The Digital Divide insideThe Digital Divide insideEuropean Research and EducationEuropean Research and Education

David WilliamsDavid Williams

Second Round Table on Developing CountrySecond Round Table on Developing CountryAccess to Scientific Knowledge Access to Scientific Knowledge

ICTP, TriesteICTP, Trieste

23 October 200323 October 2003

Why me?Why me?

My main job is the coordination of relations My main job is the coordination of relations between CERN and the institutions of the between CERN and the institutions of the European UnionEuropean Union– especially Commission, but also e.g. Parliamentespecially Commission, but also e.g. Parliament

I have a long-term professional interest in IT and I have a long-term professional interest in IT and networkingnetworking

From 1999 until May 2003 I was president of From 1999 until May 2003 I was president of TERENA, the association of national research and TERENA, the association of national research and education networks (NRENs) in Europeeducation networks (NRENs) in Europe

I am leading an FP5-funded project, called I am leading an FP5-funded project, called SERENATE (see SERENATE (see http://www.serenate.org/http://www.serenate.org/) which ) which is just in the final stages of completing its report is just in the final stages of completing its report on the medium-term (5-10 year) strategy for on the medium-term (5-10 year) strategy for European research and education networksEuropean research and education networks

SERENATESERENATEand theand the

DIGITAL DIVIDE inside EUROPEDIGITAL DIVIDE inside EUROPE

This work was led by Marko BonaThis work was led by Marko Bonačč, the head of the Slovenian NREN., the head of the Slovenian NREN.

He unfortunately cannot be here, but agreed that I can use some of his slides.He unfortunately cannot be here, but agreed that I can use some of his slides.

SERENATE findings SERENATE findings on geographic issueson geographic issues

Marko Bonač

ARNES

bonac@arnes.si

Report identifying issues related to Report identifying issues related to the geographic coverage of European the geographic coverage of European

research and education networkingresearch and education networkingThe Report will review the digital divide in research networking

provision in Europe and provide some recommendations on how this

divide could be closed. Sources of information are: answers to the special questionnaire sent to all

eastern European NRENs several meetings with eastern European NRENs TERENA Compendium 2003Marko Bonac (Arnes) and John Martin (ENPG) are

working on the Report. Any additional input is welcome.

NRENs from eastern EuropeNRENs from eastern Europe

Albania (ANA) Bosnia and Herzegovina

(BIHARNET) Bulgaria (ICT) Croatia (CARNet) Cyprus (CYNET) Czech Republic (CESNET) Estonia (EENet) Hungary (HUNGARNET) Latvia (LATNET, LANET)

Lithuania (LITNET) Macedonia, FYR (MARNet) Malta (CSC) Poland (PSNC) Romania (RoEduNet, RNC) Serbia and Montenegro

(AMREJ) Slovak Republic (SANET) Slovenia (Arnes) Turkey (ULAKBIM)

Data illustrating the digital divideData illustrating the digital divide

Group of countries

NREN total international bandwidth (Mbps)

Typical National Core Bandwidth (Mbps)

NREN budget per 1 M inhabitants (MEURO)

GDP per capita (EURO)

GERD per capita (EURO)

Average EEA

6,892 3,833 1,57 25,226 510

Average

AC

1,186 712 0,77 11,791 44

Average

OEC

250 161 0,49

GÉANT GÉANT (January 2003) (January 2003)

Country grouping

Speed of access port to GÉANT in Mbps

Load Expenditure for GÉANT as percentage of NREN`s budget

Average EEA

2.006 6 % 6 %

Average AC

662 28 % 23 %

Average

OEC

155 37 % 22%

High speed University connectionsHigh speed University connections

Country grouping

Percentage of Universities connected to NREN at 1 Gbps or more

Percentage of Universities connected to NREN at 100 Mbps or more

Average EEA

29 % 47 %

Average AC

10 % 24 %

Average OEC

2 % 24 %

FindingsFindings aand nd recommendationsrecommendationsDigital Divide exists The depth of the digital divide varies very greatly from

country to country There are four countries in eastern Europe with a high

overall standard of research networking. Reasons include:– Good support for research networking at government level– Access to dark fibre where/when necessary– History of participation in joint European projects

The majority of countries fall very far behind those in western Europe

The consequences of this digital divide are serious Those countries without an adequate research network will

suffer from “research exclusion”

FindingsFindings and and recommendationsrecommendationsAccess to dark fibre is vital Access to dark fibre enables the NRENs in small

eastern European countries to upgrade the capacity of the backbone and access links one hundred-fold without spending much more on the infrastructure

At the present moment this is the main step which could be taken to close the digital divide.– It seems that in most eastern European countries the fibre

is already laid.– In countries with a liberalized telecommunication market

it is not difficult to get the fibre.– There are encouraging examples that this was also done in

the countries with monopoly in telecommunications– Could the EC make recommendations in this respect? _

FindingsFindings and and recommendationsrecommendationsThe case for research networks still needs to be made Lack of awareness of the importance of research

networking / at government level as well as at academic level / is a matter of concern

Sometimes it is supposed that the ordinary Internet will solve the problem. Not every one recognizes that without high capacity research network research exclusion is inevitable.

Problems are also known to exist where– the NREN is not formally established as an independent

body or– where there are several NRENs with indistinct

responsibilities and without necessarily economy of scale

Summary Summary

1. Digital divide in research networking provision exists

2. The depth of the digital divide varies very greatly from country to country.

3. The digital divide between most developed and least developed countries is getting bigger.

4. If uncorrected, will prevent the goal of equal opportunity for researchers.

A. Access to dark fibre is vital

B. Awareness of the importance of research networking at government level is important.

C. Participation in joint projects is very valuable.

D. Could the European Commission and TERENA do more to close the digital divide ?

Some personal commentsSome personal comments

I think that the digital divide issue is actually very I think that the digital divide issue is actually very important for the future stability of the worldimportant for the future stability of the world

I think that it will be very difficult to fixI think that it will be very difficult to fix Some of it is finding the right technologies for different Some of it is finding the right technologies for different

areasareas But a lot is about the structure of society – reliable But a lot is about the structure of society – reliable

electrical power, government transparency, support for electrical power, government transparency, support for education and scientific research – and while the education and scientific research – and while the developed countries can help, the real directions can developed countries can help, the real directions can only be determined in the developing worldonly be determined in the developing world

But you need to understand that “removing the digital But you need to understand that “removing the digital divide” is shooting at a moving target. Internet use divide” is shooting at a moving target. Internet use has only just started and technological progress will has only just started and technological progress will move the goalposts (raise the bar) a lot in the next 2-move the goalposts (raise the bar) a lot in the next 2-3-5 years. 3-5 years.

What might help?What might help?

Scientists have to sell their ideas to politicians and to Scientists have to sell their ideas to politicians and to society in generalsociety in general

Creating a National Research and Education Network Creating a National Research and Education Network does help – the power of acting togetherdoes help – the power of acting together

High costs of connectivity are a killer – Europe High costs of connectivity are a killer – Europe suffered from that a lot from the early 80s to the late suffered from that a lot from the early 80s to the late 90s90s

GEANT communications 30 M€ GEANT communications 30 M€ 5 M€ 5 M€ Try to work very hard to obtain access to an optical Try to work very hard to obtain access to an optical

fibre backbonefibre backbone– EU-25 has regulated thatEU-25 has regulated that– Poland and Czech Republic built/leased their ownPoland and Czech Republic built/leased their own– Serbia fixed the issueSerbia fixed the issue

THE ENDTHE END