Satellite Internet Project for Afghan High Schools

1
Satellite Internet Project for Afghan High
Schools

• January 12, 2003
• Eiji Hayashi
• BHN Association

2
The introduction of BHN Association

• Established in 1992
• Humanitarian Aid utilizing Telecommunication
• Refugees and Disaster Relief utilizing
  Telecommunication
• Educating Telecommunication Staffs in Developing
  Countries

3
Organizations outline.
4
Supporting Developing Countries

• Improving Telecommunication Infrastructure
• Improving In-Hospital Telephone System
• Constructing Telecommunication Network between
  Hospitals and Local Clinics
• Installing Telemedicine System

5
Information Communication as Basic Human Needs

• Access to Information Infrastructure and
  Meaningful Content Basic Human Right
• ICT Essential for
• Activities to support Basic Human Needs (disaster
  relief, e-health)
• Capacity Building, Training Human Resources
  (e-learning)

6
ICT Needs in Underdeveloped Region

• Lack of Infrastructure
• Lack of Money
• Lack of ICT Skill

7
Top-down Approach vs Bottom-up Approach

• To build IC infrastructure, Top-down approach and
  Bottom-up Approach are complementary

8
Project history

• Improving Telecommunication Infrastructure
  Microwave Link between Moscow and Obninsk to
  support Chernobyl Accident (1996)
• Improving In-Hospital Telephone SystemUkrainian
  National Emergency and Trauma Center (1997)
• Improving In-Hospital Telephone SystemYangon
  General Hospital, Myanmar (1998)
• Installing Telemedicine SystemSatellite
  Telemedicine Systembetween Gomel, Belarus and
  Shinshu Univ.Japan (1999)
• Installing Telemedicine SystemTelemedicine
  between remote hospitals inSarawak, Malaysia
  (2000)

9
Project history contd

• Telecommunication materials for Hurricane Mitch
  Disaster(1998)
• Big Earthquake in Turkey(1999)
• Big Earthquake in Taiwan(2000)
• Refugees in East Timor(2000)
• Snow Damage in Mongolia(2001)
• Big Earthquake in India(2001)

10
BHN ICT PROJCT in Afghanistan

• Wireless Networks for Afghan NGOs
• FM Community Radio station
• Tracking Administration System
• Public Telephone Service for Refugees
• School Net (IT Support for High Schools)
• Wireless Network for Hospitals and Clinics in
  Rural Area

11
A Status of Education in Afghanistan

• No investment in education in past 23 years,
• Lack of teachers,
• Few school facilities
• Shortage of text books and materials.

Internet Education will cover those problems.
12
What is the ICT Education

• Skill to use personal computer
• Key typing and Mouse control
• Word processing software
• Spreadsheet software
• Skill to use the Internet
• E-mail Communication
• Information retrieval using w.w.w. website
• e-Education
• Courseware Science and Mathematics
• Electronic library for education materials
• Virtual science laboratory

13
Communication System PlanFull Fledged System
Jcsat-3
C Band
Max 3km
A school
512kbps Leased line
B school
IEEE-802.11b
Internet Backbone HAWAI TIMEBRS
PROVIDER SYSTEM
C school
Prodelin 3.8m Les
D school
3600
Mail Proxy www proxy
radius
HUB
PSKDigitalSatellite Modem
SW-HUB
ACCESS SYSTEM
C school
SATLLITE SYSTEM
14
Simplified Configuration forPilot High School
Network
High school ICT room
64kbps shared link
Educational contents sever
Max 20 Pc
router
Local internet
Web-sat
Electric Power Supply System
15
The Characteristics of the System.

• High schools in city and rural area are covered
• Applicable in the area where power supply is
  unstable
• Web-sat system may be relocated to another school
  when the local Internet becomes available
• Use of the Internet is limited only to e-mail
  when using Web-sat (due to limited bandwidth)

16
Estimated Implementation Cost of Each High
School System
Training cost of teachers and technicians is not
included.
17
Proposal of More Comprehensive System

• Use of Higher Bandwidth for Satellite
• Where cost is justified
• Development of Courseware
• International cooperation of various
  organizations
• Extensive Training of Teachers and Technicians
• Integration with the Restoration Plan of Afghan
  Education System

18
The Expansion of the Project

• ICT Education is helpful for the war widow as
  well
• Support women for economic independence
• The equipment at the high school may be shared
  with widows holiday school

19
Project Formation
20
To Ensure the Sustainability of the System

• The training of young technicians

Construction of Web-sat and Network
Test operating at Kabul
21
To Ensure the Sustainability of the System
contd

• Maintain and Expand the Use of the System
• Cooperation with Local NGOs, Local Government and
  Local Communities
• Regulatory Orientation to Support Such System
• International Support Scheme to Alleviate the
  Burden of Communication Cost

22
The end

• BHN hopes that peace in Afghanistan goes on by
  the diffusion of ICT.

AACA BHN
UNDP http//www.bhn.or.jp/