|
@t Ease with E-mail
Part 3: A Sampling of Networks in Developing Countries
Latin America and the Caribbean
The information in this directory of network service
providers includes:
- Network Provider s Name, Address and Number
of Users
- Brief Description
- Services Available
- Charges (as of July 1994)
- Key NGO Users of the System
- Additional Information, such as suggestions
for new users, training, etc.
For the most part, the information provided in
this directory has been reproduced as received from the network service
providers. Additional requests for information should be directed to them.
Latin America and the Caribbean
A Number of other sources provide information about
electronic communication networks in Latin
America and the Caribbean
ARGENTINA
Wamani (Indian name: spirit of nature )
CCI-Red Wamani
Talcahuano 325-3F 1013 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tel: +54-1/382 6842, 793 1502
E-mail: info@wamani.apc.org
Contact person: Carlos Alvarez (Node Director)
Number of registered users: 100
Number of active users: 60
Brief Description
Wamani is a member of the international network of the Association for
Progressive Communications (APC).
Services Available
It provides access to more than 150 conferences about peace, human rights,
population development, education, health, environment, ecology, energy,
political information, international information, regional information,
women, children, and other issues of concern to the NGO community. It
supports Spanish and English. International messages are delivered within
three hours.
Charges
Registration for institutions:US$15-30 (1 Argentine Peso = US$1).
Monthly subscription: US$10-20.
Connect charges:US$3-4/hour if used more than 3 hours/month.
To receive messages: up to 500 Kbs/month free.
Key NGO Users
A number of NGOs use Wamani.
Additional Information
Wamani suggests you contact them before buying a modem and recommends
modems with V.42bis hardware protocol. The system responds to any modem
and has at its end 14,400 modems with V.42bis protocol.
Special workshops offering basic orientation about
networks and the use of the Wamani system take place periodically.
BAHAMAS
COB-The College of the Bahamas
Thompson Blvd Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: +809/323 8550
Fax: +809/326 7834
E-mail: ambri@cob.edu.bs
Contact person: Barbara C. Ambrister
Number of registered users: 70
Number of active users: 25
Brief Description
No specific information is available about this network.
Services Available
It provides access to e-mail within the country and internationally. It
supports communications in English and international e-mail is delivered
within 12 hours.
Charges
No registration fee.
Monthly subscription: Depends on monthly volume of e-mail (up to 30,000
Kb: US$5; 60,000 Kb: US$10 and so on).
No connect charges per minute.
No charges to send or receive international messages.
Key NGO Users
Neil Sealey Nsealey
Additional Information
They suggest modems be purchased from the US. The system responds to any
type of modem but they prefer 14,400 modems. They plan to make their system
available to the student body via local area network shortly.
BELIZE
University College of Belize
PO Box 990 Belize City, Belize
Tel: +501-2/32732
Fax: +501-2/30255
E-mail: brian@ucb.edu.bz or ucb@upr2.clu.net
Contact person: Brian Candler
Number of registered users: 22 (UUCP accounts)
Number of active users: 20 (UUCP accounts)
Brief Description
No details are available about the history of this network.
Services Available
They run a UUCP e-mail system. Users compose and read messages locally
on their own system. On request, their computer polls to UCB s e-mail
system to exchange mail in a short burst. If needed, twice daily, they
forward Internet mail via UUCP, so international mail takes a maximum
of 12 hours to reach its destination.
They currently receive only CREAD (distance education) and CDS/ISIS mailing
lists.
Charges
No registration charges.
Monthly subscription: Bz$50 or US$25.
No connect charges.
To receive international messages: Bz40‡/message plus Bz1‡/150
bytes (about 150 characters).
To send international messages: Bz1‡/133 bytes (about 133 characters).
Key NGO Users
Additional Information
They recommend purchase of modems from the US (local prices are almost
double US prices). Any modem should be acceptable. They use Telebit modems
and support speeds of 300-14,400bps (V32bis); 2400bps modems are the most
reliable and easiest to set up, and certainly within Belize City this
speed is perfectly adequate.
In certain areas (Central Farm, Toledo) connections
at 9600bps may not be possible or reliable; 2400bps works country-wide,
even over radio and cellular phones.
They supply e-mail software for DOS and are in
the process of procuring Macintosh software.
BRAZIL
Alternex
IBASE Rua Vincente de Souza, 29 22251-070 Rio de Janiero, Brazil
Tel: +55-21/286 0348
Fax: +55-21/286 0541
E-mail: suporte@ax.apc.org
Contact person: support staff
Number of users: 1000 (approx.)
