorities Power Companies The main focus during the study was on the following: Policy Regulatory Technical Economy

PAN - Results: 

PAN - Results There team found that there will be no major obstacles regarding policy, regulatory, fiber availability in most of the countries except Libya (there were some plans to build fiber on the power grid in Libya) The initial cost estimate was in the range of 32M$ to 42M$ depending on the type of network to be implemented, in addition to 3.5 M$ annual cost

PAN – Next (last) Steps: 

PAN – Next (last) Steps The feasibility was presented to the ICT Ministers in WSIS in Tunisia in September 2005, and then forwarded to the Arab League The issue was triggered again by JUNet and MoICT of Jordan with the Arab League in June 2006 at the level of the General Secretariat The ICT Committee of the Arab League which is responsible for formulating the ICT Strategy in the Arab States, discussed the PAN in their meeting 11-13 September 2006, they requested more information and justification from MoICT of Jordan New initiative then was introduced ….

NAP: Arab States Network Access Points : 

NAP: Arab States Network Access Points In line with the Global Summit on Knowledge societies, one pillar of the General Arab Strategy for Communication and Information Technology / “Building an Information society 2007-2012” was: “Achieving universal access and improving quality of services for the Arab citizen, utilizing information and communication technology” Based on this pillar, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) / Arab Regional office adopted the NAP in the Arab states initiative

NAP – Proposed Locations: 

NAP – Proposed Locations Western Arab NAP: located in Morocco to cover Algeria, Mauritania, Libya and Tunisia Middle East NAP: located in Egypt to connect Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti and Comoros. GCC NAP: located in Dubai to connect Kuwait , Saudi Arabia , Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, UAE and Yemen. Cham NAP: in located Jordan to connect Syria ,Iraq, Palestine Authority and Lebanon .

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NAP: Layout

NAP: Expected Benefits: 

NAP: Expected Benefits Increase in internet usage. Savings on the utilization of bandwidth between connected countries and the USA, which is a major cost of Internet services. Hence it will reduce Internet usage costs and provide benefit to the end user Increasing Arab Digital content. Reduce the cost of the international calls between the Arab countries by using voice over IP technology through the connectivity available. Ensure uninterrupted connection between Arab countries if any of the international routes fails.

NAP: Expected Benefits (continued) : 

NAP: Expected Benefits (continued) Improving quality of service, reduce bottlenecks, and accelerate access to various applications Allowing for the optimal use of available infrastructures and capacities. Enhancement the Economic status for the participating countries due to the expected increase use and utilization of internet, ease in carrying out e-business, growth in e-learning, evolvement of Arabs as leading IT professionals, better e-governance facilities and telecommunication vibrancy

NAP - Actions and Status: 

NAP - Actions and Status Four task forces are working for each NAP, the task forces include Telecom Providers, ISPs, Telecom Regulatory, and Governments. the task forces report to the ITU of Arab region Task forces conducted many meetings and surveys. No clear plan is finalized yet.

NAP and (or) PAN?: 

NAP and (or) PAN? As the PAN was not adopted by the Arab League, JUNet addressed the NAP project through the task force of Cham point. The request was to take this opportunity to build the PAN on top of or in parallel with the NAP The request was welcomed and discussed by the Arab League ICT Policy Committee meeting in Amman (28-30 Sept 2007) The committee requested more details to be discussed in the next meeting in December 2007

Rome Declaration: 

Rome Declaration After several meetings and discussions, the representatives of the Arab Mediterranean NRENs recognized that: The importance for the academic and research community in the Mediterranean region to count on a regional infrastructure for data communication to improve cooperation in the area of academic research and investigation and education within the region and globally. The importance for the academic and research community in the Mediterranean region to count on a regional consortium to support the development and implementation of a regional infrastructure for data communication based on advanced networks. The importance for the academic and research community in the Mediterranean region to count on a regional consortium to support applications and e-services that assist research, education and learning in these countries.

Rome Declaration (September 2006): 

Rome Declaration (September 2006) Therefore the representatives of the Arab Mediterranean NRENs Declared that: The necessity for the existence of national research and education networks The desire to further develop and consolidate the Mediterranean EUMEDCONNECT network . That it is desirable to establish a Mediterranean research and education network based on the existing research networks in several countries. To cooperate in the development and consolidation of national research and education networks in those countries in the Mediterranean region, where they do not yet exist or where they have recently been founded To create a Mediterranean coordination space for the integration and regional coordination of the national research and education networks.

إتحاد شبكات البحث العلمي والتعليم للدول العربية المتوسطية : 

إتحاد شبكات البحث العلمي والتعليم للدول العربية المتوسطية Consortium of Arab Mediterranean Research and Education Networks (CAMREN) The consortium was introduced as an action point for the Rome Declaration

CAMREN : 

CAMREN Currently; the CAMREN proposal include the NRENs of the following Countries: Syria Palestine Jordan Egypt Algeria Morocco Other countries: Libya, Lebanon and Tunisia are also invited

CAMREN : 

CAMREN A draft consortium agreement was prepared by the directors and representatives of the NREN of these Countries: The draft consortium agreement is under study by the different countrie Amman was sellected to host the consortium Algeria generously will host the consortium signature ceremony once finalized The agreement is expected to be signed in November 2007

Major Concerns: 

Major Concerns Financial support Technical Support Applications Promotion

Slide24: 

Thank You