Collaboration, training mark AfricaNIC conference

The Africa Network Information Center's 9th Open Policy Meeting (AfriNIC-9), held last week in Mauritius, saw the launch of international collaboration and IT training initiatives to benefit African techies.

Presenting research at the meeting, Japanese and South Korean professors announced a joint online collaboration and exchange program on Internet research between African and Asian technology experts.

"Asia has advanced technology, and Africa can greatly benefit from this knowledge," said Adiel Akplogan, AfriNIC CEO. "We will have an exchange program where African techies can go to Korea, Japan or China and get practical experience from ISPs or universities."

Collaboration will result in a larger pool of data, expanding engineering and innovation, added Hyun-chul Kim from Seoul National University.

Asian professors will be available for remote consultation to address technical issues, and the collaborative Web site will include a how-to guide for new techies.

Separately, AfriNIC-9 participants endorsed the establishment of a fund to support research and development of IP (Internet Protocol) projects in Africa. Though AfriNIC will not manage the fund, it has contributed US$20,000, while other industry players have so far contributed $21,000.

"With the fund, we can explore ways to use IP in health, agriculture, humanitarian and disaster relief, and other areas relevant to Africa," Akplogan explained.

Akplogan also used the opportunity of the meeting to discuss the virtual lab that AfriNIC launched on Nov. 21 to support countries in the deployment of IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6).

"The virtual lab will reduce the cost of training," he said. "Interested organizations are free to contact AfriNIC for assistance."

Supported by Cisco systems, the lab is open to research institutions, universities and companies offering technical training in Africa.

Cisco is addressing IPv6 deployment from the network manager perspective, focusing on infrastructure development that emphasizes stability, the cost of deployment and operation, said Cisco engineer Phillip Smith.

"The end user does not know what IPv6 [is]; they just want to be able to use their e-mails and the Internet any time they want," Smith told AfriNIC-9 attendees.

IPv4, which is currently in use, will be exhausted in 2011. Thereafter, all technology gadgets will be required to use the new version in order to communicate efficiently.

"Like other regions, Africa needs to start discussions to determine how we manage the IPv4 pool, how to manage the market between now and 2011," Akplogan noted.

The virtual lab will complement efforts by the 6DEPLOY Consortium, which is supported by the European Union to promote training and adoption of IPv6 around the world.