James Williams Indiana University 4/12/2023

Research and Education Connectivity to PakistanWith a possible extension to Afghanistan

Research and Education Networking in Pakistan

The Pakistan and Education Research Network (PERN) is the current network interconnecting the research and education community within Pakistan (~ 60 public and private universities and institutes are currently connected.) PERN is managed by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC). Like other NRENs, PERN provides dedicated connectivity between the institutions it connects as well as video-conference services and access to digital library resources. PERN also provides a gateway to the global commercial Internet for its users, but currently does not have dedicated connections to other NRENs.

While the initial PERN network has been upgraded in the past, a new generation network, PERN2, is planned to overhaul the network and its capabilities. PERN2 is expected to provide gigabit-level connectivity to connected institutions, extend the reach of the network to additional public institutions, including libraries, health centers and schools. PERN2 will be a fiber-optic based network in the core and gigabit metronet in seven (07) major cities of the country, providing the network capabilities of a cyberinfrastructure for the Pakistan research and education community.

Pakistan–US Research Network Connectivity

To complement and enhance the planned network upgrade of the PERN network, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the HEC have agreed to split the costs of providing high speed international research and education network connectivity between the US and Pakistan. Contracts have been signed as of July 3, 2008. We expect a circuit (155Mbps) to be delivered between PERN2 at Karachi and the TransPAC2 point of presence in Singapore in August 2008. This connection will provide researchers in Pakistan with connectivity to their US colleagues and to the global internet. Two diagrams are attached. The first shows the TransPAC2 connection from the US to Tokyo, Japan, from Tokyo to Singapore and then to Karachi. The second diagram illustrates how this R/E network will connect Pakistan to the cluster of global network connection in Asia.

I visited Pakistan in early April. I met with officials from the HEC, including the Chairman, Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman and toured various universities and research institutes. While in Pakistan I conducted a seminar on high performance networking for the HEC and a number of Pakistan university faculty and administrators at the HEC offices in Islamabad.

Pakistan-US Science Applications

This goal of this project is increasing science cooperation between the US and Pakistan. The establishment of high performance network connectivity between the US and Pakistan is only a first step. Between three and six months after the network connection is actually up (expected August 15), the project will host a US-Pakistan science collaboration seminar in the US. This seminar will bring together 3-4 sets of discipline researchers from the US and Pakistan to discuss in detail how this network connection can enhance their research. Based on feedback and success of this first seminar a companion seminar will be held in Pakistan six to nine months following the first seminar.

James Williams Indiana University 4/12/2023

Pakistan-Afghanistan connectivity

When the Pakistan connection is operational, I would like to consider an extension of that connection to Afghanistan. I realize this will be difficult from many, many perspectives. But, I imagine a 45Mbps terrestrial connection from Peshawar to Kabul. I have been told that there is fiber cable from Peshawar to Kabul that can be activated. Up to this point, my total attention has been focused on Pakistan and I have not investigated this spur connection to Afghanistan. I will report more on this and new encouraging activities related to a network connection to India after my visit to South Asia in early August.

Feel free to contract me for additional information.

Best regards,

Jim

James G. WilliamsTransPAC2 Principle InvestigatorIndiana Universitywilliams@indiana.edu

James Williams Indiana University 4/12/2023