Figure 4. Topology to Integrate all Indonesian Universities to Internet

Team Leader - Asia Internet Interconnection Initiatives (AI3)/ITB.

Head of Institute for Research

Institute of Technology Bandung

FAX 62-22 250-3253

FAX 62-22 250-1006

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  Institute of Technology Bandung (itb.ac.id)
  
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  Sekolah Tinggi Teknik Telekomunikasi (sttt.ac.id)
  

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  It is hoped that the Indonesian international carrier, i.e., PT. Indosat (http://www.indosat.go.id) and PT. Satellindo are willing to act as a single high-speed entry point to support the Internet community in Indonesia.
  
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  A neutral hub among these providers is one of the big issue in Indonesia. ITB has taken an initiative to realise the neutral hub among these providers using our 2Mbps CDMA MAN to connect them all. It is currently in negotiation process.
  

As mentioned earlier, the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure in Indonesia is adequate. Unfortunately, the distances in Indonesia is quite far and will cost a significant amount of funding to run a computer network covering a large area such as in Indonesia. Simple strategies can be implemented to reduce the required cost in building a public WAN in Indonesia, namely,

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  Participation of private and government owned telecommunication service industries in providing a national data backbone. The 2Mbps ATM infra-structure owned by PT. Telkom would be the most adequate if ever release into public service.
  
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  Share the existing communication infrastructure within most regional government offices with other institutions, including private sectors, educational institutions to reduce the cost.
  

There are several methodologies and approaches in building the computer networking in Indonesia. To name a few of the approaches are:

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  Community-based Bottom Up Development, it is the most effective approach to be able to sustain the rapid development of computer network in Indonesia.
  
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  Self-support and self-financing approach is used in most of the community-based development approach.
  

Top down approach is related to funding and required to improve the computer network quality and performance. However, a top-down approach requires a long process and justification for providing the required funding. To support such process, the result of community-based bottom-up would be very useful.

Given:

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  The Indonesian government has aiming for a total of seven (7) million phone line to be implemented by the year 1997.
  
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  A total of 75 government universities with 1,5 million trainable potential Internet users.
  
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  A total of 1500 private universities with approx. 8-9 million trainable potential Internet users. It is 25% of a total current Internet users worldwide.
  

Strategy:

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  A 64Kbps VSAT TDMA access at US$1500 / month / university is actually affordable to most Indonesian universities. Considering the number of student of each universities approx. 5000 students, VSAT costs is actually less than US$1 / student / month. It is very low cost.
  
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  Firewall & Proxy technology should be used to preserve the IP addresses. ITB has received a class B IP address & will be used as the major IP address to integrate all Indonesian universities.
  
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  To have a more reduction in cost, one could share the VSAT access with its surrounding universities or even high schools. Wireless 2Mbps CDMA MAN is proposed to be used as the main technology to integrate local MAN to the VSAT station.
  

Future Impact:

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  Installation of around 100-200 VSAT stations would be a major business by itself.
  
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  Requirement of 50-100.000 additional computers / workstations to support the computerization of all Indonesian educational institutions would be a major thrust for IT industries in Indonesia.
  
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  Not to mention, training sessions for 1500 higher education institutions, it will be a yearly tight programs. As a result:
  

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  In the next 5-10 years, we will see a significant impact in the Indonesian business & industries as a result of exposure to Internet in the early education stage.
  

One of the key factor in the success of the establishment of information society within an institution is the availability of engineering support team for answering any technical questions arises. At national level, we at Computer Network Research Group are committed to help others to setup their site.

This report is an effort to identify various networking initiatives, current status & major recommendations. It can be summarized:

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  A significant increase in the Indonesian networking infrastructure as well as number of users is apparent in the 1995.
  
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  We are currently looking at a total user of more than 30,000.
  
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  More than 22 ISPs have received their licensed from the Indonesian Ministry of Post and Telecommunication.
  
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  Currently the total speed to Internet is more than 3.2Mbps. We are hoping to increase the speed to close to 5,4Mbps by the end 1996.
  
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  ATM, B-ISDN & Frame Relay 2Mbps regional / nation wide backbone is currently in implementation & hope to be in operation by the end of 1996. Wireless 2Mbps CDMA Technology would be of interest for possible deployment of low cost 2Mbps MAN.
  
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  Several TCP/IP-based VSAT networks are in implementation.
  
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  Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB) will run the highest 2Mbps Internet gateway for all education & research institutes in Indonesia. It is ITB’s committment to help all education & research institutes to be integrated to Internet. It is hoped to see:
  

The author would like to thank many of his colleagues to enable the research of the Indonesian Networking Status. Special thanks goes to:

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  The Rector and IT communities at Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB) who have been monumental in keeping the network alive and running.
  
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  United Nation ESCAP for providing the funding for the government computerization study.
  
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  All member of sysop-l@itb.ac.id who have been providing the most information & spending many sleepless nights to keep the Indonesian network alive.
  
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  All member of pau-mikro@ee.umanitoba.ca who have been inspiring in many TCP/IP aspects.
  
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  Staff at IPTEK-NET (Mawan, Toto, Anto & Sahry) & INFO-RIS PT. Telkom (Rizkan & Asep) who has been helpful in providing the author Internet access.
  
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  Member Library Policy Study Team of USAID Higher Education Development Support (HEDS), specially, Dr. Paul C. Parker & Dr. Richard Madaus who has been inspiring the author in viewing the information technology from other perspective.
  
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  Prof. Dr. Harsono Taroepratjeka, the Director for Academic Facilities at the Ministry of Education and Culture.
  
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  The member of the National Library Task Force.
  

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  Member at Electrical Engineering Department ITB.
  
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  Active at Inter University Center on Microelectronics ITB, at Computer Network Research Group as well as at Microelectronics Processing & Devices Research Group.
  
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  Serving as network coordinator in several netwoking activities in Indonesia.
  
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  Member of several task forces within Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB), mostly in Information Technology.
  
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  Consultant for the development of information system in several ministries as well as in several industries / commercial institutions.
  
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  Member of expert groups at regional level:
  

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  South East Asia Ministry of Education Organization (SEAMEO): for the development information network for higher education in SEA countries.
  
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  United Nation (UN) Economic and Social Commission for Asia and The Pacific (ESCAP): Reviewing Computerization Development in the Public Sector.
  
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  Asia Internet Interconnection Initiative (AI3) ITB Team.