Message-ID: <Pine.3.07.9503231210.A4453-f100000@solar.rtd.utk.edu> Date: Thu, 23 Mar 1995 12:52:10 -0500 From: Tak Utsumi <mailto:utsumi@SOLAR.RTD.UTK.EDU> Subject: Part 3 of 3 on follow-up of GTU project by ITU To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L
PART 3 OF 3 ON THE FOLLOW-UP OF GTU BY ITU
Date: Mon, 06 Mar 1995 17:58:08 +0100 (CET)
From: ERNBERG <mailto:JOHAN.ERNBERG@itu.ch>
Subject: FWD: African telematics symposium
To: Takeshi Utsumi <mailto:utsumi@columbia.edu>
Tak,
This might be of interest to you as tele-learning, knowledge networks, etc.
will be discussed in this symposium which is the one of the first concrete
actions carried out within our BAAP programme No. 12. (Sorry to flood you
with documents but I just return your courtesy).
Best regards.
Johan
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subject:
Sender: ERNBERG <mailto:ERNBERG@AM.ITU.CH>
To: Lars Quortrup <mailto:larsq@litcul.ou.dk>, Per Hetland <per.hetland@osir.hih.no>
Cc: LARS ENGVALL <mailto:ENGVALL@SEIT.ITU.CH>, Roger Mackenzie
mailto:<rogerm@taranaki.ac.nz>
Dear friends,
As you know, we (the ITU) feel that the developing countries, which wish to
introduce Community Telecentres, would benefit tremendously from cooperation
with similar movements and initiatives in industrialized countries. We also
believe that the impact of the many of the on-going initiatives aiming at
reducing the gap between the information "haves" and "have not's" and at
building an appropriate telecom infrastructure, particularly those focusing on
developing countries, could be considerably enhanced through improved
coordination and cooperation.
The Buenos Aires Action Plan (BAAP), adopted by the World Telecommunication
Development Conference, WTDC/94, organized by the ITU in Buenos Aires in March
1994, is intended to provide a framework for coordination and cooperation in
telecoms development at a global level.
The ITU provides some "seed money" for financing of some "core activities" of
the BAAP but we are looking for partners and sponsors to enhance these
programmes. Some 80 telecom manufacturers and service providers have
indicated their interest in contributing to developing telecoms (and their
markets!) within the framework of the BAAP and become members of ITU's Telecom
Development Bureau (BDT). However, particularly for the programme No. 9 -
"Integrated rural Development" - and Programmme No. 12 - "Development of
Telematics and Computer Networks" we would also like to find sponsors and
partners for joint ventures from the IT industry, including software houses,
and from multimedia equipment and service providers.
On 15 March 95 we will organize a "Development Partners' meeting here in
Geneva to discuss the 12 programmes of the BAAP and identify partners and
possible contributions and joint ventures. Please let me know if you are
interested and want me to fax you more info about the BAAP Programmes Nos 9
and 12 and the Development Partners' meeting.
2-6 April we are organizing a Regional African Symposium on Telematics for
Development in Addis Ababa together with UNESCO, UNECA and IDRC. (as part of
BAAP No. 12) A Panel on Community Telecentres will be organized during that
Symposium and you are of course welcome to attend (as panelists?)
Here is a description of the Symposium:
AFRICAN REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM
on
TELEMATICS FOR DEVELOPMENT
UNECA Headquarters
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2-6 April 1995
organized by
- United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
- International Telecommunication Union, (ITU)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
in partnership with
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
*******************************
Background - Telematics for Development
The accelerating advancement of telematics - the marriage of
telecommunications with informatics and audiovisual technologies - is spawning
a multiplicity of new applications such as multimedia products and services,
"intelligent" interfaces, high definition television, and ubiquitous computer
networks seen as evolving rapidly towards "information superhighways". This
transformation, although up until now evident mainly in the industrialized
countries, will steadily improve access to rich and nearly instantaneous
supplies of information worldwide, independent of distance, and lead to major
changes in all societies - in the economy, in government, in life-styles, in
cultural patterns and in education systems.
In particular, telematics will enable the creation of cooperative networks in
Africa and, in a longer perspective, offer new opportunities for distance
education, health care and other development-related activity. Access to
information and know-how through such networks will enhance sustainable
development in all sectors of society.
In 1992-93 ITU and UNESCO carried out a joint study entitled The Right to
Communicate - At What Price? Economic Constraints to the Effective Use of
Telecommunications in Education, Science, Culture and in the Circulation of
Information, which analyzed the obstacles to and benefits of the application
of telematics in these sectors, with particular attention to the situation of
the developing countries. The study concluded that telematics is a major
factor in the development process, and that users and telecommunication
operators in developing countries have abundant possibilities to work
together, with appropriate incentives from the public authorities, to initiate
innovative approaches to telematics which take account of available new
technologies and of market opportunities.
