From: Jim Forster [mailto:forster@cisco.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 7:07 PM
To: vkyalo
Cc: David Ochanda
Subject: Re: Interesting and provocative essay on EASSy

Nice to meet you.   I've been following and starting to participate in some issues and activities in networking in Africa.    I heard of this essay by Roland Alden and forwarded it to people that I know that I thought might be interested.   I don't have any particular discussion group for it; I'm sure you're involved in discussion groups that might be interested in this, so go ahead and forward it and discuss it as you see fit.   I did see a reference to Richard Bell's article on a Kictanet archive.   I hadn't known about Kictanet; those people might be interested in the essay.

In September Richard Bell, the founder of Kenya Data Network, wrote a brief about EASSy, the proposed East African undersea fiber optic cable, which was critical of the planned financial structure.  Now Roland Alden, a telecommunications consultant,  has written a very interesting and provocative essay on EASSy as well.  Here's the opening paragraph:

Just say No to EASSy

by Roland H. Alden

African governments and global institutions like the World Bank are being asked to help finance another telecommunications project. This one is called EASSy (East African Submarine Cable System). While more and cheaper telecommunications is surely needed all across Africa , East African citizens would do well to ask their governments to take a step back from EASSy and find better ways to sponsor telecommunications projects that will result in real progress. As it stands today, EASSy could become a giant step backwards for Africa; and, with a US$200 million price tag, it has the potential of being an economic disaster Africa can ill-afford.

I encourage you to read the rest of the essay at http://www.ralden.com/C1/EASSy and would welcome your thoughts on this very important issue.

Thanks,

  -- Jim Forster

      Distinguished Engineer

      Cisco Systems

      San Jose, CA.