Brief Description
Alternex (http://ax.apc.org) is on its way to becoming a major Internet
Access Center from its BBS services and is Brazil s main provider of non-academic
access to the Internet. Alternex is a project of IBASE (the Brazilian
Institute of Social and Economic Analyses), a non-profit consultancy and
research NGO. Alternex is the Brazilian member of the international network
of APC and provides
international connectivity to a number of networks in Brazil. A number
of smaller BBSs (30+) use Alternex to channel their international e-mail
traffic.
Services Available
It provides access to hundreds of conferences on human rights, women,
development, hunger and other issues concerning the NGO community.
Charges
Registration charges: US$20.
Monthly subscription: US$10 minimum.
Connect charges: US$2-10 (if beyond monthly free connect time limit).
Key NGO Users
Hundreds of NGOs, community, labour groups and others use Alternex.
Additional Information
No specific information is available about modem purchase.
COLOMBIA
COLNODO
Carrera 23 No. 39-82 Bogota, Colombia
Tel: +57-1/2444696, 2697181, 2697202
Fax: +57-1/2444984
BBS: +57-1/2445246 E-mail: julian@colnodo.igc.apc.org
Contact person: Julian Casasbuenas
Number of registered users: 80-100 (approx.)
Number of active users: 40 (June 1994)
Brief Description
Colnodo is governed by the Colombian Association of Non-Governmental Organizations
for Electronic Mail Communication and operated by Antenna
Colombia. It is the member of the international network of APC for Colombia
Services Available
This system provides 24-hour service and can be accessed from anywhere.
International e-mail takes around six hours to reach international networks.
It provides access in Spanish and English.
It receives the following APC conferences:
eai.news, nacla.report, ilsa.actualida, alai.amlatina, ilsa.comercio,
dh.amlatina, ilsa.trade.
The following areas may interest NGO users:
national and international events of interest for the NGO community, economics
indicators, ecology, children s issues, national debt, newspaper clippings.
Charges
Registration (one-time fee): US$20.
Monthly subscription: 8.600 pesos or US$10.
Connect charges/minute: US$4 after the first hour.
No charges to send/receive messages within the country.
To receive international messages: 70 pesos or US$0.081/Kb.
To send international messages: 100 pesos or US$0.116/Kb.
Key NGO Users
Ati Fedevivienda
Cinep
Cipav (UUCP access)
Word Wide Foundation
Foro
WFP (UN)
WFPNet (UUCP access)
Colegio Verde Villa Leyva (UUCP access)
Additional Information
Modems are easily accessible in Colombia. The system responds to most
modems.
Colnode offers on-line access to 17 databases,
most of them NGO documentation centers.
- Newspaper Clippings
1989-91 produced by Foro Nacional por Colombia
1992-93 produced by Cinep
Documentation Centers
Fedevivienda: Appropriate technology and urban
development
Foro: National political, social and economic research
Luis Carlos Galán: Information on the influential presidential candidate
who was assassinated in 1989
Ilsa: Legal and socioeconomic research
Cinde: Research on children in Latin America
Dimensión Educativa: National political, social and economic research
Enda: Ecology and appropriate technology
Suna Hisca: Appropriate technology
Cinep videoteque.
Directories
It plans to introduce the use of off-line e-mail
readers.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
REDID (Red Dominicana de Intercambio para el Desarollo)
c/o FUNREDES
BP 2972 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: +1-809/535 2422, 535 6614
E-mail: pimienta!daniel@redid.org.do
(or) cieca1!cries@redid.org.do
Contact person: Pimienta Daniel, Pavel Isa Contreras (President)
Number of registered users: 100 (UUCP accounts)
Number of active users: 40 (UUCP accounts)
Brief Description
FUNREDES is an international NGO dedicated to disseminating
of the Newer Information and Communications Technologies (NICT) in developing
countries. Dominican National Network (REDID) is a project of FUNREDES.
Services Available
They coordinate four public listserv:
(REDALC@frmop11.cnusc.fr, for the whole of Latin America and Caribbean;
SALSA@conicit.ve for the Caribbean; KISKEYA@conicit.ve for the Dominican
Republic; and HAITI-L@conicit.ve).
The system provides 24-hour service. Average turnaround
time for international messages is less than one hour. Within the country
the system can be accessed using a toll-free telephone number.
Charges
Registration charges: About US$250/year (per institution) plus US$75 for
each additional user in the institution (except if they share the same
address structure in the same terminal, for example, Institution!user1@redid.org.do
and Institution!user2@redid.org.do).
Monthly subscription: 250 pesos or US$20.
No other charges for international or national e-mail traffic.