The present Symposium is intended as a forum to promote cooperative action for
the development of telematics facilities and the use of telematics services in
Africa, taking full account of existing efforts and infrastructure and with
the concerted support of the international community.
Objectives of the Symposium
The Symposium aims to bring together representatives of actual and
potential telematics users and service providers, telecommunication
Administrations and operators, and concerned government agencies in order to:
1. provide an up-to-date overview of international advances in telematics
networks and services, particularly for use in education, science,
culture, the media and other development oriented sectors;
2. take stock of African initiatives to plan, develop, operate and
improve telematics services;
3. explore African needs for telematics services for development and
build bridges among the concerned user groups;
4. review and discuss the available, planned and required
telecommunication facilities to satisfy these needs;
5. promote the elaboration of concrete national and regional strategies
and policies for the development and use of telematics services,
emphasizing market-oriented approaches and opportunities for
partnership between user groups, telecommunication operators and public
authorities;
6. consider cooperative financial and institutional mechanisms to promote
the development of needed telematics services in Africa.
***********************************
Participants
The participants from African countries will come from telematics user
organizations (ministries, universities, research centres and councils, news
agencies, broadcasters, small and medium industry, etc.), information and
informatics service providers, telecommunication Administrations and
telecommunication operators. They will participate in their personal
capacities, but should be recommended by their employers or Governments.
Partial or full travel support will be provided to a limited number of
participants by the sponsoring Organizations.
International specialists will also participate, notably representatives of
concerned bilateral, regional and international organizations (including
international networks and telecommunication carriers) and a number of experts
invited in their personal capacities.
All participants will be expected to provide written communications, e.g.
presentations of relevant experience or proposals, or national surveys of
telematics use and potential.
The Programme
The Symposium programme, covering five working days, will tentatively include
the following elements:
Presentations and discussion on international trends and opportunities in
telematics (policies and strategies, technological evolution, etc.)
Presentations and discussion on African initiatives and needs concerning
telematics facilities and services
Specialized sessions on:
- connectivity for data communications in Africa and the role of
standardization of telematics applications
- infrastructure and services for video transmission and multimedia
- appropriate tariff structures for telematics development
- training, retraining and education through telematics
Conclusions on national and regional strategies
Recommendations on an action plan
Working Languages
English and French will be the working languages of the Symposium. The
working documents will be established in both languages and simultaneous
interpretation will be provided.
Organization
The Organizing Committee of the Symposium is composed of representatives of
the sponsoring Organizations (UNECA, ITU, UNESCO, IDRC). Other international
and regional organizations may subsequently join as sponsors.
A Scientific Committee of distinguished African and international telematics
experts will advise the Organizing Committee on the preparation and
organization of the Symposium.
*****************************
Information and Applications
Member States, telecommunication Administrations and other major institutions
concerned with telematics in Africa are invited to recommend candidates for
the Symposium. Applications to participate are also invited from interested
individuals in Africa, and should be accompanied by a recommendation by the
candidate's employer or Government.
Applications should, if possible, be received before 31 January 1995.
Requests for information and applications should be addressed to:
Ms. Nancy Hafkin
Officer-in-Charge, PADIS
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: (251-1) 51 11 67
(251-1) 51 72 00 ext. 281
Fax: (251-1) 51 44 16
(1-212) 963 4957
E-mail: mailto:nhafkin@padis.gn.apc.org
mailto:hafkin.uneca@un.org
******************************
Candidates should provide the following information:
Full name:
________________________________________________________
Employer:
________________________________________________________
Position/title:
________________________________________________________
Full contact address:
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Telephone: _________ Fax: _________ Telex: _______ E-mail _________
Description of functions concerning telematics:
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Title of contribution:
____________________________________________
Abstract (150-200 words):
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Financial support required:
_______________________________________________
Note: Limited funding is available to finance the travel and/or subsistence of
selected African candidates. At equal levels of qualification, priority will
be given to candidates who are able to obtain funding from their employers or
other sources and who, therefore, do not apply for full support.
and here is the programme
PROPOSED PROGRAMME
SUNDAY, 2 APRIL (16:00-18:00)
Meeting of the Scientific Committee
MONDAY, 3 APRIL
MORNING SESSION (9:00-13:00)
Opening addresses:
Mr. Makhan Sarr, Deputy Executive Secretary, UNECA
Representative of the host country
Mr. A. Laouyane, Director, ITU-D
Mr. H. Yuskiavitshus, UNESCO Assistant Director-
General for Communication, Information and
Informatics, and
Mr. G. Biorci, Chairman, UNESCO/IIP
Mr. D. Balson, IDRC
Keynote address:
Ms. A. Massala, Minister of Communication of
Congo (alternate possibilities: Mr. J.
Chissano, President of Mozambique; Mr.
