Optimising Internet Bandwidth in Developing Country Higher Education Sara Gwynn INASP

Outline Brief overview of INASP Overview of recent report: –challenges of increasing demand for bandwidth –the effects of these challenges –possible ways of tackling them –recommendations for management, IT and library staff Further information

INASP: background The International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) is a programme of the International Council for Science (ICSU) INASP established in 1992 A co-operative network of over 3000 partners Aim: to improve world-wide access to information and knowledge through a commitment to capacity building in developing and transitional countries

INASP: core activities Advisory and liaison services Links & resources Access to Information INASP-Health Links Publications INASP newsletter, Handbooks, Manuals INASP-Health INASP-Rural Development Library Support Initiatives support to professional associations Access to information & knowledge for the public Publishing Support Initiatives Programme for the Enhancement of Research Information (PERI)

Delivering information Providing access to scientific and scholarly information through electronic means. Includes –current awareness databases –8000+ full-text online journals –document delivery –directory of free online databases, journals and articles National level availability and licenses

Disseminating national/regional research Support to the strengthening and development of access to journals from developing and transitional countries as a medium for the dissemination of research results –TOC and Abstracts service – AJOL –Full-text service – AJOPP –Document delivery service –Publicity for local and regional research –Monitoring and evaluation

Enhancing ICT skills travelling workshops: –Using the Internet –Electronic Journals and Electronic Resources Library Management –Web Page Design and Authoring, leading to Library Web Pages –ICT Troubleshooting for Librarians and Information personnel

Strengthening publishing Workshops for journal editors, typesetters and managers covering –preparation of journal content –production of journals –management of journals Online publishing programme Publishing partnership programme

Bandwidth: the challenges Bandwidth in developing countries is generally extremely expensive Available bandwidth is usually not enough to meet demand Much bandwidth is consumed by low priority uses Increasing bandwidth is problematical –Technical limitations e.g. satellite and network infrastructure capacity –Budgetary limitations – increasing available bandwidth has significant real costs

Effects of the challenges Ineffective use of scarce resources –The expensive bandwidth is not resulting in effective usage due to congestion Poor performance and usability of the Internet –All users suffer when using Internet based information and resources Wasted staff time and restricted information resources –The wealth of information resources are not used due to the time involved Increased costs

Possible solutions Increase available bandwidth –Relatively easy but costly Push for lower bandwidth costs –Local telecommunications regulations –Institutional consortia –National level pressure and negotiations

Optimise existing bandwidth Bandwidth is valuable institutional resource or asset –Needs to be managed, conserved, and shared effectively Emphasis on maximising the effectiveness of existing resources Wide range of possible actions and effects Requires management and prioritisation –Senior management: policies and procedures –Librarians: training and information related policies –IT staff: technical policies, tools and solutions

Report Commissioned in response to concerns expressed by colleagues in Africa, Asia and Latin America Contains input from 8 countries, giving first- hand experience of bandwidth problems and solutions from various situations Identifies access problems in higher education environments Provides recommendations for management, IT staff, library staff

Recommendations for senior management Make bandwidth management a priority Have and enforce acceptable use policies Respond to demands that match institutional objectives Encourage positive behaviour Consider charging for bandwidth use Monitor the IT team Evaluate connection options regularly Join forces - explore network integration and national consortia

Recommendations for librarians Understand the technical issues Monitor usage and activity and respond to patterns and demands Understand users Internet based information needs Train library users in proper use of Internet based information resources Manage network usage to meet quite times Set up library “portals” of relevant information

Recommendations for IT staff Maintain good security and anti-virus practices Track all relevant aspects of the network, bandwidth and Internet usage Implement content filtering to block undesirable web content Use proxy servers and local caching Make sure all user activities are traceable Consider implementing a bandwidth manager product Discourage or disable certain network usage Train users to use safely and efficiently

Potential benefits of optimisation Increased productivity, effectiveness and use of Internet based information resources Better returns on current expenditure Manage costs more effectively –Potential to double performance of resource with little or no capital expenditure Expand user base without significant capital expansion

Further information Printed summary reports included in meeting materials Printed copies of the full report from INASP at this meeting Full report online at: – Includes: »Main report »Appendixes »Country specific case studies

Thank you Any questions?