Key NGO Users
Most users are NGOs from 50 member institutions.
Additional Information
Modems can be bought in the country but some people find they are less
expensive and there is more choice in the US. A 2400bps Hayes compatible
is recommended. Higher speeds are not yet supported on the user side.
REDID organizes training programs on a regular basis.
Users are provided with free, multilanguage, easy-to-use,
installed software called MULBRI.
ECUADOR
Ecuanex
12 de Octubre 622, of. 504 Casilla 17-12-566 Quito, Ecuador
Tel: +593-2/528716
Fax: +593-2/505073
E-mail: admin@intecx.ecx.apc.org
/ admin@intecx.ecx.ec
Contact person: Thomas Walsh
Number of registered users: 155
Number of active users: 120
Brief Description
Ecuanex is the member of the international network of APC from Ecuador.
Services Available
It provides e-mail facilities for national and international communications
and access to conferences. Local conferences include discussion areas
on women, human rights, indigenous people, environment, and social sciences.
It also provides local access to APC conferences on women, environment,
and human rights issues. It supports Spanish and English.
Charges
Registration (one-time fee): US$15.
Monthly subscription: 22,000 sucres or US$10.
No connect charges.
To send international messages: US$0.25/Kb.
To receive international messages: US$0.12/Kb.
Key NGO Users
Ecuanex is used by a number of NGOs.
Additional Information
Modems are available in Ecuador. Modems which support MNP error correction
protocols should be purchased.
The service offers training in use of communications
software. Three half-day courses cost 40,000 sucres.
GUATEMALA
Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
Apartado Postal #82 Guatemala 01901, Guatemala
Tel: +502/269 0791 thru 1995
E-mail: furlan@uvg.edu.gt
Contact person:Luis R. Furlan
Number of registered users: 100
Number of active users: 85
Brief Description
This node was originally open only to the Universidad del Valle community.
In July 1993 it was opened to outsiders on the condition that their line
of work be academic/scientific or that it influence the country s development
in a positive way.
Services Available
This node provides 24-hour service. International messages can take up
to 24 hours to reach their destination.
Charges
Registration charges: US$20.
Monthly subscription: 11.40 Quetzales (approx.) or US$2.
Connect charges per minute: 0.57 Quetzales (approx.) or US$0.10.
No charges to send/receive international messages.
Key NGO Users
Peace Brigades International
Programa de la Niña
Project ALA/88/22
Concern/America
Population Council
Additional Information
Modems are available locally but buying them in the US is cheaper. Any
Hayes compatible modem with speeds between 300 and 19200 BPS, or Telebit
s PEP protocol are acceptable.
HAITI
Réseau télematique haitien pour la recherche et
le développement (REHRED)
Address in Santo Domingo (as responsible for the network project):
c/o Fundación Redes y Desarrollo (FUNREDES) BP2972 Santo Domingo, Dominican
Republic
Tel: +1-809/535 2422, 535 6614, 535 6646
E-mail: pimienta!daniel@redid.org.do or jansen!senaida@redid.org.do
Contact person: Pimienta Daniel Senaida Jansen
Address in Port-au-Prince (as member of the local
committee for the creation of REHRED)
c/o Centre de Recherche et de Formation Economique et Sociale pour le
Développement (CRESFED)
POB 15294, Petion Ville Port au Prince PAP, Republic of Haiti
Tel: +1-509/453100, 452828, 452759
Fax: +1-509/452099
E-mail: cresfed@haiti.acnmiami.com
Contact person: Gerard Pierre Charles (contact for Initiative group)
Joanisse Domerson (in charge of CRESFED e-mail)
Number of registered users: 5
Brief Description
REHRED is a network project of five NGOs working on various research issues.
These NGOs have access to the Internet through ACN, a company located
in Miami. ACN gives members of the Initiative Group access at cost price.
Services Available
REHRED provides 24-hour access to e-mail facilities. International e-mail
takes a maximum 24 hours. It also provides access to a number of discussion
areas. Discussion lists hosted in Venezuela are haiti-l@conicit.ve Haitien
researchers and all researchers interested in Haiti worldwide.
Charges
No specific information is available on charges.
Key NGO Users
Five member institutions and other associated NGOs.
Additional Information
They recommend 2400bps Hayes compatible modems to access these facilities.
Higher speed modems are not yet supported on the user side.
MEXICO
Laneta
Tlalpan 1025, Mexico City DF, Mexico
Tel: +52-5/277 4791
E-mail: soporte@laneta.apc.org
Contact person: Jaques Lefebre, Adolfo Dunayevich
Number of registered users: 200+ (July 1994)
Number of active users: 100 (July 1994) approx.