Marius Francesco, Minister of Culture and
Communication of Benin; Mr. Rugunda,
Minister of Telecommunications, Uganda)
COFFEE BREAK (11:00-11:15)
Election of Officers
Administrative information (Ms. N. Hafkin, UNECA)
Telematics for Africa in a Global Context - the issues
presented in the Discussion Paper (Mr. M. Jensen)
Report on "Africa Face to Information Superhighway" - Round
Table, Tunis, March 1995 (Mr. M. Masmoudi)
LUNCH BREAK (13:00-14:30)
AFTERNOON SESSION (14:30-18:00)
Internet demonstration (facilities available subsequently
in demonstration room)
African Telematics Initiatives (first part):
RINAF
RIO
COFFEE BREAK (16:15-16:30)
African Telematics Initiatives (continuation):
REFER
Sustainable Development Networking Programme (UNDP)
CABECA
EVENING
Reception
TUESDAY, 4 APRIL
MORNING SESSION (9:00-13:00)
African Telematics Initiatives (continuation):
PTO Packet Switching (PTO Scientific Committee member)
Commercial Value-added Services (SONATEL, Senegal)
The Internet in Africa (Ms. Nashwa Abdel-Baki, Egypt)
COFFEE BREAK (11:00-11:15)
User Groups and Needs (first part):
Education (Mr. D. Walker)
Health (HealthNet)
Agriculture (CGNet?)
LUNCH BREAK (13:00-14:30)
AFTERNOON SESSION (14:30-18:00)
User Groups and Needs (continuation):
Libraries and other Information Centres (IFLA)
News media (MISA?)
Trade (ITC-TradeNet?)
COFFEE BREAK (16:15-16:30)
Panel #1: Consolidation of Demand and Sharing of Resources
WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL
MORNING SESSION (9:00-13:00)
Panel #2: Rural Access, Telecentres and Community Networks
(Chairman: Mr. Johan Ernberg, ITU)
COFFEE BREAK (11:00-11:15)
Panel #3: Going without Cable - Radio Access Options
(immediate opportunities and future horizons)
Terrestrial radio communications
VSAT
LEO
LUNCH BREAK (13:00-14:30)
AFTERNOON SESSION (14:30-18:00)
The Regulatory Framework - Implications for Telematics:
Introductory presentation (Mr. Simon Moshiro, ITU?)
* Panel #4: Radio Licensing and Spectra (Chairman: Mr. Gary
Garriott, VITA)
* Panel #5: Tariffs - A Win-Win Situation (Chairman: Mr. J.
Gilbert)
COFFEE BREAK (16:15-16:30)
* Panel #6: Terminal Equipment - Experimentation,
Accreditation, Importation, Production
* Panel #7: Regulation - Constaints, Reform and
Cooperation
THURSDAY, 6 APRIL
MORNING SESSION (9:00-13:00)
Panel #8: Broadband Perspectives, Video and Multimedia
Applications (Chairman: Mr. Guila Thiam, Senegal? or
South African specialist?)
Panel #9: Role of Users, PTOs, Private Industry and Public
Authorities in Telematics Infrastructure Planning and
Development - Potential Partnerships
COFFEE BREAK (11:00-11:15)
Panel #10: Training for Telematics Network Management,
Development and Use
LUNCH BREAK (13:00-14:30)
AFTERNOON SESSION (14:30-18:00)
Panel #11: Network Interconnection and Promotion - the
Coordination of Regional and International Efforts
COFFEE BREAK (16:15-16:30)
Meeting of the Scientific Committee to draft strategy
recommendations and follow-up project proposals (free time
for other participants)
FRIDAY, 7 APRIL
MORNING SESSION (9:00-13:00)
Working Groups of Planning of Follow-up Projects
(Secretariat to translate and reproduce draft strategy
recommendations)
AFTERNOON SESSION (14:30-18:00)
Reports of the sessions (Panel Chairpersons)
COFFEE BREAK (16:15-16:30)
Discussion and Adoption of Strategy Recommendations
*************************
One objective of the Symposium is to bring together partners and user-groups
to plan and coordinate telematics development activities in Africa for the
next few years within the framework of the BAAP programmes or other on-going
initiatives. It also offers an opportunity to find out more about the many
on-going initiatives which are presently fairly uncoordinated.
Please let me know if you will be able to participate as a panelist in the
session on Community Telecentres
(Unfortunately we have no funds to cover your travel costs)
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards
Johan
**********************************************************************
* Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D. *
* Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education *
* President, Global University in the U.S.A. (GU/USA) *
* A Divisional Activity of GLOSAS/USA *
* (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.) *
* 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-3998, U.S.A. *
* Tel: 718-939-0928; Fax: 718-939-0656 (day time only--prefer email) *
* INTERNET: mailto:utsumi@columbia.edu; Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676 *
**********************************************************************