[liberationtech] Help needed for Internet access in Africa

[Cecilia Tanaka]

Dear Doc,

I do apologize for answering to your message, but Yosem and Zak are *very
busy* at the moment.

Yes, my dear, you and other members of the Liberation Tech List can share
this important request in other lists and groups.  I am completely sure you
and all the others can help Anelda e her team a lot.

Thank you very much!  Warm regards and my best wishes!  <3

Ceci
-------
"Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your
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On Fri, Jun 23, 2017 at 6:23 PM,
​​
Doc Searls <dsearls at cyber.law.harvard.edu> wrote:

> Might I share this on another list?
>
> Doc
>
> On Jun 23, 2017, at 2:36 AM, Yosem Companys <companys at stanford.edu> wrote:
>
> From: Anelda van der Walt <ANELDA.VANDERWALT at NWU.AC.ZA>
>
> Dear all,
>
> I realise we have a very diverse group of people subscribed to this list
> and really hope someone on the list can help with ideas or can put us in
> touch with someone who can help.
>
> In July 2017 colleagues from University of New Orleans will be running a
> 5-day bioinformatics workshop in Gabon, Central Africa. The workshop will
> include some modules from the Carpentry repertoire.  The researchers from
> New Orleans have a longstanding relationship with the Gabon university and
> have been involved in a number of capacity building initiatives over the
> years. Amongst other things, participants will learn this year, to use
> cloud computing (thanks Jason!) for genomics data analysis...
>
> The reality is that the university does not have Internet... Although our
> colleagues from the US will be buying data bundles and using the local
> mobile network to get access to Internet for the duration of the course
> (with its limitations and high costs associated), we are trying to help the
> university to get access to Internet at a broader level.
>
> We are working with the country's Education and Research Network service
> provider, but costs are astronomical and as such the Science Faculty, who
> is keen to take a lead on this initiative, will just not be able to cover
> installation costs and monthly costs from an already depleted budget.
>
> So, we have a use case (bioinformatics data analysis in the cloud), we
> have a champion at the Gabon university (Dean of Science Faculty), we have
> the network provider ready with plans to install (GabonREN), we have an
> existing relationship between US/Gabon (so not one of those once off
> helicopter capacity building initiatives).
>
> What we don't have:
>
>    - Skills in the IT department to install and maintain internet (The
>    Science Dean said they will have to contract these skills in)
>    - Funding to afford the initial installation
>    - Funding to maintain the installation (staff/contractors)
>    - Funding for monthly line rental
>
> Does anybody have an idea about someone we could approach for help?
>
> I look forward to seeing how our collective wisdom and networks may be
> able to help fellow researchers get access to the Internet.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Anelda
>
>
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