Brief Description
Laneta is the member of the international network of APC for Mexico.
Services Available
This system provides 24-hour service and supports Spanish and English.
International messages take about two hours to reach international networks.
The system can be accessed from all parts of Mexico (in batch mode).
The following APC conferences are available locally:
icpd.general, trade.news, panna.panups, dh.mujer, reg.mexico and susag.news.
Areas of NGOs interest include trade (NAFTA), human
rights, women, environment, Central America and refugees.
Charges (April 1994)
Registration: US$34.
Monthly subscription: 50 N$ or US$17.
No connect charges or charges to send/receive messages from either within
the country or internationally.
Key NGO Users
Additional Information
It is suggested that new users buy the US Robotics sportster 14,400 in
the US. The same equipment in Mexico can cost twice as much.
The system responds to any good modem, but V32bis
(14,400) is the best choice. They provide a special program to get on-line
free of charge.
NICARAGUA
NICARAO
CRIES
De la Iglesia El Carmen 1 cuadra al lago Managua, Nicaragua
Tel: +505-2/283092, 281312
E-mail: ayuda@nicarao.apc.org/support@nicarao.apc.org
Contact person: Sergio, Lucia, Angela, Patricia
Number of registered users: 650
Number of active users: 500
Brief Description
Nicarao is the member of the international network of APC for Nicaragua.
Services Available
It receives a number of APC conferences:
ips.english, ips.espanol, reg.* (one for each country in central america),
reg.carib, reg.cuba, reg.latinamerica, trade.library, trade.strategy,
women.events and women.labr.
This node can be accessed from anywhere in Nicaragua
and throughout Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa
Rica and Panama).
The system is available 24 hours a day and international
messages take a maximum of eight hours to reach other international networks.
It supports Spanish and English. In addition to the above, APC conferences
in the following key areas of discussion may interest NGOs:
human rights: dh.mujer, dh.nicaragua, dh.panama
centralamerica: cela.pancanal (CELA) reg.anuncios (CONCERTACION) libraries:
biblio.centroam, cries.tabcon
Charges
Registration: US$25.
Monthly subscription: US$7.50.
Connect charge/minute: national: US$0.03; Central America and Panama:
US$0.07.
No charges to receive messages.
To send messages: US$0.25/message, plus US$0.15/Kb.
Key NGO Users
AVANCSO (Guatemala)
CEASPA (Panama)
NITLAPAN (Nicaragua)
TENDENCIAS (El Salvador)
CELA (Panama)
ICAL (Costa Rica)
SDN
Additional Information
Modems are not easily available and should be bought in the US. Any brand
of modem should be adequate. The service provides training for the use
of the system using MTE; it sells modems as cost price but no software.
Local Packet Switching Services support only 1200 bps but modems of up
to 14,400 bps can be used by calling directly over telephone lines.
ST. LUCIA
Institute of Self-Improvement Systems (ISIS)
PO Box 990 Castries, St. Lucia
Tel: +809-452-3702, 452-5444
Modem / Data: 809-453-7689
E-mail: (username)@isis.org.lc
Contact person: Albert H. Daniels
Number of registered users: 65
Number of active users: 45
Brief Description
ISIS is a private non-profit organization specializing in education and
training for the development of local and regional human resources.
Services Available
It provides 24-hour access and international mail takes about 30 minutes
to reach its destination.
Charges
Rates may vary based on the organizational set-up.
Monthly subscription: 30 EC$ (single user) US$11.02
Key NGO Users
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
World Wide Fund for Nature
Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
Additional Information
Modems are available in St. Lucia but may be purchased at a lower cost
in the US.
URUGUAY
Chasque
Jackson 1136 Montevideo 11100, Uruguay
Tel: +598-2/496192
E-mail: apoyo@chasque.apc.org
Contact person: Gabriel Sere
Number of registered users: 500
Number of active users: 300
Brief Description
Chasque was available as a BBS for a number of years before becoming a
network connected to international networks. Chasque is the member of
the international network of APC for Uruguay.
Services Available
It supports English, Spanish, Portuguese, and German, and provides national
and international e-mail services. It provides a number of APC conferences
on environment, human rights, development, education, women, and NGO issues.
Charges
No registration charges.
Monthly subscription: 50 pesos or US$10.
Connect charges/minute: 0.25 pesos or US$0.05 after first hour.
To receive international messages: US$0.05/Kb.
To send international messages: US$0.10/Kb.
Key NGO Users
A number of NGOs use Chasque.
Additional Information
Modems are easily available and not expensive in Uruguay. Users get a
communications program free.
|
