[CAnet - news] Pan Arab Research and Education Network Study Launched

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Pan Arab Research and Education Network Feasibility Study Launched 


March 7, 2005, Ottawa, Canada: 

Connectivity Partners International, Inc. and Xit Telecom Inc., are pleased
to announce the initiation of a $380K (Cdn) consulting study of the policy,
regulatory and technical feasibility of establishing a dedicated broadband
network linking leading universities in countries across the Middle East and
North Africa. The project is being sponsored by the Canadian International
Development Agency and Cisco Systems, Inc. The results of the study will be
provided to the participating organizations and their governments by
September 2005. 

The Project aims to demonstrate the practicality and cost-effectiveness of
networking some of the Arab World’s main research and education centers,
beginning with leading universities, by better harnessing existing
telecommunications assets. It is anticipated that the network will span over
6,000 kilometers and provide bandwidth in the gigabit range typical of
contemporary research networks in Europe and North America.  This work
builds on work by CPI, Xit and Canarie in helping to design and cost
Jordan’s National Learning Network including the now operational University
Research and Learning Network connecting that country’s eight public
universities. As has been shown in Jordan and other countries, private
research networks are often able to provide much higher bandwidth at lower
cost, especially if they can take advantage of existing but unused fibre
optic capacity.

“Advanced telecommunications is critical to helping universities play an
expanded role in economic, social and cultural development within the Arab
World,” said Mr. Douglas Hull, President of CPI, “and we think there are
practical ways of ensuring better access at lower costs”. He noted that two
of the world’s leading university network organizations, DANTE and CANARIE,
are supportive of the project and willing to provide technical advice.

The existing EUMEDCONNECT network built by DANTE using European Union
subsidies provides advanced international communications facilities between
the countries of the Middle East and North Africa and provides them with
high-speed access to the pan-European GÉANT network.  Developing the network
facilities available within the countries of the region will complement
EUMEDCONNECT’s achievements. “Most countries in the Region already have
university networks but these are often able to provide only limited
bandwidth” explains Mr. David West, Project Manager, DANTE, “but
interconnecting the hub institutions in each country through a fibre-based
network could offer significant performance, cost and administrative
improvements.  Combined with the advantages delivered by the EUMEDCONNECT
network, this would further improve the ability of the region’s universities
to collaborate with the international research community.”   

As an initial partner in developing the Connecting Jordanians agenda and
designing Jordan’s broadband university network, Canarie Inc., the architect
and manager of Canada’s advanced innovation network Ca*net, expressed
enthusiastic support for the project. "Fibre-based customer-empowered
networks are the leading-edge of university connectivity and national
innovation.” said Dr. Andrew Bjerring, Canarie President and CEO. “This is a
very important step for the Region’s research and learning institutions.”

Connectivity Partners International Inc. is a Canadian-based IT consulting
firm specializing in the development and implementation of national,
regional and local IT  strategies and the design and deployment of advanced
networks and connectivity programs, especially in the research, education
and government sectors.  

Xit télécom inc is an engineering firm based in the Province of Quebec which
has been extensively involved in deploying dark fiber networks in Canada.
For example, Xit engineered the RISQ University network in Quebec which
links all universities and colleges in the Province. The firm has also been
involved in designing and constructing other university and school networks
in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

For more information on the Pan Arab Research and Education Network
feasibility study project, please contact [email protected].
For background on Xit Telecom Inc. and Connectivity Partners International
Inc. please visit: www.xittelecom.com and www.connectivitypartners.ca,
respectively.



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These news items and comments are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect
those  of the CANARIE board or management.


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